1: It has 10 cylinders, this number isn't considered an unlucky number in Peru 2: it's wheels are more circular than the average cube 3: It's made by Audi.
Great video. Very informative. Just bought a 2007 S8 with 125k in it for $2900. Salvage title. Needs a front bumper, headlight and grille. Body is really nice. Can't beat an AWD V10 for cheap.
Very good advice. You pretty much covered all the main points for D3 A8s. There are so many things in these cars that there are bound to be small things that go wrong. I say, if it’s not totally necessary to you, learn to live without it. If try chasing down every single little gremlin in one of these cars, prepare to spend a lot of time + $. DIY as much as possible. For example, I do the oil change myself on our A8 4.2, oil is $50 for 10qts + $35 for the filter and a new washer/bolt. learning to source parts like air shocks/compressors etc. is also very important. As for the Carbon buildup (both on the A8 4.2 + S8) don’t be afraid to drive it hard frequently. Give the engine a good workout. You want the injectors to spray full on and get the fuel everywhere in the intake manifold/valves. It’s a lot of research and things to consider when buying one of these things. But in my opinion, it’s all worth it. Once you drive one, it’s very hard to forget it. Awesome vid.
Auto Detour Yeah. A beautiful exercise in Audi aesthetic, design, and luxury. It really is a timeless look. These cars (along with the C6 A6 and B7 A4) will continue to look fresh/modern for many years to come.
Direct inject means no fuel spray to clean inside the intake. The reason you hear people say “drive it hard” is because in race cars it’s the “heat” that can break up those carbon build ups and not let them form, but this can also be problematic so yea. Carbon cleaning is just a must with these cars.
I have 2009 audi s8 has 230k miles I had some problems with the transmission around 180k and got it replaced Carbon build up was a big one I have it clean every year Intake manifold Some sensors went bad but not a big deal my car is only pushing 305hp no longer 420 but keep in mine I abused the shit out of my car
Wow, very helpful video for potential buyers of this car. Like you, I was totally just focusing on the low price and v10 engine. Now I’ve become more aware of how much it is to own this car.
Very common, potentially catastrophic issue is the plastic flaps of the intake manifold runner control. They get brittle and break leaving little pieces that can be sucked into the engine. Removing the y-pipe upper intake component gives you a chance to use a mirror to inspect the inside. I have audi's updated manifold which looks identical to the stock one but has a green dot on the flap linkage. I still think this is a weak point in the V10's design as carbon buildup makes these components more likely to crack. One indicator of a broken manifold runner control system is weak top-end performance. Test drive, wind it up and if it feels anemic consider paying to have the upper intake y-pipe pulled for visual inspection.
Make sure to buy an icarsoft Vag 2, you will save a fortune in long run. Alot of electronic issues can be fixed by resetting, also make sure you have oem battery that provides steady voltage. Don't go cheap on the battery otherwise you will regret it
My air suspension went out a while back at around 100k. Audi Dealer quoted me 5k. After reading on the AudiForum, i found a place in Florida that refurb the air stock. I diagnosed that it was only the front passenger side airshock. I order the airshock for around 300$ found a honest, very knowledgeable local shop (Louisiana) to replace it for around 250$. Thank God.
You did an invaluable job covering all the more pertinent factors. As a subscriber of your channel, I was thinking of picking one of these unique cars up and obviously, I would have needed to research all this. You've encapsulated enough detail to aid me significantly. Thank you.
I have owned 2 of these awesome cars, buy one with good service stamps, check control bushes, tyres, rotors, brake pads, carbon issues in the manifold around 50k, they need to be driven not stuck in city traffic jams. Great cars awesome value, best to be a DIY guy save yourself heaps and also buy the interface tool a must. Check everything electrical is working, beware of tow bar option (what has he been towing) Biggest problem is gas mileage especially entering high petrol prices, here in NZ the price just drops when gas goes up. Great to buy and store as weekend touring drive. If possible buy a warranty! Most of enjoy it someone else lost a small fortune from new in depreication.
Echo that. The most expensive part in S8 I had to acquire after Terraclean's carbon clean up did screw up the flaps inside the intake manifold. As a such major kit the only option is (unfortunately) pretty much buy a new one from Audi rather than push your luck with a second hand Ebay option (which are not cheap either.... if you manage even find one).
Fantastic vid...I got a totaled a8l which was only totaled because of the front bags and passenger doors.. So far I replaced the doors and bags and everything works. But you are so right the cost even to a business to the trade are ridiculous. Try pricing the blower motor resistor. Insanely priced but I had to replace it to have the A/C work.
Tail ligts l.e.d. i bought mine with warranty now in 2024, daytona grey. But, this was a dream car since i startet working with audi in 2007 :) written of my bucket list:) Lots of small issues. You have good content on them :) So thank you for that :)
Also, live in Minnesota, used to work at Carousel Auto. I bought a 4000 and a great A6. Lasted 10 years 350k with mostly maintenance cost. After 5 years 50k, I would take it to German Motorworks in St. Louis Park
I bought an 07 S8 2 years ago. Had 80k miles on it. Now pushing 150k. Just now ran into the suspension problems. Good news is theres a company in florida that rebuilds them for about half the price of new. New through the dealer were around 2k each for tears. Also the milltek resonator delete exhaust sounds amazing on this car. Love my v10 and i hope it lasts for years.
tjrosell I'll have to find the name of the company but it was 800 each for the rears. Beat buying new ones. My fronts are leaking now and those are around 800 for new from the same company. Ill ask Monday for the company name
If you check on the forums and s8/s6 groups on Facebook most of the owners who drive them and im not including the mature owners who just putter around town but the guys who are straight piping and driving the cars hiw they were made to be driven actually replace the suspension to coilovers. Same goes for the guys in thr cl/s/cls 63/65/55 AMG groups and forums. Straight to clubsport or v3 adjustable coilovers. Might be a good option for you. Personally have the v3 on my PP c63 amg. Perfect imo.
Great video, lots of good info and warnings ;) I can only imagine how many people are watching this thinking they can afford one of these. In my opinion, this car is NOT FOR YOU IF YOU: 1. want to daily it (5k+ miles/year) 2. make well below 6 figures 3. want a sporty car. Gas, oil, brakes, carbon, electrical problems etc. will drain your bank account fast and you won't have a super fast, toss-able car. IT IS FOR YOU IF YOU: 1. have at least one other reliable car 2. care more about luxury than sportiness 3. are obsessed with amazing exhaust notes 4. can find one that's for sale by the wealthy first owner, not by an average Joe second/third owner who had it for a few months and realized he can't afford the upkeep. But remember, low mileage or rich owner are still no guarantee that the car is in good shape.
Great video, I have an ‘14 A6 I purchased back in September 2018 with 54000 miles, and even back then I underlined all the tips you mentioned here. Enjoy your car S8!! Great car!
moral of the story: if you aren't an oil prince in the UAE, dont keep white tigers as pets. just buy something you dont have 5 potential concerns about.
There is so much good car shops around that know how to do German cars and people still go to dealership to maintain cars like this and then when they change the starter for 2000$ people are like OMG Germans are expensive to have...if you do some research before driving your car to dealership and just handing them the keys you can expect a rip off. If you get parts yourself and take it to somebody who charges normal hour rate you won't get scamed like with dealers
i had a 2005 audi a8l with 270k miles. Ran like a dream. looked new inside/out until one day it got stolen. thief stole one wheel and slashed rest of the tires. partied inside the car. abused the whole car and suspension. when recovered, i went to towing company. was shocked to see my car got abused but it started right up, slapped new tires on it and beast was on the road again. Car just doesn't give up. I love Audis for life.
I don’t want to scare you guys away buuut, it’s really expensive to ow one of these and if you sing it it’s totaled. Hahah yeah thanks for not scaring us.
Hi, I drive myself an A8 3.0 TDI from 2004. The first thing you have to buy after purchasing an A8 is VCDS. You soon earn back, believe me. The dealer asks as quickly 50 euros each time to read out your A8. I do all the maintenance myself on this A8 so I know exactly what is going on, I know my A8 completely inside and out. A dealer can not be paid with this type of car, because they often do not know and can do it themselves. Dealers simply replace parts in the hope that it is solved, so do not look for the real problem, but you can pay the bill. Parts are enough and easy to find on ebay My advice is always, buying an A8 is not a problem, but maintaining it all the more. Calculate half of the purchase price for repairs. If you do not have that money, leave the A8 and buy a VW Golf, for example. I have already put a lot of money into this A8, but I still enjoy it. As far as the rubbers and air suspension are concerned, that is the same for every A8, not just the S8. The engine is different, the rest is completely the same to these cars. Keep in mind, the more options the car has, the more it can break !! Greetz Frank from the Netherlands
I got an S8 new in 2009. I bought an extended warranty in fear of what it would cost for any major repairs. At 103k my power steering rack went out just after the extended warranty. That set me back $950 at the dealer. I was shocked. I've also lost the right dash tweeter raise mechanism recently. I suspect that will be more than the power steering! I owned an A4 before the S8 and it was a fortune to maintain. The S8 has been the most reliable and enjoyable car I've owned in me 63 years and I've had quite a few.
Oh gosh, that is actually pretty reasonable price for a power steering rack. I've had two of D3 S8 and I guess I've been a bit unlucky with some major parts (read: expensive, i.e. power steering rack, intake manifold and both front air suspension struts). It's definitely worthwhile try to look at whether after market parts can be found. Sometimes it is possibel, like air suspension (massive cost saving vs. OEM and exactly the same quality) but some parts such as intake manifold there are eventually not other options than OEM parts. A 'funny' example from the UK - a new power steering rack did cost £1,826 for RHD car whereas LHD exactly the same part would have cost £1,050. You can guess how happy feeling it was to realise how much extra you have to pay when the steering wheel is in the 'wrong side'.of the car.....
I had an 06 a8l and the front air suspension went bad! Took it to my good local mechanic (specialist on German cars) 👨🔧, I ordered the (Arnott)replacement air suspension off EBAY, yes ebay, both sides (front only) about 850 each back in 2017... my mechanic charged me 400 to do the job! It has to be reprogrammed with an audi computer! And to lift the audi a8/s8 D3, put it in Jack Mode through the settings! Otherwise when you lift it it will try to level itself so the air suspension will rise etc and when you lower it, it will look crooked! You can get go to the dealer and it’s about 1600 each i believe! There are some cheaper replacements than Arnott but avoid those, and some of them wont adjust! Only one height! Standard! Good luck everyone! Nice and strong cars but want the 2008-9 s8 until i can get the 2013 s8 I’ll stick to these cars! I’m a young guy but i even owned a 2001 a8l super reliable!
I have a 2008 Audi S6 V10 and cannot find a better car to buy. I've driven the new Mercedes and Volvos. It's going to be hard to find a car with the kind of power combined with plush interior and soft ride.
I have a s6 v10 with 42 k on it phantom black the cleanest you will ever find . I may sell it it had 1 owner . That Person was a celebrity i won't share that info till i sell it someday.
Control Arm bushing go bad because it’s on air suspension. The car being raised lower and higher puts more strain on a cars control arms, more specifically the bushings. Take it from me, I have aftermarket air suspension on my car, the control arm bushings bushings go out faster than normally
Nice video! I feel like you hit the main points on the head. I'm in the market and most of the ones available have at least a couple of the issues you mentioned. Hard to find one that is pristine but most things can be fixed diy which is great. Was your car white at delivery? Have never seen one before!
Yes, they are getting very hard to find. Mine was white from the factory and I have only seen a couple other white ones on the Facebook groups. White seems to be very uncommon. Good luck on your search!
So, if you ever have to dump a bunch of $ into your air suspension, would you consider just going with an aftermarket system, i.e. Accuair, or Airlift?
at 300 bucks for used good quality bags; given the simplicity of the DIY struts, its a no-brainer to just keep the same air setup. I understand other parts can fail in the suspension system; however, i mainly see bags exploding or either leaking being the common culprit. You should want to retain that smooth ride, If you wanted a VW PASSAT you should've got one.
j phillips I don't see how coilovers compare to air shocks..... I put coilovers on my 87 lincoln continetal because I couldn't source the factory originals.
Yes. Luxury car maintenance cost, I remember this. These old cars are a hobby, and you need a sizable wallet to give the car a worthy home. Alternatively, you can become an expert on hunting down 2nd hand parts and learning about the marvellous cars a lot. Be aware you might break other stuff while trying to repair it. 😅
Oil changes sound expensive, but if it has to be done every 5-10k, that’s pretty much a price worth to pay 🤷🏾♂️ insurance may be something to look into, although I just turned 25 last Thursday and if I could find the best insurance, that may be less of a problem
Good video and sage advice. If you can’t afford it new, you can’t afford it used. These cars are fun to drive and the S6 and S8 both have a huge sleeper element - few people know the kind of car you’re driving, which can be nice. But maintenance is key. There’s a reason these cars depreciate and well-heeled owners trade them in after 3-4 years.
bullshit. you cannot afford them new but you can buy them used just fine as they are worth a fraction. when new you will have no expenses due to warranty. when used, you will NEVER dump 120k on repairs into one to match the new price tag. im so tired of stupids spewing shit like "cant afford new cant afford used". think for a second what you are even saying.
The trunk motors on the early 2007 S8 were made of plastic and tend to run out of power. They need to be changed for a later model made from aluminum. The motor in the variable speed air dam for the sunroof tends to tire out pretty quick and makes noise every time it adjusts to the car speed.
I bought a 08' TT used several years ago with 36K & have been extremely fortunate to still have it running flawlessly still with 92K. My only repairs have been both window regulators $750 each, other then that just regular maintenance cost. It does have the VR6 motor (Naturally aspirated ) which is very durable & simple engine. I love the car, I have the dealer replace parts despite them still working properly E.G the coil packs & fuel filter to prevent the fuel pump from failing. My TT has no scheduled replacement for the fuel filter & if it gets dirty it can cause the fuel pump to burn itself out which can add hundreds to the repair bill VS just replacing the fuel filter every 60K or 80K miles. THX, nice video !!
Sometimes the air conditioning vent lights and some red led’s stay off! The problem is the armrest, there are some lights inside the armrest that the wiring will create a short circuit, take it apart and replace the wiring, about an hour of work! Then replace the 1 AMP, yes 1A fuse, I don’t remember the side of the fuse panel, but it’s the 1A CLEAR LED that burns with the short circuit. This cars have over 70 fuses total, located on both sides when opening the front doors you will see the fuse box! Good luck ahh and oil change every 15k miles mobil 1 15k... the filter is huge and need to remove the air filter and a fog light to DIY...
Checking the coolant would be my number one check ive seen dealers use normal coolant when there is big message on the cap. Coolant should be pink in these. If its not walk away and save your $$$.
I agree with a lot of the things he said I bought my A8 when I was 19 and maintaining is important the easiest easy way to cut the cost is to buy your own parts people bring them to a shop that works on foreign cars so your only paying for labor same thing with oil buy the oil and filter have a shop put it in
Thanks for the tips. Looking to get an S8 becauze of that V10 and salary isn't at the R8 or RS7 range so I'm looking to get a poors man R8 or RS7 lol. I'm a big DIY guy so I can do most of the stuff myself I can do electronic work but I hate it so I'll keeps a heads up on buttons and the carbon build up can be minimized with an oil catch can that I've had to do with my Ecoboost F150 since the twin turbos v6 is built the same with injectors spraying below the valves and twin turbos build a lot of carbon.
I agree with you. I am the third owner 140,000 on it mostly it's the curb rash from the previous owner's wife unfortunately LOL but true and thank God for warranty . I hope everybody listens to your wisdom it's very true
Fellow Minnesotan, would love an s8 but I'm scared of repairs, someone I know has a previous generation a8 and had to lift the engine aut to change the starter, for $2000, I feel like that would be a normal cost with the V10 s8 for regular maintenance.
ha ha, you speaking so strange about this car. we in Europe do not look so suspision or carefully. its just a car. I have A8 D3 with 320 000km, and I replaced first air strut on that car at 315 000km. many of them here with 500 000km and still runs strong. And I owe 4.2tdi bi turbo 5.5s to 100km/h.
if u want to buy european car u should make sure they made in germany 🇩🇪 not in mexico cuz it will give u so much problem. It’s not necessary to take your car to dealership because dealership it will charge you three times triple take somewhere else regular mechanic. i have experience and i know that u can take your car to Dealership only if your car under warranty otherwise don’t send your car to dealership
Thanks for the video man! I'm just looking to get one of these as well. Just really trying to do my research so I'm going to be hitting all your videos and subscribing!
Yes, it was a 2008, but it was in Phoenix. It was a Russian guy that said he was the original owner's son. I found paperwork in the car with the original owner's phone number, so I called him and he explained the actual history on the car and told me the Russian guy was definitely not his son. The dude was just lying and trying to flip the car for double what he paid for it. It was in really bad shape.
the only one thing you need to know before buying anything: every product has a target market, so does the AUDI S8. if you dont fit in the group. dont force.
I am making my C2 1998 A8 my project. I appreciate your advice. I love my Audi's, and luckily do the work myself with the exception of my 2012 A6. Any issues with your trans yet?
The D3 air suspension is the most expensive one around $1000 with aftermarket part. If you are lucky you can find $300 part from Amazon or eBay. The same year BMW and Mercedes only cost $300 for single air suspension. I have no ideal why Audi's air ride is so expensive.
Hi, great video. Im thinking of buying a 2006 S8. You talk about carobone build up. Is it ok to use sea foam liquid to clean away the carbone deposits in your opinion? After what i heard it works great. Best regards, Roger/Norway
You sure not to worry about buying any other car with good paint and interior problems? Seems like these rules specifically apply to an Audi S8 with a V10 in it.
What about intake monifold ? :) I have same audi S8 V10 for 6 years now and i get almost bankrupt for those 6 years paid about twice car cost :) ... So this car is not expensive to buy but to drive it everyday is much more expensive then driving 2022 S class. for sure.. :)
I would have to go look through the maintenance records. The lady I bought it from bought it certified pre-owned from the Audi dealer, so there's a pretty good chance they took care of any recalls during the CPO process.
I have a s6 v10 09 with 46k on it and a 2011 s8 with 21k v10. They are expensive you throw a 100$ bill at it just walking buy it. But they are great dependable cars . Computers can be finiky but they are great if kept up and if you can do some work on your own the s8 i may sell or my rs6.
Hello there. I purchased a 2007 Audi S8, black on black with carbon fiber inserts from my friend about 4 years ago. Currently it has approx. 115,00.00 miles on it. It's been well maintained, but I am running into issues with it. The driver side window wouldn't roll up. I took it to West Covina Audi. They charged about $1,000.00 to install a new window regulator. The lt. front air bag is leaking. I purchased air bags for it thru E-bay for approx. $675.00. They are the incorrect ones even thou the seller said that they would work on a s8. This weekend I will be removing those and installing new Arnott Strut assemblies. They cost me $1,500.00. Audi dealer wanted about $5,000.00 for parts and labor. A oil change costs about $350.00 from the dealer. full coverage Insurance with a $500.00 deductible is about $1,200.00 a year. There is a cooling hose fitting located at the rear of the engine, passenger side, that will decompose from the hot coolant sitting against it. You can't buy the fitting by it self, you have to by the coolant hose attached to it. The small hose is about $200.00 for just the part. I changed out about 6 small coolant hoses below the engine and around the trans. Also you need special hose clamp pliers that have a cable on them so you can reach into areas you can't even see... Luckily I have a friend with a car lift. The CV boots will rot out and throw grease out. They will need attention too. Don't play Metallica to loud on the stereo system, you will blow the base speaker. $$$ I learned the hard way. Other than this... The car is fennaminal to drive and thru the roof $$ to maintain... Oh ya and my friend who I bought the s8 from, bought a 2018 audi s7 dual turbo v-8. What a car.. So what's in my future?
I found just like this car up for sale don’t have much information about it has no maintenance record it’s in very good condition from outside and the interior looks nice the one I found is silver with silver interior V10 of course and he asked 12k $ for it didn’t have any information about the motor or transmission I just wanted to know what look for in this car before I buy it how to know it’s a good one or not what is the common problem in this car ?? Please help guys Yes your video help me alot but anything you can add I will be very thankful
tompparaideri S8 is the “sporty” model of the A8, hence the V10. It does not stand for short. The regular A8 can come in short wheelbase or long wheelbase. The L stands for long wheelbase.
Are there any other maintenance points on the 5.2 at the 100k mark? Gaskets, ignition system issues, cooling system issues, brittle plastic etc... also maintenance on the transmission system...
The only other thing I can think of is coil packs. I’ve read that those can have issues after a while, but they are fairly easy to replace and only about $20 a piece.
You should check out @Roni_ he is thr guy who custom made his own rs6 out of a usa s6 body styling and all. His old project was a v10 s6 with rear mount turbo. Really wish we got the badass rs6 models here in the usa like the c7 and c6 rs6. I'd love a bi turbo v10 awd sports sedan.
1: It has 10 cylinders, this number isn't considered an unlucky number in Peru
2: it's wheels are more circular than the average cube
3: It's made by Audi.
Great video. Very informative. Just bought a 2007 S8 with 125k in it for $2900. Salvage title. Needs a front bumper, headlight and grille. Body is really nice. Can't beat an AWD V10 for cheap.
Please can you help me get one within that range..... To be shipped to Africa
Once you drive one of these you can't drive anything else, you will be hooked for life
just brought an 06 s6 5.2 love it so much car for the money
@@Savannahbentham7822 more reliable then bmw e60 m5?
@@DiaperSNiFFER Definitely, just not as fast unless you get an RS6 V10 if you live in Europe.
@@Trillioons OOOHHH DADDY!
Master Chef beautiful car. I love it
Very good advice. You pretty much covered all the main points for D3 A8s. There are so many things in these cars that there are bound to be small things that go wrong.
I say, if it’s not totally necessary to you, learn to live without it. If try chasing down every single little gremlin in one of these cars, prepare to spend a lot of time + $.
DIY as much as possible. For example, I do the oil change myself on our
A8 4.2, oil is $50 for 10qts + $35 for the filter and a new washer/bolt. learning to source parts like air shocks/compressors etc. is also very important.
As for the Carbon buildup (both on the A8 4.2 + S8) don’t be afraid to drive it hard frequently. Give the engine a good workout. You want the injectors to spray full on and get the fuel everywhere in the intake manifold/valves.
It’s a lot of research and things to consider when buying one of these things. But in my opinion, it’s all worth it. Once you drive one, it’s very hard to forget it.
Awesome vid.
Thanks, man! Some good points there. I can’t deny that it’s a beautiful car and fun to drive, so taking care of it is worth the extra effort.
Auto Detour Yeah. A beautiful exercise in Audi aesthetic, design, and luxury. It really is a timeless look. These cars (along with the C6 A6 and B7 A4) will continue to look fresh/modern for many years to come.
On direct injection cars, no matter how you drive, carbon will build up on the intake
@@Divine_Serpent_Geh The c5 audi a6 still look modern from the outside 🤷🏿♂️
Direct inject means no fuel spray to clean inside the intake.
The reason you hear people say “drive it hard” is because in race cars it’s the “heat” that can break up those carbon build ups and not let them form, but this can also be problematic so yea. Carbon cleaning is just a must with these cars.
I have a Audi A8 2005 with 204k miles i have 0 problems with the air suspension runs great
Laurent Ferizaj That is super awesome! Hope you get many more miles out of your big 8. They are quite reliable cars considering what they are.
I agree! Super awesome! I love hearing this about the air suspension! LOL
Laurent Ferizaj wow your lucky I replaced the fronts on mine
I have 2009 audi s8 has 230k miles I had some problems with the transmission around 180k and got it replaced
Carbon build up was a big one I have it clean every year
Intake manifold
Some sensors went bad but not a big deal my car is only pushing 305hp no longer 420 but keep in mine I abused the shit out of my car
I smell troll
5 things and 15 mins vid....
It’s almost as if the title says five things!! Woahhh
What about using sea foam ? Or Lucas fuel treatment ? For the carbon build up issue
Wow, very helpful video for potential buyers of this car. Like you, I was totally just focusing on the low price and v10 engine. Now I’ve become more aware of how much it is to own this car.
have an 07 S8 daytona grey pearrl 90k miles. Had it since 2014 no issues really. One wheel bearing and one axle, tires, oil.
edit: and brakes
So no issues besides all of the issues you listed?
Very common, potentially catastrophic issue is the plastic flaps of the intake manifold runner control. They get brittle and break leaving little pieces that can be sucked into the engine. Removing the y-pipe upper intake component gives you a chance to use a mirror to inspect the inside. I have audi's updated manifold which looks identical to the stock one but has a green dot on the flap linkage. I still think this is a weak point in the V10's design as carbon buildup makes these components more likely to crack. One indicator of a broken manifold runner control system is weak top-end performance. Test drive, wind it up and if it feels anemic consider paying to have the upper intake y-pipe pulled for visual inspection.
Make sure to buy an icarsoft Vag 2, you will save a fortune in long run. Alot of electronic issues can be fixed by resetting, also make sure you have oem battery that provides steady voltage. Don't go cheap on the battery otherwise you will regret it
My air suspension went out a while back at around 100k. Audi Dealer quoted me 5k. After reading on the AudiForum, i found a place in Florida that refurb the air stock. I diagnosed that it was only the front passenger side airshock. I order the airshock for around 300$ found a honest, very knowledgeable local shop (Louisiana) to replace it for around 250$. Thank God.
Company name?
You did an invaluable job covering all the more pertinent factors. As a subscriber of your channel, I was thinking of picking one of these unique cars up and obviously, I would have needed to research all this. You've encapsulated enough detail to aid me significantly. Thank you.
Thank you! Glad I could help!
Auto Detour Accord pricing doesn't escape luxury car maintenance. Valid point. Some overlook that.
I have owned 2 of these awesome cars, buy one with good service stamps, check control bushes, tyres, rotors, brake pads, carbon issues in the manifold around 50k, they need to be driven not stuck in city traffic jams. Great cars awesome value, best to be a DIY guy save yourself heaps and also buy the interface tool a must.
Check everything electrical is working, beware of tow bar option (what has he been towing) Biggest problem is gas mileage especially entering high petrol prices, here in NZ the price just drops when gas goes up. Great to buy and store as weekend touring drive. If possible buy a warranty! Most of enjoy it someone else lost a small fortune from new in depreication.
Make sure you check the intake manifold.
i cant believe this was left off ,THE MOST IMPORTANT!!!!!!!
Echo that. The most expensive part in S8 I had to acquire after Terraclean's carbon clean up did screw up the flaps inside the intake manifold. As a such major kit the only option is (unfortunately) pretty much buy a new one from Audi rather than push your luck with a second hand Ebay option (which are not cheap either.... if you manage even find one).
Fantastic vid...I got a totaled a8l which was only totaled because of the front bags and passenger doors.. So far I replaced the doors and bags and everything works. But you are so right the cost even to a business to the trade are ridiculous. Try pricing the blower motor resistor. Insanely priced but I had to replace it to have the A/C work.
Thanks man! Yep! Crazy prices unfortunately
I did open the floors in my A8 (all units and waterleaks from the front) and also checked the sunroof (water-drainage) + checked the car with a obd2
Tail ligts l.e.d. i bought mine with warranty now in 2024, daytona grey. But, this was a dream car since i startet working with audi in 2007 :) written of my bucket list:) Lots of small issues.
You have good content on them :) So thank you for that :)
Thanks to all the guys chiming in. I’ve been considering getting one of these, love that car.
Also, live in Minnesota, used to work at Carousel Auto. I bought a 4000 and a great A6. Lasted 10 years 350k with mostly maintenance cost.
After 5 years 50k, I would take it to German Motorworks in St. Louis Park
please consider a tripod so we don't get headaches :)
I bought an 07 S8 2 years ago. Had 80k miles on it. Now pushing 150k. Just now ran into the suspension problems. Good news is theres a company in florida that rebuilds them for about half the price of new. New through the dealer were around 2k each for tears. Also the milltek resonator delete exhaust sounds amazing on this car. Love my v10 and i hope it lasts for years.
Ron Knobloch how much to rebuild air bags
tjrosell I'll have to find the name of the company but it was 800 each for the rears. Beat buying new ones. My fronts are leaking now and those are around 800 for new from the same company. Ill ask Monday for the company name
tjrosell Arnott industries is their name.
Ron Knobloch how’s the car running nowadays? I want a 08 or 09
How's the car now? I got an 08 A8 4.2TDI stage 1, straight pipe, dpf off, 420hp and 860NM on dyno
If you check on the forums and s8/s6 groups on Facebook most of the owners who drive them and im not including the mature owners who just putter around town but the guys who are straight piping and driving the cars hiw they were made to be driven actually replace the suspension to coilovers. Same goes for the guys in thr cl/s/cls 63/65/55 AMG groups and forums. Straight to clubsport or v3 adjustable coilovers. Might be a good option for you. Personally have the v3 on my PP c63 amg. Perfect imo.
Thanks for the community service!!!! I am soo tempted to buy one, now I have come back to earth and will heed your advice. Nice job and presentation.
can't believe you didn't start the car so we could hear the exhaust and engine
Great video, lots of good info and warnings ;)
I can only imagine how many people are watching this thinking they can afford one of these. In my opinion, this car is
NOT FOR YOU IF YOU:
1. want to daily it (5k+ miles/year)
2. make well below 6 figures
3. want a sporty car.
Gas, oil, brakes, carbon, electrical problems etc. will drain your bank account fast and you won't have a super fast, toss-able car.
IT IS FOR YOU IF YOU:
1. have at least one other reliable car
2. care more about luxury than sportiness
3. are obsessed with amazing exhaust notes
4. can find one that's for sale by the wealthy first owner, not by an average Joe second/third owner who had it for a few months and realized he can't afford the upkeep. But remember, low mileage or rich owner are still no guarantee that the car is in good shape.
Very well put!
Great video, I have an ‘14 A6 I purchased back in September 2018 with 54000 miles, and even back then I underlined all the tips you mentioned here. Enjoy your car S8!!
Great car!
moral of the story. avoid the damn dealer.
Agreed you can do the maintenance yourself
moral of the story: if you aren't an oil prince in the UAE, dont keep white tigers as pets. just buy something you dont have 5 potential concerns about.
There is so much good car shops around that know how to do German cars and people still go to dealership to maintain cars like this and then when they change the starter for 2000$ people are like OMG Germans are expensive to have...if you do some research before driving your car to dealership and just handing them the keys you can expect a rip off. If you get parts yourself and take it to somebody who charges normal hour rate you won't get scamed like with dealers
I have an A8 2007 and its the most reliable car I've ever had !
It has Power and gives u the feeling of safety.
me 2, however too bad my cam tensioners for the variable valve timing failed causing me to replace the entire engine, still love it.
Me too Pablo
Audi Master me too, I got a 2008 A8 4.2 bi-turbo diesel with more than 450k miles
ZigsVision at what mileage did this happen?
Before you buy a car, check everything is perfect. Great advice thank you
i had a 2005 audi a8l with 270k miles. Ran like a dream. looked new inside/out until one day it got stolen. thief stole one wheel and slashed rest of the tires. partied inside the car. abused the whole car and suspension. when recovered, i went to towing company. was shocked to see my car got abused but it started right up, slapped new tires on it and beast was on the road again. Car just doesn't give up. I love Audis for life.
I found an 07 S8 with 113000 miles for $2000! Thinking about buying it.
I don’t want to scare you guys away buuut, it’s really expensive to ow one of these and if you sing it it’s totaled. Hahah yeah thanks for not scaring us.
Control arm bushings goes bad to any older car
Hi,
I drive myself an A8 3.0 TDI from 2004.
The first thing you have to buy after purchasing an A8 is VCDS.
You soon earn back, believe me.
The dealer asks as quickly 50 euros each time to read out your A8. I do all the maintenance myself on this A8 so I know exactly what is going on, I know my A8 completely inside and out. A dealer can not be paid with this type of car, because they often do not know and can do it themselves. Dealers simply replace parts in the hope that it is solved, so do not look for the real problem, but you can pay the bill. Parts are enough and easy to find on ebay
My advice is always, buying an A8 is not a problem, but maintaining it all the more. Calculate half of the purchase price for repairs. If you do not have that money, leave the A8 and buy a VW Golf, for example. I have already put a lot of money into this A8, but I still enjoy it. As far as the rubbers and air suspension are concerned, that is the same for every A8, not just the S8. The engine is different, the rest is completely the same to these cars.
Keep in mind, the more options the car has, the more it can break !!
Greetz Frank from the Netherlands
Agreed just bought my W12 and I bet it's going to be fun
I got an S8 new in 2009. I bought an extended warranty in fear of what it would cost for any major repairs. At 103k my power steering rack went out just after the extended warranty. That set me back $950 at the dealer. I was shocked. I've also lost the right dash tweeter raise mechanism recently. I suspect that will be more than the power steering! I owned an A4 before the S8 and it was a fortune to maintain. The S8 has been the most reliable and enjoyable car I've owned in me 63 years and I've had quite a few.
Oh gosh, that is actually pretty reasonable price for a power steering rack. I've had two of D3 S8 and I guess I've been a bit unlucky with some major parts (read: expensive, i.e. power steering rack, intake manifold and both front air suspension struts). It's definitely worthwhile try to look at whether after market parts can be found. Sometimes it is possibel, like air suspension (massive cost saving vs. OEM and exactly the same quality) but some parts such as intake manifold there are eventually not other options than OEM parts. A 'funny' example from the UK - a new power steering rack did cost £1,826 for RHD car whereas LHD exactly the same part would have cost £1,050. You can guess how happy feeling it was to realise how much extra you have to pay when the steering wheel is in the 'wrong side'.of the car.....
I had an 06 a8l and the front air suspension went bad! Took it to my good local mechanic (specialist on German cars) 👨🔧, I ordered the (Arnott)replacement air suspension off EBAY, yes ebay, both sides (front only) about 850 each back in 2017... my mechanic charged me 400 to do the job! It has to be reprogrammed with an audi computer! And to lift the audi a8/s8 D3, put it in Jack Mode through the settings! Otherwise when you lift it it will try to level itself so the air suspension will rise etc and when you lower it, it will look crooked! You can get go to the dealer and it’s about 1600 each i believe! There are some cheaper replacements than Arnott but avoid those, and some of them wont adjust! Only one height! Standard! Good luck everyone! Nice and strong cars but want the 2008-9 s8 until i can get the 2013 s8 I’ll stick to these cars! I’m a young guy but i even owned a 2001 a8l super reliable!
I have a 2008 Audi S6 V10 and cannot find a better car to buy. I've driven the new Mercedes and Volvos. It's going to be hard to find a car with the kind of power combined with plush interior and soft ride.
Agreed!
U got it honey. I have 2 v10 audi,s a s6 and s8 . And a rs6 twin turbo v10. I love them.
Try 2008 Mercedes-Benz s600.
I have a s6 v10 with 42 k on it phantom black the cleanest you will ever find . I may sell it it had 1 owner . That Person was a celebrity i won't share that info till i sell it someday.
Great videos man! You should blur your home address incase some hater gets jealous of what you have
Not a bad idea. Thanks!
Great job! Thanks for the useful information.
Very good review! Thx you. Considering buying one.
Control Arm bushing go bad because it’s on air suspension. The car being raised lower and higher puts more strain on a cars control arms, more specifically the bushings. Take it from me, I have aftermarket air suspension on my car, the control arm bushings bushings go out faster than normally
Nice video! I feel like you hit the main points on the head. I'm in the market and most of the ones available have at least a couple of the issues you mentioned. Hard to find one that is pristine but most things can be fixed diy which is great. Was your car white at delivery? Have never seen one before!
Yes, they are getting very hard to find. Mine was white from the factory and I have only seen a couple other white ones on the Facebook groups. White seems to be very uncommon. Good luck on your search!
So, if you ever have to dump a bunch of $ into your air suspension, would you consider just going with an aftermarket system, i.e. Accuair, or Airlift?
I would definitely consider aftermarket options if that ever comes up.
Honestly, I'd just go with coilovers if any of the corners started having problems...
at 300 bucks for used good quality bags; given the simplicity of the DIY struts, its a no-brainer to just keep the same air setup. I understand other parts can fail in the suspension system; however, i mainly see bags exploding or either leaking being the common culprit. You should want to retain that smooth ride, If you wanted a VW PASSAT you should've got one.
If your coilovers make you think of a stock Passat, then you don't know how to setup coilovers...
j phillips I don't see how coilovers compare to air shocks..... I put coilovers on my 87 lincoln continetal because I couldn't source the factory originals.
Yes. Luxury car maintenance cost, I remember this. These old cars are a hobby, and you need a sizable wallet to give the car a worthy home. Alternatively, you can become an expert on hunting down 2nd hand parts and learning about the marvellous cars a lot. Be aware you might break other stuff while trying to repair it. 😅
Oil changes sound expensive, but if it has to be done every 5-10k, that’s pretty much a price worth to pay 🤷🏾♂️ insurance may be something to look into, although I just turned 25 last Thursday and if I could find the best insurance, that may be less of a problem
Very helpful video, thank you for honesty advice.
Good video and sage advice. If you can’t afford it new, you can’t afford it used. These cars are fun to drive and the S6 and S8 both have a huge sleeper element - few people know the kind of car you’re driving, which can be nice. But maintenance is key. There’s a reason these cars depreciate and well-heeled owners trade them in after 3-4 years.
bullshit. you cannot afford them new but you can buy them used just fine as they are worth a fraction. when new you will have no expenses due to warranty. when used, you will NEVER dump 120k on repairs into one to match the new price tag. im so tired of stupids spewing shit like "cant afford new cant afford used". think for a second what you are even saying.
The trunk motors on the early 2007 S8 were made of plastic and tend to run out of power. They need to be changed for a later model made from aluminum. The motor in the variable speed air dam for the sunroof tends to tire out pretty quick and makes noise every time it adjusts to the car speed.
I bought a 08' TT used several years ago with 36K & have been extremely fortunate to still have it running flawlessly still with 92K. My only repairs have been both window regulators $750 each, other then that just regular maintenance cost. It does have the VR6 motor (Naturally aspirated ) which is very durable & simple engine. I love the car, I have the dealer replace parts despite them still working properly E.G the coil packs & fuel filter to prevent the fuel pump from failing. My TT has no scheduled replacement for the fuel filter & if it gets dirty it can cause the fuel pump to burn itself out which can add hundreds to the repair bill VS just replacing the fuel filter every 60K or 80K miles. THX, nice video !!
Sometimes the air conditioning vent lights and some red led’s stay off! The problem is the armrest, there are some lights inside the armrest that the wiring will create a short circuit, take it apart and replace the wiring, about an hour of work! Then replace the 1 AMP, yes 1A fuse, I don’t remember the side of the fuse panel, but it’s the 1A CLEAR LED that burns with the short circuit. This cars have over 70 fuses total, located on both sides when opening the front doors you will see the fuse box! Good luck ahh and oil change every 15k miles mobil 1 15k... the filter is huge and need to remove the air filter and a fog light to DIY...
Checking the coolant would be my number one check ive seen dealers use normal coolant when there is big message on the cap. Coolant should be pink in these. If its not walk away and save your $$$.
Very useful info. Thx a lot for sharing
I agree with a lot of the things he said I bought my A8 when I was 19 and maintaining is important the easiest easy way to cut the cost is to buy your own parts people bring them to a shop that works on foreign cars so your only paying for labor same thing with oil buy the oil and filter have a shop put it in
Thanks for the tips. Looking to get an S8 becauze of that V10 and salary isn't at the R8 or RS7 range so I'm looking to get a poors man R8 or RS7 lol. I'm a big DIY guy so I can do most of the stuff myself I can do electronic work but I hate it so I'll keeps a heads up on buttons and the carbon build up can be minimized with an oil catch can that I've had to do with my Ecoboost F150 since the twin turbos v6 is built the same with injectors spraying below the valves and twin turbos build a lot of carbon.
Thanks for watching! It's a great car and with proper maintenance it can stay that way. Catch can isn't a bad idea. Thanks!
I agree with you. I am the third owner 140,000 on it mostly it's the curb rash from the previous owner's wife unfortunately LOL but true and thank God for warranty . I hope everybody listens to your wisdom it's very true
Thanks man!
Fellow Minnesotan, would love an s8 but I'm scared of repairs, someone I know has a previous generation a8 and had to lift the engine aut to change the starter, for $2000, I feel like that would be a normal cost with the V10 s8 for regular maintenance.
Yes. Unfortunately that’s the name of the game with these things. Cost isn’t getting any better as they age either.
There’s one on autotrader right now with 308,000 miles, so, there’s that...
ha ha, you speaking so strange about this car. we in Europe do not look so suspision or carefully. its just a car. I have A8 D3 with 320 000km, and I replaced first air strut on that car at 315 000km. many of them here with 500 000km and still runs strong. And I owe 4.2tdi bi turbo 5.5s to 100km/h.
if u want to buy european car u should make sure they made in germany 🇩🇪 not in mexico cuz it will give u so much problem. It’s not necessary to take your car to dealership because dealership it will charge you three times triple take somewhere else regular mechanic. i have experience and i know that u can take your car to Dealership only if your car under warranty otherwise don’t send your car to dealership
Thank You Again!
Just bought one, $16.!
Feeling timmed.
Looks great! I see them as 4 door Lamborghini's with that v10! 😊
I just got one with 52 k miles original the fucker hauls ass has front cross drilled rotors i have a s6 v10 i love it.
Thanks for the video man! I'm just looking to get one of these as well. Just really trying to do my research so I'm going to be hitting all your videos and subscribing!
Great video. How do you clean the intake valves?
By any chance the Audi S8 that you said you looked at with the mirror falling out was a 2008 Audi S8 located in Tulsa Arizona?
Yes, it was a 2008, but it was in Phoenix. It was a Russian guy that said he was the original owner's son. I found paperwork in the car with the original owner's phone number, so I called him and he explained the actual history on the car and told me the Russian guy was definitely not his son. The dude was just lying and trying to flip the car for double what he paid for it. It was in really bad shape.
I have a D2 S8... Video's coming soon!
the only one thing you need to know before buying anything: every product has a target market, so does the AUDI S8. if you dont fit in the group. dont force.
When are you going to do the video on your viper?
I will have a few here and there, but they will mostly come after I'm done with the grandpa truck build.
AKA - the only car to buy is Certified Pre-Owned. Brand new is a huge hit on depreciation and generic pre-owned...
I am making my C2 1998 A8 my project. I appreciate your advice. I love my Audi's, and luckily do the work myself with the exception of my 2012 A6. Any issues with your trans yet?
I have an 05 A8 and the S8 scares me with all the engine out services. It took me 20hrs to put a starter in my A8 and I think the s8 May be engine out
The D3 air suspension is the most expensive one around $1000 with aftermarket part. If you are lucky you can find $300 part from Amazon or eBay. The same year BMW and Mercedes only cost $300 for single air suspension. I have no ideal why Audi's air ride is so expensive.
....but that saving on the BMW is wiped out by failure of the Dynamic Drive system which is mega bucks ....unless the D3 also has Active Sway Bars?
Did your engine light go off I hear the intakes will throw a code at 80k
Hi, great video. Im thinking of buying a 2006 S8. You talk about carobone build up. Is it ok to use sea foam liquid to clean away the carbone deposits in your opinion? After what i heard it works great. Best regards, Roger/Norway
Looking at a 07 S8.... should I go for it or nah?
I think it is much better to buy a 2009 S550 Much more luxury car with less maintenance, audi is too complicated
You sure not to worry about buying any other car with good paint and interior problems? Seems like these rules specifically apply to an Audi S8 with a V10 in it.
One last thing is that if a pre-cat lambda fails B1S1, B2S1 - the whole engine needs to be dropped at least 20 cm in order to replace.
Hmm. That sounds terrible...
Good vid your car is clean like mine I have carbon fiber inside for trim.
Crash bar really ruins the whole look smh
Is it reliable car as daily drive!??
Fuck ya i drive mine daily
Are you going to delete the mufflers in the future??
That's for me to know and you to find out. LOL
AboMyDyingBride
Moron !
What about intake monifold ? :) I have same audi S8 V10 for 6 years now and i get almost bankrupt for those 6 years paid about twice car cost :) ... So this car is not expensive to buy but to drive it everyday is much more expensive then driving 2022 S class. for sure.. :)
Did you ever do your ignition coil recall on the 07 S8? I bought an 09 S8 in hopes that most little problems have been sorted
I would have to go look through the maintenance records. The lady I bought it from bought it certified pre-owned from the Audi dealer, so there's a pretty good chance they took care of any recalls during the CPO process.
I have a s6 v10 09 with 46k on it and a 2011 s8 with 21k v10. They are expensive you throw a 100$ bill at it just walking buy it. But they are great dependable cars . Computers can be finiky but they are great if kept up and if you can do some work on your own the s8 i may sell or my rs6.
Hello there. I purchased a 2007 Audi S8, black on black with carbon fiber inserts from my friend about 4 years ago. Currently it has approx. 115,00.00 miles on it. It's been well maintained, but I am running into issues with it. The driver side window wouldn't roll up. I took it to West Covina Audi. They charged about $1,000.00 to install a new window regulator. The lt. front air bag is leaking. I purchased air bags for it thru E-bay for approx. $675.00. They are the incorrect ones even thou the seller said that they would work on a s8. This weekend I will be removing those and installing new Arnott Strut assemblies. They cost me $1,500.00. Audi dealer wanted about $5,000.00 for parts and labor. A oil change costs about $350.00 from the dealer. full coverage Insurance with a $500.00 deductible is about $1,200.00 a year. There is a cooling hose fitting located at the rear of the engine, passenger side, that will decompose from the hot coolant sitting against it. You can't buy the fitting by it self, you have to by the coolant hose attached to it. The small hose is about $200.00 for just the part. I changed out about 6 small coolant hoses below the engine and around the trans. Also you need special hose clamp pliers that have a cable on them so you can reach into areas you can't even see... Luckily I have a friend with a car lift. The CV boots will rot out and throw grease out. They will need attention too. Don't play Metallica to loud on the stereo system, you will blow the base speaker. $$$ I learned the hard way. Other than this... The car is fennaminal to drive and thru the roof $$ to maintain... Oh ya and my friend who I bought the s8 from, bought a 2018 audi s7 dual turbo v-8. What a car.. So what's in my future?
Wow! A lot of valuable info here! Thanks for sharing. Yes, definitely not cheap to maintain.
isnt there an airbag recall? I got a card in the mail
Phenomenal*
@@Neil542 ...haha..., i guess you really liked ukrainianhetman's post
I'm hoping grammarly is in your future...
I found just like this car up for sale don’t have much information about it has no maintenance record it’s in very good condition from outside and the interior looks nice the one I found is silver with silver interior V10 of course and he asked 12k $ for it didn’t have any information about the motor or transmission I just wanted to know what look for in this car before I buy it how to know it’s a good one or not what is the common problem in this car ?? Please help guys
Yes your video help me alot but anything you can add I will be very thankful
Major oil leaks under the front hood
Sound like typical outrageous Audi dealership costs to me. Would you buy another S8 V10 having owned this one?
My '07 Audi S8 doesn't have a rear center door for skies or a rear boot door for skies?
So you had it a year. That isnt that long to own a car
When record a video use a tripod
found a 2007 with 50k for 17k
1st time to hear about it, but it's amazing car
Timing chain tensioners? Is that still a 100k mile service? Please anyone answer this with actual knowledge and experience.
S8 stands for Short 8. Get the A8L W12 version. Why by the 8 if it’s the size of the current A6?
tompparaideri S8 is the “sporty” model of the A8, hence the V10. It does not stand for short. The regular A8 can come in short wheelbase or long wheelbase. The L stands for long wheelbase.
prieck78 I was being sarcastic because i hate the short wheel base versions and the S model doesn’t come in LWB.
Are there any other maintenance points on the 5.2 at the 100k mark? Gaskets, ignition system issues, cooling system issues, brittle plastic etc... also maintenance on the transmission system...
The only other thing I can think of is coil packs. I’ve read that those can have issues after a while, but they are fairly easy to replace and only about $20 a piece.
Auto Detour that’s how my 4.2 was, really no issues in the heart ... thanks again ...
There is a sweet one 5.2 s8 for 16k in AZ,72k miles looks garaged and nice car,ill wait another year and get one then.
100k miles is time to plan for the timing chain service.
Veikra not true
My s6 v10 needs a full 11 quarts every 5000 shits annoying
You should check out @Roni_ he is thr guy who custom made his own rs6 out of a usa s6 body styling and all. His old project was a v10 s6 with rear mount turbo. Really wish we got the badass rs6 models here in the usa like the c7 and c6 rs6. I'd love a bi turbo v10 awd sports sedan.
What's reliability on the engine and transmission
this things got a kick ass engine...but the V6 on the newer gen is still quicker lol
Dave Synder a V6 S8? Quicker? 450 hp S8 vs a 310 hp ish 3.0T A8, not as fast. Not even close.