rastaman

Morning Mark, I recently switched from a 2009 BMW X5 (3.0d) to a 2015 A7 3.0 TDI (272PS) and pretty happy with my choice. Had an issue with the cam chain tensioner which was replaced under warranty and seems to be an isolated issue. MPG bit lower than expected but get 42mpg on a drive from East Yorkshire to Heathrow, better than the X5. The engine growl and low slung ride position is nice and I think it is a nice car shape (though some may debate this) with wide rear haunches. The Beemers are probably more engaging to drive but to be honest in my day to day commute and odd long motorway haul the A7 is pretty darned nice. My car is white, but Daytona Grey would have been my preferred choice :))

@ Steve, I saw a long wheelbase A8 but didn't take any pics. Next time. And in Singapore if you want to keep the car longer than 7 years (i think, not 100% sure on this time scale) you have to pay a $50k. Its a nice place but expensive to live to say the least.

On the way back from Singapore a week ago saw this advert on the Strait Times....£160k starting price for an Audi A7!

No wonder I didn't see that many on the roads.

Actually, sound pretty similar to yours. This is with the bonnet open like on your video. Hmm..

After_repair_open_bonnet.MOV

Its a bit subtle, but you can't hear the ticking noise now post Cam chain tensioner repair. Like you, I thought I would be told that is how the engine sounds but they were pretty good to be fair. I had only bought the car from them a few weeks earlier.

after_repair.MOV

Hi A7guy,

The ticking noise from the top left of your engine is very similar to mine. When I took it in it was the cam chain tensioner that needed fixing and they replaced all 6 cam shafts I think, I'll have to look at the receipt, I didn't really understand what was done so apologies if I got the cam shaft bit wrong.  Anyway, the engine does sound better now, more of a grumble than a grumble with a ticking noise. Like you, the noise was there even when the engine was warm. What did it for me was that on trip I had stopped at a motorway stop and left my wife in the car with the engine running whilst I nipped out and when I was walking back I could the car  idling in the carpark  and I could hear the ticking noise, which I thought doesn't sound right. The main dealer fixed it fairly quickly with no fuss and cost about to them in parts alone was £3k add labour and a loan car for a week it must have set them back a bit more. Take your car in before the warranty expires. They must have come across it before because it was fixed, no questions asked. Mine is also a 2015 272 TDI with 23k on the clock at the time of the problem

I'll post a video of the engine post cam chain tensioner replacement when I get some time.

Hope this helps,

Kind regards,

v

I don't have any issues with take off from stationary but I don't use the auto-hold and disable start-stop when I drive which I feel (wrongly or rightly) slows the take off which can then make roundabouts sporting!

Got the car back today, and it has had all 4 camshafts replaced and the system rebuilt with new camcover seals and injector seals. Fault was due to timing chain tensioner. Not sure what all this means, just copied off the internal invoice. All sorted under warranty and after driving 2L TDI A4, pretty happy to hear the A7 rumble (sans the ticking sound on idle).  I had a look online to see if this was a known problem with A7's or the subject of a recall but doesn't seem so.

Bit odd, as I just bought the car 6 weeks ago via a main dealer used approved network. I'd have assumed this would have been checked before the sale.

Thank you, Tom. Will look into it later this year.

Thank you for your replies, Trevor and Tom. Bit worried about non-franchise fitters. I've heard its a bit of a mixed bag.  I just have the standard sports suspension fitted which I don't think is air.

Wondered if anyone has had a towbar fitted to their A7 and whether they had any issues? Towbar express is offering a detachable swanneck for £740. Need one for the bike rack.

Kind regards,

V

Just a quick update, got a call from the Audi garage, there is an issue with the cam shaft which they will repair under warranty. A quick look online and there seems to have been a couple issues with the timing and sensors on cam shafts. Just waiting to hear from garage regards a time frame for the repairs. Got a brand new Audi A4 S line as a replacement, which is nice (ish) but its not my A7 :(

Welcome to the forum. I collected my white A7 (272 TDI)  just over a month ago and I really enjoy driving it. Moved from a 3L diesel BMW X5. I The Black edition are pretty high spec cars, I'd have thought it would be standard for the folding mirrors. Enjoy the car!

Thanks Trevor, will call the main dealer and book it in. Kind regards,

V

Good morning,

Recently bought a 2015 A7 3.0TDI and love the car. The engine has a very un-diesel like growl (IMHO) whilst at speed but when idling it has a clicking sound to it. Wondered if this were normal for this engine? thought I'd ask here before going into the dealer. I've uploaded a video clip, I hope the sound comes through ok.

Kind regards,

IMG_0047_2.MOV