[s-cars] What to look for in a used B5 S4

[David Kase]

There is a lot to be afraid of but most of it you can't tell at the time 
of purchase.

The transmissions are notorious for puking second gear synchro (stick)

Torque converters are crap in the automatics

turbos fail and are expensive to have replaced (labor intensive)

upper and lower control arms need to be replaced if there are a few 
miles on the car

stock turbo BPV's are crap

dash computer displays are always dead by this age

ashtray does not open on any of the cars I looked at

timing belt changes are expensive (must remove front of car) - you know 
the rule, no records = needs new tb

Other than that they are great!

'01.5's and '02's are supposed to have some improvements in turbo 
lubrication or cooling (?)

I just bought an '01 (not '01.5) this past spring.  Mine had 118k on it 
and now is just over 130k.  My only issue was a serpentine belt 
tensioner that started making noise.  Unfortunately that requires the 
removal of the front fascia.

My car had its trans replaced early in life, it still has the original 
turbo's.

These cars seem to be one of those where you either get a good one or 
you get a bad one.  My car seems to be a "good one".

Oh, there are several owners that have reported a loss of coolant - but 
no leaks.  I believe it is an issue with the turbo cooling allowing 
coolant into the oil.   It is a slow process but can be uncovered in an 
oil analysis.  The surprising thing is that radiator stop-leak fixes the 
problem.  A few guys have tried it before spending the big money pulling 
the turbo's.   They report the leak stops and no repercussions.  Strange....

Best of Luck!  It took me a while to come up with the will to buy one.  
Now that I have it I love it.

Kase
'01 non-UrS4
all my 5 bangers are gone...



James Shackelford wrote:
> My wife drives our 95 S6 Avant.  I am looking in to getting a B5 S4.
> Anything particular to look for?
>
>  
>
> Thanks,
>
>  
>
> James Shackelford
>
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