Audi A7?
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Audi A7?
Hi I’m 18 years old and work a lot as-well as having a love for Audi’s especially A7s I would love to buy a 2012 A7 off a auction site like Copart with just scratches and dents but was wondering if an A7 with around 130,000-150,000 miles will cost too much to maintain or repair when things go wrong? I absolutely love A7s but I’m wondering if it’s practical to buy one or if I should be looking into something else? Thank you for your time!
AudiWorld Senior Member
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At 18 insurance is going to kill you.
common problems for the A7
PCV
Water pump and thermostat
timing cam tensioners
motor mounts
wheel bearings
If you can’t turn your own wrenches there is nothing cheap on that list and that list is certainly not all inclusive.
Oil change at the dealer will be $150-200. You can do it yourself but it’s 7 quarts of VW502 spec synthetic oil and a decent Mann filter.
common problems for the A7
PCV
Water pump and thermostat
timing cam tensioners
motor mounts
wheel bearings
If you can’t turn your own wrenches there is nothing cheap on that list and that list is certainly not all inclusive.
Oil change at the dealer will be $150-200. You can do it yourself but it’s 7 quarts of VW502 spec synthetic oil and a decent Mann filter.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,206
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From: Toronto, Canada
If you can do the work yourself, many replacement parts are available from China at a fraction of the Audi parts price. Problem is the shipping time.
As an example, I recently needed to replace a 5KD.919.275.B sensor. Price from Audi $185 and could pick it up the same day.
Labor cost would have been an additional $780
I ordered it from China, paid $12.75 including shipping, which took 57 days.
I spent about 4 hours doing the work myself.
The original part that I replaced was also made in China, likely in the same factory.
As an example, I recently needed to replace a 5KD.919.275.B sensor. Price from Audi $185 and could pick it up the same day.
Labor cost would have been an additional $780
I ordered it from China, paid $12.75 including shipping, which took 57 days.
I spent about 4 hours doing the work myself.
The original part that I replaced was also made in China, likely in the same factory.
Last edited by fkaufman; Jul 11, 2022 at 05:42 AM.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 783
Likes: 134
We purchased at 142K miles and it currently has 221K miles. I bet I have spent over $7,000 on repairs and service doing all my own work, that is the unfortunate part about owning al older Audi. Easily double if I had to pay someone else, worse if I had to pay the dealer. Google says it will cost about $10,000 for average maintenance in the first 10 years of its life maintained by the dealer.
Motor out timing chain repair along with new motor mounts
Broken cat converter flange
N509 bypass valve
Rear shocks and springs
Brakes front and back then again for the front due to severely warped rotors
Oil change evert 10K miles.
Spark plugs as needed, probably due again
Maybe next year I will go after the PCV and water pump since they are still original.
Tools I have had to get for working on my car
triple square sockets long and short
timing chain tool kit
inch pound torque wrench
Oil extractor
1/4 inch deep well sockets (these worked better for the cat repair)
VCDS software
I have a well stocked toolbox to begin with from turning wrenches at home for 30+ years but I still needed some Audi specific stuff.
Motor out timing chain repair along with new motor mounts
Broken cat converter flange
N509 bypass valve
Rear shocks and springs
Brakes front and back then again for the front due to severely warped rotors
Oil change evert 10K miles.
Spark plugs as needed, probably due again
Maybe next year I will go after the PCV and water pump since they are still original.
Tools I have had to get for working on my car
triple square sockets long and short
timing chain tool kit
inch pound torque wrench
Oil extractor
1/4 inch deep well sockets (these worked better for the cat repair)
VCDS software
I have a well stocked toolbox to begin with from turning wrenches at home for 30+ years but I still needed some Audi specific stuff.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jul 2022
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Thank you for your great answers!
I really appreciate your answers I’ve went on other forums and many have been quite rude thank you so much for your help! So if I did my own repairs would a 2012 130k - 150k be a decent buy? I understand that it’s not the smartest purchase but is it a terrible one? Or one you would say you recommend?
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AudiWorld Member
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Another VERY important tool you must have is VCDS software and cable if you intend to DIY maintain Audi/VW vehicles. Software is free but the cable is up to $300 (up to 10 VINs).
It's not just a scan tool, its a genuine Audi software level diagnostics tool that will read live data and have data on modules than no ordinary OBD II scanner can match.
It also allows you to send specific commands to modules and even write in your own data if you really know what you're doing.
There are certain jobs that require the software to be properly performed (like putting rear EPB into service mode if the rear caliper ever needs to come off).
It's a hefty price but will be one of the most important tools you can have to DIY these vehicles!
It's not just a scan tool, its a genuine Audi software level diagnostics tool that will read live data and have data on modules than no ordinary OBD II scanner can match.
It also allows you to send specific commands to modules and even write in your own data if you really know what you're doing.
There are certain jobs that require the software to be properly performed (like putting rear EPB into service mode if the rear caliper ever needs to come off).
It's a hefty price but will be one of the most important tools you can have to DIY these vehicles!
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