B5_A4

Hey everyone, just bought a used 98' A4 w/ 2.8 V6 and 5 speed. Got it for $3400 CDN (inspected, new tranny fluid and new clutch), has 231,000 km on it. Just have some questions about the car.

- Rear end makes a lot of creaking noises, looked stuff up found its usually the bushings. Is it worth me changing them? I've read that some people just replace the arms in the rear, as it is easier than fitting new bushings in. I'm looking for this car to make it to 300k if possible. It seems well maintained.

- Tranny has a slight whine in 4th gear, barely audible, but is it is something to lookout for?

- Dash has been swapped out since the original one had almost no pixels left. However, it was switched out from a car with foglights. I bought a used manual off ebay to look at the fuse diagram, but is there any way to just pull a fuse or something to turn off the center display? It more or less only shows me warning lights, I don't really need it on.

- I was driving the other day, and the check engine light came on, flashing. Car sputtered a bit, almost died. Then, the check engine light held solid, and car ran great. Been running great ever since. Should I be worried?

- Oil pan heater. Do you guys run them? The car doesn't have one but I can't park it inside the garage over winter, is it worth buying and installing?

If there is anything maintenance wise I should be looking at for a high KM car like this, please let me know. It's my first Audi, so any info would be helpful. Thanks!

William Thieme

I assume you have checked all the stuff you would usually check when buying a used car?

spark plugs, spark plug wires, air filter (check your cabin air filter too under the rain tray since you're high-mileage), etc.

you should probably also change all the remaining fluids unless the previous owner specifically said they were fresh (and I'd even do it then since I like knowing that stuff for sure)

As for the bushings, if you like your car feeling fresh then refresh as many bushings/mounts as possible.

Are you trying to turn off the screen because warning lights are going off? That's a pretty bad idea usually...

B5_A4

My point of turning the screen off was simply because it will warn me of having fog lights out, forever. When my manual comes in the mail i'll be able to figure out what all the warning lights mean as well. It will never turn off unless I swap out the front bumper (which I won't be doing). I'll check the cabin air filter, and probably swap that out. I ordered a new air filter already. I'm thinking of ordering the bushings, I've never done them myself though so that might be a pain.