Planning to buy '96 A4 2.8Q, never had any Audi's ...
 

Hi,

I'm planning to buy '96 US model Audi A4 2.8V6 Quattro. The car I'm looking
at seems to be in quite a good condition, but because I'm new to Audi's I'd
like to know if there are any special issues that I should be aware of. The
car has been driven 100kmiles, so it's pretty low mileage for European car.
Is there any special problems or service that I should be aware of?

Does Quattro AWD system require some special service? Is there any problems
related to it, that I should check?

How often do you need to change front/rear differential oils? How about
transmission?

What is timing belt change interval in 2.8 V6? My European friends say it's
90tkm, but is it the same in US models (55kmiles)? If so, I guess timing
belt is due in this car pretty soon. How much does timing belt change
typically cost? I have heard some horror stories of 1000USD ... Does that
sound likely?

Depending on the source, '96 Audi's 2.8 V6 is said to have either 170hp or
192hp. Which one is correct?


- Juha -

Re: Planning to buy '96 A4 2.8Q, never had any Audi's ...
 

Juha wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm planning to buy '96 US model Audi A4 2.8V6 Quattro. The car I'm looking
> at seems to be in quite a good condition, but because I'm new to Audi's I'd
> like to know if there are any special issues that I should be aware of. The
> car has been driven 100kmiles, so it's pretty low mileage for European car.
> Is there any special problems or service that I should be aware of?

There are probably a few recalls of that year, possibly the ignition
switch. The dealer did this for me at my timing belt change.

>
> Does Quattro AWD system require some special service? Is there any problems
> related to it, that I should check?
>
> How often do you need to change front/rear differential oils? How about
> transmission?

The dealer I used for my service said that they don't ever change
differential fluid, that it's sealed for the life of the car. I'm
skeptical, and will likely change mine at 60,000 - 70,000 miles with an
independant mechanic who specializes in Audi/VW. I'm at 55k miles now,
and I have a 1997 A4 2.8q.

>
> What is timing belt change interval in 2.8 V6? My European friends say it's
> 90tkm, but is it the same in US models (55kmiles)? If so, I guess timing
> belt is due in this car pretty soon. How much does timing belt change
> typically cost? I have heard some horror stories of 1000USD ... Does that
> sound likely?

Yes. It's a whole kit that should include labor, parts (timing belt,
tensioner, water pump, coolant, etc.) and my dealer charged about 900
u.s. dollars. Most people say 60,000 miles, or six years for an
interval. I was about six years. If your potential car hasn't had it
done, it's way overdue in both time and mileage. Check this out, and
if it wasn't done, work this into the price. The big factor on these
timing belts is that if one breaks, you're not just stuck, you're
stuck with a ruined engine. You'll likely slap some valves into
pistons as it is an interference design valvetrain.

Brakes on these cars aren't cheap either. If you can keep your rotors
and resurface them, you're looking at about $350 u.s. If you need new
rotors, you're looking at about $750 u.s. for a brake job.

>
> Depending on the source, '96 Audi's 2.8 V6 is said to have either 170hp or
> 192hp. Which one is correct?

170 hp. They're sorta pokey, but they ride nice on the freeway and
have very good manners. The 192 hp models were the five valve/cyinder
models from 1998+

Good luck with your purchase!


--
Vic
2000 Mustang GT
suspension upgrades
1997 A4 2.8q
http://home.earthlink.net/~jthet

Re: Planning to buy '96 A4 2.8Q, never had any Audi's ...
 

"Juha" <jmnyman_a@kuumamaili.com> wrote in message news:<1065547902.253198@news.vaisala.com>...
> Hi,
>
> I'm planning to buy '96 US model Audi A4 2.8V6 Quattro. The car I'm looking
> at seems to be in quite a good condition, but because I'm new to Audi's I'd
> like to know if there are any special issues that I should be aware of. The
> car has been driven 100kmiles, so it's pretty low mileage for European car.
> Is there any special problems or service that I should be aware of?
>
> Does Quattro AWD system require some special service? Is there any problems
> related to it, that I should check?
>
> How often do you need to change front/rear differential oils? How about
> transmission?
>
> What is timing belt change interval in 2.8 V6? My European friends say it's
> 90tkm, but is it the same in US models (55kmiles)? If so, I guess timing
> belt is due in this car pretty soon. How much does timing belt change
> typically cost? I have heard some horror stories of 1000USD ... Does that
> sound likely?
>
> Depending on the source, '96 Audi's 2.8 V6 is said to have either 170hp or
> 192hp. Which one is correct?

The answer to these questions have been answered previously in this
forum, by folks who know the issues pretty well.

If you goto groups.google.com, and goto "advanced search," you can get
quite a few hits on all these questions, answered in technical detail.

If there aren't repair receipts, especially for the front end work
that these cars need, I'd steer clear.

Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of driving an Audi.
(Assuming you buy the car, of course!)

Spider

Re: Planning to buy '96 A4 2.8Q, never had any Audi's ...
 

"Victor DiMichina" <victor@pixel_no_spammagicfx.com> wrote in message
news:3F8327A7.7060206@pixel_no_spammagicfx.com...
>
rain.
>
> Brakes on these cars aren't cheap either. If you can keep your rotors
> and resurface them, you're looking at about $350 u.s. If you need new
> rotors, you're looking at about $750 u.s. for a brake job.
>

????? You got brakes made of gold Vic?

No need to take you car to a dealer to get the pads and discs changed, a set
of pads should cost you £25-35 depending on the type

If you spend more than £200.00 / $300.00 on a brake change inc Rotor's/Discs
and pads then you are either being ripped off or sitting in a dealer

Any tyre place will change your discs and pads, and its no different to
changing them on a Ford/GM etc.

The only thing that is expensive on an Audi A4 is the timing belt, and this
is 90% labour, as the front end needs to be taken off, This should cost
anywhere between £300/$400 - £700.00/$1000. depending on if you get your
watrer pump etc done as well.

Wheel bearings last about 60-100k miles on the rear and are quite pricy as
well, around $250.00 per side.

Hth

Ron

Re: Planning to buy '96 A4 2.8Q, never had any Audi's ...
 

Ronny wrote:
> "Victor DiMichina" <victor@pixel_no_spammagicfx.com> wrote in message
> news:3F8327A7.7060206@pixel_no_spammagicfx.com...
>

>
> The only thing that is expensive on an Audi A4 is the timing belt, and this
> is 90% labour, as the front end needs to be taken off, This should cost
> anywhere between £300/$400 - £700.00/$1000. depending on if you get your
> watrer pump etc done as well.

That's about what I spent, I had the water pump replaced as well.

>
> Wheel bearings last about 60-100k miles on the rear and are quite pricy as
> well, around $250.00 per side.

How do you know when you need new ones? Do they start humming or do you
get a shudder at speed?


--
Vic
2000 Mustang GT
suspension upgrades
1997 A4 2.8q
http://home.earthlink.net/~jthet