12v & 30v Open hood I.D'ing

[Mojo_stevo]

I am in the market for an Audi A4 2.8. I want the 30v because I have heard that it is much zestier than the 12v. When was the exact year change over for the upgrade? Some reviews say 1997, and some say 1998. Not all the people out there who have a 2.8 from that time bracket know if it is a
30v or not (not everybody cares). So is there anyway that I can tell just by looking at the car, registration, or engine? Thanks

[MikeLee2484]

the easiest way to ID the 30V is, and anyone correct me if im wrong, by looking at the plastic engine cover under the hood. it should say "5V" on both sides of the cover, as in 5 valves per cyclinder. and my understanding was that in 96 and 97, all 2.8L were 12 valve engines. in 98 they bumped up to 30 vavles. if nothing else, you can be sure that a 98 is the 30 vavle eninge. and i dont know if an extra 18 horses qualifies as much zestier, but maybe it could.

[veedubmechanic]

the 5v looks like shoe boxes for the engine covers on the valve cover part.

the 30v looks like one big cover , valve covers are very wide 8"

5V valve covers are maybe 5" wide

[Talibangunner925]

in 1997 the 30v was made but that was only in europe... in 1998 the 30v was introduced in America

[docurley]

Yep that's right only Europe got the 30v in 97 and I have one

[Mojo_stevo]

Docurly, is that your Audi in that picture, that's tight? Your the one with that MR-2 w/ the 355 kit right?

[docurley]

Yep that me.