Reliability of S4

[Dima]

I am looking at a 99 S4 with 80k on the clock, and I was hopig you guys could tlel me if this is a good deal. What should I look out for? I was looking for an A4, but this kinda fell into my lap, and I really cant beat the deal on it $9500 for the car. I know theya re twin turbo'd, but do they have the same issue of oil sludge as the A4's have? Any and all info on this would be GREATLY appreciated.

THanks
Dima

[Dowskeet]

Seems like a good deal to me. Just make sure someone very experienced with Audis goes over the car with you before you buy it.

As with Audis and their reliability goes.. its all about preventative maintanance.. and if your worried about spending too much $$ dont buy one. It just comes with the territory.

Best of luck with your purchase. Hope all works out.


Cheers

[BastardS4]

expect to spend 10K in the first year.

[ECA4]

That all sounds off. First, the first S4's in the US were '00 MY. Second, with only 80k miles they should definitely be asking for more than $9,500. I would check the vin and make sure its not a salvage title and also make sure the car is running (i.e. blown turbos, timing belt).

And to answer the question about reliability, the answer is no. If your looking for reliability you may want to look elsewhere.

[Brett0712]

expect to spend 10K in the first year.

Lol, it's more like in the first month for me. I intended on keeping my car pretty much stock for a while until I heard the turbo lady. BAM! Ko4s and the works.

Its been super reliable since I bought it almost a year ago and I've had no issues as far as it failing me. Just take care of it and it will take care of you!

[Rican_S4]

I am looking at a 99 S4 with 80k on the clock, and I was hopig you guys could tlel me if this is a good deal. What should I look out for? I was looking for an A4, but this kinda fell into my lap, and I really cant beat the deal on it $9500 for the car. I know theya re twin turbo'd, but do they have the same issue of oil sludge as the A4's have? Any and all info on this would be GREATLY appreciated.

THanks
Dima

If you want reliability get a Honda Civic. Srsly.

My S4 has been reliable since I've gone stage 3 but of course that wasn't cheap to do and I'll always have to change a misc part just to make sure it's always running 100%.

[espo4442]

Be sure to ask if the tb has been changed as well as water pump, Check for any bad control arms, leaks etc the usual stuff.

[tomlafS4]

Everyone's hit the nail on the head. Check the VIN/Carfax, get it checked out by a certified Audi tech...etc.

And if you want reliability, don't get anywhere near an S4. Way too much of a toss-up if you're going for reliability.

[alias747]

'99? You must be mistaken.

[Reich]

Go for a camry for reliability, but s4 are not the worst. Good maintenance and care is required. It's also the only car you'll find with 4 control arms and 4 ball joints per wheels.

[tomlafS4]

^^Which equal 32 things that could/probably will go wrong at any given moment...

I've got this whole love/hate thing pretty bad with my car...and right now, it's definitely in hate mode.

[Blake260]

there are 99 sedans in the states....I read something like 152 of them total.

[flips4]

this car is no where near reliable,

[Dima]

I apologize for the wrong year statement. It was a 01... I may go look at it this week.

DIma

[csre9]

If you are planning to stay stock,buy an after market warranty..

[ChriS4]

I apologize for the wrong year statement. It was a 01... I may go look at it this week.

DIma

an 01 for $9500? That's not right at all... I have a 2000 with fewer miles and new turbos with all options that's worth almost twice that.

[Fast Euro]

Thats an extremely low price. Definitely carfax it.

As its been said a few times in this thread, this car needs preventive maintenance in order to be any where near reliable. At that mileage, immediately pay attention to control arms, timing belt job (including water pump, etc), and DV valves and throttle body boot.

Even with all of those done / replaced, your turbo's may still go on you - partly depending on how long the car was run with bad or failing parts, or just through plain bad fortune.

If you have the money for it, go for it - but be prepared.

[FrimmelNoJerz]

i feel an owning in your future.

[EUROTEK//S4]

Reliability and S4 shouldn't be in the same sentence.

[slammed_nogaro]

yeah i spent 20k in 2 years and i got good deals too lol.... so 10k a year with maintenance and a few mods sounds good

[CX-7&A4]

Carfax isn't very accurate.

[gointoscott]

Well what else can I say? For me personally, I havnt spent nearly anywhere close what others have spent. 10,000 in 1 year??? Wow. But yes it can happen.

For me the biggest expense was the Timing belt, cost me 850 bucks. Other then that had to put tires, which everyone has to do, and oil changes. I bought it 2 1/2 years ago with 51,000 now have 87,000. I have it chipped but set to boost max 15 psi. I have never tracked it or raced anyone, and have "launched" it only a few times.

Also it is a prior salvage car. was T boned on passenger side, was supposedly fixed by "a professional body shop" But was really fixed by the son of a body shop owner, and cosmetically was cobbled together. But it runs like a champ, and have had very few problems. (I did just remember I replace the front 2 oxygen sensors and put a new temp sensor- temp sensor was throwing a CEL once replaced it went away was under 20 bucks) I have done most my own work, except timing belt, and enjoy working on it. it still is relatively low miles and really when it comes down to it the turbo's could last another 60,000 or more, or could go in 6 miles before they go to turbo heaven.

I guess what i'm trying to say is like most the guys on here are saying these cars biggest problem is the turbo's and will cost thousands if they go.

But that doesnt mean there are S4's out there that will will be reliable. The car you are looking at sounds like a great deal, but you will need to examine it over good, have someone who knows about audi's look at the turbo's, control arms, check for cel's. If this all passes and you buy the car, then your in the same boat as the rest of us, could drive it home and on the way home the turbo's can go, or they could go for a long time.

[///M3 TO S4]

I am looking at a 99 S4 with 80k on the clock, and I was hopig you guys could tlel me if this is a good deal. What should I look out for? I was looking for an A4, but this kinda fell into my lap, and I really cant beat the deal on it $9500 for the car. I know theya re twin turbo'd, but do they have the same issue of oil sludge as the A4's have? Any and all info on this would be GREATLY appreciated.

THanks
Dima

no, but they have many more issues that are much worse.....reliability and S4 don't go together in the same sentence....

[volks88]

i bought mine with 120k on the clock and drove it for nearly a year without any maint issues or any troubles at all really. now i did just drop about $15,000 into it but that was by choice and the turbos were still good at 156k.

[Alex818]

Dima im in the same boat I’ve been thinking about getting a b5 s4 for about a year now and after doing lots of research I’ve decided to just stash money away for those problems that are going to happen. as long as u prepare for those head aches it shouldn't be that bad.

lol nock on wood!!!!

[BamfiNogaroS4]

So why get one ?

[FrimmelNoJerz]

i dont know? you hate yourself?

[Aero503]

I'm also in this boat and every post I read above I feel like the boat is sinking. I would assume that the vast majority of b5 s4 owners around the world wouldn't have had massive costs to dish out for repairs. Obviously if some one has blown turbos or some other mess that they would down on the reliability. Unless it is true that buying this car will double its cost in repairs. Every time I used to see a new topic with someone having a problem it used to get me down. But you have to remember that that is part of the point of this forum to help others out with issues so it shouldn't be a surprise to see so many topics thus people that have had problems. I'm just worried that the opinion on how reliable the car is might be baised because of that.

I could be wrong but hope not. I really want to buy one of these and not be told to be ready to replace the turbos lol.

[XLR82XS]

No problem, just buy mine. Everything is taken care of. Over 20K spent in the last 2 years for K04's, maint., tires, etc... A truly turn-key S4.