Car: 2000 Audi A4 1.8t quattro sedan 5sp manual
Mileage: 51,000 kms (~30,000 miles)
Owners: 2

I have found what I think is a very good example of a B5 A4 and I am strongly considering buying it. However, there are a few issues that I want some advice on before I go ahead with it. Cosmetically, the car is a 9.5/10. The interior is absolutely mint, the exterior has one Blackberry trackpad size nick in the rear passenger door on the protector strip, and a half inch nick on the rear edge of the same door that has the tiniest bit of rust on it. It also has new DOT 1411 (14th week, 2011) all season tires; Toyo Eclipse all seasons, probably not the best but not a huge concern ATM.

Electronically, everything works. One-touch down on all four windows, sunroof works, power mirrors work, climate control works, sound system works, none of the displays have any burned out pixels. The only thing that isn't perfect is the main LCD between the guages, which has some lines coming across it. Everything on the screen is still legible, just not perfectly, but from what I've read this is to be expected in a 12 year old Audi.

Mechanically, there are a few things I have questions about. When it is started, the main LCD says "Service!", and when you press the left gauge button it shows the red oil light, then the red coolant light. I am assuming that this only means that the car needs an oil change and coolant service (either drain old coolant and add new or just check the level). Do the B5 A4's have an oil life indicator that is computer monitored and based on how the car is driven, or is it simply a mileage/date indicator that tells you when the oil needs changing? After a good drive and 5 minutes of cooling off, I checked the oil; it is brown but not black, and the level is low-ish but not dangerously low, pretty much where you would expect it if it is at the end of its life.

Also, the CEL is illuminated. The dealer had a OBD scanner, and when plugged in it showed only one code: P0411 Secondary Air Injection system upstream flow detected. I came home and read over many threads on this forum, and when I went back a few days later I found that the culprit was a detached/broken vacuum hose (the small braided one coming off the valve). There is no loud noise upon startup, so I think this means that the valve/pump is fine, and the hose simply needs replacing. Am I right, or is there potentially a bigger problem here?

The final issue is the service records of the vehicle. The first owner kept a log of service in the original maintenance book that comes with the owner's manual package. It shows that the car was serviced at the same shop, but only every ~2 years and ~10,000 kms (6,000 miles). After 40,000 kms, there is no more record of service. I assume this is when the car switched owners, and the 2nd owner didn't record service intervals in this book.

The car is currently at an independent used car dealership, and they have no other service records from 40k onward. However, they do have the emissions testing record, which shows 2 emissions tests during the 2nd owner's time, and consistent mileage per year leading up to the current 51,000 kms.

From what I've read on this forum, due to the sludge build-up issue, one should stay away from B5 A4's that haven't had the oil changed at least every 5k miles. However, due to the low mileage of this car, I feel that the risk is pretty low. It drives excellently in all regards.

Please let me know what your thoughts are. Should I walk away due to the long service intervals, or do you think this car is a pretty safe bet? Any/all input is appreciated. Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post but I like to be detailed.

 

I absolutely envy you for this purchase. Any vehicle with that low of mileage is nearly devoid of issues, as the owners are still in the "honeymoon" phase of ownership; they'll park it far from other cars, drive it on sunny days, monitor everything in it from top-to-bottom, and generally treat it as it is--a like-new, spotless car. That said; your diagnoses for oil and coolant are correct. The coolant indicator usually goes on due to low coolant levels. The service light comes on after a set interval, I do believe it's 10,000 miles, which was Audi/BMW/Mercedes-Benz's silly choice back in the late90s/early 2000s (they believed that premium oil would offer protection for that long). At 30,000 miles, with 6,000 mile interval oil changes, very minor damage, if any, has been done; as was found out later, the engine internals will happily take 10k-mileage oil without a hiccup, but the turbochargers don't like the added gunk and crap that accumulates after that amount of time.

I'd say it sounds like a solid purchase of the enthusiast's Audi. Get codes run at a dealership to verify any issues with codes and vacuum, then immediately get the coolant flushed and oil changed. After that, the turbo return line and supply line could use a thorough cleaning, but as it's only got 30k on it, major replacements likely won't be needed. It sounds like a fantastic deal!

 

Thanks for your reply - picked it up in Feb 2012 for $7,000 CAD. Almost 5 years and 75,000 miles later and she's still going strong! A few minor issues that I was mostly able to sort out on my own.

Only problem with it is that it's not a wagon!