S3s with 100k + on the clock

Keefy

Keefy

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Having recently lost my beloved A3 1.8T Quattro to an icy accident, I'm considering an S3, as I've always regretted not getting one in the first place.

I was just after a bit of info from you guys who've gone through the 100k barrier in their S3s - any problems happen around that point? I don't want to get landed with some serious garage bills after a few months as Ive been through that before; replacing the rear diff on the Quattro was a total ball ache.
I'm aware of the common 8L issues (coilpacks, windows not rising, rear wiper etc) but I'm trying to work out whether to go for a cheaper S3 with 100k + on the clock, or buy a little pootwagon while I save the pennies for a (hopefully more reliable) S3 with 60-70k under it's belt.

Any info would be mcuh appreciated.

Cheers,

Chris (regular lurker)
 
I bought mine with 90 on the clock FASH, the works. Since passing the dreaded 100k mark though I've had my clutch pedal break (potentially replacing entire clutch), electric seats playing up, broken ashtray and airbag issues.

I hope you can avoid all these issues. I'm sure not everyone has had the same experience but it can be enough to throw you off buying one at that age altogether.

Good luck
 
I don't think that milage is such a problem with these cars if they've been serviced correctly. My car has just hit 115k miles and it's been fine for me. A lot of people see to think that 100k miles is the magic number where the car falls apart! I've only been experiencing problems with things that you'd expect to be worn on any 8-9 year old car.
 
Thanks guys. I guess that 100k just seems like a major milestone. Good to know it's just the usual age-related problems, and not anything in particular failing. Might just go for one with 100k or so and spend some extra on getting it properly looked over and made solid.
 
Yeah I'd get it checked as a matter of course anyway. Time to start looking around methinks. if anyone knows of a nice unmolested S3 (225 pref.) around Bristol, then I'd be very interested :)
 
I bought one about 3 months ago with 112k on the clock. I've just hit 115k and had it serviced. The mechanic was impressed at how clean it still was and how little crap was in the oil when he changed it. That said, she is getting a new clutch this Thursday but can't really complain at 115k with the hammering these cars no doubt get :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ive got 130k on the clock of mine and its not exactly one of the slowest S3s about but its still nice and tight and certainly doesnt feel 10 years old, so long as its been looked after you should be fine.
 
audi upgrades
My S3 is on, 110k,.,..And drives fine,...

I think its the little things that start to go wrong,when your car's 10+ years,.,,

(the mind is young,but the body is old),..
 
Mines done 110k MTM conversion.. still like new
 
Daym, my car must have exploded 18k ago and i am driving a ghost !!

I wouldn't worry as long as the car has been looked after and is the spec/price you want, its all good.

There are guys on here with 30-40k and they still have the same problems as guys 100k worse off, it's a ten year old car, things will break, you just have to use your best judgement and either buy a higher milage one that may have had bits fixed, or a low miler and hope it doesnt break
 
I've just done over 100k, got mine 3yrs ago with 74k on the clock, no issues on the engine side of thing, the only reason its ever failed to start was when the ignition barrel failed. Previous owner changed all the coil packs, I've had the cambelt and water pump changed, regular service every year or when ever the millage comes round, haldex oil changed. The faults that have occured whilst owning have been arb collers broken requiring new arb front and rear, new lower wish bones due to worn bushes, new rear springs after the old ones snapped, new front spring for the same reason, new xenon sensor, new alarm siren, new stereo, repaired kit for rear wiper.

Its going in to have a new thermostat and header tank on wednesday plus the cat bash plate removed as it rattles all the time and the securing lugs have worn away plus new front drop link bars to hopefully remove the knocking noise. Any car will have its problems but as long as the engines been maintained 100k+ shouldnt be an issue
 
Julz.S3 said:
My S3 is on, 110k,.,..And drives fine,...

I think its the little things that start to go wrong,when your car's 10+ years,.,,

(the mind is young,but the body is old),..
Click to expand...

I'd be inclined to agree with this to be fair....

I bought an S3 with 119K. Engine is good as gold apart from coil pack issues. It's the smaller things that go. Wheel bearing gone, front brakes a bit rubbish (unavoidable), shock absorbers were poorly, lambda sensor gone. All small things which are wear and tear related!!

When mine is all sorted I'll give my opinion....
 
my golf exploded 46k before i bought it. now its on 216k miles. in fact it cant be because everyone dies at 100k :blahblah1:

Byzan A4 said:
Daym, my car must have exploded 18k ago and i am driving a ghost !!

I wouldn't worry as long as the car has been looked after and is the spec/price you want, its all good.

There are guys on here with 30-40k and they still have the same problems as guys 100k worse off, it's a ten year old car, things will break, you just have to use your best judgement and either buy a higher milage one that may have had bits fixed, or a low miler and hope it doesnt break
Click to expand...
 
Just hit 125k last night in mine, don't really want to be saying this because I'll go to drive it n something will break but everything is fine, still goes like sh*t off a shovel and sticks to the road like sh*t to a blanket and stops like sh....really well lol.
 
on the a3 1.8t cars, clutches seem to be dying around 115k miles, but ive known them be changed at 140k... YMMV

youd be mad not to have changed the gearbox oil by this point

front end bushes, 90-120k miles they seem to get changed at, similar for rear beam bushes

these are things that become consumables over time, its as simple as that.

at 150k miles ish, expect the hazard light switch/relay to fail, ive known two do it at that point.

but yeah, at 100k it will burst into flames
 
Mines at 107k and only had a few problems like Maf, stat and temp sensor normal stuff from what i read have done coils just to me on the safe side.
 
Since mine has gone past the 100k the following has happened:

1. 2 x New Coilpack
2. 1 x MAF
3. 2 x Oil Breather Hoses
4. New Thermostat and Coolant Temp Sender
5. New Radiator Fan

Since 150k

1. Been Remapped and needed another coilpack
2. Split in TIP
3. New Aircon Compressor
4. New ARB Droplinks
5. New Wishbone Bushes
6. Replacement Gravity Valve in fuel tank


Since 190k

1. Light Switch Failure

Apart from the above it has had the services and cambelt done as well as the brakes.

TBH if you are getting a 100k+ S3 get it properly checked over and look through all receipts to see what the owner has done to it in between.
 
jesters3 said:
Since mine has gone past the 100k the following has happened:

1. 2 x New Coilpack
2. 1 x MAF
3. 2 x Oil Breather Hoses
4. New Thermostat and Coolant Temp Sender
5. New Radiator Fan

Since 150k

1. Been Remapped and needed another coilpack
2. Split in TIP
3. New Aircon Compressor
4. New ARB Droplinks
5. New Wishbone Bushes
6. Replacement Gravity Valve in fuel tank


Since 190k

1. Light Switch Failure

Apart from the above it has had the services and cambelt done as well as the brakes.

TBH if you are getting a 100k+ S3 get it properly checked over and look through all receipts to see what the owner has done to it in between.
Click to expand...


Jester, @190k+ miles, are these all done by yourself? Would you say most of your problems are wear and tear related, I mean 190k miles is quite a lot of mile in my opinion, and I don't consider any of the above as major for the amount of miles your car has done, which is fantastic in my opinion. :icon_thumright:
 
of course none of those are major, nothing lasts forever... beleive me, my golf is on 216k miles!

i consider that bits like that become consumables simply due to the number of miles

jester, compression tested that lump yet?

at 200k miles the compression on my golf was still tip top
 
jojo said:
Jester, @190k+ miles, are these all done by yourself? Would you say most of your problems are wear and tear related, I mean 190k miles is quite a lot of mile in my opinion, and I don't consider any of the above as major for the amount of miles your car has done, which is fantastic in my opinion. :icon_thumright:
Click to expand...

Yeah had the car from day 1. I agree that all are wear and tear just higlighting what I have done for keefy.

I'm after the 200k mark which should be soon as on 192k and have a lot of miles to do
 
Cheers people. Sounds like a safe bet if it's been treated well and it gets a proper check. I completely expect wear and tear and other things to fail in a car of this age, just checking that people hadn't had catastrophes with older models.
Thanks again - with a bit o luck I should be a proud S3 owner in a month or so :)
 
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