thinking of picking up an s4 avant

[nthusiastt]

What do you guys think?
I'm looking for a platform to do an rs4 widebody with a built motor and a set of gt30's. Interior will be ripped out and the entire car will be repainted and caged. I'm just saving up before I pull the trigger so I need something I can put around in for about 10k miles. Think it will hold?

Lots of miles

2001
161k miles
6spd manual

3 owners
3rd owner only owned it for about 3 months and did the following maintanance.

Axle Assembly: $150
Axle Shaft-Replace-Each side: $124
Temperature Probe: $85
Tie Rod End: $228
Valve Cover Gasket set: $127
Cam Adjuster seal, 2.7T: $418
Four Wheel alignment: $70
Left CV boot shield:

[highPSI-S4]

When was the last time the Timing belt was done?

Sounds like an awesome build, search around there are a few already with what you crave.

[SilverSurferS4]

What are you waiting for? Buy it now!

[nthusiastt]

When was the last time the Timing belt was done?

Sounds like an awesome build, search around there are a few already with what you crave.

It's been replaced once but not a second time. It has been inspected though and was not recommended to be replaced immediatly.

[2k1audiS4]

It's been replaced once but not a second time. It has been inspected though and was not recommended to be replaced immediatly.

If it has only been done once then it is DUE.

[nthusiastt]

If it has only been done once then it is DUE.

according to the service manual inspection is due every 80k and replacement is due every 100. After confirmation of the maintanance records I'll determine wether or not to replace it immediattle or drive the piss out of it for 10k then park it and replace everything :)

[washyourrhands]

dont fuck around with these cars or they will bite you in the ass

that shit is way overdue

[nthusiastt]

dont fuck around with these cars or they will bite you in the ass

that shit is way overdue

Are you telling me the service manuals recommended maintenance schedule is inappropriate?

[Overboostin]

^yes

[casawhites4]

^yes

Agree, on both accounts

[RolledMySTi]

Don't let the doom sayers scare you too much. If the belt was inspected by someone who know what they are doing you should be fine for 10k miles. The real important part is that you only drive it for 10k miles. If things get delayed and you end up at 20k+ miles you could run into problems. Plus with these cars you never know what you are going to get. It's a gamble either way with these cars when it comes to repairs.

Either way I say go for it because it sounds like a SWEET project.

[casawhites4]

Don't let the doom sayers scare you too much. If the belt was inspected by someone who know what they are doing you should be fine for 10k miles. The real important part is that you only drive it for 10k miles. If things get delayed and you end up at 20k+ miles you could run into problems. Plus with these cars you never know what you are going to get. It's a gamble either way with these cars when it comes to repairs.

Either way I say go for it because it sounds like a SWEET project.

hows he know if the guy was any good, or if he really inspected it??? how do you inspect a timing belt??

[washyourrhands]

yeah i still say change it so not worth the risk

[ThirdStrike]

hows he know if the guy was any good, or if he really inspected it??? how do you inspect a timing belt??

you look at it lol. if its coming apart its time to change it..duh.
but i wouldnt be worried about the belt breaking .. id be worried about an aged water pump seizing or even worse a roller failing and causing the belt to slip 3 or 4 teeth. dont take your chances

[nthusiastt]

you look at it lol. if its coming apart its time to change it..duh.
but i wouldnt be worried about the belt breaking .. id be worried about an aged water pump seizing or even worse a roller failing and causing the belt to slip 3 or 4 teeth. dont take your chances

a roller? Sorry not to familure with the audi build. Is a roller like a tensioner? I'm pulling the motor this summer for a full overhaul so I guess I'm not to concerned.

[nthusiastt]

hows he know if the guy was any good, or if he really inspected it??? how do you inspect a timing belt??

He has a receipt from the inspection. It's quite easy. You take the cover off and check for cracks. If your giving someone advise about a purchase you might want to take into account all possible variables....
[rant]
There's nothing more irritating than someone who is so soaked with fear that they just jump on and their only advice is "watch out or be careful, these cars will F you". No you as a driver will F yourself if you don't thoroughly inspect the car before purchase, you drive irresponsibly, and most of all aren't familiar with the service and maintenance that's involved. Saying be affraid is not good advice. Your not answering anyones questions or providing any sort of educational value. If your affraid of the car, it's because your uneducated. The proper suggestion would be to specify which parts need thorough inspection or don't post at all because in the end your not helping me get from point a to point b.

I'm not afraid to tear the car apart and leave it on jack stands for a couple months while I figure out what a problem is or determine a solution. My motto is do it once do it right.
[/rant]
My last two builds and nobody touches my cars but me.

[Chknkatsu]

What do you guys think?
I'm looking for a platform to do an rs4 widebody with a built motor and a set of gt30's. Interior will be ripped out and the entire car will be repainted and caged. I'm just saving up before I pull the trigger so I need something I can put around in for about 10k miles. Think it will hold?

Lots of miles

2001
161k miles
6spd manual

3 owners
3rd owner only owned it for about 3 months and did the following maintanance.

Axle Assembly: $150
Axle Shaft-Replace-Each side: $124
Temperature Probe: $85 NOT GOING TO MATTER SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO DO A REBUILD
Tie Rod End: $228
Valve Cover Gasket set: $127 NOT GOING TO MATTER SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO DO A REBUILD
Cam Adjuster seal, 2.7T: $418 NOT GOING TO MATTER SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO DO A REBUILD
Four Wheel alignment: $70 NOT GOING TO MATTER SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO DO A REBUILD
Left CV boot shield: NOT GOING TO MATTER SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO DO A REBUILD

if you are really going to do a full motor rebuild and a all new body job and rip out the interior, i don't see how much of the stuff is going to matter. And why do you need to drive it around for another 10K before you do the build?

if you're trying to save money you should just buy a complete junk-of-a-S4 (not necessarily salvage) and build it from there. Because like you said, you're going to rebuild the motor, so even if you buy a oil-burning S4 it won't matter since you're going to rebuild it, and since you're going to get body work done you should just buy a not-so-clean car for less money since you're basically doing full body work on the car.

very nice cars BTW

[jibberjive]

if you are really going to do a full motor rebuild and a all new body job and rip out the interior, i don't see how much of the stuff is going to matter. And why do you need to drive it around for another 10K before you do the build?

if you're trying to save money you should just buy a complete junk-of-a-S4 (not necessarily salvage) and build it from there. Because like you said, you're going to rebuild the motor, so even if you buy a oil-burning S4 it won't matter since you're going to rebuild it, and since you're going to get body work done you should just buy a not-so-clean car for less money since you're basically doing full body work on the car.

very nice cars BTW

Agreed.

And I read somewhere just the other day that the rubber compounds they use in todays timing belts don't necessarily show their wear and defects like they used to, so you should not go off of a visual inspection anymore. Anyone know anything else about this?

[nthusiastt]

Agreed.

And I read somewhere just the other day that the rubber compounds they use in todays timing belts don't necessarily show their wear and defects like they used to, so you should not go off of a visual inspection anymore. Anyone know anything else about this?

Alright lets get this straight..

The maintanance schedule says 80k inspection 100k replacement. Have there been drivers who have broke timming belts before the recommended 100k replacement? If so, at what mile-marker? Do we have any forum data from members breaking belts early? I honestly don't know. I'm curious.

[nthusiastt]

if you are really going to do a full motor rebuild and a all new body job and rip out the interior, i don't see how much of the stuff is going to matter. And why do you need to drive it around for another 10K before you do the build?

if you're trying to save money you should just buy a complete junk-of-a-S4 (not necessarily salvage) and build it from there. Because like you said, you're going to rebuild the motor, so even if you buy a oil-burning S4 it won't matter since you're going to rebuild it, and since you're going to get body work done you should just buy a not-so-clean car for less money since you're basically doing full body work on the car.

very nice cars BTW

1st If I told you the price you would understand .... 2nd when did I say I was trying to save money? 3rd, if you buy a car that's in decent shape and build from there the oem parts that were on the car have a value to other s4 owners.

To an even further extent if your a builder it's smart to pick up a car that's been modified as long as the modifications are quality. Reason being car owners sell their car with all these parts included for bones compared to what it would cost to replicate the build. You pick up the car. Drop off every modded part that you got almost costless and inclusively with the purchase and sell them for 60% of the value. You reap the benefits because the previous owner didn't want to part it out. Also with these past two methods you avoid annoying things like body rust and previous collusions that could have jarred the subframe. With a junker your rolling the dice on everything.

Not only that you can drive the car around as is for a while and enjoy it. I like to see how the car feels and get comfortable with it before I mod the piss out of it. The build is that much more valuable to you if you are comfortable with the car in stock form and understand it then feel the difference of each and every modification.

[jibberjive]

Alright lets get this straight..

The maintanance schedule says 80k inspection 100k replacement. Have there been drivers who have broke timming belts before the recommended 100k replacement? If so, at what mile-marker? Do we have any forum data from members breaking belts early? I honestly don't know. I'm curious.

It's already been straight told to you above, that car is well due for a timing belt change. General consensus is 60k mi timing belt change NOT the 100k of the book. People have broken belts.

[Chknkatsu]

1st If I told you the price you would understand .... 2nd when did I say I was trying to save money? 3rd, if you buy a car that's in decent shape and build from there the oem parts that were on the car have a value to other s4 owners.

To an even further extent if your a builder it's smart to pick up a car that's been modified as long as the modifications are quality. Reason being car owners sell their car with all these parts included for bones compared to what it would cost to replicate the build. You pick up the car. Drop off every modded part that you got almost costless and inclusively with the purchase and sell them for 60% of the value. You reap the benefits because the previous owner didn't want to part it out. Also with these past two methods you avoid annoying things like body rust and previous collusions that could have jarred the subframe. With a junker your rolling the dice on everything.

Not only that you can drive the car around as is for a while and enjoy it. I like to see how the car feels and get comfortable with it before I mod the piss out of it. The build is that much more valuable to you if you are comfortable with the car in stock form and understand it then feel the difference of each and every modification.

well considering you're getting the car for cheap, I say go for it. And I do agree that parting out a modified car will break even on the cost of the car, on that note, is this car already modified? if so, you're going to sell the modified parts and put on stock parts?

[nthusiastt]

It's already been straight told to you above, that car is well due for a timing belt change. General consensus is 60k mi timing belt change NOT the 100k of the book. People have broken belts.

No... It hasn't been straight told to me dickhead. I got a "it's way over due for timming".. That sure is informative I better rush down to the audi dealer and change the timming belt because a forum member said so.. I ,and many should, need a logical explanation before disobeying Audi's recommended maintanance. People have broken belts prior to the 100k according to you. How often does this happen? Again do we have any forum data or anything for me to research your theory closer?

[Chknkatsu]

No... It hasn't been straight told to me dickhead. I got a "it's way over due for timming".. That sure is informative I better rush down to the audi dealer and change the timming belt because a forum member said so.. I ,and many should, need a logical explanation before disobeying Audi's recommended maintanance. People have broken belts prior to the 100k according to you. How often does this happen? Again do we have any forum data or anything for me to research your theory closer?

it has happened plenty of times, but if you feel it is safe to putt around for 10K then go for it. maybe you can rebuild your valve train too