Audi s3 2007-2006 buying

M

mrggg

Registered User
Joined
Jan 27, 2014
Messages
51
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
NULL
Hi Im looking at buying an S3 with around 50k-70k miles. Online I have seen a few at around 12k-13k mark. Would this fetch me a good one? Also, would It be better if I buy from a main dealer or is an independent garage good enough? I know some of these are treated like crap, having seen it on a daily basis in Luton. I just want one which has been well looked after :). Lastly what are the service intervals I should look for and what should have been done?

Thank you.
 
probs better off buying private so you can talk to the last owner and figure out if they have looked after it or not.

In perticular ask for quattro services proof.
 
As above,you need service history and plenty of it.

Don't be put off by independent servicing as long as it's by someone reputable and the same goes for mapped and modified cars.

Your budget should fetch you something decent if you shop around and bargain carefully.

You will always pay more via a main dealer but you should get a better warranty with that.

Things to look out for are cam follower plus Haldex service and cam belt.

The car is generally very reliable but servicing is key to that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: s3_trev
Thanks guys I really appreciate your input. Does anyone know how I can thoroughly check if the mileage has been clocked etc? Also is low mileage and being off the road a bad thing? I dont plan to do many miles myself.
 
If the car has Audi service history they can tell you what has been done and at what miles if you give them the registration. The MOT certificate gives past recorded MOT mileages
 
Ok thank you. One more question I have is in regards to mileage. Is buying the car with about 65k miles ok for that age, or would there be any potential problems?
 
S3Alex said:
Don't be put off by independent servicing as long as it's by someone reputable and the same goes for mapped and modified cars.
Click to expand...

This is true. My local Audi dealer have fu**ed up on more than one occasion, so FASH means very little to me anymore.
 
S3Alex said:
As above,you need service history and plenty of it.

Don't be put off by independent servicing as long as it's by someone reputable and the same goes for mapped and modified cars.

Your budget should fetch you something decent if you shop around and bargain carefully.

You will always pay more via a main dealer but you should get a better warranty with that.

Things to look out for are cam follower plus Haldex service and cam belt.

The car is generally very reliable but servicing is key to that.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree, I've serviced mine through Indy network and still got very good trade in at Audi.
 
My car is for sale which may suit your search exactly! If your interested in a mapped car which has been looked after properly.
 
mrggg said:
Ok thank you. One more question I have is in regards to mileage. Is buying the car with about 65k miles ok for that age, or would there be any potential problems?
Click to expand...

I don't see why not, I bought my 2009 S3 on 68k and its now on 78k a year later. You may want to check that the cambelt has been done as some seem to go by mileage rather than age when it should be whatever comes first.

Unfortunately you can never tell what may come up! Mine was cheap for the age but in the year I have had it, its cost me about 1.5k in repairs and about the same again for general maintenance and wear and tear items...
 
XFi said:
its cost me about 1.5k in repairs and about the same again for general maintenance and wear and tear items...
Click to expand...
WHAT? I never realised it cost that much to maintain an S3 of that year :O I was expecting around £500 a year for maintenance, maybe £800 if its a big job. Im only going to do around 5-7k miles a year...
 
Disks and pads are expensive (if you had to change both on the front I wouldn't expect much change out of £400 inc fitting). A clutch will be over a grand. A set of tyres £800 (if you buy anything worth having). Haldex oil change could be upto a couple of hundred quid. These aren't cheap cars. Day to day running is not much more than a usual Golf, but that extra X% power means all the ancillaries and consumables are beefed up, lower volume, and higher cost. Always the risk of buying second hand, anything can go wrong at any time, and if you don't have warranty to cover it you need a contingency buffer to cover it (I'd guesstimate upto £1000 per year, maybe a touch more).
 
mrggg said:
WHAT? I never realised it cost that much to maintain an S3 of that year :O I was expecting around £500 a year for maintenance, maybe £800 if its a big job. Im only going to do around 5-7k miles a year...
Click to expand...

I'm just about to get the cambelt replaced on Monday! Along with a few other bits and pieces. Just had to buy a new HPFP as well... not cheap but it should be all the big cost done with for a while until the clutch goes!
 
I thought s3s were chain driven so didn't need to be changed... or am I wrong...
 
Could anyone guide me to a thread about servicing costs, and the cost of different part etc at around 50-70k. Im a newbie so dont know much :(.
 
Depends where you go, I get a major service done every year and that's £250. Cambelt with water pump and aux belt is £340 wish, haldex oil change audi actually priced quite well for. The cost for these doesn't include coil packs which are a common failure though along with the cam follower and HPFP. Rear springs seem to be a weak point as well and they are 80 wish each.

With tyres you are looking at £150 per tyre if they are 18s.
Rear discs and pads I sourced for about £130
Fronts are more due to the larger size.
Cambelt is due every five years or 75k, whichever comes first.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i remember once a forum member called paddy saying if you can just about afford an audi then you cant afford to run one
when i look back over ownership over the years i think he was right lol
 
Well this year I wont be making much money, so I wouldn't want to pay through the nose for any servicing. However, next year I will get back into full employment, so from then It wont be an issue. I guess its just a risk to take I suppose...
 
includes 2 years free servicing and extended audi warranty sachs clutch and new discs and pads all round.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Buying advice for Audi S3, late 2007
Replies
2
Views
790
PaulAr
PaulAr
R55 MRU
2006 S3 3Door chassis number needed for buying AUDI oem parts
Replies
11
Views
972
R55 MRU
R55 MRU
D
Audi s3 8p 2006
Replies
1
Views
556
S.
S.
aterro
Buying a 170 tdi 2007
Replies
13
Views
933
aterro
aterro
A
Audi s3 2007 question
Replies
7
Views
757
ch1z64
ch1z64
Top
Back