If I could live though(and enjoy owning) a 1988 4cyl 80 series with the 3speed auto, a 1991 5cyl 90, a 92 12v 100avantq, and a 1994 12v 90cs I would love it when i finally stepped up to an A4. This 98 30v is driving me to HATE audi.
Here is the list of repairs.Read and laugh or cry, your choice. All work done by yours truly

1st. Power steering rack.
2nd. T-belt and everything else in the area.
3rd. Rebuilt tip tranny
4th. Voltage regulator
5th. This overheating problem.
And it hasn't idled smoothly since we took it home from the stealership.
Just needed to share my pain.

the Steering Rack? Im curious.

Do you track the car per chance?

To address them in order:

1. Power steering rack: this is a problem that I've seen several A4 owners I know personally encounter, which leads me to believe that it is fairly widespread (or I'm just a lucky individual amongst several unlucky ones...in that case, I'll be staying at home more often).

2. T-Belt: Yeah, this is particularly fun. When I first had to replace my timing belt after a year of having the car, I was very disappointed. I was 19 and had really worked my butt off for many years to buy the car, and here was another almost $1,000 repair. I started to envy 3-series drivers and their timing chains.

3. Tip Tranny: In one the late 90s reviews of the A4 done by Car and Driver, there was a lot of praise for Audi for the newer small car, and also one glaring bit of disappointment: C&D stated that the tip trannies can drop as early as 40,000 without there being anything unusual about it. This was supported by an excellent and experienced mechanic at a VW/Audi dealership I worked for from 1999-2002, who, when I inquired about common problems in the A4 stated, "As long as you don't get the Tiptronic, you're fine. Those transmissions don't hold up very well. But the manual...you can drive that until the wheels fall off." Barring the problems with second gear synchros, this seems to hold true.

4. Voltage Regulator: Never heard of this bit before. But I think it is expected that at least one or two things will go wrong with a car that aren't common; for example, I had to have my ignition switch replaced very unexpectedly once. This has been my only problem, aside from the leaks now common in my 137,000 mile car.

5. Overheating: This just sounds like a pain in the ass. Sounds like some other people have had the same problem; I'm hoping you find out a good way to fix it, so that your solution will help guide others who are bound to run into the same problems. It really does suck to be the first person with what seems a new problem, but I'm sure the method for fixing it is easier than we expect.

I'm sorry your car isn't working right. I take great stock in Audi AG, being from Ingolstadt, Germany, and having many members of the family who actually do work there in various capacities. I was always disappointed when people would disparage my Audi ownership based on supposed "reliability issues"; especially when these people were running cars that wouldn't have seen half the mileage that my Audi has. Hopefully, you will find the problem soon and be able to fix it.

Ben

rear differential seal
center differential replacement
motor mounts
tranny mounts
couple control arms
tie rod end
fuel gauge sending unit
wheel bearing
drive shaft
fog light switch
coolent thermostat
Timing Belt, Tensioner, Water Pump
now it seems my ac system has gone out...

I say this with a heavy heart, as I've owned german cars from the day I started driving...I even moved to Germany in my 20s just for the fun of driving. Audi and VW are having some very serious quality isses on the manufacturing side with specific reference to parts suppliers...and the dealership network in the US is aweful...no quality standards whatsoever. I think I'll buy Japanese next time. Sorry, Ben.

have some of ur same problems.. i am going on my 4th rebuilt rack rite now from this annoying mystery leak. also it doesn't idle very smoothly. could be somthing to do with some sparkplugs tho. josh

All done by someone else, except the brakes.

'98.5 2.8qms

Front brakes/rotors ($150)
Upper control arms, shocks & springs ($1500)
Head gaskets ($800)
T-belt/water pump ($650)
gauge cluster *
cruise control module *
headlight washer pump *
ABS module *
Tie rod ends *

* = under warranty

I feel your pain. I bought a 98 2.8 Avant with 50K and all the dealer service records thinking it would be a reliable car. I need a snow car because my wife has a BMW 540/6. I spent $1,400 the first month because the water pump went and of course you do all the other stuff including the cam chain tensioner seals. Now the front end is sounding loose and the upper oil pan seems to be leaking along with the power steering hoses. I've had the car for 3 months now and I'm feeling like I should have stuck with BMW. I always get a lot of stuff from Audi owners for even making this statement but I have full size chevy pick up that I'm mean to and drive like I'm mad at and the sum total of repairs for 97K is front brakes and tires. Are german cars really that good and how do you define good?

The idle is either vacuum, or plugs or wires..that is all there is to that. The tranny is a ****ty deal, and so is the rack.I'm sorry you had to go through all of that crap..