I have a 2006 A6 Avant with approx 62k miles that has just experienced the following:

Car had been running fine until one morning last week it failed to start. Jumped it with no luck (it began to turn over but it was obvious something more was wrong). Towed it to the dealer. Dealers response to the problem is "we need to replace Cylinder head (Bank 1). Adjuster had come apart and the chain is stretched out. Camshaft is rotated 180 degrees the wrong way. A couple of valves have hit the pistons (bent)
Total cost: $8783.

Without prompting Audi offered to split the above cost. However, I am just looking for any thoughts or advice as I see this as a rather expensive and peculiar problem to have on a 100% dealer maintained, low mile , one-owner vehicle

 

It is a very unfortunate occurence.
You said the car ran fine before you experienced the sudden non-start, but did you have prior engine chatter, excessive noise or vibrations?
Those are the symptoms of a failing chain or out of proper tension.

Initially I would have said that you can try replacing the camshaft sensor, as a failed one does not allow the car to start, but I doubt they will lie about such an extensive damage and repair. Also, you said that it turned over when you tried to jump start it, so that eliminates a failed cam sensor.

With all being said and done, if I were in the same situation I would still like to see with my own eyes the failed adjuster and experience the valves hitting the pistons (turning the crank manually). $ 4500 is a big chunk of money to pump into a just 4-5 year old car in which you already invested + $ 35000, and $ 9000 to replace just one head sounds pretty expensive. It may pay the dealer's electricity bill for an entire year... (don't pay attention to this; is just my outraged mumbling about dealers in general)

Probably your only cheaper alternative is to find an indie shop specialized in German cars, BUY YOUR OWN PARTS -example and have them replace it for you.

Sorry for your misfortune. Good luck.

 

Keep after them - they should cover the WHOLE cost.

 

Thank you for the quick replies. chefro, I did, in fact, notice a brief noise/vibration in the 24 hours prior. Unfortunately, given our harsh conditions this time of year, I likely dismissed it as cars often act a bit out of character in these temperatures. (-5f)

I definitely feel that the Audi dealer is being honest in their assessment and don't feel as if I am being lied to in any way. My post was more in search of opinions as to if this should be accepted as an unfortunate occurrence or if Audi should take more responsibility on this recently out of warranty car.

I really appreciate these and any other thoughts on the subject as I am still uncertain as to what would be reasonable.

 

I didn't think you considered the dealership red-handed. It was mostly about my thoughts vis-s-vis of dealers, in general.

As far as the "matter at hand" thoughts, I would definitely agree with what Bob said, but you're out of Powertrain (Drivetrain) warranty, are you not - 50k miles or 4 years?
If it was specified anywhere in the warranty that the timing chain and components are warranted for the life of the engine, then you should certainly have pursued them to fix it for free.
Even if you did the maintenance religioulsy only at the dealership (hence the timing, chain lubrication, and any DTCs thrown in relationship to the chain tension should have been their responsibility, and been addressed by them during service appointments), I doubt you have a claim case, unless you have some type of extended coverage up-to date.
If you have another car you can use as a daily driver, I would say then that the best bet is to either look into doing the repair yourself - take your time, get informed and do it right, or looking for a different possibility, along the lines of what I was thinking earlier - buy your own parts and find an indie shop that can do the repair for much less than $ 4500.

 

The problem with doing this repair yourself and the reason for the high cost of the repair is that the engine needs to come out to service the chains. There are 4 of them and they are all on the rear of the engine.

 

62k miles timing belt broken is out of Audi's 65k miles recommendation. Ask to replace / repair for free.

 

No timing belt in this car. It has timing chains that are maintenance free.

 

I don't have a timing chain car, so I have trouble understanding. Be kind and explain a few things.
You mean to say that the car has a total of 8 chains (4 per head), or that the entire engine (2 chains per head) needs to come out?
If the later is the correct one, as I suspect, then why the entire engine needs to come out to only repair Bank 1?
Also, the fact that the chains are on the rear side of the engine should make no difference in the grand scheme of things since the head has to come out anyway, shouldn't it ? Thanks
-

 

See this image. There are 4 chains all in the rear. This is the 3.2 FSI but I think your engine is the same. The image you show does not show a belt on the front.