Audi S4

• 2001 Audi S4
• 2002 Audi S4
• Used Audi S4

Used Audi S4

Used Audi S4 questions and answers

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Q: 2000 Audi S4 with 129,000 miles. Should I buy it? What problems to look for, as some Audi's are problematic.?
I am looking at a 2000 S4 and have read numerous reviews on them, some bad but 90% good. The owners have done the usual to it, timing belts, water pumps and hoses at the designated miles and have only used premium gas and synthetic oil in it. One review that caught my eye is the turbos die as there are problems with them and you should upgrade to the K04 turbos, is this true or is that person just trying to scare people? Secondly, should I buy an Audi with 129,000 miles on it as I do not know how long they last. Last, are there any problems that the 2000 series have? And what should I look for when I actually go look at it. I am pretty good with cars and engine parts, so I will probably know what you are talking about. Thanks for your time

A: My S4 has about 130,000 miles on it and everyone who has set hands on the engine has noted how well the turbos look. The KO3s are very well built turbos, there should be no need to replace them if the car has been driven properly. Properly meaning dont dog it out everyday...I mean I ride my S4 hard now and then, but not all the time I have seen turbos die, but they die when you drastically modify the engine and beat the Christ out of it, not when you drive it normally. The only reason that people speak of the KO4 turbos is because they produce a lot more power more efficiently than the KO3/KO3s, but that doesn't necessarily make them better or more reliable Audi's, when properly maintained, can last to 200,000 miles and over...I saw that all the time at Champion Audi. As far as the whole 2000 vs 2001 vs 2001.5 mess is concerned: There are differences, but they are not significant in any way, in fact most S4 owners have to do a bunch of researching to even find what they are. Furthermore, the B5 S4 has been in production since 1997 (US in 2000); so to say that the 2000 S4 has problems because "it was the 1st production year and they just needed to work out the kinks" is incorrect. More importantly, the differences are not significant enough to influence which year you select. As far as I know the only differences are the badging, ESP (traction control), a hose, and a few other small parts that changed between the 2000 and 2001.5 S4 Lastly, make sure that the maintenance is up to par. If your going to buy a car with 129k miles on it, the owner should have taken the proper Audi maintenance steps to ensure longevity. Here is a list of notable things that need to be inspected at the 129k mark Check: Shift and clutch interlock Engine/Trans leaks Front end: dust seals, ball joints, tie rod ends Change the oil and filter in the Haldex clutch Replace spark plugs Drive shaft: check boots (they just went on my S4) I cant tell you what to buy or not buy, but I will tell you that there is nothing greater in this world than hearing the turbos spool in the S4

Q: Which used car should I go for?
I am wanting a used car preferably 2003+. Right now my list is a 350z, mustang, lancer evo, infiniti g35, audi s4 or a bmw m3

A: G35 Looks great, more reliable, fast, comfortable, better gas mileage than most of the others....You can't go wrong with that car.

Q: Gotta pull the trigger soon?
My Discovery just went to see the Land Rover God, I am buying a "new" used car. Down to the 04 Audi S4 or 03-04 BMW M3. I love all wheel drive but I want 2 doors, this is a big purchase for me, help a bro out here. The Rover was a awesome "truck" I used it like it should be. Maybe a little harder than I should have. It did give 134k trouble free miles before I threw a rod. Anyone wants one? It's lifted, with lockers, on 33 in tires. needs engine though?

A: Get an M3 with SMG. The SMG is just an awesome transmission with a feel of precise control. The Audi S4 is nice too, if you want similar performance but also be able to haul 4 adults. The back seat of the M3 is kinda cramped compared to the S4. Audi's AWD is pretty bullet-proof, but when you need to change tires on any AWD, you need to change them all, or you risk damaging the center locking diff. I personally like the M3 because Audi looks a little too prissy. That and BMW's steering response and feel is unrivaled by anyone.

Q: Can't Decide M3 Or S4?
Planning on getting a used car, I used to be big BMW fan but in the past couple of months i have started to like Audi more. I feel like every one has bmw these days. I was planning on getting a M3 or a S4 can't decide though on which one to get. I am just planning on murdering them out, Black on Black, a system and rims so not really worried on how fast they are. Thanks for your help!

A: I used to sell Audi and I also was a huge BMW Enthusiast. Though most people will disagree with me, I would rather have the Audi purely due to the fact it is easy to live with. When i worked for Audi, I really got to see the craftsmanship put into these cars. Quality is top notch, especially in the interior, designs are beautiful if not groundbreaking, and performce and above average for the class. When I say "easy to live with", I am referring to practicality. When BMW goes out to make a performance car, they make the suspension tight, I mean really tight. Speed-bumps are like riding over rock and on the highway you will feel bumps you can't even see. When Audi builds a sports car, they put in some practicality. They all have AWD Systems for snow, they usually have ride adjustments for either a komfort mode or sport mode, and they offer amazing safety ratings. in terms of reliability, the BMW will only be a little bit better, but in terms of the cost of repair, they are equal. Mercedes has the highest repair costs. Good Luck

Q: Recently had bumper repainted...now I have a lot rock chips?
2 months ado I had a new front bumper put on my Audi S4, I went to a very high end body shop and they used an OEM bumper. I was washing my car a couple of days ago and noticed a bunch or rock chips in the front bumper. My old bumper hardly had any chips after 7 years and now after two months with the new paint job I have about 8 rock chips! Seems like they paint they used at the body shop is not as good as factory, is there anything that can be done to prevent this if I get it repainted? Thicker paint? extra clear coat? I do not want the 3M clear bra, I do not think they look good on these cars. Thanks! Molly

A: Usually paint on parts subject to gravel attack differs from the paint for other parts because it has more plasticizer in it. The plasticizer's function makes the paint more resiliant (more rubber like) and this makes it chip resistant. The plasticizers are subject to degredation over time from sunlight so most of the car does not have, or need, the plasticizer fortified paint. It appears to me from your description that the body shop that painted the bumper failed to add the plasticizer to the paint, which yielded a hard but more brittle paint that the gravel has chipped. When you talk with the body shop, they may not call the plasticizer a plasticizer. Some paint companies have other names for the plasticizer that are more understandable to painting people. However, they should be fully aware of the need to modify the paint to make it gravel resistant. Armed with the above information, I believe you should have no trouble getting the bumper refinished. Best of luck.

Q: Which car is best for a young (17yo) driver?
I have been looking for a first car, and I am currently considering these (some may seem a bit odd) - Toyota Sequoia (might buy my aunt's) - Land Rover Defender (imported from UK) - Mercedes G-class (imported from Germany, UK, wherever I can find one) - Jaguar XJR (Not the current one, but the previous model) - Porsche 911 (1980's) - BMW 750iL (pricey insurance, but it's got a V12) - Audi S4 (2.7 twin turbo it can be modified to a ridiculous level) - Ferrari F355 replica (based on an MR2, but I'd feel a bit shallow) - Lamborghini Murcielago Replica (same as the last one) - Mitsubishi Montero 2 dr (It looks great as a rally car and I could modify it to resemble one) - Jeep Wrangler TJ (I could stick a V8 into it) - Porsche Boxster (1st gen, 2.5 liter 5 spd) - VW GTI 2 dr (current model (used), 6 spd) - Triumph Stag or TR6 (because they're cool) - Maserati Merak (a crappy one, but I could fix it) Any opinions or other suggestions would be great! My budget is 13k, there are 750il's for that price range. They may not be good ones, but they're out there. One more thing. I'm not 17 yet, so the GTI may be around 13k when I am. I appreciate the speedy responses, and thank you all for dealing with my weirdness.

A: VW GTI 2 dr (current model (used), 6 spd) - that way, you can have your car and drive it, too. The Maserati would be fun, but you could never afford to actually run it on a regular basis. Forget about repairs - just the basic maintenence costs are probably too much to handle.