Last month I got my very first Audi, a cherry 1998 A4 Quattro with 30v 2.8L V6 and 5-speed. I'm the second owner and it's only got 74.5K miles on it. The original owner is a friend of mine who bought it new and babied it these past 14 years.

The air conditioner clutch coil is bad, plus it's due for the timing belt to be replaced at 75K according to the owners manual. It's also got some minor oil seeps from the valve covers and the serpentine belt is worn out and the serpentine tensioner/idler is noisy.

Since the whole front of the car has to come off to replace these items, I was wanting to replace as many items as possible that require this level of disassembly, so here's my list:

New A/C compressor & drier cannister (found brand new Denso compressor on Amazon for $288, clutch rebuild kits were impossible to find) Already got this on hand.

I intend to order the ($350) enhanced timing belt kit from Blauparts (with new TB tensioner and all the pulleys, serpentine belt, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze, etc), the enhanced valve cover gasket & seals kit ($125) that contains new plastic shoes for the cam chain tensioners (but not the $650 kit that also includes new cam chain tensioners themselves since my budget is getting tight), new serpentine belt tensioner/idler pulley, and new plastic crankshaft locking port plug ($17).

Is there anything else that really ought to be seriously considered while the whole front is off the vehicle and the top of the engine opened up? I'd really like to cover the big items now so as to avoid having to pull the front off the car again too soon.

I'll be doing all the work myself, I've read a ton of good DIY and how-to's on this forum site, and other sites, so I have a pretty good idea of what I'm getting myself into here. I'm pretty well-versed at mechanical stuff since I've worked on various cars all my life and have built and flown experimental airplanes across the country

 

Same just happened to me.

I have just replaced EVERYTHING (including cam seals front and rear) on the front of mine sos to not be concerned for some time. Including the oil cooler service (there is a source in Austin, Tx., that has a aluminum nipple to replace the plastic piece). You should consider the power steering and alternator (especially if they have been on the car for 14 years (I rebuilt both). AC was working fine so I let sleeping dogs lie.
The crank seal is suggested along with all else (don't forget to rent the necessary tools).
Spark plugs while you are doing the VC gaskets. Front top hose (the bottom one seems to last but it would be positive to give it a check). Change all fluids.
Three weekends and you will have a new car.
While awaiting parts it would be a good time to scrub, rub and wax in and out.
Check the outer tie-rod ends since they seem to be the greatest source of wear.
You guys (GB) have the only source for the correct fuel pump cartridge (service the filter).

Go for the gusto, it's much easier than niggling repairs..
Have fun and don't get in a rush..pc