Audis Not Reliable after 100,000 kilometers??

Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with an
expensive service coming up at 60k miles.

In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic locks
(failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.

Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles? Or consider selling before 60k
miles and buy a new car?

Any thoughts??

"Dan Eilerman" > wrote in message
...
> Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
> 100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with an
> expensive service coming up at 60k miles.
>
> In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic locks
> (failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
> Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.
>
> Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
> tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles? Or consider selling before 60k
> miles and buy a new car?
>
> Any thoughts??
>
>
>
>

a buyer may have done their homework, as I would, and think this car is
nearing an expensive time.....perhaps I will stay clear.

many vehicles are less reliable after 60K so it sounds like better the devil
you know + you said yourself, an enjoyable and reliable machine.

also some NEW vehicles are less reliable BEFORE 60K miles.

tonka
(A4 2.4 V6 SE '97)

I am driving an A4 1.8TQM (chipped) with 103k. Aside from regular
dealer service, including the early timing belt replacement (did the
90k service at 83k), I have bought 6 or so tires and one headlight.
That's it.

This has been the most reliable car I have ever owned, even after 60k
(I added the Wetterauer chip at 55k).

Eric


On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 21:55:19 -0700, "Dan Eilerman"
> wrote:

>Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
>100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with an
>expensive service coming up at 60k miles.
>
>In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic locks
>(failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
>Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.
>
>Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
>tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles? Or consider selling before 60k
>miles and buy a new car?
>
>Any thoughts??
>
>
>

"Dan Eilerman" > skrev i en meddelelse
...
> Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
> 100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with an
> expensive service coming up at 60k miles.
>
> In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic locks
> (failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
> Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.
>
> Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
> tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles? Or consider selling before 60k
> miles and buy a new car?
>
> Any thoughts??
>
>

My present A6 has run 260.000 km. ( 160.000 miles ) and is virtually
troublefree, my old Audi 100 was wrecked by some moron at 450.000 km (
290.000 miles ) and was still very reliable.

If all your problems in 5 years has been a pair of headlights and a loose
vacuum hose I can´t see why any reason to bee unsatisfied.

You can´t blame Audi for battery and tyres they are not everlasting.

Greetings Aksel

If you like the car, sell it and buy another Audi. You are at point where
the value of your car is still very good and it should be easy to get a
decent price for it.



"Dan Eilerman" > wrote in message
...
> Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
> 100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with an
> expensive service coming up at 60k miles.
>
> In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic locks
> (failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
> Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.
>
> Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
> tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles? Or consider selling before 60k
> miles and buy a new car?
>
> Any thoughts??
>
>
>
>

My audi coupe quattro has 273,000 miles on the clock, and is currently off
the road because it needs a new clutch, and I've taken the opportunity to
give it a quick engine rebuild as the head has never been off.

Five years for a battery isn't that far off the mark, that's why a normal
battery has a four-year warranty at least here in the UK. As for the
headlights it's hard to say without knowing why you needed to replace them.
I have replaced the headlights once in the coupe because it was a 'known
fault' that the reflectors rust.

I am running a TT roadster at the moment, and I definitely think that these
newer cars with more electronics are more of a problem waiting to happen. I
won't be keeping this for as long as the coupe, not least because in the
event of a fault I have no option but to pay a dealer to fix it.

Mike.

"Dan Eilerman" > wrote in message
...
> Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
> 100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with an
> expensive service coming up at 60k miles.
>
> In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic locks
> (failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
> Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.
>
> Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
> tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles? Or consider selling before 60k
> miles and buy a new car?
>
> Any thoughts??
>
>
>
>

Thanks, all. I'm leaning toward putting about $1,000 or so into the car for
a 60k miles service a little early at 55k miles, to include replacing the
timing belt early as a preventative measure, and requesting a check on the
front axle given the reported problems with the control arms. I'll also get
the new tires that I sorely need.

I've never had serious problems with the car and love driving it. I just am
moderately worried when reading about the (expensive) control arm problems
on A4's - and the reports of timing belts going early. My car's pretty
simple; no quattro and no special options. So hopefully I'll get another
25k miles without a major repair. I don't sweat the small stuff after 5
years.

But if I get these checked out at 55k, I should be able to avoid the dreaded
new car payment. Once you get used to not having a car payment, it's hard
to go back. ; )
Thanks


"Mike" > wrote in message
news
> My audi coupe quattro has 273,000 miles on the clock, and is currently off
> the road because it needs a new clutch, and I've taken the opportunity to
> give it a quick engine rebuild as the head has never been off.
>
> Five years for a battery isn't that far off the mark, that's why a normal
> battery has a four-year warranty at least here in the UK. As for the
> headlights it's hard to say without knowing why you needed to replace
them.
> I have replaced the headlights once in the coupe because it was a 'known
> fault' that the reflectors rust.
>
> I am running a TT roadster at the moment, and I definitely think that
these
> newer cars with more electronics are more of a problem waiting to happen.
I
> won't be keeping this for as long as the coupe, not least because in the
> event of a fault I have no option but to pay a dealer to fix it.
>
> Mike.
>
> "Dan Eilerman" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
> > 100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with
an
> > expensive service coming up at 60k miles.
> >
> > In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic
locks
> > (failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
> > Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.
> >
> > Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
> > tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles? Or consider selling before
60k
> > miles and buy a new car?
> >
> > Any thoughts??
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

"Dan Eilerman" > skrev i en meddelelse
...
> Thanks, all. I'm leaning toward putting about $1,000 or so into the car
for
> a 60k miles service a little early at 55k miles, to include replacing the
> timing belt early as a preventative measure, and requesting a check on the
> front axle given the reported problems with the control arms. I'll also
get
> the new tires that I sorely need.
>
> I've never had serious problems with the car and love driving it. I just
am
> moderately worried when reading about the (expensive) control arm problems
> on A4's - and the reports of timing belts going early. My car's pretty
> simple; no quattro and no special options. So hopefully I'll get another
> 25k miles without a major repair. I don't sweat the small stuff after 5
> years.
>
> But if I get these checked out at 55k, I should be able to avoid the
dreaded
> new car payment. Once you get used to not having a car payment, it's hard
> to go back. ; )
> Thanks
>

At 60.000 miles the timing belt must be changed, be shure that all rollers,
tensioners and water pump is changed too, the waterpump is usually very
reliable, and cheap, but the work costs for changing is the same as for the
timing belt, at least on the V6 engines.


> > I have replaced the headlights once in the coupe because it was a 'known
> > fault' that the reflectors rust.
> >

I guess that US cars still use the sealed beam headlamps that is unknown in
Europe because of the very bad output.

Greetings Aksel

"Dan Eilerman" > wrote in message >...
> Saw a post in another thread that said Audi's are less reliable after
> 100,000 kilometers/62,000 miles. Have a '99 A4 1.8T at 54k miles, with an
> expensive service coming up at 60k miles.
>
> In the last year, I've replaced both headlights, fixed the pneumatic locks
> (failed hose) and just had to replace a battery. Also needs new tires.
> Otherwise, quite an enjoyable and reliable machine.
>
> Should I invest in a $500-$600 dealer service at 60k miles, replace the
> tires, etc. and keep until 75k-100k miles?

Nope! They're absolute crap! Sell it ASAP!

> Or consider selling before 60k miles and buy a new car?

'Consider', hell! Sell it now!

> Any thoughts??

Yup. Dump it. I'll give you $1,500 for the POS.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; didn't buy that - yet)

"Aksel" > wrote in message >...
>
> I guess that US cars still use the sealed beam headlamps that is unknown in
> Europe because of the very bad output.

No, they're not exactly 'sealed beams' any more. A sealed beam unit
was just that: a *unit*. It included the bulb (or filament),
reflector, and lens all in one piece. Under $10 at most stores.
Marque-specific aerodynamic and styled lights brought an end to all
that.

Now, the requirement for sealing is met by an O-ring on the base of
the bulb insert while the lens and reflector is a single unit just as
it is in most all European cars. Objectively, it combines the best of
both worlds, making a better-sealed headlamp than Europeans were used
to (I've seen those laughable rubber boots on the back of Hella H4
lamps!) and the *potential for* a superior reflector and optics that
the old 'throwaway' units rarely had.

What really makes for the lousy output of US-spec lamps is parts of
the stupid lighting rules imposed by our ironically-named 'Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards'. Among other things, we're not
allowed to have the sharp upper cutoff that EU lamps have.
Apparently, only Audi interpreted this as, "We have to give them
totally crappy lamps."
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; didn't buy that)