Looking at an S4...need some help.

[KingWulfgar]

I've found an '01 S4 local to me that the price seems too good (it usually is, right). It's got 135k miles and it's "pretty much stock" but with a Stage 1 tune done by a local (good) tuner. The body seems decent from the pictures other than they've put an RS4 front bumper on it (it's ok--just not a huge fan). The interior looks really good (also from pictures).

Here are the downsides:
1) It's an auto. He has had the TC replaced/repaired recently and says he has a receipt for it. Also has receipts for recent timing belt/water pump service by the previous owner. So that should be good to go for a while.
2) Leaks a bit of oil. He says it's not too bad and that he thinks it's coming from one of the head gaskets. I think he means valve cover gasket (as those tend to be problematic on these cars), but I'll try to confirm in person. He doesn't seem too savvy on working on cars (I'm not either, but I'm learning).
3) Needs brake pads (likely rotors too I'm guessing).

The car is listed for $3500, but I'm hoping to get him to come off that a bit if I like it in person. I haven't been to see it yet, but we're trying to make arrangements to meet for that. I should be able to scan it with my VAGCOM and he's sending me the VIN so I can see if it's a clean title.

I know there are loads of problem spots on these cars. With a tune, I could definitely be looking at new turbos in the future. I assume if they're blown already they'll throw a code like in my B7? It sounds like the previous owner took care of it ok, but this guy hasn't owned it for long, traded a manual IS300 he says he loved, and seems like he just wants rid of it.

This will NOT be a daily driver. I am looking for something to learn on, take my time with, and not have to have back up and running every weekday to get to work with. My B7 is still great and gets me where I need to go comfortably. The S4 would be somewhat of a toy/educational tool and possibly a swearing enhancer since I've heard the 2.7 biturbo can be a bit of a pain to work on at times.

So, anything specific I should try and determine from inspecting it, driving it, and hopefully scanning it? Am I just totally insane? Help me out here, AZ.

[vavJETTAw36]

I'd drive it. If the turbos sound bad then you know it could be an issue. If the transmission has issues then that will be an issue too.

Disregard the oil leaks that happens to 100% of the s4s. Cheap to fix (yourself).

Brakes are cheap (throw some solid centric rotors on it and nice pads) ~300

3500 isn't a bad price though assuming the body is decent and assuming there isn't a million little things wrong.




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[seanf86]

if hes got receipts for a torque converter that would be a big one, turbos you can remove the inlets and check for shaft play with the engine in the car and you can check for smoke, weird noises on a test drive. As long as you're not scared to get your hands dirty and spend some money it sounds like a decent deal.

FWIW I paid $2000cdn for my 2001 silver/black interior car with revo stg 1 180k miles, new brakes,wheel bearings, it needed flex pipes, t stat and a couple control arms to pass inspection. Few weeks after I bought it the torque converter failed, replaced it and checked turbos, no shaft play, 3 weeks later drivers turbo failed, I hate the car sometimes but its not my daily so it can sit with no engine for weeks at a time and it only bothers me I can't park something else in the garage.

[KingWulfgar]

I hate the car sometimes but its not my daily so it can sit with no engine for weeks at a time and it only bothers me I can't park something else in the garage.

That's where I'd be (hopefully without the hate). Brakes, valve cover gaskets, misc stuff, I would be cool fixing myself. Ideally, I'd like to get some experience working on it prior to having to pull the engine and replace turbos, but you never know what Murphy is going to deliver, right? I can listen to them, feel how it drives, and scan it for codes, but I don't know that I can get my hands on them in his apartment parking lot, so I may have to take a gamble.

Trying to drive it in the next couple days (he works until 7 and I'd really prefer to see it in the daylight with an hour or so of time to mill around it). I'd like to get him down to $2800 or $3k but I'm not sure he's that motivated. Tried to feel him out to see how long he's been trying to get rid of it, but couldn't get a good read.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm still rather intimidated by the thought of having to pull the engine on it, but it's an unknown, not a certainty. I'll just have to see it/drive it in person and see what I think, I guess. Fortunately, it's not that much money for a "toy," but I'd hate to have to dump another $3k into it immediately to put it back to safe and tip-top driving condition.

[seanf86]

That's where I'd be (hopefully without the hate). Brakes, valve cover gaskets, misc stuff, I would be cool fixing myself. Ideally, I'd like to get some experience working on it prior to having to pull the engine and replace turbos, but you never know what Murphy is going to deliver, right? I can listen to them, feel how it drives, and scan it for codes, but I don't know that I can get my hands on them in his apartment parking lot, so I may have to take a gamble.

Trying to drive it in the next couple days (he works until 7 and I'd really prefer to see it in the daylight with an hour or so of time to mill around it). I'd like to get him down to $2800 or $3k but I'm not sure he's that motivated. Tried to feel him out to see how long he's been trying to get rid of it, but couldn't get a good read.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm still rather intimidated by the thought of having to pull the engine on it, but it's an unknown, not a certainty. I'll just have to see it/drive it in person and see what I think, I guess. Fortunately, it's not that much money for a "toy," but I'd hate to have to dump another $3k into it immediately to put it back to safe and tip-top driving condition.

Don't be intimidated by an engine pull, its not that hard, when you think about it it's over whelming but it's really just disconnect vac/fuel/evap lines, put ecm and harness on top of engine, undo a few grounds, axles, driveshaft trans mount engine mounts and pluck it out with a crane.

[jpurre]

Or you could buy mine with far less worries.. but more green backs.. shameless plug.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...p-Silver-Clean

[KingWulfgar]

Or you could buy mine with far less worries.. but more green backs.. shameless plug.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...p-Silver-Clean

Looks like a great specimen. Unfortunately, I'm on a rather tighter budget than that.

[jpurre]

Looks like a great specimen. Unfortunately, I'm on a rather tighter budget than that.

Good luck with the hunt!

[vavJETTAw36]

Looks like a great specimen. Unfortunately, I'm on a rather tighter budget than that.

Tighter budget?? Wooooooooh, better stay away from the b5 s4 lol

[Bordom]

Tighter budget?? Wooooooooh, better stay away from the b5 s4 lol

x2

[dammitcam]

It's a Trap!

[KingWulfgar]

It's a Trap!

Yes it is. It's not really a question of money to throw at the car over time. Like I said above, it could sit for 6 months while I save to fix something it needs. It's more about how much I'm willing to lay out initially at one time. I'll admit, it's lower than I'd like it to be, but it can't hurt to try.

Incidentally, I'm probably going to pass on this one. I'll probably still go look at it since it's fairly close to me, but if I got into an S4, I'm pretty sure I want a manual and there's no way I'm up for a swap at this point. Way beyond my comfort level. There's a really nice Imola Yellow 6-speed in town too, but he wants $5500 for that one.