Audis produce some of the most coveted vehicles on the market. As a premium German manufacturer, their cars are known for high-quality construction, beautiful designs and luxurious cabins. While we’re prepared to pay for this level of craftsmanship in the purchase price, we don’t want it to cost us throughout the life of the vehicle. That’s why we often get asked about Audi’s reliability.
Our answer is always the same. While Audis are a cut above most other cars on the road, there is one thing that ties them all together: reliability comes down to responsible ownership.
The lowdown on Audi reliability
We’ve called this section ‘the lowdown on Audi reliability’, but it could just as well be titled, ‘the lowdown on any car’s reliability’. The single biggest factor in any car’s performance and longevity is the quality of the ownership. That’s right – if you want your car to go the distance without having to regularly replace crucial components, you need to take good care of it. Not only does this mean regular check-ups with a trusted mechanic, but it also means driving your car in a responsible manner.
Let’s take a look at how you can maximise your Audi’s reliability.
Maintain a regular service schedule
This point cannot be stressed enough. Cars are full of hard, metallic things that move, bump and grind against each other. They are not designed to operate ad infinitum without some kind of maintenance. The vast majority of major repairs could have been nipped in the bud for a much smaller fee if the mechanic were able to attend to it earlier.
Listen to what your mechanic advises. If they recommend a service every 10,000 or 15,000 kilometres, make sure it happens. It may sound counter-intuitive, but regular servicing is cheaper than the alternative. One major repair is enough to wipe out (and then some) whatever money you saved by not taking your car to a service centre. And, of course, you’re reducing the lifespan of your car, meaning you’ll be forking out for a new one sooner than you needed to.
Don’t use cheaper substitutes
So you recognise that your car needs regular maintenance, but you want to save a few bucks by using cheaper materials. Bad idea. Cheaper parts and oils are cheaper for a reason, and often lead to major damage and a large (totally avoidable) bill.
Always use the recommended oils and fluids. The alternative can cause poor lubrication (which can lead to untold misery), system failures, overheating and, basically, irreparable damage. Once again, it’s one of those counter-intuitive things where spending a little more money now will save you a hell of a lot of money down the track – and make your Audi far more reliable.
Drive with care
If only all the roads we drove on were maintained as well as Albert Park Circuit. Alas, that’s not the case. Potholes, crumbly shoulders, nasty speed bumps, sharp curbs – these are the daily obstacles of the regular Melbourne driver. As tiresome as they can be, we need to treat them (and our Audis) with respect.
If we don’t, then we risk bent rims, worn or blown tyres, and, in the worst cases, steering column issues and wheel misalignment. All of these lead to repairs that weren’t needed.
Another element to this is aggressive accelerating and braking. Both of these wear tyres quickly, but they can also damage components of the engine, brake pads and rotors.
Your car puts up with a lot and does so without much complaining; don’t add to its workload by thrashing it unnecessarily.
Don’t ignore the warning signs
Cars make noise continuously, but it isn’t dumb chatter; they’re communicating with you. Anything out of the ordinary, any sound you haven’t heard before, needs to be paid attention. Nine times out of ten, it’s an indication that something isn’t right. The more time that goes by without the appropriate action, the more damage done. Not only does this inevitably lead to higher costs, but it also reduces the reliability of your Audi, – and potentially its lifespan.
The same goes for warning lights. The modern Audi dashboard has warning lights for just about any ailment that can befall a car, giving you no excuse and no reason not to jump on an issue before it gets out of hand.
It’s simple, really: when your car talks, you listen.
Keep your Audi reliable with BM Tech
BM Tech has all the technology, software and training needed to keep your Audi in optimum condition. Of course, none of this is worth anything if we never get to see the car. Regular, scheduled servicing is the key to keeping your car reliable, so don’t be a stranger – get in touch with our team today and we’ll make sure your Audi gets the attention it needs (and deserves).