Need help with the purchase of a 2000 S4

[newdude1]

So I want to first say Ive been looking around for a new car for awhile and I fell in love with the S4. I love the lines and the interior is amazying. Not to mention the twin turbo all wheel drive is a plus. Well right now I have an Acura integra with a Type R swap but I need something new.

So Ive set my sites on an Audi S4. I know they tend to break down but I love working on cars so thats not really much of a problem.

Well to the car Im looking at now. Its a 2000 Yellow Imola S4(Love yellow cars). The car has had 3 owners. Two 50+ ones and the recent younger one. He has all the recites for the work done. The car has 95k miles on it and all the mods have under 10k on them. they are

* GIAC X chip (MBC/TCD) with XR race gas program as well
* Neuspeed Catback
* Straight Downpipes/Test Pipes
* Custom FMIC
* H&R Coilovers
* 710N DVs
* Tinted windows
* VDO Boost Gauge
* 225/40/17 Pirelli Pzero Neros with 75% tread life
* Chrome mirror covers

He also said he installed a run coolant switch which pumps coolant through the turbos for ten minutes after the car is turn off. They are still the orignal turbos. He says they are showing no signs of wearing out.

He also had the timing belt and water pump replaced at 70k miles. The serpentine belt, tensioner, fan/fan clutch, etc., all replaced just recently. Also has a clean title and never seen the track.

Now my questions is, is there anything to look for with the turbos going bad? Or anything else to keep an eye out for when I go take a look at this car this weekend?

And is there anything I can change on this set up to make it all last longer?

[mholme]

So I want to first say Ive been looking around for a new car for awhile and I fell in love with the S4. I love the lines and the interior is amazying. Not to mention the twin turbo all wheel drive is a plus. Well right now I have an Acura integra with a Type R swap but I need something new.

So Ive set my sites on an Audi S4. I know they tend to break down but I love working on cars so thats not really much of a problem.

Well to the car Im looking at now. Its a 2000 Yellow Imola S4(Love yellow cars). The car has had 3 owners. Two 50+ ones and the recent younger one. He has all the recites for the work done. The car has 95k miles on it and all the mods have under 10k on them. they are

* GIAC X chip (MBC/TCD) with XR race gas program as well
* Neuspeed Catback
* Straight Downpipes/Test Pipes
* Custom FMIC
* H&R Coilovers
* 710N DVs
* Tinted windows
* VDO Boost Gauge
* 225/40/17 Pirelli Pzero Neros with 75% tread life
* Chrome mirror covers

He also said he installed a run coolant switch which pumps coolant through the turbos for ten minutes after the car is turn off. They are still the orignal turbos. He says they are showing no signs of wearing out.

He also had the timing belt and water pump replaced at 70k miles. The serpentine belt, tensioner, fan/fan clutch, etc., all replaced just recently. Also has a clean title and never seen the track.

Now my questions is, is there anything to look for with the turbos going bad? Or anything else to keep an eye out for when I go take a look at this car this weekend?

I bought a car that was a two owner car given to the younger son(third owner). It had the turbos replaced once by the first owner and then shortly there after giving it to the third... There is really no rhyme or reason for turbo failure. It just kind of happens with k03's. On 2000's the oil line routing was a problem so that's something to consider. These are older audis now...and they require a lot of investment after you have bought the car..A lot of people see them being sold affordably and don't consider the added cost of parts/labor..

Not sure what a run coolant switch is, unless he rigged something to bypass the stock after run pump. Turbo Audis have had after run coolant pumps since like 1986 when they started using water cooled turbos.
If you like it, and it will pass inspection for you, mechanical and emissions where you live, I'd get it it if the price were right and yo can afford to fix it...What's he askin?

[newdude1]

He's asking 13k. Ya Im not really sure about the switch either I have to talk to him about that.

[audinoobs4]

Just because it hasnt seen a track doesnt mean it hasnt been beat on. Drive it and check it out see how it feels.

[newdude1]

Ya I know. Thats what I was planning to do but is there really anything to look for when buying a used S4? Like certain sounds or anything?

Also I was just curious, because im new to this scene, what the weak points in S4's? Of course I know about the turbos, but is there anything else?

[stamps]

it blue books around $11k, and I certainly wouldn't give him more than $12k. generally after market parts do not increase the price of the car (exception stage 3), in fact most of the time they decrease it. on the up side he has had the timing belt done, new dv's, and tint, on the down side the car has been chipped which puts much more stress on the turbos and can lead to replacement sooner than later, but as stated above there really is no rhyme or reason to turbo failure, just ways of encouraging it.

[newdude1]

Ya. How come if audi has so many problems with the turbo there isnt a recall or anything on them?

[tike0rz]

Ya. How come if audi has so many problems with the turbo there isnt a recall or anything on them?

My turbos have been fine for 142k miles, and almost 8k of those miles it has been pushing double the boost. Why recall?

[HotSauce]

I immediately knew which car you were talking about:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=179201

[AudiSportB5S4]

He also said he installed a run coolant switch which pumps coolant through the turbos for ten minutes after the car is turn off. They are still the orignal turbos. He says they are showing no signs of wearing out.

i have this as well, its a cheap switch from ECS, but i thought it just spins a fan, no coolant is pushed through at this time....only a turbo timer would do that since the car would still be ON.

[davenew]

i have this as well, its a cheap switch from ECS, but i thought it just spins a fan, no coolant is pushed through at this time....only a turbo timer would do that since the car would still be ON.

In other words, he bought a coolant temp switch that turns the electric after run coolant pump AND radiator fan on at a slightly lower temp than the stock switch. The after-run coolant pump does run after the car is shut off to circulate coolant but the electric radiator fan also runs to remove heat from the coolant being circulated.

[rick_chicago]

That's a lot of money for a 2000. I just picked up a 2001.5 for that with less miles similarly modded, but it included a Stasis tranny swap and RS4 clutch & LWFW (all in worth $5-6k installed).

I sweat the turbos just like anyone else, but I can go K04's without the transmission or clutch worries in mine.

I agree with stamps: 11-12k tops.