Buying advice - used Q5 diesel

[Simon7]

Morning all,  new user here any after some real world advice.

I am currently downgrading my car due to a house move. 

I have found a 2011 Audi Q5 2.0tdi SE quattro 143ps manual.  It has done 109,000 miles and has had 3 owners with the seller having had it 5 years.  It looks in very good condition and has been well looked after.

Can anyone give me any advice, what potential issues/costs might I incur and potential prices of repairs.  I need it to be a cheap as possible but fully appreciate I am buying a 12 year old car with high mileage.  I have never done this before, I always buy nearly new!!

Thanks in advance

Simon

[Stevey Y]

2 hours ago, Simon7 said:

Morning all,  new user here any after some real world advice.

I am currently downgrading my car due to a house move. 

I have found a 2011 Audi Q5 2.0tdi SE quattro 143ps manual.  It has done 109,000 miles and has had 3 owners with the seller having had it 5 years.  It looks in very good condition and has been well looked after.

Can anyone give me any advice, what potential issues/costs might I incur and potential prices of repairs.  I need it to be a cheap as possible but fully appreciate I am buying a 12 year old car with high mileage.  I have never done this before, I always buy nearly new!!

Thanks in advance

Simon

Hi the milage is not so much of a worry as they do that with ease provided they have been serviced regularly, ask for any service history the main ones being clutch and timing belt changes as if there is no evidence at that milage they could be looming heavy expenses especially if the car is auto, having said that the best way is to have a diagnostic read out before purchase this will unearth any underlying problems.

Steve.

[Simon7]

Hi Steve,

Many thanks for this, much appreciated.  It has a timing belt/water pump at 65/70k but had not had a clutch done.  The owner states no judder or slippage though but I am aware that might need doing.

It is a manual.  I read EGR/dpf issues are common - is that true or if I give it a good run once a week will this keep everything working fine?

Thanks

Simon

[Steve Q]

Yep egr and dpfs issues are common. A motorway run once a week can be good. How many miles did you do a year? And what kind of mileage? I'd it's mainly town driving then a petrol might be better. 

[Simon7]

I do about 8k per year.  There is quite a bit of town driving but happy to give it long runs too in order to prevent the issues.  Have you any idea for independent repair costs on the EGR/dpf?

[Magnet]

Hello Simon,

Is this car being sold privately or by a dealer?
If privately, it might be worthwhile getting a local-to-them independent to appraise the car before committing, unless you feel you are competent in carrying out your own inspection. 
Same would really apply via. a dealer sale, but you would have the benefit of some warranty with them. 
Whatever, a small investment in this pre- purchase may well prove to save in the longer term. 
Check brands and uniformity of tyre treads - important on these. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Simon7]

Gareth,

Many thanks for this advice.  I am no expert so that is something I may well do.  It is a private seller.

I would always check the tyres yes and always like to have uniformity on those.  It currently has almost new winter tyres on.  I believe they are all the same tyre.

Going to view it later this week.

Thanks

Simon

[Magnet]

You are very welcome Simon. 
Re. ‘……….very well looked after…’. Has the seller sent you any images of its service record over the last 5 years of their ownership? 
Take it you have checked the on-line MOT history to gather more information on its past history since its first MOT in 2014-? 
Apologies, I cannot give you any background to the model itself, although members may well come up with this, to compliment what will be available to you on-line. 
Belts renewed at 65 to 70K. - 30 odd K ago. Do you know when this was Simon, to see where it stands within the ‘old guidelines’  on time related changes? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Simon7]

I am guessing it will need a belt soon as it was around 5 years ago it was done.  I have checked the MOT history which does look very good overall.  There is a picture of a lot of documents but I will get them sent over email so I can pre-inspect them.

Thanks again and hopefully more Q5 owners may give me some advice too.  Never bought an old, high mileage car so very very wary!!

[Magnet]

Thanks again Simon. 
Sensing your understandable concerns, I would not buy this without an inspection by  a local-to-them independent Audi specialist, if I was in your shoes. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.