BUYERS GUIDE

The famous second generation Audi S4 (B5) Is a vehicle that receives mixed reviews worldwide for both its gut-wrenching performance, and its dirty mechanical dark side. Many would argue that this is the greatest performing engine architecture produced by VAG (Volkswagen Automotive Group) However, many other enthusiasts avoid it like the plague because of its grueling maintenance schedule.The second generation (B5) Audi S4 was produced in Europe from the years 1998 to 2002. Released in the United States for sale as a 2000 model year, the S4 came equipped with great features such as auto-leveling headlights, heated mirrors and seats, adjustable electric lumbar support, aluminum front suspension assemblies, and a host of other technologically advanced features. Ten years later, many of these features still perform flawlessly on these cars. With roughly only 10,000 S4's ever released for sale in the United States, parts are becoming scarce and specialty parts suppliers are popping up all over the country to meet the increased demand of the growing S4 enthusiast population. The greatest concentration of these vehicles in the US can be found on the West Coast (California, Oregon, and Washington) and in greater concentrations on the east coast in New England. The New England weather tends to be very tough on these vehicles, with many of them succumbing to owner abuse, neglect, cold weather, severe corrosion, and hot summers. Often times, the most important part of this car, the motor, is left untouched for years at a time. The following is a documentation of one of these cars, which includes details of every common issue associated with these motors.

Important notes:

These vehicles take phosphate free (G12) coolant and synthetic oil. We recommend Liqui-Moly 5w-40 for these vehicles. In the rare situation that the cylinder head lifters are weakening from abusive driving and are making a "ticking or tapping" noise, we recommend 0w-40, as the thinner oil travels faster to the area of poor pressure (in this case, the lifters and lifter bores)

Now why would someone want to fix a car so old?

• The S4 was a vehicle regarded as a "Wolf in sheeps clothing." by car magazines when it first debuted in the US. To this day, a lightly modified S4 can trounce on brand new exotic cars from brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and the likes of other manufacturers.
• Being a German built car, the tiny tolerances and engineering proficiency behind the design of the motor, (Based on a European market diesel V6) allows it to run many hundreds of thousands of miles with good care and maintenance.
• Having a cast iron block, a good flowing cylinder head, and two turbos providing air for 2.7 liters of displacement allows this engine to create tons of torque and power low in the powerband, while still remaining fuel efficient, reliable, and smooth when being driven lightly.
• You'll never get stuck in the snow. Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system is virtually unstoppable and increasingly predictable in upwards of 8 inches of snow, and provides superhero levels of grip on dry and wet road surfaces making it an incredibly brisk performer on the street, track, and drag strip.
• Finally, being that only 10,000 vehicles were ever imported into the US, this car has long since bottomed out in retail value. Since roughly 2007/2008, the values of these cars has steadily increased alongside similar competing cars of the same age such as BMW's M-powered cars (M3,M5), and the Mercedes AMG C-class and E-class vehicles.

Things to watch out for!

These vehicles take phosphate free (G12) coolant and synthetic oil. We recommend Liqui-Moly 5w-40 for these vehicles. In the rare situation that the cylinder head lifters are weakening from abusive driving and are making a "ticking or tapping" noise, we recommend 0w-40, as the thinner oil travels faster to the area of poor pressure (in this case, the lifters and lifter bores)

Now why would someone want to fix a car so old?

• Abusive ownership is the #1 cause of the infamous S4 maintenance "nightmare" reputation. If you're looking to buy an S4, ignore the mileage of the vehicle and seek out a well-spoken responsible owner who is both knowledgeable, and/or can provide a brief history and service records for the vehicle.
• When these cars get crashed, they get fixed. Sometimes, these minor to major accidents get unnoticed and unreported to the insurance companies. A dishonest enthusiast will do anything to preserve the value and title history of their prized Autobahn-rocket. Watch out for poor quality auto body work. Often times, if the vehicle has been properly repaired and documented, a buyer shouldn't worry about purchasing the vehicle if it checks out with a thorough road test and inspection.
• Turbo noise! If you're driving an S4 you would like to purchase, listen carefully to the turbos! If you hear an unusually loud whistling, screeching, or abnormal scraping noise upon medium to heavy acceleration, buyer beware! If a turbo blows, you'll most definitely be stuck with pulling the motor out or paying someone to do so!

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