B8 buying advice - 3.2L vs 2.0T reliability advice and model features?

[DougL]

TLDR:

This is long, if you want to chip in your two cents without reading - I understand. I'm shopping for a Automatic B8 and trying to decide which motor is more reliable and understand if 2.0T's came with HID/AFS headlights mostly. If you read the whole thing- thanks! Please remember this car power-wise will remain 100% stock for the most part. So advice like buy a 2.0T because with a chip it will be faster than a 3.2L doesn't really matter to her (it would if it was my car). I'm looking for reliability and drivability. I'm more than mechanically inclined, have a big garage, don't have a lot of time these days though- I don't want to pull her motor to do a chain job year one.

The full story

My fiancé hit a deer in her MK6 Jetta (totaled it) so we are on the market for a used Automatic A4. B8's are in her price range and seem to come with enough features to keep us happy. B7's are cheaper, but it's a smaller car (same as my B6, which I feel tight in at 6'2") and it seems that some of the nice features like cell phone dash integration aren't there and 2008 (B7 Avant) is the only year to get.

As far as B8 features go I am wondering what the story is with the different trim levels of 2.0T vs the 3.2L. I used an Edmunds (yes, ) spreadsheet type website last night showing me that the 2.0T "Premium Plus" pretty much didn't come with HID's or AFS headlights, no auto-dimming rear view mirror, no folding mirrors, etc.- is this true?

I'm trying to determine what the best motor choice is for her then understand what features each package comes with. Any links to posts or advice is really appreciated! We have about a week or two to find her a car. Please remember this car power-wise will remain 100% stock for the most part. She doesn't drive fast and I own a few other cars I make unreliable for fun. She will get EBC Red Stuff pads, good tires and quality fluids all around- that's about it. Maybe I'll flash a 2.0T. Maybe.

3.2L
I have read about the 3.2L having a chain issue, however, I also saw that you can check a vagcom block to determine chain stretch. My brief reading shows that this is usually the upper tensioners- replace them with the motor still in the car and you're good to go? Can I put up to 200k on one of these? I've come to like NA power of my 330ci for daily driving and I notice 3.2's come loaded with OEM options most of the time which is one of the reasons I'm interested in this motor. 7-8 years ago I had a mk4 R32 that I loved to drive- I know different motor, but the comparison is turbo vs NA. Gas milage isn't an issue for her either. If a 3.2L is regarded as reliable I might look at A6's too.

2.0T (TSI - right?) seems to have it's fair share of issues. Tell me if this list is incorrect and what I should be looking out for? My future father-in-law has 190k on an 09' CC 2.0T with no major issues- so I am leaning towards this motor as long as I can find a car loaded with OEM options/lower miles.

1. Oil starvation issue - what's the deal? Long change intervals and thin oil spec'd from Audi?

2. Cam chain tensioner sudden failure- whats the deal here? These failed on 1.8T's but it was not a motor-destroying occurrence.

3. Oil pump driven by cam lobe with the hydrolic bucket wearing out? - is this FSI only and fixed in TSI's?

4. Early turbocharger failure- is this true or do people on the internet just complain a lot? I've had 100's of thousands of miles on 1.8T's with no issues.

Mechanical background: I'm a 1.8T guy. I've rebuilt complete motors and manual transmissions. Automatic transmissions terrify me because I know nothing about them. I've owned about 20 VAG cars over the last 15 years and done all of the work myself- but they were my cars. If I was stranded on the side of the road or was in the process of figuring a problem out I could deal with it and drive another one of my cars. Since I won't be daily driving this car I don't want her stranded and would like to do minimal work on it. I'm assuming the learning curve is low since I've owned a few older model A4's at this point, vagcom and I'll buy a Bentley and read the forum DIYs.

[doc_oc]

What year are you looking for?
I don't know much about the v6 engine.
So I will only speak about the 2.0 TFSI
3 major issues:oil consumption not starvation, timing chain tensioner failure and turbo failure.
All 3 issues covered under stickies on audizine.
2009-2012 had both oil consumption and tensioner issues.
They updated the tensioner design and it's all good now. Fairly easy to check which style you have and for you would be an easy job to replace anyways, since you know your way around a wrench.
Oil consumption issue, needed new pistons and rings. My car had it done at 145k kms and at 270k it's still not using more than a quart every 10k kms.
Turbo, search for "ticking while coasting".
All these issues seam to have been resolved 2012 and after.
2014 a newer engine CPMA/CPMB was used. Still a 2.0 TFSI but with few minor changes.
Hope this helps.
And I know you did, but search and read through the stickies. A lot more info than you could get here alone.


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[DougL]

Doc_Oc thank you for the 2.0T advice

I'll check out the stickies. The only thing that makes me say "hell no" on that list is the oil consumption issue. Was that every 2.0T but just a matter of when or was it if you're lucky?

[Marko S]

Not every B8 but a large portion. I think the more prevalent issue now is the chain tensioner. I'd recommend looking for a CPOd car just to be safe.

Also like to add that apparently the water pump craps out on these cars too. Something I just found out this week.. :/

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[mtroxel]

Doc_Oc thank you for the 2.0T advice

I'll check out the stickies. The only thing that makes me say "hell no" on that list is the oil consumption issue. Was that every 2.0T but just a matter of when or was it if you're lucky?

Seems to be Russian Roulette. I asked a dealer about it, and he told me it was all they did for a year or two. Now they don't do many at all. His point was, if you have the broken rings, you'll see symptoms pretty quickly. It seems that other A4's never have the problem.

[doc_oc]

Doc_Oc thank you for the 2.0T advice

I'll check out the stickies. The only thing that makes me say "hell no" on that list is the oil consumption issue. Was that every 2.0T but just a matter of when or was it if you're lucky?

Well, consumption is a non issue past 2012 IIRC.
Water pump is the first time I hear of a failure. Mind you, I'm not a dealer tech, but I've been spending quite a bit of time here. I bought a CPO 2014 Q5 with 2.0tfsi and 60k kms just 2 months ago.
In my 2010 A4 I'm in the process of swapping a 2015 CPMA 2.0tfsi engine.
Like it was said, CPO is the way to go. But it all depends on budget and model you are trying to get. Avant is not available past 2011 or 2012. You have to get an Allroad.
Options are another thing.
My 2.0 premium plus with bang olufsen speakers and navigation has hid and afs lights. Dimming rearview mirrors.
But I know nothing about option packages. :) Sorry


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[doc_oc]

Oh, the 2.0tsi from the B7 had an intake cam driven HPFP (high pressure fuel pump). That's not the case with the b8 2.0 TFSI
Also, oil pumps are chain driven on both engines.
The water pump is belt driven by the intake balance shaft. It's actually facing the back of the engine and when I talked to a tech he only replaced one water pump and reused the belt that still looked brand new.
Anecdotal evidence at best...But not nearly close to turbo failures or tc tensioner failures.
Good luck with your search!

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[Greg Nelson]

You do know that the A4 B8 3.2L (Tiptronic only) was available only in 2009 in North America?
Trim levels for both 3.2 and 2.0T were the same - Premium, Premium Plus & Prestige. Premium was bare bones, Premium Plus had significant extras, Prestige had lots of goodies.
With Prestige early on you could get S-Line package (exterior & interior enhancements).
3.2L: no oil consumption issues, have never heard of chain tensioner issues - although all Audi's seem to be susceptible in 90K mile range.

There's a thread "Official 3.2L Owners....." I created 7 years ago here.
My pics were hijacked by PhotoBucket awhile ago, sorry
Cheers

[Discipulus]

If you do end up with a 2.0 TFSI model, check the following:

1. Ask a dealer to see if the Pistons/Rings have been replaced already. If it has, then you're all set there. You can typically provide them a VIN to look this up.
2. Turbo failures were more common early on in the B8. My 2011 Premium Plus has not had any issues, and I've been running a stage 2 tune for a while now. I'm over 110k miles. I figure, if it fails I'll just have a reason to upgrade to a K04.
3. Timing chain AND Tensioner are BOTH a problem on the B8. A lot of attention was given to the tensioner, as that was an early/no warning failure part. HOWEVER, now that a lot of B8's are getting higher mileage we're starting to see timing chain stretching issues for those that did not replace the chain with the tensioner. Early model B8 had a different revision timing chain that was less beefy. Newer models tend to have the updated chain which should stretch less. Either way... check the tensioner via the access port on the front of the motor and if you have an old revision it's time to update it AND the timing chain at the same time.

Aside from those 3 things, nothing else is really "major" so to speak. I have heard of water pump failures but not enough to think of it as a huge problem with the B8 platform. Additionally, the water pump is not a hugely expensive part, and is certainly easier to replace than the timing chain.

As for trim levels, this sticky has some good info on it: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...uestion-Thread

Like @doc_oc said, the Premium Plus package does include a lot of nicer things, like auto-dimming mirror, HIDs, Tri-zone climate control. The link above will have more details.

I HIGHLY recommend getting one with the sport package, as that also gives you better seats with more adjustment options and a 3-spoke steering wheel which looks better.

Lastly, as others have mentioned 2009 was the only model year in the B8 generation to offer the 3.2L. As such, you'll find they're a little higher in mileage and slightly harder to come by due to being less common. In addition, because they are less common there just aren't as many aftermarket replacement parts available when compared to the nearly ubiquitous 2.0T meaning you'll be stuck buying OEM parts for $$$. At least, that's been my experience at almost every online parts store... the "choose your car" menu rarely has an option for the 3.2.

Given all that - I have also not heard bad things about the 3.2 in reliability. I've been on this forum for over a year now and I don't recall seeing posts about 3.2 problems.

Cheers!

[s14roller]

We have a 2009 3.2L (like previously mentioned, only available in 2009) and it has been very reliable. We have 145k miles on it, only "non routine" items have been water pump/thermostat @ 100K and recently just did spark plugs and coils.