[ben21]

I am looking to purchase a A4 1.8SE, all the cars i have found adverts for have mileages in excess of 120000. Is this too many miles to hope for a relatively fault free car.

 

[RickT]

the B5 is coming upto 6 years old now... and thats if you have a last one..

thats 20k average --

Cheers

RickT

 

[audichim]

i have a b5 a4 2.8 tip and its at around 123k and i'm not having any problems. looking ahead to timing belt replacement shortly though which is kinda a bummer for the pocket book.

 

[T-sport]

The Audi engines are good for at least 200k if reguarly serviced and looked after by previous owners. ..

I bought my wifes A3 1997 1.8T with 142k but full Audi service history on the clock and had it 2 years now running on same engine,gearbox and turbo with no problems apart from worn out windscreen wiper motor so theres proof the Audi are good for high mileage ...

 

[ben21]

Are there any common problems to look out for on these cars. I have read somewhere about front suspension problems.

 

[audichim]

after purchasing mine i replaced the entire front suspension basically. its a really simple procedure that you could do yourself and its also important to do as since i waited it cost me a set of tires too. i'm not sure how regularly they go out but in the services records i show replacement of single components twice previously on the car.

 

[ben21]

Anything else to look out for?

 

[audichim]

the valve cover gaskets and then i'd check out the tires. my cats also crapped out on me at a time when i wasn't ready to put a catback on yet so i kinda bit it a bit harder than i watned to from it.

 

[Chris555]

Well, mine is a 1997 1.8 5v (which i think is the SE) and its got 206,000 on the clock with a full Audi service history and I must say its the most reliable car ive ever had - I had a brand new Audi Convertable 1.8t Sport recently and that actually let me down twice in its first six months!

I'd keep it simple - high miles are not a problem as long as it got a full Audi service history and only had 1 or 2 owners - then you know its genuinely been looked after, not just been passed around.

 

[audichim]

just to clarify i was talking about miles, and chris555 you're talking about kilometers correct? or if not that makes me a bit happier about my own mileage!

 

[Chris555]

Hiya, mile it is! Mine has got 206,000miles and only have a few stone chips on the bonnet!

 

[audichim]

wow man props for your good maintenance and i hope mine holds out as long too!!

 

[RickT]

little bit off topic... but i was in Greece last year and got in a taxi About a 1998 A6 1.9TDI and it had 650,000 KM on it... i was impressed.. the driver said the car has been on the road 24/7 for the last 8 years with 3 drivers a year... he said its had 6 clucthes 5 time belts and still going stong...The only really hassle he send was wheel bearings with the sand and heat... it had only been off the road for 5 days about 5 years ago when someone crashed into the back of him... and it looked like new on the outside!!

lets say... i was impressed... just goes to show if there looked after they will last for ever!!


just goes to show!!

Rickt

 

[ben21]

The car I am currently looking at is a 1996 and has 88000 miles. has a full audi service history up to 60000 miles and then a local garage did it. I can't find any specific detail of the cam belt being changed, or would it just be covered under that servicing.

 

[audichim]

it might be... but dang thats not that many miles for a 10 year old car.... keep this in mind though: the original suggestion was 90,000 miles before timing belt replacement so they may have been waiting.

 

[Chris555]

I'll check my paperwork for you and see when my belts were changed mate and let you know

 

[ben21]

Cheers for that.

 

[ben21]

The 88000 mile didn't work out. The one i'm looking at now has done 141000miles

 

[RickT]

how much are you wanting to spend??

 

[ben21]

Around 2-21/2 grand