My son & I pulled the engine on his C5 A6 2.t to change clutch, mounts, turbos, etc.
Noticed these cracks on both bank 1 & 2 valve covers. Same crack lengths & position on both banks. I don't know if cracks occurred during lift or were there beforehand. I haven't noticed them in prior valve cover removals.

Lifted engine using engine lift mounts on front right & rear left, so no direct load going into valve covers. No evidence of oil leaking from cracks. So either they are not thru-wall, or they occurred during engine pull. We haven't removed valve covers to see if cracks are thru-wall yet.

Doesn't look good to me, so likely I'll need to be replacing the valve covers.

Has anyone seen this type of cracking on the v6 valve covers?

 

These appear less extreme than cracks in my covers, but they are in same place.

 

I'd change them!

Thats crazy. i went and checked my valve cover to make sure mine didnt have cracks. Hit up Audi4parst.com. They should run $40 a side.