High mileage Q7 concerns
Author
Discussion

Poshfpg

Original Poster:

44 posts

168 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
I'm considering buying a very high mileage, 125,000 miles, 2007 Q7 4.2tdi for ferrying people between an airport and a ski resort. It's got FASH and seems immaculate to my untrained eye. The garage are going to send it for an official Audi Healthcheck to address my concerns or possibly confirm them but I was wondering if there is anything in particular I should be asking the Audi guy about? What are the big ticket items I should worry about at this mileage?

Also am I mad to even consider it with that mileage? It won't be doing high miles, maybe 10k per annum, with me but the journeys it does do will all be long mainly motorway miles plus the road up to resort. Parking will be underground so while it can get to -30c outside it should never be lower than -5c where the car is. I assume once the car is running there is no issue about external temperatures and diesel?

My other option is a 75,000 mile 4.2 petrol Q7 which has nowhere near as nice a spec and will probably have worse fuel consumption than the 2002 S6 Avant with the same 4.2 V8 engine it's replacing. The range on the S6 is maximum 550km and for the usual drive 450km. I don't think the petrol Q7 will be much better whereas the diesel should be good for 700-800km. Given diesel is cheaper than petrol in France this could save me nearly €1,000 a year.

All thoughts, experiences and advice would be very welcome. Thanks.

AudiSport

1,499 posts

246 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
In short, if you buy on condition and history you should be fine, and will get alot of car for the money. However when you come to sell it on the mileage will be somewhat heigher and could pose some challenges. You may take quite a hit!

Poshfpg

Original Poster:

44 posts

168 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for that. I hope to run it into the ground so it's more that it should have a good few years left in it without a service bill equal to the value of the car in the near future.

si_xsi

1,324 posts

225 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
The 4.2 v8 tdi is a supurb engine. My old boss had one in his Q7 and we did a trip to the alps and back for the tour de france and it was effortless.

With the 100litre tank we got 500 miles between fill ups, full of gear, bikes and doing steady 90mph all the way.

As has already been said, if you plan to keep for a while you may loose a bit.

Speed addicted

6,329 posts

257 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
Make sure everything electrical in the car works as it should. The menu systems in the computer allow you to change just about everything and I'd expect it to be brutal if it goes wrong.
These will also have the air suspension, make sure it goes up and down as required.
They can be hard on brakes and suspension bushes, the larger wheels seem to scrub the insides of the front tyres quite badly.

I've got the 3.0 diesel, I wish I'd waited for the 4.2 but went for mine as it's pretty well equuipped.
When you turn the car off you do get a sense of lots of small things happening like vents shutting and things powering down.
If it's in good condition it'd be about ideal for the job as they're huge and everyone who's been in mine has been impressed with the comfort.
You may well miss the S6 when it comes to driving quickly on your own though.

With my 3.0D I get around 450 miles to a tank, mainly driving in town and country roads. For longer motorway type stuff it's more like 600.

Dr G

15,987 posts

272 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
If it has a panoramic sunroof make sure that it and the electric blind work properly.

Only 'common' problem we're seeing on 4.2s right now is the DPF sensor. They fail and are an absolute bugger to get to.

Poshfpg

Original Poster:

44 posts

168 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
Thank you all very much.

Si-Xsi that is exactly what I wanted to hear as it is the kind of driving it will be doing.

Speed-Addicted it has just about every electrical toy from the option list and others I hadn't heard of like the braking guard but all seemed to be working bar the advanced key which I think is just a battery in the key as I've had this go on my A6.

Dr.G the roof, both sections, and the screen were working fine. The DPF sensor I assume will show on the health check if anything is wrong with it, otherwise I assume if it goes it goes. You don't see any issue with the mileage I take it.

Dr G

15,987 posts

272 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
Major mechanicals no, not really.

DPFs have scheduled health checks every service once they go past 120k. If it goes it goes, on a car priced well that you plan to keep until it's dead it's an expensive bill but you'll still save money vs the depreciation curve on a later or lower mileage car. The car's done a fairly high 25k miles a year so the DPF has probably had an easy life anyway.

croakey

1,193 posts

218 months

Tuesday 13th November 2012
quotequote all
a friend is just getting out of his 3.0tdi Q7 for a new A6 Avant.

5 years 183k.

Seems to have been entirely reliable.

Hyper10

432 posts

199 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Dr G, what is a DPF ?, thanks

Only 'common' problem we're seeing on 4.2s right now is the DPF sensor. They fail and are an absolute bugger to get to.
[/quote]

si_xsi

1,324 posts

225 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
quotequote all
Diesel Particulate Filter?

Schermerhorn

4,353 posts

219 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
The filter itself or the management sensor for it?

I can't imagine either would be cheap, especially on a 4.2 TD.

Hyper10

432 posts

199 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for responses, I'm off to lock at extended warranty details to see if they've covered it, just for my own info

gregpot2000

313 posts

174 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
Had my DPF sensor changed at my local indie on 105,000 miles for £85 so not really wallet shattering

tim12345

51 posts

172 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
quotequote all
I have a 3.0 v6tdi Q7. Its currently on 88k (56 plate) - Whilst i would recommend a Q7 to anyone just make sure your aware of the fuel consumption (it costs over £100 to fill the tank up) and check - check - check the electrics and Air Suspension. Make sure it goes up and down noise free and when running the engine is quiet. Check the Auto box also and in sport mode. Audi wanted £390 for the most recent service and tax is £460 a year.

Good luck and go for it

Dr G

15,987 posts

272 months

Friday 23rd November 2012
quotequote all
gregpot2000 said:
Had my DPF sensor changed at my local indie on 105,000 miles for £85 so not really wallet shattering
On a Q7 4.2? Did they forgot to charge you for the 7 hours of labour? O_o

Turbodiesel1690

1,958 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Alot of good advice on here - agree with it all and would add that they are a very comfortable and capable machine and also lovely to drive, I doubt you'd regret buying one

Poshfpg

Original Poster:

44 posts

168 months

Tuesday 4th December 2012
quotequote all
The Q7 has been purchased, collected it on Thursday and did a 1,200km drive on Friday which took it over the 200,000kms mark. It exceeded my expectations in every respect. It was nearly silent at motorway speeds and did London to Lyon on a single tank.

Thanks for all the advice and tips, they were greatly appreciated.

si_xsi

1,324 posts

225 months

Tuesday 4th December 2012
quotequote all
Did you go for the 4.2 tdi? WOuld be good to see a pic form one of your trips. Good choice - just in time for the snow!


Turbodiesel1690

1,958 posts

200 months

Wednesday 5th December 2012
quotequote all
Poshfpg said:
The Q7 has been purchased, collected it on Thursday and did a 1,200km drive on Friday which took it over the 200,000kms mark. It exceeded my expectations in every respect. It was nearly silent at motorway speeds and did London to Lyon on a single tank.

Thanks for all the advice and tips, they were greatly appreciated.
Best of luck with it, they're bloody addictive, enjoy thumbup