Carfax decipher

**Talon Load** · 06-25-2008 01:26 PM

I'm looking at possibly buying the seebeyonds s4 from him. He's been awsome with the info he has about the car, but the carfax is showing and engine and transmission replacement 5 years ago at 30K. The car has 100k on it right now and he hasn't had a problem. I'm trying to figure out that if the carfax shows that the engine/transmission were replaced it that means actually replaced or just fixed? Does anyone have any experience with this? Also, how long do the 2.7t's usually last if well taken care off? TIA

**1997gtx** · 06-25-2008 01:31 PM

Why don't you ask the seller?
--Adam

**Talon Load** · 06-25-2008 01:35 PM

Already did and he didn't know. It was the owner priorr to him that had the work done.

**DarkcydS4** · 06-25-2008 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by 1997gtx

Why don't you ask the seller?
--Adam

because that would make too much sense

**infinkc** · 06-25-2008 01:45 PM

wow didnt know that engine replacement shows on carfax, have a dealer see if the vin shows a history record, might have been a waranty issue. Usually if it hits carfax it would have to be from a dealer doing the work, i dont see any independent shop reporting that info. Also is it salvage? i

**Talon Load** · 06-25-2008 03:17 PM

Figured it out. Turbos were replaced at 31k by dealer

**Ben@SpeedBarn** · 06-26-2008 04:51 AM

Yeah they suck at describing some things. A guy looking at my car thought the dealer replaced my wheels, and wondered what I did to them to cause them needing replaced. They didn't mention in the carfax that they removed them to change my brakes...just that they replaced the wheels. Weird...

**1997gtx** · 06-26-2008 08:43 AM

I wonder what causes turbo's to go at 31k miles? Maybe the car never had an oil change?
--Adam

**Skydive@AI** · 06-26-2008 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by 1997gtx

I wonder what causes turbo's to go at 31k miles? Maybe the car never had an oil change?
--Adam

Back in the days of new B5 S4s, you'd hear of stock (K03) turbos dying at very low mileage pretty frequently, even on stock cars. Prolonged, unattended boost leaks from any number of places would be the number one cause. (Torn throttle body boot, anyone?) Further, the car may have been chipped at the time, which would have exacerbated the the problem. Dead K03s do not automatically equate to abuse. They were, and are pretty common.

I wouldn't worry about it, particularly if the car is in good shape now. Carfax is useful, but has its limits.

-Michael.

**1997gtx** · 06-26-2008 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Skydive@AI

Back in the days of new B5 S4s, you'd hear of stock (K03) turbos dying at very low mileage pretty frequently, even on stock cars. Prolonged, unattended boost leaks from any number of places would be the number one cause. (Torn throttle body boot, anyone?) Further, the car may have been chipped at the time, which would have exacerbated the the problem. Dead K03s do not automatically equate to abuse. They were, and are pretty common.

I wouldn't worry about it, particularly if the car is in good shape now. Carfax is useful, but has its limits.

-Michael.

Prolonged, unattended boost leaks amount to 'abuse' in my book.

While I agree that once replaced, etc. the car is back to 'normal,' I still wouldn't call any car that had something major like that replaced squeaky clean.
--Adam

**Skydive@AI** · 06-26-2008 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by 1997gtx

Prolonged, unattended boost leaks amount to 'abuse' in my book.

While I agree that once replaced, etc. the car is back to 'normal,' I still wouldn't call any car that had something major like that replaced squeaky clean.
--Adam

I understand your point, but keep in mind that lots of B5 S4s have been owned and driven by people who are not enthusiasts like all of us who frequent this and other forums. Having managed a busy independent Audi/VW repair facility for some time, I can say with authority that it is not at all uncommon to see cars with boost leaks that go undetected by owners. We know about them because we pay close attention, but many people just drive cars and change oil according the the service schedule, typically turning them in at lease end. It's not abuse. It's ignorance. Abuse would mean knowing about a boost leak or other mechanical issue and continuing to thrash on the car anyway.

I can think of several stock S4s that blew K03s at low mileage, unmodded and responsibly treated. NASA Pete's car blew turbos at 20K, and it was both stock and tiptronic.

K03s are just... inadequate. B5 S4s should have come from the factory with K04s.

-Michael.

**Talon Load** · 06-28-2008 03:53 AM

Thanks for the info everyone. I was/am a little worried about the whole turbo replacement. They guy that owns the car now says he hasn't had any problems with the turbos this far and the turbos have 70k on them now. So i figure as long as it hasn't been abused they may last 10 or 20k more so I can find and upgrade them when needed. The owner has given me and posted the maintainance history over the last few years and it seems normal.