***Crossposting from the A8 sub-forum for some more traffic*** Hope that's cool mods


Morning all...
My father was browsing CL Friday night and came across an '04 A8L in a neighboring town. The listing said there were a few issues here and there, and so Saturday morning we went to see it. I brought it home Sunday...

The biggest issue is with the engine. It currently runs reasonably well, but there is a "slapping" sound that is seemingly due to the chain tensioners? I'll get the VAG-COM on it later today to see what's what. 145,000 on the engine right now, and the prior owner (a service tech at a garage) just did a timing belt/tstat job on it.

I'll post a vid up of the engine later tonight after work.

Otherwise it drives incredibly smooth and the transmission shifts effortlessly. No vibrations and highway speeds, feels planted and not nearly as much of a boat as I expected. All power options work -- ventilated seats, massage front seats, heated front/rear, alcantara option, sunroof, etc. The original sticker was still in the car -- 78K! I'm sure she'll clean up well after a through detail. Engine RPM's at 80mph are about 2200. That sound normal?

The biggest interior flaws are:
1. Driver's floormat needs to be replaced. It's soiled beyond hope from dirt/grease.
2. Mystery spot on rear bench that didn't wipe off with a quick leather wipe.
3. Electronic Parking Brake switch broken. Brake still works, but the front half of the switch (the metal part) is snapped off.

Biggest Exterior Flaw:
1. Curb Rashed all rims and flaking chrome (I think, or polished alum.) finish.
2. Half-Dollar sized dent on hood right above pass. headlight.

The car is in great mechanical condition with no obnoxious body wear and tear. The biggest cosmetic flaw is on the rims. Between curb rash and flaking finish, they look quite poor.

I brought it home for 4k cash. Thoughts??


I gave it a quick was yesterday, and I'll follow up with a claybar and polish today if I've got the time.

It'll make a nice daily driver, I think. I'm sort of sick of commuting to work in the STI. Loud exhaust and harsh suspension/transmission when I'm leaving home at 6am aren't as fun as they used to be... it's a love/hate thing.


Question regarding the interior: Why does it have different colored wood trim? Is that how they came from the factory, or was the car hit and somebody sourced different doors? But even so, the rear doors have a lighter colored wood, as well as the wood surrounding the shifter assembly. The wood across the dash and along the front doors is darker colored.

Cell phone pics!

























Thanks for looking!