b6 S4 Purchase

[Skygo1300]

Hello All,

I'm about to purchase a B6 S4 ( 6speed ) . I have been obsessed with the model since 2004 and looking for insight on pre purchase red flags. The B6 S4 i'm looking at is in good condition with 95k miles and will be my daily driver.

Please let me know your insight on what to look for and the absolute no-go issues for the model. In regards to the 6 speed transmission, what is the replacement window and cost?
I'm looking to do the following right away.

* Brakes / Rotors
*Clutch
*Transmission in needed
* Fluids
* Tires

This will be my first Audi and look forward to hearing good information on the B6 S4.

Thank You

[ak-s4]

Hmm, compression/leakdown test, borescope cylinders, inspect plugs while in there, check startup rattle, control arm bushings, check A/C, scan for codes, has it been tuned....

[Zolli]

Some useful stuff here:

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...f-the-B6-B7-S4

[514Donny]

Not trying to burst your bubble, but I feel it is my duty to inform you of a few things regarding this.

Make sure you have a cushion cash wise, thoses are KNOWN all around for camshaft adjuster and chain tensionners going bad EARLY, requiring to pull the engine on the later, you are looking at a pricey repair depending where you live 5k USD ++ or from 7 to 10k CAD.

But thoses are also fabled beasts, a V8 in a sedan with quattro, and the SOUND MAN THE SOUND

[Zolli]

But thoses are also fabled beasts, a V8 in a sedan with quattro, and the SOUND MAN THE SOUND

I know right?!? Audi was like, “hey, what if we stuffed a V8 into a car the size of a Corolla and gave it the greatest 4wd? That’d be awesome, right?”

Indeed, Audi, indeed.

[calebtbay]

I wouldn’t buy another one without proof the timing was done in the last 50k miles. I would probably buy a valve cover gasket just so I could take a valve cover off to see if paint is flaking off the underside into the head. I would definitely scope the cylinders and leak down test. Definitely check if it’s burning oil and how much.

The transmission? I didn’t think that was a trouble spot. Do they do anything to the transmission when they put on a supercharger? Other than the clutch? A good clutch and flywheel setup is $2000. Then another $2-3 if you need someone else to put it in for you.

Repairs and maintenance items that shouldn’t be maintenance items like timing guides can quickly exceed the value of the car.

If it needs a transmission and has no recent timing documentation thats a $500 car all day. Well maybe $1000. Market has probably changed in the six years since I bought a car.

[Skygo1300]

Thank you, I have mechanic in the area of the car that is going to preform a PPI. I'll make sure to include your recommendations.
I plan to keep this one for a while and keep it in good shape.

[kevinish]

Funny, i was just driving my 167K mile B6 out to the coast in solid rain and back for about two hours (about 120 miles of gloriously windy roads), and got back thinking one thing: “God i f—-ing love this car.” If you get it sorted, it’ll be the best car you ever bought, although the diff is seriously obnoxious.

So my humble two cents (not a mechanic, but rebuilt a fair number of engines in my youth, so not completely clueless)

Biggest concern is making sure you have a straight body, so really check the history to make sure it wasn’t tracked and bent somewhere.

The OTHER thing: This car has a molybdenum timing chain. Which is a ‘lifetime’ part. Which is all well and good, but the GUIDES and pulleys that the chain runs on are ANYTHING but “lifetime”. So be prepared for at most every 75K miles, you are going into “maintenance mode” A.K.A: “Taking the whole front end off the car” mode. A timing chain “freshening” is about $2000+ easy, so get ready, and have a top notch shop do it.

Minor stuff:
1. if it hasn’t been done already, have the piston on the glovebox removed; it breaks the hinge, and the hinge is awful, anyway.
2. This car eats tires and cores, so be prepared to replace both every couple of years.
3. Use 91 octane. I’ve put 167K on mine, and everyone keeps telling the valves are still ‘pristine’. So it’s worth the extra.

It’s probably one of the most effortless cars i have ever driven; does everything you ask of it easily; a daily driver that is frankly addicting to drive.