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 -

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

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.

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.

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!

Reply to
Victor DiMichina

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

Reply to
Spider

rain.

????? 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

Reply to
Ronny

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

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

Reply to
Victor DiMichina

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