s4 Turbo and clutch replacement costs

[mat59]

Hi guys. New here and looking into maintenance costs before buying a B5 S4. I've heard the turbo's are very expensive to replace. Any idea how much and how often?

Also, how much is it to replace the clutch?

Any other expensive areas to look for?

All this work would be undertaken by a decent indy.

Sorry if it;s been asked before but I'm having no joy with the search facility and the buyers guide does not indicate associated costs.

 

[s4marsh]

JBS are quoting £500 labour to swap the turbos as an indication,the turbos vary in price quite a bit depends where you get them but i think the last genuine ones i looked at were about £600 each an uprated rs4 clutch for around £250+labour(engine out)
cambelt+water pump and bits and bobs around £600

 

[mat59]

JBS are quoting £500 labour to swap the turbos as an indication,the turbos vary in price quite a bit depends where you get them but i think the last genuine ones i looked at were about £600 each an uprated rs4 clutch for around £250+labour(engine out)
cambelt+water pump and bits and bobs around £600

Thanks for this. So two turbos and labour will be £1700ish. Do the turbo's regularly let go? (I read it was to do with the seals, is this preventable?)

Whats the labour approx on a clutch? How often for the cambelt?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm trying to decide on whether to go for a bi-turbo, 4.2 V8 or an E46 M3.

On regular consumables, brakes + tyres etc, the bi-turbo is way chaeper. Just want to do a bit more research into common expenses.

Cheers

 

[andybnwc]

£500 thats cheap is that without a pull?

 

[Blue_Thunder]

I've paid around £1200+ for each of my 4 engine pulls using specialists.

Not sure how much K03's are, but a lot of people upgrade their turbos to K04's if the K03's give up the ghost. You're looking at anything upwards of £1800 for those.

An RS4 clutch is relatively cheap, I think under £200 (bought mine ages ago). It's a pricey job to get done on it's own, but daft not to do it if the engine is out anyway.

Cambelts are every 40,000 or 5 years. Usually costs around £500 to get that done along with a number of extra bits and pieces recommended at the same time (water pump, tensioners, etc.). Nez on here got it done recently for about half that I think though.

 

[aragorn]

The turbos arent quite as consumable as people might have you believe...

Its certainly not something you'll have to do twice unless your planning on putting over 100k on the car in your ownership.

The stock blowers can last well into 200k, but there have been cases of them failing at 40k.

Boost leaks are one of the major culprits, as is dodgy service history, and as with any turbocharged engine, not letting them cool properly.

 

[mat59]

Ok thanks. Last question.What would a fitted clutch set me back? I presume £1200 for a engine pull and then the cost of the clutch (rs4 £200).

 

[aragorn]

sounds about right, although i'd think the RS4 clutch would be a bit more than 200quid.

 

[Blue_Thunder]

I don't think you need a full engine pull for a clutch change.

I think they can drop the subframe enough to remove the gearbox with the engine in situ.

The clutches on the whole are pretty hard wearing though. I've heard of few people who have actually needed to replace them, even on cars over 120,000 miles.

 

[mat59]

Ok, sounds good. I won't factor in clutch replacement as much. Currently looking way cheaper to run than an E46 M3, providing the turbos don't let go. Brakes, tyres and servicing should be slot less and even a full belts service will be less than a inspection 1 on the M3.

They're a more practical car than the M3 also as if I get the avant I can chuck our dog in the boot and not worry about her destroying the interior.

Is there any information on here about getting them to oversteer rather than understeer? (ARBs, wheel alignments etc).

 

[aragorn]

If you want less understeer you need to stiffen the rear end up. a fat ARB on the back will help a lot with this.

Go too far though and it'll get a bit snappy.

 

[Nez]

I've paid around £1200+ for each of my 4 engine pulls using specialists.

Not sure how much K03's are, but a lot of people upgrade their turbos to K04's if the K03's give up the ghost. You're looking at anything upwards of £1800 for those.

An RS4 clutch is relatively cheap, I think under £200 (bought mine ages ago). It's a pricey job to get done on it's own, but daft not to do it if the engine is out anyway.

Cambelts are every 40,000 or 5 years. Usually costs around £500 to get that done along with a number of extra bits and pieces recommended at the same time (water pump, tensioners, etc.). Nez on here got it done recently for about half that I think though.

I done my Cambelts Service for £370 :icon_thumright: there are some garages that charge you alot of money but its up to you to shop around and find the cheap garage for changing the clutch I think you look around £500 max with the parts and fitting :icon_thumright:

 

[s4marsh]

£500 thats cheap is that without a pull?

i know i have confirmed this with jbs i was proper shocked too leading me to post a thread last week about how difficult it really was as a diy job

c.g motorsport quote £114 for a standard clutch £171 for an uprated s4 one and £276 for a ceramic paddle uprated one but have seen other rs'4 ones from general clutch suppliers for £2-250

 

[s4marsh]

audi are quoting 80k on cambelt changes these days i think mine was done at 42k as the water pump was on its way out i'm on 68k now but that 26k has taken 5 years to do so i better start looking into that next