I don't think it is a scam, i think you just need to be sure it is the right now. My tuner found me a rosh tech cable for like 15 bucs and gave me the program. So.. I paid 30 bucs vs 300? for the cable and the software

 

I don't know why so many have those expensive repairs. I never had a repair.............I just don't do it. Maybe I'm just scared of the bills.
What is wrong with my 2000 A6; Suspension, Aircon, ABS, motor rubbers, wheel arms, wind-screen washer, Head light washer , Car Speakers , Transmission faults, loose hanging ceiling fabrics, Board computer display is unreadable and front headlights are fuzzy.
Dashboard plastics and many other little things. Despite all, the car drives smooth and fortunately the cruise control still works.

I do change the OIL sometimes.

My main problem now is the Aircon as temperatures get high now but don't feel good to spend any money on this car having 155K/miles on the clock.

Ed

 

If it is your bad luck, then it is mine too. I have had my '03 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro for almost 2 years. It just turned to 83K. In the last 2 mos.....

1. Cat converter went (luckily I had it diagnosed and got it to the dealer b4 the 80K warrenty expired, one item of good luck)

2. Battery light stays on for 30-60 seconds after the car is started, dealer says it's the alternator (~$1,000 to repair)

3. "Check Engine" light just came on last week. Dealer says the codes indicate a bad torque converter in the transmittion. (~$2,113.00 to repair)

4. Three days ago, the low water light came on. Water fill reserve is full and the car runs at a normal temp. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the best riding, driving car that I have ever had (even over the BMW, MB, Caddy, etc.), but I can't deal with the mounting repairs and costs over the car payment.

 

We're on our fourth Audi. Currently my wife drives 00' A6 Avant wagon and me an 06' A3. I've owned a mint 100 until some lady re-ended me and an 97' A4.

The A6 wagon is in the shop every 3 months or less. What I've noticed thru these cars are control arms need replaced between 70-100 k. Everytime I turn around I've got O2 sensor issues or cat converter problems but these get going about 100k which I believe is normal life expectancy for them.

The A6 has had a bunch of small stuff. Garbled display in dashboard, (I think all Audi's do this) the Germs should fix that problem and if they can't get it right, don't put display units in the car. Hazard light switch, the replay went out in it so the turn signals quite working. Replaced broken cup holder and side view mirror switch.

cam seals, timing belt water pump (norm) at 100k.


Happy to say that while the A6 starts getting annoying with it constantly in the shop, the A3 hasn't had any problems and is quit fast. It's everything I wanted in a car.

 

My display is messed up too, i wish there was a way to fix it. Oh well i still love my A6.

 

You are definitely not alone. Like OC said, you are so lucky you can fix it yourself. I paid $14.5k for a 2000 2.7 about 4 years ago. It's had atleast $12K worth of work done too it since then. With about $3k more due right now. I didn't know what I was getting into. Too bad I had to wait until after I bought the car before I found this website.

 

Someone mentioned "you haven't owned an expensive European Car before" insinuating that they are problem cars..well just for the fun of it, go to Infinity, Lexus forums and you'll notice they have problems just like Euro cars..they really do. Now I will admit Euro lux cars *had more electronic issues for several years especially MB and somewhat less so the Audi, but we all know Audi has always wanted to be the leading edge and usually is so the first year models always seem to have a few electronic issues but usually by the second year they have patched the problems..at least that's the case in the 05 A6--the 06 was like going from win95 to XP but Audi had learned from it's past.. you could update the MMI on the 05 to get these fixes. Mechanically, the same thing..I think the 3.2 has proven to be as solid of a 6 cylinder engine as any car in the world and that's saying allot and without the electronic bugiboos of past years, they learned. BTW, I've got a 87 MB TDWagon that is 7K miles away from 300K! and other then one injector issue and normal parts wear..it has been as solid a vehicle as I've ever owned..on the rack it looks like a truck..very heavy,thick parts that don't easily break, you could even rebuild the alternator..those days are forever gone though.
IMO, if you buy a mechanically sound Audi with a history, it will generally remain that way as long as you do the maintenance, mainly filters,oil,belts, hoses and fluids all of which you can do yourself. Now if you buy the car purely because of it's looks and don't scrupulously check it out..now your talking expensive european.

 

BTW, the Subject of this thread is one of the stupidest subject title's I've seen at Audiforums..if the A6's were "rotten lemons" then why is it considered one of the best cars in the world by people who study and write about automobiles, it sounds like you purchased junk and then tried to make an Audi out of it...it don't work that way.

 

Well, the real thing to remember is that people who have NO problems usually dont complain on the Internet!

If you look up problems with any car you will find some, no doubt about it.

 

Correct.
And another element to be taken into consideration is that also are tens of thousands of owners that just take the car into the dealership when having a car problem. They neither complain on the Internet, nor join a forum specific for that car to better get educated about their ownership.

Also, there are so many second-hand, or third-hand Audi owners that don't even have the slightest idea what they purchased (no maint. records; no knowledge of the car's specifics - I was one and still am to a certain degree, etc). So many factors can be taken into account: the first owner didn't take good care of the car; the car was leased and being driven like it was stolen; the car was a rental, etc.
If buying it at a crappy time when stuff starts failing because of poor maintenance or careless driving mannerism and piles up, of course the new owner would think the car is a "lemmon".

Personally, I think this old and crappy A6 is the smoothest car I have ever driven despite a few shortcomings it has (stiff ride, and old tranny with a slight problem, as the troublesome ones), and since 1990 when I got my permit I drove a few cars over the years...