Audi SQ5 (2018 or 2019) Am I Buying A Garage Bill ?

Bint Box

Bint Box

Bint Box

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Hi,

I have half heartedly been looking out for an Audi Q5 with full leather interior, Reg. 2020 to 2022.
However, most of the local dealers have the mixed leather/fabric models.

For the same money, I can probably get an few years older Audi SQ5 with the 3.0L petrol or diesel engine and guaranteed full leather interior.
For the 3.0L diesel model, my thoughts are that an extra 10K or so miles on the clock compared to a petrol model might reduce the price slightly at no expense to engine wear?

If I am prepared to take the risk of a car auction purchase for a 2018/2019 SQ5 I can probably shave £4K to £5K off dealers forecourt prices, perhaps a little more?
Am I buying a garage bill?


Thx
 
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Armageus said:
My concern would by why is it at a car auction rather than on a dealer forecourt in the first place?
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I take your point, it is one of the reasons why I thought to ask.

Volksvagen Financial Services send quite a few cars through auctions, some just less than one year old, others older, possibly ex lease cars?
Not sure if one of these cars would be less likely to come with a hidden gift such as a repair bill?
 
Bint Box said:
I take your point, it is one of the reasons why I thought to ask.

Volksvagen Financial Services send quite a few cars through auctions, some just less than one year old, others older, possibly ex lease cars?
Not sure if one of these cars would be less likely to come with a hidden gift such as a repair bill?
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I'm sure there's someone here with a bit more experience in the industry but I can't think of any particularly good reasons.

Even cars with incomplete service histories and the like end up at main dealers (albeit not as warranty backed manufacturer approved used stock), or car supermarkets. Very young Ex lease cars are normally bought by places like motorpoint
 
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The 3L engines aren’t great they have two common problems the pre 2019 ish petrols have weak rocker arms about 4k to replace with the revised part if you catch it before they take the engine out.

The diesel’s have a variable oil pump and are coded to reduce the oil pressure after a run in period to improve efficiency when the engines reach higher mileage they’ve worn the timing chain and cams another 3/4k to sort depending when you catch it. You can get a software tweak that ups the oil pressure to prevent this. What is interesting the Porsche's with the same engine don’t lower the oil pressure and have far less issues at higher mileage.
 
Dangerous Dave said:
The 3L engines aren’t great they have two common problems the pre 2019 ish petrols have weak rocker arms about 4k to replace with the revised part if you catch it before they take the engine out.

The diesel’s have a variable oil pump and are coded to reduce the oil pressure after a run in period to improve efficiency when the engines reach higher mileage they’ve worn the timing chain and cams another 3/4k to sort depending when you catch it. You can get a software tweak that ups the oil pressure to prevent this. What is interesting the Porsche's with the same engine don’t lower the oil pressure and have far less issues at higher mileage.
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Thank you for the info, it is useful, I have a couple of follow up questions if you can please help?
As you say, it seems both petrol and diesel 3.0L engines have weak points. I suppose the easiest fix is to look for a lower mileage diesel 3.0L and get the software tweak applied.

Would you happen to know the mileage point that the oil pump coding kicks in and reduces the oil pressure?
Secondly, would you know if the more recent SQ5 3.0L diesel engines still have the variable oil pump or has it been change to provide the the higher oil pressure setting irespective of the mileage?
 
I can't remember the mileage I think it was 1500 or 5000miles I personally wouldn't buy one other than direct from Audi and keep an extended warranty on it which is pretty cheap. Can end up with a 5 figure bill if more parts are worn.

I bet a few of the auction ones will have these faults and is the reason they are there.
 
I wouldn't consider running one without a warranty, as something will inevitably go wrong and it will be expensive.
Do you want a diesel? If not, have a look at the X3 M40i (or d, no idea if those are in budget)..
 
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You’re likely to be fine in a 3L petrol. One of the main issues is that Audi use a comparatively thin oil (20w5) as standard.

I asked Audi to specifically use 30w5 in the car - it does meet service spec, as it’s in their own service manual for the EA839, but they use 20w5 for some reason. I.e. it doesn’t void your warranty.
 
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Guys,

Thank you for all your replies and feedback.
I have to admit, I am wobbling a bit now, it seems a risky strategy to shell out +/- £30K to buy a potential garage bill for £5K to £10K?

From the feedback above, it seems the options are:
1. Go for a petrol version of the SQ5 later than 2019 to avoid the weak rocker arm issue and use a thicker grade oil that is still in service spec.
2. Go for a diesel version with low mileage, get the oil pump pressure software coding updated to higher pressure.
3. Go the dealer route for a car with main dealer warranty and renew the warranty when expired.

Option 4
Abandon the planned SQ5 purchase, go banger motoring and throw away the banger when clapped out, probably get five or six bangers for the same long term outlay?


Out of interest, would anyone please be able to tell me what the duration is of the Audi manufacturers warranty from the car being brand new, is it 3 years or is it mileage linked?
 
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Bint Box said:
Out of interest, would anyone please be able to tell me what the duration is of the Audi manufacturers warranty from the car being brand new, is it 3 years or is it mileage linked?
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3yrs / 60,000 I think, unless the original buyer optioned the 4yr/80k or 5yr/100k at purchase
 
Kenai said:
3yrs / 60,000 I think, unless the original buyer optioned the 4yr/80k or 5yr/100k at purchase
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Thank you.

I assume that if a used car less than 3 years old was purchased it would be covered by the original Audi manufacturers warranty until the 3 years was up, the warranty being extendable by purchase of a further period of warranty direct from Audi? Or is it only Audi dealers who can sell Approved Used Car waranties to customers buying a used car from them?
 
Bint Box said:
Thank you.

I assume that if a used car less than 3 years old was purchased it would be covered by the original Audi manufacturers warranty until the 3 years was up, the warranty being extendable by purchase of a further period of warranty direct from Audi? Or is it only Audi dealers who can sell Approved Used Car waranties to customers buying a used car from them?
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You could buy an extended warranty (I don't think 'All In' covers engines over 2.0) which isn't quite the same thing as an AUC warranty I don't think but will be broadly similar depending on whether you select full cover, named components etc.
 
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