This is an Audi A8 with a colorful history. For example, it was once the business car of a drug criminal…
A limo with a story
This is an Audi A8 with a colorful history. For example, it was once the business car of a drug criminal, until the FIOD put an end to it. The story goes that Jaap van Zweden was the first owner, which would not surprise us given the artistic composition of the interior. Now it’s Ruben Vonk’s turn, a hard worker with a good dose of optimism.
Who would have ever thought that we would mention Jaap van Zweden in the same breath as the drug criminal phenomenon? It should be clear that the two have nothing, absolutely nothing to do with each other and the narcotics dealer is probably now playing second fiddle to a captivated audience. Ruben is of a completely different kind. During the week, he clocks up the miles in a Ford Transit Connect on his way to work on large farm equipment. Sometimes a week in Zeeland, then a little closer to home. How did he discover the special history of his A8? “Purely out of interest, I entered the license plate number on the internet and soon I saw my Audi in a photo, surrounded by a team from the FIOD, that came to confiscate a few things. I actually find it funny.”
Previous experiences with Audi A8 were disappointing
At first Ruben was looking for a V10 or V12, with which the A8 was also supplied, but that was a bit too much for him. Then just a V8. Because a car must have a big engine, he thinks. “You can buy anything under two liters in the supermarket. I have already had an Audi A8 of the previous model twice, unfortunately those were not good cars. No, then that A6 2.5 TDI from 1996 with which I drove more than a ton. That was a hell of a car and I got more in return than I paid for it.”
Donor A8
Maybe you were already counting while listing the cars, but we’re not there yet. Ruben also had a Seat three times, an Audi A6 three times, an S6 and there is still a nice van at home, an old Volkswagen T4. Oh yes, and another A8 for parts. “Yeah, maybe it’s a bit of a hobby that got out of hand. But so far it all remains affordable for me. My girlfriend has a Suzuki Swift. What she spends on maintenance per year, I spend on one tank.” According to Ruben, the trouble started quite soon after purchase. “Of course I knew full well that I would have excessive repairs in the first year and that expectation came true. Already after a few months the engine started to sound strange and when the computer read it turned out to be the camshaft adjusters. Luckily a good friend was able to fix that. When he opened the engine it was found that the camshaft chain had jumped a tooth from the broken tensioner and the guide was almost totally dissolved between them. That shouldn’t have taken longer. We immediately addressed a number of other matters. Through an advertisement on Marktplaats I found an almost identical car for parts. So go, big cart behind the A8 and pick that thing up. I have already sold the engine, it will be in an Audi A4 and I have already lost a lot of other stuff, so it yields more than it cost.”
This A8 will never be perfect again
Anyway, the maintenance costs shoot through the seven grand and if we add the laundry list of our judge Joep Schuurman to that, it rises to an astronomical amount. But there may be a lot of damage to the twenty-year-old Audi, the solar panel in the sliding roof still works and is connected to a small fan that cools the interior slightly. “I know all too well that he will never be perfect. The approach is to keep it running and not in top condition. The engine and gearbox will continue to work, I’m not so afraid of that. The air suspension has already been addressed, which makes a difference. But there is indeed a lot. The central locking does not work, the parking sensors work when they feel like it and when it is cold you can hear all the rubbers of the stabilizer bars creak. A while ago I even had to open the hood with a grinder, the cables do not unlock the locks. What can become a small drama in the future are the rear lights. They are no longer available and you will not find good used ones anywhere. I’ve picked up another pretty good set, but if its LEDs go out, I’m in trouble. But given the investments I’ve made so far, I’ll keep driving. That fat V8 remains a party every time.”
Maintenance history
02-11-2022 Apk, headlights polished €172.91
20-08-2022 Water pump, thermostat, timing belt + tensioners, 2x camshaft chain tensioner, 2x camshaft chain, 2x valve cover gasket, 8 new spark plugs, new discs + rear blocks, fresh engine oil €2,400
12-07-2022 Used bonnet fitted, used bonnet lock fitted, new grille, new bonnet lock cables €430
08-03-2022 Steering pump, steering system cleaned, new flexible exhaust parts, various cooling hoses €1,281
14-12-2021 Various faults read and cleared, outside temperature sensor + plug renewed, oil level sensor renewed, coolant sensor renewed, various hoses for windscreen and headlight washer replaced, fresh engine oil €1,145
Various data, other taillights due to LEDs failing or ugly glass, central module rear right door, cup holder replaced due to broken cover, new battery, various small interior items, left fender sprayed due to damage €1,750
Maintenance with previous owner:
216,504 km Climate control actuators
223,460 km Overhaul transmission
240,000 km Air suspension renewed all around
What’s wrong with it?
The window mechanism on the front right does not work properly
Various buttons in the interior are worn and sticky
The front left mirror glass is discoloured
The sunroof makes ominous noises when opening and closing
The electric steering column adjustment also makes scary noises when you use it
The front tires wriggle in tight turns
There are creaks, squeaks and snaps from the front and rear train when driving over bumps
Vague steering feel
The wiper mechanism beeps
There is free play in the drive, so that the car responds somewhat abruptly to input from the accelerator pedal
The steering wheel is crooked when driving straight ahead
The car pulls to the right
The car jumps over short bumps, on closer inspection these are probably the shock absorbers
The level control does not respond to input from the button in the interior
Vibrations when braking
The third, middle sun visor is broken and therefore always hangs down
The air conditioner is leaking at the filter drier
The right valve cover gasket is leaking
A water hose is not attached, causing coolant to leak here (fixed on site)
The variable part of the intake manifold is stuck
The radiator and A/C condenser are bent
The headlights are dull
The lower rubbers of the struts are completely worn
A damaged air conditioning pump pulley eats up the multi belt
The bottom plating is attached in various parts with tie-wraps
The stabilizer bars and all related rubbers are worn out front and rear
The front height sensors are not properly in place, this may also explain the malfunction of the level control
The opinion of Carrec Technocenter
“The Audi has good tyres, it also has good brakes and is therefore not unsafe. I think it looks very worn out with the huge list of flaws. If you start tinkering with this, much more misery will emerge.”
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl