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A8 4.2tdi buying advice.


paul r
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Hi,

Ive seen a 2006 A8 4.2 tdi sport that I fancy with 57k miles on the clock. they have it for sale for 14k(which i think is a little high). Can any one tell me what to look out for? Any common issues? Also the car is on a 'long life service' It has two stamps in the book and the garage said they will do a service before it is sold, so that it is upto date. Does this sound right.

I've also seen a 2005 4.2tdi with 80k on the clock but it has been serviced every 12 months and is upto date. This one is 4k cheaper.

Are there any issues with the chain on these engines? premature wear etc?

Cheers,

Paul.

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Hi Paul,

I am not aware of any issues with the 4.2 TDi.

Longlife is better if you are doing serious cruising mileage. But if you pootle about on a Sunday afternoon, yearly might be better.

I think you can change to longlife anyway if you want and the price is about £300 odd at an Audi specialist.

Mileage wise - absolutely no problems with miles!

Price wise - go see them, check the spec, see what you think, see/feel how they drive and make up your mind. Then haggle hard as they are slow sellers in this market. Just make sure everything works and works silently. Check the suspension goes up and down on the MMI control.

Oh - find a proper VAG independent too for all your servicing needs.

hope that helps, but others will be along to add more stuff.

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Personally I wouldn't want a 4.2 V8 turbo with 57k on the clock that had only had the oil changed twice.

The interval on these cars is circa 2k or two years max, so the car has over run time wise.

If someone has spent 65k (plus options) on an A8 and not bothered to have it serviced it makes you wonder what else they've not bothered to do

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I'm buying a different a8 on Saturday. Just agreed the purchase. This is a 2006 4.2 Quattro sport, 69k miles, 3 stamps in the service book on a long life service. Private sale, one owner from New. I'll let you know how it goes!

Paul.

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Got my first issue I think, just started the car up to move it and there is a ticking/tapping noise coming from underneath the middle of the car. Any ideas?

s very rhythmic, bit makes no difference if the car is in N/D/R etc. Makes no difference if the car is raised or lowered. Revs don't make a difference and it stops as soon as the engine is off.

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It's funny how you never hear things like that on the test drive/drive home.........

For instance, my 'battery level' usually bleeps up after start-up. Always starts though. So new battery needed or new software, as it's a known issue with the software.

Your ticking, might be air conditioning related. Maybe for the rear vents or something?

Oh, how's the ooomph and the mpg? :grin:

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It definitely didn't do it when I picked it up/drove 150 miles home. I have messed with all the settings Inc air con settings though.

got an average of 37mpg on the way back. I could have done with a neck brace a couple of times. It feels quicker than my m5 from a standstill lol.

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Hmm, the ticking noise has gone...how strange.

Anyone know what the red button with a picture of a seat and the word 'off' on it does?? it's on the passenger and drivers door on the pull out compartment.

Yep, that button is for the memory seats.

When OFF is lit, it means you cannot set the memory to the key.

Once the light off, then you can adjust the seats as needed and then hit SET & a number, and that is then set for the key.

It might be worth you getting the gearbox fluid changed if it's done over 60K miles. Mine goes in for a gearbox fluid change on Tuesday. About £200.

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Yep, that button is for the memory seats.

When OFF is lit, it means you cannot set the memory to the key.

Once the light off, then you can adjust the seats as needed and then hit SET & a number, and that is then set for the key.

It might be worth you getting the gearbox fluid changed if it's done over 60K miles. Mine goes in for a gearbox fluid change on Tuesday. About £200.

see, makes sense!

that price for the gearbox oil change, at a dealer or independent?

next question is, is there an aux input for the stereo, so I can plug my phone into it with a stereo headphone Jack?

Paul.

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THe gearbox oil is at my VAG indy. Not sure where you are, but this chap is in Welwyn Garden. He's serviced all my VAG's for the last 8 years - and I do ALOT of miles! Wife's car is also an Audi, so to him as well.

Next to the CD changer, I have the Audi AMI device with a jack plug of some sort. Have a look in yours.

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You need an AMI unit (or similar, but AMI is about the cheapest option) to get AUX/HDD/iPod in. It's a 5 minute swap with the CD changer. it's all on a fibre loop, so you can't just drop a cable in like in the old systems.

Unless you added the Phono inputs to the TV tuner in the boot and selected that input, but that's a long cable to run :)

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  • 1 year later...

Yep, that button is for the memory seats.

When OFF is lit, it means you cannot set the memory to the key.

Once the light off, then you can adjust the seats as needed and then hit SET & a number, and that is then set for the key.

It might be worth you getting the gearbox fluid changed if it's done over 60K miles. Mine goes in for a gearbox fluid change on Tuesday. About £200.

Hi just got the a8 4.2 tdci and just looking thou the messages and £200 for a gear oil change the one I've just got has 82k on a 09 plate but only had 3 main services from Audi from new ? Do I need this doing to and if so why so much ? And what else would u suggest I would need doing thanking u in advance
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Hi just got the a8 4.2 tdci and just looking thou the messages and £200 for a gear oil change the one I've just got has 82k on a 09 plate but only had 3 main services from Audi from new ? Do I need this doing to and if so why so much ? And what else would u suggest I would need doing thanking u in advance

 

Hi!

Well done on the purchase!

 

Just a few things to say:-

 

1) You GIT!!!!  :grin:

2) I always get the auto gear box fluid changed when I buy a car.  Most times, the Audi's I buy have way over 140K miles on them.  It does make a big difference to smoothness and gets rid of all the swarf and crap in the gearbox.  Apparently they are sealed for life.  (that's a bad thing). 

3) £200 for the 3.0 V6 TDi.  Yours might cost more as the gearbox might be bigger, and hold more fluid.  The fluid costs (or did) about £10 or £12 per litre.  Yep - liquid gold!

4) 3 Services - yes, variable servicing depends upon how the car is driven.  My commute is a gentle jaunt down the A1 and back.  60 miles each way, so it's gentle.  Not too much town driving nor much cold start stuff.  The more of the latter, the more servicing is needed, as that puts strain on engine and components.  Mine needs it at about every 15 - 19K miles.

5) I've not had to do anything else out of the ordinary.

6) Only other thing that needs doing is for you to drive over to me and swap the keys. :grin:   :grin:   :grin:

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First thing I know thank you lol

I will have to get it up on ramps and see if it can be changed then

Omg yes sounds like gold lol

The service thing I will be using as my work car so long and sort distances

Thank god on no out of ordinary as was looking at the last minute for one I didn't even test drive one before I just new I needed on lol

And soz I have fallen for her so hands off

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  • 1 year later...

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