[A4] Good and Bad Years of B5 quattros?

[Peter Kirby]

A few thoughts are below:

On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 12:43 PM, Mitchell Segal
<mitchellsegal at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> It's 11 years old now, and it's still going pretty strong.  Only problems I
> have on the car right now are due mainly to age.  I have some rust around
> the windshield (probably due to a poor installation when they last changed
> it due to rock damage), and the ABS light came on a little while ago

I had an ABS ring on a rear axle rust apart which caused the light to
come on.  I found a local axle rebuilder who was willing to sell me
just the ring.  $20 and a couple of hours and it was working again.

> (probably a sensor or something).  it's never broken down or left me

As you say, it could also be a sensor.  Put it on a VAGCOM and figure
out which wheel is triggering the light.


> stranded, and I get what I feel is great mileage, especially since it's a
> chipped engine (I average about 8.6 L/100km).  The engine is starting to

I am averaging 9.1 l/100 km over the last two years of driving
(perhaps a hair higher since I run slightly larger than stock tires).

> burn a little oil (about 1 L every 4000-5000km), but I think that's
> reasonable considering it's age.  I always have changed the oil with
> synthetic since day 1.
>
> Based on at least my own personal history with the car over 11 years, I can
> say the only weak point on my car, which I consider a possible design fault
> (and not regular failures, like an alternator after 8 winters), would be

I am still on the original alternator (@ 220,000 km).

> the suspension.  Specifically, the Rear Wheel Bearings, and the front
> Tie-Rods.

Wheel bearings:  it is absolutely essential that they be installed to
the proper torque.  Too tight and they fail early.  The ones on mine
were changed about 100,000 km ago and are still quiet and about the
same on tie rod ends although I have a feeling that they are going
now.


>
> I don't know if it's a design fault that affects a lot of B5 A4's, or I
> just got lucky, but I have gone through a lot of rear wheel bearings.  I
> estimate for me that the Right Rear bearing goes about every 45,000km, and
> the Left Rear bearing goes about every 75,000kms.  it's almost like
> clockwork.  The first two went while the car was still under warrantee so
> Audi changed, then, and I've changed them about 4 more times since then.

Don't assume Audi does it right.

>  No idea why, it just seems to start making bearing noises around those
> distance periods.  I am in no way a hard driver, I don't take corners hard,
> I don't abuse my car, I have on original size tires in the summer, so I
> don't think I put any extra pressure on the bearings.  I drive 90% of the
> time with no one else in the car, so it's not a weight issue.  Maybe it's
> just the terrible roads around here, all the potholes.

Your roads can't be worse than those in Montreal where I am...

>
>
> Aside from those two suspension issues, everything else on the car is very
> nice.  I like that the exhaust system from the factory is Stainless Steel,
> and looks brand new 11 years later.  Very little rust around the car, due

My exhaust is starting to look pretty ratty including breaking the
exhaust mount near the differential and then the bolts sheared off
going into the diff support.

> to the excellent double-dipped galvanization that they give the body at the
> factory.  Back seat leg room is very tight, but what do I care, I'm
> driving. :-)
>
> If you live in a snowy region, then most likely you won't still have the
> under engine plastic cover anymore.  The problem with the design is, it's

I replaced mine with an aluminum skid plate from DieselGeek.  I have
used it a couple of times.

Peter
2001 1.8tq A4