Buying review Audi A5 (B8) 2007-2016 Common Issues Engines Inspection

Hi everyone, welcome at the buying review of the Audi A5. This is the first generation A5 built from 2007 until 2016 which is quite a long time. The A5 was always the more stylish alternative to the A4 especially the 4 door coupe.

The A5 is available as a coupe, convertible and sportback. The sportback was the most sold variant. Internal code fort his car from this generation is B8.

In this video we will explain the positive and negative points of this car, we will explain something about the engines, and what kind of points you should check if you want to buy this kind of car.

Positive points

Styling

Performance

Equipment

Driving capabilities, especially the Quattro’s.

Attention points

Audi’s automatic gearbox is called the multitronic, sometimes referred to as multitrauma.

This is not the best gearbox that audi made, problems could be during shifting a shocking feeling in the drivetrain, from a standstill not a smooth acceleration.  And if you reverse the car during a cold start in freezing temperatures, you could experience some difficulties in getting the car into gear. If you go for the manual, check if the clutch operates without feeling any shocks during accelerating.

If you go for the S-tronic with dual clutch if shifting goes smooth and without any shocks. Oil usage for the 2.0 liter TFSI engines is preventable by adjusting the carter ventilation, to get rid of the whole problem you should replace the piston rings, but this is very expensive, so most people will keep their eye on the oil level of the engine and add oil from time to time.
Chain tensioners and the distribution chain of the 1.8 and 2.0 liter TFSI could get defective and this could lead to serious engine damage. 

See if the tensioners are already replaced, sometimes Audi will come forward in the form of warrenty or reducing in the costs of repairs. Most A5’s will be checked by now since dealerships had been notified about the issue.

The water collecting tray under the windshield can get constipated, under this tray are the chips and computers, the combination of water and computers is never a good relationship.

When it comes to electronics, the infotainment system will sometimes crash, also parking sensors will sometimes break down, so check if they work after purchasing the car.

Then the electronic parking brake will sometimes break, this results in you not being able to drive away. Now let’s check the engines, the vortex valves of the 2.7 and 3.0 TDI will wear out and then the engine control unit will display an error. A specialist will remove them, sometimes Audi will even pay the bills or compensate you for it.

From model year 2012 there are some complaints about the steering aid, sometimes to heavy sometimes too light. Often software updates can help to prevent these issues. 

Engines

The entry level engine was the 1,8 liter four cylinder TFSI engine until the summer 2008. This was a four cylinder engine with direct petrol injection and a turbo. The engine was basically from Volkswagen and was also used in the Skoda Octavia. Powerout was 170 BHP.

It was replaced by a 2.0 liter TFSI engine with 180 BHP or 211 BHP with valvelift technology.

There was also a 3.2 liter v6 engine availabe with 265 BHP and 330 NM torque. 0-100 KMH (0-60 mph) is done is 6,1 seconds.

For the diesel engines the entry level engine was a 2,7 liter V6 with 190 BHP. This engine was produced until the summer of 2008. The engine was able to reach 232 kmh and needed 7,6 seconds from 0-100 KMH (0-60 mph)

The 2.7 is almost identical to the 3.0 liter TDI except the latter has a different crankshaft and a smaller stroke. The 3.0 liter has 240 BHP and 500 NM of torque, this car comes standard with quattro four wheel drive. 0-100 KMH is done is 5,9 seconds. Topspeed was limited to 250 KMH.

In 2008 there was a new entry level engine, the 2.0 liter TDI with common-rail technology that produced 170 BHP.

There is also an S5 and RS5 version of the car, tuned by quattro. The s5 has the 4.2 liter V8 FSI engine with 354 BHP and 440 NM. The RS5 also has a V8 that produces 450 BHP and $30 NM, both limited to 250 Km H.

These are the most powerful versions of the A5.

Hope this buying review was useful for you in you are in the market for a fast, stylish coupe or convertible. Technically the cars are not flawless but if you know what to look out for then it’s less tricky to buy such a car.

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