Audi: theft risks and protection
According to the Ministry of Interior, Audi is right after Volkswagen among the most stolen makes in Serbia. Thieves steal it through the OBD port under the steering wheel or by relaying the signal of a keyless key, which Audi calls Advanced Key. OBD port relocation is 100 €, and the call-out to your address in Belgrade is included. We also install immobilisers, alarms and GPS.
All you need to tell or write us is the make, model and year of the car.
We work in several cities in Serbia. Tell us your city.
Why thieves choose Audi
Volkswagen and Audi have the biggest market for used parts, so they pay off best for a thief.
A stolen car is taken apart at a scrapyard and sold part by part, or it leaves Serbia with a false chassis number and false papers.
In Belgrade, Audi is among the four most stolen makes, together with Volkswagen, Renault and BMW. Of the vehicles stolen in 2022, fewer than half were found.
In Novi Sad in 2016 the Audi A3 and A4 were among the cars thieves looked for most. Almost all stolen cars at the time had no proper alarm and no extra protection.
On every Audi of the same model the OBD port is in the same place, under the dashboard on the driver's side. A thief knows where to look. A new key for an Audi is also programmed through that port. The same devices are used for theft: the thief programs his own key and drives the car away.
Relocation closes that route. The factory port stays intact and works only when your adapter is in the hidden socket. More about OBD port relocation
What to watch out for by model
A3
Together with the A4, among the Audis thieves looked for most in Novi Sad in 2016. In a theft test of keyless cars, the A3 from 2015 and 2017 was opened and started by relaying the key signal. The A3 from 2020 was not, because its key measures the distance to the car. For the petrol 2.0 TFSI from 2008 to 2012, Audi in America issued a notice to its dealers about the timing chain.
A4 and A5
With a keyless key, the A4 from 2015 to 2020 and the A5 from 2016 and 2020 were opened and started in the test. An A4 from 2019 whose key goes to sleep when it is still was opened too, because the signal is relayed until the key goes to sleep. For the petrol 2.0 TFSI from 2009 to 2011, Audi in America issued a notice to its dealers about excessive oil consumption. For the A4 up to 2013 and the A5 Cabriolet from 2010 to 2013 it also issued a notice about the timing chain.
A6, A7 and A8
With a keyless key, the A6 from 2012, 2014 and 2020, the A7 from 2018 and the A8 from 2017 were opened and started in the test. For the A6 with the petrol 2.0 TFSI from 2012, Audi in America issued a notice to its dealers about the timing chain.
Q3, Q5, Q7 and Q8
With a keyless key, the Q3 from 2019, the Q5 from 2020, the Q7 and the Q8 were opened and started in the test. The key of the Q5 from 2020 goes to sleep when it is still, but until it goes to sleep the signal can still be relayed. On the Q5 the OBD port is under the dashboard, above the brake pedal. For the Q5 with the petrol 2.0 TFSI, Audi in America issued notices to its dealers about oil consumption, for 2009 to 2011, and about the timing chain, for 2011 and 2012.
What we recommend
- Every Audi
- OBD port relocation, so a thief cannot program a new key
- Advanced Key
- a pouch that blocks the signal and an immobiliser
- A6, A8, Q5, Q7, Q8
- alongside relocation, an immobiliser and GPS tracking
- Alarm
- an alarm that goes off when the thief opens a door
Advanced Key: how it is stolen and what helps
Advanced Key is Audi's name for unlocking and starting with the key in your pocket, when you are within about 1.5 m of the car. The car sends a question to the key, and the key answers. The car knows the key answered, but not how far away it is. So thieves relay your key's signal to the car, and the car unlocks and starts. In a large test of keyless cars almost every Audi was opened and started this way, from the A1 to the Q8. The A3 from 2020 and the Q4 were not opened, because their key measures the distance to the car. OBD relocation does not stop this theft. What helps is a pouch that blocks the signal and an immobiliser, because the engine does not start without your fob.
Diagnostics for Audi: VCDS
Audi is part of the Volkswagen group, so there is VCDS for it, diagnostic software made for Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Škoda. An ordinary OBD device talks only to the engine. VCDS also reads the ABS, the airbags and the automatic gearbox, and resets the service reminder. More about diagnostics
Known faults: the petrol 2.0 TFSI
For the petrol 2.0 TFSI, Audi in America issued two special notices to its dealers. The first is for the A4, A5 and Q5 from 2009 to 2011, about excessive oil consumption. More about the oil warning light The second is about the timing chain and its tensioner, on the A3, A4, A5 Cabriolet, A6, Q5 and TT from 2008 to 2013. When the chain fails, it can damage the engine. On newer 2.0 TFSI engines we read with diagnostics how far the timing has shifted, which is the first sign of a stretched chain. The exact state is shown by checking the tensioner. More about diagnostics
Coding: what can be turned on on an Audi
With coding we turn on what the car has but is switched off at the factory. On the A3 from 2012 to 2020, for example, the needles sweep to the end and back when you start the car, and the mirrors fold with the remote, if they have a folding motor. Start-stop can be switched off completely, but not on every model year. Before a change we write down the factory values, because there is no other way to undo it. More about coding
A new battery is registered in the car
On an Audi a new battery is registered in the car's computer. Without registration start-stop can work worse or not at all, so the car uses more fuel. More about battery replacement
CarPlay and Android Auto: Audi smartphone interface
Audi smartphone interface is Audi's name for CarPlay and Android Auto on the factory screen. On the A6, A7 and A8 with the newer MMI screen from 2015 it can be switched on later, when the screen's software version allows it. On the newest screens, which arrived in 2019 and 2020, the phone also connects without a cable. More about CarPlay activation A screen without CarPlay built in does not get it through activation. For such an Audi we install a new multimedia unit with CarPlay and Android Auto. More about multimedia installation
Buying a used Audi
With a used car you do not know how many keys exist. A key left with the previous owner still starts your car. More about key programming
Frequently asked questions
All questions about relocation are on a separate page.
Advice
All advice on protection
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067 774 1606Email: kontakt@autoindustrija.rs