So, the body of the Audi A4 B9, like other models of the company, is made of high quality galvanized steel. But the Germans decided to save money on paintwork and chrome trim. Fortunately, there are not very many decorative elements covered with chrome on the body of the Audi A4, so that the coating that has grown dull over the years does not strike the eye too much. Due to the small age of used copies, the overwhelming majority of copies on the secondary market look very decent. But the operating experience of the "four" of the previous generation suggests that the number of flaws on the body will only increase every year. Over time, the smallest cracks and bubbles will probably appear on the chrome. But a way out of this situation was found long ago. Replacing the radiator grille and window moldings that have lost their attractive appearance is not difficult for specialists. The second option is also possible. The chrome-plated parts are dismantled, after which the cracked chrome is completely removed from them. Then the part is painted and returned to its original place. Another thing is that only a few owners are ready to improve the appearance of a used car to perfection. As a rule, owners of basic sedan versions, which are relatively inexpensive, are not ready to shell out for such optional procedures. But in no case should you ignore even minor damage to the paintwork. If the chips are not tinted on time, in their place, over time, a kind of "bald spots" will form, which will be impossible not to notice. Of course, a galvanized body is able to resist corrosion for a very long time, but it is not omnipotent either. Especially if the car is operated in megalopolises, where roads are repeatedly treated with reagents every winter. Stylish diode optics are the pride of Audi A4 owners . But it is important to understand that even one burned-out diode disables the entire diode strip at once. In this case, Audi official dealers will offer to replace the entire headlamp, which will cost 10-12 thousand rubles. However, craftsmen have long learned how to restore LED light on existing optics.
Attempts to determine the true mileage of the Audi A4 by the state of its interior will in most cases be unsuccessful. In the five years that the fifth generation of the German sedan has been produced, some cars have already driven more than 200 thousand kilometers, but with proper care, their interiors still look neat. It is a pity that the electrical system cannot boast of the same durability. There are a lot of electronic units in the Audi A4, so sometimes you have to visit specialists to update their firmware. The Audi A4 electrician is not spared from glitches. The window regulator buttons do not always work correctly, but at the moment there is no need to talk about the massiveness of the problems. But as soon as future Audi A4 owners start to save money and turn to garage specialists, many of whom do not have sufficient skills for the job, the problems with the electrical component will increase. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the basic versions of the Audi A4 are modestly equipped. As a result, many owners, in an attempt to make their car outwardly more expensive, decide, for example, to replace taillights with incandescent bulbs with similar ones with LEDs. In parallel, the comfort unit should also be replaced, but garage masters, as a rule, do not go into such subtleties. Replacing the front xenon optics with LEDs is an even more complicated process. If you follow the entire technology of work, the price tag for replacement will be very large. Replacing a standard analogue instrument cluster with a virtual one will be much cheaper, but in this case, in order to avoid problems in the future, it is worth contacting exclusively professionals.
The days when our motorists did not favor diesel engines are long gone. You can often see a 2-liter diesel engine with 190 horsepower under the hood of an Audi A4. And why not, if even an active city driving diesel rarely requires more than 8-8.5 liters of fuel for every hundred kilometers traveled. And this is with amazing dynamics. The 190-horsepower diesel sedan gains its first hundred kilometers per hour in 7.2 seconds. If we turn to the statistics, it turns out that the 2.0 TDI engine is one of the most reliable power units produced by the VAG concern. The engine was originally created with an eye to European operating conditions, where the annual mileage of light diesel vehicles often reaches 60-80 thousand kilometers. In other words, the 2.0 TDI engine is structurally designed to last at least 300-350 thousand kilometers before overhaul. However, in our conditions, in order for such impressive figures to appear on the odometer, the oil change interval recommended by the dealer will have to be cut almost twice: from 15 thousand kilometers to 8-9 thousand kilometers. Otherwise, the resource will drop to 250-300 thousand kilometers, which is also a lot by modern standards. The official timing belt replacement interval is every 120 thousand kilometers. In order to be guaranteed to avoid troubles, it is better to reduce it to 80-100 thousand kilometers. At the same time, it is worth replacing the water pump as well . Moreover, it rarely serves more than 100-120 thousand kilometers. It is definitely not worth saving on maintenance of the gas distribution mechanism. A break in the belt will inevitably end with a meeting of valves with pistons.
Ideally, owners of a 2.0 TDI Audi A4 should change the fuel filter at every service. Such an interval is not regulated anywhere, but taking into account the quality of diesel fuel sold in our country, such an operation will definitely not be superfluous. Special flushing of the diesel engine fuel system will not damage either. However, practice shows that even in our conditions, injectors can withstand at least 150 thousand kilometers. The resource of the turbocharger is even higher: up to 250 thousand kilometers. If we talk about real shortcomings, then these include cracking flywheels. At the moment, the problem occurs on a few cars, but as the mileage grows, there will certainly be more inquiries about this. By the way, the 2.0 TDI diesel is easily chipable, after which the already excellent dynamics of the car becomes even better. But in this case, the service life of the flywheel, which will have to work with the increased torque, will have to think even more. A nuance familiar to almost all "diesel engineers" is the particulate filter . Sometimes it clogs up even before the car's mileage reaches 100 thousand kilometers. In order to prevent this from happening, the particulate filter must be periodically burned. To do this, you just need to drive at high speed for a relatively long time and let the motor run at high speeds. With runs under 200 thousand kilometers, it is worth periodically checking the nozzles for leaks from under them. If any are found, inexpensive seals will have to be updated.
The base petrol engine for the Audi A4 is a 150 HP 1.4 TFSI. The same engine is installed on the Skoda Octavia in the back of the A7 and many other models of the VAG concern. The times when the engines of the TSI and TFSI family were considered problematic are in the distant past. Numerous upgrades have done their job: today the 1.4-liter turbocharged "four", like the 2.0 TDI diesel engine, is considered one of the best in the line of power units of the Volkswagen concern. Cases when 1.4 TFSI engines would require warranty repairs are vanishingly small. If you focus on the official oil change interval of 15 thousand kilometers, then it is quite possible to count on a resource of 200-220 thousand kilometers. If you want to travel longer, then you should come to the oil service twice as often.
With gasoline turbocharged engines of 1.8 and 2.0 liters of the EA888 series, the VAG concern had a huge number of problems. The units that were once installed on the previous generation Audi A4 turned out to be picky about the quality of fuels and lubricants and extremely unreliable. However, by the time the fourth generation of the fifth generation debuted, EA888 motors had already gone through several upgrades. And if earlier the owners, for example, faced with an oil consumption of up to one liter for every thousand kilometers traveled, then the 2.0 TFSI unit (the 1.8-liter engine was removed from the lineup) in the worst case will require topping up the same liter of oil, but already 10 thousand kilometers. Piston burnout and the subsequent liner of the cast-iron cylinder block are also no longer discussed. The once very gentle gas distribution mechanism has also become much more reliable. If on the 2.0 TFSI engine, which was installed on the previous generation Audi A4, the timing chain stretched for 100-120 thousand kilometers, then after the modernization of 2013 its resource increased to 150-170 thousand kilometers. But it is important to remember that the balancer shafts are also driven by a chain. If the latter sticks, this will lead to a timing chain jump with all the attendant troubles.
Despite the fact that the 2.0 TFSI power unit has gone through 3-4 full-fledged upgrades during its production, this engine still cannot be called a model of reliability. By the time of the debut of the Audi A4 B9, the weak points, although it had become an order of magnitude less, but the complex design can still present several unpleasant surprises. Under certain conditions, the flaps of the plastic intake manifold can jam, after which the engine, when operating at idle speed, will begin to vibrate unusually strongly. Of course, this problem cannot be called very serious, but the fact that it can arise even with a mileage of 50-60 thousand kilometers is not encouraging. To the mark of 50 thousand kilometers, expensive ignition coils may require replacement. With approximately the same mileage, dealers have to reflash or update the fuel pump control unit. The oil pump also requires attention . At high mileage, it stops delivering the required pressure, which reduces the resource of the crankshaft. Ideally, the pump should be preventively renewed after a run of 150 thousand kilometers.
The only gearbox available for the Audi A4 is a 7-speed "robot". Two types of boxes were used - DL 382F DL 382Q. The difference between them is that the box with the letter "F" in the designation was installed on cars with front-wheel drive, with the letter "Q" - on the version with plug-in all-wheel drive. Over the years that the Volkswagen concern has been producing robotic transmissions, they have been modernized many times, thanks to which their reliability has significantly increased. There will be no problems with the "robot" during the warranty period at all. The clutch and mechatronics not only withstand serious loads, but also have an enviable resource. Nevertheless, in order to extend the service life of the box, it is necessary to make it a rule to change the oil in it every 60 thousand kilometers. For those German car owners who drive very dynamically, it is better to reduce the replacement interval to 40-50 thousand kilometers. An important nuance: on the previous generation Audi A4, on which a robotic box with the DL 501 index was installed, the flow-through and in the sump filters could be replaced separately. But on the Audi A4 in the B9 body, the filters are integrated directly into the mechatronics. In order to replace them, it is necessary to disassemble almost the entire box. Naturally, there is no economic feasibility in such a procedure. Another important feature is that the regulation prescribes an oil change both in the mechanical part of the box and in the hydraulic one.
Many people prefer Audi cars, if only because of the presence of the proprietary Quattro all-wheel drive system. In our conditions, the value of all-wheel drive is difficult to overestimate, especially since the all-wheel drive transmission on the Audi A4 has proven itself very well. The main thing is not to forget about replacing the working fluid in the gearboxes every 80-90 thousand kilometers. As for the new all-wheel drive system, which is called Quattro Ultra, it is difficult to assess its reliability. It appeared on Audi cars only a few years ago, so possible weaknesses simply did not make themselves felt. On the other hand, there are still no complaints about the Quattro Ultra, which indicates the absence of "childhood" illnesses.
There is no need to be afraid of the multi-link suspension of the Audi A4. The resource of almost all "consumables" is unlikely to disappoint. Weak points include only wheel bearings. But even in this case, the resource will largely depend on the driving style. Someone had to change wheel bearings only after a mileage of 120 thousand kilometers, someone barely covered 70-80 thousand kilometers. Audi A4 wheel bearings do not like large bumps and other irregularities , so in regions with poor roads, it is better not to get carried away with installing wheels with low-profile tires. The resource of the stabilizer struts is at least 70 thousand kilometers. The upper silent blocks of the front levers will have to be replaced with a mileage of 140-150 thousand kilometers. All these elements are changed separately, due to which the cost of services is quite democratic. Another thing is that when operating in large cities, metal fasteners sour in just a couple of years and it is possible to get rid of it when replacing an element only with the help of a grinder. The rear suspension will not cause any problems even more. Until the run of 150-170 thousand kilometers, you will not have to remember about it.
The efficiency of the standard braking system of the Audi A4 is quite enough even for active driving. Although there are still performance enhancing kits on the market, there is little demand for them. There are no complaints about the service life of brake pads and discs. There is only one remark - at the moment there are no non-original "consumables" for the fifth generation Audi A4 brake system . But this is not for long. Practice shows that in a year or two for the "four" will be available pads and discs from ATE, and from Bosch, and from TRW. In the rear brakes, it is recommended to service the calipers. Otherwise, they will begin to gradually sour, which will lead to uneven wear of the brake pads and discs. As a result, it is better to sometimes pay for the maintenance of the calipers, than at some point to seriously fork out for the purchase of a new set of brake discs and pads.
The Audi A4 is a near perfect mid-range sedan from a premium manufacturer. Of course, in terms of comfort, it can hardly be compared with the flagship "a eighth", but the operating costs of the two sedans will differ by an order of magnitude. It so happened that the fifth generation received both power units that had gone through several major upgrades and a robotic transmission that had been brought to mind, thanks to which, in terms of reliability, the Audi A4 can rightfully be ranked among the class leaders. Naturally, you will also have to pay for this. However, all future owners of "a fourth" should know that a reliable design is not a guarantee of the absence of technological problems. As confirmed by several revocable companies that the German company has conducted over the past few years. For example, not so long ago it became clear that due to an incorrect production process, the fuel line hose laid in the engine compartment may wear out. At the moment, no fuel leaks have been recorded for this reason, but, according to Audi experts, there is such a possibility. As a result, almost two thousand copies of the Audi A4 and the Audi A5 coupe sold in the Russian market from 2018 to 2020 should go to dealers in the near future. It is interesting that almost a similar revocation campaign was held in 2019. This time, the fuel rail was under suspicion, for checking which not only sedans and station wagons of the Audi A4, but also several other models of the company, had to come to the dealers . Not without a response in 2018. It turned out that on the Audi A4, which were sold in the same 2018, the threaded connections in the front axle were tightened with an improper torque. In other words, the thread was not tightened well enough on part of the cars, and on the other part - on the contrary, too much. In the same 2018, it turned out that there were problems with the tightening of the threaded connection of the fuel rail. At the same time, Audi authorized dealers were eliminating possible problems with the coolant pump, which even on practically new cars was malfunctioning. For the rest - little things. At the beginning of 2020, only eight owners of A4 and A5 were invited to the service in Russia, in whose cars the frame of the driver's and passenger's seats was attached to the guides in violation of the technology. Again, in theory, this could lead to a slight buildup of the seats and deformation of the screw connections in the event of an accident. As a result, the suspicious parts were checked and replaced.
Another revocable company was set up to replace the starter-generator. On the Russian market, it covered 1,346 cars sold by dealers since 2018. Among them were the Audi A4. It turned out that there is a small plastic pad on the starter-generator inverter, which, under certain conditions, cracks, after which it begins to let moisture through. This, in turn, starts the electrolysis process, which is fraught with a short circuit. As a result, precisely because of a short circuit at the end of 2019 in China, two cars of the German company ignited during transportation in a railway container, after which Audi specialists quickly began to search for the reasons. Engineers from Valeo Electrical System, which supplies starters-generators to Audi, were also involved in the investigation . Despite multimillion-dollar losses, the German company promptly orchestrated a worldwide recall after a thorough investigation. In the US, more than five thousand cars sold were recalled, in Australia - just under thirty.
And this is very significant! Numerous reviews of the latest generation Audi A4 and other models of the company are a great blessing. The manufacturer does not try to cheat in the hope of saving money, but methodically eliminates the identified shortcomings. Of which, given the huge circulation with which the Audi A4 is sold around the world, there are very few. As for potential buyers of used Audi A4s, after buying a car, they should contact one of the authorized dealers. The list of VIN-codes of vehicles under recall is available on the Rosstandart website. If, for some reason, the identified defect has not been eliminated, the situation can be corrected absolutely free of charge.
If you are the owner, then be sure to leave a comment about this car, your review will definitely help others with the choice of a car.
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