Engine Problems with an Audi A8
Discussion
I bought a used Audi A8 last year, 2003 model with 50k on the clock. I got 12 month dealer warranty which expired 6 weeks ago. The car has now developed a fault and I have been told they need to strip down the engine to replace the cylinder head. They are quoting me £6000 for the job! Anyone else had similar problems and is this a justifiable cost, given that cars of this nature should be doing in excess of 100k miles before requiring major 'surgery' - or am I being deluded? Any advice would be appreciated
I have been told by my dealer that the timing chains have elongated, driving the pistons upwards and damaging the hydraulic tapets (?). They have admitted that they would not expect to see this problem on a A8 2003 model with just 55k on the clock and have offered to fund 30% of the overall cost which is obviously an improved position but I will still push for more. This has seriously undermined my faith and confidence in Audi
Symptoms are: engine note firing; lack of responsiveness (and strange noise) when you hit the accelerator; black smoke from exhaust. It took them 'several hours of diagnostic investigation' to determine that this was the problem so this has contributed to the cost but still can't help but think I am being shafted here!
Sounds to me like they can't figure out how to solve it. So they want to sell you a whole new engine. I'd go for it with a 50% reduction and a capped off bill at £3k. Or go to an indie who will be able to rebuild it properly for a lot less! Clearly it's always a balance between convenience and cost.
I once had the same thing in 1995 at a ford dealers. They didn't have a clue how to fix an engine!
I once had the same thing in 1995 at a ford dealers. They didn't have a clue how to fix an engine!
Has someone washed yer engine bay? sounds like water in the plug holes 
On a serious note, they obviously don't know whats wrong, I'm sure a well trained mechanic could have it diagnosed in time as opposed to a "lets swap bits over" technician.
So tell me this, they've spent hours doing electronic diagnosis & they've not done a simple X 8 compression test? In which case throw the bill back at them if they are claiming the heads need to come off. Feel free to give me a ring if you like 07970 642129 Declan
On a serious note, they obviously don't know whats wrong, I'm sure a well trained mechanic could have it diagnosed in time as opposed to a "lets swap bits over" technician.
So tell me this, they've spent hours doing electronic diagnosis & they've not done a simple X 8 compression test? In which case throw the bill back at them if they are claiming the heads need to come off. Feel free to give me a ring if you like 07970 642129 Declan
How good is this? I introduce Ian 
to Pistonheads and he gets a response like this, people even putting their phone numbers up!(
Or is that 'cos you want to buy it for scrap 
)Not sure if its been mentioned but's it's the 4.0 TDi lump and the car was given a clean bill of health only a few weeks ago. Really hope that all your advice help toward Ian getting a good result.Well done people, keep 'em coming as my lovely Goddaughter and her action packed brother come down to see us in that car!Edited by sjc on Friday 2nd November 06:50
Ahhh Tdi - now he tells us!!!!!
In which case it could any number of things, sticky injectors wont show up on diagnostics. I also doubt it a head issue as this are uber reliable on that front.
Did they put it on the emissions test system, that'll tell you something is not right. Also these run twin AFM's dont they, if these are faulty they dont always flag up error codes from what I know.
In which case it could any number of things, sticky injectors wont show up on diagnostics. I also doubt it a head issue as this are uber reliable on that front.
Did they put it on the emissions test system, that'll tell you something is not right. Also these run twin AFM's dont they, if these are faulty they dont always flag up error codes from what I know.
imorgan said:
cars of this nature should be doing in excess of 100k miles before requiring major 'surgery' - or am I being deluded? Any advice would be appreciated
It's a 4.0 TDi.In all seriousness, if you warm it up properly and give it regular oil changes you want to be passing the 250k miles mark as a bare minimum before any woes are apparant.
100k is nothing for this engine.
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