Audi A5 Coupe Exhaust System: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the A5, power loss and smoke that looks like DPF failure on related models can genuinely be a faulty back pressure sensor.

Generation covered: this guide is for the second-generation A5 Coupe (F5 platform, 2016–2024) — the two-door coupe discontinued when Audi renamed the A4 saloon to A5 in 2024. These are entirely different cars despite sharing a name; if your car is a four-door saloon or estate bought new since 2024, this guide does not apply to it. Check your logbook or VIN if you're unsure which car you have.

Illustration for editorial purposes

The Part That Announces Its Own Problems

Unlike a lot of the parts on this site, this is one where you'll usually hear the fault before you see it — a rattle, a drone, a sudden increase in noise that wasn't there last week. That's actually useful, since it gives you a head start on catching problems early.

Before you buy: exhaust configuration differs significantly by engine size, fuel type and whether your car has a particulate filter. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: exhaust and catalytic converter part numbers vary significantly by engine on the A5 Coupe — a part correct for one engine variant will very likely not fit or meet emissions requirements on another, so confirm your exact engine code via VIN before ordering, particularly for the catalytic converter itself.

S5 and RS5 models use a genuinely different, larger-bore exhaust system with a distinct sound character compared with standard TFSI/TDI versions — these aren't interchangeable. Catalytic converter theft is also a real risk on this car given the precious metals used, particularly on quattro models parked on driveways.

What It Does

The exhaust system channels burnt gases away from the engine, reduces noise through the silencer, and on most modern cars, treats emissions through a catalytic converter and particulate filter before gases exit the tailpipe. Petrol and diesel versions of the same model often use entirely different systems due to different emissions treatment requirements.

Audi A5 Coupe Exhaust System reference plate

A Genuinely Useful Piece of Context Worth Knowing About DPF Diagnosis

If you're facing power loss and heavy smoke, this is genuinely worth knowing before assuming the DPF itself has failed: documented cases on related Audi models describe these exact symptoms traced to a faulty exhaust back pressure sensor giving incorrect readings, rather than the DPF itself, worth checking this cheaper component first.

A genuinely alarming, honest account worth knowing: a catastrophically failed turbo can send oil into the exhaust system, completely destroying the catalytic converter or DPF behind it — worth knowing that a turbo issue and a DPF issue can genuinely be linked rather than separate faults.

It's also genuinely worth knowing an important legal clarification: removing emissions control equipment fitted for type approval isn't legal in the UK, regardless of whether a "DPF delete" currently passes an MOT test.

Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Exhaust System Guide for warning signs and fault codes to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and which aftermarket brands are worth trusting.

More Audi Exhaust System

The same part, covered across other Audi models.