If you own this car (2005.5 A6 3.2 Quattro), or a car with the same engine from the same year, beware. We're not sure what failed first: the timing chain guides or the tensioners, but one or both failed and I now have a heap of scrap metal where my A6 once sat. The timing chain got loose, and ultimately drove the valves into the pistons. I bought the car used with about 40K on it ... one owner, off lease with a spotless Carfax. It had just 79,987 miles on it when it failed on Easter Sunday. The car started normally and the check engine light did not come on at about 3 PM. We came out to the car after supper around 8 PM. It started hard and ran very rough. I drove it about 1/4 mile and that was it.

It cost me $1K for the diagnostics. I called Audi USA after the diagnosis to see if they would offer any assistance. Since I didn't have it serviced at the Audi dealer here in Rochester, NY after the warranty, they questioned my "loyalty." Audi USA's offer consisted of me paying to tow the car to the dealership and pay for another set of diagnostics with little to no hope of assistance from them. Apparently 2 Audi's in 10 years doesn't constitute loyalty as far they are concerned. The simple fact is that the owner of the dealership (also had the BMW, Mercedes dealerships and still owns Audi/Porsche and a Honda dealership in this market) will NEVER take a dime from me. In between Audi's, I had a BMW X5, and they botched EVERY visit, warranty or otherwise. Ask anyone in this area about any of dealerships bearing his name and they will say the same.

The unconscionable thing in my mind, and the reason everyone with the same engine/same year should be concerned is that Audi chose to do nothing. IMO, they should have ordered an autopsy to see what failed and why it failed as this was the first year for timing chains only ... no belts. Ironically, the dealership that serviced my car post-warranty (Sutherland Auto Sales in Pittsford, NY) will keep the car to see what happened. They sell a lot of used Audi's as well as other premium brands.

So in the end, it's a lose-lose. I lost about $8K and Audi lost a customer for life. I picked up a gently used 08 MB E350 w/4 Matic to replace the Audi.

 

Oh my goodness... I have the same car, same exact situation. Bought it used and now the transmission needs to be replaced at 81k miles. Audi corporate told me the same thing. This is extremely disheartening. I had a Mercedes prior and never had these types of problems. I have had the vehicle serviced at the Audi dealership, but of course no one caught the transmission issues in the scheduled maintenance.. which completely boggles my mind. I'm waiting to hear some better answers from Audi regarding the repair. Quote $9500 for transmission replacement. Allegedly this is the only way to fix the problem (a leak in the transmission pump).

On a side note I'm completely blown away by the level of customer service Audi puts forth. Almost as if they aren't interested in keeping their customers...

 

I am still somewhat hopeful as I'm waiting to hear back from Audi after contacting them a third time. The service team at my local dealership has an interesting retention rate (two service advisors left in 6 months). So I haven't had the continuity I would prefer, and at this point it seems I'm just a name on a piece of paper to Audi.... *crossing my fingers* Hope I'm wrong.

 

P.S. how did you get rid of your Audi? I still owe on mine. Just picking up another car is probably not an option without being severely gauged in the trade-in.

 

This sounds like a mistake...as soon as you felt starting hard, you should have shut the engine...

You got an expensive mechanic...

Aka engine swap...and that's what I would have done if I was in your shoes. Not at the dealership, of course.

 

@ Dara: I took my beating and moved onto another car.
@ Audimax: Hindsight is 20/20. That said, the valves & therefore the engine were toast within a few revolutions, and there was no indication of what would happen when I turned it over. 1 foot or 1 mile ... it didn't matter, the damage was done. Besides, you're missing the point of my post. Crap happens ... I get that. It is Audi's lack of a willingness to get to the source of the issue that should make you wonder what kind of company they are. I own a company that makes stuff that people buy. If one of my products failed, I'd want to know why it failed to mitigate future damage and damage to my brand. Audi chooses not to see things the way I see them.

 

same experience here. bought my first 2005 A6 used with 45k miles. drove it until 99k miles when the tensioner gave out. since i bought it from a vw dealer and didn't take it to the local audi shop for much service work, i was apparently a second class citizen. audi usa was competely underwhelming in their support. they offered nothing to me.

i'm not sure how much audi spends every year to get people to buy their cars. but i'll never buy another one. and i'll tell everyone i know to avoid audi as well.

 

I am reading these posts and hope this doesn't happen to me, why, because I bought my Audi A6 because my Mazda engine blew without warning spilling 6 qts of oil in the street during a busy rush hour commute. I spent $8K replacing an engine in a 5 year old car. Mazda deferred all inquiries and refuse to accept any fault for their crappy design, even though severel hundred other owners experieinced issues with their engines blowing up. Mazda just changed the engine in the vehicle and stop making the ones which used it. I hope Audi truly doesn't think we're idiots and not help us after spending large sums of money for their premium products.

 

Exact same issue. Bought a 2005 A6 3.2 w/ 113k mi. Absolutely loved the car till about a month ago, tensioners failed, while taking it from dealer to shop, trying to figure out the best route. Timing failed, engine is DONE! Looks like I'm out about the same $8k. I'm wondering if any other engines will fit the car since the original had so man problems. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks

 

This is all quite terrifying to read, as I drove one today and I have been planning to pull the trigger on a 2005 A6 3.2L that I found a great deal on. Is there a good way to easily prevent this problem or tell if it is going to happen? I cannot afford to slap down $8k on an engine repair. Does anyone have any advice on how I should proceed?