What's Your S3 Mileage?

localknoxville

localknoxville

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Hello and forgive me if this has already been asked here before
I'm on the lookout for an S3 8L and the majority for sale are 100,000 miles plus
Unless I'm willing to pay 6k+ for low miles!!
Just wondering what miles you have on your S3 8L and any probs with high mileage cars?
 
My turbo went at 130k with full service history. No other major issues. Guess it depends on how its been driven its whole life.
 
It's got more to do with regular oil changes than how it's driven... Granted though good warming up/cooling down practices have a huge bearing.

For the past 80k my car has been driven PROPER hard, prawn had it for 50k (we all know how he likes to drive) and I've given it a good pounding my self... The car is now on 160k and I've just removed the turbo as I've gone hybrid, the turbo was absolutely fine and I got good money for it on resale.

The main reason for this is that both my self and prawn have changed the oil every 5-6k, never ragged it cold and always let her cool after a good pasting... Oh, and regular visits to the rev limiter!
 
Well all i know is i brought mine with full service history and 6 month later the turbo failed while under full throttle. I drove it hard from when i brought it with propper warming up and cooling down. Guess it must of been booted without being heated up all its life or not booted at all haha.
 
Ha! . . The latter is a good point, I believe a regular pasting is good for engines.

When cars get to this sort of age as well I'd way rather one that's got some miles on it than a low miler that's spent half the time on the drive rotting and done the odd trip to the shops... The worst thing for a car (second from **** oil!) is it not being driven, everything starts seizing up when it's not moving.

I work for a garage and we do a lot of work for a large used car dealership... The amount of work we get out of fixing low miles cars that have been sat on the forecourt for a few months, and it's always those cars we see coming back again and again with more problems.
 
Just ticked over to 65k. Mileage really isn't everything. I'm seeing the same issues that most 13 year old cars have!
 
high mileage don't really put me off, I did have a 99 S3 with about 80,000mls on when I sold it and I also had a 03 S3 with 110,000mls on when I sold it and both we're faultless. I buy with my head now I'm older, rather than the heart, if it's had money spent on it and good oil change regular, then happy days.
I went to see a grey 03 S3 today, 94,000mls on it and described as MINT, but when I saw it, It was lifting, it had bits hanging off it, more lights on the dash than the millennium falcon, scratches on every panel, no service history, I could go on and on yet he wanted £5995 for it!!!
 
localknoxville said:
high mileage don't really put me off, I did have a 99 S3 with about 80,000mls on when I sold it and I also had a 03 S3 with 110,000mls on when I sold it and both we're faultless. I buy with my head now I'm older, rather than the heart, if it's had money spent on it and good oil change regular, then happy days.
I went to see a grey 03 S3 today, 94,000mls on it and described as MINT, but when I saw it, It was lifting, it had bits hanging off it, more lights on the dash than the millennium falcon, scratches on every panel, no service history, I could go on and on yet he wanted £5995 for it!!!
Click to expand...

stealer was it ?
 
150k, all original.

It only had it's first clutch last month.

And it's spent ALL of its life doing this.



I'd jump in It tomorrow and drive anywhere in the world, impeccable reliability.

All because it's always been serviced to half interval with proper oil.
 
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Mine is on 144k full service history and been looked after and on the same parts since built,.Clutch is slipping but that's getting changed when the new engine goes in
 
I notice everyone here is mentioning good quality oil as a must have.
Is a brand name important or just fully synthetic 5w30.

My local auto store has castrol 5w30 and 0w40 both on sale. Tempted to get some 5w30 for now
 
Sod 5w30, it's too thin for high mileage engines.

10w40 Quantum.
 
The only full synthetic 10w40 oil that my local auto store sells is Penrite. They have a good name but are charging $70 for 5L!!!!

Something to look forward to when I need to do an oil and filter change...

The part finder for my local auto store is also recommending 5w40 or 10w50. Would either of those be better than 10w40?
 
92k, bought at 86k in March. She needed the usual Cambelt/Waterpump/Thermostat but other than that nothing. Plan on changing the oil every 6 months and general maintenance.

Prices seem to vary wildly, anything from 2.5 -7k! And the pictures never tell all, seen some dogs up for mega money.

Even FSH can be misleading if it's all been longlife servicing, ideally you want a car that's been looked after by someone that actually cares.
 
I sold my a3 1.8t with 164k on nearly 3 years ago and saw it driving the other day when I was on way to work! I wonder what miles are on there now? It also had a "bang tidy" sticker on the back !?
 
My 8l had 112k on when sold it, drove perfect and sounded great with the jetex on. I've got a 8p with 52k now but seriously still miss the fun of driving the 8l and looks.
 
localknoxville said:
Hello and forgive me if this has already been asked here before
I'm on the lookout for an S3 8L and the majority for sale are 100,000 miles plus
Unless I'm willing to pay 6k+ for low miles!!
Just wondering what miles you have on your S3 8L and any probs with high mileage cars?
Click to expand...

You have £6k+ to spend, and you haven't managed to find a low miles 8L S3? Not looking hard enough!
 
audi upgrades
jojo said:
You have £6k+ to spend, and you haven't managed to find a low miles 8L S3? Not looking hard enough!
Click to expand...
I wish I had 6k+ to spend, it seems that's just what I would need by what people are after, for low mile S3's!! and trust me, I'm looking everyday for one, unless you can suggest any other sites than here, ebay, autotrader, pistonheads, pre-loved, gumtree and motors.co.uk to look?!
It just seems to be when I want one, there are none available but when I don't want one, theres loads of em up for sale!
 
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like me, i wasnt meant to be getting the s3, was looking for a celica gt4 but there wasnt any around when i needed one, so got the s3, as soon as i bought it 3 went up for sale 2days later :(
 
142k, original turbo, used every day, owned since Feb 2003.
Selling soon I think :(
Dave
 
16Klappe said:
No.

Depends on your climate, but for the UK it's 10w40.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I will try source some 10w40 full synth for a little cheaper than $70 for 5L.

Just out of curiousity, I don't know a lot about oil, but why is 10w40 better than 5w40?

My climate (Australia) is a little warmer than UK if that makes a difference
 
Not an s3, an a4 b7 but I have 199,400 miles on it and it runs beautifully. Still on original clutch and turbo (both soon to be changed).

2.0 tdi engine and I'm going hybrid :) cannot wait
 
Hi,

Just love my S3, got it new in 2002 and despite its fun it has still only done 23k. Love it and it will love you back!

It does not see rain or snow - for personal reasons I will keep forever - but S3 8L is special, under rated and a Q-car, only RS2 has really given me as much fun with the quality.

Love Audi Sport Net and S3.

Cheers,

Tim
 
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16Klappe said:
150k, all original.

It only had it's first clutch last month.

And it's spent ALL of its life doing this.



I'd jump in It tomorrow and drive anywhere in the world, impeccable reliability.

All because it's always been serviced to half interval with proper oil.
Click to expand...


Hi,
Not long after I got my 2002 S3 I cornered an Audi mechanic and asked "Given the option would you buy an S3 on fixed or variable servicing" -> With no hesitation he said "fixed servicing with the right oil".

Engine oil, Cam belts (including tensioners and water pumps), brakes and tyres are all things that you cannot afford to cut costs on.

I had an exchange with Audi UK when they changed the Cam Belt interval for S8 8Ls. When East Kent Audi (really great garage) checked mine - despite the low mileage, the belt had frayed. They were good in that they showed me - I was shocked. Limited use also affected flexibility of belt - it remembered it's shape!

Just a word of warning. If I had a choice I would chose a car with a cam chain vs. a cam belt, but either is OK so long as it is serviced correctly, not contaminated with oil when installed ...

Cheers,

Tim
 
My 2000 S3 (V Reg) is now on 124,000 but has had a newer, lower mileage engine as the original engine was knackered (I reckon down to poor service intervals by previous owners and using long life oil rather than just using normal oil and changing it every 6k miles.

I bought mine at 115,000 miles, owned since November 2013. It's on it's second lot of oil (10W40 Lucas Fully Synthetic) and I'm going to be dropping that soon and putting fresh in.

I strongly recommend you use a genuine oil filter too (TPS charge less than what a cheapo filter would cost!). My original engine had a FRAM Oil filter and that had a knackered bottom end, most likely from oil starvation due to these filters having poor flow (especially when oil is cold).

When buying one, pay for someone from the AA or similar to inspect the car for you before you part with your cash. It'll save you a fortune in the long run in case you buy one with some serious problems (like mine had).

My Dad's has just clicked over to 83,000 miles, his is on a Y plate.
 
Ive had my S3 since 25k its now on 101k, had to replace a few bits. clutch, flywheel, drop links all round, both top mounts x 2, both front bushes x 2, both arb & bushes, coil packs x 2, fuel filter, fuel pump, rear shocks, boost sensor, both front cv boots,1 x cv joint, steering column, coolant sensor, thermostat, 2 x cam belt changes & pump, rocker cover gasket , window regulator clips, battery x 2, aerial base & a few pipes here & there.

It still runs well & pulls well so im happy
 
Jenno007 said:
Just out of curiousity, I don't know a lot about oil, but why is 10w40 better than 5w40?
Click to expand...

It isn't, 5w40 will circulate round the the engine, especially turbo and lifters more effectively in cold weather.

The quantum 10w40 (505.0) is a semi synthetic old spec oil (over 20 years old). The 5w40 (505.01 platinum) is a fully synthetic oil introduced more recently (year 2000).
 
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