4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK) vs 4.0 TDI V8 EA898

Side-by-side reliability comparison

Higher reliability score
4.0 TDI V8 EA898 BUY 84/100
+24 points over 4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK)
0 / 100
CAUTION 4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK) Audi
0 / 100
BUY 4.0 TDI V8 EA898 Audi

Specifications

4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK)
4.0 TDI V8 EA898
Brand
Audi
Audi
Verdict
CAUTION
BUY
Reliability
60
84
Years
1999--2009
2016--2021
Displacement
4163 cc
3956 cc
Layout
V8
V8
Type
Petrol Na
Diesel
Power
299--344 hp
421--435 hp
Known Issues
1
0
Total Risk Cost
€1,380--€3,220
€0--€0

Character

4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK)

"The 40-valve port-injection 4.2 V8 of the S4 B6/B7, S6 C5 and A6 4.2. Glorious sound, but the plastic guides and tensioners of the rear-mounted timing chains break up with age and heat - an engine-out job, and if the chain jumps a tooth the valves meet the pistons. Listen to a cold start and look for proof of the chain job."

4.0 TDI V8 EA898

"Twin-turbo 4.0 V8 diesel with a 48-volt electric compressor - the first in a production car - used in the SQ7, SQ8, A8, Touareg and Bentayga from 2016 to about 2021. No recall and no documented failure pattern has been found so far, but it is a rare, very complex engine with little long-term data: buy only with full dealer history and a clean emissions system (DPF/SCR)."

Issues Comparison

4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK) 1

◆ CRITICAL
Plastic timing-chain guides and tensioner break up - engine-out repair €1,380--€3,220 97,000 km--161,000 km

4.0 TDI V8 EA898 0

No documented issues.

Models

4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK) 2

A6 C5 2003--2003 A6 C5 2003--2005

4.0 TDI V8 EA898 1

Q7 4M 2016--2020
Full 4.2 V8 40V (ARS/ASG/AQJ/ANK/BAS/BAT/BBK) Report Full 4.0 TDI V8 EA898 Report