audijim113

First of all, I have owned Audis for many years. Presently, I own two D2s.

Can someone tell me anything specific about the 2005 in terms of what to look for that is different / better or worse than a 2000?

This is a high mileage (222,000 miles) car driven by an older guy (now dead). He really is croaked. I'm meeting his daughter at the estate sale tomorrow. The first owner had it serviced for the 1st 100K by a dealer. The second owner (dead guy) took it to an independent. Tomorrow, I am going to see the indi shop and pick up a print out of service records since 100K. He has everything ever done. While I will verify, a quick conversation with the shop owner indicates complete T-belt service done in the last 5000 miles. Valve cover gaskets, seals, etc were also done then.

Some questions:

Coming from a D2 perspective, how is the transmissions in a D3?
If the fuel pump has never been replaced, is it something to worry about like the D2?
I'm assuming the usual tie rod ends, control arms, etc are still common repairs
Does it have the big, dual calipers brakes like my 2000?

Finally for anyone who has driven both D2 and D3, is there any size issue? I am a big guy (ok, make that fat and inflexible). I'm wondering if the roof line is any lower on the D3.

Any other D3 quirks that I should know as a prospective buyer?

Pothole5000

-Unlike your D2 the transmission is not made of glass......... Having said that 200k is a lot of miles.

-Upper control arm bushings are THE main thin that goes on these cars.

MP4.2+6.0

Owned one in my 2000 C5 4.2. Shifted fine when it worked, but a piece of crap reliability wise. Only thing it reliably did was blow up at about 100K miles. Really basic crap stuff like clutches, drum and many other internals. ZF rev'ed it quietly, but neither Audi nor ZF ever publicized that particularly pre-rev there were some real issues. As a customer of theirs, I don't appreciate honestly the lack of forthrightness or shipping (internally) known junk like that for years and never coming clean on it.

By contrast D3 is a huge improvement. Much more reliable. Doesn't typically have the shift and kick down lag of the D2/C5 5 speed. Much less prone to the "clunk stuff" either of either the 5 speed or even the 4 speed before that. Extra gear also helps acceleration and at least holds the fuel economy with a somewhat heavier and more optioned car. I've been here since 2006ish and very few have ever blown up or gotten way out of hand. On D2 and C5 board that seemed to be a regular refrain, leading even to known tranny specific (legitimate) gurus like TozoM8. Big breath of fresh air on D3, as someone with pretty deep dive experience with both. What issues there are are commonly serviceable; torn clutch baskets and totally missing gears like D2 and C5 fame weren't.

Yes, still same control arm and other frailties in the D3; continues apparently into the D4's from the early returns already. But, at end of day those are all bolt out, bolt in parts that aren't rocket science. Arguably single weakest point in a generally strong D3 mechanical design. And tranny is essentially off the list unlike way up there w/ D2's.

If you thought D2 brakes were good, step on up. D2 brakes were nice in their day, but now obsolete. It was a four pad dual piston set up--HP 2's. But front calipers were cast iron and actually heavy comparatively. Rotors are now sized up from D2, which weigh more but the weight is where it should be to scrub the kinetic energy--rotors. They are still dual piston, but now with one large pad, which probably also gives somewhat better total pad life. Rear brakes are essentially almost unchanged simple but functional stuff that has been in Audis for 20 + years in same general form. In D3 it just has the electric parking brake added in and a little more rotor upsize. D3's aren't super high end in the more esoteric performance brake fitment arenas, but they are more than up to task and another notch up from D2/C5 4.2.

bigbodyA8

2005 audi a8 great car

audijim113

Thanks for the advice. One thing seems confusing and that is the pictures of the 2005 A8 posted in this thread by BibbodyA8 and MP4 tech guru.

I don't know how to post a pic but here is a link to Kelly BB with pic of a 2005. Was there a change mid year with the noticeable grille difference compared to the ones pictured above. Is it the W-12 that has the distinctive grille?

Kelley Blue Book

Pothole5000

MP4's is just the picture in his signature under his posts.

Not sure about the other, must be a W12.

The trapezoidal grill was a w12 only in 05, Went to all other engines in 06.

MP4.2+6.0

It started w/ the W12's from the get go in 2005. Came to the 4.2 w/2006's.

IIRC the W12 and S8 fish mouth widths may be wider. The slatting of them varies, with more changes to the slat appearance with the 2008 refresh to cosmetic body elements in all the motor variants.

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

the D3. If you want to get into trouble, at least get one with options that don't exist in D2: soft close (must work), ventilated and massage seats, back up with graphical display (06) or camera (07+). I got the 06 because I wanted the fish mouth grill, graphical display, and don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying my A8L D3 immensely in every way. 2 years and 30k miles without any problems so far. It's as reliable as my 98 D2 but I've been reading tons of problems here and I'm ready for them... Next year I expect to be in a D4. If you can wait until then, I'll sell you my car with whatever dealer would give me, that will be cheap (19k - (.25 x 45000) = $7750) :-)
Don't buy a too high mileage of a car, although the price may be a few thousand less than lower miles car, but if you have to fix, those thousands saved would be gone so fast and you still end up with a high mileage car... What's made to fail, will fail, just the matter of when.

Cheers,

Louis