Looking to buy again ;) but is high mileage worth it

[S3RLY]

Not been active on the forum for a few years after selling my 2003 noggy s3 (yup mistake letting her go)

I'm in the market (based in west yorkshire) found a few local ones, but they're high mileage.

I can't justify driving 200+ miles for viewings. So it looks like I don't have much choice but to buy one that's been round the block more than a few times with high figures on the clock..

So I'm just wondering, if the service history is spot on and its had cam belt, clutch and head gasket done at the right time. Then should I be concerned with an s3 pushing 140k+ ?

A bit of digging around online and apparently the 1.8t bam engines are good for 200k+ if well serviced and looked after.

Just as a comparison I sold mine on 91k and she felt solid with no issues. It would be great to hear how owners of high mileage s3 140k+ are getting on?

And finally last one... I'd be looking at taking it back to R-Tech and having at least a stage 1 map. Is this risky with the extra miles or anything i need to be concerned about.

Cheers
Pete


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[S3RLY]

Will be nice to find out who owns her now?
Original plate starts AV53....

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[hydro s3]

I bought mine with 135k miles on it but I had to travel to England for it as there was none for sale and very few about where I am. The miles never bothered me cause as you said I'd heard there strong engines if well serviced which mine had plus I was going to get the engine rebuilt anyway.
I think with the age of these cars to get one with low miles will prob cost 4-5k for a good one.

 

[S3RLY]

I bought mine with 135k miles on it but I had to travel to England for it as there was none for sale and very few about where I am. The miles never bothered me cause as you said I'd heard there strong engines if well serviced which mine had plus I was going to get the engine rebuilt anyway.
I think with the age of these cars to get one with low miles will prob cost 4-5k for a good one.

Hi hydro S3

Good to hear you've had success with a high mileage one.

If you don't mind me asking, what engine modifications have you done?

I don't want to go down the engine rebuild route just yet.. would be a daily driver.

This issue I'm having is do I pay for a clean 2003 model on 140k, or should I wait until something with less mileage is for sale.

I know mileage shouldn't be too much of an issue if its had a good life, however at this amount of miles does it get to a point where it's not worth the money?





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[hydro s3]

I did rods,rings,all supertech valve's,valve guides,sump,pick up pipe,oil and water pump,timing belt and tensioner,rings,all bearings, gold cat cam springs,dw265v fuel pump,airtec fmic,3" downpipe with 200 cell sports cat and 3" custom exhaust,new clutch and flywheel badger 5 k04 hybrid turbo package,610cc injectors.
Would depend how much you want one and if a good service history with all belts have been done and heldex been looked after.
There is low mileage ones out there but you might have to dig deep to get one.
I think one at 140k miles with good history would be fine. They will all have been thrashed around no matter on the miles after all that's what they are meant for and if you have had one before then you know you will always be fixing things no matter if the miles.

 

[s3mad_dude]

My 2002 Noggy is now on 207k. I’m only the second owner and gearbox and engine are spot on. No oil burning either. I’m mechanically sympathetic with it and I look after it exceptionally well. Try not to buy one that’s high mileage AND neglected. Make sure tyres match, make sure the tyres are a decent brand too. Something simple like that will give clues as to whether the car has been looked after. Service history is a must. Not just stamps in the book but all the old invoices. If they can hand you a wadge of papers, chances are the car has been cared for. So, having said that, high mileage doesn’t need to be an instant turn off. When I look at ads on auto trader or EBay, mine is still far and above better condition than most. A lot of us are going through the stage where the Haldex system starts playing up. Mine has been religiously serviced it’s whole life but still it annoys me at how badly this system fails. New controllers can’t be had but third party ones exist for a high price and when it comes to manoeuvring in tight spaces and turning on full lock you might notice the rear axle skipping or hopping. Good luck with the search.

 

[Goner]

My 2002 Noggy is now on 207k. I’m only the second owner and gearbox and engine are spot on. No oil burning either. I’m mechanically sympathetic with it and I look after it exceptionally well. Try not to buy one that’s high mileage AND neglected. Make sure tyres match, make sure the tyres are a decent brand too. Something simple like that will give clues as to whether the car has been looked after. Service history is a must. Not just stamps in the book but all the old invoices. If they can hand you a wadge of papers, chances are the car has been cared for. So, having said that, high mileage doesn’t need to be an instant turn off. When I look at ads on auto trader or EBay, mine is still far and above better condition than most. A lot of us are going through the stage where the Haldex system starts playing up. Mine has been religiously serviced it’s whole life but still it annoys me at how badly this system fails. New controllers can’t be had but third party ones exist for a high price and when it comes to manoeuvring in tight spaces and turning on full lock you might notice the rear axle skipping or hopping. Good luck with the search.

Those pictures you put up in the 8V section of the 8L and 8V are decent.

You'd never in a million years think that the 8L has done 207K miles, it looks immaculate.

 

[s3mad_dude]

Thanks for the compliments I really do love the 8L model. Noggies rule. Don’t forget to check piston heads too because decent examples can sometimes be found there. Hope you find one!!

 

[S3RLY]

Cheers for the advice.. and just goes to show that if looked after these engines are good for 200k+

I've found a noggy with 110k full service history.

Think I'm going to bite the bullet and travel 200 miles to go view.

Hopefully it's worth the travel time.

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[S3STE1977]

I got mine with 234k on it with next to no service history. I got it back in March and its on 241k now and it runs and drives spot on. Its only 238 thousandmiles tto the moon. I have done a fair bit of work on it but I honestly couldn't be happier with my intergalactic cruiser ‍

 

[S3STE1977]

Oh and I had mine stage one mapped. Engine good but clutch dead.
I have replaced the clutch. And the timing belt water pump alternator belt with tensioner alternator pully oil pick up the sump the rear shocks the trailing arm bushes the rear brake calipers disk and pads all round the o/s rear inner cv joint the n/s front outer cv joint the brake pedal switch the clutch pedal switch haldex service.
Oh and the I had the rear panel painted.