appeal to the intelligence of the community

HI all, thanks for looking! Here's the deal:
I recently purchased an Audi S4 Avant from a franchise used car dealer
with a good reputation in the greater DC area. I fell in love with it
the first day i saw it and bought it. They have a 5-day money back
guarantee, so i decided to have it checked out by a local "foreign car
service." They found 4 leaky gaskets, in various locations (chain
tensioner, main valve, etc... i'm not tech suavy). The estimate to
replace was $4700, but i JUST bought the car for $18K (2001, 61K
miles).
I am covered under a 30 day warranty (and i bought an extended 3 year
30Kmile warranty) where they have to fix things that are problematic.
So i took it in today and they called later stating that the leaks they
found were more like "seeps" and are common among vehicles, so they
thought this issue met their standards of quality and weren't going to
replace them.
SO i'm faced with buying a car with 4 leaky gaskets which i'm assuming
will only cause more problems down the line (i'm expecting to keep this
car at least to 100K), problems that i'm sure will be costly. OR return
it and be sad, cause i o/w love everything about it (i can even over
look the auto body job done to the front/rear bumper /side rocker /
rear quarter panel, since it looks pristine).

What would you do in this situation? This is day 4 of the 5 day
guarantee, still many days to go in various warranties...

The leaks you describe are very common with the V6 engines. Fixing them at an
independent mechanic would probably be more in the range of $1,000 is you fine a
good one.

The leaks do just seep a small amount of oil and should not get worse even over
the next 100K miles. you will notice an oil smell due to the small drips falling
on the exhaust manifold. You will need to decide it that is acceptable to you.

The leaks will not affect performance. They are just an irritation.

Having an independent fix the seals might be successful but maybe not. This is
just one of the characteristics of what is, otherwise a very strong and
dependable engine.

Caldwell.Mike (AT) gmail (DOT) com wrote:

HI all, thanks for looking! Here's the deal:
I recently purchased an Audi S4 Avant from a franchise used car dealer
with a good reputation in the greater DC area. I fell in love with it
the first day i saw it and bought it. They have a 5-day money back
guarantee, so i decided to have it checked out by a local "foreign car
service." They found 4 leaky gaskets, in various locations (chain
tensioner, main valve, etc... i'm not tech suavy). The estimate to
replace was $4700, but i JUST bought the car for $18K (2001, 61K
miles).
I am covered under a 30 day warranty (and i bought an extended 3 year
30Kmile warranty) where they have to fix things that are problematic.
So i took it in today and they called later stating that the leaks they
found were more like "seeps" and are common among vehicles, so they
thought this issue met their standards of quality and weren't going to
replace them.
SO i'm faced with buying a car with 4 leaky gaskets which i'm assuming
will only cause more problems down the line (i'm expecting to keep this
car at least to 100K), problems that i'm sure will be costly. OR return
it and be sad, cause i o/w love everything about it (i can even over
look the auto body job done to the front/rear bumper /side rocker /
rear quarter panel, since it looks pristine).

What would you do in this situation? This is day 4 of the 5 day
guarantee, still many days to go in various warranties...

I dunno, $18k for a car that is already leaking oil? For sure the
problem won't get any better. If it were me I might reconsider and keep
looking.

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

I dunno, $18k for a car that is already leaking oil? For sure the
problem won't get any better. If it were me I might reconsider and keep
looking.

Perhaps if you were to return the car to the dealer and ask for your
money back, they might consider fixing the leaks to keep you as a
customer.

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

On 7 Dec 2006 18:47:52 -0800, Caldwell.Mike (AT) gmail (DOT) com wrote:

HI all, thanks for looking! Here's the deal:
I recently purchased an Audi S4 Avant from a franchise used car dealer
with a good reputation in the greater DC area. I fell in love with it
the first day i saw it and bought it. They have a 5-day money back
guarantee, so i decided to have it checked out by a local "foreign car
service." They found 4 leaky gaskets, in various locations (chain
tensioner, main valve, etc... i'm not tech suavy). The estimate to
replace was $4700, but i JUST bought the car for $18K (2001, 61K
miles).
I am covered under a 30 day warranty (and i bought an extended 3 year
30Kmile warranty) where they have to fix things that are problematic.
So i took it in today and they called later stating that the leaks they
found were more like "seeps" and are common among vehicles, so they
thought this issue met their standards of quality and weren't going to
replace them.
SO i'm faced with buying a car with 4 leaky gaskets which i'm assuming
will only cause more problems down the line (i'm expecting to keep this
car at least to 100K), problems that i'm sure will be costly. OR return
it and be sad, cause i o/w love everything about it (i can even over
look the auto body job done to the front/rear bumper /side rocker /
rear quarter panel, since it looks pristine).

What would you do in this situation? This is day 4 of the 5 day
guarantee, still many days to go in various warranties...

The time to have it inspected by an independent mechanic is *before*
you buy it, not after...

Also, next time, check the values (NADA) for the car you are buying.
Avg retail on a 2001 S4 is only 13,600 (with the mileage you
indicate).

As to 'oil leaks' well, since you are not mechanically inclined, you
*could* take it to an AUDI dealer (not anyone else, not the local
foriegn care service) and have then evaluate it. But IMHO, you bought
it, just live with it. And check the oil each fill up until you can
get a feel for how much (if any) it is using.

And, yes, basicallly almost every engine seeps oil. You'll probalby be
OK.

Caldwell.Mike (AT) gmail (DOT) com wrote:

HI all, thanks for looking! Here's the deal:
I recently purchased an Audi S4 Avant from a franchise used car dealer
with a good reputation in the greater DC area. I fell in love with it
the first day i saw it and bought it. They have a 5-day money back
guarantee, so i decided to have it checked out by a local "foreign car
service." They found 4 leaky gaskets, in various locations (chain
tensioner, main valve, etc... i'm not tech suavy). The estimate to
replace was $4700, but i JUST bought the car for $18K (2001, 61K
miles).
I am covered under a 30 day warranty (and i bought an extended 3 year
30Kmile warranty) where they have to fix things that are problematic.
So i took it in today and they called later stating that the leaks they
found were more like "seeps" and are common among vehicles, so they
thought this issue met their standards of quality and weren't going to
replace them.
SO i'm faced with buying a car with 4 leaky gaskets which i'm assuming
will only cause more problems down the line (i'm expecting to keep this
car at least to 100K), problems that i'm sure will be costly. OR return
it and be sad, cause i o/w love everything about it (i can even over
look the auto body job done to the front/rear bumper /side rocker /
rear quarter panel, since it looks pristine).

What would you do in this situation? This is day 4 of the 5 day
guarantee, still many days to go in various warranties...

Get your money back.

1.) You paid too much.

2.) It's been damaged in an accident! (????) That reduces it's value
even more.

3.) If you're blanching at $4700 for maintenance items on an S-car,
you're not ready for S-car ownership. Even skipping the oil seeps
(which the V6s do anyway).

4.) For that kind of money, you could get a low-mileage,
perfect-mechanically, well-maintained 1995 UrS6 Avant, and have money
left over for the next 5 years of maintenance/repairs.

E.P.

1995 UrS6

On 8 Dec 2006 06:46:27 -0800, "Dano58" <dan.dibiase (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

I dunno, $18k for a car that is already leaking oil? For sure the
problem won't get any better. If it were me I might reconsider and keep
looking.

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

I find it very unlikely that the dealer will refund the buyer's money.
Most fo the 'money back' offers in the automotive field contain
substantial 'restocking' fees, making these the most expensive rental
cars in the world.

Now what I would like to know is;

Did you take the car back?????





<Caldwell.Mike (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

HI all, thanks for looking! Here's the deal:
I recently purchased an Audi S4 Avant from a franchise used car dealer
with a good reputation in the greater DC area. I fell in love with it
the first day i saw it and bought it. They have a 5-day money back
guarantee, so i decided to have it checked out by a local "foreign car
service." They found 4 leaky gaskets, in various locations (chain
tensioner, main valve, etc... i'm not tech suavy). The estimate to
replace was $4700, but i JUST bought the car for $18K (2001, 61K
miles).
I am covered under a 30 day warranty (and i bought an extended 3 year
30Kmile warranty) where they have to fix things that are problematic.
So i took it in today and they called later stating that the leaks they
found were more like "seeps" and are common among vehicles, so they
thought this issue met their standards of quality and weren't going to
replace them.
SO i'm faced with buying a car with 4 leaky gaskets which i'm assuming
will only cause more problems down the line (i'm expecting to keep this
car at least to 100K), problems that i'm sure will be costly. OR return
it and be sad, cause i o/w love everything about it (i can even over
look the auto body job done to the front/rear bumper /side rocker /
rear quarter panel, since it looks pristine).

What would you do in this situation? This is day 4 of the 5 day
guarantee, still many days to go in various warranties...

no doubt in my mind -- take it back.

there are plenty of other fish in the sea.


Paul Bunyan wrote:

Now what I would like to know is;

Did you take the car back?????





Caldwell.Mike (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1165546072.726898.50440 (AT) 73g2000cwn (DOT) googlegroups.com...
HI all, thanks for looking! Here's the deal:
I recently purchased an Audi S4 Avant from a franchise used car dealer
with a good reputation in the greater DC area. I fell in love with it
the first day i saw it and bought it. They have a 5-day money back
guarantee, so i decided to have it checked out by a local "foreign car
service." They found 4 leaky gaskets, in various locations (chain
tensioner, main valve, etc... i'm not tech suavy). The estimate to
replace was $4700, but i JUST bought the car for $18K (2001, 61K
miles).
I am covered under a 30 day warranty (and i bought an extended 3 year
30Kmile warranty) where they have to fix things that are problematic.
So i took it in today and they called later stating that the leaks they
found were more like "seeps" and are common among vehicles, so they
thought this issue met their standards of quality and weren't going to
replace them.
SO i'm faced with buying a car with 4 leaky gaskets which i'm assuming
will only cause more problems down the line (i'm expecting to keep this
car at least to 100K), problems that i'm sure will be costly. OR return
it and be sad, cause i o/w love everything about it (i can even over
look the auto body job done to the front/rear bumper /side rocker /
rear quarter panel, since it looks pristine).

What would you do in this situation? This is day 4 of the 5 day
guarantee, still many days to go in various warranties...