bought a B6 S4 last year knowing the timing was going to have to be done. But I was able to negotiate the price down pretty much based on that fact alone. Had the timing done a few months ago and i don't regret it one bit.
Love my W8 lol. I know what you mean by thorn in my side, but I cannot let go of a car that sounds like I'm arriving to work with a legion of valkyries
+Sam It all depends on how the car is driven, if it's stock, maintain schedule, and the level of modifications on it. In stock form the car is very reliable, touch anything that increases horsepower and it will become your worst nightmare. You'd think the cost of parts for a car that's 15+ years old would be really cheap but it's the opposite, and engine pulls are the worst and take up so much time on this car.
A4 B5 is much more reliable, but still has the suspension problems (Pretty much all audi's do, especially lower control arms) And the other main thing to watch out for are timing belt jobs. Other than that, the A4 B5 is a very fun reliable car.
My car has been tuned at 20psi for half of its life and has various other modifications towards performance. I warm it up and cool it down every drive and service it with quality products. Still has original factory turbochargers. I feel the B5 S4 gets a lot of bad rep even though it's a really strong motor. Obviously my case may differ from others, but if well taken care of its pretty reliable and a great powerhouse. The A4 is also a good option, the 1.8t is a well known platform. Working on it isn't the easiest thing in the world, but I'm no professional and I can manage in a driveway. It pretty much comes down to if you think you can do the work on it or afford to have it done because it is a higher end car with a higher end price to go with it.
I have a 2004 S4 - since new. It has 71,000 miles on it. I am aware of the timing chain concern and other things. I have not pounded on the car much as I believe shocking the drivetrain can accelerate the timing chain issue. I am hopelessly attached to the car and may go with it to its grave. I love it so much.
Had 2 b6 s4's, and b7 rs4...love those cars, especially the sound as mentioned. All three fell apart around 113k miles and started costing $500 in miscellaneous repairs per month until I found a buyer. Have a B8 S4 now with 121k miles, everything under the hood is holding up great, only experiencing a couple tech glitches with the MMI & backup cam from time to time. Moral of the story; don't fall for the siren's song of the 4.2L, beef up a b5 or spend the money and own all in a B8.
+Carter Garnon I'm thinking of get the b6 s4 estate as much as I know the cost with the timing chain etc I know I would love it specially starting it up every morning , my dad being into cars and drag racing I've been into v8's since I was a kid so I'm a suckered for them and the sound only mod I would do is a whole stainless exhaust system, different air filter just replacement tho and mayb different coil pack and spark plugs, would get the engine terra cleaned and leave it at that
My b5 corners great lmao. It's on coilovers which really enhance its road grip but none the less has great cornering ability. Even pushing some harder corners understeer is very very minimal
I've changed turbos on the b5 s4 by hanging the engine and dropping the subframe ..No it's not super quick but you don't need to remove the engine...just lower it a bit when it's on the hanger.
I've owned both B5 S4 (ST2) and B7 S4 (Full JHM B/O). I was lucky enough to to find a B7 S4 with the timing already done and also the B5 S4 already done. I'm most definitely buying another B5 S4.
As a B6 S4 owner I'd suggest for anyone purchasing a S4 to look for cars with well documented service history and the timing chain done. Other than that its a special car. Get a jhm tune, fullback exhaust, and proper coilovers and its a beast of a car.
I'm looking at the b6 S4 estate always been around v8s and doing a customers s8 sounded lovely , is there other stuff to look out for when buying one, when I do I would get a terra clean done, replacement air filter , whole stainless exhaust system different spark plugs and coil pack and mayb a tune just for exhaust etc
holy SHIT at those chain setups... i counted FOUR chains on that B4 and the touareg, that's unreliably INSANE!!!, ¿who in their right mind in VW engineering tought "this is a good idea, seems solid, let's put it into production" when those engines should have had YEARS of harsh real world testing BEFORE even putting it into production
From what I understand, it's not so much the reliability that matters, but the feel and performance. I'm sure they're well aware of the issues, but they expect the parts to be replaced anyways. And if they spend too much time testing an engine, they might not be able to remain competitive with other companies, because the technology would become outdated. A base model corolla has a lot in common with old luxury vehicles, but most of the newer luxury vehicles are more advanced.
I’m assuming your talking about the b6/7 audi s4. To be fair the chains are not the problem. The real idiot isn’t the guy who chucked a wonk ass chain setup in there but the idiot who said let’s make the cam chain guides and tensioner plastic... the whole problem that 4.2l has is with the plastic getting old and cracking. But usually with good maintenance and a stupid frequent oil change every 5-7k you’d be fine
And don't forget the B7 A4 2.0T with timing belt failures, cam follower failures.hpfp failures,control arms don't last and 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. but oh I love my car lol.
+Ivan Giraldo Yeah the B7 Audi 2.0t engines had their share of issues and while they are not cheap to maintain they pale in comparison to most of the models mentioned. Glad you enjoy your A4!
+Deutsche Auto Parts Thanks man. I really do I work on my own car so if.anything fails i wrench and fix it. i'll do anything exept timing belt I won' touch that thing.
Wait, you mean oil soaked spark plugs are a bad thing?! If I had a dollar for everytime we changed my buddies plugs because the damn valve cover gaskets went on his B7 A4
I had a G60 Corrado with a 2.0L block and upgraded neuspeed pully on the charger. It was so much fun to drive and handled turns like you could not believe. But I have never spent so much money on replacement parts and modifying it just to keep it on the road. Now I have a 2017 MK7 GTI.
I owned a corrado and currently own a B6 S4... Looks like i love punishment lol. But seriously, corrado parts are DIRT cheap if you know 1989-1999 VW as intimately as i do. My B6 S4 timing guide recently broke and i bent valves, and this IS a common issue with the S4 4.2, the RS4 4.2 is completely different.
I own a 2004 A6 2.7t and it has been a great car. But I do all my own maintenance. That makes a big difference to the wallet. I also owned a 2005 A8. That one should probably be on the list too. Again wasn't too bad as I did all the repairs myself.
great video, I'm the owner of a B5 and a B6 hahaha. I love Audis, always will. With that said your absolutely right in terms of expense, really hoping I don't have timing belt issues.
Do you know why these german cars, unlike Japanese cars, don't maintain the market price when they get old. Because they have low reliability and parts are more expensive to replace.
I still want a B5 S4, seems like it doesn't get the love it deserves despite having a beautiful engine and sound. I currently own a MK4 VW Jetta so I known what to expect when fixing VWs and Audis from this era.
i own a 2008 b7 audi s4 in ibis white, i swear i have the only white s4...especially with 6 speed manual and carbon fiber trim, leather seats, its gotta be a rare car. hoping to sell it soon for as much as i payed for it, or even more
I’ve got a B5 RS4 with 490bhp and 517lb/ft torque with 192k miles on the clock still on original turbos and clutch. Hasn’t been cheap to maintain in the 11 years of ownership but I just couldn’t sell as it’s a special car. Not the best in handling or feedback but looks good and is seriously quick in a straight line !
I own a Passat cc 3.6 vr6 4 motion. Got 107000 miles on clock still runs like new. Solid engine 300bhp stock and can hold its own against the s4 untill you get to about 90mph and the v8 starts to pull away absolutely love it. Only thing that let me down was dsg box had to spend £2800 on a new mechatronic unit at 97000 miles but the engine seems pretty bullet proof up to now. Not sure how long the dual clutch were designed to last though imagine it won't be cheap to replace.
b6 s4 stock 200,000 miles. feel like I lost a few ponys at 180k. i bought it at 75000 as an abused pup. i live it so much. but she's in the shop as a repair and ive brought out the best Audi engine I've known (excluding 2.1) the 1.8T s-line b5
The 3.0TDi engine has the same problem with tensioners on timing chain as the 4.2. I had to have them replaced aswell. The engine had to go out too. When the engine was out, I also had the mechanic replace the torque convertor, oil in the tiptronic, engine oil, the whole set of timing chains and tensioners, and fuel pump belt. All of this was for $2300.
Love the video but I have a question you seem to know a lot about vw Audi cars and I was wondering if you know of something other than a dvv what would cause a 0299 code on a b7 a4? $6k and nobody can seem to help me out various shops I've been to it's just a nightmare. Light came on about 140k miles I have a 160k now it's been over a yr that this has been going on. I have a fresh rebuilt head and fuel system etc only thing left is a turbo or intercoolers and map sensor again these things are the only parts aside from a bottom end and trans that haven't been replaced. Can you help? Or anyone plz help I still owe money on the car and I'm at the end of my rope I don't know what else to do especially when everyone says it can't be your turbo cause it seems to run fine which at times it does but honestly I have no clue I don't have money to throw at it to keep finding out what the problem is and I don't wanna replace the turbo and that doesent fix the problem. Thanks and love the videos
Planning on getting a one-owner, female owned, well maintained 02 S4. It doesn’t seem like a horrible buy considering it doesn’t need any mechanical work and it has fairly low miles. Not planning on modding it except maybe an exhaust and stage 1 tune. Hoping to have a pleasant ownership experience and will be keeping up with the oil changes and modifying my driving habits to preserve the turbos.
On the 2.7 s4 biggest problems is bad imc. And leaking valve gaskets. You'll go threw coils often unless you bypass the imc. Never had a problem with turbos.
Ironically, these are arguably also the most sought out models as well. I've wanted every car on this list at one point. And the B5 was my dream car through college. Hahaha. Great video!
I just picked up a 2010 Audi S4 B8 6 speed manual. I love it, but then I saw videos of thermostat and water pump replacement. Not cheap either. But that supercharger is pretty bad ass. I also own a 1990 VW GTI 8v that I've had for over 10 years. It has also been a thorn in my side, but I will never sell it. Parts are hard to find and parts cars are rarer than hen's teeth.
What's wrong with it? I'm currently looking for a B7 RS4 and I am aware of the issue with carbon buildup so an intake valve cleaning service is in the works ever 2 or 3 years but what else can really go wrong? I know suspension parts wear out quick on German cars but the kits available are quite good and include bushings and all.
+S65AMG biggest issue with the B6 is the timing chain and plastic guides breaking. why they'd put the timing chain in the back by the firewall I don't kno.
S65AMG Yeah I'm taking my time looking for one. If my efforts don't yield much there's always the C63 AMG. Having owned MBs in the past I'm familiar with them but the RS4 has a certain charm to it and that throbbing mechanical sound the engine makes is awesome.
Djonkie Bonk Daily driving a B7 A4 Ti Edition S-line, I can easily tell you that you'd quickly prefer the interior amenities and creature comforts of a W204 C63 much more than the B7 RS4 if you plan to daily drive your car. As far as driving dynamics, the RS4, to me, provides slightly better handling but the C63 is downright mental. I think the C63 will probably be the most practical decision as far as long term reliability and parts availability. I've owned a C63 in the past and have driven a couple RS4s.
+Deutsche Auto Parts Looks like you guys have a great company. Do you ship north to Canada and if so what are your shipping rates? Parts would be for a 2012 Golf 2.5 Sportline 5door. I owned a 86 Scirocco (loved that car!) and a 95 Jetta. Both awesome cars. We put several hundred thousand kms on our VWs. Cheers!
Ultimately it would be best to do the research on your own. Look through e39 forums as well as s4 forums, most of the people on them own the vehicles or have some sort of hands on experience with them. I would say the m5 will cost more, at least in my area it would.
Good video thanks. I wondered why the coolant reservoir was a flat back transparent color on the B5 S4 Audi? Is this standard and do you have a factory part number for this reservoir? If it is OEM, why was it this color? Thanks
I own a 2005 B7 S4 and can vouch for the fact that it is a very expensive car to maintain in the UK! Oil changes naturally require a lot of fully-synth oil, the gearbox service kit is £300 (before labour), and control arms are £160+ each. I had two arms fail and it was cheaper (in the long-run) to buy the full controll arm kit from Meyle in Germany than buy two arms from Audi! But it is a great car nonetheless, the V8 is amazing :0)
My B5 has been amazing, however I've had to dump a ton of money into it in preventive maintenance. Granted, I've done a ton of mods as well, but totally worth it imho.
Great video but 2.0 fsi engine should be on the list, vw gti or Audi A4, timing beltt, hpfp, cam follower, camshaft, coils, pcv valve, dv valve, all gadgets because of the oil leak, carbon build up.
Cam follower is 15 bucks. Diverter valve is 45 bucks. PCV is 70 bucks. If you are aware of the maintenance needed, those are cheap fixes and that engine can go a long way. The key is being aware and just swapping the parts out every 40-50k miles. Timing belt is standard for many cars, including Toyotas.
2004 s4 125,000 miles for $8500 the timing chain guide was changed and a new clutch was put in it along with tires. Is it worth it??? Can I get another 100,000 miles from the timing chain guide, which sounds like it's the main thing I should worry about with the s4.
A lot of solid points. But as far as turbo replacement on a B5 you just pull the front end not the motor. And honestly a Corrado is no harder to maintain than a mk3 vr6. The g60 is a little wonky but my buddy has had decent experience keeping his together. As for me the w8, b5, Corrado and mk3 gti are all gone now. Went to a UrS6 with the AAN. Much more power and the correct number of cylinders.
What about the 2007 RS4? Does it have the same engine & problems as the B7 S4? I have not heard complaints of timing chain issues even on high mileage models. thanks!
RS4 Has some stronger chain guides and as far as we know its less common, but Im not sure there are enough RS4 models out there as a sample size to know.
Just got one from an auction, perfect condition but burned clutch. Looking at 2k at the very least with RS4 clutch upgrade and lightflywheel included, already have my quote. Not too expensive, but still 2 grand in just a clutch :)
The "engine needs to come out" issue with the 2.7 V6 BiTurbo - is this the same with the other models using this engine like eg. the A6? Regardless of 2wd or quattro?
I loved my 2.7 bi turbo. I didn't like the a6. Living in Indiana, when I did do work on the suspension I never had to torch it, the timing belt I did in my claustrophobic garage with no issue one afternoon. How ever I never touched the turbos.
The 2.7 in my opinion is the best motor, especially for mods and tuning. I didn't like the A6 either so I bought a 2002 A6 and swapped the 2.7 into my 2006 B7 A4 with the 6 speed trans. Best thing that's ever happened to the B7 lol
I also had an Audi b5 S4 I was dreading the day my turbos would need replaced but ended up per sliding it into a pole at about eighty miles an hour not much fun the car did a fantastic job of protecting me and my friend riding shotgun kudos to great build quality and safety features Even as I was collecting my things the following days after the crash you could touch the key and it would fire right up like nothing happened I would definitely take a chance on another b5 S4 loved it
In europe the Corrado VR6 was the hot one to have because it came with the 2.9L / 190hp engine (later used in the Golf /Passat VR6 Syncro) Did the US market got the 2.8L only?
Daniel Bailey I've owned mine for a year and a half now, stage 2 with the required mods already came when I bought it. Only major things i've needed so far have been a new fuel pump, and EGT sensor. Which have set me back $400 combined. (I did the work myself.) Theres the usual spark plugs, oil etc. But every car needs that. The short answer is, no it isn't overly expensive if the car is looked after, yes it will be expensive if the car is neglected. But the myths of reliability issues are exaggerated..its one of the most reliable cars i've owned
Have an Vw b5 2.8l V6, extremly affordable to buy, but maintained is high. But i have to say the hole vw/audi group have this problem. Fine cars, cheep to buy, you get a lot for the money.
I seriously considered a B6 S4 since I don't do a lot of miles any more and always wanted to own a v8 for a bit. But the timing chain thing is just something you can't overlook. If it goes, the car is basically scrap unless you can fix it yourself. It will cost as much as the car is worth now.
You forgot the 1-2 shift collar issue on the early b5 s4's. : / I had one for a few years and loved it, but maintenance sucked on it, had to pull the motor at least once a year. I'll likely have another someday. Mine had the cast iron uprights, the pinch bolts were a breeze compared to my current b7 with aluminum uprights. Torch, die grinder, air hammer, and new bolts every time they need to come out. Still have a corrado currently in shambles. :P 1990 bought as a stage 4 g60, aba turbo swapped it, sold it, bought it back, vr swapped it, daily drove it for two years, bought my b7 and started tearing the corrado down for a respray, haven't touched it in a year now. :( There is almost nothing in the vw/audi lineup right now that interests me at all. :( The b8 s4 is alright I guess. I want to see a new vr6 model, awd, not direct injected, a real manual transmission, a hatch or a wagon would be nice.
2005 Audi D3 A8 in standard wheelbase? Not listed in the top 5, but with it being a flagship car over ten years old, gremlins are certain to be present and repairs are bound to be expensive, especially if repairs require parts unique to the D3 considering how few of them sold in the States. Of course, making sure the car was properly cared for with proof in the form of complete service records would be a help. However, I would appreciate an expert opinion nonetheless. Reason being for inquiring about this specific model: I liked the look of the car with the split grill, of which 2005 was the final model year (aside from the S8, except I'm not interested in that model). Plus, the 2005 was the first model year that the standard wheelbase D3 was available in North America. Of course, I could try and get a 2009 D3 A8 and replace the front with that of a 2004-2005 D3 A8 to get the look I want.
+Watcher3223 any A8 would be expensive to repair and maintain. This would be especially tire on the older models as the cost to repair often can start to approach the value of the vehicle.
Like all of these type of lists, it paints everything with one brush. I've had 944 Turbos and B5S4s when I was a relatively poor person, and they can be owned and kept up by any resourceful, mechanically-adept person. You can buy the K03 OE center cartridges for $300/apiece, so even a thrifty turbocharger repair is entirely possible for under $1000. Lots of consideration for the big picture goes a long way in maintaining these cars. Obviously savagely beating on a car like this or paying someone to work on it for you will get very expensive. However, if you're really interested in driving one, it's really a special car that even the proletariat can roll if they've got some patience and determination.
+Evan Finch You're right that you can buy rebuilt turbos and other such options but pulling the engine out of a 2.7t S4 frankly is not possible for most people. The people who have the skill set to make that happen also likely are aware of all the options you mentioned making a list like this not super relevant to them.
I'm looking at a 01 B5 S4 stage 2 (needs fueling kit for stage 3) with 185k and according to the owner, it's kept up to date with maintenance. Control arms and turbos changed ~10k ago. Seriously tempted. I've been looking for one for 8 months now, but the mileage makes me hesitant. So the question is, should I? Or should I not?
i love the b5 model. had an a4 that died on me so i went and got an s4 about a month ago. guy before me obviously didnt take care of it. personally i want to tune it up so i dont mind fixing it but damn its gonna take a tears salary to get where i wanna be
Here I was looking for a b5 as a winter awd beater.... Seems that a lot of them need water pumps replaced and valves done (whatever needs to be done to them)
timing chain issues on these 4.2 is common at only 30000 miles. and there are other audi/Vw engines with similar timing chain issues. I wish the cost to repair was 6 or 8k. every shop I spoke with said 10k as much as 18k. Audi knows about the problem and deny the issue. there is a lawsuit that in the works. if you have this problem, look up audi, time chain, lawsuit.
Are the Audi 3.0t engines reliable? More specifically im looking into a 2009 A6 to replace my 99' B5 Passat which has 190k and runs flawlessly. Don't want to swap out for a lemon
I'm still going to get one b6 s4 estate , all cars have there problems if not maintained properly or looked after like it should be, some things you can't help like taking the engine out but bet any money when u start that v8 up u will love it everytime
To be fair, except for the multilink suspension (just change the bad part right away so it doesn't tress the remaining ones so badly), and it won't eat susension parts for breakfast) and dual mass flywheels - most of these issues are S-model (and respective engines) specific.
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I know I'm not the only proud owner to be #1 on the list 👍.
bought a B6 S4 last year knowing the timing was going to have to be done. But I was able to negotiate the price down pretty much based on that fact alone. Had the timing done a few months ago and i don't regret it one bit.
+Maxwell Wildman Awesome!! Sounds like you knew what youre were getting into which is the most important part.
As I Corrado owner, I just knew it had to make the list! But when it runs right.... none of that matters.
+Alden Cates Yup ; )
Love my W8 lol. I know what you mean by thorn in my side, but I cannot let go of a car that sounds like I'm arriving to work with a legion of valkyries
Riccardo G dude you should do videos of your Passat. Those cars are freaking awesome
With just under 240,000 miles on my B5 S4, its the most reliable car I've had.
I was looking at some the other day, I was kinda worried
+Sam It all depends on how the car is driven, if it's stock, maintain schedule, and the level of modifications on it. In stock form the car is very reliable, touch anything that increases horsepower and it will become your worst nightmare. You'd think the cost of parts for a car that's 15+ years old would be really cheap but it's the opposite, and engine pulls are the worst and take up so much time on this car.
+RyanKhorramiVT is the A4 b5 a lot different?
A4 B5 is much more reliable, but still has the suspension problems (Pretty much all audi's do, especially lower control arms) And the other main thing to watch out for are timing belt jobs. Other than that, the A4 B5 is a very fun reliable car.
My car has been tuned at 20psi for half of its life and has various other modifications towards performance. I warm it up and cool it down every drive and service it with quality products. Still has original factory turbochargers. I feel the B5 S4 gets a lot of bad rep even though it's a really strong motor. Obviously my case may differ from others, but if well taken care of its pretty reliable and a great powerhouse. The A4 is also a good option, the 1.8t is a well known platform. Working on it isn't the easiest thing in the world, but I'm no professional and I can manage in a driveway. It pretty much comes down to if you think you can do the work on it or afford to have it done because it is a higher end car with a higher end price to go with it.
I have a 2004 S4 - since new. It has 71,000 miles on it. I am aware of the timing chain concern and other things. I have not pounded on the car much as I believe shocking the drivetrain can accelerate the timing chain issue. I am hopelessly attached to the car and may go with it to its grave. I love it so much.
+M DOSD I have a B6 S4 as well with 110k on it. She still runs like new.
Had 2 b6 s4's, and b7 rs4...love those cars, especially the sound as mentioned. All three fell apart around 113k miles and started costing $500 in miscellaneous repairs per month until I found a buyer. Have a B8 S4 now with 121k miles, everything under the hood is holding up great, only experiencing a couple tech glitches with the MMI & backup cam from time to time. Moral of the story; don't fall for the siren's song of the 4.2L, beef up a b5 or spend the money and own all in a B8.
+Carter Garnon Well my fingers are crossed mine lasts longer.
+Carter Garnon I have a B8 S4 for about 3 years now. 0 Mechanical issues to date, at 55000 miles. Wonderful vehicle and enjoy my 6MT.
+Carter Garnon I'm thinking of get the b6 s4 estate as much as I know the cost with the timing chain etc I know I would love it specially starting it up every morning , my dad being into cars and drag racing I've been into v8's since I was a kid so I'm a suckered for them and the sound only mod I would do is a whole stainless exhaust system, different air filter just replacement tho and mayb different coil pack and spark plugs, would get the engine terra cleaned and leave it at that
Got the 2.7t yeah it's expensive but when it runs like it's meant to, not much else beats it's in the way of driving experience.
IM STILL GONNA BUY A B5 S4 cause RACECAR
Did you buy one yet? I've had my 4 years now. 2000 w 125k
Racecar. Lol up until there is a corner
My b5 corners great lmao. It's on coilovers which really enhance its road grip but none the less has great cornering ability. Even pushing some harder corners understeer is very very minimal
I had one ready
I've changed turbos on the b5 s4 by hanging the engine and dropping the subframe ..No it's not super quick but you don't need to remove the engine...just lower it a bit when it's on the hanger.
I've owned both B5 S4 (ST2) and B7 S4 (Full JHM B/O). I was lucky enough to to find a B7 S4 with the timing already done and also the B5 S4 already done. I'm most definitely buying another B5 S4.
+B. Marchante yas
+B. Marchante You should play to Lotto ; )
As a B6 S4 owner I'd suggest for anyone purchasing a S4 to look for cars with well documented service history and the timing chain done. Other than that its a special car. Get a jhm tune, fullback exhaust, and proper coilovers and its a beast of a car.
I'm looking at the b6 S4 estate always been around v8s and doing a customers s8 sounded lovely , is there other stuff to look out for when buying one, when I do I would get a terra clean done, replacement air filter , whole stainless exhaust system different spark plugs and coil pack and mayb a tune just for exhaust etc
You just save my life, last month i almost buy a 2004 B6 Audi.
holy SHIT at those chain setups... i counted FOUR chains on that B4 and the touareg, that's unreliably INSANE!!!, ¿who in their right mind in VW engineering tought "this is a good idea, seems solid, let's put it into production" when those engines should have had YEARS of harsh real world testing BEFORE even putting it into production
From what I understand, it's not so much the reliability that matters, but the feel and performance.
I'm sure they're well aware of the issues, but they expect the parts to be replaced anyways. And if they spend too much time testing an engine, they might not be able to remain competitive with other companies, because the technology would become outdated.
A base model corolla has a lot in common with old luxury vehicles, but most of the newer luxury vehicles are more advanced.
I’m assuming your talking about the b6/7 audi s4. To be fair the chains are not the problem. The real idiot isn’t the guy who chucked a wonk ass chain setup in there but the idiot who said let’s make the cam chain guides and tensioner plastic... the whole problem that 4.2l has is with the plastic getting old and cracking. But usually with good maintenance and a stupid frequent oil change every 5-7k you’d be fine
V10 TDI Touareg. . . "With 553 lb ft of tourque, enough to pull down a house or pull an airplane". . . That statement almost makes me want one!
And don't forget the B7 A4 2.0T with timing belt failures, cam follower failures.hpfp failures,control arms don't last and 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. but oh I love my car lol.
+Ivan Giraldo Yeah the B7 Audi 2.0t engines had their share of issues and while they are not cheap to maintain they pale in comparison to most of the models mentioned. Glad you enjoy your A4!
+Deutsche Auto Parts Thanks man. I really do I work on my own car so if.anything fails i wrench and fix it. i'll do anything exept timing belt I won' touch that thing.
+Ivan Giraldo timing belts aren't really all that bad, just take your time, triple check your work, and you'll be fine.
Wait, you mean oil soaked spark plugs are a bad thing?! If I had a dollar for everytime we changed my buddies plugs because the damn valve cover gaskets went on his B7 A4
My B7 A4 Quattro MT6 Fully loaded with 56k miles had a fail third gear synchro, failed clutch, and carbon build up. I traded it in.
I had a G60 Corrado with a 2.0L block and upgraded neuspeed pully on the charger. It was so much fun to drive and handled turns like you could not believe. But I have never spent so much money on replacement parts and modifying it just to keep it on the road. Now I have a 2017 MK7 GTI.
I owned a corrado and currently own a B6 S4... Looks like i love punishment lol. But seriously, corrado parts are DIRT cheap if you know 1989-1999 VW as intimately as i do. My B6 S4 timing guide recently broke and i bent valves, and this IS a common issue with the S4 4.2, the RS4 4.2 is completely different.
I own a 2004 A6 2.7t and it has been a great car. But I do all my own maintenance. That makes a big difference to the wallet. I also owned a 2005 A8. That one should probably be on the list too. Again wasn't too bad as I did all the repairs myself.
great video, I'm the owner of a B5 and a B6 hahaha. I love Audis, always will. With that said your absolutely right in terms of expense, really hoping I don't have timing belt issues.
+Diego Toledo Thanks for the feedback and for watching. Good luck with your S4s ; ) they are a ton of fun.
Geat subject that people need to hear before they jump into an ownership situation.
+Matthew Gaines Agreed, thats a big part of why we put this together.
Never own a German car without full coverage warranty.
cwillfrommd These cars are really extreme cases and not all models are like this.
Do you know why these german cars, unlike Japanese cars, don't maintain the market price when they get old. Because they have low reliability and parts are more expensive to replace.
japanese cars depreciate at the same if not a very close rate. especially luxury
I still want a B5 S4, seems like it doesn't get the love it deserves despite having a beautiful engine and sound. I currently own a MK4 VW Jetta so I known what to expect when fixing VWs and Audis from this era.
SGKatrox I owned one sold it 3 years ago now about to buy a new STI
SGKatrox I owned a f23 gti now own a b5 s4 love it. but won't recomended if it will be your daily
SGKatrox I own the b5 and I love it but it is expencive
i own a 2008 b7 audi s4 in ibis white, i swear i have the only white s4...especially with 6 speed manual and carbon fiber trim, leather seats, its gotta be a rare car. hoping to sell it soon for as much as i payed for it, or even more
Q U A T T R O if you get half youll be lucky lmaoo these cars depreciate by the second
All Audis are expensive as fuck to fix my mistake was getting one or two .... Lmao
I’ve got a B5 RS4 with 490bhp and 517lb/ft torque with 192k miles on the clock still on original turbos and clutch. Hasn’t been cheap to maintain in the 11 years of ownership but I just couldn’t sell as it’s a special car. Not the best in handling or feedback but looks good and is seriously quick in a straight line !
B5 S4 owner here! Eating stones for dinner tonight guys!
I own a Passat cc 3.6 vr6 4 motion. Got 107000 miles on clock still runs like new. Solid engine 300bhp stock and can hold its own against the s4 untill you get to about 90mph and the v8 starts to pull away absolutely love it. Only thing that let me down was dsg box had to spend £2800 on a new mechatronic unit at 97000 miles but the engine seems pretty bullet proof up to now. Not sure how long the dual clutch were designed to last though imagine it won't be cheap to replace.
b6 s4 stock 200,000 miles. feel like I lost a few ponys at 180k. i bought it at 75000 as an abused pup. i live it so much. but she's in the shop as a repair and ive brought out the best Audi engine I've known (excluding 2.1) the 1.8T s-line b5
Just got a b5 s4 about a month and a half ago and so far it runs perfect and it's fast. about to put a tune on next week and get 330hp
+Ben Pazol Awesome.... They are great when tuned.
The 3.0TDi engine has the same problem with tensioners on timing chain as the 4.2. I had to have them replaced aswell. The engine had to go out too. When the engine was out, I also had the mechanic replace the torque convertor, oil in the tiptronic, engine oil, the whole set of timing chains and tensioners, and fuel pump belt. All of this was for $2300.
Non car people say VWs are very simple cars that are not complicated. But they’ve one of the most complex and rear engines, especially their W engines
B5 s4❤️ still love mine
Love the video but I have a question you seem to know a lot about vw Audi cars and I was wondering if you know of something other than a dvv what would cause a 0299 code on a b7 a4? $6k and nobody can seem to help me out various shops I've been to it's just a nightmare. Light came on about 140k miles I have a 160k now it's been over a yr that this has been going on. I have a fresh rebuilt head and fuel system etc only thing left is a turbo or intercoolers and map sensor again these things are the only parts aside from a bottom end and trans that haven't been replaced. Can you help? Or anyone plz help I still owe money on the car and I'm at the end of my rope I don't know what else to do especially when everyone says it can't be your turbo cause it seems to run fine which at times it does but honestly I have no clue I don't have money to throw at it to keep finding out what the problem is and I don't wanna replace the turbo and that doesent fix the problem. Thanks and love the videos
Planning on getting a one-owner, female owned, well maintained 02 S4. It doesn’t seem like a horrible buy considering it doesn’t need any mechanical work and it has fairly low miles. Not planning on modding it except maybe an exhaust and stage 1 tune. Hoping to have a pleasant ownership experience and will be keeping up with the oil changes and modifying my driving habits to preserve the turbos.
On the 2.7 s4 biggest problems is bad imc. And leaking valve gaskets. You'll go threw coils often unless you bypass the imc. Never had a problem with turbos.
Ironically, these are arguably also the most sought out models as well. I've wanted every car on this list at one point. And the B5 was my dream car through college. Hahaha. Great video!
+Christopher Keller Yes they are pretty desirable cars. Cool doesn't generally equal cheap ; )
I just picked up a 2010 Audi S4 B8 6 speed manual. I love it, but then I saw videos of thermostat and water pump replacement. Not cheap either. But that supercharger is pretty bad ass. I also own a 1990 VW GTI 8v that I've had for over 10 years. It has also been a thorn in my side, but I will never sell it. Parts are hard to find and parts cars are rarer than hen's teeth.
My B6 is currently a driveway decoration. I die a little everytime I leave or come home and see it sitting there.
What's wrong with it? I'm currently looking for a B7 RS4 and I am aware of the issue with carbon buildup so an intake valve cleaning service is in the works ever 2 or 3 years but what else can really go wrong? I know suspension parts wear out quick on German cars but the kits available are quite good and include bushings and all.
+Djonkie Bonk The B7 RS4 is actually suprisingly a little more robust and reliable due to a much better designed engine than the S4.
+S65AMG biggest issue with the B6 is the timing chain and plastic guides breaking. why they'd put the timing chain in the back by the firewall I don't kno.
S65AMG Yeah I'm taking my time looking for one. If my efforts don't yield much there's always the C63 AMG. Having owned MBs in the past I'm familiar with them but the RS4 has a certain charm to it and that throbbing mechanical sound the engine makes is awesome.
Djonkie Bonk Daily driving a B7 A4 Ti Edition S-line, I can easily tell you that you'd quickly prefer the interior amenities and creature comforts of a W204 C63 much more than the B7 RS4 if you plan to daily drive your car. As far as driving dynamics, the RS4, to me, provides slightly better handling but the C63 is downright mental. I think the C63 will probably be the most practical decision as far as long term reliability and parts availability. I've owned a C63 in the past and have driven a couple RS4s.
Nicely done. Thanks for producing this video!
+Mario Dalla Riva No problem. Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it very much.
+Deutsche Auto Parts Looks like you guys have a great company. Do you ship north to Canada and if so what are your shipping rates?
Parts would be for a 2012 Golf 2.5 Sportline 5door.
I owned a 86 Scirocco (loved that car!) and a 95 Jetta. Both awesome cars. We put several hundred thousand kms on our VWs.
Cheers!
my b5 s4 has 396K miles, ive never done anything to it. its still on the original oil the car was delivered with it. So reliable
Best car at number 1
Agree proud owner
I feel this might make some people mad, but would I have a better chance of paying less for maintenance for an e39 m5 or a b6 s4?
Ultimately it would be best to do the research on your own. Look through e39 forums as well as s4 forums, most of the people on them own the vehicles or have some sort of hands on experience with them. I would say the m5 will cost more, at least in my area it would.
Still have my b5s4 with 150k. Fun WHEN it's running. It is currently having a misfire with no codes showing up until it's under load. 😬
What about the 2009-2011 Audi A4? I’m thinking of buying one soon as a first car. Any tips and recommendations?
love to see the top five to own that are affordable yet fun.
brilliant info, I already swerved a W8 Passat and I was looking into a B5 S4.....not anymore though lol !
They are good cars if they are maintained. 130k on the dash has been modded and running better than ever. It's been a daily driver for a long time.
The b5 s4 is great and you actually don't have to remove the engine to change the turbos.
Good video thanks. I wondered why the coolant reservoir was a flat back transparent color on the B5 S4 Audi? Is this standard and do you have a factory part number for this reservoir? If it is OEM, why was it this color? Thanks
Bueller?
Got myself a B8 A4 but it's looking like the CVT gearbox may need replacing. Fingers crossed it's only a TCM issue though.
So true about b5 s4 control arms in the winter! I just sawzall'd my arms off then tried to remove them from the spindle haha
I own a 2005 B7 S4 and can vouch for the fact that it is a very expensive car to maintain in the UK! Oil changes naturally require a lot of fully-synth oil, the gearbox service kit is £300 (before labour), and control arms are £160+ each. I had two arms fail and it was cheaper (in the long-run) to buy the full controll arm kit from Meyle in Germany than buy two arms from Audi! But it is a great car nonetheless, the V8 is amazing :0)
My B5 has been amazing, however I've had to dump a ton of money into it in preventive maintenance. Granted, I've done a ton of mods as well, but totally worth it imho.
Great video but 2.0 fsi engine should be on the list, vw gti or Audi A4, timing beltt, hpfp, cam follower, camshaft, coils, pcv valve, dv valve, all gadgets because of the oil leak, carbon build up.
Cam follower is 15 bucks. Diverter valve is 45 bucks. PCV is 70 bucks.
If you are aware of the maintenance needed, those are cheap fixes and that engine can go a long way. The key is being aware and just swapping the parts out every 40-50k miles.
Timing belt is standard for many cars, including Toyotas.
@0:55 If you are a fan of gas guzzlers with complex but underwhelming engines, the Passat W8 has you covered. :)
A few of those are on my wish list! Sucker for punishment. Blows my mind the W8 has a watercooled alternator....
+Badgertronix Yup.... They are a mother to replace too.
Great video, very informative!
2004 s4 125,000 miles for $8500 the timing chain guide was changed and a new clutch was put in it along with tires. Is it worth it??? Can I get another 100,000 miles from the timing chain guide, which sounds like it's the main thing I should worry about with the s4.
A lot of solid points. But as far as turbo replacement on a B5 you just pull the front end not the motor. And honestly a Corrado is no harder to maintain than a mk3 vr6. The g60 is a little wonky but my buddy has had decent experience keeping his together. As for me the w8, b5, Corrado and mk3 gti are all gone now. Went to a UrS6 with the AAN. Much more power and the correct number of cylinders.
regular servicing has my 1.8t B5 living a happy life at 260k issues free. Full bolts ons GIAC tuned @23psi
here in europe b5 s4 are like 5k for a rough one and 14k for a mint one, i think thats pretty cheap
Just got my first car a 2014 Audi A6 & I love it
The S4s first V8 was the Naturally Aspirated, 4.2L V8 in the S4 C4, which engine didn't go to America but is still the first.
This was extremely helpful. Keep this up
+Russell Van wyk Thanks glad you liked it.
I love my b5. Great car when you take care of some small things
I own a b5 s4 and I live in a state with harsh winters but I bought it anyways. I took my car 1300 miles to a different state for maintenance
I owned a 90 g60 and a 92 slc and I miss them to death. I have dreams of the slc, I need to get another.
What about the 2007 RS4? Does it have the same engine & problems as the B7 S4? I have not heard complaints of timing chain issues even on high mileage models. thanks!
RS4 Has some stronger chain guides and as far as we know its less common, but Im not sure there are enough RS4 models out there as a sample size to know.
Just got one from an auction, perfect condition but burned clutch. Looking at 2k at the very least with RS4 clutch upgrade and lightflywheel included, already have my quote. Not too expensive, but still 2 grand in just a clutch :)
I have a b7 s4 Dtm pkg with 113,00 miles. Knock on wood no issues yet since I bought with 80,000 miles.
The "engine needs to come out" issue with the 2.7 V6 BiTurbo - is this the same with the other models using this engine like eg. the A6? Regardless of 2wd or quattro?
I love my Audi a4 convertible 3.0L quattro no issues. going strong just oil
I loved my 2.7 bi turbo. I didn't like the a6. Living in Indiana, when I did do work on the suspension I never had to torch it, the timing belt I did in my claustrophobic garage with no issue one afternoon. How ever I never touched the turbos.
The 2.7 in my opinion is the best motor, especially for mods and tuning. I didn't like the A6 either so I bought a 2002 A6 and swapped the 2.7 into my 2006 B7 A4 with the 6 speed trans. Best thing that's ever happened to the B7 lol
Why did I know a s4 would be 1 but God do I love mine
You know the pleasure and the pain
Audi s4 is just an overpriced VW passat
My B5 A4 1.8tqm. has over 250,000 miles. It's been pretty reliable after I replaced the timing belt on it.
I also had an Audi b5 S4 I was dreading the day my turbos would need replaced but ended up per sliding it into a pole at about eighty miles an hour not much fun
the car did a fantastic job of protecting me and my friend riding shotgun kudos to great build quality and safety features
Even as I was collecting my things the following days after the crash you could touch the key and it would fire right up like nothing happened
I would definitely take a chance on another b5 S4 loved it
In europe the Corrado VR6 was the hot one to have because it came with the 2.9L / 190hp engine (later used in the Golf /Passat VR6 Syncro) Did the US market got the 2.8L only?
Yes we never got the 2.9L
Is the B5 S4 expensive if you do the the majority of the maintenance yourself?
Daniel Bailey I've owned mine for a year and a half now, stage 2 with the required mods already came when I bought it. Only major things i've needed so far have been a new fuel pump, and EGT sensor. Which have set me back $400 combined. (I did the work myself.) Theres the usual spark plugs, oil etc. But every car needs that. The short answer is, no it isn't overly expensive if the car is looked after, yes it will be expensive if the car is neglected. But the myths of reliability issues are exaggerated..its one of the most reliable cars i've owned
Do you think a 08 a4 is a good first car? I'm looking to spend about 8 k and they ussuualy have about 100k miles
Can you please make a review on the 1.4 tsi 122 horse power Golf mk 6 please and its tuning options and flash upgrades
Have an Vw b5 2.8l V6, extremly affordable to buy, but maintained is high. But i have to say the hole vw/audi group have this problem. Fine cars, cheep to buy, you get a lot for the money.
The Corrado also came with a 1.8 16 valve engine and a 2.0 engine in both 8 and 16 valve versions. Didn't you get those over in the colonies?
We did not get them
I seriously considered a B6 S4 since I don't do a lot of miles any more and always wanted to own a v8 for a bit. But the timing chain thing is just something you can't overlook. If it goes, the car is basically scrap unless you can fix it yourself. It will cost as much as the car is worth now.
No it won't, it will cost about a third of what the car is worth, then that bad boy will last you another 100k miles.
You forgot the 1-2 shift collar issue on the early b5 s4's. : / I had one for a few years and loved it, but maintenance sucked on it, had to pull the motor at least once a year. I'll likely have another someday. Mine had the cast iron uprights, the pinch bolts were a breeze compared to my current b7 with aluminum uprights. Torch, die grinder, air hammer, and new bolts every time they need to come out.
Still have a corrado currently in shambles. :P 1990 bought as a stage 4 g60, aba turbo swapped it, sold it, bought it back, vr swapped it, daily drove it for two years, bought my b7 and started tearing the corrado down for a respray, haven't touched it in a year now. :(
There is almost nothing in the vw/audi lineup right now that interests me at all. :( The b8 s4 is alright I guess. I want to see a new vr6 model, awd, not direct injected, a real manual transmission, a hatch or a wagon would be nice.
how about 3.2 fsi v6 engines? do they have the timing chain issues too?
2005 Audi D3 A8 in standard wheelbase?
Not listed in the top 5, but with it being a flagship car over ten years old, gremlins are certain to be present and repairs are bound to be expensive, especially if repairs require parts unique to the D3 considering how few of them sold in the States.
Of course, making sure the car was properly cared for with proof in the form of complete service records would be a help.
However, I would appreciate an expert opinion nonetheless.
Reason being for inquiring about this specific model: I liked the look of the car with the split grill, of which 2005 was the final model year (aside from the S8, except I'm not interested in that model). Plus, the 2005 was the first model year that the standard wheelbase D3 was available in North America.
Of course, I could try and get a 2009 D3 A8 and replace the front with that of a 2004-2005 D3 A8 to get the look I want.
+Watcher3223 any A8 would be expensive to repair and maintain. This would be especially tire on the older models as the cost to repair often can start to approach the value of the vehicle.
Thank you for your information.
Like all of these type of lists, it paints everything with one brush.
I've had 944 Turbos and B5S4s when I was a relatively poor person, and they can be owned and kept up by any resourceful, mechanically-adept person. You can buy the K03 OE center cartridges for $300/apiece, so even a thrifty turbocharger repair is entirely possible for under $1000. Lots of consideration for the big picture goes a long way in maintaining these cars.
Obviously savagely beating on a car like this or paying someone to work on it for you will get very expensive. However, if you're really interested in driving one, it's really a special car that even the proletariat can roll if they've got some patience and determination.
+Evan Finch You're right that you can buy rebuilt turbos and other such options but pulling the engine out of a 2.7t S4 frankly is not possible for most people. The people who have the skill set to make that happen also likely are aware of all the options you mentioned making a list like this not super relevant to them.
Is the B8 V8 S5(First gen) a good engine and car, or is it the same as the B7 S4?
I'm looking at a 01 B5 S4 stage 2 (needs fueling kit for stage 3) with 185k and according to the owner, it's kept up to date with maintenance. Control arms and turbos changed ~10k ago. Seriously tempted. I've been looking for one for 8 months now, but the mileage makes me hesitant. So the question is, should I? Or should I not?
i love the b5 model. had an a4 that died on me so i went and got an s4 about a month ago. guy before me obviously didnt take care of it. personally i want to tune it up so i dont mind fixing it but damn its gonna take a tears salary to get where i wanna be
I had a vw bora v6 4mo in Australia it was brand new at $60k brilliant little car
Literally all of the cars I've been interested in haha. Corrado.. B6 and B7 RS4.. *sigh*
LamborghiniReven1000 RS4 wasn’t on this list. Those are very reliable.
Here I was looking for a b5 as a winter awd beater.... Seems that a lot of them need water pumps replaced and valves done (whatever needs to be done to them)
+philo lee could be a good deal if you have the ability to do the work.
Great video, learned a thing or two
timing chain issues on these 4.2 is common at only 30000 miles. and there are other audi/Vw engines with similar timing chain issues. I wish the cost to repair was 6 or 8k. every shop I spoke with said 10k as much as 18k. Audi knows about the problem and deny the issue. there is a lawsuit that in the works. if you have this problem, look up audi, time chain, lawsuit.
Just finishing up rebuilding a B6 S4. It’s really not that bad. Taking the engine out sounds like a big deal. But it’s not.
Great info. I had a b5 passat wagon 5 speed and I loved it. But after hearing and researching more, the VAG cars are expensive to own and maintain.
+Mark Speed6 the B5 is really not a great platform in terms of overall repair cost.
+Deutsche Auto Parts I know, but it was my first car that I bought new and modified...
Are the Audi 3.0t engines reliable? More specifically im looking into a 2009 A6 to replace my 99' B5 Passat which has 190k and runs flawlessly. Don't want to swap out for a lemon
going to talk about on AskDAP 116 make sure you subscribe
You might have shattered my dreams with the Audi B5, B6, and B7 but we'll see.
I'm still going to get one b6 s4 estate , all cars have there problems if not maintained properly or looked after like it should be, some things you can't help like taking the engine out but bet any money when u start that v8 up u will love it everytime
To be fair, except for the multilink suspension (just change the bad part right away so it doesn't tress the remaining ones so badly), and it won't eat susension parts for breakfast) and dual mass flywheels - most of these issues are S-model (and respective engines) specific.
I love my B5 S4, I wouldn't trade my favorite little headache for anything. :)
What about the 2012 Audi A8L? I'm really considering buying this car used under 50k miles.
Thinking about a b5 s4 with k04's, timing belt, and clutch already done, what do you guys think?
Sounds like a lot of the scary stuff is done. Its a better choice than most other B5 S4's for sure.