2002 A4 vs. BMW 325 Xi - reliability

Thanks. The more I look into it the more it seems the A4 is simply not
going to hold up, and in the long run will cost me as much as a 3 series
while providing a lot of aggravation.

An 04 Audi is going to be overly expensive I think, and besides, that's not
a long enough time period for me to trust reliability data to the point I
trust it from 2 years prior.

I'm now almost sure it's going to be a 325 or 330xi from 2002. It's
flashier looking than I'd wanted -I really like the Audi's understated
exterior- but I'd like to be the one admiring the car, not a mechanic.



>>
>> Does CR have anything to say about the 2003 or even the previous model
>> years using the older platform?
>
>CR has data from '97 to '04. As far as overall reliability is concerned,
>only the '04 A4 rates better than average (an encouraging development);
>the '01 rates average; all other years rate below average. For the 3
>series, only '02 rates above average; the '04 rates below average (a
>discouraging development); all others rate average. I'd recommend a
>visit to Audiworld.com and search for various trouble areas. I have a
>'98 A4 which has had engine oil leaks, radiator replacement, temperature
>sensor replaced, defective clutch throwout bearing, bad ventilation fan
>all within 65,000 miles. I have not had the notorious control arm
>problem and because I don't have the computer, I didn't have its display
>fail as so many have. I also missed the year where the ignition coils
>were defective. You'll note that none of these items would appear
>related to hard use - they are simply a result of seemingly poor design
>and/or shoddy quality. While some would dismiss the CR surveys, I'd have
>to say that in the case of the A4, they pretty well track the problems
>brought up in audiworld discussions.
>
>
>

"Ian S" > wrote in message
newsLhVe.14434$ct5.5787@fed1read04...
> According to Consumer Reports, the 2002 year was not a good one for the A4
> V6. Three areas, electrical, ignition and power equipment, were either
worse
> than average or much worse than average; the overall reliability rating
was
> worse than average. It's specifically listed in their "Used Cars to Avoid"
> listing. In contrast, the BMW 3 series for 2002 had no areas worse than
> average and an overall reliability of better than average. The 2002 3
series
> was specifically listed in their list of "Reliable Used Cars."

Keep in mind that the primary reason for the 2002 A4's low reliability
ratings is a single problem that has now been totally rectified by a
manufacturer recall. Specifically, I'm talking about the faulty "coil packs"
(a part of the ignition system) that caused a lot of cars to suddenly quit
running. However, the bad part in question was replaced in all cars by a
completely redesigned part. So the problem, unlike the negative ratings
pertaining to it, is gone.

Rob
2002 A4 3.0Q
2005 TT 3.2 DSG

"+ Rob +" > writes:

> Keep in mind that the primary reason for the 2002 A4's low reliability
> ratings is a single problem that has now been totally rectified by a
> manufacturer recall. Specifically, I'm talking about the faulty "coil packs"
> (a part of the ignition system) that caused a lot of cars to suddenly quit
> running. However, the bad part in question was replaced in all cars by a
> completely redesigned part. So the problem, unlike the negative ratings
> pertaining to it, is gone.

In all fairness, some BMWs have had similar problems, although I
don't remember hearing of any cars "suddenly quitting" because of it.
For some 2001-2003 BMWs, the engine may run roughly and the check engine
light might come on, due to deterioration of the spark plug coils.
There's a BMW TSB on this:

http://www.rasmus.ca/bmw/coil_TSB.pdf

Heh. Given the timeframe, I wonder if similar parts were used in both
BMW and Audi.

--
Darryl Okahata


DISCLAIMER: this message is the author's personal opinion and does not
constitute the support, opinion, or policy of Agilent Technologies, or
of the little green men that have been following him all day.

On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 09:04:29 -0700, Darryl Okahata
> wrote:

>Heh. Given the timeframe, I wonder if similar parts were used in both
>BMW and Audi.

Likely - European car makers use lots of common parts from outside
vendors. Mercedes-Benz has window regulator issues in the C and E
class cars like those for BMW as well, also for the same time frame.
Emanuel

E Brown > writes:

>>Heh. Given the timeframe, I wonder if similar parts were used in both
>>BMW and Audi.
>
> Likely - European car makers use lots of common parts from outside
> vendors. Mercedes-Benz has window regulator issues in the C and E
> class cars like those for BMW as well, also for the same time frame.

Well, that's depressing.

As far as I know, the BMW window regulator issue is still ongoing,
as I've seen no one claim that it's been fixed (for E46's at least --
it's unknown about the new E90's).

For the BMW 3-series (E46's), the window regulators, sunroof clips,
and headliner trim problems seem to be the top three non-mechanical
issues.

--
Darryl Okahata


DISCLAIMER: this message is the author's personal opinion and does not
constitute the support, opinion, or policy of Agilent Technologies, or
of the little green men that have been following him all day.

"+ Rob +" > wrote in message
nk.net...
>
> "Ian S" > wrote in message
> newsLhVe.14434$ct5.5787@fed1read04...
> > According to Consumer Reports, the 2002 year was not a good one for the
A4
> > V6. Three areas, electrical, ignition and power equipment, were either
> worse
> > than average or much worse than average; the overall reliability rating
> was
> > worse than average. It's specifically listed in their "Used Cars to
Avoid"
> > listing. In contrast, the BMW 3 series for 2002 had no areas worse than
> > average and an overall reliability of better than average. The 2002 3
> series
> > was specifically listed in their list of "Reliable Used Cars."
>
> Keep in mind that the primary reason for the 2002 A4's low reliability
> ratings is a single problem that has now been totally rectified by a
> manufacturer recall. Specifically, I'm talking about the faulty "coil
packs"
> (a part of the ignition system) that caused a lot of cars to suddenly quit
> running. However, the bad part in question was replaced in all cars by a
> completely redesigned part. So the problem, unlike the negative ratings
> pertaining to it, is gone.
>
> Rob
> 2002 A4 3.0Q
> 2005 TT 3.2 DSG

From 1997 to 2003, all years but one of the A4 V6 have below average
"overall" reliabilities. The ignition problem in 2002 shows clearly because
all other years had better than average "ignition" reliability. But the 2002
A4 also got below average for "power equipment" - the same as the two prior
years - and low marks for "electrical equipment" that also showed up in all
but one of the previous five years. It's not just the ignition problem.

What year is not below average?

>From 1997 to 2003, all years but one of the A4 V6 have below average
>"overall" reliabilities. The ignition problem in 2002 shows clearly
>because all other years had better than average "ignition" reliability.
>But the 2002 A4 also got below average for "power equipment" - the same
>as the two prior years - and low marks for "electrical equipment" that
>also showed up in all but one of the previous five years. It's not just
>the ignition problem.
>
>
>

"Karl" > wrote in message
...
> What year is not below average?
>

'01 is average in overall reliability. '04 is above average in overall
reliability.

And '03?

(Ian S) wrote in <ywsXe.42876$ct5.21038@fed1read04>:

>
>"Karl" > wrote in message
...
>> What year is not below average?
>>
>
>'01 is average in overall reliability. '04 is above average in overall
>reliability.
>
>

"Karl" > wrote in message
...
> And '03?

below average in overall reliability. Problem areas appear to be electrical
and power equipment - between 5% and 9.3% of survey respondents reporting
problems in those areas for the period between 4-1-2003 and 4-1-2004.