Samo7

Yes...prepare to weep.

EHLO

You have first hand experience with needing to replace a timing chain on an A8, or know someone who did?

richard-tx

There are several articles about it. Google for "Audi Timing chain".

EHLO

I'm well aware of the chain guide cracking problems with the timing chain 40v non FSI V8 used in the 2004 and up S4 and A6.
I'm specifically asking the OP about the timing chain 32v FSI V8 in the 2007 and up A8, which is a newer design that doesn't have the issue, or for that matter the timing chain V10 or W12.

richard-tx

Good question on the V10/W12.

The issue is the guides more than the chain itself

richard-tx

The engineer in me says that the guides should be layered with spring steel or some other metal that will last longer than plastic.

Accroding to what I was told, some engines have all metal guides.

MP4.2+6.0

FWIW, chains and drives weren't exactly invented a few years ago as far as materials and designs. My various C1 Audis had them back when Audis were OHV--as in cam in block. Those would be 1969 to 1977 100LS's. I rebuilt a bunch of them in my young days for completely different reasons than the cam drives. Two parts that were never particularly worn were the basic guide as well as the tensioner that pushed directly against the chain and had a one way spring ratchet mechanism. Simple back then, but showed even 60's materials and designs could deal with it. More generally, chains were the universal norm pre-OHC.

Since I see the echo's are in this thread too, see another post of mine from yesterday. Misplaced focus I think on something not even reported on among D3 owners over many years now, at least specific to either D3 4.2 FSI's or W12's. Not worth losing sleep over imagined goblins. https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-...up-a8-2885005/

Seoul76

It's crazy because everyone that looks at my for sale A8 keeps bring up the belt and that's how I got the 35 hour labor from a potential buyer. The only reputable independent German
Mechanic here told me that the belt is fine and wouldn't chnage till 90k at earliest. I'm wondering if the belt thing is a buyers bargaining chip

Mister Bally

It certainly is. Sell the car to someone else.

Pothole5000

I would call it the only bargaining chip most non "car" people have.

Everyone has heard of how expensive timing belt jobs are and they want to avoid it like the plague.