- A4 B8 is balanced sedan on MLB platform with FWD or quattro options
- Common problems include water pump leaks, oil consumption in 2009-2013 TFSI engines, and transmission issues
- Owners praise the balance of design, performance and price
- Wide range includes 1.8 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI, 3.0 TFSI, and 3.2 FSI
The Audi A4 B8, produced between 2008 and 2016, is considered one of the most balanced generations of the German premium sedan. Based on the Volkswagen Group MLB platform, this generation brought significant improvements in comfort, technology and efficiency. Yet, like any complex car, the A4 B8 has its own specific issues that owners should know.
DailyDriven has collected opinions and direct experiences from owners to provide a realistic perspective on this model that is popular in Romania.
Evolution and context of the A4 B8 model
Audi A4 has been in production since 1994, representing the natural successor to the Audi 80. The internal numbering treats the A4 as a continuation of the 80 line, with the first A4 generation designated as the B5, followed by B6, B7, B8 and the current B9.
Audi released the first official images of the B8 A4 in August 2007 and unveiled the car to the public at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 2007. The Avant (estate) variant was shown at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2008.
The B8 generation marked an important shift toward the MLB (Modularer Längsbaukasten) platform, shared with many other Audi models and even with some Porsche models within the Volkswagen Group. The cars are available with front-wheel drive or, on higher-end models, quattro all-wheel drive.
Owner opinions of the A4 B8
Reasons for choosing
Owners’ opinions reflect appreciation for the balance between design, performance and price:
Breazu Ioan about the 2.0 TDI (143 hp): “I felt it was the perfect combination of design, engine capacity and price for that category of cars. And yes, if I could turn back time I would make exactly the same choice.”
Vasilescu Costin about the 1.8 TFSI (160 hp): “Initially I wanted to look for the 1.8T quattro engine from the B6 and B7 models, but I fell in love with the B8, so despite the oil consumption I opted for the 1.8TFSI, given that I cannot stand diesel engines.”
Enescu Vlad about the 2.0 TFSI flexible fuel (180 hp): “The ideal combination of premium-sport (it goes hard without you noticing), elegance, spaciousness, quietness and quick when needed.”
Common problems of the Audi A4 B8
Based on owners’ feedback and service experiences, the most frequent issues are:
Water pump
A classic issue of the B8 generation, especially on TSI/TFSI engines. water pump can develop leaks or fail completely, leading to engine overheating.
Oil consumption
oil consumption is a known problem on TSI/TFSI engines from the 2009-2013 series, caused by issues with piston rings and valve guides.
Transmission
Both manual and S-tronic transmissions can develop problems, especially on high-mileage cars or those with neglected maintenance.
Full range of engines
Audi A4 B8 offers a wide range of powertrains:
Gasoline engines (TFSI)
- 1.8 TFSI (CABA/CDHA): 118 hp, 230 Nm
- 2.0 TFSI quattro (CDNB/CAEA/CFKA): 178 hp, 320 Nm
- 3.0 TFSI quattro (CMUA): 268 hp, 400 Nm
- 3.2 FSI quattro (CALA): 261 hp, 330 Nm
- S4 quattro (CAKA): 328 hp, 440 Nm
- RS4 quattro (CFSA): 444 hp, 430 Nm
Diesel engines (TDI)
- 2.0 TDI (CAGC): 118 hp, 290 Nm
- 2.0 TDI quattro (CAGA): 141 hp, 320 Nm
- 2.7 TDI (CAMA/CGKA): 187 hp, 400 Nm
- 3.0 TDI quattro (CAPA/CCWA): 237 hp, 500 Nm
Driving experience and fuel consumption
On-road behavior
Owners praise the balance between comfort and dynamism:
Istrate Andrei: “In heavy city traffic, it drives very well. When you find a bit more open road, it’s worth switching to sport mode. Considering the automatic transmission, it’s perfect. It also comes with sport suspension, so it sits well on the road.”
Mihai Daniel: “I can’t really enjoy it in the city, especially on bad roads where I have to dodge obstacles. But it’s easy to drive, very easy and very comfortable. A long trip, a good car, good music… it already sounds like a vacation.”
Vasilescu Costin: “In the city it’s very comfortable and agile for its size. On long trips it’s excellent, it seems to go faster as you push it and it grips the road better.”
Fuel consumption by engine
- 2.0 TDI (143 hp):
- City: 8 l/100km
- Extra-urban: 5-6 l/100km
- 2.0 TFSI (252 hp) quattro S-tronic:
- City in traffic: 13-14 l/100km
- Autobahn, relaxed driving: 7.5 l/100km
- 1.8 TFSI (160 hp):
- City, gentle driving: 10-11 l/100km
- City, aggressive driving: up to 17 l/100km
- Extra-urban, gentle: 6.7 l/100km
- Autobahn at 180 km/h: 8.5 l/100km
Reliability from the owner’s perspective
Positive experiences
Istrate Andrei (2.0 TDI): “No problems. I bought it with a service book, and I believe that if you do all the maintenance on time, you won’t have issues with the car.”
Problems encountered
Alex Dorin (2.0 TDI): “Reliable when it comes to value for money, but even minor failures are very costly. They appear after a certain number of kilometers, regardless of how well you’ve maintained it.”
Vasilescu Costin (1.8 TFSI): “I didn’t have minor problems. The major and only problem is oil consumption. It started to use around 1 liter every 70 km of aggressive city driving and around 4 liters in 550 km of aggressive driving on mountain roads. Repairs would cost around €3,000.”
Mihai Daniel (2.0 TFSI quattro): “There is a small oil consumption, I’d say 1 liter max per 10,000 km, which is the figure I also use when changing it.”
Prices on the second-hand market
In Romania, prices for the A4 B8 vary considerably depending on year, engine and mileage:
- 2015, 2.0 TFSI quattro, 59,000 km: around €19,800
- 2014, 2.0 TDI, 180,000 km: around €12,000
Prices are influenced by:
- Maintenance history
- Oil consumption issue (whether it was resolved)
- Overall technical condition
- Vehicle provenance
Buying tips
Essential checks
Mihai Daniel recommends: “Be careful where you buy it from, if it’s used, from which country it comes, what history the car has. Make sure it hasn’t been in an accident, surfaces haven’t been repainted, all sensors and car parameters function, and test it thoroughly before buying.”
Vasilescu Costin warns: “Buy with confidence, with the only issue… have 2-3k€ prepared, if you want to avoid bad surprises. Be particularly cautious about oil consumption.”
Technical aspects to verify
Enescu Vlad emphasizes: “Be mindful of addressing the oil consumption issue. This motor series had a problem, the 2009-2013 range, linked to oil consumption. When you buy, check whether the problem has been addressed (in most cases it was done under warranty).”
Recommended checklist:
- Oil consumption test - check the level before and after a test drive
- Service history - confirm maintenance was performed on time
- Water pump function - check operating temperatures
- Gearbox condition - test all gears and engagement
- Quattro system (if applicable) - check all-wheel-drive operation
- Electronics - test all systems and sensors
Conclusion
The Audi A4 B8 remains a solid choice on the Romanian used-car market, offering a well-balanced blend of premium luxury, respectable performance and reasonable maintenance costs. Key caution areas include oil consumption on TFSI engines and proactive maintenance of the cooling system. For informed buyers who thoroughly inspect the vehicle and are prepared for brand-specific maintenance costs, the A4 B8 can provide a satisfying long-term driving experience.
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