I purchased a 2007 RS4 at the end of 2006 with only 21 miles from the factory. Mostly highway driven since then. Never had a CEL. I've gone through multiple sets of tires and pads. PS2s lasted about 30k per set to give you an idea of my driving habits. Averaged up to 420mi per full tank when cruising on the highway during my peak driving. The car has been amazing but started making a loud clicking/rattle last week. I was able to drive it home about 100 yards after the noise started and towed it to the dealership. Apparently there is metal in the oil and likely something broke off inside (cylinder head?) and has caused some damage. Estimated at 12K for used engine (none found yet) and 22k for new one. The value of the car is probably 13k at best RUNNING.

Thoughts on trading it in ?(Dealer offering 2k as is) or parting it out ?(really don't have the time for this but am open to suggestions).

Love to hear everyone's thoughts. It's probably one of the highest mileage cars out with a single owner. It's been amazing to me and still looks/feels new. That part probably hurts the most. Looks brand new and can't even drive it. lol.

Likely will end up going with a new A6. Drove it the other day and absolutely loved it. We're hoping to start a family and will need a bigger vehicle. Wished the 20in wheels were a little softer with the suspension, but still no where are firm as the RS4. They're too beautiful to pass up though.

 

Sounds like the dreaded timing chain tensioner went... Engine is likely toast

 

Had one over the summer with same issues. Numerous things failed, rocker arms, main bearing etc.

It's unfortunate. This one had 80k

 

Kai, what ever happened to that car? Did he sell or replace the engine?


OP, did you sell yours privately yet?

 

Going to a good home back East in New Jersey. Car sounded exactly like the one Kai showed a video of. Possibly some rod that broke off inside and did the engine in for me.

 

Replacing the engine, tore it apart too much damage.

 

Sell it to the guys in Lathrop.

 

Is there a database or list anywhere online listing all RS4 engine failures? These engines seem to be too fragile, and an alarming number are self-destructing . . .

 

That's a bit contradictory

First you want to know if there is a list... Then without seeing any numbers, you deem the engine 'too fragile' and consider the number of failures (a number that you have admitted you don't know) is "alarming"

I would submit that I have read more about the rs4 on more forums than maybe 8 other people on earth. I am aware of 7 engines that have catastrophically failed. A couple were due to poor maintenance, a few were due to driver error (money shift). The remainder are just what happens when things are moving as quickly as they are and something goes wrong. **** happens as they say.

There are over 14,000 rs4s out there.
The youngest ones from deep into 2008 like mine, are not exactly young at 5 years old.
The oldest ones are now coming up on 8 years in service.
The one discussed in this thread made it over a quarter of a million kilometres, using modest quality oil that was only changed every 16,000 kms (castrol syntec/edge on audi's recommendation).

Granted not everyone posts on forums, but let's be reasonable before we throw terms like "fragile" and "alarming" around. If you want a word to describe the high revving 4.2 FSI engine found in the RS4, here's one. Incredible.

 

I love this car and have always wanted one. What is the replacement engine cost on this particular car?