98 A6

[Kent McLean]

John S. Lagnese wrote:
> I am going to look at a 98 A6 Quattro automatic wagon. It has 110K with an 
> already rebuilt tranny. There is damage to the front bumper cover and RH 
> mirror. The radio doesn't work. Any special problem areas I should look at?

Besides the usual "used car" issues (tires, body damage, wear on the leather
driver's seat bolster, etc.) at 110K miles that one is due for a timing belt
change. Opinions vary but...

- The 99 A6 owners manual lists the Timing Belt Service as 90K miles.
- The Bentley manual schedule lists the interval at 105K miles.
- Many listers strongly suggest a 60K mile interval.

No matter which mileage you use, that car should have had at least 1 belt
change -- and you should see a written receipt for it.  If it was done at
60K miles (or 5+ years ago), it's almost be due again.

Other expenses that would be nice to avoid by having receipts for:
- brakes (pads, maybe rotors, and maybe even calipers)
- suspension (tie rod ends are common wear items, maybe more common on the
   A4; struts/shocks)

That's the short list.  Don't be surprised if the center information display
in the cluster is missing some LEDs (or whatever they are -- horizontal lines
across the display). "They all do that."  No fix except to replace the
cluster. $$$.  If you can live with it, use it as a bargaining point.

-- 
Kent McLean
'99 A4 Avant, w/ quattro, V6, Tiptronic, :)
'91 200 TQA #1, backup car
'94 100 S Avant, "Moody", now with new owner
'91 200 TQA #2, up in smoke 2
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy", up in smoke