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HiI used to own a '98 3.3 twin turbo diesel which was not a good engine and the automatic box died like they all do.
The car was beautiful and i loved the smooth ride, so I'm thinking of buying a manual 4.2 liter.
I like the D2 facelift better than the older one, but the facelift comes with the 40 valve 360hp engines and I've heard they are more problematic than the 32 valve 300hp ones pre '98. Is this true?
Any input and recommendation is very welcome.
Erik
Definitely more broken valvesprings on the 360HP S8 engines vs. the 310 HP 40v A8 engines. It could be down to usage but I suspect not. Either of those will eventually need VVT chain pads. I do not recall that being common on the 300HP 32v 4.2, but I have never owned one of those and have not paid much attention.
The transmission issue is very avoidable also, as long as it's addressed before it breaks.
Definitely more broken valvesprings on the 360HP S8 engines vs. the 310 HP 40v A8 engines. It could be down to usage but I suspect not. Either of those will eventually need VVT chain pads. I do not recall that being common on the 300HP 32v 4.2, but I have never owned one of those and have not paid much attention.
How common is the broken valve springs?
The 32v 4.2 do not have the cam chain tensioners like the 40v 4.2.
My contention has always been that the original 300HP ABZ, as found in the Pre-Face D2 series, was probably the most reliable 4.2L Audi ever built.
EVERY, SINGLE design change since then has hurt longevity. They went to 5 Valve heads for the FL.. and, worse reliability. For only 10 HP more output. And, then plastic VVT cam chain guides... fail. AYS engine brought 360HP but more valve spring failures.
Then the next gen (for the RS4) moved the cam chain to the back of the engine. More failures... Turbos and boost... More failures.
If you can deal with "only" 300HP (the ratios are better for fuel economy, if that matters to you) then the Pre-Face cars are more reliable.
Thanks for your replies.
I'll look for a car with the ABZ engine, reliabillity is what matters to me as I don't know engines (I rebuilt my 1.6 TD Vanagon engine successfully, but that was a very small and simple engine).
Anything else to look for when shopping for a pre-98 A8/S8, like features, defects ect? I will be testing the compression to get an idea of the state of the engine.
I have been on the fence whether to get an Lexus LS400 or an W126 SEC instead, anyone know/owned these and know how they compare to the D2?
As for the manual vs automatic, does one need to change the piston inside the box or is simply changing the 'lifetime' transissionfluid enough?
My automatic broke down with 136K miles, and when I opened it I found that the oil had not been changed although I had taken it to a mechanics to do exactly this one year before the incident, arrg.
In German forums some say to change the piston/valve, others say this is only neccesary when there is wear on the old piston/valve, what is your view here on Audiworld?
IMO you change the main pressure control valve to a design that won't get stuck in the bore as the bore wears. Maybe change the lower valve body also if there is sufficient wear to the bore for concern.
Quick question; i can buy a S8 with manual speed, cylinder compression is around 137 psi (9.5 bar), milage is supposedly 101K miles.
Is this ok or too worn out?
04-04-2021, 03:03 PM
360hp or 300hp 4.2 liter, which is better?
