Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

Steve, I've never heard about the 4-tires thing on a quattro..... I
know that you're supposed to have tires with the same tread depth (or
within about a 3% variance) on the same axle, but have never heard that
you must replace all 4 at the same time! I'm asking because I recently
tore a chunk out of one rear tire, so I purchased one new tire and put
the (unused) spare on the same axle as the new tire....

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

Steve, I've never heard about the 4-tires thing on a quattro..... I
know that you're supposed to have tires with the same tread depth (or
within about a 3% variance) on the same axle, but have never heard that
you must replace all 4 at the same time! I'm asking because I recently
tore a chunk out of one rear tire, so I purchased one new tire and put
the (unused) spare on the same axle as the new tire....

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

Steve, I've never heard about the 4-tires thing on a quattro..... I
know that you're supposed to have tires with the same tread depth (or
within about a 3% variance) on the same axle, but have never heard that
you must replace all 4 at the same time! I'm asking because I recently
tore a chunk out of one rear tire, so I purchased one new tire and put
the (unused) spare on the same axle as the new tire....

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Steve Sears" wrote:
> amz,
> I'd go with #2, with the provision that the timing belt/pump/etc. (+front
> crank seal while you're in there?) gets replaced prior to your purchase -
> otherwise take it out of the price. #1 seems nice - and it's the only one
> of the three that doesn't need an immediate t-belt servicing (take "No
> records" to mean "Not done" on #3). I'd run away from #3 - replacing only
2
> tires on a quattro is a death sentence for the diffs (owning a 5kq you
> should know that) and them telling you that they'll fix things like the
> alignment is worth the paper it's written on.
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ
> 1980 Audi 5k
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes

Thanks for the feedback. Those are generally my thoughts, too. The tire
thing re: #3 was in the back of my mind and that's why I mentioned it. The
good thing, of course, is that they literally JUST replaced the two tires
and did the brakes. I actually test-drove the car prior to their "internal
inspection" and apparently was the one who pointed out the brake, alignment
and bad (right front) tire issue. They faxed me a copy of their internal
invoice (it is a non-Audi major brand dealership) showing the work done. I
can always get another pair of tires to even out the set.

Question: If the purchase is conditioned on doing x,y and z repairs and the
car is inspected by an independent shop prior to purchase, is there any
reason to still avoid it? It is black/tan (my preferred color) and does
have Tiptronic.

Also... how well can a transmission be inspected? Even if I assume the
timing belt has to be done, I don't want the tranny to fail on me 5,000
miles down the road.

My biggest concern with #1 is the mileage. Yes, I get about 2-3 years until
the next timing belt service and the tranny was flushed not too long ago,
but I have the same concern about overall tranny condition. Also, my 5ksq
has all kinds of dying or dead "conveniences" and it would be nice to have a
car with all working accessories (for as long as that lasts).

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Steve Sears" wrote:
> amz,
> I'd go with #2, with the provision that the timing belt/pump/etc. (+front
> crank seal while you're in there?) gets replaced prior to your purchase -
> otherwise take it out of the price. #1 seems nice - and it's the only one
> of the three that doesn't need an immediate t-belt servicing (take "No
> records" to mean "Not done" on #3). I'd run away from #3 - replacing only
2
> tires on a quattro is a death sentence for the diffs (owning a 5kq you
> should know that) and them telling you that they'll fix things like the
> alignment is worth the paper it's written on.
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ
> 1980 Audi 5k
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes

Thanks for the feedback. Those are generally my thoughts, too. The tire
thing re: #3 was in the back of my mind and that's why I mentioned it. The
good thing, of course, is that they literally JUST replaced the two tires
and did the brakes. I actually test-drove the car prior to their "internal
inspection" and apparently was the one who pointed out the brake, alignment
and bad (right front) tire issue. They faxed me a copy of their internal
invoice (it is a non-Audi major brand dealership) showing the work done. I
can always get another pair of tires to even out the set.

Question: If the purchase is conditioned on doing x,y and z repairs and the
car is inspected by an independent shop prior to purchase, is there any
reason to still avoid it? It is black/tan (my preferred color) and does
have Tiptronic.

Also... how well can a transmission be inspected? Even if I assume the
timing belt has to be done, I don't want the tranny to fail on me 5,000
miles down the road.

My biggest concern with #1 is the mileage. Yes, I get about 2-3 years until
the next timing belt service and the tranny was flushed not too long ago,
but I have the same concern about overall tranny condition. Also, my 5ksq
has all kinds of dying or dead "conveniences" and it would be nice to have a
car with all working accessories (for as long as that lasts).

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Steve Sears" wrote:
> amz,
> I'd go with #2, with the provision that the timing belt/pump/etc. (+front
> crank seal while you're in there?) gets replaced prior to your purchase -
> otherwise take it out of the price. #1 seems nice - and it's the only one
> of the three that doesn't need an immediate t-belt servicing (take "No
> records" to mean "Not done" on #3). I'd run away from #3 - replacing only
2
> tires on a quattro is a death sentence for the diffs (owning a 5kq you
> should know that) and them telling you that they'll fix things like the
> alignment is worth the paper it's written on.
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ
> 1980 Audi 5k
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes

Thanks for the feedback. Those are generally my thoughts, too. The tire
thing re: #3 was in the back of my mind and that's why I mentioned it. The
good thing, of course, is that they literally JUST replaced the two tires
and did the brakes. I actually test-drove the car prior to their "internal
inspection" and apparently was the one who pointed out the brake, alignment
and bad (right front) tire issue. They faxed me a copy of their internal
invoice (it is a non-Audi major brand dealership) showing the work done. I
can always get another pair of tires to even out the set.

Question: If the purchase is conditioned on doing x,y and z repairs and the
car is inspected by an independent shop prior to purchase, is there any
reason to still avoid it? It is black/tan (my preferred color) and does
have Tiptronic.

Also... how well can a transmission be inspected? Even if I assume the
timing belt has to be done, I don't want the tranny to fail on me 5,000
miles down the road.

My biggest concern with #1 is the mileage. Yes, I get about 2-3 years until
the next timing belt service and the tranny was flushed not too long ago,
but I have the same concern about overall tranny condition. Also, my 5ksq
has all kinds of dying or dead "conveniences" and it would be nice to have a
car with all working accessories (for as long as that lasts).

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Steve Sears" wrote:
> amz,
> I'd go with #2, with the provision that the timing belt/pump/etc. (+front
> crank seal while you're in there?) gets replaced prior to your purchase -
> otherwise take it out of the price. #1 seems nice - and it's the only one
> of the three that doesn't need an immediate t-belt servicing (take "No
> records" to mean "Not done" on #3). I'd run away from #3 - replacing only
2
> tires on a quattro is a death sentence for the diffs (owning a 5kq you
> should know that) and them telling you that they'll fix things like the
> alignment is worth the paper it's written on.
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ
> 1980 Audi 5k
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes

Thanks for the feedback. Those are generally my thoughts, too. The tire
thing re: #3 was in the back of my mind and that's why I mentioned it. The
good thing, of course, is that they literally JUST replaced the two tires
and did the brakes. I actually test-drove the car prior to their "internal
inspection" and apparently was the one who pointed out the brake, alignment
and bad (right front) tire issue. They faxed me a copy of their internal
invoice (it is a non-Audi major brand dealership) showing the work done. I
can always get another pair of tires to even out the set.

Question: If the purchase is conditioned on doing x,y and z repairs and the
car is inspected by an independent shop prior to purchase, is there any
reason to still avoid it? It is black/tan (my preferred color) and does
have Tiptronic.

Also... how well can a transmission be inspected? Even if I assume the
timing belt has to be done, I don't want the tranny to fail on me 5,000
miles down the road.

My biggest concern with #1 is the mileage. Yes, I get about 2-3 years until
the next timing belt service and the tranny was flushed not too long ago,
but I have the same concern about overall tranny condition. Also, my 5ksq
has all kinds of dying or dead "conveniences" and it would be nice to have a
car with all working accessories (for as long as that lasts).

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

Dan,
As I understand it, and others more well versed in the nuances of the
different generations of quattro may feel free to chime in and correct me,
but if you've got different rolling diameters on various locations of the
car, then the quattro system will redistribute torque accordingly, as it
reads a smaller diameter tire as a slipping tire. I'm sure that a minor
difference in diameter would not do damage in the short term, but I would
never replace less than a full set on a q.
I've had the (mis-)fortune to have repairs made to my tires - as my car
seems to attract drywall screws, nails, etc. as I drive around construction
projects in my work - had one of the punctures been fatal, I would have gone
for a new set.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes

"Dano58" <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132156680.967425.64140@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Steve, I've never heard about the 4-tires thing on a quattro..... I
> know that you're supposed to have tires with the same tread depth (or
> within about a 3% variance) on the same axle, but have never heard that
> you must replace all 4 at the same time! I'm asking because I recently
> tore a chunk out of one rear tire, so I purchased one new tire and put
> the (unused) spare on the same axle as the new tire....
>
> Dan D
> '04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
> Central NJ USA
>

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

Dan,
As I understand it, and others more well versed in the nuances of the
different generations of quattro may feel free to chime in and correct me,
but if you've got different rolling diameters on various locations of the
car, then the quattro system will redistribute torque accordingly, as it
reads a smaller diameter tire as a slipping tire. I'm sure that a minor
difference in diameter would not do damage in the short term, but I would
never replace less than a full set on a q.
I've had the (mis-)fortune to have repairs made to my tires - as my car
seems to attract drywall screws, nails, etc. as I drive around construction
projects in my work - had one of the punctures been fatal, I would have gone
for a new set.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes

"Dano58" <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132156680.967425.64140@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Steve, I've never heard about the 4-tires thing on a quattro..... I
> know that you're supposed to have tires with the same tread depth (or
> within about a 3% variance) on the same axle, but have never heard that
> you must replace all 4 at the same time! I'm asking because I recently
> tore a chunk out of one rear tire, so I purchased one new tire and put
> the (unused) spare on the same axle as the new tire....
>
> Dan D
> '04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
> Central NJ USA
>

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

Dan,
As I understand it, and others more well versed in the nuances of the
different generations of quattro may feel free to chime in and correct me,
but if you've got different rolling diameters on various locations of the
car, then the quattro system will redistribute torque accordingly, as it
reads a smaller diameter tire as a slipping tire. I'm sure that a minor
difference in diameter would not do damage in the short term, but I would
never replace less than a full set on a q.
I've had the (mis-)fortune to have repairs made to my tires - as my car
seems to attract drywall screws, nails, etc. as I drive around construction
projects in my work - had one of the punctures been fatal, I would have gone
for a new set.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes

"Dano58" <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132156680.967425.64140@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Steve, I've never heard about the 4-tires thing on a quattro..... I
> know that you're supposed to have tires with the same tread depth (or
> within about a 3% variance) on the same axle, but have never heard that
> you must replace all 4 at the same time! I'm asking because I recently
> tore a chunk out of one rear tire, so I purchased one new tire and put
> the (unused) spare on the same axle as the new tire....
>
> Dan D
> '04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
> Central NJ USA
>