$2,000

[cavekidd]

I am saving up $2,000 towards my B5 A4 1.8TQMAEB but I need help from yall..

What would make my a4 completely mechanically sound?

I don't want to completely do a engine rebuild because by my self it'd be difficult and I wouldn't have much time due to school and it would cost too much for a mechanic.

Also, the cars paint is literally 50 shades of grey (silver lol) So it could do with a paint job of choice. But obviously before doing that, I'd want the car to bemechanically sound, so what do yall suggest I do?
I might take it to a shop for some compression tests but other than that, looking to do a coolant flush, all relay refresh, refresh the coil packs and spark plugs, and maybe a good quality cone filter.

Reason I am asking for help is because I don't have much experience with my car, haven't driven it more than twice lol. So I am asking you guys; what would make me comfortable knowing this car would be sound and strong down the line that I could spend that much on a paint job??

[redline380]

If it breaks, fix it.

[19birel]

Maintenance is everything. How many miles are on your car/has the timing belt been replaced? If it's do that, along with the water pump, thermo stat, etc. (just get the ECS Tuning Ultimate Timing Belt kit and it has everything). When was your transmission and diff fluid last changed? Don't know? change it. Hows your PCV system doing? over time the pipes get brittle and disintegrate, this can lead to increased amounts of blow by due to an increase in crankcase pressure resulting in higher oil consumption. What about your suspension? Does it creak? inspect you sway bar end links (the rubber bushings in these tend to perish over time), check your control arms for torn boots/bladders and bushings, check your tie rods while your in there too. Do your brakes squeak? how are your pads and rotors? I see you live in Canada, how's your exhaust, is it rusty, are there holes in it? The list goes on...

As far as painting it, don't do a color change, to do that properly costs a lot of extra money, just get it repainted all one shade of silver haha.

[GOODBYNAAIR]

How many miles on the car? If your stock don't worry about a cone filter just get a drop in k&n or aem filter the stock box flows well and is great for heat.

If things like Tbelt water pump are good I would refresh the suspension with an fcp kit make a big difference on a 15 year old car if it's never been done. That's a start give use more info on what's been done ect.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[cavekidd]

If it breaks, fix it.

I want to avoid that, trump.

[cavekidd]

Maintenance is everything. How many miles are on your car/has the timing belt been replaced? If it's do that, along with the water pump, thermo stat, etc. (just get the ECS Tuning Ultimate Timing Belt kit and it has everything). When was your transmission and diff fluid last changed? Don't know? change it. Hows your PCV system doing? over time the pipes get brittle and disintegrate, this can lead to increased amounts of blow by due to an increase in crankcase pressure resulting in higher oil consumption. What about your suspension? Does it creak? inspect you sway bar end links (the rubber bushings in these tend to perish over time), check your control arms for torn boots/bladders and bushings, check your tie rods while your in there too. Do your brakes squeak? how are your pads and rotors? I see you live in Canada, how's your exhaust, is it rusty, are there holes in it? The list goes on...

As far as painting it, don't do a color change, to do that properly costs a lot of extra money, just get it repainted all one shade of silver haha.

Yea a proper paint costs $2,000 from a reputable garage.

Thank you for that list, the car has about 188k kms, which is 116k miles. Timing belt, water pump etc is good, clutch is good, but your list is definitely something I am going to take into consideration. The exhaust system is great too. Had a turbo return line rot so I had to replace that but I will check into the pcv system. Thanks.

But why not a colour change lool, was really looking into it

[cavekidd]

How many miles on the car? If your stock don't worry about a cone filter just get a drop in k&n or aem filter the stock box flows well and is great for heat.

If things like Tbelt water pump are good I would refresh the suspension with an fcp kit make a big difference on a 15 year old car if it's never been done. That's a start give use more info on what's been done ect.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Tbh the only thing done is the timing beltt, clutch, straight pipe and brakes.
Suspension stock. Cute little red shocks lool
Ecu stock.
everything pretty much stock right now.

[19birel]

Yea a proper paint costs $2,000 from a reputable garage.

Thank you for that list, the car has about 188k kms, which is 116k miles. Timing belt, water pump etc is good, clutch is good, but your list is definitely something I am going to take into consideration. The exhaust system is great too. Had a turbo return line rot so I had to replace that but I will check into the pcv system. Thanks.

But why not a colour change lool, was really looking into it

Because then you have to respray the bay, door jams etc. and there is much more labor involved which equates to much more money haha. I'd keep it silver, but if you're willing to drop the extra cash go for it, after maintenance of course;) lol

[redline380]

I want to avoid that, trump.

So you might as well just buy a brand new car. That's what you want out of your decade and a half old Audi, right? For it to be new?

If shit is broken or being close to broke, fix it. If not, drive the damn thing. I could do a tbelt every single week on my car if I wanted to. But that is pointless and a waste of money and time.

[CarlWeasly]

As many people have said, definitely knock out maintenance first. It can be kind of a pain to find out what needs to get fixed without driving it, the best way to find out what your car needs is to get some seat time. I've had to do several things to my car that I didn't think about at first, but it'l all come into play Also noticed you said you have red shocks, which means you have factory sport suspension, nice! Since all the major work seems to be done so far, definitely check for suspension creaks, take a look at the CV joints, boots, and axles. If you have quattro(i don't know for sure) check the rear diff, see if the axle flanges are leaking, etc.(your diff would have a layer of gear oil on it). And to reiterate what redline said, go drive it. nothing breaks on a car that doesn't get driven (except for dry rot)

[19birel]

So you might as well just buy a brand new car. That's what you want out of your decade and a half old Audi, right? For it to be new?

If shit is broken or being close to broke, fix it. If not, drive the damn thing. I could do a tbelt every single week on my car if I wanted to. But that is pointless and a waste of money and time.

He means, that rather than waiting for some thing to go wrong, what are some service items that should be taken care of, or things to look out for that may be on their way out. Preventative maintenance is a good habit to get into if you want your car to operate as well as possible. You don't need to go overboard with it, but if you notice some of your PCV pipes are showing signs of cracking, rather than waiting for them to disintegrate all together, they should be replaced.

[redline380]

You don't need to go overboard with it, but if you notice some of your PCV pipes are showing signs of cracking, rather than waiting for them to disintegrate all together, they should be replaced.

If they are cracked, they are broken. Fix them. If a wheel bearing is making noise, it is broken, fix it. If the teblt has 60k miles on it, it will break. Fix it.

I just don't understand the "I have $2k, what should I replace?" question. Sounded like he wants to spend $2k on stuff that may be operating just fine.

[19birel]

If they are cracked, they are broken. Fix them. If a wheel bearing is making noise, it is broken, fix it. If the teblt has 60k miles on it, it will break. Fix it.

I just don't understand the "I have $2k, what should I replace?" question. Sounded like he wants to spend $2k on stuff that may be operating just fine.

Oh I guess we just interpreted the question differently. I took it as him saying he has 2k to spend on maintenance, what are some things that he should check for that could be broken that he may not have noticed, or if there is an important service interval coming up that he should be aware of.

[cavekidd]

He means, that rather than waiting for some thing to go wrong, what are some service items that should be taken care of, or things to look out for that may be on their way out. Preventative maintenance is a good habit to get into if you want your car to operate as well as possible. You don't need to go overboard with it, but if you notice some of your PCV pipes are showing signs of cracking, rather than waiting for them to disintegrate all together, they should be replaced.

Lol thank you very much birel, thank you.

[cavekidd]

Oh I guess we just interpreted the question differently. I took it as him saying he has 2k to spend on maintenance, what are some things that he should check for that could be broken that he may not have noticed, or if there is an important service interval coming up that he should be aware of.

Lol trump will be trump I guess.

[cavekidd]

As many people have said, definitely knock out maintenance first. It can be kind of a pain to find out what needs to get fixed without driving it, the best way to find out what your car needs is to get some seat time. I've had to do several things to my car that I didn't think about at first, but it'l all come into play Also noticed you said you have red shocks, which means you have factory sport suspension, nice! Since all the major work seems to be done so far, definitely check for suspension creaks, take a look at the CV joints, boots, and axles. If you have quattro(i don't know for sure) check the rear diff, see if the axle flanges are leaking, etc.(your diff would have a layer of gear oil on it). And to reiterate what redline said, go drive it. nothing breaks on a car that doesn't get driven (except for dry rot)

Yes, you and birel gave me a lot of knowledge. I will surely refresh the relays, coolant, coil packs, spark plugs and check all systems in; pcv, suspension, etc.

From there I will go on to drive it and experience it enough to paint it.

Thanks u guys.