Audi RS 7 (C8) buying guide

Only one version is tracked here, the C8 RS 7, but the model year matters. Car Checker says the 2020-2021 cars are the ones most often hit by the starter generator failure. Rerev rates 2021, 2022 and 2023 as the best C8 years and calls the 2024 merely OK.

The 2022 model year added an RS Design Package. For 2024, Carvana says the RS 7 performance replaced the standard car with 621 hp and revised handling hardware. If you want the stronger car, that is the one to find, and the Audi RS 7 4.0T quattro performance listings are a place to start.

Options matter on a car this loaded. Car Guide recommends cars with the Dynamic or Dynamic Plus package: both lift the speed limiter and bring the RS sports exhaust, and where specified they swap the air suspension for Dynamic Ride Control steel suspension. Given the air suspension complaints below, that setup is worth seeking out. The same source rates Carbon Black and Vorsprung as the best-equipped trims, with Matrix LED lighting and the fullest assistance and comfort kit.

Carbon-ceramic brakes were a costly option. Car Guide says they suit committed drivers, but you should price their eventual replacement. For the earlier car, see our C7 RS 7 guide.

The documented faults cover the starter generator, suspension, engine and a few recall items.

48V starter generator failure

Overheating power transistors can kill the belt starter generator, which drains the 48V and 12V batteries. Warnings for the electrical system, start-stop and brake booster are the signs, and in severe cases the car shuts down within 20-30 minutes. Car Checker ties it mainly to 2020-2021 cars, with some repeating at roughly 30,000 km and 60,000 km.

Air suspension faults

Compressors and air strut bladders wear, leaving the car sitting low or throwing a fault. Rerev calls it the most commonly reported RS7 issue.

Intake valve carbon

Carbon builds up on the intake valves of the 4.0 V8, causing misfires, rough idle and power loss. Repairs typically run $700 to $1,500 according to Rerev, which says C7 and C8 both suffer.

Wastegate rattle

The 4.0 V8 can develop a rattle at idle from the wastegates. Rerev quotes repairs at $800 to $3,000.

Water pump design

The C8 pump has a design weakness that other Volkswagen Group engines also share. Audi has since moved from a 4-bolt pump to a revised 6-bolt one, so an older 4-bolt unit may be due for replacement.

Sport differential claims

Car Checker reports that the sport differential has generated some expensive warranty claims. Oil weeping from the rear differential housing is the visible warning.

Infotainment and fuel sender

A recall covered 2021-2022 cars whose infotainment main unit can be damaged internally, leaving the rearview camera display dead. Car Checker also lists a sticking fuel level sender on 2021-2022 cars (recall 20DN).

Oil consumption

Open Labor Project says a 2021 engine can use a quart of oil every 1,000-1,500 miles while still being healthy. A seller who says the car never needs topping up deserves a question.

Kelley Blue Book lists Audi's schedule as a minor service every 10,000 miles and a standard service every 20,000 miles. Car Checker says the engine takes about 11 litres of 5W-40 oil with the filter. Open Labor Project suggests budgeting $3,000-5,000 a year for maintenance and repairs after warranty.

Tires are a real line item. Car Checker puts the 285/30 R22 size at €250-350 each and says they wear quickly under spirited driving. Carbon-ceramic brakes, if fitted, will cost more again. Our used Audi listings let you compare other models.

Car Checker quotes the big repairs in euros: a remanufactured starter generator at €800-1,200 from a specialist, or €2,000-2,500 for a new unit from an Audi dealer. An unrevised water pump would cost €1,200-2,500 to replace. For market prices, see our Audi RS 7 price guide.

Aim for a 2021, 2022 or 2023 car, the years Rerev rates best, and let condition and paperwork decide between them. Car Checker finds the V8 fundamentally solid, with no widespread catastrophic engine failures reported. Hagerty calls the engine stupendous but a touch short on character, with a too-subtle engine note.

Walk away from a car that shows warnings at start-up or settles unevenly, and insist on documented starter generator and infotainment work. If you want the 621-hp RS 7 performance, filter the listings for 2024. Test every screen and height mode before you talk price.