i am looking at purchasing a b5 s4 and want to get a general idea of what it will cost me to have work done. either repairs or upgrades. can somebody point me in the right direction?

 

That's way too broad a question really - there are so many things that can be done on these cars, or that can break and necessitate repairs, that you would have to narrow down what you're looking for a lot more, make it more specific, before anyone can give you a useful answer. Popular logic seems to be that you're likely to get raped at the dealership, and finding an independent mechanic who is familiar with Audi/VW could potentially save you quite a bit of money. The best bet though, if you're somewhat mechanically inclined, is to get a service manual and some tools and meet up with other Audi owners local to you and see if some of the more experienced guys will give you a hand working on your car - that way you save ALL the labor costs, learn a lot about the car, and have some fun both maintaining your ride and getting to know other enthusiasts like yourself. Believe me, hanging with other like-minded car nuts is one of the most fun parts of ownership.

 

i realize it was a broad question. i was hoping there was some sort of matrix on a website or in some audi repair manual that gave time guestimates for 'normal' work. i.e. timing belt, water pump etc. and, specifically for me, i am planning on upgrading the suspension shortly after i purchase my b5 s4. so, i guess that's a question. what's a good estimate on replacing the stock suspension with coilovers?

i wish i was in a situation where i could spend the time to do it myself. unfortunately, i'm unable to dedicate the time right now. thanks for the input.

 

Your looking at replacing:

Fuel Filter** - $20-30 part
Air filter? -$10-40 part
Brakes - depending on the shape - 4 rotors, pads = about $400
Front Control Arms - again depending if they are already done or not - kit = $470 about
Timing Belt - replace about every 70-80 thousand miles
Spark Plugs - NGK brand
Brake fluid - not to forget : )
Alignement - $80

There is a quite a few things to do....that is if you are in perfecting your cars maintenance. These are the main things. Someone add on to this list if I missed a few things. I did not add prices on how much it would be to do it at a shop. I do all my own work.

Good luck : )

 

Swapping in coilovers can easily be done in a few hours.