I have a 2000 2.7T with 158k miles. I love the car and know that my next will not be so nice (married with two kids and new house since I purchased this one). I took the car in for repair recently and was told that the turbos are shot. Disappointing since I've maintained the car well (synthetic oil, all scheduled maint, etc) but sometimes it just doesn't matter. Bottom line is that we're talking about $4k to $5 to repair. My gut says it makes no sense to pour that much money into a car with that many miles. My current option is to do nothing although I'm aware that the car may start to burn oil making the back of my Audi look like Pig Pen. The repairman actually was surprised that since the turbos are seized that it's not doing so already. Maybe for some reason it won't every get to that point?

So I was interested in what others would do. I know answering takes into account other factors (i.e. What other kind of car would you get? Finances, etc) but let's just keep it simple.

1) Fix it! Yeah it's a lot of money for a car with a lot of miles but you might get to 250k miles or more and its a great car (again...that I won't have again).

2) Keep maintaining and drive it till it does but don't fix the turbos. Other than it doesn't have the giddy up anymore with the turbos it still looks nice and is better than what the next car would be.

3) Sell it. Time to move on. If you don't fix the turbos it's not worth it to keep and you never know when the smoking oil issue will began.

 

Turbos are seized?
Um, how about choice 4; get a second opinion.

 

I would fix the turbos. And if you have to pull the engine to fix the turbos, look at the clutch plate. The pressure plate will most likely be good but if the clutch plate is worn, replace it and the throwout bearing.

You're simply not going to get as nice a car for under $8-9K and the car is worth maybe $7K if clean and running....bad turbos maybe $1000. On the other hand, you could consider buying a 4.2 and using your drivetrain to make a 6speed V8.

 

That is also a possibility...I wonder why BOTH turbos are seized, if in fact either of them is. How did the shop determine the turbos are seized? Did the shop access the compressor wheel through the intake ducting and try to spin the wheels?

 

Get another opinion. Would be very odd to have 2 seized turbo's.

What was the car doing that prompted you to bring in for service in the first place?

 

I'd fix it - if that's the real problem - absolutely get a second opinion. My 2001 has 216K on it, and I plan to keep it to 500 (just to pi** off the Mercedes guys...)

No, really these are such great cars, and what are you going to get for the cost of the repair? Just have everything done that requires the engine out, so you don't have to do it again any time soon. Even trading it in and having a car payment will cost you more over the first 6 months...

Jim

 

turbo rebuild can be had for under 1200.....

 

Never heard of seized turbos. If the bushings are worn out, they contact the housings, but not seize. Either way, you will need two turbos, as they are only to be replaced in pairs. Get a second opinion to make sure you need them though.

 

You can also try rebuilding the turbos. I rebuild K24 before, was not that difficult. I think the easiest way to see if they work is to use a boost gauge and see how much boost they build.

 

As long as the wastegate housings, wastegate diaphragms, or turbine/compressor wheels didn't contact the housings from worn shaft bushings, then it should be fine to rebuild.