supradibbs Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Ok guys decided probably gonna get one of these great car for the money and i have previously owned a 2.0 TDI version sadly very rare over here. Anything i should look out for decided against the 4wd model as mine used to eat tyres. Any issues i should look out for? apart from the normal head gasket etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Which model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supradibbs Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 1.8 turbo and being a yank model is a auto which i kninda dont mind different driving style over here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 1.8 turbo and being a yank model is a auto which i kninda dont mind different driving style over here I mean, like an A4 or A6? Or is an Audi 1.8T an actual model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 P.s, are you not interested in buying a US supra over there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supradibbs Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Ah sorry thought i put it in the title its a A4, i would love another supra and have the money in the bank to by pretty much any supra over here i want but to be honest sick of throwing money down the drain the last one cost me a absoulute fortune because am never happy and my supras have to be perfect!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supradibbs Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 link to the car am just about to go look at http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=275688131&dealer_id=58232109&model=A4&start_year=2002&search_type=both&distance=50&end_year=2005&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&address=30269&seller_type=b&make=AUDI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 link to the car am just about to go look at http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=275688131&dealer_id=58232109&model=A4&start_year=2002&search_type=both&distance=50&end_year=2005&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&address=30269&seller_type=b&make=AUDI Is that going to suffice your need for speed though? Lovely car, but no speed demon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Make sure all oil changes have been done at the right times. There was confusion with many owners between the standard and long life service intervals. Most owners opted to revert to the standard intervals and still use the long life oil. Sludge can build up in the sump which can bugger the oil journals causing turbo failure - flushing with additives isn't always a guarantee and it is recommended that the sump be removed periodically and cleaned out properly. Make sure drain points are clear around the battery. They can get blocked and prevent water draining out. If water fills this area, it will get into the car and in extreme cases damage the central convenience unit under the seat. Problems with ABS, Pedal sensors, etc when it's raining can point to water getting in on the driver's side (the wiring connectors for said sensors are the first to get dripped on). There have been cases where water has got into the plastic box that houses the ECU and relays - symptom will be the cooling fan staying on when the engine is cold and switched off (it may refuse to start and throw an error code relating to ECU live feed pin.) Suspension is made up of complex link arms so tracing problems regarding wear can be hit and miss. It's sometimes a better option to get a full kit and replace the lot. Beware of the pinch bolt for the upper balljoints - they're often seized in solid (who decided on a steel bolt in an alloy hub??!) Water pump impellers were usually made of plastic.......nuff said (later ones were improved but instead of breaking, they can just lose grip in the shaft resulting in the impeller not spinning!) Head gaskets weren't actually a common failure - they're steel....(pity the water pump impellers weren't) Electrical issues were a source of misery for plenty of owners (UK and US) - usual problems were keys needing to be reprogrammed, air con control panel faults (needing replacement) although if the air con does not switch on and stays in 'economy' mode, try changing the G12 sensor on the air con pipe near the radiator - you can change it easily as it's on a schraeder valve so won't dump your gas when you unscrew it! There was, and as far as I know still is an issue with ABS pumps. Replacement is usually the only option although there are some repairers out there. Hope that helps. I owned a 2003 A4 1.8T and without wanting to put you off, it was the worst car I ever bought. It blew 2 turbos due to 'sludge' and also drank a litre of oil every 1000 miles. Audi told me the oil consumption was normal. After speaking to other owners, my oil use was actually low as an owner of a new RS4 was using nearly 2 litres in 1200 miles. A friend's brother has just bought a 2006 1.8T convertible that has been back to the dealer with 7 seperate problems in 2 months. the guy paid a premium because it was an Audi approved used car and their after sales has not been exactly good. I think Audi really dropped the ball on this one. To summarise - keep a Supra instead. At least getting to know a Supra to a level where you're familiar with every nut and bolt is more enjoyable than wasting time on the square head car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathanc Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Audis are nice cars but really hard to maintain yourself ( the newer models ) as they are full of complicated technical stuff. Like straighsix said - the confusion of long and short life oil sucks so you need to have comprehensive history. Changing the timing belt on my A8 was pain in the behind never mind trying to upgrade the stereo! Plus side is the AWD is lovely and is really well built. Personally I wished I'd gone for a BMW instead. How's the states treating ya? I'd get some American muscle or something similiar if I could. I heard petrol (or gas as americans call them) is cheaper there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I have a Seat Leon Cupra R, but the 1.8 turbo engines are pretty much the same, as already stated, waterpumps!!! OEM ones had plastic impellers, prone to melting and snapping off, happend to the previous owner of mine, luckily on his drive while running so no damage. Replaced with a Copper bladed one for not much more than an oem price. Coil packs seem to be iffy as well, touch wood i have only replaced 1 of mine. As already stated doing anything other than routine maintenance can be hard as most stuff is covered with plastic or requires the use of VAG-COM etc. Clutches are expensive to change as its recomended that along with the clutch you should also change the dual mass flywheel and the master cyclinder. Luckily tho they do seem robust and have never had problems with mine. Oil consumption on mine isnt that bad, its probably taken around 1.5 - 2l since buying the car in feb 2010 which is think isnt too bad. hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supradibbs Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Ok i brought the car. Only really issue i have with it is it wonders a little on the highway so taking it in tomorrow for a full alignment. Going to have a full service inc cam belt done and full inspection and have anything that requires doing done!! The Air con panel is a little worn and have managed to find a brand new part local for about 160 quid so going to get one plus i brought a new ESP switch also a little tatty looking other than that the interior is mint. Few dings on the bonnet nothing major going to have that taking care of in the summer along with paint correction. Wheel are mint no curbing etc. I paid about 8.000 for the car which considering Audis normally go for more money over here is good and want to make sure this remains a reliable car. Also after reading the great advice on here thanks guys, going to have the garage inspect the water pump and replace if required and pull the sump clean flush the engine through and put some quality oil in. Also going to replace the stereo with a i pod jobbie I allowed myself 2-2500 buck after the purhuse of the car to put anything right so hopefully should be ok, i know it seem crazy to spend that kind of money but the car has done 70000 miles and i want it to do ay least 200.000 On a side note have found the auto box very nice the car pull very nice not a spaceship but not slow either over all fairly happy with the buy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Get the water pump done regardless - even inspection doesn't always show how long it will last. It's not worth the risk of it chucking it's toys out of the pram and giving up for the extra few quid it's going to cost to change it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 By the way....an ECU remap works well on these cars. It's possible to get it mapped from 150bhp to 200-215bhp without any other mods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 oh yes, remap makes it much more fun :) what turbos are on the audi lump? KO3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Yep. Better with the K04 - much more power with remap, exhaust and filter. K04 delivers the power a lot more aggressively. Brakes should be upgreded before this point though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 **cough cough** Brembos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 **cough cough** Brembos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supradibbs Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Have the car booked into a import garage, he seems to know his Audis as he pretty much backed up everything you guys said. Also said that they change the wter pump when they do the timing belt for this reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 should be in good hands then amazes me why Audi used a plastic finned pump, you would have thought they would know this might happen. all down to cost again i expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightsix Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 should be in good hands then amazes me why Audi used a plastic finned pump, you would have thought they would know this might happen. all down to cost again i expect. Most VAG cars used plastic impellers as well as many of the Ford range. They also seem to be using plastic cambelt tensioner pulleys too which I had a narrow escape when the idler on the Golf disintegrated and fell to the bottom of the timing belt cover. How it didn't get caught up and damage the belt I'll never know! I only found out about it when I came to replace the belt at 40k. It's also not the first instance of this - my ex's Escort did exactly the same but being a diesel, both belts broke. The result was an engine rebuild Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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