Looking to buy 2014 Audi S7 Prestige w/ 245k miles on the clock. How crazy am I? :)

[halik008]

So let me pre-face it by saying I am a grease monkey with few high mileage and modified German cars. Pulling engines and trans out isn't something new or scary for me.

Anyways. I am considering getting 2014 S7 with 245k miles on the clock. Single owner car. Right now I am in process of seeing if the Audi dealer that maintained the car since new will be willing to share the maintenance history. CARFAX is clean but only real records are generic tire, brakes, etc

So with that said, are their any particulars I should watch for? I am aware of the turbo/oil strainer/pcv issues. Or am I in uncharted territory and leading the pack in terms of mileage?

[RAUDIRS6]

More data please.

Is this a second car for you?
How much is it?
I did a quick search and found examples with half that mileage for $20k, so that would have to be a great deal to buy one with 250k miles.

My first Audi was a 2003 RS6. It broke within 1,000 miles of ownership and I ended up buying a Kia to drive while I dropped the drive train and replaced the transmission. It took months to complete the project.


Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[halik008]

More data please.

Is this a second car for you?
How much is it?
I did a quick search and found examples with half that mileage for $20k, so that would have to be a great deal to buy one with 250k miles.

My first Audi was a 2003 RS6. It broke within 1,000 miles of ownership and I ended up buying a Kia to drive while I dropped the drive train and replaced the transmission. It took months to complete the project.


Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

It would effectively be a 4th car for the time being.... E90 N54, B6 A4 1.8T, F25 X3 N55 already in the stables.

Looking at $13-$14k price.

[RAUDIRS6]

Sounds like you're the right guy for the car.

Price is right in the middle of KBB projections, but man, it is hard to imagine spending that much for that many miles.

Basic questions:

When were the turbos replaced?

Have the valves been cleaned?
(I think it requires engine removal.)(someone correct me if I'm wrong)(usually non-issue, but this is HIGH mileage)

Independent Inspection?

I hope others chime in with high mileage examples.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[halik008]

Sounds like you're the right guy for the car.

Price is right in the middle of KBB projections, but man, it is hard to imagine spending that much for that many miles.

Basic questions:

When were the turbos replaced?

Have the valves been cleaned?
(I think it requires engine removal.)(someone correct me if I'm wrong)(usually non-issue, but this is HIGH mileage)

Independent Inspection?

I hope others chime in with high mileage examples.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

I have reached out to the Audi dealer that serviced it since new to get the maintenance history. Not sure if they will be willing to send it to me but hope so. Carfax history only gives limited maintenance info.

I'm sure the valves haven't been cleaned but shouldn't be a huge issue as I haven't heard 4.0T's going thru a whole lot of oil between changes. I'm familiar with it from my E90 though. Have to yank the intake this spring to clean it before I start driving again.

I would be inspecting the vehicle myself and will bring VCDS and OBD11 along for the fun. :)

[Valpo A7]

It looks damn clean but Car Gurus has it listed as overpriced. Says it’s about $4,000 over their value algorithm.

According to the Carfax mileage it has had less than 10,000 miles put on it since March 2021 as well. It’s bounced around a few used lots and was sold at auction to the current dealer. I suspect it will sit for some time yet before it’s sold and the price should start coming down.

Some good news on the Carfax is its history. It’s been serviced about every 10,000 miles except a few off times when it went in for brakes or tires. The bad news is most of the work is pretty genericly listed. I know you said you have no issues working on it but this might be worth getting a PPI to get all the known problems looked at. The previous owner certainly did not neglect it and probably had everything done to it when it needed it. You might have issues getting a history from the dealer before buying it though. Many are stingee with that info until after you buy it and can prove ownership.


EDIT: Just re read your post asking about known problems. I think you hit the main list of things. Motor mounts, front suspension, air suspension, trans service, potential clutch replacements in the DSG. Check the launch counter but I bet it’s below 10. I think you can check timing chains with VCDS or so I have read on here.

[RLCree]

The ONLY vehicle I'd pay more than 10k for with those miles is a Toyota. I wouldn't run from the car, but I wouldn't pay that price either.

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

Sounds like you're the right guy for the car.

Price is right in the middle of KBB projections, but man, it is hard to imagine spending that much for that many miles.

Basic questions:

When were the turbos replaced?

Have the valves been cleaned?
(I think it requires engine removal.)(someone correct me if I'm wrong)(usually non-issue, but this is HIGH mileage)

Independent Inspection?

I hope others chime in with high mileage examples.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

I’d also ask is the trans a ZF or dual clutch beast…..? Cats ok?


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[halik008]

I’d also ask is the trans a ZF or dual clutch beast…..? Cats ok?


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

DSG. I'm not worried about the cats, no emission inspections in my state. :)

[apperception]

Well, you asked and I'll take your question at your word. Having recently retired my professorship in psychology, a licensed mental health professional, and an Audi enthusiast for more than forty years...

I hereby diagnosis you as Batshi$ crazy!
On the other hand, you seem to love a challenge and to solve problems as well as the requisite skills (I am envious) you are not mentally ill. Do what brings you joy!

Larry in Georgia

[RedS-line]

turbos, cats, air suspension, electric gremlins like the elec seats, I would offer 10.5k at best and let them think about it, no one else is crazy enough to go over 10k

[MattyMarkey]

Only crazy part of this, would be paying $13-14k for the car with that many miles. Even with the impeccable service records.

This isn’t a Toyota with the 4.7


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jayskywalkers7]

Ehhhh nah man 245k miles at 16k is crazy. You can get a 16' for 30k at like 70-80k miles. even an A7 would be a better idea and tune it.

[wangshuo1989]

With that mileage I'd pay $5000, and that would be the first $5000 you will be paying for that car. A lot of expensive shit can go wrong.

[vu_]

Ehhhh nah man 245k miles at 16k is crazy. You can get a 16' for 30k at like 70-80k miles. even an A7 would be a better idea and tune it.

The dealer that is selling this car won't negotiate on price sadly. I am from the state where this S7 is for sale at and they are known for overpricing every single car on their lot. Most cars there have issues and are covered up.


Unless they are willing to negotiate (which they won't) I wouldn't buy this car for that price.

[A665]

The only reason I'd even consider buying this vehicle at asking price is if I have a compulsion to dump lots of money, time and effort into a low-return, constant-nightmare project. There are thousands of other vehicles out there that offer a much more attractive cost vs reward ratio.

[Jayskywalkers7]

The only reason I'd even consider buying this vehicle at asking price is if I have a compulsion to dump lots of money, time and effort into a low-return, constant-nightmare project. There are thousands of other vehicles out there that offer a much more attractive cost vs reward ratio.

Fr please don't buy this car LOL

[halik008]

The only reason I'd even consider buying this vehicle at asking price is if I have a compulsion to dump lots of money, time and effort into a low-return, constant-nightmare project. There are thousands of other vehicles out there that offer a much more attractive cost vs reward ratio.

I wouldn't but it at asking. It didn't sell at $1k under their asking at the last dealer hah.

[Valpo A7]

The dealer has not budged off the price at all yet so it might be a while before it does. That price tag for an S7 is probably generating a lot of clicks on line which is making it seem like there is a lot of real interest in the car. The mileage is making most run away.

Without knowing the history of what was done makes it hard to decide on the quality of the car at this mileage but it appears to have been to a dealer every 10k miles and several times in between for other things. At this mileage the car is best suited to a mechanic who can do their own work. The engine and trans are the main concerns with the life left in them. Replacement engines are not cheap but a rebuild kit is certainly an option. Transmissions can be bought or rebuilt as well. Rear diffs (non sport) are not difficult to rebuild, usually it’s just bearings, seals and a shim kit to reset the gears. Wheel bearings are not bad, suspension can be done as well.

The electronics are the wild card here. Nothing typically cheap if you are buying new from Audi. But fortunately there are several sources of decent used parts.

This is best suited for an Audi enthusiast that knows how to wrench. This S7 is only 20k more miles than my A7 and I would think nothing about driving my A7 to Alaska and back from Chicago.