Nogaro Blue

[Dan]

i supposed I should ask what went wrong with you. Many people buy used S4s that were sold as opposed to performing routine maintenance. These vehicles are sold at discount because of this.



Things to watch on lower mileage cars are:



coolant afterrun pump

DVs

wastegate splitter Tee

vacuum and boost hoses.



Higher mileage vehicles will require (60k+) at some point



timing belt/water pump

O2s

EGTs

N75

spider hose



These are all S4 specific. Other items include engine mounts, control arms, wheel bearings which are routine maintenance on all vehicles.



If you bought cheap, there was a reason. No offense, I have been in B5s for almost 10 years now so I am just stating what I have seen.

So putting in the K04's will fix all the above? You just said this before:

swap out the K03s for K04s and the S4 is rock solid.

So it seems you are contradicting yourself, No offense...



But as far as buying cheap, I got a smoking deal on a stage 3 car, its in amazing condition, but the PO spent a TON of money on it, I have all the receipts, so I feel his pain.



So are you saying this is a reliable and cheap to maintain car? I'm not sure where you are heading with this.

 

[imported_paintxpert]

They say you can do paint correction with the porter cable. I only have ever owned power polishers. They are made to rejuvenate and correct the sub-straight surfaces. USED CORRECTLY! If you buy the described vehicle above....buy some aspirin....and say a prayer. Wait till you see what it costs when it breaks. Notice I didn't say IF it breaks. I said when it breaks. The finish like someone suggested....is the least of your troubles.

 

[mikenap]

They say you can do paint correction with the porter cable. I only have ever owned power polishers.

Didn't realize the Porter Cable, G110 and Flex were all wind-up toys. Who knew?:nana:

 

[SteveWhitmore]

So putting in the K04's will fix all the above? You just said this before:









So it seems you are contradicting yourself, No offense...



But as far as buying cheap, I got a smoking deal on a stage 3 car, its in amazing condition, but the PO spent a TON of money on it, I have all the receipts, so I feel his pain.



So are you saying this is a reliable and cheap to maintain car? I'm not sure where you are heading with this.

It is not any worse than any other german car with 2 turbos other than the K03 turbos which are known to be time bombs. If you can't handle routine maintenance, I suggest you take the bus.

 

[WCM3]

My favorite quote from the audi forum "spend money and take care of it and it will break slower". It appears as though the S4s do break a decent bit from what everyone is telling me. I need this next car to be reliable so maybe I should look elsewhere. I feel like E46 M3s are dependable. Any experience with Alpine White or Laguna Seca?

 

[wannafbody]

Dark blue metallics are even worse than black when it comes to seeing defects.

 

[Dan]

It is not any worse than any other german car with 2 turbos other than the K03 turbos which are known to be time bombs. If you can't handle routine maintenance, I suggest you take the bus.

Perhaps you have lost your perspective. The OP wants a reliable daily driver. If you think think a B5 S4 fits that bill, I don't think you've had any experience with other cars. While its no Saab (had 3 of those... talk about nightmares), the B5 is not reliable.



Just a few other opinions:



Reliability of S4



2001 S4... How's the reliability?



There are way more of those threads, that's just two of dozens.



So because I'm honest about the car, you have to take little jabs like "I suggest you take the bus." Grow up.

 

[John_K]

Perhaps you have lost your perspective. The OP wants a reliable daily driver. If you think think a B5 S4 fits that bill, I don't think you've had any experience with other cars. While its no Saab (had 3 of those... talk about nightmares), the B5 is not reliable.



Just a few other opinions:



Reliability of S4



2001 S4... How's the reliability?



There are way more of those threads, that's just two of dozens.



So because I'm honest about the car, you have to take little jabs like "I suggest you take the bus." Grow up.

Wow, Audi owners aren't afraid to tell it like it is!! My BMW has been pretty reliable thus far. I'm about to do a water pump / t-stat job myself, but it seems that an S4 is on another level of maintenance, ouch.



However, nothing ever touches a Japanese car in reliability. That is one thing they do very, very well!!



Honestly man, I wouldn't go near an S4 after reading those two threads. Maybe you should consider some ///M in your life?

 

[SteveWhitmore]

Perhaps you have lost your perspective. The OP wants a reliable daily driver. If you think think a B5 S4 fits that bill, I don't think you've had any experience with other cars. While its no Saab (had 3 of those... talk about nightmares), the B5 is not reliable.



Just a few other opinions:



Reliability of S4



2001 S4... How's the reliability?



There are way more of those threads, that's just two of dozens.



So because I'm honest about the car, you have to take little jabs like "I suggest you take the bus." Grow up.

I have been in the B5 Audi community for 10 years. I know more than a few people on AZ, QW and AW. I also know more than a few people who have had stage 3 S4s with 170k+ miles. You did your googling on this and that is AWEsome, I speak from experience. Those those know how to maintain the car, will have a reliable one. Those who pay mechanics to find problems after they occur will have a money pit. It is very simple. FWIW, I don't generally recommend Audis to anyone that can't turn a wrench themselves.

 

[John_K]

My favorite quote from the audi forum "spend money and take care of it and it will break slower". It appears as though the S4s do break a decent bit from what everyone is telling me. I need this next car to be reliable so maybe I should look elsewhere. I feel like E46 M3s are dependable. Any experience with Alpine White or Laguna Seca?

The E46 M3 needs the valve check / adjustment every 30k-60k (depends on who you ask), as well as a cooling system overhaul if it hasn't already been done. After that, you should be in good shape for the most part.



E46fanatics.com is a great place to go for more info.

 

[WCM3]

Dark blue metallics are even worse than black when it comes to seeing defects.

That's why I'm not interested in dark blue metallics. Laguna Seca is a "smurf" blue, close to the Nogaro.

Honestly man, I wouldn't go near an S4 after reading those two threads. Maybe you should consider some ///M in your life?

And I already have an E36 M3 turbo I use as a track/toy car. I don't know if it's stupid to get an E46 M3 as an everyday car. I feel like it would fit the bill.

 

[Dan]

You did your googling on this and that is AWEsome, I speak from experience. Those those know how to maintain the car, will have a reliable one. Those who pay mechanics to find problems after they occur will have a money pit. It is very simple. FWIW, I don't generally recommend Audis to anyone that can't turn a wrench themselves.

No googling on this one, I'm on a few of the Audi forums since I have 3 sitting in my driveway. And yes, I totally agree with your statement above, but what you just stated is not the average person's definition of reliable.

 

[John_K]

That's why I'm not interested in dark blue metallics. Laguna Seca is a "smurf" blue, close to the Nogaro.







And I already have an E36 M3 turbo I use as a track/toy car. I don't know if it's stupid to get an E46 M3 as an everyday car. I feel like it would fit the bill.

Oh okay, sorry I should have read your post versus skimming it! :wall



Yeah, you probably know more about BMWs than I do then. I say if you can afford it with no issues (insurance, maint, gas milage), then I'd go for it. I love my 330Ci to death and can't wait to bump it up to an E46 M in a couple of years.

 

[Accumulator]

... FWIW, I don't generally recommend Audis to anyone that can't turn a wrench themselves.

OK, that "generally" lets you off the hook ...but my family and some of our friends have been 100% happy driving Audis (including some older and/or mighty high-mile ones) for decades, even though none of us wrench on 'em ourselves. It *is* a little pricey that way though, and you've *GOTTA* have a good mechanic whom you can trust.

And I already have an E36 M3 turbo I use as a track/toy car. I don't know if it's stupid to get an E46 M3 as an everyday car. I feel like it would fit the bill.

What would be stupid about it?



Here's a wild Q- why not use use that turboed E36 as a driver? One of the best daily drivers I ever had was an early M3 that was basically a race car with license plates and A/C (a Ray Korman-built car).

 

[Dan]

Found some funny stuff about the B5 S4: