RS4 shopping - questions

[steve-0101]

Hi all,

New here... I am in the market for a B7 RS4 and have test driven a few. I found one I like, but I'm curious about the condition of the carbon fibre engine covers.... they are definitely yellowed which I understand is normal, but they also seem quite "chipped". Is this in any way normal for this car?

I've tried to attach a photo - hopefully it comes through.

Any thoughts / comments are appreciated.

Cheers.

[Keithpul]

Wow how many miles?? Those are in rough shape!

[Keithpul]

My thing is if the engine bay isn't in good shape kept up with and clean what else isn't kept up with and clean?? Someone who is very picky about their engine bay chances are they are picky about everything as well

[steve-0101]

102k miles. It is a US car, was imported to Canada in 2009.

Lot of work done to it very recently (nearly $5k), I have the invoice. Pretty sure it was neglected in a very recent past life.

[dsgray16]

Why do you like this car? What are the basic details?

That’s one of the filthiest engine bays I have ever seen.. wouldn’t touch for that reason alone. Speaks volumes about care and maintenance of previous owner(s)

And yes, that carbon is peaking and yellowed worse than normal IMO.

[stanglife]

These engine bays are HOT due to being sealed up mostly from the top. Those engine covers are known to yellow and even bubble/delaminate to a degree. I wouldn't take that as the single indication for an abused engine/car. My car has 50k on it and they don't have that grey carbon look that they have when they are new - just a little yellow. The rest of the engine bay looks new.

[steve-0101]

- replaced both axle boots
- replaced both left and right side valve cover gaskets (oil leak)
- decarb while intake was off
- new pads, rotors machined
- replaced side engine mount, sensor was broken off, and sensor had been bypassed
- installed new crank seal (oil leak from front crank shaft seal)
- installed new aluminum intake manifold linkage pair, rebuilt intake plenum

Not sure whether I should be happy this was all completed or scared that this was all completed

[Keithpul]

What's the history before all of that?any history??

[steve-0101]

Why do you like this car? What are the basic details?

That’s one of the filthiest engine bays I have ever seen.. wouldn’t touch for that reason alone. Speaks volumes about care and maintenance of previous owner(s)

And yes, that carbon is peaking and yellowed worse than normal IMO.

That's why I am asking. I'm new to this world, so not sure what's normal and what's not normal.

The fact is, there are only about a dozen RS4s available for sale nationwide here - this one has a clean carpoof / carfax - a few others have frame damage; $20k accident damage; multiple reported accidents; a thousand owners.

Thank you again, I do appreciate any input. Still learning.

[steve-0101]

What's the history before all of that?any history??

I don't have any prior history. Just saying that out loud, I'm realizing that's not good.

[dsgray16]

That's why I am asking. I'm new to this world, so not sure what's normal and what's not normal.

The fact is, there are only about a dozen RS4s available for sale nationwide here - this one has a clean carpoof / carfax - a few others have frame damage; $20k accident damage; multiple reported accidents; a thousand owners.

Thank you again, I do appreciate any input. Still learning.

All good..

Check out the car that just hit BringaTrailer.com. Looks clean.

What’s your budget?

[Keithpul]

Carfax doesn't have any history on it? Like for maintenance? And yeah seems like your best bet lol I mean at least all of that stuff is new so that's the major things brakes and carbon cleaning, I had the same situation when buying mine had to eliminate the worst of the worst and settle for one that seems best haha

[dsgray16]

This is my 147k mile car.. the carbon is yellowed, but the bay is clean.. you want to look for a car with an extensive maintenance history, preferably with multiple documented carbon cleaning services done.

[dsgray16]

Plug for a friend.. super clean well documented car..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ACNA...78743472279331

[b6bydesign04]

Yellowing is definitely common, bubbling a little less common.

Plug for a friend.. super clean well documented car..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ACNA...78743472279331

[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180424/c2e9a6c03baf0e4c4ca20d9233e35aa9.jpg[IMG]

Super clean and well maintained car, and in case OP doesn't have FB, he's posted it here as well: https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...2K-Miles-CT-MA

[musanoadsaba]

- replaced both axle boots
- replaced both left and right side valve cover gaskets (oil leak)
- decarb while intake was off
- new pads, rotors machined
- replaced side engine mount, sensor was broken off, and sensor had been bypassed
- installed new crank seal (oil leak from front crank shaft seal)
- installed new aluminum intake manifold linkage pair, rebuilt intake plenum

Not sure whether I should be happy this was all completed or scared that this was all completed

That is all fairly normal stuff. The rotors being machined is a bit odd. These rotors thin out and usually get replaced rather than being machined.
The state of that engine bay is brutal though. dsgray's is what I would want to see or a little dirtier, b/c his is really nice.

[R&Cs4]

This is my 147k mile car.. the carbon is yellowed, but the bay is clean.. you want to look for a car with an extensive maintenance history, preferably with multiple documented carbon cleaning services done.

Damn Dan, what do you use for detailing the black trim?

[dsgray16]

Damn Dan, what do you use for detailing the black trim?

A good degreaser and then Adam’s VRT

[steve-0101]

Plug for a friend.. super clean well documented car..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ACNA...78743472279331

Thanks - I'd rather not get into importing as that is another can of worms, not to mention our Canadian dollar is not so hot.

- - - Updated - - -

This is my 147k mile car.. the carbon is yellowed, but the bay is clean.. you want to look for a car with an extensive maintenance history, preferably with multiple documented carbon cleaning services done.

Wow. That thing shines!

[steve-0101]

Here are a few other pictures of it that I took... Seems clean (except for the engine bay), though the wheels have been refinished in black (which I rather like).

15246000127930.jpg15246000125646.jpg15246000122842.jpg

[CoreyRS]

Engine bays can be cleaned, I would be more concerned with the state of carbon buildup.

[Keithpul]

Engine bays can be cleaned, I would be more concerned with the state of carbon buildup.

He said it got carbon cleaning with all that other maintenance

[steve-0101]

Engine bays can be cleaned, I would be more concerned with the state of carbon buildup.

Invoice says carbon was cleaned when intakes were off, which was a few hundred miles ago... that’s all I have to go on.

[Keithpul]

Here are a few other pictures of it that I took... Seems clean (except for the engine bay), though the wheels have been refinished in black (which I rather like).

15246000127930.jpg15246000125646.jpg15246000122842.jpg

Looks clean in these pictures, I mean if only bad thing you can find is some yellowed carbon covers and not spotless engine bay I think you're doing pretty good.

[dsgray16]

Engine bays can be cleaned, I would be more concerned with the state of carbon buildup.

That’s kind of my point.. if the owner didn’t bother to do that, what else didn’t they bother to do?

[dsgray16]

Here are a few other pictures of it that I took... Seems clean (except for the engine bay), though the wheels have been refinished in black (which I rather like).

15246000127930.jpg15246000125646.jpg15246000122842.jpg

Car looks clean.. didn’t realize you were in Canada.

[Keithpul]

Is your search limited to distance?? There are some decent ones out there and personally better than black, mines black and I wish I could have found one in any other color but if you like black then it works

[steve-0101]

Is your search limited to distance?? There are some decent ones out there and personally better than black, mines black and I wish I could have found one in any other color but if you like black then it works

I’d like to stay within Canada if possible. Luckily, most cars are near Toronto, about 4 hours from me. The one I posted above is local.

For reference, that car is listed at $28k CAD, or around $22k USD. Most cars here are $20-35k CAD ($15-$27k USD).

[Keithpul]

I’d like to stay within Canada if possible. Luckily, most cars are near Toronto, about 4 hours from me. The one I posted above is local.

For reference, that car is listed at $28k CAD, or around $22k USD. Most cars here are $20-35k CAD ($15-$27k USD).

Yeah that's about average here as well, and I see yeah I guess it limits you a little bit more

[In4cus]

Your going to find very few used cars that have had OCD owners. If that's what your looking for, then your going to have a hard go at it. Buying used, usually means your going to be fixing or replacing something yourself. If you don't want that, then you'll have to buy new. That particular unit LOOKS good. It is a roll of the dice man, you have to look at yourself and decide if your ready for it. How is the interior? That's another indicator of a neglected car.

Sent from my 5049W using Audizine mobile app

[steve-0101]

Your going to find very few used cars that have had OCD owners. If that's what your looking for, then your going to have a hard go at it. Buying used, usually means your going to be fixing or replacing something yourself. If you don't want that, then you'll have to buy new. That particular unit LOOKS good. It is a roll of the dice man, you have to look at yourself and decide if your ready for it. How is the interior? That's another indicator of a neglected car.

Sent from my 5049W using Audizine mobile app

Interior is clean. It's actually in very good shape.

At this point, the things that are an issue for me are:

- US vehicle (affects resale here in Canada)
- No service history, except the latest invoice mentioned
- CF engine covers look like they were acid washed

Other than that, it seems to drive well.

I think I know the answer to this already, but are the CF engine covers available anymore? I can't seem to find them anywhere.

[steve-0101]

One other question, regarding steering. The steering feels very heavy at anything above, say, walking speed. Is this normal? It's heavier steering than I've experienced before.

[b6bydesign04]

I think I know the answer to this already, but are the CF engine covers available anymore? I can't seem to find them anywhere.

I believe they are available thru ECS Tuning, just currently back ordered (and also quite expensive):

Front Cover - https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...nt/079103950a/

Rear Cover - https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...ar/079103926m/


Also worth noting, sometimes they pop up on eBay or here on the forums. This decently clean set recently sold for $120.50 on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Audi-RS4-In...53.m1438.l2649


I think @KuhlRennsport might also be working on a aftermarket option as he's done something similar for the RS5, see this post:

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post12959865

[Fourplay]

One other question, regarding steering. The steering feels very heavy at anything above, say, walking speed. Is this normal? It's heavier steering than I've experienced before.

The steering is assisted at low speeds to make maneuvering easy. Above 10mph or so, the assist falls away so the ratio/heft is more appropriate for a performance car.

[steve-0101]

The steering is electronically assisted at low speeds to make maneuvering easy. Above 10mph or so, the assist falls away so the ratio/heft is more appropriate for a performance car.

Makes sense... thanks!

[steve-0101]

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's input. Yesterday I became the proud owner of my 2007 Mugello Blue RS4.



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[b6bydesign04]

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's input. Yesterday I became the proud owner of my 2007 Mugello Blue RS4.



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[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/f6d07440f827c087877aa9be22d2d962.jpg[IMG]

Congrats and welcome man! Any immediate plans?

[steve-0101]

Congrats and welcome man! Any immediate plans?

I'm gonna drive it like I stole it! :)

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[jonan]

I'm gonna drive it like I stole it! :)

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nice, welcome to the club, car looks clean!