Avoid the Audi S4

[Payman]

Article from Jalopnik. Damn, I really like this car, but this sounds like an unholy maintenance nightmare...

http://jalopnik.com/here-s-why-the-v8-audi-s4-is-an-awful-used-car-1676466510

[68_427]

B6 and B7 S4 yeah they're pretty bad.  SLUDGE EVERYWHERE TIMING CHAINS EVERYWHERE

[Payman]

This picture is why I ignore those that dump on GM LS pushrod engines. Hell you can buy a factory new Coyote 5.0 from Ford for less than it costs to replace the timing chain on this engine.

[Laconian]

Oh lord, that article is a tedious read.

[Payman]

Oh lord, that article is a tedious read.

Yeah, that's par for the course with Jalopnik bloggers.

[Eye of the Tiger]

$3000 for the parts is a bit nuts.
But labor could be a few cases of beer..
and a few pizza deliveries.

[CALL_911]

I've been looking into these

[Colin]

Has Char found another outlet for his writing?

[Payman]

Has Char found another outlet for his writing?

Lol no, it's me Nick. I love these cars but this article shocked me. $8000 to replace the timing chain on an S4... wow.

[12,000 RPM]

Oh lord, that article is a tedious read.

He types like a 14 year old that just discovered hyperbole and literary devices

His Ferrari ownership blog was unbearable.... only worthwhile entry was the sober summary at the end.

[GoCougs]

Timing chain up against the firewall? How absolutely awful. Means the engine has to come out. It just shocks me what ze Germans do. Imagine the awfulness that will come in 5-10 years from all these turbo motors, esp. the hot-vee V8s.

[12,000 RPM]

Germans design for performance first, maintenance maybe. Timing chain will last the length of a lease, so it doesnt matter. Let the second hand market do the engineering

[Payman]

Germans design for performance first, maintenance maybe. Timing chain will last the length of a lease, so it doesnt matter. Let the second hand market do the engineering

Explains why Cadillacs now retain their value better than the German marques, for the most part.

[r0tor]

I almost bought a used B6 S4 a couple years ago but between the timing chain of doom inside of the assbackwards engine and horrendous fuel mileage I decided to pass.

Real shame because otherwise that engine is very sweet.

[Payman]

I almost bought a used B6 S4 a couple years ago but between the timing chain of doom inside of the assbackwards engine and horrendous fuel mileage I decided to pass.

Real shame because otherwise that engine is very sweet.

The whole car is otherwise sweet, especially the wagon.

[12,000 RPM]

Explains why Cadillacs now retain their value better than the German marques, for the most part.

IDK, Caddys def sell for less than Germans despite being priced the same so that might play a part.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I thought this had been common knowledge for years, hell since these were new.

Ive seen alot of real nice v8 s4s for sale but i wouldn't want to pay to play on this one. Probably better off with the older 2.7 or pony up the cash for the newer sc model.

Hell the v10 s6 might be a better cost to own used option.

[Payman]

IDK, Caddys def sell for less than Germans despite being priced the same so that might play a part.

Nope. You'd be shocked. I was when I compared CTSs with BMWs, Mercs and Audis in the same year/spec.

[Payman]

I thought this had been common knowledge for years, hell since these were new.

Ive seen alot of real nice v8 s4s for sale but i wouldn't want to pay to play on this one. Probably better off with the older 2.7 or pony up the cash for the newer sc model.

Hell the v10 s6 might be a better cost to own used option.

I wasn't aware. It definitely pays to do your research.

[FoMoJo]

This picture is why I ignore those that dump on GM LS pushrod engines. Hell you can buy a factory new Coyote 5.0 from Ford for less than it costs to replace the timing chain on this engine.

How many bloody chains are in there?

[12,000 RPM]

I count 4. This game is fun, good way to teach kids about the perils of German engineering

[SVT666]

Well, the S4 joins the M5 (among others) that I will never own, despite their affordable entry fee on the used market, because the cost to repair is prohibitive. Other cars on my list are any car with a turbo and any car with a DCT.

[12,000 RPM]

I thought this had been common knowledge for years, hell since these were new.

Ive seen alot of real nice v8 s4s for sale but i wouldn't want to pay to play on this one. Probably better off with the older 2.7 or pony up the cash for the newer sc model.

Hell the v10 s6 might be a better cost to own used option.

2.7TT has its own "have to drop the engine" problems.... weak ass K03 turbos and improper oil plumbing

[GoCougs]

How many bloody chains are in there?

4 - same as in the Coyote .

[Secret Chimp]

Skimmy skim skim skim on that article, jeez.

And the timing chains on Coyotes are all in front, not in the back like the Audi V8. Not like that makes a difference, with how things are packaged now you probably have to pull the engine for access regardless.

[SVT666]

Skimmy skim skim skim on that article, jeez.

And the timing chains on Coyotes are all in front, not in the back like the Audi V8. Not like that makes a difference, with how things are packaged now you probably have to pull the engine for access regardless.

Nope.

[2o6]

I can't picture any modern car where you DONT have to drop the subframe to service the timing chain. I know pretty much anything with the GM 3.6 DI has to have the subframe and Trans dropped out to service. Seems par for course these days


But more importantly, make your damn motor where you shouldn't HAVE to service the timing chain.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

2.7TT has its own "have to drop the engine" problems.... weak ass K03 turbos and improper oil plumbing

Parts for the 2.7T are probably cheaper, and much more widely available.

[MX793]

4 - same as in the Coyote .

Coyote has considerably simpler chain routing.  The Audi's chain routing looks like it was penned by Daedalus himself.

[FoMoJo]

Coyote has considerably simpler chain routing.  The Audi's chain routing looks like it was penned by Daedalus himself.

A work of art.