All cars are different and require more maintenance depending on their age and driving history. With consistent maintenance from the start, your vehicle will run smoothly; an Audi is no different. The difference between brands is how often they have unexpected issues.
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Audi is a brand that has a certain level of credibility and regardless of its high maintenance costs. Despite its perceived luxury, all vehicles have problems, especially as they age, and an Audi is no exception.
Audi falls in the middle compared with other carmakers in terms of dependability. It ranks high for newer vehicles and low for older vehicles. Depending on the model of your Audi, you could be paying expensive maintenance costs for a vehicle that may no longer be worth the investment.
Luckily most repairs are simple maintenance tasks with the cost of the part and labor make up most of the expense. However, if the repair is unknown, more time will be spent searching and diagnosing the cause. The more time it takes a mechanic, the more money you will spend in the long run.
If you own an Audi or are interested in buying one, you may be concerned about maintenance costs. Most routine maintenance costs between $200 to $300 even though some services warrant a larger price. You can lower the cost of Audi maintenance by purchasing a warranty or insurance plan.
This blog will outline common Audi maintenance services and their costs. Where applicable, 2021 cost estimates are applied. These prices will vary depending on the model, location, and service.
Audi Recommended Maintenance Schedule
The manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule plays a large role in determining Audi maintenance costs.
Audi has highly specialized service schedules for each of its models which are divided into three classes: minor, standard, and additional.
Minor services should occur every 10,000 miles and include a brake system check, oil and filter change, multi-point inspection, and tire check.
Standard services should occur every 20,000 miles and includes all of the above-mentioned services as well as specific system checks and part replacements if needed.
Additional services vary depending on replacement. Every 60,000 miles the air filter should be replaced. Every two years, the brake fluid needs to be changed. Depending on the model, every 30,000 to 80,000 miles the spark plugs need to be replaced.
Important Routine Maintenance
If an Audi is maintained regularly, it will last longer and drive better without significant issues. Despite its luxury status, it doesn’t take much to service an Audi; some tasks you can do yourself in your own garage. In general, the most common services to have done routinely are:
- Oil changes
- Brake checks
- Tire rotations
- Battery check
Engines need new oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles depending on the vehicle model and age. The oil lubricates internal parts, therefore extending the life of the engine.
Brakes experience normal wear and tear and need to be checked and possibly replaced over time. Depending on how frequently you drive, it should be done once or twice a year.
The first thing to go on tires is the tread, creating a potentially dangerous driving situation. Rotating tires to a different spot can help, even though eventually they will need to be replaced.
To avoid a dead battery situation, check the charge of the battery periodically. Batteries normally last two to three years even though just like tires, they will eventually need to be replaced.
Routine Maintenance Costs
Audi vehicles offer high-quality construction and design, but their maintenance costs are not so friendly. Audi consistently ranks as one of the most expensive vehicles to maintain.
According to The Drive, the total maintenance costs of an average Audi over ten years is $12,500, in comparison to other brands like Toyota and Ford, which average $5,500 and $9,100.
The most common maintenance costs are:
- Oil change: $50 to $100
- Brake pad replacement: $100 to $400
- Battery replacement: $200 to $300
- Air filter replacement: $90 to $130
- Tire replacement: $150 to $350 per tire
These costs include the expense of replacement parts and the labor of a mechanic, however, if done on your own, the expense will be much less.
What Are Audi Repair Costs for Different Models?
Different Audi vehicles have different maintenance costs and repair costs. These costs include electrical component repair, spark plug and ignition coil repair, catalytic converter replacement, and valve cover replacement.
For the Audi A3, repair costs average $2,800 while for the Audi A4 repair costs average $3,000, and finally, the Audi A6 averages $3,500 in repair costs.
In general, the larger the engine size and vehicle, the more expensive the repair cost.
Audi Maintenance Costs Compared to Other Luxury Brands
If you are choosing between vehicles it is important to compare Audi maintenance costs with other luxury brands. Luxury vehicles similar to an Audi include Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.
Over ten years, a Lexus is significantly less expensive to maintain at $7,000. A Mercedes-Benz is about the same while a BMW is $17,800 to maintain.
The trick about these luxury vehicles is that they often come with a premium warranty and repair program; however, such programs do not last forever in most cases.
When somebody is used car shopping, they might get excited by the prospect of finding a luxury class vehicle within their budget or price range. Then again, those car repairs that are ever-so common in used vehicles add up a lot faster when talking about foreign and luxury vehicles.
As they say, buyer beware.
Common Unexpected Problems
In addition to maintenance costs, Audi vehicles develop common problems despite their level of credibility.
Over time, Audi vehicles have been known to develop the following problems:
- Check engine light issues
- Electronic failures
- Oil leaks
- ABS light issues
- Water in the interior
- Components overheating
Of course, different models experience different issues, so problems specific to your vehicle will depend on its design, construction quality, and driving history. Some makes, models, and years have more problems than others.
Additionally, how the car is driven and maintained both play a part in the equation.
Common Unexpected Issues Costs
Despite its history of dependability, all cars experience wear and tear; even if your Audi is maintained properly, common repairs will be necessary.
In general, Audi repair costs average about $1,000 per year for each year the vehicle is owned.
Common repair costs include:
- Electrical issues: $150 to $1,000
- Oil leak: $150 to $300
- Water pump replacement: $600 to $800
- Air bag crash sensor replacement: $550
- Wheel speed sensor replacement: $550 to $1,000
In addition to the time and labor to replace the part, the cost of the replacement part is the most important factor in these estimates. Some parts are relatively inexpensive but require extensive work by a mechanic. Other times, the labor is fairly easy but the part is expensive.
Audi uses high-tech components which increase the average price of repairs with each new model year.
Reducing Your Maintenance Costs
All of the Audi maintenance cost estimates are based on the owner paying for the repairs and services out-of-pocket. However, there are options available to you that help reduce or eliminate these expenses.
Warranties are the most common way to reduce or eliminate expenses and come in a variety of forms:
- Factory warranties come with new vehicles and cover basic repairs resulting from manufacturing defects. While it won’t cover typical expenses, it does cover expenses if the automaker is at fault.
- Extended warranties are provided by the factory and third-party companies which are normally offered after the factory warranty has expired. Extended warranties cover more issues in more circumstances.
- An auto insurance provider will typically cover repairs once a certain deductible has been reached.
Each warranty and provider offers something different, so shop around and compare coverage plans and costs.
Audi Prepaid Audi Maintenance Plan
Audi offers a prepaid maintenance plan called Audi Care to cover scheduled Audi maintenance services for a specific time or mileage. Each Audi Care plan guarantees services by a factory-trained technician using authentic Audi parts.
Plan costs vary depending on the model you drive and cost from $800 to $1,350. Although this may seem like a high upfront cost, it may save you money in the long run.
Audi Maintenance Costs: Schedule Routine Maintenance
New Audi vehicles tend to be easier to keep on a routine maintenance schedule since they are fresh to the owner. With a used Audi, you may not know the condition of the vehicle or even something as simple as when the last oil change was. Eventually, you may end up replacing other parts.
Sometimes, this happens when we purchase used vehicles. The sooner you develop a routine maintenance schedule for your Audi, the better. However, if you can’t determine the schedule and need to replace more parts, it may be better to send the car to a junkyard.
Otherwise, have your car inspected by a mechanic and develop a routine maintenance schedule. If a car is well-maintained throughout its life, maintenance costs are lower since issues are addressed before becoming a real problem.
What’s the Big Deal about Audi?
This German car maker’s story actually starts in the 19th century. The company currently brags about over a century’s worth of milestones in the world of car fabrication, motorcycle production, engine creation, and racecar driving.
For example, the Audi brand is known for its participation in the premium sector as it pertains to motorsport. The marque claims to be on the forefront of automobile technology.
Many people don’t know that it’s related to the Volkswagen group or that its history can be traced back to Bavaria in Germany. Today, these cars are created in only nine factories across the globe.
In 1965, things really took off when Audi brought out its Audi F103 series. Four years later, the merge with Volkswagen occurred, bringing us the Audi we all know and love (or hate) today.
The company’s emblematic four-ring logo represents the union of the past companies that brought forward today’s organization. Within the current market, Audi stands strong along side other German car producers like BMW or Mercedes.
Is it Bad to Send an Audi to the Junkyard?
When people purchase an Audi, they often don’t dream of sending it to the junkyard – that is until they find out about the vehicle’s high maintenance costs!
There is a problem that we have as consumer where we hate to let the things we own go, and this certainly includes our daily drivers. We create an emotional bond with our vehicle, especially when it’s as something as flashy as an Audi. When it’s time to say goodbye, we might falter.
Be advised that sometimes maintenance costs simply aren’t worth it. It doesn’t matter if the car is an Audi, Dodge, or Jeep. Instead, what matters is looking at the situation from an economic perspective. If you are going to pay for repair bills that exceed the value of your car, it could be a terrible investment.
Instead, ask yourself, is the expense of the maintenance and repair worth it? In some cases, the answer is yes. The car might even be covered by a warranty or recall.
If you find yourself realizing that the Audi maintenance costs aren’t worth it, don’t panic. You could sell the car to a mechanic who doesn’t mind fixing it up. You could also send the car to the junkyard.
This idea hurts people to think of sending such a nice car to the impound lot, but there’s no shame in recognizing not everything, even an Audi, is built to last forever.