Sounds like rear main seal. You have a choice:

1. spend $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (lots of em) on a repair of main seal.
2. buy a quart of oil every week or two for $4.

No brainer.

Door is an easy fix for you or mechanic. Something in the door release mechanism has popped out of place or worn out. Probably one hour of labor plus part.

Take your vin to parts dept and ask to see a pic of door release. Parts guy can tell you what typically fails.

BTW, my advice does not come cheap. Fax me a $5 bill.

 

2002 A4 Avante 2.5TDI Quattro 146,000 miles, runs like it is brand new.

 

2003 A6 2.7TT 6MT Quattro 125k, one-owner (before me), and runs like a dream. MUCH quicker than my 01.5 A4, with an updated, more "classy" feel haha...

 

Cheers thanks for reply, yes I know no brainer but oil all over the placem so will have to have seal fixed, but will take your advice re door handle, and will fax £5.00 to you

 

2013 A6 3.0T Quattro 20" Sport Wheels, 1256mi. First Audi and loving it!!

 

Just bought a 2004 A6 S-Line Tiptronic with 86k miles for my daily driver. Great all-around car so far, loving every minute of it!

 

I've got a 2005 Audi A6 4.2 Quattro and its managed to get up to 180k miles. Granted I've put more money into keeping it running than it would cost to go out and buy a new one but I love my car too much haha.

 

Im on my second c5 a6. Both are exactly the same. 2000 a6 2.7t fully loaded 6spd manual.

This one is at 143k Running although im going through previous owner neglect stuff replacing all hoses n such. Bout to do timing belt

Last one i sold at 228K!!! Still running strong turbos wounded up great. Needed a truck at the time and one of the cats was on its way out.

The 228k one i owned since about 170k. Replaced various hoses. Timing belt and all that goes with that. Replaced all 4 control arms twice and they were on their way out again when i sold it. (was running back and forth 2 miles of dirt road everyday). Had a couple misfire problems... both times was the ICM
Owning that first one will keep me in one of these forever!!

This new to me one im about to chip with revo or giac, then someday going all the way to stage 3! sittin a little under 500horse!

The only turbo vehicle more reliable is my cummins

 

2004 S-Line. 56k miles. Bought it last month at 54.8K miles. Plan on doing TB at around 60K to be on the safe side with this low mileage 8+ year old car.

 

That ain't many miles, man. I recently saw a guy with a 1990 Geo Metro which had 577,000 miles on it. He said he had never been into the engine. Body was intact because of San Antonio.

Keep in mind that this 3 cylinder car had a MSRP of $5995 back then. Not sure if his was an auto or a a stick, but the stick shifts had an EPA sticker showing 51 mpg.

BTW, during the $5 per gallon fuel crisis about 6 years ago, there were several on craigslist for about $7,000 to $10,000.

Now--compare your car vs the above:
MPG:
Engine reliabillty:
Overall durability:
Depreciation:

Way back then, when the cars were new, I refused to buy one because the dealer absolutely refused to throw in a spoon with the purchase. (First responders are most appreciative of a spoon whenever a small car like that gets in a bad accident.)