I looked around this forum and the faq, but I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. I am looking at buying an Audi A4 B5. Just looking for something fun and manual for the next year or so when I'm out of college. I am probably leaning towards the 99.5 2.8 after reading around. My question is what are the main things to look out for when buying an A4? Some of my friends will say oh don't get that one because of X mileage, but I know that if taken care of properly that number doesn't really matter. But since I don't particularly know what kind of owner he/she was I guess it is relevant. I know the timing belt is a key issue as it can destroy the engine. So other than the seller telling me it was changed X miles ago, is there anything I can look for on the car itself? And what other major issues does the B5, as in common faults seen across years and consistent?

Thanks in advance.

 

As you mentioned, the timing belt is the biggest thing that must be addressed. If the owner doesn't have records of it being done or proof, I wouldn't entertain the offer unless they are willing to knock off $1000 off of their asking price. It's a very costly job if you don't do it yourself, and even doing it yourself the price of parts is rather expensive as well. Plus the time you will invest in doing it yourself is rather substantial for the first timer.

Check for smoke from atop of the engine / oil on the under carriage of the car. If you notice oil around the oil filter / frame around the bell housing, that is an indication that the valve covers and other cam gaskets are leaking. Open the oil cap after test driving it and see if there is an unusual amount of smoke that comes out from there. If so, again, there maybe valve cover gasket issues.This is very common for cars that age.

Pull the dipstick and try to see if the oil looks like a milkshake. If it does, I would walk away from the deal unless you get the whole car for $500. That's a dead giveaway that the car has overheated / cracked cylinder head / blown head gasket. This is a serious issue on any car, and on an Audi, the cost to repair at a shop is VERY expensive. Lord knows what else was damaged if it overheated.

Brakes - this goes without saying. Make sure the rotors are not warped and the pads are reasonable. I realize that this is a normal service issue for any car, but when I bought my BMW M6 I was able to knock off about $1500 off of their asking price for the cost of the parts. Don't expect to have $1500 taken off for brakes on an A4. I would say maybe $500 for parts.

This list will get you started, other members will be glad to list other stuff too.