I have a 2001 a4 2.8 quattro that is approaching 100k miles. I'm deciding whether to keep it or trade it in for something newer. I was wondering what usually goes wrong around 100k miles - this is what has been replaced recently so far: wheel bearings, valve cover gasket, timing belt and water pump at 80k, wiper transmission, coil packs, coolant expansion tank was replaced, display cluster and autodimming rearview mirror.

 

If you want to go by the parts that usually go wrong on these cars, the only crucial parts you'd need to think about would be ball joint failures (which entails replacing the control arms they're in, since they're all one piece - the ball joints aren't separately replaceable). Other relatively minor failures - annoyances more than anything - would include screwy fuel sending unit, cruise control flakiness and/or failure, and maybe problems with the combination switch (headlight/wiper/turn signal unit on the column). All of these are known issues with the B5 cars, and you could see any of them, although not necessarily just because you're going to turn 100k on the clock. They can happen earlier than that, or never. Kind of a luck of the draw really.

 

I dont think you'll have specific problems at 100k but you really just have to look at everything. My 12v is at 111k and i had to get new cats, and o2 sensor, other than looking at everything just keep up with your matnience. If you havent had a coolant flush in a while that might not be bad. Or check the coolant pipe right in front of the oilpan mine was nasty I replaced that.

 

I took my car to an certified audi tech and I had him write me a detailed love list of all the things that the car needed in order of severity....

the list came out to be over $5,000, and my car was running and felt perfectly fine...lol

it was all preventative maintenance....

I ended up buying the parts and literally saving a couple thousand dollars....

things that needed replacing were....

front axles (260)(purems)
front control arms(100)(eBay)
driver's side wheel bearing(80)(purems)
driveshaft(600)(local dealer)
shocks&springs(675)(mtm autohaus(bilstein sport/neuspeed race))
valve cover gasket
cam seals (turned out that my cam was a tooth off)
oil pan gasket(what a fukin PITA)
clutch(Had a shop install mine (400 for the kit) install was really cheap cuz of all the stuff I ordered)
center diff service
tranny fluid
diff seals(local shop)
diff fluid
break pads(100)
rotors(200)
break fluid
fuel filter(15)
air filter(25)
spark plugs(10)(ngk bkr7E)
oil change(castrol syntec 5w-30)(30)
tranny mounts(50)
motor mounts(100)
snub mount (50)(stern)

my car currently feels like a million bux....but it wasn't cheap or easy....

DIY FTMFW!

I am guessing that I am forgetting a few things...lol

my car has 130K on it....the money I just put into it should hold it together for another 5 or 6 years (fingers crossed)

 

@73,100 miles:
My front end just started getting "clunky"
Turns out I needed a new upper control arm and left tire rod: $832

My ABS/BRAKE light has been on for over a year now - it was a really rough winter.
Also, my AIRBAG light is on.

I think something is wrong with my turbo too, after I rev and the engine comes back down to idle, I hear a weird noise, not really sure how to describe it. It's like very rapid clicking noise. Anyone have an idea.....rapid clicking noise coming from the turbo?? anyone?? anyone???

 

Actually I have the same noise A4Gasm, when the rpms start going down, my mechanic told me it can be the cat, but I'm not sure, let me know if you find out what it is because I have to deal with the same problem.

 

Currently at 200K.
My turbo blows a bit of smoke, maybe time for a K04
Def could use new engine mounts.
Need a new cat. While I'm in there it will be time for a low restriction exhaust.
Gas gauge sometimes sticks. (sending unit)
Likely need a passenger front strut mount.

Time to start saving for my third timing belt change.

 

At 156k and couldnt be happier with the way my car is performing. Some problems here and there but, coming from a 3rd gen RX7 maintence is minimal.