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  1. #1
    Registered Member One Ring
    Join Date
    Jan 07 2016
    AZ Member #
    366830
    Location
    Sacramento, CA

    Advice on Buying an 07 A4 2.0T with 97k miles on it.

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    I saw a beautiful black A4 with 97k miles on it. It has a salvage title due to the drivers side doors being involved in an accident. I test drove the car and it drove fine. Here are the things that he just did to the car. Replaced timing chain tensioner, replaced throttle valve, replaced fuek pressure valve, removed transmission and replaced flix plate. He mentioned that while doing so, he saw 80,000 written on the water pump which he assumed to be the mileage at which the water pump and timing belt had been replaced.

    The asking price is $7800.

    The interiors are clean, but the moonroof is acting weird. It opens all the way, but gets stuck with the inner moonroof door while trying to close it. Also, when I popped up the hood, I heard the engine and it sounded like a diesel motor. I am guessing this is the sound of the turbo charger. Please correct me if I am wrong.

    Do you think this is a good purchase. If so, what would be the price I should be paying. If now, what models / engine would you suggest me. How much life can I expect from these turbo charged motors?

    Thanks in advance. I hope be a part of the Audi family soon.

  2. #2
    Veteran Member Four Rings DannyDeez's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 11 2004
    AZ Member #
    3455
    My Garage
    16 Q5
    Location
    Westchester, NY

    Hey welcome to audizine!

    My best advice is DO NOT pay that much money for a salvage car. People here are selling better cars for the same amount of money or less. These cars are barely worth that much anymore in good condition. Salvage makes them worth nothing unless you plan on keeping it for the rest of your life.

    I wouldn't assume anything when it comes to the timing belt with these cars. If it breaks, you can kiss your engine goodbye. Even if the repair has been done, it still doesn't make this car worth anything near that asking price.

    The moonroof I'm not sure about. I know the switch goes bad which would cause the roof to only close halfway and you have to play with the switch to get it to fully close. But I've never heard of it getting stuck with the inner door while trying to close. Usually the door stays open while the roof closes. If its hanging up and bringing the door with it then maybe someone else will chime in here.

    These 2.0 engines do sound diesel-ish even in good health. You said he replaced the timing chain tensioner. He should have replaced the chain itself as well. The chain AND tensioner are major culprits in making these engines sound more diesel like than they should. When the chain gets old it gets slack, and the slack in the chain is what makes that loud ticking sound. I had mine done because the car sounded so loud, even after the repair the car still has that diesel like sound but not nearly as bad.

    The sound is NOT the turbo. The turbo won't make any noise at idle when you've popped the hood. Under acceleration it gives off a completely different sound and with this tiny turbo you probably won't even hear it at all. If you do hear it then its probably on its way out. Youtube turbo sound and blown turbo if you've never heard one.

    Something you also need to consider: These cars have a cam follower issue. You can read up on it by searching "cam follower" here or on google so I won't go into it, but basically you have to change it and change it often(every other oil change is good). Its a quick half hour job and very inexpensive, but when searching for a car you want to make sure its been changed. Audi even acknowledges this problem and has extended the warranty on the cam follower for 120k miles and/or 10 years from the in service date of the car. If I remember correctly the 2008's were not covered under the extended warranty but they still suffer from the issue. I bought my car with 85,000 or so miles and the cam follower was in good condition, and I've changed it twice since then. I have just over 100k miles now.

    There are a coupe other warranty extensions as well. Your best bet is to call Audi of America and give them the vin# for whatever car you are looking at (I must have called them for like 10 different cars during my search). Ask them to tell you what extended warranties are on the car, and also ask them for the "in service date". This will start the clock on the 10 years that they give you for the certain warranty extensions.

    I do need to mention that if you find one with an s-line package it is a plus. All 2008's have the s-line exterior package and badging but they are NOT true s-line cars unless they have been specifically fitted with the s-line package(lowered suspension, different wheels, different steering wheel are some of the big giveaways to be able to tell). DO NOT get tricked into buying a 2008 as a "s-line" because 99% of sellers think that they have a true s-line car and advertise it as such.

    OEM bi-xenon headlights are your friend. Try to find a car that has them. The stock halogens suck.

    To sum it up, you can get over 200k miles out of these cars easy. I would just stay away from that specific car. Keep looking and especially keep your eye out on the classified section here. Good luck with your search!
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  3. #3
    Veteran Member Four Rings mtroxel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 24 2004
    AZ Member #
    858
    Location
    Minneapolis

    Very pricey for a salvage tittle.
    11 A4 Q, Prestige, Black
    207,000 miles, APR Stage 1

  4. #4
    Junior Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Oct 29 2015
    AZ Member #
    363770
    Location
    Central Florida

    Stay away unless you can get it much cheaper. Unless the seller has documents/receipts for the maintenance mentioned above I wouldn't take their word on it being done.

    Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

  5. #5
    Veteran Member Three Rings 1killera4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 18 2014
    AZ Member #
    158620
    Location
    Dunedin Florida

    Do not buy a salvage title car.

  6. #6
    Veteran Member Four Rings Samsonite's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 15 2013
    AZ Member #
    113421
    My Garage
    Golf Clubs
    Location
    Minnesota

    I agree that is way over priced for a salvage.

    IMO a salvage could be ok if you know the true story and get an inspection, but you should be getting a suuuper good deal on it. As in, there is absolutely no way that type of car would be selling for that little, unless it were salvaged...i.e. car valued at 10,000 selling for 6-7,000 because salvaged.
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    2011 S4 6MT • Ibis White • Black Optic • Sport Diff
    2008 A4 S-line Avant 2.0T 6MT • Ibis White • APR Stage 2
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  7. #7
    Veteran Member Four Rings B-Time's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 03 2009
    AZ Member #
    42009
    Location
    East

    Salvage title for a door? That's not the whole story. Whatever you do, don't buy a FWD auto. Worst audi slushbox ever.

  8. #8
    Veteran Member Four Rings 80sGuy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 09 2007
    AZ Member #
    21660
    My Garage
    Miele S7
    Location
    Los Angeles

    ^^In other words - a CVT......ha ha!

    2008 A4 2.0T | Dolphin Gray Metallic/Dk Gray | multitronic | Bluetooth | Dk Wood | Convenience. | Premium. | Sprt Susp. | Bare-bone 100% factory stock!

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