Are Audi A6 's rotten lemon cars , or its my luck??
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 236
From: NJ, ocean shore
well, i still love my A6. 
I have 120k already, but only problem (i do not count timing belt-it's normal ro replace after 75k) i have is ball joints and control arms. But, honestly, i replaced them twice, but always some cheap crap, what was made in china with AUDI logo on it !!! Beware of low prices stores like ebay seller Deutsche Parts USA. If you pay for original parts, you gona be good for while
I'm the guy, who do "flooring" every lights, and believe me, no American or Japanese car can handle it that long time
I have 120k already, but only problem (i do not count timing belt-it's normal ro replace after 75k) i have is ball joints and control arms. But, honestly, i replaced them twice, but always some cheap crap, what was made in china with AUDI logo on it !!! Beware of low prices stores like ebay seller Deutsche Parts USA. If you pay for original parts, you gona be good for while
I'm the guy, who do "flooring" every lights, and believe me, no American or Japanese car can handle it that long time
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5
From:
Just to chime in, it does seem like stuff goes bad pretty quickly. I picked up an 2000 A6 for my daughter and have spent a few thousand in repairs. My son has a 2001 A4 and it seems a little more reliable. I would say timing chain (water pump, belts, tensioner) was the most expensive repair for both cars. I was surprised the A6 lost 2 motor mounts at 102K miles. The power streering pump went as well and I'm looking at the ABS module next. On the A4, I suspect the turbo will go at some point but I already have a replacement in hand. Like what's been said here, you just have to roll with the punches. My own BMW has been far more reliable although at 100K I the trans went so that was one large hit to the wallet.
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 25
Speaking of manuals, which CD is good for working on the A6? I bought the Bently Service Manual (ole fashion paper book) and it just blows. Few photos, drawings where you can't tell where the hell they are in the car, missing critical steps and info, often leave out my version (4.2L) while covering 4.2L twin turbos (how many RS6 owners fix their own cars?) and they don't cover much. jajajajajaj.
I've only had my 2003 A6 4.2 for 10K miles (80K on it now) and have had no problems other than learning about all the fricken special fluids they need and the endess VAG tools. Drives so sweeeet though. If I wasn't mechanically inclined though, I can see where the bills would get out of control.
I've only had my 2003 A6 4.2 for 10K miles (80K on it now) and have had no problems other than learning about all the fricken special fluids they need and the endess VAG tools. Drives so sweeeet though. If I wasn't mechanically inclined though, I can see where the bills would get out of control.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 64
From:
wow and I thought I had it bad, my '99 A6 2.8 leaks oil like crazy,I have a dead ABS module, no radio, windows and sunroof with a mind of their own, water in the trunk and taillights, and that's just the **** I need to fix, not the ones I've already fixed. I only have 95k on it, I'm afraid of what's next. I vote lemon. Let's face it, if these cars held up well this forum wouldn't exist, my next car will be subaru.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 22
From: Queens, New York
Jeffla is right. It seems like you guys have never owned a European luxury car before. There is a reason these cars are high end, luxurious, comfortable cars. They're loaded with technology which costs extra to buy in the first place and is so finely tuned from the factory that it requires constant, sometimes expensive maintenance to keep running in top form. These are the facts. I would hope that anyone would know this before getting into the game. The initial purchase cost is only the price of admission. Remember that if you want to continue to play, you have to continue to pay.
I've owned 2 Audis and 3 Mercedes, all of which were marvelous cars and all of which needed the same types of routine maintenance. The most important thing I've learned is this: Don't buy a European car unless you 1) get full service records up to that point. OR 2) Get a screaming deal on it. The fist point is the most important. Don't buy one of these cars without detailed service records. It's worth paying a little more or a car at first if in return you know the history of the car. That way you don't have to spend additional money out of your own pocket up front to fix what the previous owner didn't fix. If the service records are not available, plan on spending some money to do the maintenance. For the love of god, don't wait for something to just fail completely (like a timing belt) before you give it the attention it needs.
I've owned 2 Audis and 3 Mercedes, all of which were marvelous cars and all of which needed the same types of routine maintenance. The most important thing I've learned is this: Don't buy a European car unless you 1) get full service records up to that point. OR 2) Get a screaming deal on it. The fist point is the most important. Don't buy one of these cars without detailed service records. It's worth paying a little more or a car at first if in return you know the history of the car. That way you don't have to spend additional money out of your own pocket up front to fix what the previous owner didn't fix. If the service records are not available, plan on spending some money to do the maintenance. For the love of god, don't wait for something to just fail completely (like a timing belt) before you give it the attention it needs.
a week later i brought it to a mechanic to look at it, i was soo stupid not to get the crafax. i asked for one at the dealer but he sed that he doesnt beleive in that crap. but i was soo in love with the car i just fell for it.
I found out that the control arms were shot. so i wnet and replaced all of the control arms in the front for 960. needed new front brake hoses so i payed 130 for that. =/ so my bill came out to like 1100. so the price i bought it for really didnt matter since i hadd to put in an extra 1100 in the first week of owning the car.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1
From: W. Mass
not alone
I bought a 99 A6Q 2.8 maybe 4 years ago. It was well taken care of -- owened by a dentist who didn't mind investing the money when needed. I knew what I was getting into, but now I'm 170K+ miles. From the top of my head:
-Various oil leaks - minimal expense (<$300)
-Aux. fan - maybe $250
-brakes - normal
-tires - $600
-tie rods -- maybe a couple hundred bucks but man, I had no idea how loose the steering had become!
-timing belt - water pump was going too $900
-control arms - (2 - probably $500)
-ABS unit -- I got this rebuilt from BBS remanufacturing for $140, I think. Excellent!
-cam chain tensioner (155K) - one side -- $1100
-headlight plug -- this ruined one lamp - HID so this was pricey. Solution is a $400 plug assembly - I'm just going to solder the lamp to the wire
Now at 170K, more control arm bushings are gone. I bought a complete kit - aftermarket for $275 under the assumption that new chinese control arms are marginally better than German parts with 170,000 miles on them. I would like to get this car to 250K and hopefully this will get me there. I love this car but now that I've had the 2nd timing belt done, I think I'm through with the $1000+ repair jobs. I am going to go the cheap route now only because of the mileage. I love this car and don't regret any of the cost, but at some point you have to move on.
-Various oil leaks - minimal expense (<$300)
-Aux. fan - maybe $250
-brakes - normal
-tires - $600
-tie rods -- maybe a couple hundred bucks but man, I had no idea how loose the steering had become!
-timing belt - water pump was going too $900
-control arms - (2 - probably $500)
-ABS unit -- I got this rebuilt from BBS remanufacturing for $140, I think. Excellent!
-cam chain tensioner (155K) - one side -- $1100
-headlight plug -- this ruined one lamp - HID so this was pricey. Solution is a $400 plug assembly - I'm just going to solder the lamp to the wire
Now at 170K, more control arm bushings are gone. I bought a complete kit - aftermarket for $275 under the assumption that new chinese control arms are marginally better than German parts with 170,000 miles on them. I would like to get this car to 250K and hopefully this will get me there. I love this car but now that I've had the 2nd timing belt done, I think I'm through with the $1000+ repair jobs. I am going to go the cheap route now only because of the mileage. I love this car and don't regret any of the cost, but at some point you have to move on.