Hi Audi lovers, one more newbie here with one more newbie question.

Can I get a little help from you ?

I'm looking to buy a 1998-2001 A4 2.8 standard trans. as a second car to have fun with it (wife doesn't drive standard )...

So, do you guys have any suggestion of what should I be looking for in terms of problems with the car ? As I said it doesn't need to be perfect (and I couldn't expect it from a 2000's car anyways) but it is always nice to know what to look for.

Btw, I tried to search for a topic like that but I couldn't find, my apologies someone already asked that somewhere.

Thanks !

 

i'd rather go with a 99.5-2001 which are the face lift.

99.5+ have the clear longer side markers and also have the one piece headlights

what you need to look for are odd sounds when test driving it. drive it in bumpy roads, smooth roads, higways, with windows up and down.

make sure you check the sunroof..some say it gets stuck open.

check for hoses...brake hoses too for cracks.

controls arms tend to go bad fast.

get a car that recently had its timing belt done.

get one with double-din deck. that way you dont have to go in the trunk to put your cds in the cd changer.

check the depth of tires

the DIS display are common within those years to have dead/missing pixels


hope that helps

 

I have had the following done for my '99 2.8 with tiptronic over it's lifetime.

- Timing Belt because everyone told me to.
- Water pump and other belts at the same time as timing belt.
- Drainage problems from sunroof which destroyed central locking pump / computer ($500 part)
- Sunroof guides self destructed
- Engine cooling fan broke apart
- Power window door in rear door failed
- Had to replace fluid in transmission, very expensive
- Rear wheel bearings replaced
- Tie rods
- Power steering fluid leak fixed
- Headlight switch (sounds simple but isn't exactly)
- Replace seals on leaking rear differential

The one that seem common are the problems with the front suspension, the timing belt. Not uncommon are the wheel bearings, headlight switch failure, the central locking pump / computer failure and problems with the sunroof mechanism and drainage.

I fixed many problems myself, but some of them were expensive to get done at the shop. Nevertheless, I like the car very much and would consider getting a second one.

 

Wow, thanks very much for the feedback guys, helps me A LOT !

Despite the fact that I love cars I'm ZERO with mechanic.