FS: 1998 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8L 5spd <$4000

[Lov3myDC2]

Laser Red 1998 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8L V6
FS (NO TRADES): $3500
Title: Clear and in hand
Currently has VA Inspection

Name: Shanna
Location: Fredericksburg, VA (I am currently at school at JMU but have no problem driving the 1.5 hours back to Fburg to show the car)
Contact Info: PM is preferred or email-- <!-- e --><a href="mailto:murph2sk@dukes.jmu.edu">murph2sk@dukes.jmu.edu</a><!-- e -->

HELLO FELLOW MM'ers! I am selling this Audi for my brother who is currently in Iraq. He'll be returning to the states around April and wants to have a few thousand for a downpayment on an e46 m3. I absolutely love this car and have no problem selling my gs-r and keeping this as I am currently in the market for awd. I've seen all the work that has been done to this vehicle since the day my brother brought it home. I have helped him work on it and drive it whenever I'm back in Fredericksburg on the weekends.

Some Specifications:
176, XXX Miles
DOHC 5-Valve 190hp V6 Engine
5-Speed Manual transmission with synchronized reverse gear
Permanent all-wheel drive system, includes TORSEN torque sensing center differential
Anti-lock brake system (ABS 5.3) with electronic differential lock (EDL) and electronic rear brake pressure regulation

Cold Weather Package:Heated front seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, heated driver door lock, expandable ski/storage sack
Convenience Packageower Glass Sunroof, Remote Locking System, Folding Key w/Remote Locking Controls, Glass sunroof with pre-select function, sunshade
Leather upholstery (8-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment) Front passenger seat with height and lumbar supports
Front and rear floor mats with embroidered model logo on front mats


Written from owner--
Reason IÔÇÖm selling: IÔÇÖm currently in Iraq and have no need for a car. When I come home in a few months IÔÇÖll be purchasing a car IÔÇÖve wanted forever. IÔÇÖm selling so low because I want a quick sale. ItÔÇÖs not perfect and needs some love and attention but has been an amazing car to own. IÔÇÖll list everything thatÔÇÖs wrong with it, all modifications done, and what I planned on doing with it in the future to make it close to perfect. KBB is listing it at:
Excellent $4,965
Good $4,590
Fair $4,015

IÔÇÖm selling it for $3500 mostly because I want it gone by the time I get back.

The AudiÔÇÖs Past:
I originally bought the car from an Audi/Porsche technician in Maryland. He had purchased a brand new Acura TSX and his fianc├® was making him get rid of it. He originally had the receipts for everything ever done to the car since it had driven off the show-room floor but they were all lost in my apartment fire that occurred my sophomore year of college. He had yanked the engine out and replaced all of the main gaskets and seals but told me that the alternator was in need of replacement later

Modifications/New Parts:
When I purchased it, it was already modified with a full Koni Adjustable Suspension System, 20% tinted windows, iPod adapter, aftermarket Flik 18inch painted Black rims, Brembo Slotted Front Rotors, and an Audi S4 Exhaust (catalytic converter back).
As it stands now, I replaced the alternator with a used certified one, replaced rims with BBS Reps (18inch), Tint has been removed (because of hefty ticket), and Alpine Unit was put it with iPod hook-up in center console. Rear back two speakers were replaced with Alpine Type-S units, 10-inch JL series 1 subwoofer with 400watt amplifier, and K&N cold air intake kit. It has 6500K HIDÔÇÖs with brand new ballasts.

On a trip to Canton, Massachusetts, I hit a large pot-hole in New Jersey where I bent two of my BBS reps, and where I bent my control arm assembly. After driving back to VA, I replaced the control arm assembly (passenger side) and both bent rims. The car now sits on 4 practically brand new BBS reps with Nitto NeoGen tires (75-95% tread left).
I didnÔÇÖt buy this car for speed or to race it. I bought it for reliability with a little bit of style. It handles unbelievably in the snow, so good in fact that I pulled my friendÔÇÖs Wrangler out of a ditch and a kidÔÇÖs WRX STI out of a snow bank in Radford, VA via the toe hook-ups.

The Bad:

ItÔÇÖs leaking oil. ItÔÇÖs not a major concern that IÔÇÖve had at all and IÔÇÖve tried to fix it three separate times and after a few months it will start leaking again. The oil is coming from the valve-cover gaskets. Because of the extreme angle (90 degrees) of the V6, the oil (after running), tends to sit on the gasket. After a while the oil will seep through the gasket and drip onto the headers where it is then burned. I replaced the valve cover gaskets multiple times with brand new sets but maybe youÔÇÖll have better luck (it tends to be a problem with this model).

The exhaust isnÔÇÖt too loud but the baffles are destroyed inside the muffler. It doesnÔÇÖt affect performance but there is an annoying sound that shrieks when the higher RPMÔÇÖs are reached. It didnÔÇÖt bother the previous owner nor did it really bother me, but as IÔÇÖll mention after I planned on replacing it. I had the resonator cut out and a straight pipe welded in for added sound.

High-Mileage; it does have a very large amount of miles but IÔÇÖve never had a problem with this damn car until the alternator went out on me. (Took me 7-hours to get the front end of the car off and into the Audi service-position) Out of all the vehicles IÔÇÖve owned, besides my 03ÔÇÖ R6, this never gave me any mechanical problems. It has always started up without a problem and has always gotten me from point a-b.

I painted the wood trim that was originally in the car months before. Each piece was removed, sanded down and painted with a flat black trim paint. The center console trim was also modified/painted to fit the alpine head unit (hated the plastic adapter plates) but cracked months later from the sun/heat. I then wrapped it in cloth, (same as the headliner) but it needs to be re-done. The headliner isnÔÇÖt perfect but it never bothered me at the least. The sunroof control switch was messed up from old-age and I planned on replacing it but never got around to it because I never use it.

Personal Future Plans with the Audi:
These were my original plans for the car if I were to keep it ÔÇô to give you an idea of what direction I was headed.
ÔÇó Re-Tint the Windows 35% all-around
ÔÇó Replace Muffler with Magnaflow 14815 or 14816
ÔÇó Put Braided Stainless Brake Lines on that are in trunk of car
ÔÇó Put new slotted rear rotors on to match the front slotted Brembo set-up
ÔÇó Replace sun-roof control module with one off of Audizine used car threads
ÔÇó Finish center trim ring around radio (finally)
ÔÇó Have driver seat re-upholstered (small tear from worn spot)
ÔÇó Install HID Headlights (already pre-wired)
ÔÇó Replace valve-cover gaskets
ÔÇó Flush Manual transmission fluid and rear differential fluid

Hopefully this gives you (the possible buyer) a better feel of the car and where itÔÇÖs been/ where it was going. I love this car but itÔÇÖs time for me to move on when I get back from Iraq. My apologies for my absence but my sister, Shanna, is on forums and at local meets much more than I ever am and will be in charge of finding this car a good home. Any questions please ask her and sheÔÇÖll get a hold of you ASAP. Thank you for your interest.

Here are some older photos from the original owner and when it was first purchased by my brother.

Rack, Euro plate, and Flik wheels no longer on










only interior pic at the moment. will get more next weekend.


Current Wheels




Feel free to post and/or shoot me a PM if you are interested. I will be back in Fredericksburg next weekend (Fri 28th-Sun 23rd) as well.

[ScottyB]

that's gorgeous...makes me really nostalgic about my old one. not a bad price considering the goodies.

for those who see a B5 A4 and want to evacuate the area, the 2.8's are tanks. it's really a sweet engine, if a little light on torque. :thumbup: for control arm replacement and buying from a porsche/audi tech.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Sounds like all the symptoms of my Passat minus it being MT, Quattro, and awesome.. From the work listed as done I can vouch for everything he replaced was a well thought out decision in addressing the weak spots of this platform.. Passat and A4 from this year share VERY SIMILAR engineering... GLWS!

[Goodspeed]

Thats a pretty awesome car for the money - glad to hear its been reliable Those cars scare me half to death b/c of that, but this one sounds like win. GL with the sale!

[Lov3myDC2]

that's gorgeous...makes me really nostalgic about my old one. not a bad price considering the goodies.

for those who see a B5 A4 and want to evacuate the area, the 2.8's are tanks. it's really a sweet engine, if a little light on torque. :thumbup: for control arm replacement and buying from a porsche/audi tech.

Yeah it's a great car. The mileage originally scared my brother and I both off but the guy he bought it from kept it immaculate.

Sounds like all the symptoms of my Passat minus it being MT, Quattro, and awesome.. From the work listed as done I can vouch for everything he replaced was a well thought out decision in addressing the weak spots of this platform.. Passat and A4 from this year share VERY SIMILAR engineering... GLWS!

Yeah he had a list of common problems with this year A4 but only a few of them really struck up. The alternator was the biggie but after he fixed it it was great. I'm gonna be sad to see it go... it's a quick little luxury car and It's pretty good at ice fishin if you know what I'm sayin

Thats a pretty awesome car for the money - glad to hear its been reliable Those cars scare me half to death b/c of that, but this one sounds like win. GL with the sale!

Yeah it's an awesome car. And yeah I'm too nervous to own a European car, but I still want this one kinda haha

[.RJ]

Why do I want this... driving the minivan gets old sometimes

[Apoc]

Why do I want this... driving the minivan gets old sometimes

do it.

[.RJ]

Serious question time - what does this thing need?

I remember reading these things have a serious appetite for eating front suspension parts, i.e. balljoints/hubs.
Are there any electrical gremlins? Windows/Door Lock/Sunroof gremlins?
What kind of shape are the tires in?
Is the cooling system original?

Looks like a fun car, but I am trying to buy a house very soon and I do not need a money/time pit. I have enough of those.

[Jake]

Are there any electrical gremlins? Windows/Door Lock/Sunroof gremlins?

Somewhere in the ad it mentions a sunroof control module. If it's the same as what Lincoln's S4 is doing, the sunroof (when fully opened only) will do it's own thing. Keeping the knob clicked one notch before "full open" makes it behave.

[ScottyB]

Why do I want this...

drinking a little early this friday i see?

Serious question time - what does this thing need?

I remember reading these things have a serious appetite for eating front suspension parts, i.e. balljoints/hubs.
Are there any electrical gremlins? Windows/Door Lock/Sunroof gremlins?
What kind of shape are the tires in?
Is the cooling system original?

LOL, you're serious. OK, they have a 5-link front suspension and 4-link rear so there are alot of things moving around. the control arms were making noise on mine at 90k but it wasn't like the car was going to fall apart, i probably could have driven another 20k on them. sounds like at least 1 corner is replaced, and usually the fronts are creaking before the rears. each corner is going to run about $300 if replaced with a Meyle heavy duty kit (have to buy for the entire front or rear end when you purchase control arms though). the latest kits should last longer than OEM. basically, if it needs control arms you're out about a grand not counting labor.

i never had an issue with the wheel bearings. the rears are supposed to be the usual suspects. can't really comment i guess.

ironically almost every single issue i ever had with the car was related to the stupid 1.8T. electrically the cars don't suffer nearly as much as the mk.IV golf/jettas do although you run into coil pack issues on the turbos. you will get some cars with faded pixels on the dash info center ala BMW's of the same vintage. as for me, sometimes the alarm would go off if the windows were down and the car was locked and it was over 90 degrees outside, otherwise i never had an issue with electronics.

you just have ask yourself how much time you want to invest on fixing stuff when things break. they are not easy cars to get around (everyone knows the "service position" picture with the front end gone). things are tight, screwed together with lots of fun fasteners and not always cheap to replace. otherwise they are a nice, safe mile killer that can be pretty fun with the right mods - like this car has. pretty much at the bottom of the depreciation curve too.

audiworld/audizine are your friends

[.RJ]

Well, I will likely be without garage in the next few months - this will mean taking it to a shop, or my parents driveway for anything other than easy fixes.

Maybe this is a bad idea.

[ScottyB]

if the timing belt and control arms are good those are the 2 biggest things done. but yeah, if you don't have a workspace, enjoy burninating the plastic.

[Lov3myDC2]

I mean for a 12 year old car under 4 grand you're going to have some flaws. I honestly do not believe there is anything mechanically wrong with this car and I can remember my brother saying that the timing belt, etc. was changed right before he bought it. I also know that the alternator is pretty new. I sent an email to my brother about the questions RJ has asked and I'll update this post when I get answers.

[Lov3myDC2]

From my brother:

As far as I honestly know, I never heard of these cars having problems with front suspension components. I personally never had a problem with the car until I hit that damn pot hole in new jersey, in which case I had to replace the balljoint.

Never had a problem with Windows/doors ever. The only "gremlin" exists solely with the sunroof because I never put another sunroof control module in. It doesn't open at all unless you have the controller. I've had it open a few time partially when I inserted my key fob into the door, turned clockwise and held temporarily (this lowers all the windows in the car down/up) but it easily went into a fully closed position when key was turned to shut everything. Car has never locked me out, nor have I ever not been able to open a door because ti didn't unlock all the way.

The tires have all been recently replaced, two of them the most recent. Two on their should be close to 85-90% tread left and two 90-95% tread left. When both rims bent after the pot hole, I replaced with two new ones and had two new tires put on/weight/balanced. Because of the ride height, the tire's inner tread tends to go much quicker than the full tread. The camber camber can be adjusted by simply adjusting the ride height.

As far as the cooling system, I have not personally touched it at all. The previous owner before me had yanked the engine out, replaced seals & some components and put it back in. I replaced the alternator but that's as far as it's gone. It would be ideal to replace the coolant hoses, ones running from the radiator to the block, because I don't think they were ever replaced by the previous owner.

If this car were perfect and needed nothing, believe me I would be selling it close to $5,000, but I am putting it at this lower than fair price because I am not trying to rip anyone off. This car does need some work in order to head in the right direction, which is why I would love to sell it to a person who is somewhat mechanically inclined. It's been one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned and I too am looking to buy a house in the near future. If the right repairs are made it will not be a money pit. If it's still in my driveway when I get back from Iraq I will be flipping the car myself and selling for more. Let me know if you have any more questions and i'll try and answer them as honestly as possible.

[Ole]

Surprised El Capitan hasn't offered $5 and creepy touching yet....

[CaptainHenreh]

Surprised El Capitan hasn't offered $5 and creepy touching yet....

Rex has no interest in VAG products.