I bought my 2004 Audi S4, 4.2, 353 hp, non turbo engine from my brother in law about a year and half ago. The car had 45,000 miles on it when my wife and I bought it. About 3 weeks ago (the car now has 55,000 miles) my wife went 1/2 mile down the road and the engine started sputtering. Luckily she was able to limp it home. When I got home from work I looked over the engine and saw no visible problems. I started the engine and immediately could tell the timing was way off, it wouldn't even idle. So I had it towed to an Audi maintenance shop. Top notch mechanics that actually are from Germany. To make a long story short the engine and transmission had to be removed from the car so they could fix it. What they found was the Crank Shaft Rail (which is made of plastic) broke in two separate places. The mechanic told me if there would have been one more brake the engine would be pretty much shot. Anyway the total repair cost is going to be around 5,000 dollars. I contacted Audi U.S.A. to make them aware of the problem and the fact this engine is 5,000 miles out of warranty and it has catastrophic engine damage. Not something that should happen at this point of the engines life span. The reps I talked to on the phone didn't want to hear or help one bit. I explained to them at the very least they need to advise their Quality Assurance department of the problem. My words went in one ear and out the other. As far as they were concerned it broke 5,000 miles outside of the warranty, end of story. For those of you who own a 2004 S4 be aware of this issue and please respond to this if you've had a similar problem. I really like the Audi's we have purchased throughout the years, but I have to say this is a tough one to swallow. Good luck to the rest of you who currently own a 2004, S4.
Turns out this was a much bigger problem than originally diagnosed. The engine broke a valve and it did so much damage to the engine it is not practacal to repair the engine. So Audi suggest we shell out 25,000 dollars for an Authorized Audi factory engine. 17,000 for the engine (block) and 8,000 for the install (labor). What a complete joke! 5,000 miles over the warranty and they hear nothing. 55,000 miles total on the car and it's useless! I have to tell you, we have now owned 2 Audi's. The 1st was an A6, we changed the timing belt at the specified time, only to have the belt tensioner bearing cease up and break the timing belt and destroyed three valves. That was a 4,500 dollar fix. And now this. I love Audi's, but their customer support is nonexistent. Now, I think I know what a lot of you guys and gals are thinking, this guy’s crying in his beer. I've been a mechanic for 27+ years; Audi promotes their products, especially the engine as the best in the world. And I do know the difference between performance and family cars, but at 55,000, give me a brake (come to think of it, Audi did-a valve). These engine are not supposed to brake so bad at 55,000 miles. We all pay a lot of money for these cars, it just shouldn't happen. And to get completely snubbed by Audi takes the cake. Like I said, I really liked my car, but this latest experience pushed me over the edge. I am done with Audi. Tomorrow is Saturday and I'm going shopping. I'm going to get a thing of beauty, and it won't be an Audi. Good luck guys and gals. And if you have a 4.2 Liter have it looked at. Thank you.

 

Did you copy and paste this in every Audi forum you could find?

And since you obviously don't want a clunker B6 S4 sitting around the garage, I'll gladly take it off your hands for you. You see, most of us here in forums like this know how to turn a thing called a wrench, like to do a little routine maintenance, and keep an eye out for a good deal...

And I just so happen to be wishing I had a B6 S4.

Oh yeah, how does that beer taste?

 

There you go Brad , You could have another dead Audi in the driveway!

 

Ha... low blow!

BTW, Jeff. My apologies for coming off as a *****. But seriously, it gets annoying when someone creates an account just to complain about there problem, how much they hate Audi, and then never come back.

 

Sorry , i just couldn't resist.

 

What do you want? You made a thread titled w/ my name and it's about your broke car?

 

To be honest man, if you're a 27-year mechanic you should know where you can source an engine and should be able to do the swap without a problem. No need to shell out anywhere near that cost for parts and the labor should cost you only your time. I would think the same for your prior A6.

 

If he was a good mechanic he would of changed the tensioner instead of just the belt. And again he would of pulled the motor and checked it to find all the issues.


Just because you work in a shop for 27 yrs doesn't make you a mechanic.

 

You guys need to chill! I just want you to undestand who you're dealing with at Audi U.S.A. And they're slogan "Truth in engineering" has to go! And to the guy who thinks I should just repair this in my garage obviously has never worked on one. I wasn't aware that you could only post good things on this forum. Sorry!

 

Wow, I'm surprised you came back!

Obvious troll is obvious