WZ S4

I am taking a 2006 a6 avant with 180,000 miles for ppi tomorrow. Sellers says it has chain rattle only on cold start in winter that lasts one second if it sits for a few days and is really cold. It has had oil changes done every 4,000 miles.
Even if the ppi says no sign of chain stretching or timing issues I am still nervous about the engine out repairs for timing issues.
I read if a Audi dealer does replaces chains and tensioners but no valve damage I am looking at about $6,000 but how much should I be able to get this done for at a indy?
Or worst case how much if it needs valves also at a indy?
What would a dismantler / junk yard pay for this car with bad engine?
This car is priced great but I keep reading on the forums about the timing issues being a potential $6,000 repair.

FormulaElement

Sorry, but what does PPI mean? Just out of curiosity, what is the car priced at?

I would listen for chain rattle on startup regardless of what the sell says. Before you start it up, make sure the engine has sat over night. Don't go by the temp gauge, feel the engine and make sure it's not warm at all. Also - make sure you inspect the car or stall for 15-30 minutes before it's started up to make sure he hasn't started it and got the chains tensioned up without warming up the engine. Make him start it while you listen outside of the car, with the hood open.

The timing issues on the 3.2 aren't as common as the 4.2. The carbon buildup is probably more of a issue. Inquire the last time that was done, or if it has ever been done. It costs 1-2k to get that done.

BTW the chain doesn't stretch, the tensioners do ware out in time, but that happens in every car. The timing chain guides also go bad.

I would also be worried about the transmission at that mileage. It most likely needs a new torque converter and a fluid change. Its around 2k to do those.

The timing fix does cost around 3-6k to repair, depending on where you go, and what gets done.. If the valves and heads are bad, there could be other damage like the cylinder wall scoring, which you might as well just buy a new engine at that point. If you do fix the engine, and it needs to be re-forged, etc... it would probably be 6-9k. A used engine would be around 2-3k.

You would get more money parting out the car if the engine goes bad. A junk yard usually doesn't give more than $250 for a car, but I could be wrong this case. No clue on a dismantler.

To be honest, I would only buy that car if you're able to do maintenance yourself. That's the only way I can see it being feasible.

KevinGary

I have an 05 4.2 that I purchased new 9 years ago. She currently has 139k on the odometer. As far as reliability, she is ok, but she is no Lexus. But she is a lot of fun to drive. I recently reviewed most of the service records on my car and have put together a list of the service, maintenance and repair records. I believe this list will help show others the problem areas that I have experienced over the years and show what maintenance items to expect as our cars get older and have higher mileage. As you will see my car became more problematic around the 125,000 mile mark. You should understand that I can be a bit crazy when it comes to my old car and that I want everything to continue to perform as it did when the car left the factory floor.

Miles Service

884 Miles
1) MMI hardware replaced

5,283 Miles
1) 5,000 mile service

10,152 Miles
1) Oil Change

14,775 Miles
1) 15,000 mile service
2) tighten front passenger seat
3) tighten air vent outlets
4) update airbag software
5) tighten dashboard
6) update Mmi software

20,059 Miles
1) Oil Change
2) tighten dashboard

20,685 Miles
1) Replaced pollen filter door
2) Replace tire pressure sensor
3) Replace Mmi control ****

24,727 Miles
1) 25,000 mile service
2) tighten dashboard
3) replace windshield wiper blades

28,506 Miles
1) Brake fluid flush
2) Repair front passenger seat frame
3) Replace license plate light bulb
4) Update MMI software
5) Repair ski sack
6) oil change

28,620 Miles
1) Replace all 8 coil packs
2) Replace throttle control valve

29,806 Miles
1) replace fuel door cover
2) update airbag software

32,254 Miles
1) Replace front brake pads
2) clean HVAC drains
3) replace pollen filter

33,926 Miles
1) Replace rear brake pads
2) Replace fuel filter
3) Lube steering column
4) Tighten dashboard
5) 35,000 mile service

36,129 Miles
1) Update fuel gauge software
2) Replaced power steering hose clamp

36,739 Miles
1) Replace interior light in driver's footwell

37,715 Miles
1) Update airbag software

40,759 Miles
1) Transmission fluid flush
2) Replace fluids in differentials
3) oil change

44,754 Miles
1) Replace steering column
2) convert front brake pads
3) 45,000 mile service

49,419 Miles
1) Replace head cover gasket
2) Oil Change

50,283 Miles
1) Replaced rear sunshade motor

54,659 Miles
1) coolant system flush
2) replace coolant temperature sensor
3) replace fog lamp
4) replace trunk latch
5) 55,000 mile service

56,440 Miles
1) update ECU module
2) replace tire air pressure sensors
3) replace windshield wipers

60,168 Miles
1) oil change
2) brake fluid flush
3) replace rear seat air bag ignitor

61,040 Miles
1) replace front brake pads and rotors
2) replace rear brake pads and rotors

65,209 Miles
1) 65,000 mile service
2) replace coolant temperature sensor
3) replace parktronic speaker

65,635 Miles
1) replace thermostat

66,553 Miles
1) Replace light bar in front passenger door

66,848 Miles
1) Replace wood trim on driver's front door

69,020 Miles
1) Oil change

70,741 Miles
1) Replace rear right tail light assembly
2) Clear air bag codes

75,099 Miles
1) 75,000 mile service

75,762 Miles
1) replace center rear seat air bag sensor
2) replace rear seat bracket

80,187 Miles
1) oil change
2) flush transmission fluid
3) replace brake fluid

85,450 Miles
1) 85,000 mile service
2) update airbag software

87,879 Miles
1) replace rear seat air bag sensor connector
2) readapt tilt wheel steering column

90,746 Miles
1) oil change
2) replace oil pressure sensor
3) re-adapt steering column
4) replace rear brake pads and rotors

93,793 Miles
1) Replace steering column
2) replace front brake pads

95,964 Miles
1) 95,000 mile service
2) replace battery

100,600 Miles
1) oil change
2) replace all 8 coil packs
3) replace fuel filter
4) replace brake fluid
5) coolant flush
6) replace supplemental rear passenger air bag

103,924 Miles
1) 105,000 mile service
2) replace passenger tailight assembly
3) replace right side motor mount

110,515 Miles
1) oil change
2) replace all 4 upper control arms
3) replace both side sway bar links

115,704 Miles
1) 115,000 mile service
2) 4 wheel alignment
3) replaced left side license plate bulb
4) replaced passenger side running light

120,490 Miles
1) oil change
2) replace transmission fluid
3) replace differential fluids

124,683 Miles
1) 125,000 mile service
2) replaced front brake pads and rotors
3) replaced rear brake pads
4) replaced satelite radio module
5) replaced battery

127,496 Miles
1) replaced rear passenger window regulator
2) replace passenger sider amber light bulb

133,383 Miles
1) replace jet pump valve
2) replace engine temperature sensor
3) replace both radiator hoses
4) coolant flush
5) brake fluid flush
6) 135,000 mile service

133,600 Miles
1) replace right side combi valve
2) replace passenger side adaptive headlight assembly

133,714 Miles
1) fuel injection service

134,585 Miles
1) replace vacuum line under manifold
2) replace temperature sensor
3) replace driver side adaptive headlight assembly

135,880 Miles
1) replaced thermostat
2) bled coolant system
3) replaced rear passenger side seat latch

137,015 Miles
1) replace drivers air bag
2) replace wiper blades

138,250 Miles
1) replaced radiator

138,682 Miles
1) oil change
2) replace torque converter
3) replace timing chains
4) replace timing chain guides
5) replace timing chain tensioners

WZ S4

So I got the pre purchase inspection done today. They said timing is 4 degrees off, with is right at the limit of what is considered acceptable. They could not give me a idea of how long it will last I figure its just a gamble if it last 1 month or 3 years. The seller was only asking $5000 but I think I will pass as I don't want to put $6000 to repair timing issues into a car I bought for $5000.

raj99

Car to share where the car is located and details on how to contact the seller, since I may know someone interested in it.

WZ S4

I will check with my friend selling the car but I think he does not want to deal with selling it and is planning on trading it in and hopefully getting more than $5000

raj99

Ok well lmk and where is the car located? At that mileage and considering it's a 3.2 he'll be lucky to get more than what you've listed ($5K) from an dealer.

chrisone

audi with this high mileage will def. need work.....I bought my first a6 3.2 at 79k and dished out about 4k in repairs and maintenance in the first 6 mos until it got totaled a week after picking it up from a 105k ($2500) service....decarbon the engine was needed @ 89k miles then fuel injectors then coils and sp. plugs ,serp. belt coupla gaskets plus regular oil change they were done by audi dealer always had the surge problem when idle and all the above was done to eliminate this prob but it never did it get bad on cold mornings......upon startup from time to time I used to get this whining sound tha goes away after coupla minutes
love how the car drives and handles itself so bought another one @68K and I get the whining sound every other week for coupla mins and Im going for a decarbon soon no codes at all but surge is existing on a light scale I guess they all made this way but what am I gonna do??? I'm just addicted to audi c6s