internecine

Only an option if you already have a full set of tools, a garage to do it in and the time.

internecine

You probably have a bunch of suspension parts that could use replacing at this point. They are absolutely not necessary, but might make the ride a little better and sound a little quieter.

chrisw01

Interesting point about Consumer Reports.

I've had my '00 B5 S4 since it was brand new, so I personally know every single one of the 205K miles it has now. Ironically, aside from a factory defect that was fixed under warranty the first year, my car has been very reliable for all 205K of those miles. All I did was the regularly scheduled maintenance, oil changes, and tire replacements, although I admit I was pretty religious about doing all of that.

I didn't really have to start replacing parts on it until very recently - and pretty much all of it has been the sort of parts you *should* replace after 100K miles, such as hoses and plastic parts that are heat fatigued.

By the way, the TBB is one of the easiest parts to replace on an S4 since it's right on top. The upgraded silicone parts are relatively cheap, work well, and even come in "fashion colors" now if that suits your style.

My only frustration has been that stupid diversity antennae. Who in their right mind would pay a dealer $460 for a part to fix the AM radio? My solution was to simply bypass the entire antennae with a more current, aftermarket, powered diversity antennae. I could easily do that with the aftermarket radio. Frankly, it works better than the original and only cost $50...

Jurjen

Keep it, go big turbo, be happy!

donromani

At this point in their lifespan it doesn't make sense to keep a b5 s4 unless you plan to tune it. If you're the type who just wants a sporty vehicle that's mechanically reliable then it's time to get a new ride.

Someone suggested the BMW 1 series, but the VW GTI and Mazda 6spd are also popular replacements. Personally, I'd look at the new Genesis Coupes.

If, on the other hand, you want a project car then by all means keep the s4. There are not many platforms that can boast the level of aftermarket mods supported by this car. I've dumped 20 grand into a car I bought for 10k and there's barely a factory component left on this beast. I'm still far from finished, too.

conall

I'm with donromani on this.
I have another car as a daily driver.
I sometimes drive the S4 on the track, and I'm gradually upgrading it.
It was already Stage I when I bought it, and I've sunk about another 2K in upgrades into it.