Models · Audi
Audi RS5 8T buying guide
The first RS5, sold as a coupé from 2010 and as a cabriolet from 2013, with a high-revving 4.2 litre naturally aspirated V8, a 7-speed S tronic and quattro. A facelift at the end of 2011 brought new styling and an updated MMI, with the mechanical specification unchanged.
The versions
- 4.2 FSI V8 (CFSA), 450PS at 8,250rpm and 430Nm
- 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic; no manual was offered
- quattro with a mechanical centre differential, a 40/60 front to rear default split and an electronic sport rear differential
- Coupé from 2010, cabriolet from 2013
- Facelift at the end of 2011: larger grille, new bumpers and lights, updated MMI
What to check on a 8T RS5
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
A rattle on a cold start
What to look for: Start the engine from fully cold with the bonnet open and listen for a rattle from the engine in the first seconds after it fires. A brief noise that clears straight away is less of a concern than a rattle that carries on.
Why it matters: Wear in the timing chain tensioners can cause rattling, mainly on cold starts and typically on cars above 70,000 miles. Paperwork showing the tensioners have been looked at is a good sign on a higher-mileage car.
Hesitation, rough idle and inlet carbon
What to look for: Watch for the engine warning light, a rough or uneven idle, hard starting, or performance that feels flat at high revs. Ask whether the car has had its inlet valves cleaned, and how it has been used.
Why it matters: Oil from the breather system reaches the inlet, and because the fuel is injected directly into the cylinders nothing washes it off the valves. Carbon build-up is common after about 70,000 miles, though not every car is affected, and frequent short journeys speed it up. Decoking the heads takes about a day. A misfire can also come from a failing alternator regulator, which is a simple part to replace.
Dynamic Ride Control dampers
What to look for: On the drive, try all three suspension modes and notice whether the car bounces excessively or knocks at low speed. With a torch, look at each damper for fluid weeping.
Why it matters: Dynamic Ride Control was standard in the UK. It links the dampers hydraulically, with the fluid at about 20 bar, and it can leak. Knocking often improves when the system is recharged to factory pressure, and clonks can also come from a missing software update for the damping control unit. Some owners fit passive Bilstein dampers instead.
Also in the full guide
- S tronic shifts and the third service
- Oil leaks at the rear driveshafts
- Front suspension arms and tyre wear
- Scuttle drains and the rear spoiler
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the 8T RS5
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Audi.