I Need Advice before i buy

[HPsauce]

Gearboxes seem to be an issue, but mainly on D2's.
Odd bits of plastic around the engine on D3's.
Nothing much that I've noticed TBH.

[chrisb]

I have noticed that a lot of people seem to have vag com or vcds whatever that is or maybe that is just our American friends that seem to use these regularly to check and repair or update items and codes, would i need to get something similar if i get an A8?

[sticks_a8]

Originally Posted by chrisb

I am trying to buy a D3 A8 3.0TDI Sport either a 2007 or facelift 2008 and have been looking for the last couple of months and a couple have slipped away from me because i procastinated for too long. My mechanic and his friend have said that i am mad as so many things go wrong and the fuel consumtion is terrible and everything is so expensive to replace on them if something goes wrong. I am looking some genuine advice and opinions from people who it seems have owned one or several over a number of years. I really dont want to go and buy an A6 as i much prefer the look of the A8.
Comments please. Chris

join the club , been looking since july and found nothing apart from one at a car supermarket that was up for 17k which eventually sold for 13.5k , which i originally offered 13.5k but missed at the last hurdle due to a sales bod not liking me telling him what his stock was actually worth

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by chrisb

I have noticed that a lot of people seem to have vag com or vcds whatever that is or maybe that is just our American friends that seem to use these regularly to check and repair or update items and codes, would i need to get something similar if i get an A8?

VCDS / VAGcom is a diagnostic software you can use on a laptop etc by downloading online - http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page you can then purchase either a genuine lead which most prefer to do (£250 -£300 ish) of a cheaper aftermarket lead on eBay which may have more limited functionality but will perform most standard functions.

You will then be able to fully use the diagnostic tools to scan any VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda car of a certain age onwards to see what codes are thrown up and then use the ross-tech wiki at http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...ry:Fault_Codes to look up the fault codes and at least get some pointers to what issues may be there.

If you know someone with a lead it is always worth scanning an 8 that you are considering for prospective purchase to see what issues may be there along with a proper inspection and test drive of course. You can also use it to re-set service lights and warnings if appropriate and to change coding if you make any upgrades to the vehicle to ensure that all operates correctly.

If you dont want to purchase a lead you may be able to "borrow" someone else with their lead and laptop to scan a car you are looking at or if you come to a meeting there are invariably people there with sets that can be used

[PsYcHe]

I'd say the A8 is at least as reliable as any other car. You tend to find more 'evidence' of things going wrong as forums like these tend to have a large number of owners who like to post even the little niggly things for others to be able to diagnose and repair themselves, as a result, you see more 'issues' than actually exist.

I'm on my 3rd A8 (PF D2, PF D3 and FL D3) and they've caused no more issues I'd say than any cars the wife has had in the same time period. Yes, my PF D3 had some issues to start with, but that was simply due to water ingress and the garage being useless rather than an inherent fault with the car.

VCDS is nice, does save you some money at the garage now and again, but if you'll never show your car a spanner, then it's not really worth it.

[chrisb]

whats the difference between the PF and FL? I will give something a try if i have a rough idea and a guide to what i am doing, I have the tools to try most things, but anything too tricky and i will refer it to my faithfull although scared of A8's mechanic.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Well theres actually a PF then a FL which really indicate the split grille for PF and one peice grille for FL, and then there are later FL which had more subtle Further changes like rectangular fog lights and LED rear tail lights

[chrisb]

Thank you, Does the later facelift FL come with ami or any bluetooth devices added as i know that for that one they added the four zone air con as standard im not sure if the rear seats are heated also, ideally i would like to be able to take music from a memory stick as you can store a lot more tracks on them than a cd although i haqve seen photos of the HDD with sd card slots in it also, can you upload music to the HDD via usb or sd card? A lot of questions i know but brochures dont explain all these things!

[PsYcHe]

OK.. Now we're into a can of worms

'AMI' as it's known wasn't 'standard' until the MMI3G but was an option and is easy to retrofit to any 2G MMI system. You can plug in iPods, HDDs, Memory sticks, or even bluetooth if you buy the right adaptor.

Not sure about 4-zone being standard, but anyway... Heated rears were definitely an option (mine has them).

The one with the SD cards is a 3G MMI system I'm guessing which also has better sat nav (though still no full postcode), better screen and a little joystick style top for the MMI control.

Bluetooth phone was standard from the 2006 FL I think...

[IT]

Originally Posted by PsYcHe

(though still no full postcode)

Thats what I thought, but I was in a 2012 A4 with MMI 3G the other day and it has full postcode match . Finally

Dont know if its a disc or firmware upgrade, or retrofittable but defo full postcode. Yee har.

3G didnt come out till 2009, so you're not going to see it in 2007/2008 cars, even if they have the 2nd facelift square fogs etc.

Facelift with full grill was around 2006, although the W12 got it from launch in 2004.

I think the Audis are all generally well built from quality components and dont suffer the fatigue or rot that lesser brands do. They wear miles well and will be comfortable and reliable at high miles. The downside (as with any big expensive motor) is that if you are unluckly (which is honestly rare) and something big breaks, like engine etc then its going to be a 4 figure repair bill for something big and german, rather than 3 figures for a 2nd hand unit dropping into a ford / vauxhall...