The Audi owner's guide to knowing your car.
Repair guides by model, known issues explained without jargon, service interval breakdowns, and local repair referrals — focused entirely on Audi. If you drive a quattro in Simi Valley, this is built for you.
Everything Audi. Nothing Else.
We cover the full Audi lineup — from the practical A3 to the performance RS models. Every section is built around the questions Audi owners actually search for.
A-Series, Q-Series, TT & RS Models
Generation-by-generation breakdowns: what each model is known for, which years to avoid, what the high-mileage issues look like.
Browse Models →TFSI Oil Consumption, DSG Faults, Timing Chains
The recurring problems that show up in every Audi forum, explained clearly — including what a real fix looks like versus a workaround.
See Known Issues →What Every Audi Needs — and When
DSG fluid intervals, timing chain service windows, oil specs, carbon cleaning schedules. The stuff your owner's manual glosses over.
View Service Info →Buying Guides, Warranty Rights, Cost Comparisons
What to look for buying a used Audi, how to negotiate service quotes, and your rights under the Magnuson-Moss Act.
Read Guides →Repair Write-Ups, Seasonal Tips, Tech Explainers
Regular posts on Audi-specific topics: new model reliability patterns, technical service bulletins translated into plain English.
Read Posts →Ready to Book? Find Audi Service Near You
Simi Valley's dedicated Audi repair shop — VCDS diagnostics, OEM-spec parts, honest pricing. 15 years working on these cars.
Schedule Service →Audi's Known Problems — Explained
Every Audi platform has its patterns. These are the issues that come up repeatedly across the A4, Q5, A6, and TT — in forums, in shops, and in warranty discussions with dealers. Read the full guide for each one.
2.0 TFSI Oil Consumption — EA888 Gen 1 (2008–2013 A4, Q5)
Excessive oil burn through piston ring wear. Affects B8 A4 and first-generation Q5 with the 2.0 TFSI. The correct repair is piston ring replacement — not breather modifications. Audi issued updated pistons for the root cause. Full guide covers symptoms, how to measure consumption, what the repair involves, and whether it's worth doing at high mileage. Read the guide →
Timing Chain Tensioner Failure — Pre-2013 EA888 2.0T
The plastic timing chain tensioner in early 2.0T engines deteriorates and loses tension, causing chain rattle on cold starts. Catch it early and it's a timing chain service. Miss it and you're looking at bent valves and engine damage. How to identify it by sound, which model years are affected, and what the service actually costs. Read the guide →
DSG Mechatronic Unit Failure — DQ250 Wet-Clutch Transmission
Jerky low-speed engagement and 17xxx fault codes usually point to the mechatronic unit, not the transmission itself. Most people who've been quoted a transmission replacement need this $900–$1,400 part instead. How to tell the difference, what VCDS codes to look for, and a realistic cost breakdown. Read the guide →
Intake Valve Carbon Buildup — All GDI Engines (2.0T, 3.0T)
Direct injection engines don't wash intake valves with fuel the way port injection engines do. Carbon accumulates and restricts airflow by 60–80K miles, causing rough idle and hesitation. Walnut blasting is the standard fix — how often you need it depends on your driving habits. Read the guide →
3.0T Supercharger Coupler Deterioration — A6, A7, A8, Q7
The rubber coupling between the supercharger and engine degrades over time, causing boost leaks and fault codes P0234 or P0299. Common on 3.0T V6 cars past 80K miles. Inexpensive part, significant labor — but far cheaper than the misdiagnoses this often gets. Read the guide →
Find Your Audi
Every model page covers the full generational history: what changed between chassis codes, which engines to prefer, known weak points, and what to look for when buying used.
Audi A3
The entry point. 8P (2006–2013) and 8V (2013–2020) generations. 1.8T and 2.0T engine guides, DSG vs. S tronic differences, and reliability by year.
A3 Model Guide →Audi A4
B8 (2008–2016) and B9 (2017+). The most common Audi in our market. Oil consumption on B8 2.0T, timing chain service, multi-link suspension wear, and why B9 is considerably more reliable.
A4 Model Guide →Audi A6
C6 (2005–2011) and C7 (2012–2018). 3.0T supercharger coupler is nearly universal on C6 by 100K. S6 4.0 TFSI twin-turbo timing chain guide included.
A6 Model Guide →Audi Q5
First-gen (2009–2017) shares B8 A4 2.0T issues. Second-gen (2018+) significantly improved. Generation comparison, known issues, and service interval guide.
Q5 Model Guide →Audi Q7
4L (2007–2015) with 3.0 TDI diesel and 3.0T petrol. Air suspension service, 3.0T supercharger coupler, and the reliability comparison between diesel and petrol variants.
Q7 Model Guide →Audi TT & R8
Both TT generations (8N, 8J, 8S). R8 V8 and V10. Maintenance costs, clutch service intervals, and what high-performance ownership actually requires beyond the brochure.
TT & R8 Guide →S & RS Models
S4, S5, RS3, RS5, RS7. Engine-specific service requirements, factory warranty implications of modifications, and performance maintenance intervals.
S & RS Guide →Audi e-tron & Q4
What EV ownership means for service: what still needs conventional maintenance, what doesn't, and how to find a shop that understands both the 12V system and the high-voltage architecture.
e-tron Guide →What Your Audi Actually Needs — and When
Audi service schedules are more nuanced than most owners realize. The right oil for your specific engine, the DSG service intervals most shops miss, and the items that aren't in the owner's manual but show up reliably at certain mileage marks.
DSG / S Tronic Service
DQ250 wet-clutch: fluid and filter every 40,000 miles. DQ200 dry-clutch: manufacturer intervals, typically 60K. Skipping these is the single most common cause of premature DSG failure. What the service involves and what it costs.
Full DSG Service Guide →Oil Service — Getting the Spec Right
Audi's LongLife specification matters. 2.0T TFSI: 5W-30 LL or 5W-40 depending on generation. 3.0T V6: 5W-40. Using the wrong spec causes carbon buildup faster and reduces engine protection. Oil change interval guide included.
Oil Spec Guide →Timing Chain Service — 2.0T TFSI
Pre-2013 EA888 engines: inspect for tensioner wear at 60K, replace chain and tensioner as a package when wear is found. Budget 7 to 9 hours of labor. Post-2013 engines have an improved tensioner design and extend this interval significantly.
Timing Chain Guide →Carbon Cleaning — Walnut Blasting
Recommended at 60K miles for all 2.0T and 3.0T direct injection engines. How walnut blasting works, how to know when your car needs it (spoiler: by 60K miles, it does), and what happens if you skip it.
Carbon Cleaning Guide →Brake Service — quattro Specifics
quattro AWD means brake bias matters more than on FWD cars. Service intervals, pad and rotor quality comparison, and what the e-tron's regenerative braking system means for brake service frequency.
Brake Service Guide →Suspension — Multi-Link Service
Audi's multi-link rear suspension wears on schedule. Control arms, trailing arms, and toe links typically need attention between 80K and 100K miles. What the service involves, what it costs, and why alignment must follow.
Suspension Guide →From the Blog
Technical write-ups, ownership tips, and Audi-specific news — written for owners who want to understand their car, not just drop it off and hope.
B8 A4 Oil Consumption: What the Repair Actually Involves and Whether It's Worth It at 120K Miles
A breakdown of the piston ring replacement procedure, expected costs, and an honest framework for deciding whether the repair makes financial sense given your car's current value and condition.
Read PostUsed Audi Q5 Buyer's Guide: Which Years to Buy, Which to Skip, and What to Inspect
The first-gen Q5 is common, affordable, and has specific pitfalls. The second-gen is more reliable but carries a higher used price. How to tell the difference between a well-maintained example and a problem car before you sign anything.
Read PostDSG Service: Why Most Audi Owners Are Running Their Transmission Past Its Service Window
The DQ250 wet-clutch DSG has a 40,000-mile fluid interval that the owner's manual doesn't emphasize. Most owners find out about it when the transmission starts misbehaving. What the service is, why it matters, and what happens when you skip it.
Read PostAudi Owner FAQ
What's the difference between a quattro and an S tronic transmission?
They're two separate systems that often get confused because Audi stacks them together. Quattro is the AWD drivetrain — it controls how power reaches the wheels. S tronic (also called DSG in VW and other VAG brands) is the dual-clutch automatic transmission — it controls how the engine connects to the drivetrain. An A4 quattro with an S tronic has both. A front-wheel-drive A3 with an S tronic has only the transmission. You can spec most Audi models either way.
How often does an Audi really need an oil change?
Audi's LongLife service indicator can push intervals to 10,000 miles or more — which works fine if you're doing highway miles in a newer car with fresh oil. For most Simi Valley driving (more stop-and-go than highway), 5,000 to 7,500 miles is a more conservative and engine-protective interval. On high-performance engines (S4, RS5, etc.), shorter intervals are worth the cost. Always use the oil spec printed on your oil cap or in the owner's manual — not what the shop has on the shelf.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a used Audi?
Depends heavily on the car's age, mileage, and what the warranty actually covers. On a high-mileage B8 A4 with a pre-2013 2.0T, coverage that includes piston rings and timing chain work could pay for itself in a single repair. On a well-maintained second-gen Q5 under 60K miles, the math usually doesn't pencil. Before anything else: read the exclusions list, check the deductible, and confirm whether the warranty pays the shop directly or reimburses you after the fact. The fine print is where these things fall apart.
Can I take my Audi to an independent shop without voiding the warranty?
Yes. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits manufacturers from voiding your factory warranty simply because you used an independent shop for service, as long as the work was performed correctly with appropriate parts and fluids. The dealer cannot require that all service be performed at their facility as a condition of warranty coverage. Document your service — receipts, parts specifications, fluid specs used — and keep them. This matters if a warranty claim ever comes up.
How do I know if my Audi needs a DSG service?
If you can't remember the last time it was done and your car has a DQ250 wet-clutch DSG (most quattro-equipped A4, A5, A6, and Q5 automatics), assume it's due if you're past 40,000 miles. Rough low-speed engagement, hesitation pulling away from stops, and a shudder in crawling traffic are the main symptoms. Fault codes P0776 through P0778 come up often, and they get misread as transmission failures. Usually it's just overdue fluid and a mechatronic unit under stress. Get a proper VCDS diagnosis before anyone quotes you a transmission replacement.
What does walnut blasting cost, and how do I know if my Audi needs it?
Walnut blasting runs $300 to $600 depending on engine and shop. If you have a GDI engine — every 2.0T and 3.0T Audi has one — and you're past 60,000 miles without a cleaning, it needs it. The symptoms come late: rough cold idle and light hesitation show up first, but by the time you're getting misfires or codes, the buildup is already significant. Cleaning on a schedule is cheaper than waiting for symptoms. Ask the shop to show you photos before and after — any reputable place doing this work will document it.
Ready to book your Audi service in Simi Valley?
We've covered the research. When you're ready for the actual work — diagnostics, repairs, or just an honest second opinion — we refer Simi Valley Audi owners to the shop we trust.
Service provided by German Auto Doctor · 521 E Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley CA 93065 · Mon–Fri 8–6, Sat 9–2