Thoughts on 1 2002 A4 130 quattro ?

[Skandhaless]

Just picked one of these up with 149k on for £2350.

Its dealer serviced up to 127k and then low miled locally last 3 years , had a service 6000 ago at a local none specialist.

Currently i have no actual proof of a belt being done but know that it was advised by Audi at the 127k service and the last owner said he had it was done when he bought it. I don't suppose i have any choice but to have it done again , just seems a shame ( and expense) if there is only 10k or so on it.

How would you handle this vehicle now ? I know the 127k service is marked in the book by Audi as a major , would you

A.Do nowt just drive it, it must have been done or it would have snapped by now and its a cheap motor anyway .
B.Stick a belt on it and its good enough until Jan when the MOT is due as it seems to run right
C.stick a belt on plus a pump on cos you might as well while its in and run until Jan
D.belt , pump and minor oil service
E. belt , pump and another major because the last major was 3 years ago if only 20k miles.

if i do E and get an MOT on it for a year would you think that would be enough for a year or so, see me through next winter etc ? probs only do 15K max .

How much do you think each option would cost ? Will probably get any work done at a local specialist

Your thoughts and experiences would be appreciated by this newbie

 

[spartacus 68]

Do the cam belt, auxilliary drive belts, water pump, thermostat, oil change plus usual filters. Someone saying it was done doesn't mean a thing. If it goes, then that's the end of the car. Receipts are everything. Once this is done you're good for 60k on the timing belt, new coolant, etc, plus another 10k until next oil change.

 

[stu_m]

If it was done at a main dealer they should have a record of this ring the dealer that supposed to have done it

 

[Ian2012]

pop the belt top cover off and have a look, if it looks fresh then your good to go,

 

[crazy88]

Ooh I love a good multiple choice. D or E if it was mine. Most likely D. Oil is easy to do yourself, so you'd just be paying for the belt and pump, and as said above...if it goes it's the end of your car most likely. It does seem a shame, but then it's like an insurance policy almost. Chances are you'll not need to claim, but you still need it. If they makes any sense.

 

[spartacus 68]

pop the belt top cover off and have a look, if it looks fresh then your good to go,

Tell me you're joking?

 

[Skandhaless]

Ooh I love a good multiple choice. D or E if it was mine. Most likely D. Oil is easy to do yourself, so you'd just be paying for the belt and pump, and as said above...if it goes it's the end of your car most likely. It does seem a shame, but then it's like an insurance policy almost. Chances are you'll not need to claim, but you still need it. If they makes any sense.

Thanks for the replies folks.
I am thinking D too.
I have been out in the motor today for a while , its driving really nice , very suggestive of being in decent service and the dash says 7k until next service. This makes me thinks all is well apart from the outside potential for a belt failure. No point doing cash on air filters etc . Any ideas on cost from a decent independant ?

Loving the drive mind, very nice for a 150k motor, flexible across the gears , good over taking power on motorways , comfy suspension around the speed bumps, steering like its on rails, very 'useable' motor .

All for £2350 with quattro in hand for the winter ? Sale of the century

" pop the belt cover off"? Loving the rock and roll attitude

 

[crazy88]

" pop the belt cover off"? Loving the rock and roll attitude

Hahahaha!

Are you going to get it serviced by a garage then? Have you much mechanical knowledge? My experience pretty much ended at servicing a 306, and I was able to service the a4 easy enough. You could have a look at the air filter for condition, it takes about 5 minutes to get to, if that.

Glad you're thinking D though. Oh, and it does sound like you got a bargain...unless your car is bright pink?

 

[Mollygoogle]

Do the cam belt, auxilliary drive belts, water pump, thermostat, oil change plus usual filters. Someone saying it was done doesn't mean a thing. If it goes, then that's the end of the car. Receipts are everything. Once this is done you're good for 60k on the timing belt, new coolant, etc, plus another 10k until next oil change.

this ^^

 

[Mike.M]

Change it all for peace of mind

 

[Skandhaless]

Hahahaha!

Are you going to get it serviced by a garage then? Have you much mechanical knowledge? My experience pretty much ended at servicing a 306, and I was able to service the a4 easy enough. You could have a look at the air filter for condition, it takes about 5 minutes to get to, if that.

Glad you're thinking D though. Oh, and it does sound like you got a bargain...unless your car is bright pink?

Yeah it will be garage serviced , i know my limitations.

whats the matter with pink ? the guy told me it was the most poular colour.

Not really . its like pewter silver, stood on 4 decent goodyears too.

Think i will price up the job that spartacus recommends, just have to delete any none essentials if it proves too pricey ( hopefully will be able to afford the lot) , peace of mind is wonderful and I plan to drive the b*gger to Switzerland in June so it will have to be right.

i will be happy if £500 puts it spot on at a specialist, still well under £3k and good for 60k, i will be keeping the car for about 3 years ( barring accidents or offers too good to refuse) at least so i suppose its cash well spent

 

[crazy88]

Where are you based? It might help people on here recommend a good garage!

And yeah, should be good. I bought mine 3 years ago, similar, just the fwd version. Had 130k, now at 170k almost and running fine. Love the car....just wish I had a quattro

 

[Skandhaless]

I am in Durham, crazy.

Rang round a few independents today. some decent crack . Settled on replace belt and pump, auxiliary belts, major service (long life , all oils and filters) , diagnostic check etc . £425 at a Bosche affiliated garage. ( spoke to a performance guy i used to use years ago in York, TCS? and he said that wasn't too far wide of the mark)

Would have loved to take it to Swifts in Newcastle but they were wanting £550 for same job , very thorough i am sure and a hell of a reputation but i don't really care if they "use Audi VW grease to do the door hinges" are "still 40% cheaper than dealer" and can do a pick up. Its a £2.5 k motor, it will never be anything else and £550 broke the price threshold, so i gave my head a shake .
The Bosche gadgey tells me with this level of service the motor is good for 20k or two years. If there are no nasty surprises when he gets it on the ramp it will be standing me at £2850 filled up and ready , fingers crossed

. Bonus find today , thought i was going to have to put a CD player in it as it looked as if it had a cassette player ( very beamish ), looked in the boot to see if it had a power socket ( it hadnt) but found a 6 CD changer tucked away tidy under the boot roof