REDLINE ALLEYAudi A4 B8 buying guide
2008 to 2015. A B8 A4 suits a buyer who wants a refined, well made sedan or wagon and checks the oil use and servicing.
Big jobs
- Petrol oil consumption. Petrol engines, especially the four cylinders, can burn oil, up to about a litre every 1,000 miles.
- Misfires and fuel pump. Four cylinder petrols can misfire from the wrong plug grade or oil in the coil pack sleeves, and the 2.0 TDI can run rough from high pressure fuel pump trouble.
- Steering rack and pipes. Excessive kickback through the wheel or tugging and veering can point to the power steering rack or high pressure pipe.
Workshop jobs
- 2.0 TDI water pump. The water pump on the 2.0 TDI is a known failure point, usually showing as a leak.
- Water leaks after windscreen replacement. Wet carpets or water running down the trim by the accelerator often follow a poorly refitted windscreen or scuttle panel.
- Quattro and allroad driveline. Abused Quattro and allroad cars can have underbody damage, clunking rear driveshafts or moaning diffs.
Small jobs
- 1.8 TFSI breather whistle. A whistle under the bonnet of the 1.8 TFSI is often a faulty PCV valve, a common and cheap fix.
- Recalls. Recalls covered brake servos on cars built January 2012 to August 2014, airbags on cars built November 2011 to October 2014, and fuel leaks on early 3.0 TDIs.
Questions for the seller
- Which engine is it, and is it manual, multitronic or S tronic?
- How much oil does it use?
- On a 2.0 TDI, when were the cambelt and water pump last done?
- Have the brake servo and airbag recalls been done?
- Has the windscreen been replaced?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-04. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.