A4 Avant Quattro any buyers tips? any common faults or running issues?

[Altern8]

Hi,

I have seen a 1.8t quattro avant for sale but I dont know what to look out for? Are there any common issues? leaky diffs?

What are the repair bills like on them? Its a 1999 model

Cheers
Craig

 

[jcb]

off the top of my head

to look for:
worn front suspension arms, (knocking)
wheel alignment, (scrubbed tyres/tracking)
smokey turbo
rusted spots (rear sail trim on doors, rear lock strip, roof gutter/rails
to change in future:
suspension (OEM is a bit high and wallowy)
brakes (OEM on the 1.8t are famously crap! either full change or pads/discs)
headlights (like candles on dipped beam!)