Your 2.7T just read this and is going to kill both turbos soon

 

Hey guys,


So after changing my tank again my car started to overheat again! And I finally got the diagnostic test done and found out what it was: Water pump! Sad news, right? Well my mechanic said I minus well change the timing belt while I am at it! So he's charging $600 to do both. My car is at 140,000 and he said its suppose to be changed out around 120,000. Should I just trade my car in or what? Thank you guys for all of your help!

 

I live In Saline, Michigan. Does any one know any good places to get my car fixed?

 

I have a 2000 A6 Quattro with the 2.7T engine. My daughter had it but couldn't keep up with the maintenance, so I bought it from her.

First of all, in the winter, there are very few vehicles that can keep up with it in very inclement weather, especially in the winters that we get in Pittsburgh. The hills make it really hard to make it around sometimes. I was in Pittsburgh last year when we got freezing rain for several hours, followed by 6+ inches of snow, all before 7:00 A.M. My daughter got stuck going down a hill and pulled off the side, called me, and I went out to "save" her.

It was surreal. Cars were sliding down the hill on a major highway that she was on, and wrecking into the guard rails, off the side of the road, etc. One wrecked right in front of me.

I was in the fast lane on the highway and although I wasn't driving recklessly, I had to go around many cars which were all over the road, trying to make it up the hill we were on. The entire trip to get her was about 12 miles and I didn't spin a tire. Having great winter tires on all 4 wheels helped, of course. I would recommend that you get Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires. You will never regret getting them. Never.

For the summer tires, I would recommend any moderately priced tire. You won't be doing stupid stunts in the street so mileage (wear) will be important to you plus you want a tire that is quiet and does well in rain. I like Milestar tires the best for this segment, but there are quite a few brands that will serve your needs. Don't buy the hype about an expensive tire being so much better than the one you are thinking of buying.

A tire dealer tried to do that with me; I had done my homework and told him that the tires I was interested in were higher rated, were produced in a significantly better plant (ISO-9001 since 1994), and got at least 8% better wear mileage than his tire. Finally he said that he could get the tires I wanted and agreed to sell them to me and sold them to me for the same delivered price as I could get them from an eBay seller (big tire shop). So do your homework and don't believe the hype.

As for brakes, I think Akebono ceramic are the best there are. Once again, you don't need extreme performance brake pads but they are close to the highest performing pads out there. Minimal brake dust, no squealing, and really great stopping power without being grabby. Outstanding performance in all weather conditions. Lots of rice rocket jockeys swear by them for their performance. I changed all my rotors and pads at the same time. Put Brembo rotors on the front and the brake performance has been outstanding for over 20,000 miles.

The types of problems you are experiencing are, as attested to by others in this thread, to be expected - especially if the car you bought wasn't maintained according to the intervals outlined by Audi. The A6 is an extremely complex car and there were problems with electronics, oil leaks, etc. Mine has 140,000 miles on it and I have put quite a bit of money into repairs and maintenance since I took it over at 95,000 miles. But I am now happy with the performance and would take the car across the country and back with hesitation.

I think the C%-series A6 is one of the best cars that was made, was ahead of its time in many aspects. It drives well in any weather, is comfortable, and has timeless looks.

I needed my timing belt and water pump maintenance done so I found an independent mechanic who worked on German and Swedish cars on Craigs List, of all places. I asked him the questions that needed to be asked and he knew what he was talking about, especially on the 2.7T. I bought the parts, paid him $500 (he was working on the weekend to make extra money) and I liked the job he did. So I had him change my transmission fluid and filter, and do some other things after the TB. You should be able to find an independent mechanic who is experienced with Audis who will charge you about half of what an Audi dealership does.

As far as wipers, I change mine pretty often. I get Bosch at Walmart. I think they are about $9.00 each. Easy to remove the wipers and install the new ones. More expensive blades just aren't worth the money. In over 500,000 miles of driving over the years, I've tried them all. If you are changing them as often as you should, there are no advantages in buying expensive blades, because new ones, correctly installed and in the middle of the price range, will last just as long and do just as good a job as the expensive blades - especially when you realize that you should really change them at least twice a year, if not more, depending on how much you drive in the rain and snow.

Finally, make sure you get a good synthetic oil change and buy a good oil filter. I actually buy my Bosch oil filters online, save about 50% over buying a filter from the Audi dealer, take my car to Walmart and buy Mobile 1 0W40 or 10W40 from them. They install my filter. I can't do my own oil changes any more due to restrictions of the apartment complex I live in, so Walmart is a good alternative where I can get the oil I want and they put on the Bosch filter I bring in. Other guys do the same thing as they have a default line in their invoice that says "Oil filter supplied by owner" or something close to that.

So to echo the sentiments of others, if you blow a turbo, get rid of the car. Engine needs to be pulled, both turbos replaced, etc. Lots of money. Sounds like you're in good shape there, though.

Good luck.

 

Timing belt and water pump on a 2.7T for 600?! Keep it! That's a steal.

 

The TB kit with water pump, if you get a decent one, will run you at least $400. All idlers should be changed, water pump, TB, etc. While he's in there, he should also change the accessories belt, which will be less than $30 with no additional labor. He should check the all the engine seals (cams, crank) to make sure they're not leaking and change them if they are.

You didn't mention any oil leaks but while your mechanic is in there, he should check your valve cover gaskets and change them too if they are leaking. Also should take a peek at the rear gaskets.

So the total charge, with such a great price on the labor that he gave you, should come in at about $1100 to $1500 depending on how much he uncovered once he had the front apart.

Once done, you should have a fairly reliable car but you have to remember that the people who owned it before didn't really take care/maintain it as they should have and things will continue to crop up along the way. Just get them fixed one at a time and continue to get them all until they are all done.

One thing to note - if you ever need turbos, that will be the time to dump it. Also, if the transmission goes, that might be a good time to dump it. You can get a transmission for a decent price but the labor to put one in might be high, so you're looking at a bill of at least $1000 on the low side.

You also didn't mention - How is the exterior and interior of the car? In great shape or something less?

TB is just normal maintenance so don't think it is something out of the ordinary.

Good luck.

 

I picked up a 2000 Quattro 2.7 with 110,000 miles. Plugs, Coolant, Belt and water pump had been done. I have had to change out the following to make it like new:
Power steering pump. (Used, still noisy).
Resonator.
Front and rear pads and slotted rotors.
Inside rearview mirror fixed.
Changer added. (used)
LED/amber rear tail lights added.
Rear mini spoiler added.
New tires. (Goodyear Eagle GT's.)

Car looks and runs like new! Just avoid the dealer if you don't want to be scalped.

 

He's right! The dealer charges @2k give or take.