I've really enjoyed reading all the B8 3.0TDI build threads online and thought I would start one of my own. I've owned the car for coming up to 2 years and thought it might be useful for prospective owners looking at high mileage B8 (3.0 TDI's) to see what they're in for.
A few disclaimers before I start, I am not a mechanic and I am definitely not a welder! This car is my daily driver, I love the car and I'm just trying to keep it alive for as long as possible!
This is my first Audi, my last car was an E46 330CI so I'm new to the platform.
Onto the car...
Purchased back in 2022 with 163,000 Miles on the clock - took a bit of a gamble as it was relatively high mileage and I really knew nothing about the platform - car was Px to a dealer and then sold to me. I know nothing about the previous history of the car other than its service history, which was surprisingly good.
Car is early 2008. Engine is CAPA and gearbox is KMU. I really wanted and A4 as I have seen so many 3.0 TDI A5's but never come across any A4's even rarer to me were the saloons.
Car is SE but came with sports suspension adaptive cruise and lots of nice extras.
Like I said - I know nothing about the history of the car but found some clues in the cars phonebook.
Some numbers for Kush and somebody called fat legs told me all I needed to know... this car had probably spent most of its life at redline.
After getting the car I realised the last service was done a month before it was part exchanged. I couldn't work out why anybody would service their old car before trading it in to the dealer. I guess they had found something when servicing that spooked the owner and then forced sale (more on that later).
Whilst familiarising myself with the new engine bay, I took a look at the air filter hoping it wasn't something aftermarket ( I had some bad experience's with oiled filters).
Apparently was only changed 500 miles ago....
It was due a change so swapped in a new MANN filter but managed to shear the MAF connector whilst putting it back together.
This is where it went a little bit downhill for me...
I ordered a replacement connector from the dealer and continued to drive the car with the MAF unplugged - it ran fine so I didn't worry. Bad idea.
Managed to block my DPF up nice and good - cheaped out and bough OBDElelven to read the codes. Sure enough DPF codes and some relating to the swirl flap motors (I had read about these failing on lots of other threads so wasn't surprised).
New connector came - little bit of soldering and it was working like new.
Once my MAF was back I decided that this was the time for some DPF work, EGR and swirl flap delete and a good map. Only one man for the job in my mind.....
Huge shoutout to Bobby for doing the work and a great map too, completely transformed the car!
The car is now back and running amazing, pulls and sounds great!
As the car is running really well at this point I will round off the first post.
Its been a long journey over the past 2 years and this was just the beginning - I will update the thread in segments so the posts aren't overwhelmed with all the images.
A few disclaimers before I start, I am not a mechanic and I am definitely not a welder! This car is my daily driver, I love the car and I'm just trying to keep it alive for as long as possible!
This is my first Audi, my last car was an E46 330CI so I'm new to the platform.
Onto the car...
Purchased back in 2022 with 163,000 Miles on the clock - took a bit of a gamble as it was relatively high mileage and I really knew nothing about the platform - car was Px to a dealer and then sold to me. I know nothing about the previous history of the car other than its service history, which was surprisingly good.
Car is early 2008. Engine is CAPA and gearbox is KMU. I really wanted and A4 as I have seen so many 3.0 TDI A5's but never come across any A4's even rarer to me were the saloons.
Car is SE but came with sports suspension adaptive cruise and lots of nice extras.
Like I said - I know nothing about the history of the car but found some clues in the cars phonebook.
Some numbers for Kush and somebody called fat legs told me all I needed to know... this car had probably spent most of its life at redline.
After getting the car I realised the last service was done a month before it was part exchanged. I couldn't work out why anybody would service their old car before trading it in to the dealer. I guess they had found something when servicing that spooked the owner and then forced sale (more on that later).
Whilst familiarising myself with the new engine bay, I took a look at the air filter hoping it wasn't something aftermarket ( I had some bad experience's with oiled filters).
Apparently was only changed 500 miles ago....
It was due a change so swapped in a new MANN filter but managed to shear the MAF connector whilst putting it back together.
This is where it went a little bit downhill for me...
I ordered a replacement connector from the dealer and continued to drive the car with the MAF unplugged - it ran fine so I didn't worry. Bad idea.
Managed to block my DPF up nice and good - cheaped out and bough OBDElelven to read the codes. Sure enough DPF codes and some relating to the swirl flap motors (I had read about these failing on lots of other threads so wasn't surprised).
New connector came - little bit of soldering and it was working like new.
Once my MAF was back I decided that this was the time for some DPF work, EGR and swirl flap delete and a good map. Only one man for the job in my mind.....
Huge shoutout to Bobby for doing the work and a great map too, completely transformed the car!
The car is now back and running amazing, pulls and sounds great!
As the car is running really well at this point I will round off the first post.
Its been a long journey over the past 2 years and this was just the beginning - I will update the thread in segments so the posts aren't overwhelmed with all the images.
