Re: The shakes at 70mph - 4000

[eds@VFL.Paramax.COM]

> > 
> > I've been noticing the same behavior in my '84 4000S with 385k miles
> > for the last couple of months.                           ^^^^^^
> 
> 385K miles! Wow! Unless there is a typo, you probably have the most
> number of miles on an Audi on this mailing list. Could you give us some
> info on your experience owning this car? Original owner? Engine rebuilt?
> Major components changed, etc.
> 
> Zafer

That mileage figure is correct.  I'm the original owner so I can give you
the history.  The original engine lasted 160K miles and was still going
strong when I decided to have it rebuilt before it blew up on me.  I had
this one done while in the car, saving hundreds of dollars.  The risk of 
doing it this way was that the rear main seal and the clutch weren't replaced.
That rebuild had a very strange end while at a body shop at 240k miles.
The shop had to drive it to a dealer to get the sunroof seal replaced
and somehow lost all oil pressure, frying the bearings.  Oh yeah, the clutch
and rear main seal did make it this far.

I bought a new long block since the damage repair worked out to pretty much
the same price (about $2300).   So, that engine, done at 240K miles, is still
alive at 385k and I'm thinking of rebuilding it again soon.  I want to hit
1/2 a million with this car.

The car is a wonderfully reliable automobile, usually simple to repair by
myself.  I can't understand why some components last so long.  Shocks,
brakes, tires seems to last far longer than on other cars I've had.  Tires
last about 80-90k miles.  70% of my driving is on interstates, commuting to
work (60mi one way), but I drive the car hard.  My first exhaust system lasted
140k miles; and replacing it with a Midas system was one of my best purchases.
I've never paid for another exhaust component.  The Midas pieces don't last as
long as the factory system, but who cares when they're free.  I've had three or
four replacements since the first.

The 5-speed transaxle is still original.  I rebushed the front suspension
somewhere around 280k miles.  The shocks have only been replaced once, but are
due again.  The power steering rack and pump are fine.  No replacements in the
fuel injection system.  One replacement alternator and starter.  The air
conditioning system is original (the compressor is getting noisy).

The body still looks great and has NO rust other than in the stone chips.  It
the dark brown metallic exterior with brown cloth interior scheme.  The black
anodized parts are faded a bit, and some has worn off.  The interior still
looks great except some console parts got broken  when some little bastards in
NYC tried to steal the car and settled for ripping the radio out.

Anybody got any ties with Audi marketing to put this car in a commercial?

Ed Skladany