About to buy a 2000 B5

[bigphil]

Hey guys I need some advice. I'm getting **** from any and anyone I talk to about this, I figured you guys would understand.

I'm about to pick up a 1.8T B5 A4 (2000)
- 161km on the clock
- 8 previous owners, 4 were dealers (auctions in the space of a year)
- Bone stock

The car is absolutely mint, the dealer I'm buying from seems reliable, the car shifts amazing, there have been no accidents - i've done both a gov't search and a carfax.

Problem is everyone including my dad is telling me this is a bad bad bad idea, but I want this car. Basically I need to know what happens maintenance wise around 160k? If something like the timing belt hasn't been changed yet would it have snapped already? Fuel pump? oil pump? Clutch? Turbo? I'm trying to get the dealer to get as many service records as possible, If I can't get any I will most likely pass on it I guess. Any help/advice is appreciated. The car comes with a 3 year warantee from the dealer if that means anything. Also, I'm a mechanical engineer so I don't mind doing DIY or home-fixes if I can get parts for cheap...

[docurley]

Well if it has been seviced by Audi then there will be a record of it on the system as all Audi branches are linked to Audi UK.

Timing belt must have been changed at least once but will be due another now for sure and this will involve new pulleys and water pump.

Clutch: If the bitting point is high then the clutch will need doing very soon.

Turbo now this is where you may have an issue if you have no history because these cars need regular oil changes plus if the car was thrashed around and then just switched of the chances are the turbo may not last much longer, so I would budget for a new unit or an upgrade at the least.

Fuel pump should be OK but make sure the fuel filter has been changed as chances are it's the original as it lives under the car on the side of the tank and can get blocked and cause extra stress on the pump and cause the car to run lean.

Have the control arm ispected as this a week spot on the A4's

[bigphil]

Thanks so much for your response, thats a big help.