Well I'm having a bit of a dilemma. I'm trying to choose between two different cars. One is a Nogaru Blue 2000 S4/6speed the other is a Arctic Silver 1998 540i/6speed. The S4 has 110k miles and is $16300 and the 540 has 93k miles and is 15900. When I test drove the S4 the dealer was a complete *** and flipped out when I tried to take the car to redline (like a 110k mile car hasn't been taken to redline before) so I have no real feel for it's power potential. I know that the BMW with 282hp/310lbft torque V8 is faster and of course larger, but it lacks the same sportiness, and of course the AWD of the Audi.

Anyone have any opinions on this matter? And how much extra hp/tq can be had by an aftermarket chip, on average?

 

I myself would definetly go with the S4 and the chip willl add around 50hp, they make a huge difference.

 

Both are nice. As an S4 driver, obviously I have a bias. Do you know if it still has the original turbo's in the S4. That is the only worry with high milage S4's. The turbos often fail at some point and they are very expensive to replace. I don't want to deter you, because I would take the S4. If the turbo's were replaced at 80-90K or something, that is actually good. Otherwise you may face a $5000+ bill at some point. This is just what I have heard, I personally have much lower milage on my 2000 and have had no turbo problems.

I just put in an aftermarket chip and it makes a fast car really fast.

 

Having just purchased my S4 I can tell you the 2 cars I was looking at was the S4 and the 6 speed 540.
I really wanted a 540 but after several test drives I just found the S4 to be a much more fun car to drive and that what sold me on it.
Granted, thats a personal preference but the S4 seems closer to a "sports car feel" and there are so many great mods out there for it.

 

Well if you want a car thats fast but also really nice inside, the 540 is good and all but being a bmw owner, If I got a 5 i would have to get a M5.

I would say the S4 is better for you, and your modding needs.

 

The more I look at this S4, the more I want it over the 540. The S4 just seems much sportier. Plus I live in NY so the AWD is good. So you add a chip, do you need to beef anything else up, injectors or anything?

 

I think some recomend you have a better air fillter but I'm not sure. I personally like to get air moving in and out of my car faster so I would buy a better drop in fillter and a exhaust of some sort. Check out some sites.
http://www.hartmann-motorsports.com/main.htm Sells Apr

http://www.awe-tuning.com/pages/shar...s&IL=GIACChips They sell the GIAC

http://www.stratmosphere.com/index.htm They sell Abt

There's a few more but these seem to show up the most and seem to be the most popular.

 

Pretty impressive, 250 to 310ish crank hp. My question is, how much of a risk is it to chip a 2000 with 110k miles on it?

 

im in the same boat dude.
but i have a 3rd option that im still including.

im looking at ... E39 540i 6sp vs 98-99 M3 vs 00-01 S4

heres the deal tho, i dont plan on spending more than $20k, hopefully i can do it for about $18k
now i really prefer RWD, but hey cant lose with AWD except for the extra weight.

now the M3 is way older, in about 2 or 3 years it will be 2 generations behind, vs the 540 and the S4 which were just replaced this year so they are both just one model generation behind. also the M3 has the most problems, as far as i know, but i think most will agree is the best handling of the trio, and lightest. with the most mods available. but the damn cooling system problem, the shock mount problems, the bushing problems, oil pump bolt.. are all factors that MUST be considered when buying a E36 M3.

now the S4 as far as ive heard, the only real problems they have is the turbos crapping themselves. is there any other problems to consider for these?....

The 540i as far as i know, have no major issues, just a regular 5er. so they should be good to go, BUT they are the least sporty, (by no means slow tho) and they have a lot of mods, "baby M5" is what i like to call em, and they can be easily made to look like them too.

so where is the B5 S4 FAQ? anybody care to point me towards a thread where i can find all the S4 info ill need to know since im considering buying one. im looking to buy each one with 60k or less.

thanks for the help everyone.

 

Well for me, living in Rochester, NY, AWD would be great. An M3 is probably a horrible winter vehicle. I think I'm going to get this S4 and chip it + exhaust, and hope the turbos don't go on me.