Advice/recommendations for a B7 A4 Avant

[ballinb5]

Hi all - I'm searching for a replacement car for my B8.5 S4 and really like the look and modding potential of the B7 A4 Avant with the 2.0T and 6 speed (manual is a must!)

Checked a few out online, but they all have oil consumption issues. After some research, it seems that it's pretty common for the 2.0T motor. Any recommendations? How does one diagnose oil consumption if I were to go look at the car? Will a compression or leak down test reveal anything?

I'm very flexible on color, options, mileage, location etc... as I don't mind slowly buying and upgrading pieces to sline. Just looking for something low, slow, and more space with the avant.

Anyone know of any good cars around DC area?

Anything else I should be worried about on this platform?

Thanks in advance.

My current car hehe:

[quietcropduster]

I've done this twice....had a decently fast car, sold it and bought a slower one. I won't be doing it a third time...that's my answer ;-)

double thumbin' it!

[drewgold]

I have had a B7 2.0t 6mt Avant for 3 years and love it. Oil consumption isn't that common, however those who do have issues have a hell of a time trying to figure out the root cause as it can be many things. I think some of the late B7's had the same improper ring installation as the B8's did but that should be covered under an extended service bulletin.

BY FAR the biggest issue with the B7 2.0t is cam follower wear and failure. Had mine go and destroy the entire top end of my engine. Very luckily for me, it was all covered under the extended warranty which I believe has now expired for the B7 platform. Before buying any B7 make sure you or a shop checks the cam follower and lobe on the cam for excessive wear or signs of a past failure.
Most guys replace their cam followers every second or third oil change just to be safe, it's not supposed to be but people treat it as a wear item that needs to be replaced regularly.

Another common issue is oil pump failure, there is a 1.8t oil pump retrofit that some guys do, there are some performance benefits and the 1.8t oil pump is far more reliable.

Every platform has its issues. There are a lot of guys who maintain their cars well and also beat the crap out of them (JHM Tuning guys for one) and have no issues. The 2.0t is a pretty robust engine if it is looked after properly.

Some inspiration for you:



My B7 started life as a bone stock, non-Sline but is now one of the sexiest B7's around!

[Chris@EPL]

As I think the longest running B7A4 Avant owner on here I would say to look at the older B7s. The 2005.5s seem to have a lot of less issues than the newer ones. I have a 2005.5 and bought it in 2007 with 10k on it and now at 255k miles I am getting ready for my 3rd timing belt kit, first carbon cleaning and still the stock clutch and I have been stage 1 since 15k miles. I also have been lucky with cam followers and replace them at 50-75k mile intervals.

[pkny]

If you still interested and don't mind some body work. My car was recently totalled by Geico and looks to be prepped for auction. What really pissed me off was they never gave me a chance to buy it back. The car was driven for a week after the accident, it was mainly a low impact accident with no airbags deployed from either vehicles.

Steering rack just changed, timing belt changed at 85k, cam follower changed out every 20k miles and oil every 5k miles.
https://www.iaai.com/Vehicles/Vehicl...05&RowNumber=2