Barn Find ?, is it worth it ???

[RS2junkie]

Hi Guys,

Looking for some thoughts on a car I spotted abandoned...

Its an S8, according to the VIN its a 2003 car (4.2 V8, quattro). It is LHD.

I spotted it in the airport carpark in Muscat, Oman.

Under all the dust the car is straight, no major body damage, and no pools of fluids under the engine. The tyres are decent apart from the right rear which is flat.. Not sure how long it has been there but I will try to find out...

I am probably going to be in Oman for a while so this would be a better daily driver than my current (company provided), japanese shoe box...

So, does anyone have any points to watch out for with S8's ?? I know some have had gearbox issues, but is there anything else ???

I am trying to track down its owner and try to buy the keys, if not then I might have some contacts in the Oman police to have it "removed for auction" with me as the only bidder ??

Is it worth the effort ?

Paul

[John.]

No idea but is that a p e n i s on the bonnet?!

[HPsauce]

Definitely a facelift S8 so 1999-2002. Post the VIN and I can ask in the A8/S8 forum for more info.
They stopped production in 2002, though mine (one of the last) wasn't registered until 2003.

[RS2junkie]

Definitely a facelift S8 so 1999-2002. Post the VIN and I can ask in the A8/S8 forum for more info.
They stopped production in 2002, though mine (one of the last) wasn't registered until 2003.

Hi, That would be great..

I did a check on the VIN and it came up as a 2003 model, S8, 4.2 ? Could not see much more... The number is WAUGU44D23N000125..

Appreciate the help...

Paul

[HPsauce]

The "N" before 000125 shows it was made in 2002.
My S8, which is later, is N007941 so that was a very early 2002 build.

[Spidey]

I think it's the same one

Auction Ended
10:10pm 20 Mar 2016

http://www.emiratesauction.com/en/cars/cardetails.aspx?randid=35053

[UrS4boy]

The "N" before 000125 shows it was made in 2002.
My S8, which is later, is N007941 so that was a very early 2002 build.

WAUGU44D23N000125

Umm...NO.

N = Neckarsulm plant

WAU = Audi, Germany

D2 = A8 body

3 = 2003 model year.*

N = Neckarsulm

000125 = build sequence, very early build, probably first week in May, 2002. (May 2002 started with 000001 and ended with 001237)


* REFERENCE:

"The 10th character in the 17-character VIN represents the vehicle model-year.

This standard applies to vehicles built in or after 1981.

Before 1981, the VIN format was not standardized and varied by manufacturer.

Note: VINs do not include the letters I (i), O (o), Q (q), U (u) or Z (z), or the number 0, so that they will not be confused with similar looking numbers/letters."

https://support.alldata.com/alldata-repair-online-article/vin-to-year-chart

[HPsauce]

Nice try, but also incorrect.
It's the 4D that says it's an A8. The 2 is a check digit.

Conflicting information from various sources re the rest, but another one I've found suggests:
The 3 is the model year, but NOT the year of manufacture.
The N just means Germany (which implies Neckarsulm for that model).

Audi were not making D2's in 2003.

[HPsauce]

But this site gives yet another version: http://www.autohausaz.com/audi-auto-...n-numbers.html
This says that the initial W means Germany and also that the 9th character (2) is indeed a check digit.
Also that character 10 (3) is the model year, 3 = 2003! (not manufacturing date)

See: https://www.audiworld.com/articles/a...of-generation/ Production ended in August 2002.

[Henkjan]

tiptronics are quite strong, but abuse can kill everything. should change gears smooth.
I'm nog sure if the S8 has the issue, but didn't some of the V8's have an issue with the cam chain? if it rattles, it's too loose
take it for a spin, and read fault codes before and after.

[UrS4boy]

Nice try, but also incorrect. It's the 4D that says it's an A8. The 2 is a check digit. Conflicting information from various sources re the rest, but another one I've found suggests: The 3 is the model year, but NOT the year of manufacture. The N just means Germany (which implies Neckarsulm for that model).

I'll give you the 4D = A8 *BUT*:

3 = absolutely the model year (I got the month by looking at the 000125 in the list of 2003 A8 VINs, in this case May 2002). (Note: some countries would register the car as a 2002 but most would call it a 2003, which it is).

N = Neckarsulm plant, not just Germany.

W = Germany

AU = Audi

I've done over 100 S2, UrS4, UrS6, RS2 and S6Plus build tag documents so I know more than just a little bit about Audi VINs. However, I've never seen an A8 VIN until this morning.

Example:

References:

1. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Vehicl...dentifier_(WMI)

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...roup_factories

[HPsauce]

I find the VIN quite confusing as my S8 was definitely built on 10th April 2002 and has a much higher serial number.
Oddly it wasn't registered for the first time until late 2003 so had a UK 53 plate before various private plates, including mine.

[UrS4boy]

I find the VIN quite confusing as my S8 was definitely built on 10th April 2002 and has a much higher serial number. Oddly it wasn't registered for the first time until late 2003 so had a UK 53 plate before various private plates, including mine.

April 2002 = the last month of construction of the 2002 model year A8s and S8s.

Your VIN (vehicle identification number)(not "Serial Number") will be something like:

WAUGU44D22N007697 (end of March 2002) to WAUGU44D22N020000 (end of April 2002).

The 2003 Model year started builds in May 2002 with WAUGU44D23N000001

[HPsauce]

Thanks, useful information there. Certainly fits my VIN.
(Though I think you mean 2003 MY started in May 2002 not 2003)

The car being discussed was probably made in May 2002 then, as a 2003 model year.

I think many/most of the 2003 Model Year must have been the so-called "Final Edition" versions (which mine is not). And production definitely stopped in 2002 so calling them 2003 model year from April 2002 for just a few months was a bit of a cheek!

[UrS4boy]

Thanks, useful information there. Certainly fits my VIN.
(Though I think you mean 2003 MY started in May 2002 not 2003)

Correct. Thanks. It was late (near midnight). I meant May 2002 and have now edited my post to say May 2002.