My 2000 2.7t has 180K and the original starter, alternator and even turbos. (But it is driven mostly by my wife, read "Driven by a little "old" lady..." )

A large number of procedures start with "remove the front bumper." It isn't that hard as it was designed to be removed. You can get to the end bolts without removing the inner fenders and I do not use the special tools to hold the carrier lock... I use the bumper bolts covered with 3.5 inches of fuel line.

 

That's good to hear about the starters and alternators. I might just leave them alone and save that money for the time being. thanks guys.

 

I would leave those too. Go after anything rubber. Audi engineers must have a hell of a lot of kids because their rubber fails like crazy.