Buying a used Q5 - what to look for or avoid

[Valpo A7]

So I am trying to get the wife to buy in to replacing her Jeep Patriot in the near future and I have been looking at a Q5 for her to go along with my 2012 A7.

I really like the 3.0 in the A7 and I know it can be a solid motor. Mine has over 200K on it relatively trouble free. But the 3.0 is not a must have for me. I think I would be happy with the 2.0 as long as it was a 2013 or newer. I draw the line at 2013 because of the older engine oil consumption problems I have read about on other Audi platforms. Our A7 consumes a bit but nothing drastic.

I know I want the in dash nav system but beyond that they all look decently optioned. The B&O sound system would be nice but its not a deal breaker. We actually really like the Bose in the A7.

Buying used means I understand there will be a few miles on it. With the 3.0 I am not too concerned with buying a 100K mile car but I don't have that confidence with the 2.0. Not because it might be warranted just not familiar with the engine platform.

We are not looking for a performance monster and it will not get tuned. Just a daily driver. The extent of mods might be a K&N air filter and probably step up to ceramic pads, maybe cross drilled and slotted rotors if the price is right. Maybe some VCDS mods as well.

Maintenance will be on me, my local dealer is not cheap. They want $200 for an oil change on the A7. And I already have the VCDS system to help with maintenance

Its just gonna be a daily driver that we can take camping from time to time and haul crap in the back end of it. It will see snow, mud, ice, highway and town driving. It will not be a garage queen.


So as the title says, what to look for and what to avoid.

[Norskie]

I have a 3.0T and from what I see on these forums, and my own, family and co-worker Audi experiences, the 2.0T is not a good choice for ownership outside of a warranty.

When you look at 3.0T's listen for the timing chain rattle on cold starts. Unlike the 2.0T or V8's it isn't supposed to cause any damage but when buying, that's your opportunity to avoid the annoyance (or convince the seller to fix it ... or lower the price).

The other main complain is the sunroof rattle. That's a $2500 repair. Most commonly it will be heard when it's closed and going over bumpy roads.

Steering rack leaks (and replacements) were common on models before 2015. 2015+ is your best bet.

If you end up with an SQ5 be forewarned that the 21" tire sizes are hard to get and pricey ... about $300/tire in 255/40/21 .. unless you're willing to try something off Amazon etc.

[riceboy22]

Not much to add to what Norskie shared already. The 2.0T timing chain tensioner issue has a dedicated thread though: THE Timing Chain Tensioner Failure Thread

[snowzach]

When you look at 3.0T's listen for the timing chain rattle on cold starts. Unlike the 2.0T or V8's it isn't supposed to cause any damage but when buying, that's your opportunity to avoid the annoyance (or convince the seller to fix it ... or lower the price).
....
Steering rack leaks (and replacements) were common on models before 2015. 2015+ is your best bet.

Don't let the 3.0t rattle scare you unless it persists after a second... I've owned a ton of Audis and almost all the V6's rattle when they start if they've been sitting a little bit. It's just how Audi does tensioners/lifters. Heh, you could use it as a bargaining chip. The 3.0t is one of the best engines made though.

I have a 2013 and my steering rack is electric. I think 2012 was the last year to have hydraulic power steering. You can pretty much be sure that if you buy a used Audi with hydraulic power steering, it's leaking. I just bought probably my 10th Audi (2002 TT) and it's gushing like a sieve. I joke they switched to electric because they couldn't make one that didn't leak. And the "noise insulation" panel that covers the bottom of the engine bay is really a diaper. ;-) I've not had too many other serious leaks other than PS fluid though.

[Valpo A7]

Alright then sounds like the 2.0 is not an engine to go with then.

Is the sunroof a DIY repair or a dealer painful and expensive experience?

[riceboy22]

You can check out the Thread: Calling all Q5 owners with non-rattling sunroof a few posts down. I'm trying to triage my sunroof rattle myself, but otherwise the entire frame gets replaced which is $2500+.

Alright then sounds like the 2.0 is not an engine to go with then.

Is the sunroof a DIY repair or a dealer painful and expensive experience?

[Valpo A7]

Don't let the 3.0t rattle scare you unless it persists after a second... I've owned a ton of Audis and almost all the V6's rattle when they start if they've been sitting a little bit. It's just how Audi does tensioners/lifters. Heh, you could use it as a bargaining chip. The 3.0t is one of the best engines made though.

I have a 2013 and my steering rack is electric. I think 2012 was the last year to have hydraulic power steering. You can pretty much be sure that if you buy a used Audi with hydraulic power steering, it's leaking. I just bought probably my 10th Audi (2002 TT) and it's gushing like a sieve. I joke they switched to electric because they couldn't make one that didn't leak. And the "noise insulation" panel that covers the bottom of the engine bay is really a diaper. ;-) I've not had too many other serious leaks other than PS fluid though.

Nope not really worried about it. I have a 2012 A7 with 200K on the motor and it rattles every morning but runs like a scalded ape.

In looking around my area there are a TON of the 2.0 for sale and just a few 3.0 for sale. For the 2.0 you guys mentioned the tensioner failing and there is a new design being installed new. What year did they start putting in the new tensioner design?

I have not ventured into the sunroof rattle thread but I was just viewing a thread over at Audiworld and it seems that for the posters there the replacement track does not always fix the rattle. There was 1 poster that uses BLASTER Dry Lube with Teflon to spray down the track and it fixes the rattle for 10 - 12 months.

[S4'ed]

Nope not really worried about it. I have a 2012 A7 with 200K on the motor and it rattles every morning but runs like a scalded ape.

In looking around my area there are a TON of the 2.0 for sale and just a few 3.0 for sale. For the 2.0 you guys mentioned the tensioner failing and there is a new design being installed new. What year did they start putting in the new tensioner design?

I have not ventured into the sunroof rattle thread but I was just viewing a thread over at Audiworld and it seems that for the posters there the replacement track does not always fix the rattle. There was 1 poster that uses BLASTER Dry Lube with Teflon to spray down the track and it fixes the rattle for 10 - 12 months.

Avoid the 2.0T, even after 2013, when most of the improvements/fixes were phased-in, there are still some problems with this engine design. The 3.0T is bulletproof compared to the 2.0T.
If you must have a 2.0T, don't buy earlier than a 2015.

Whatever Q5 you buy, have the transmission fluid and filter changed. Don't use a "generic" ATF fluid, only use the specific type required, branded from Audi, or ZF, or Ravenol. And make sure the mechanic knows the proper fill procedure, which needs a scan tool to measure the fluid temp to set the proper level of fluid.