A6S4

I know that this question is like "How long is a rope?", but wondering what the life expectancy is with the air ride suspension on the A8. (My experience has been that the struts on regular suspension for A6's owned in the past has been around 100k, and then I've "upgraded" to Bilstein's with lowering springs.)

I have a 2008 A8 SWB with 100k just turned on the odometer.

Thoughts / experience?

Thanks in advance.

MP4.2+6.0

No issues here so far. Yes, my 2000 A6 4.2 went total Buick long cycle up and down about 100K with the stock Boge's pre-the Bilstein HD's I used there. Zero sense of anything like that on D3 to me, which post upper control arm work, alignment, etc. feels new car tight and sure again, even with the (performance) snows on it currently.

Be sure to ask about the year, and watch the posts on it too. They are the oldest, highest mileage and biggest model year run probably, but the reports of air ride issues still seem way disproportionate on the (first North America model year) 2004's. As a 2008, you are even post facelift, so probably have most all of the final parts revs and improvements in most systems.

Mister Bally

Original compressor went at 82,000 miles 45 months after the car was built. Replacement, a genuine WABCO unit is still working 150,000 miles and eight years later. One strut developed a bad leak around 160,000 miles when the car was about eight years old.

powderlvr

Everything pertaining to the air suspension is still stock on my 2006 A8 L with 152,000 miles. On my allroad, which has 260,000 miles, I've had to replace an air spring about once every 80,000 miles.

-JT

A6S4

Thanks for info. Hoping I have similar experience in longevity.

Johnnyb2451

I have a 2004 Audi A8 L with 157,000 miles on it. Had an issue with suspension and all we did was replace the $20 relay and used compressor oil on the intake to the compressor to lubricate the valves that we suspected were sticking. Never any other issues.

A6S4

Awesome. Encouraging. Thanks.

allenst

my a8L went 140miles before I had strut boot holes. pump has survived so far but I need to test it with vcds and have gotten help out here on how to do that.

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

1. The car is garaged nightly, Audi likes to be warm :-).
2. Always parked on the level - NOT inclined - If you park on the inclined drive way, you will hear the compressor and shocks trying to level the darn car. I drive straight to the garage even I need to go somewhere right away. NO NOISE.
3. Avoid pot holes and SF streets.
4. Playing with the suspension using VCDS.

All these are purely guesses on my part, but I've owned enough Audis to draw these conclusions.

Cheers,

Louis

MP4.2+6.0

Our Bay Area driveway has some slope, and my car is sitting in Tahoe right now on a sloped driveway too in much colder temps. Mine never tries to adjust itself just because it is on a slope, and with exposure in many different temperature situations as well.