Hi all,
I'm looking closely at getting a 2000 A6 with the 4.2 V-8. It's only got about 71k miles on it. I had a chance to test drive it yesterday, and it was buttery smooth. I've got a couple of questions, though.
In particular, what are the big issues I should be looking for in this particular car?
In the Dallas area, what are some good non-dealer Audi shops where I can get good service on the car?
TIA
Bobby

 

tie rods and front end, brakes especially front, any oil leaks or blue smoke in exhaust at startup (valve guides), also realize you are near costly timing belt service. There are many, many threads on this.

 

I just bought a 2001 A6 4.2 a couple of weeks ago with 85K and got a copy of all the service records from the dealer. Here is a summary:

Looks like tires were good for about 30K in the front and 40K in the rear (must have been a careful driver – no way I will go that far!) Brake pads were good for about 40K front and back. Some issues with front rotors warping around 40K and were replaced. I’ll probably need to do new rotors next time I do brakes. Stuff that has been replaced – O2 sensors (37K), front propeller shaft seal (44k), front outer CV boots (left 45K, right 59K), front tie rods (59K), oil cooler (63K), Mass AirFlow Meter (63K), Engine coolant temp sensor (76K), 3 new wheels (were bent -79K), new trans (84K), and battery (5.5 years).

Probably a good idea to get the trans examined by someone that knows what to look for andif there is no record about the timing belt, at a minimum have it inspected soon. I don't know whether my timing belt was ever inspected so I plan on doing having that done soon. There was a letter that went out to owners about the timing belt advising them to get it inspected that I found in this forum, but I don't know the date of the letter or whether my previous owner had it done. I suspect he did because he was very meticulous about its servicing.

 

Wow. That seems like a lot of stuff to go wrong on a luxury car with only 85k. But it is 6+ years old, I guess.

My 2.7T is 4+ years old and the only non-maintenance stuff to fail was a rear driveshaft seal, the alternator, the secondary coolant pump, and the clutch/flywheel (which happened about 10k after I chipped the car). I still have the original battery. I consider tires, brakes, and even rotors to be part of maintenance, as is the timing belt change.

Of course, my wife has been driving it for the last 3 weeks while I have been in Brazil, so who knows what I'll find wrong when I return!