I'm a new member to this site and would like some advice/recommendations from other Audi S4 owners. At 160,000 km (I'm Canadian), my S4 engine light came on. After spending $3,000.00 on mechanic fees, I am now an owner of a S4 body with a dropped engine that misfires due to a broken timing chain guide that resulted in a lack of compression in the engine. Bascially, my mechanic tells me I need a new engine.

I believe I have the following three options:
1. walk away;
2. try to obtain a used engine but after researching audi forums with owners who had the same issues, I could easily have the same engine problem a few years down the road due to the inherent problems with the timing chain guide (mechanic told me it would cost approximately $10,000 CDN to fix); or
3. buy a new engine from the audi dealership (mechanic told me it would cost approximately $22,000.00 to fix) and basically keep this car for life to get my money back. My main concern is that after I go this route, I may have other expensive bills down the road because the rest of the car is still a 2004 vehicle (i.e., suspension issues, control arm issues, electronic component issues, transmisssion issues, etc.) Will this car become my money pit?

Wondering if there are others who had similar issues as me and what they decided to do? Even if not, what would you do if you were in my situation?

Any response would be appreciated.

Stew

 

Hi Stew.

Ok first of all, sorry dude, that sucks. My B6 S4 has about 125.000km on it and i have to make sure my timing belt is good for the next couple of years too.

So, what can i say other than don't get a new engine! For the same money you can get a B6 or even B7 with little miles on it which would solve the money pit issue too.

Worst case, you could get a used engine from Europe and have it shipped over in a crate but even that is a costly option.

Did the mechanic say what exactly is wrong with the engine? Pistonring/Head/other?