Audi A4 B7 (2004-2009): known problems and buying guide

Built: 2004–2009
Median price: €3,700
Listings: 1,301
Running cost per month: €443–€516
Power: 102–200 PS (75–147 kW)
Reliability: 2/5
DIY: 1/5

Buy with a service record. Check the multitronic gearbox and oil use before paying.

Updated 26 October 2026

All versions

Variant	Running cost per month	Median price	Listings	Fuel	Engine codes	Gearbox	Production years
2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€443	€2,600	165	Diesel	BRE	Manual (6)	2004–2008
2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research	€468	€2,600	165	Diesel	BPW	Manual (6)	2005–2008
2.0, 131 PS, 5-speed manual Research	€469	€3,150	110	Petrol	ALT	Manual (5)	2004–2008
2.0 TDI, 170 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€444	€2,800	71	Diesel	BRD	Manual (6)	2006–2008
2.0 TDI, 170 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research	€468	€2,800	71	Diesel	BRD	Manual (6)	2006–2008
2.0, 131 PS, automatic Research	€468	€3,350	69	Petrol	ALT	CVT-Getriebe	2004–2008
2.0 TDI, 140 PS, automatic Research	€444	€3,300	68	Diesel	BRE	CVT-Getriebe	2004–2008
2.0 TFSI, 200 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€485	€3,900	63	Petrol (98)	BWE	Manual (6)	2004–2008
2.0 TFSI, 200 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research	€516	€3,900	63	Petrol (98)	BWE	Manual (6)	2004–2008
1.6, 102 PS, 5-speed manual	€456	€3,990	53	Petrol	ALZ	Manual (5)	2004–2008

At a glance

Years: built 2004 to 2009, as saloon, Avant and Cabriolet. Diesel and petrol engines, with manual, multitronic or tiptronic gearboxes.
Reliability: 2/5. The 3.2 FSI pistons can destroy an engine.
DIY: 1/5. Engine and gearbox faults need a workshop. Oil changes are easy.
Prefer: the 1.8 T petrol with a record of yearly oil changes, and a manual gearbox.
Avoid: 3.2 FSI cars, and front-drive multitronic cars with judder.
Biggest risk: a 3.2 FSI with failed pistons, which can end in engine damage.

Engines and gearboxes

1.8 T (BFB), 163 PS: the press prefers it to the 2.0 petrol. Its oil strainer can clog with sludge, and the ignition coils and turbo wear.
2.0 TFSI (BPJ, BWE, BUL), 170-220 PS: oil use and crankcase ventilation faults. Ignition coils wear too. See Known issues.
3.2 FSI (AUK), 255 PS: pistons, oil use and cylinder damage. Avoid.
Multitronic (front drive only): judder and control unit failure. Avoid unless the service record is good.
Manual (5- and 6-speed): the garage page advises it over the multitronic.

Known issues

Issue	Affects	Typical km	Repair cost
Multitronic judder and control unit	Multitronic, front drive only	Not stated	No confirmed price
3.2 FSI pistons and oil use	3.2 FSI (AUK)	Not stated	No confirmed price
Oil use and sludge	2.0 TFSI (BPJ, BWE, BUL), 1.8 T (BFB), 2.0 (ALT)	Not stated	No confirmed price
Front suspension and steering	All B7 (multi-link front)	100,000-150,000 km	No confirmed price
Body rust	All B7	Not stated	No confirmed price

Before you buy

Test drive a multitronic from a stop. Judder, or a hesitant, hopping start, is a bad sign. A flashing PRNDS display means the control unit has failed.
On a 3.2 FSI, check the oil level before and after the test drive. Oil use, or knocking and rattling from the engine, is a bad sign.
On a 1.8 T, a 2.0 TFSI or a 2.0 (ALT), check the oil level. Ask for oil-change records.
Lift the car and inspect the ball joints and control arms. Worn parts cannot be repaired, so plan to replace the linked parts together.
Look underneath, behind the plastic panels, at the sills, the tailgate and the door edges. Rust on the sills or the underbody is a bad sign.
Ask the dealer to check open recall campaigns by VIN, including the Takata passenger airbag. An open recall is a bad sign.

Running costs

Operational	€251
Workshop	€119
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)	€130
Total per month	€500
New-car depreciation (not included)	€57

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Market

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings: 1,301
25th percentile: €2,500
Median price: €3,700
75th percentile: €5,390
Median mileage: 230,000 km
Median first registration: 2006
Dealer share: 25.4%
Price at 100,000 km: €6,257

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

Multitronic judder and control unit

The multitronic is a continuously variable gearbox, fitted to front-drive cars only. Early signs are judder when pulling away, speed fluctuation and a hesitant, hopping start. A German press test says the gearbox howls under sporty driving. In one owner logbook the control unit fails at 120,000-150,000 km. The box then goes into emergency mode and the PRNDS display flashes. The garage page advises a manual or tiptronic instead.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Audi A4 B7 problems, AutoBild: Audi A4 Cabrio B7 used test, Kolesa.ru: buying a used B7, DRIVE2: B7 bodywork and gearbox logbook, 2016

3.2 FSI pistons and oil use

A German garage page lists piston tilting, higher oil use, sudden power loss and rattling noises for the 3.2 FSI V6. A Russian press guide adds oil consumption, overheating and fuel system faults. It says the aluminium-silicon cylinder coating scratches easily, names timing chain problems, and says there is no cheap repair. No cost or mileage is stated in the sources.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Audi A4 B7 problems, Kolesa.ru: buying a used B7

Oil use and sludge

Several petrol engines of this car burn oil. On the 2.0 TFSI, worn piston rings let oil past. One Russian press guide says the rings coke up and the crankcase ventilation clogs.

On the 1.8 T and 2.0 TFSI, the oil strainer (the pick-up screen in the sump) can clog with sludge from late oil changes. Then the oil pressure falls and the engine can be damaged. One German garage page says the 30,000 km long-life oil interval is the main cause of most engine oil problems, and that regular oil changes can halve consumption. A faulty crankcase ventilation valve causes higher fuel use, rough idle and valve cover leaks (garage and owner reports).

Normal use is 50 to 250 ml per 1,000 km.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Audi A4 B7 problems, carwiki.de: high oil use on Audi A4, AutoBild: Audi A4 Cabrio B7 used test, DRIVE2: B7 logbook, 2016

Front suspension and steering

The front is a multi-link suspension. Ball joints and lower arms are the first parts to wear, at about 100,000-150,000 km. Ball joints cannot be repaired, so replace the linked parts together. The steering rack starts to leak after about 100,000 km (press) or 160,000-200,000 km (owner logbook). A 2008 TUV report, quoted by a German garage page, names defective steering gears.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Audi A4 B7 problems, Kolesa.ru: buying a used B7, DRIVE2: what breaks in Audi, 2015

Body rust

The underbody rusts behind the plastic panels, which trap dirt and moisture. Rot appears in the front wings, rear arch, bumper seams and brake line brackets, and it attacks the sills. A German garage page also names rust on the tailgate and door edges. No repair cost or mileage is stated.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Audi A4 B7 problems, Kolesa.ru: used A4 III article

Recalls

Country	Code	Years	What is done
Germany	69EQ (abroad 69R7; KBA 12491)	A4 built 2003-2011 (one German press source); B7 from 2004 per a garage page	Passenger airbag gas generator exchanged, or the module replaced

The sources name no other campaign. Check open campaigns by VIN.

Maintenance

Engine oil: change it every year, especially on short trips. Audi's interval is 30,000 km or two years, and a press author advises yearly for short trips.
Oil level: check it between services, and before buying.