New to me Audi A4...

[Buildscharacter]

Well, after a terrible terrible experience with a used BMW 540i, I've learned a bunch and moved onto a vehicle that I know a bit more about. I won't get into all the mistakes that I made when buying the Bimmer, but lets just say that I didn't take into account everything that I should have. Anyway...onto the Audi.

1998 Audi A4 1.8t w/ 50k miles...yep, 50k. It's manual and black in color (don't know which black it is yet) and has the sports package. It's owned by a co-workers who purchased it new 11 years ago from the dealer. He had the timing belt done at 50k miles about a year ago. He has all maintenance records for the car from every major service. He's always cooled down the turbo after driving hard.

At 30k miles he put in an APR chip and APR exhaust. Other than that, it's totally stock.

I am picking up up tonight so that I can bring it to get a Pre-purchase inspection at a good shop here in Atlanta. Hopefully everything checks out.

I've been reading up a bunch on the various issues and problems that I may encounter, and after owning a problematic Bimmer, I'm okay with everything that I've seen thus far. I believe that the rear wheel bearings were also already replaced.

I'll be posting pictures in a few days.

[Seerlah]

I have to ask, how much is the guy selling it top you for? If you don't feel comfortable posting it on the open forum board, feel free to PM me. Of course, you don't even need to diclose that information. But with 50k, I am very curious.

And congrats on your (soon to be) purchase. You'll adore the vehicle.

[Buildscharacter]

Well, hopefully tomorrow afternoon, once everything goes through and the car passes the PPI with flying colors, I'll be paying a few hundred less than blue book, which I think is a very fair deal.

[pipe7284]

98 and 50k miles!?!?!?!?! excellent!!!

[JMG]

nice find! 50k is incredible. Pics when you get it.

[Auditography]

98 and 50k miles!?!?!?!?! excellent!!!

How many KM is that?
I've driven my -01 only 48 000 KM so far.

[Buildscharacter]

How many KM is that?
I've driven my -01 only 48 000 KM so far.

48k km = roughly 30k miles

So in the next three years if you put on 32k km, you'll be on the same pace as the previous owner, which seems like you're on track to do.

[A4 Dream]

Damn man that is a good find. Im actually looking for a b5 a4 my self. I dont know if I want the 2.8 or the 1.8t
I know I want a quattro though. anyone have any advice?

[Junaid]

540I i have a 528i what went wrong with yours? btw congrats on your purchase

[DND]

How many KM is that?
I've driven my -01 only 48 000 KM so far.

Only 48K? ARGH! I've got a hundred and forty-eight on my 2001!

[jturnbull]

why is kbb of this car only like 7500 thats pretty low isnt it?

[diablooffire03]

now thats some low miles there...

[Seerlah]

With an APR chip and APR Cat Back exhaust that is a sweet find. Those alone are ~$1500 in modifications. Does it still have the stock Cat or an upgrade?

[xraycer2012]

Damn man that is a good find. Im actually looking for a b5 a4 my self. I dont know if I want the 2.8 or the 1.8t
I know I want a quattro though. anyone have any advice?

You don't want a 2.8. Trust me.

Nice find. 50K is super low for a 98

[audiness]

what went wrong with the 540? I ALMOST bought one ... but got the audi instead. sometimes i wish I had gotten the 6 speed bimmer

[Buildscharacter]

Oh jeez... what didn't go wrong with the bimmer...
It was a 97 with 107k miles. Got it from a guy here in Atlanta that bought it and fixed it up.

I had gotten a PPI, but apparently they missed some things.

Within the first two weeks of ownership, it started to shake pretty bad at idle. Then eventually started stalling out (it was an auto). Turns out it had a bad idle control valve.

Then the mass airflow sensor went bad.

CEL came on, there was a tear in the ignition coil boots...then there was the oil leak.

About a month into owning the car, it started to leak oil and the CEL would come on for a "fuel trim adaptation error". Turns out it had a leaking rear main seal.

Then the sunroof broke out of the blue and wouldn't retract or open.

Then the radio stopped working and the alarm would go off for no reason...that turned out to be a faulty ignition switch.

Right as I was about to sell the car, I brought it in to get some new front tires. Turns out both thrust arm bearings were shot and two of the four wheels were badly bent.

When it comes down to it, I should have done a little more due diligence, but still. I only owned the car for 6 months. It was all a bit much. Hoping that with the Audi, because it has so few miles, I have all the records, and I'm getting it from someone that I know, it will be less problematic. We'll see. PPI in about 3 hours. I'll keep you all informed.

[Buildscharacter]

Just got back from the PPI...things went well. Not as well as they could have, but nothing showed up that'll put a kink in the purchase of the car....

Small power steering fluid leak...needs new clamps on the hoses
Coolant leak @ oil cooler
oil leak @ oil cooler
missing some belly pan screws
Cowl drains at the firewall appear to be clogged

Apparently it'll be around $400-$500 to fix all that stuff. Sound about accurate? Other than the belly pan screws and the cowl drains, I am guessing that the other items may be a bit beyond my abilities.

Either way, the car came back clean, so that's a good thing.

[sirmeeps]

Just got back from the PPI...things went well. Not as well as they could have, but nothing showed up that'll put a kink in the purchase of the car....

Small power steering fluid leak...needs new clamps on the hoses
Coolant leak @ oil cooler
oil leak @ oil cooler
missing some belly pan screws
Cowl drains at the firewall appear to be clogged

Apparently it'll be around $400-$500 to fix all that stuff. Sound about accurate? Other than the belly pan screws and the cowl drains, I am guessing that the other items may be a bit beyond my abilities.

Either way, the car came back clean, so that's a good thing.

take the 500 off the price and do it all yourself shouldnt cost much for parts

[ChescoS6]

1998 Audi A4 1.8t w/ 50k miles...yep, 50k. It's manual and black in color (don't know which black it is yet) and has the sports package. It's owned by a co-workers who purchased it new 11 years ago from the dealer. He had the timing belt done at 50k miles about a year ago. He has all maintenance records for the car from every major service. He's always cooled down the turbo after driving hard.

It has 50k now? or 50k a year ago when the timing belt was done? Am I missing something or does that not make sense?

[Buildscharacter]

The car has 50,900 miles on it currently. He had the timing belt done about a year ago at 47,000 miles. Yeah, it didn't make sense.

[Buildscharacter]

Well, this past weekend, I took off that terrible empty front license plate bracket and realized that I have three huge holes in my bumper. I thought for a moment about replacing the bumper, but then realized that I should probably scale back, so today I ordered a Euro plate and bracket. Hopefully that'll cover up my holes.

I also threw in clear corners from E-bay and some clear side indicators.

I've been away for the week on business so I'm excited to get home, get to the DMV and go for a nice long drive this weekend as I've yet to really drive her since I got her. I'll post some pictures this weekend.

[01audia4]

Timing belt at 50K? He was on it...Ive got 64 and going to withhold for at least 85

[Buildscharacter]

Yeah, he did his 60,000 mile service at 50k because the car hit 9-10 years old, so he just didn't want to risk it.

[Buildscharacter]

okay, well I finally got some pics up... just got some clear side indicators and new lights should be in this week along with a euro plate to cover the terrible holes in the bumper :) Oh, and a debadge is coming along with some tint...oh jeez. so much to do, so little time.









With the gas crisis here in Atlanta, I've not been driving her as much as I've wanted, but that'll change in a week or so.

[Seerlah]

Good find, once again. All you really need is tints, wheels, suspension and headlights. Maybe an RS4 or S4 grill if you choose and after that it is BT territory.

[JumboBlack1.8]

^^Lol....u don't actually need any of that.....you've already got a good starting point.....if u wanna join in on this money-pit hobby, then dive right in

[Seerlah]

Good find, once again. All you really need to make it beutified as most of the younger generations adore thier vehicles is tints, wheels, suspension and headlights. Maybe an RS4 or S4 grill if you choose and after that it is BT territory.

fixed

[DJmuggs]

very similar to my purchase last year...
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146760

[chimchongdlight]

that is exactly what my car looked like when i bought her..damn exactly. even interior.haha..miss her looking all innocent...good find man!..as a matter of fact, i got some of those same problems too..haha..

[flyromeo3]

even without modifications, repairs will put you in the money pit

[Dlay]

Nice find man, welcome to the AZ!

[00SantorinS4]

I paid 8 grand for my 99.5 with 62k miles from my mechanic about 4 months ago.
Every package/He also did the timing belt/wp/tensioners/acc belt/thermo/ he also dropped in an APR snub mount for me..
Out the door 8grand lol Bone stock.