I just picked up a broken (timing belt snapped) 1998 A4 Quattro 1.8T for a pretty good price. I've read all the posts for newbie's and still have questions...

I hope you will indulge me.

1. Is there a spark plug choice the group feels is worth the extra dough, as the head and pistons will be spanking clean after the repair.

2. What wheels can I fit and what wheels from other cars line up with the Audi bolt pattern. And what are all the measurements especially offset.

3. has anyone discovered a cheap place for all the syth oil these cars need? The trans is being done at a shop and he said $20/quart. I want to DIY my oil chnages.

4. The side skirts are rusted loose, has there been a DIY on here to fix them?

the last owner replaced the upper links before I bought it and since I'm doing the timing belt (water pump, cam seals etc.) I feel like the engine should be solid for a while. Am I missing anything that should absolutely be done to this car?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Markus
1998.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T
98k miles

 

well, I can try....to help...but, I can only answer parts, some1 else will have to fill in my gaps...

we have the same car...pretty much, so, this is what I know...

1) I change my spark plugs with cheapo plugs every 3-5K...they are NGK BRK6E or 7E depending on how hot or cold it is...and ummm, they cost like 2$ apiece at most....

2) offset can be between 32-38 and our bolt pattern is 5X112
You can go with a wheel size of 15x7" all the way up to 18x8.5" (19x8"(largest)) I have 18x8.5" w a 235/40/18 tire

3) $20 a quart...hahaha...rediculous...$5-7 a quart (fully synthetic) from most any automotive store (autozone, napa, kragen, pepboys, franklin, etc.)
oh, and the 1.8T takes 4.25 quarts....
when you buy an oil filter buy the filter for the 2.8L motor, they are like twice the size, they really help keep sludge to a minimum...

4) as far as side skirts go, I believe they are held on by thos little plastic clippy-dos (for lack of a better word)...you could prolly buy/order them from any collision repair center....or, just use some of that super strong 3M automotive double sided tape....or even JB Weld (depending on how permanent of a job you are looking to do)....post pics of the side skirts, it will make it easier for me and everyone else on here to give you some decent advice...

sounds like you are on the right track....if you have a digi cam you may want to document your tb change, we can always use the DIYs...I know I can...

good luck!...hope something up there helps

 

Hey thanks for the answers. Very helpful. I'm up here in Westlake Ca. you're in SM? near by!

The $20 oil was for the trans. He said it's Audi stuff and it's brutally costly. He uses Elf syth in the engine.

Do you use the Audi oil filter? Or a fram/whatever. The 2.8l size fits? Okay then I'll make the request.

Yeah when I get the car back next week I'll drive by a body shop and see what they suggest I do with the side skirts.

Has yours been a good car? Some things I read make me think this car will be a money pit.

What exactly is offset in a wheel?

Thanks,

Markus

 

I'm down there once a month to visit, but right now I am up north finishing up school...

my bad about the oil...I am used to hearing it called trans fluid (I got throuwn off)...I think the trans fluid is like 22$ a quart, I have held a container in my hand for our cars at a dealer, its made by pentosin I believe, so that price is correct, from what I hear our tranny fluid lasts a lifetime, but from what i have read I would change it every 50K or so, i had the dealer do mine and it was rediculously $$ like $150...I'm not even sure how many Qt's our tranny's and diff holds...

the oil filter I use is just a standard filter for the 2.8 (napa brand usually)...when I bought the filters from the dealer they were freakin huge (deffinatelr bigger than napa, but I change oil and filter every 3K, so I figure I won't waste the extra 10 bux for the filter thats a bit bigger than my $7 napa filter...

I have had my car since December of last year, here's a list of maintenance and my own personal recomendations....

bought it at 87K no timing belt done, and the brakes were new when I bought it...(I will be changing my brake pads/rotors for the first time next week)

first this I did was timing belt, since then I have done a reg oil change at 3k (oil/filter/air filter/spark plugs) or before...I am currently at 107k+

I have put 20K+ on the car in the last 9months and have only had one problem....I had a gasket where the il cool return line is go bad, I took it to the loocal german repair placa nd 150$ later it was as good as new...

the car is bulletproof, stock the car feels amazing, anyone who has sat in my car has commented on how smoothly it rides, oh! and it feels amazing through the turs on stock non-sport suspension....my motor is completely stock, I put an intake on and made a heatshield because I was feeling creative and I put a diverter valve off a TT on because I have been planning on getting a chip for over a year now...

the car is moderately quick, you'll have no problems getting around or keeping up, the only issue you will have is that the acceleration really isn't there, when you drive it as fast as you can it is fun, but it isn't all that exciting, you will feel no rush going in a straight line, it is when you dive into a turn that your face will light up...

Firstly I would like to say that our cars are not money pits...maybe I should take that back, they are money pits in a good way...

you will love your car soo much that you will feel obliged to make it prettier and faster...and this is where your money will go, but as far as maintenance is concerned there is nothing other than preventative such as oil, filters and spark plugs...

as for mods...first thing I would do is 710N Diverter Valve and a GIAC chip, secondly I would say suspension, thirdly wheels and anything after that is your choice...

basically what I am saying is that you bought an amazing car and if you take care of it, it will take care of you....

hope this makes you feel better about your purchase

 

AMEN lol

 

Yeah the trans service is costing me $345. He did a Carfax for me and no trans service showed up, nor did it on the few receipts the previous owner gave me, so I took the plunge. I figure that'll give me one thing off the checklist for a few years.

does the chip make the mileage drop dramatically or only as much as you bury the pedal? I looked at the airbox mods and wondered if those, and some fancy spark plugs might get me a few extra MPG. Yeah I like the speed, but you know the traffic here, speed is for those times when you're out at 3 am.

I'll post a pic when I can.

If nothing else I'll get to take corners in the week of rain we get that consitutes the season called winter and turn heads with quattro awd sticking power!

 

+1 for the tranny flush, peace of mind is what keeps me sane...lol

the chip can improve mpg 1-2mpg if you drive like a grandma, but, if you drive it hard it will use more fuel.... in the end it doesn't hurt your mpg...basically your light/heavy foot will determine your mpg...but as long as you keep your foot light the chip will help....the longer you wait to get get chipped the harder you'll kick yourself when you finally do....I think chuck norris will kick me when I get my car chipped....lol..

as far as intake goes, stock is best...the box mod is solely so that you can hear your diverter valve, and it makes the spool of the turbo more audible...anything more than a K&N panel filter is overkill...unless you go big turbo...and as far as spark plugs go, weather you spend two dollars or ten dollars in the end, I would say don't waste your $ on iridium (they just aren't worth it on our funny low powered stock/barely modded motors)

Quattro isn't just for rain, it's for any day of the year/weather conditions, it really is the best, I think the quattro awd system is rated 2nd after the nippon system that was only offered on skylines and never in the U.S.

If you are coming from a FWD car you will immediately fall in love with all time awd, well, as soon as you gas it through a turn, with a decent set of tires, you wont hear a peep from the wheels and you will feel a good part of a G pulling you opposite to the turn...when your elbow feels likes its gonna go through the armrest throuhg a turn you'll undertand....after you get comfortable with the car you can start playing on some of the banked on ramps/off ramps...or if you need the names of a bunch of amazing canyons...

heres a link to an old thread.....*HERE*...

or you can PM me, I have driven just about every canyon between mexico and the 46...and since your in westlake, the link above has the closest/best for you....just read the "unwritten" rules if you are new to the twisties...I have alot of friends who live up there/we used to drive throuhg there nightly...

alright, take it easy!

edit: forgot link

 

Wow! thanks for that LateralG link. That's dynamite.

Your write up on Topanga is on the will do list. In fact the mechanic is off Topanga, I might make that my break in ride home.

Thinking about the chip...

Thanks.

 

You can replace the side skirts easily with new ones fro www.ecstuning.com.
Its common for the metal track inside the strip to corrode and wear out.

I hope that the engine has no valve damage, often times when the T-belt brakes, the valves are damaged and a costly valve job is required. You may want to pull of the top end and inspect the valvetrain for damage before you do the rest of the work.

 

Hey Ace,

Thanks for the advice. Yes the top end is out to the machine shop and being rebuilt. I called a few places and landed on a guy in the Valley (here in LA) that said there would definetly be damage and he'd do the head, valves, water pump, cam seals etc. for $1800. So I bought the car after getting the seller to lower the price. The belt rebuild kit comes with upgraded parts.

I stopped by the car today for an update and the mechanic told me to just buy a new skirt and put it on, just like you did, so thanks for the link.

The mirror silver also rubbed off or rusted, delaminated, whatever it's called. He said the glass pops off and replacing just the mirror should be a $20 deal. Sound right?

I appreciate you looking in on my thread and sending advice.