Getting a Private Inspection On A B6 A4

**jritschel** · 01-19-2009 12:48 PM

Hey, please excuse the abundance of threads I've started recently, but I want to be as thorough as possible on the subject of buying this car: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb. I'm seriously considering purchasing this car despite the set backs (sketchy dealership, check engine light, no service records, and grey interior) because i love the exterior color and because it has a spot-less carfax. I'm getting it inspected today, I was just wondering if there is anything in particular I should tell the mechanic to look for. Thanks for the help.

**EBG 18T** · 01-19-2009 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by jritschel

I'm seriously considering purchasing this car despite the set backs (sketchy dealership, check engine light, no service records, and grey interior) because i love the exterior color and because it has a spot-less carfax.

You are buying the car from a sketchy dealership w/ a cel because the carfax looks clean and you like the color?

Have the mechanic figure out what the CEL is on, if the car has any evidence of ever been in an accident (cash transactions without insurance involvment won't be on a carfax), when/if the timing belt was ever done. have him look to see if there is any residue that might result in engine sludge. Seeing as the car has no records you will have no idea if there were any engine problems in the past. the condition of the control arms. ~80-100k miles is the time for upper/lower control arm job. how does the tranny shift? seem smooth or any roughness?

goodluck.

**B6JoeS4** · 01-19-2009 01:11 PM

thats a beige interior.
i wouldnt buy it if there is that much keeping you from jumping on it right now. get on the internet and keep looking. there are way better cars out there. get one with a black interior. you will regret the beige interior...i do

**inaforest** · 01-19-2009 04:46 PM

there's a denim blue in costa mesa right now

**manhertm** · 01-19-2009 05:13 PM

Take a look a this post, before you rely on Carfax.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258360

**dirtybrd** · 01-19-2009 05:14 PM

^^^Carfax is a scam after watching that. But it'd been nice is they diclosed the name of the other source that were getting the "real" reports from.

**manhertm** · 01-19-2009 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by dirtybrd

^^^Carfax is a scam after watching that. But it'd been nice is they diclosed the name of the other source that were getting the "real" reports from.

Same thing I said, I think it might be autocheck.com though. Either way, I think, I'll be taking any of my future cars to a good bodyshop for an inspection. I'd definitely miss a lot of that stuf that car inspector found.

**Turbo1A4** · 01-19-2009 06:58 PM

that carfax guy is a tool

**jritschel** · 01-19-2009 08:46 PM

Hehe, you guys got me scared shitless after watching that video so I went out and bought an autocheck report as well, it also checked out. The inspection wasn't as spotless as the reports, but could save me some money in the long run. I believe the mechanic said the cam sensor was busted so only 4 of the 6 cylinders were functioning, but the dealer said they were going to take care of it. The mechanic also said the water pump and timing belt needed to be replaced pronto. The tires also need to be replaced so I'm going to use all of this as leverage in hopes of getting the car down to 9500 (9000 at best). He said everything else was fine, no frame damage and brakes were bout 50%. I tell you guys though, cosmetically this thing is perfect. The lighting on the pictures is horrible and is a bit deceiving. The blue is breathtaking in person and although the interior isn't my favorite color, it's in nice shape (I'm really not a fan of the fake wood though so I think I'd just replace it with something else). If I debadge it, paint the lowers, get a new grill, throw some VMR RS4 rims on it, and get a miltek exhaust, this thing would be seriously bitchin. I really don't thing I can control myself boys, I'm probably going to pick it up once they fix the cam sensor problem.

Oh and by the way, its only had one owner so that's another positive.

**jritschel** · 01-19-2009 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by inaforest

there's a denim blue in costa mesa right now

Carfaxed it,

its been in an accident and isn't a stick. Thanks for trying to help though.

**manhertm** · 01-19-2009 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by jritschel

Hehe, you guys got me scared shitless after watching that video so I went out and bought an autocheck report as well, it also checked out. The inspection wasn't as spotless as the reports, but could save me some money in the long run. I believe the mechanic said the cam sensor was busted so only 4 of the 6 cylinders were functioning, but the dealer said they were going to take care of it. The mechanic also said the water pump and timing belt needed to be replaced pronto. The tires also need to be replaced so I'm going to use all of this as leverage in hopes of getting the car down to 9500 (9000 at best). He said everything else was fine, no frame damage and brakes were bout 50%. I tell you guys though, cosmetically this thing is perfect. The lighting on the pictures is horrible and is a bit deceiving. The blue is breathtaking in person and although the interior isn't my favorite color, it's in nice shape (I'm really not a fan of the fake wood though so I think I'd just replace it with something else). If I debadge it, paint the lowers, get a new grill, throw some VMR RS4 rims on it, and get a miltek exhaust, this thing would be seriously bitchin. I really don't thing I can control myself boys, I'm probably going to pick it up once they fix the cam sensor problem.

Oh and by the way, its only had one owner so that's another positive.

OOh, bro I just took a look at the B6. 11K for an 02 is ridiculous. I'd only pay that if it still had some warranty left. That car should have been listed no higher than $10K. Trust me don't pay more than $8500 for that car. I purchased my '02 2 years ago with the same miles and more options for under $10K. Dealers are hurting right now especially used car dealers, they don't have the access to financing like they used to. Do yourself a favor seriously low ball these dudes. Do you really want a 3.0 anyway?

**jritschel** · 01-20-2009 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by manhertm

OOh, bro I just took a look at the B6. 11K for an 02 is ridiculous. I'd only pay that if it still had some warranty left. That car should have been listed no higher than $10K. Trust me don't pay more than $8500 for that car. I purchased my '02 2 years ago with the same miles and more options for under $10K. Dealers are hurting right now especially used car dealers, they don't have the access to financing like they used to. Do yourself a favor seriously low ball these dudes. Do you really want a 3.0 anyway?

8500 sounds pretty damn good, I'll work my magic and see what I can do. I'm really only planning to do cosmetic mods (except for an exhaust) so the 3.0 suites me well, the rest of my car fund will go towards future repairs.

**Kittrell** · 01-20-2009 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by jritschel

I'm really not a fan of the fake wood though......

Well then it's a good thing it's not fake.

**Papachristou** · 01-20-2009 08:37 AM

there are quite a few 3.0s that have worn down the rear cam lobs and trashed the whole engine. not to mention the cats are almost guaranteed to fail soon on that car. go to audiforums.com and search 3.0 problems. ive seen half a dozen over there where that rear cam lob goes and probably as many on here and they are all about 75-90k when it goes. the dealer always tells them that they will "work" to get it warrantied for them so they let the dealer tear it down the they dealer says, oh im sooo sorry, audi wont warranty it, that will be $6k+ for a new engine. what can you do? they already have it torn down so you have no choice.

Even if you get it down to $8500, ill bet you wind up with some large repair bills shortly after then blame all of us.

if you are a younger guy, you need to learn to be patient. dont jump on the first car just because its the right color. they did make more than one in blue! interior and tranny both suck BTW. take you time, you will find a lower mileage 1.8t or better maintained 3.0 for less money im sure. or a USP at least

i looked for my car for 3 months before finding the color, tranny and USP i wanted plus it was a one owner car who garaged it and used mobil 1 every 5k plus proper warm up and cool down procedures.

sorry to keep ranting but i also wanted to touch on the car fax thing. dont put too much faith in that. i had an 03 jetta that was in TWO major accidents ($14k in damage first time, repaired then totalled second time) and also hit a pothole which deployed all my side airbags which the dealer fixed and the carfax still shows NOTHING!

and a good friend of mine bought a jetta tdi as well. carfax showed CLEAN but later when doing his first oil change for him, i noticed his fenders didnt have serial numbers like my car did and his hood had a sticker on it from the dealer. sure enough it was in a major front end collision and all the front end (bumper, hood, fenders were replaced)