The curse of the Audi outside of Warranty

[Deschodt]

I knew of it, I warn folks of it, and yet we did not sell it in time.

2017 Q7 3.0T (actually T stands for Tsupercharged). Honestly a lovely SUV, lighter than you think for a roomy 7 seater, powerful and torquey, surprisingly good handling.. Ugly, sure..

90K miles.. cosmetically average. Current BB value +/- $13K

Problem: 1y ago automatic radiator slats (!!!) : $1800
3 month ago: fluid filled motor mounts $1800
Acceptable (maintenance) 3 mo ago: brakes and tires $4000
Now: coolant leak: $2100 for water pump, pipe, thermostat..
So almost $10K in a 6 mo period, partially normal, partially irritating...

Problem: still pisses coolant, suspecting some exchanger in the V6 valley, likely another $3000 of mostly labor to pull the supercharger off all over again... Original shop claims fully pressure tested and no leak, because (guess on my part) if it's that exchanger it leaks in the valley of the engine under certain hot conditions only and slowly leaks out of there overnight only..

Would you pull the plug ? At what point is it good $ after bad? Would a salvage yard give us some $ for it or not ? I feel with the $ we put into it, if we fix that we "could" be OK for a long while short of an engine issue, and we like the car. I also feel it's an Audi and it's capable of doing something else for $$$$ next month.... and every month after that... and you cannot trade in a leaker...

Opinions ?

[Scott Douglas]

My son has something similar, Q7, not sure of the model year.
He put some money into it last year but feels it fills the bill for what they need space wise and so far so good. They do use it every day too, hauling kids to school.

How often do you use yours?
I've always found cars that see more use than not last longer with fewer problems happening.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I knew of it, I warn folks of it, and yet we did not sell it in time.

2017 Q7 3.0T (actually T stands for Tsupercharged). Honestly a lovely SUV, lighter than you think for a roomy 7 seater, powerful and torquey, surprisingly good handling.. Ugly, sure..

90K miles.. cosmetically average. Current BB value +/- $13K

Problem: 1y ago automatic radiator slats (!!!) : $1800
3 month ago: fluid filled motor mounts $1800
Acceptable (maintenance) 3 mo ago: brakes and tires $4000
Now: coolant leak: $2100 for water pump, pipe, thermostat..
So almost $10K in a 6 mo period, partially normal, partially irritating...

Holy sheiße! $2100 for a waterpump and thermostat?!? Wow!

I think that if you can get it fixed for another $3k, you can then sell it and get your various repair money back (break even). But if you dump it now, you'll probably lose all/most of what you've recently spent.

I get not wanting to sink more money into the pit, but if fixing the leak really is the last thing and then it'll be "good to go" then fix it and sell it as a running, fixed vehicle.

At least you've got the 3.0T. What I always shake my head at are the folks driving the "big" SUVs with the same 2.0T that is in the A3 and A4s.

[Scott Douglas]

My son bought his used some years ago. I was surprised when he got it, I didn't even know he was looking at them.
The sticker on his when new was @$84k. It has a lot of bells and whistles plus a baseball glove interior. It goes like stink when you step into the go pedal too, for what it is.

What would you replace it with if you sold it now?
If you fix it, at least you know what has been done to it. Finding a used car with known history is tougher these days, unless you'd buy new, but that leaves you with a car payment in all likelihood.

[911 Rod]

I'd go all in and then sell it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Those sound like dealership parts and labor prices. I’ve been looking at 3.0T SQ5 models for my daughter, water pump is a semi-common failure at higher mileage but the parts are $200 aftermarket or $300 genuine Audi. You have to put the front end into service position which sounds worse than it is. There’s also a common issue with failing PCV lines, the aftermarket has a fix for $200. Honestly I found way more scary stuff about the Macan S.

[oldE]

I understand the desire to rid yourself of the bad experience, having been there, done that.
I have been rethinking some of my past 'fix the darned thing and get it out of my sight' decisions and I have to say, if I were in your shoes, or Audi, I would be tempted just fix it and enjoy the vehicle.
Say it cost another 5k to look after the leak, where are you going to find an equivalent ride for 5k? It would be a different matter if the vehicle no longer suited your needs, but it sounds like it fits. Maybe it's time to find a better service department.

Best
Les

[Deschodt]

Thanks guys, cooler heads for sure... I have no choice but to fix it if I want any $ back, for sure... I guess it's fix and dump or fix and gamble/keep. I do not see a salvage giving us any $, not even 1/2 of BB. I don't know anything else famously bad on this engine (was same as S4). I know tranny sometimes (had an S4 long ago, mechatronics failed under warranty)... I just know i'm gonna go ballistic if it pops something $$$$ later...

As far as repair costs, even independents are $200 an hour nowadays in my area, and while you can pop the water pump in situ, the thermostat and other hose required the supercharger to come off so labor labor labor. If it's that exchanger thingie, same job all over again.. And yes, re: other comments, that thing honestly goes like stink for its size, one year I did a quasi WRC special stage on a small Paso robles road with it, I could not believe how well it handled me tossing it around like that (we got to the winery and bits of rubber were on fire inside the wheels, had to drive around the lot 3x to put them all out). I forgot to mention on that very trip the underside cover fell out and took out a lot of under side plastic, audi wanted $1200 for a plastic undertray !!! Never did fix that. I mean there is still time to buy something more reliable before tariffs but what? wife is a bit of a car snob and won't do toyota/honda.. Guess I have to wait n see (the independant mechanic that did the job is out sick )

[onewhippedpuppy]

Either way you should fix it. You’ll get peanuts trying to sell a broken Audi.

[911boost]

They build the BMW X5 in South Carolina, so no tariffs I would think.

Get an X5 M60i, I bet it scoots too.

[Dpmulvan]

Originally Posted by 911boost

They build the BMW X5 in South Carolina, so no tariffs I would think.

Get an X5 M60i, I bet it scoots too.

X5’s are junk.

[aschen]

1. Fix 2. sell 3. buy highlander, sequoia, odyssey, lexus whatever, etc, 4. save pain, money and anguish for a sports car worth the suffering

[greglepore]

We bailed on a nice A8L when we went to pick it up at the indy after $1500 in odds and ends and it wouldn't start. Needed a starter. On an A8 you REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION to access the starter. How dumb is that?
Gave the car to our local independent radio station for the tax deduction.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by aschen

1. Fix 2. sell 3. buy highlander, sequoia, odyssey, lexus whatever, etc, 4. save pain, money and anguish for a sports car worth the suffering

100% with you on 1-2-4... 3 however is gonna be a problem for the missus, so she needs to get what she wants under warranty and sell it before it expires this time. Still, we'll see what the mechanic says, I dare not even cross the threshold of the dealer, that's cost x2 right off the bat.

[cabmandone]

Sounds like a new History channel program to me. If you can milk the show for 10 or so years you should be able to afford the repair.

[911boost]

Yep, that is why I said BMW. Based on what you wife wants.

My dad has had good luck with his X5.

[edgemar]

Reminds me of Tim's thread:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/424526-blown-coolant-line-another-reason-hate-audis.html

[TimT]

I just bought a 2008 S4 with 31K on the clock...The car looks like it just rolled out of the showroom..... Phantom black metallic, carbon fiber interior trim, Recaro seats.. 6 speed manual, 342 hp V8

For what I paid.. this car is a beast.. I'm good with it lasting a few years..

[RANDY P]

You couldn't get me to chase that kind of crap for an Audi, let alone an SUV.

A bottle of stop leak and a trip to Carmax for a new car. Cut yer losses

rjp

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Back in 2006 I was looking for a newish used car. The BMW and Audis were both overengineered plastic cladded thingees which I couldn't even see the engine in the place where you put an engine.

The volvo- for me - I could at least SEE the starter.
"That is something I can get too.."

So I bought a swedish brick.

300k, and a lot of cussing later, the damn starter is still working. Everything else has been replaced.

My next car will be a camry.