B8 S5 V8 - timing chain and overall reliability?

[Albrekt]

Hello everyone,

So I’ve decided to shop around for a b8 s5 v8, but I’ve been reading a lot about the timing chains, or rather the guides going wrong.

Is this true?
Or is it ONLY on the B7 S4 V8?

I’ve read a lot of different statements, but I cant figure if it is only for the old b7 s4 v8?


Any other stuff I should be aware of, before buying a S5 V8?

(Going for the V8 because i absolutely love the sound of it, and I don’t plan to mod the car)

[misterdray]

from experience with a few buddies who have bought S4's from auctions etc., Any 4.2L is going to have timing issues around 100k miles+ .at that point the engine basically needs to come out as the timing is on the rear of the engine closest to the firewall. This is the biggest gripe I hear from them and is the entire reason I didn't go that route. Other than that a supercharged 4.2L will throw you back in the seat pretty nice!

Sent from my SM-N976U using Audizine mobile app

[hahnmgh63]

I'm not sure if the B8 4.2's have the same issues as early as the B7's but I have a 98k mi. RS5 4.2 sitting on a stand in my shop and the guides are in very good condition. This engine came out of a car with mostly dealer servicing at the normal service intervals, nothing extra (as in a little shorter intervals than Audi specified) in Mx. I'm curious to see if the B8 3.0t are doing a lot better than the old 3.0/3.2 as supposedly Audi improved their timing chain/guide setup. I try to keep my oil change intervals in the 6~8k range as oil quality is a big factor in the plastic wearing but age/heat cycles are also a big factor in the plastic getting brittle.

[Hippiekiller]

from experience with a few buddies who have bought S4's from auctions etc., Any 4.2L is going to have timing issues around 100k miles+ .at that point the engine basically needs to come out as the timing is on the rear of the engine closest to the firewall. This is the biggest gripe I hear from them and is the entire reason I didn't go that route. Other than that a supercharged 4.2L will throw you back in the seat pretty nice!

Sent from my SM-N976U using Audizine mobile app

This is not the same engine as the S4's. Please don't comment if you don't know.


OP, completely different engine than the B6-B7 S4 4.2L. The V8 S5 doesn't have the timing chain issues.

[Sazexa]

The V8 S5 does NOT have timing chain issues prematurely as the B6/7 4.2L does.

The B8 S5 4.2L has updated chain guides. Mine is at ~123,000. Zero signs of chain or tensioner wear, fatique, slap, etc.

[430hps4]

I had the 4.2FSI in my 08 Touareg. GREAT motor, with zero timing chain issues at well over 100k miles. My 3.0t in my 14 A6, lots of rattle at startup, and similar mileage as the Toaureg.

I still like both engines. But the rattle is annoying. Id imagine the pre-fsi 4.2s were similar.