Let's talk used cars and automatics.

pilihp2 · Post by **pilihp2** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:45 pm

Okay guys. So I've gone back and fourth on what I want and need in a daily driver for a long while now. I've finally narrowed down to a b6 s4. Daily driver b6 s4 you say?
Realistic Cons: Not reliable, Not economical, not cheap to fix
Realistic pros: Fun to drive, comfortable, sporty, not a pile of shit,
I was stuck on the fence about getting a brand new TDI Golf for a while but the way the numbers are looking I don't want to buy a brand new one. Getting a used TDI Golf is not easy, they're rare and hard to find especially in a DSG. I'll also add that my bank, wells fargo, will not give me a loan for a Golf, new or used. Another credit union never even called me back. I gave up on the Golf Idea seeing as I appear unable to get a loan for it. (I don't even have bad credit, and I make enough money, I just don't have enough credit history.)

Cue Used card dealers. I can get financing through used dealers, as shady as they may be. Every a4 I find at used dealers is not up to snuff on cleanliness, condition, or me liking them.
I've found quite a couple local b6 s4's at used dealerships, and I'm thinking that's what I'm looking for.
now to the question I was going to ask before I typed a wall of useless text. Everything I've found is a tiptronic. Not a 6 speed. Anybody have any automatic horror stories? I'm trying to worry about just the timing chains on these things. I'd prefer to not have to worry about the automatic failing as well. Do they last? Is the auto gonna start slipping and fail on me soon? Do fluid flushes help with the life here?

I asked this a while back about a4's but I feel like we need more conversation here.
Yeah. yeah. That sounds logical.

ChrisAudi80 · Post by **ChrisAudi80** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:33 pm

I have been driving my UrS6 automatic for 5 years now, with some issues. However, they can be fixed at similar costs to what you pay for fixing manual trans issues. Think clutch replacement, dual mass flywheel bust, syncros etc.

The main thing to remember is they don't like abuse. That means launching the car from stand still, repeated kick downs, prolonged hi rev driving.

A flush might help. Cleaning the valvebody sometimes helps. When it comes to the 5HP19FLA, it is the torque converter that lets go first. They can be replaced fairly easily. Not sure if the B6 S4 has the HP19 or the HP24.

With a B6 S4, you have to ask: Has some douche been abusing it? Are there service records for the trans? When Audi says no need to replace trans fluid because it is "Lifetime" fluid, replace it after 60k miles. That is what they consider life time.

VAG-COM the TCU, drive it and see.

That said, I do like driving the UrS6 auto, but most don't. I know they where never sold in the US, but the same trans is used in the C4Q 2.8 V6.

pilihp2 · Post by **pilihp2** » Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:23 pm

The b6 and b7 6 speed tiptronic s4's use the 6HP19 transmission.

SEStone · Post by **SEStone** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:31 am

B6 and B7 Tiptronics are rock solid and drive really nice. I kind of prefer them to the manuals, as the manual is geared really short for around town use. I wanna say the B7 transmission has a better sport mode and will rev match downshift for you.

Sam

dana · Post by **dana** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:40 am

SEStone wrote:B6 and B7 Tiptronics are rock solid and drive really nice. I kind of prefer them to the manuals, as the manual is geared really short for around town use. I wanna say the B7 transmission has a better sport mode and will rev match downshift for you.

Sam

I can't believe what I am reading here!

SEStone · Post by **SEStone** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 9:38 pm

dana wrote:
SEStone wrote:B6 and B7 Tiptronics are rock solid and drive really nice. I kind of prefer them to the manuals, as the manual is geared really short for around town use. I wanna say the B7 transmission has a better sport mode and will rev match downshift for you.

Sam

I can't believe what I am reading here!

What? They're not fast cars and get atrocious gas mileage. The engine has a bunch of torque and doesn't really care what gear it's in. The tip works reasonably well with them and does all the work to shift every 30ft when bombing around town to keep mileage up.

Sam

scubagli · Post by **scubagli** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 9:51 pm

If your considering a b6 s4 the autos seem to not grenade like the manuals do, but you still have the oil issues...And the $5k timing job to look forward to at some point.

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varia · Post by **varia** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 10:25 pm

s car and problematic transmission is a no go
and scubagli is right, dont forget the chain tensioner... easy 5K job

pilihp2 · Post by **pilihp2** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 11:04 pm

Couldn't hear any chain rattle the 2 times I started the car the past 2 days on the one I'm heavily considering. I know they're complex and insane timing chain jobs, but i've accepted that.

GTJeff · Post by **GTJeff** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 11:49 am

What is the recommended service interval on the timing chain? Or is it another 60K mile "lifetime" component?

pilihp2 · Post by **pilihp2** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 11:53 am

Some have had to replace it at 50k others at 150k
This one I'm looking at is at 99k.

A little worrisome. Yeah. you could say that.

scubagli · Post by **scubagli** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 1:20 pm

It seems like the manuals don't last past 90k autos seem to do better.

pilihp2 · Post by **pilihp2** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 3:08 pm

scubagli wrote:It seems like the manuals don't last past 90k autos seem to do better.

That is so odd when faced with all previous autos vs manuals.

Dutchbroracer · Post by **Dutchbroracer** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 3:23 pm

wtf rock solid???????. Here in California you can find a B6/B7 S4 with a blown auto tranny in almost every major city on craigslist. Not to mention unless your skill set is high the timing chain job is not for the faint of heart. Ive seen a Audi master tech basically f*ck up his $10K snap on box over frustration from one of these jobs. If youre after that body style, why not a B7 2.0T, 6 speed? Good MPG and could be modded very easily to out perform the 4.2.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyGxSNDFK-s[/youtube]

SEStone · Post by **SEStone** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 6:04 pm

Dutchbroracer wrote:wtf rock solid???????. Here in California you can find a B6/B7 S4 with a blown auto tranny in almost every major city on craigslist. Not to mention unless your skill set is high the timing chain job is not for the faint of heart. Ive seen a Audi master tech basically f*ck up his $10K snap on box over frustration from one of these jobs. If youre after that body style, why not a B7 2.0T, 6 speed? Good MPG and could be modded very easily to out perform the 4.2.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyGxSNDFK-s[/youtube]

The 2.0T is a little motor to haul around a big car like the B7. A K04 would be close to the S4, but it labors pretty hard until it comes on boost.

Sam

pilihp2 · Post by **pilihp2** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 6:12 pm

Lets be real here. I'm a huge 4.2 fan. Even if it's chain driven.
Is this a practical idea? No.
Is it a smart Idea? No.
Is this a good idea? Maybe?

GTJeff · Post by **GTJeff** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 6:42 pm

How much does it typically cost to replace the automatic tranny in one of these?

scubagli · Post by **scubagli** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 7:31 pm

pilihp2 wrote:
scubagli wrote:It seems like the manuals don't last past 90k autos seem to do better.

That is so odd when faced with all previous autos vs manuals.

That's the timing system not the trans...personally I think it because you can't really bang the auto off the rev limiter...

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Dutchbroracer · Post by **Dutchbroracer** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 7:51 pm

GTJeff wrote:How much does it typically cost to replace the automatic tranny in one of these?

Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
-New 09L300038 $8339.43

-Reman 09L300038X $5389.27

For transmission R&R we charge 10.9 hours.

SEStone · Post by **SEStone** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 8:27 pm

I'm really blown away by people seeing blown B6 S4 trannies, both auto and manual. Been in the industry for 6 years and have never replaced or seen an issue with a single one. Chains, tensioners, and cam adjusters yes, but no trannies.

Sam

scubagli · Post by **scubagli** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:36 pm

SEStone wrote:I'm really blown away by people seeing blown B6 S4 trannies, both auto and manual. Been in the industry for 6 years and have never replaced or seen an issue with a single one. Chains, tensioners, and cam adjusters yes, but no trannies.

Sam

Same here.

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ChrisAudi80 · Post by **ChrisAudi80** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 9:43 pm

SEStone wrote:I'm really blown away by people seeing blown B6 S4 trannies, both auto and manual. Been in the industry for 6 years and have never replaced or seen an issue with a single one. Chains, tensioners, and cam adjusters yes, but no trannies.

Sam

I think you are forgetting that many people treat their cars like total fvcktards.

I get sick of people hating on the old automatics. Saying they are crap and weak.
Weak how? Well, they can't handle 500Nm plus, they can't handle having the loud pedal smashed continuously, they "only" rev to 6600, they need regular servicing even when Audi say its not needed.

Its like saying " I don't understand why my girlfriend/wife hates me assraping her all the time". :idunno:

pilihp2 · Post by **pilihp2** » Fri Sep 12, 2014 11:45 pm

Okay so. I bought an 05 s4 with an auto and 99k. Let the lecturing begin.

Dutchbroracer · Post by **Dutchbroracer** » Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:33 am

congrats man, take care of her and she will take care of you. what color?

ringbearer · Post by **ringbearer** » Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:02 am

pilihp2 wrote:Okay so. I bought an 05 s4 with an auto and 99k. Let the lecturing begin.

Let's talk used cars and automatics.

Let's talk used cars and automatics.

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