Questions about A7 C7... what to watch out for?

I’ve currently got an A4 B8, and rust is sadly eating it away so it won’t pass the next inspection. I’m looking to buy an Audi A7 C7 3.0 TDI. Anything I should worry about owning one? What common problems should I look out for? Like, what automatic gearbox to avoid? I’ve heard a lot of bad things about them. Most for sale in my area have 120k+ km, and I’ve been told most problems arise around 150k-200k km. So I’m a bit worried, which is why I’m asking for opinions and help.

I have an A6 C7, so it’s basically the same car. I’ve had a few electronic issues, but nothing serious or difficult to fix. Other than that, no issues with the engine. I have a manual gearbox, so I can’t speak to the automatic.

Not all 3.0 TDI engines are created equal. The BiTDI with 313 HP is the best. The 200 HP and 270 HP versions have issues, while the 240 HP is okay. Stay far away from the multitronic transmission; S tronic is okay, and Tiptronic is the best. Remember, the C7 can be a 14-year-old car. 120k km is less than 10k per year, which is nothing, but things can still break due to age. Plastics get brittle, hoses leak, and sensors fail. If you don’t have at least 1k € per year for maintenance, this car might not be for you.

1k a year isn’t bad. I’ve heard that the BiTDI models can be risky because they push too much power out of the 3.0 TDI, leading to turbo failures. Have you heard that too, or is it just bad luck?

I’ve never heard that before. Those statements don’t make sense to me. If the engine couldn’t handle the power, it would fail, not just the turbos. The BiTDI is generally seen as the most reliable. Other versions of the 3.0 have issues like bad chain tensioners and camshaft problems. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=272PBPSS2no.

I have a 2013 A7 3.0 TDI Black Edition. It’s pretty reliable, but staying on top of maintenance is crucial. These engines are workhorses but sensitive to oil changes. I do mine every 10k km and use good synthetic oil. When buying, set aside an additional 1k euros to change all fluids, filters, and belts. I had mine at 180k km when I bought it, and other than a battery change and one air suspension strut, it’s been great. As for the gearbox, both Tiptronic and S-tronic should be fine.