Photo: Thomas doerfer, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: M 93, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: M 93, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Pitak, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Grande berline de prestige à 5 places et au coffre de 487 à 510 litres selon la version. Les retours publiés sont peu nombreux : GetCarWise signale surtout la chaîne de distribution du 4.2 TDI V8 (réparation de plusieurs milliers d'euros) et la suspension pneumatique du 3.0 TDI. Un historique d'entretien complet est indispensable.
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Indicative prices
- €17,240 – €19,990
- Monthly cost
- €461
- Euro NCAP
- Rating not found
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: 3.0 TDI 258.
3.0 TDI 258
✓ RecommendedDiesel · Automatic · 258 hp · 5.9 L/100 km · 155 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 3
V6 diesel de 258 ch, 580 Nm, boîte automatique Tiptronic et transmission intégrale (fiche L'argus, version Avus Extended). Consommation mixte annoncée de 5,9 l/100 km.
Engine: Audi / Volkswagen 3.0 V6 TDI
Verdict on this engine: Extra caution
3.0 TFSI 310
Petrol · Automatic · 310 hp · 7.7 L/100 km · 175 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 2
V6 essence suralimenté de 310 ch, 440 Nm, boîte automatique Tiptronic (fiche L'argus). Consommation mixte annoncée de 7,7 l/100 km.
4.2 TDI 350
Diesel · Automatic · 350 hp · 7.4 L/100 km · 195 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 3
V8 diesel de 350 ch, 800 Nm, boîte automatique Tiptronic (fiche L'argus). Consommation mixte annoncée de 7,4 l/100 km. GetCarWise signale la chaîne de distribution de ce moteur.
Market prices
€17,240 – €19,990
Indicative range: 2011 à 2012, médianes par année de 11 annonces en ligne relevées par AutoUncle (années d'au moins 3 annonces).
Collected on 29 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Prices stable since the 28 October 2026 survey.
Importing this model
Prices abroad
Yearly medians of each country's listings (AutoScout24, in euros; United Kingdom: cinch dealer, in pounds), over years with at least 3 listings. Useful to judge an import (add transport, inspection and registration).
| Country | Range | Median | Gap vs France | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | €17,240 – €19,990 (2011 to 2012) | €18,990 | — | — |
| Germany | €14,700 – €26,800 (2011 to 2016) | €21,000 | — | 125 |
| Belgium | €17,995 – €18,990 (2011 to 2014) | €18,000 | — | 11 |
| Italy | €16,000 – €31,600 (2012 to 2016) | €18,495 | — | 22 |
Median gap shown only when the country's estimate covers the same years as the French one. Add transport, roadworthiness test and registration.
You are importing the car to:
Import penalty (malus) in France
- Emissions of the versions in this guide: 155 to 195 g CO₂/km (check the value on the car's registration certificate).
- The CO₂ malus follows the scale of the year the vehicle was first registered, in France or abroad (WLTP or NEDC scale depending on its registration certificate).
- For an imported used car, it is reduced by a flat-rate discount based on its age in months (scheme in force since 1 March 2025). The weight malus also applies on first registration in France.
- The malus is zero for a car more than fifteen years old or first registered before 1 January 2015.
Source: BOFiP (French tax doctrine), CO₂ and weight malus · CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
Paperwork and procedures
- Importing a used car from another EU country: the step-by-step process
- Importing a car from an EU country: all the documents to gather
- Carte grise for an imported car: cost, taxes and the official simulator
- CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
- Importing a used car from outside the European Union: the steps
- Buying a used car in Germany and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Belgium and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Italy and bringing it back to France
Importing and registering in Belgium: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in Switzerland: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing a car into Switzerland: customs, tax and registration
Importing and registering in Luxembourg: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in the United Kingdom: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Check an imported car's history
HistoVec only covers the vehicle's life in France. For a car coming from abroad, a VIN-based report helps spot inconsistent mileage or a reported accident.
Check the car's history: 20% off → (new tab)Partner link
Known faults
Note: some faults below are cited by a single source only. They are still to be confirmed and the reliability score is only indicative.
Chaînes de distribution du 4.2 TDI V8
Severity 3/3 · SeriousSelon GetCarWise, les tendeurs hydrauliques des chaînes du 4.2 TDI V8 perdent de la pression (joints usés ou galeries d'huile obstruées) : les chaînes se détendent et peuvent sauter des dents, avec un risque de contact piston-soupape et de reconstruction du moteur. Un cliquetis des chaînes est le premier signe. Remplacement avec dépose du moteur, de plusieurs milliers d'euros. Source unique à ce jour : à confirmer.
Single source so far: to be confirmed.
- Versions
- 4.2 TDI 350
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Suspension pneumatique du 3.0 TDI
Severity 2/3 · CostlyGetCarWise indique que les ressorts pneumatiques de l'A8 D4 3.0 TDI finissent par fuir au niveau du soufflet, ce qui fait travailler davantage le compresseur jusqu'à sa surchauffe et sa panne ; les capteurs de hauteur peuvent aussi s'encrasser. Source unique : à confirmer.
Single source so far: to be confirmed.
- Versions
- 3.0 TDI 258
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Audi A8”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Recalls published in France (RappelConso)
- 2 February 2026 — Audi a été informée par son fournisseur actuel que les générateurs de gaz à airbag conducteur du fabricant d’origine takata («nadi» (générateurs non-azide de conducteur) produits au cours de 1997-1999 peuvent être défectueux. Des enquêtes internes ont montré qu’en cas d’accident, l’effet de retenue du coussin gonflable du conducteur déployé pourrait ne pas toujours être entièrement garanti. Le respect des exigences légales en vigueur en matière de protection par un coussin gonflable en cas d’accident n’est donc pas assuré. Official notice
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Fuel or electricity | €159 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €88 |
| Maintenance | €24 |
| Depreciation | €190 |
| Total per month | €461 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
- Insurance: brand average, as no average is published for this model.
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Fuel (diesel)€159
3.0 TDI 258 version: combined consumption of 5.9 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.347 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.
5.9 × 1.15 × 2.347 € × 10 = €159
Diesel price: French national average on 7 October 2026.
- Insurance€88
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€24
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€190
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the average drop in valuation per year of age (yearly medians of listings), per month.
Inspection checklist
Audi A8 D4 — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Exiger le carnet d'entretien complet : vidanges régulières, et factures de distribution si c'est un 4.2 TDI V8.
- Sur un 4.2 TDI, écouter le démarrage à froid : un cliquetis venant des chaînes est un signe d'alerte.
- Contrôler la suspension pneumatique : voiture qui s'affaisse à l'arrêt, compresseur bruyant, message d'erreur de hauteur.
- Vérifier le bon fonctionnement du système multimédia et de toutes les options électriques.
- Essayer la boîte Tiptronic à chaud et à froid : passages de rapports brusques ou à-coups.
- Faire vérifier les rappels en cours auprès d'un concessionnaire Audi avec le numéro de série.
Questions to ask the seller
- Avez-vous toutes les factures d'entretien, notamment les vidanges et, pour le 4.2 TDI, la distribution ?
- La suspension pneumatique (ressorts, compresseur) a-t-elle déjà été réparée ?
- Quels rappels constructeur ont été effectués sur cette voiture ?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Audi A8
D2 · 1994–2002
- Reliability
- not rated
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Jaguar XJ
IV · 2009–2019
- Price
- €14,400 – €31,990
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lexus LS
IV · 2006–2017
- Price
- €13,990 – €25,990
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Hybrid
Photo: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0
Audi A6
C8 (4K) · since 2018
- Price
- €28,900 – €78,990
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0
Jaguar XF
II (X260) · 2015–2024
- Price
- €16,000 – €20,000
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Audi A8 D4 (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Quel moteur choisir sur l'Audi A8 D4 ?
Parmi les versions documentées, le 3.0 TDI de 258 ch est le plus sobre (5,9 l/100 km annoncés par L'argus). Le 4.2 TDI V8 consomme 7,4 l/100 km et GetCarWise signale ses chaînes de distribution comme point de vigilance.
Quel est le coffre de l'Audi A8 D4 ?
510 litres sur la fiche L'argus du 4.2 TDI 350 ch ; 487 litres sur celle du 3.0 TDI 258 ch Avus Extended.
L'Audi A8 D4 est-elle fiable ?
Les retours publiés sont peu nombreux. GetCarWise cite la chaîne de distribution du 4.2 TDI et la suspension pneumatique du 3.0 TDI ; un entretien suivi et un contrôle des points sensibles avant achat sont conseillés.
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