Audi is a German automobile manufacturer producing various body styles and price ranges, positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group. The company is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany, and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG since 1966, following a phased purchase of its predecessor, Auto Union, from its former owner, Daimler-Benz. Volkswagen relaunched the Audi brand with the 1965 introduction of the Audi F103 series.
The company name is based on the surname of the founder August Horch, his surname meaning listen in German—which, when translated into Latin, becomes Audi. The four rings each represent individual car companies that banded together to create the union.
Trust Your Audi To Automotive Techniques
Most of the Audi vehicles that come through our shop are the A4 and A6 models, although we have worked on others including the A8, TT, S4, S6 and S8 models. The best advice we give our customers is that keeping up with routine maintenance will save Audi owners money in the long run, as bigger repairs can get quite expensive. If you have any Audi questions, or would like us to take a look at your vehicle, please give us a call at 248-615-8964. Remember, we are conveniently located in Novi, MI for all of your european auto repair needs.
Common Maintenance Items To Watch Out For:
Timing Belt: 80K Miles
Our recommendation for the timing belts on Audi A4 and A6 vehicles are to replace at 80,000 miles. Personal experience has shown us that by replacing the timing belt at the 80,000 mile mark helps prevent major engine damage that can result from a broken timing belt.
Water Pump: 80K Miles
The water pump is a piece of equipment that will need to be replaced on your Audi eventually. To save money in the long run, it is cheaper to replace the water pump at the same time that the timing belt is replaced. This reduces the cost of labor, and keeps your Audi running strong.
Valve Cover Gaskets: 70K Miles
These are used for sealing the valve cover at the top of the motor on your Audi. A sign that these need to be replaced is oil on your garage floor or motor block. While these usually fail towards the rear of the engine compartment, it is a low cost replacement and can prevent oil smells in the cabin and potential engine fires.
Oil Changes: 3K – 5K Miles
Oil changes are very important for Audis. Audi 1.8 Liter motors are notorious for their “sludging up” issues. Sludging is generally caused by extended oil change intervals and/or “hard driving”. We recommend that if you are driving your Audi hard, to replace your oil with a synthetic product every 3,000 miles. If you are a little more gentle of a driver, your Audi can stand to get its oil changed every 5,000 miles. This is a general guideline for all Audi 1.8 liter turbo motors.