Huge engine issue with early B9 S5/RS5/SQ5
07-20-2022, 02:05 PM
#11
AudiWorld Super User
Good question, either he made a mistake or assumes that owners know the date of 6/18 indicates it's a 2019. Like you, I have seen the date you question before, so think it accurate. Plus, he is in a different country, not sure that matters though.
Last edited by synergize; 07-21-2022 at 04:15 AM.
07-21-2022, 03:28 AM
#12
B9 S5 Sportback/4M Q7
Like I said, it is a problem. However, the title makes it seem like every car with the old rocker arm is about to explode. It's definitely something to keep in mind and monitor. Considering the guy in the video says it's an engine out job to replace the rocker arms, it seems like the best course of action is to just monitor your engine for the telltale clicking noise. Unless you hear that, there's no sense in spending $5,000 to pre-emptively replace them.
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...2#post14777762
07-21-2022, 04:59 AM
#13
One youtube video does not a problem make. Let along a nightmare waiting to happen. Particularly since you don't know the history of the car in question.
I have multiple clients with over, some well over, 100K now on S4/S5/SQ5's (18's), without incident. No oil consumption, no noises, they just keep going. The engine is a workhorse.
Why do they make any running changes to cars? You never know. Sometimes it's a design issue. Sometimes it's a supplier change. Sometimes it's neither.
This reminds me of the "ticking time bomb" that is the IMS bearing in some Porsche's, or the "eventual" timing chain failure in the Audi 4.2 V8.
I have multiple clients with over, some well over, 100K now on S4/S5/SQ5's (18's), without incident. No oil consumption, no noises, they just keep going. The engine is a workhorse.
Why do they make any running changes to cars? You never know. Sometimes it's a design issue. Sometimes it's a supplier change. Sometimes it's neither.
This reminds me of the "ticking time bomb" that is the IMS bearing in some Porsche's, or the "eventual" timing chain failure in the Audi 4.2 V8.
07-21-2022, 06:04 PM
#14
AudiWorld Junior Member
Really?
I bought a 97 Porsche boxster from the original owner who maintained it beyond expectation. There was a history of intermediate shaft bearing failure. I didn't know that when I bought it. Were there some problems? Yes. Did it affect everyone who bought a Boxster? No. Stuff happens. Doesn't mean it happens to everyone. Porsche made it right for those affected. Am I wrong... same company...
08-04-2022, 05:55 AM
#15
AudiWorld Member
Having got a July 2017 RS5, I decided to ring around 10 independent Audi specialists in the UK...
None of them have had cars in for this failure. Some of them have heard the rumors though.
Leads me to think its a rare failure and likely caused by poor maintenance/wrong oil or thrashing the engine into the rev limiter (common rocker arm failure cause)
None of them have had cars in for this failure. Some of them have heard the rumors though.
Leads me to think its a rare failure and likely caused by poor maintenance/wrong oil or thrashing the engine into the rev limiter (common rocker arm failure cause)
08-04-2022, 11:49 AM
#16
AudiWorld Super User
I bought a 97 Porsche boxster from the original owner who maintained it beyond expectation. There was a history of intermediate shaft bearing failure. I didn't know that when I bought it. Were there some problems? Yes. Did it affect everyone who bought a Boxster? No. Stuff happens. Doesn't mean it happens to everyone. Porsche made it right for those affected. Am I wrong... same company...
Same with the timing chain tensioners on the B7 S4 ( not sure if B6 falls into it too, same engine, but idk if anything changed internally). The first question you see on any BAT or for sale listing, etc is "were the tensioners changed/timing service done?" Some cars got it, sure. Not all...far from it. I am the original owner of one, just turned 182k. The engine has never been apart. The valvecovers haven't even ever been off the car The only factory part ever changed was the front center console armrest. I don't baby it, never have...I do maintain it correctly though, on schedule, with factory or factory equivalent (fluids) stuff. It's been, and remains, a terrific car.
11-09-2022, 03:33 PM
#17
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Rocker arm failure cost me over $22,000
This rocker arm issue needs to be turned into a class action law suit against Audi.
Mine failed at 62K miles and Audi told me I needed at new engine at a cost of $25,000.
I had my local specialists do it and cost me $6,500.......plus $5,700 in rental car fees.
Exactly one year later, October 2022, bank 2 rocker arms go. It's costing me $7,000 this time......plus probably $3,500 in rental car costs by the time it gets done.
i've emailed jamie dennis at audi about my problem. he forwarded it to cheryl ardis, executive case specialist, and i'm waiting to hear back if they will cover/reimburse me anything.
this 2018 audi sq5 is my 11th audi and i was hoping to be a lifelong fan/driver. the response i get from them will certainly determine that.
www.mattmccann.com/audisq5
Mine failed at 62K miles and Audi told me I needed at new engine at a cost of $25,000.
I had my local specialists do it and cost me $6,500.......plus $5,700 in rental car fees.
Exactly one year later, October 2022, bank 2 rocker arms go. It's costing me $7,000 this time......plus probably $3,500 in rental car costs by the time it gets done.
i've emailed jamie dennis at audi about my problem. he forwarded it to cheryl ardis, executive case specialist, and i'm waiting to hear back if they will cover/reimburse me anything.
this 2018 audi sq5 is my 11th audi and i was hoping to be a lifelong fan/driver. the response i get from them will certainly determine that.
www.mattmccann.com/audisq5
12-07-2022, 07:11 PM
#18
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It's the usual click bait panic inducing YouTube video title as usual. Is there an issue with the rocker arms? Yes. Will you engine blow up? There's an extremely small chance it will. There are literally thousands of people on various message board, discord chats, facebook groups, etc. with the old style rocker arms. A few of them have reported some rattles but that's it. A lot of these people are making a ton of power too with tunes, upgraded turbos, etc.
12-07-2022, 07:38 PM
#19
12-08-2022, 02:55 AM
#20
Club AutoUnion
My 2018 S5 was out of the factory Audi warranty in early June of this year. In looking at some (and I stress the word SOME) of the issues that our members have faced with expensive components failing, both in and out of warranty, and facing major $$$ repairs I went back to the dealer and bought an additional Audi warranty for 3 more years. It was $3,300 (exact same coverage as the original 4 year factory warranty except there is a $250 deductible) and, for me, it’s just peace of mind. Mileage is not an issue with my retired lifestyle.
This may not be a solution for everyone but it certainly is for me.
BTW — The 3rd party warranties that have been discussed on AW require you to still be under the original Audi 4 year warranty to purchase them. As my car was 6 month out of warranty, that was not an option.
— John
This may not be a solution for everyone but it certainly is for me.
BTW — The 3rd party warranties that have been discussed on AW require you to still be under the original Audi 4 year warranty to purchase them. As my car was 6 month out of warranty, that was not an option.
— John
Last edited by Nikon1; 12-08-2022 at 06:07 AM. Reason: Wrong year on my car
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