Hi All

I have a Q5 Audi TFSI 2018 Petrol with around 72,000 miles on it. I bought it 4 years ago from an Audi main dealer in Epsom. Its has a full Audi service history. I requested a printout recently and its had 4 oil changes since new plus all other replacements you would expect.

In June I was travelling up the A303 at around 80 mph and suddenly all the engine lights came on and I could hear a ticking noise coming from the engine. I pulled over maybe a mile later called AA and he took a look at it and said there has been internal engine damage.

I had the car recovered to a AA recommended garage in Gillingham - they put a camera in and said there were metal bits in 3/4 cylinders and that they were not equipped to do a rebuild.

Had the car recovered to Audi Basingstoke. They took the oil filter off and confirmed there were metal bits in the oil (£180 charge for that) - they then said it would be £1000 charge for them to take the head off and do a full diagnostic but they thought I would need a new engine from what they had seen and that is £20,000 fully fitted.

I am now looking for engine rebuild specialists in Somerset/London or Surrey where I live. The problem is the internet is full of engine rebuild brokers who send you quotes and when you look up the companies they dont have websites or they don't have premises and all quotes promise free recovery and 12 Months or 12000 warranty's. Most have amazing reviews but no other way of verifying authenticity or track record.

As I think most would agree this should never have happened to a car of this age and mileage but I dont want to spend the £1000 on Audi diagnosing it and then starting a fight I cant win (I lose the £1,180 either way)

Just wanted to know if anyone on this forum had any recommendations of a reputable Audi engine rebuild specialist

Many Thanks

Karl

It is very unusual for modern engines to fail like that unless abused or neglected. I would agree that metal fragments in the cylinders and the sump indicate the need for a complete rebuild or a new engine.

Unfortunately I no longer know of any engine re-conditioners anywhere in the country so I can not help on that score, but you are right to insist on a proven track record in the work. Unless somebody has a recommendation I see no alternative but to go to Audi. Don't be tempted to buy a secondhand engine without having it overhauled first.

3 hours ago, LONKMU said:

Hi All

I have a Q5 Audi TFSI 2018 Petrol with around 72,000 miles on it. I bought it 4 years ago from an Audi main dealer in Epsom. Its has a full Audi service history. I requested a printout recently and its had 4 oil changes since new plus all other replacements you would expect.

In June I was travelling up the A303 at around 80 mph and suddenly all the engine lights came on and I could hear a ticking noise coming from the engine. I pulled over maybe a mile later called AA and he took a look at it and said there has been internal engine damage.

I had the car recovered to a AA recommended garage in Gillingham - they put a camera in and said there were metal bits in 3/4 cylinders and that they were not equipped to do a rebuild.

Had the car recovered to Audi Basingstoke. They took the oil filter off and confirmed there were metal bits in the oil (£180 charge for that) - they then said it would be £1000 charge for them to take the head off and do a full diagnostic but they thought I would need a new engine from what they had seen and that is £20,000 fully fitted.

I am now looking for engine rebuild specialists in Somerset/London or Surrey where I live. The problem is the internet is full of engine rebuild brokers who send you quotes and when you look up the companies they dont have websites or they don't have premises and all quotes promise free recovery and 12 Months or 12000 warranty's. Most have amazing reviews but no other way of verifying authenticity or track record.

As I think most would agree this should never have happened to a car of this age and mileage but I dont want to spend the £1000 on Audi diagnosing it and then starting a fight I cant win (I lose the £1,180 either way)

Just wanted to know if anyone on this forum had any recommendations of a reputable Audi engine rebuild specialist

Many Thanks

Karl

Hi this is what happens when you stick to 18000 mile service intervals which don't take in to account driving style or ambient temperature, its a selling gimmick, in thirty odd years of of involvement with various makes and models I can categorically state NO ENGINE OIL lasts 18,000 miles, there is a mountain of information on line to support this, the oil thins and loses its lubricity which is why internal components fail, when you get a new engine 9000 miles between services is as far as you can reasonably stretch.

Steve.

Hello Karl,

Really sorry to hear of your plight, but am I too surprised? Regrettably, no.

You said Audi claim it has full service history, and their claim cannot be refuted, but extending oil and filter changes to every 18k miles is asking for trouble. My stab at why, leads me to believe that cars are sold new, and Audi - like many other marques - want to keep the servicing cost down during warranty, to make the sale of service plans seem value of month to rental companies and private individuals alike.

After the warranty has expired, and leased cars are returned, they are sold with FSH, and manufacturers couldn’t give a toss about how long they last under this service schedule - as you have found to your cost. They now want you to part with tens of thousands of pounds to start again!

How many services have you had done during your ownership Karl.

Re. another engine, paying out £20k would be bonkers on this 10 year old car, and respecting Cliff’s views on secondhand ones, this would still be my chosen route - if you are not prepared to scrap it. Car are frequently deemed to be beyond economical repair - body damage wise, and engines from these may well be worth investigating.

Regards,

Gareth.

Just realise this post has overlapped Stevey Y’s - with similar comments.

Thank you very much for your replies - this is all very helpful. The service history is as follows:

Date of Service Type of Service Vehicle Mileage

05/12/2025 Inspection Service 67,379

01/08/2024 Oil Change Service 61,162

04/08/2023 Used Car MPC 56,479

04/08/2023 Oil Change Service 56,479

04/08/2023 Brake Fluid Change 56,479

11/02/2022 MOT (passed) 43,772

23/08/2021 Interval Service 38,706

04/09/2020 Interval Service 29,582

13/11/2018 Oil Change Service 9,753

I bought the car in August 2023 and its had one oil change since I've had it with one inspection service. These cars don't even have a dipstick so you cant check the oil is clear when it comes out of an oil change service

I bought it from a main dealer in good faith and I suppose you assume with a full Audi service history that they would have changed the oil more regularly. Seems I was dead wrong to assume