My RS6's gearbox has given up the ghost

[maxitone]

Turns out my '53 RS6 saloon needs a new gearbox. The current one managed 130k miles before it got bored with all this changing into second malarky. Apart from that and needing a timing belt change the car's in great shape having had regular servicing and a fair bit of dosh ploughed into it over the years.

My dilemma is that Audi's quoted £7.7k to replace the gearbox. Add another £1k for the timing belt and it's all starting to look like it's time to part company.

Should I trade it in -- what could I realistically expect?
Find someone who could fix it much cheaper.
Perhaps someone out there fancies a 4.2L bi-turbo hooligan of a car and has the skills to replace the gearbox.

What would you do?

Andy

[DanielSan]

Buy a recon box for a fraction of the price Audi want to rob you?

[ClaphamGT3]

A1 Premier Transmissions rebuilt the gearbox in our old one for about £1500. It was as good as new afterwards

[Scuffers]

What they said...

Audi did not bill themselves that much when it's a warranty job...

Don't skip on the timing chains though, as the box is going to be out.

[Cupramax]

Have you tried changing the gearbox oil and filter? Tiptronic boxes are usually pretty indestructable...

[hdrflow]

Not an RS6 but I had my TT gearbox rebuilt fairly cheap or much reduced cost of a new one. Happy with the result too so definitely a way forward.

[Baryonyx]

As an owner of an old 4.2 A8, my mind was never far from a gearbox specialist. £1500 was about the going rate for a reconditioned unit, which were usually warrantied. Get it rebuilt and sling it.

[anonymous-user]

Try unit20.org or mrctuning.

[TheAngryDog]

Cupramax said:

Have you tried changing the gearbox oil and filter? Tiptronic boxes are usually pretty indestructable...

I am led to believe that the box in the RS6 isn't the strongest.

Sorry to learn of your woes Op. If you like the car, fix it up. Better the devil you know.

[maxitone]

If I could get the box done for £1.5k that'd be awesome.
The car puts such a grin on my face I'd be sorry to see it go.
I'll be phoning around your recommendations next week to see who wants to take it on.
THANKS for all your input.
Andy

[Smiley198700]

Notice you're in Cambs, might be worth giving A1 Gearboxes a call

http://www.a1gearboxes.co.uk/

Good luck getting it sorted.

[maxitone]

Smiley198700 said:

Notice you're in Cambs, might be worth giving A1 Gearboxes a call

http://www.a1gearboxes.co.uk/

Good luck getting it sorted.

Just down the road from me ... excellent, I can limp down there.
Cheers.

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Definitely get it sorted. Just had mine done by Unit 20, great job.

Thanks ... a personal recommendation is so much better than a Google search

Will call them both Monday ... thanks guys.

[briang9]

bit of a long way from you but these guys are very good

http://www.mackie-transmission.com/

[Easternlight]

Sorry to hear your troubles, but c5 RS6 gearboxes are a consumable item, it's just a question of when. The good side to this is there are plenty of places that can mend them

[Schermerhorn]

Fluid and filter change.

Could cure it.

[Welshbeef]

The £1k all in price for the cam-belts tensionsrs water pump and labour and vat are not far off half what it will cost.


If you try to trade in a car with a fault it will be priced very low worst case and then some margin in that -
Options
Swallow the cost for a new OEM gearbox
Go for a recon gearbox sub £2k
Go for a gearbox fluid and filter change c£400 - might work might not.
Change it for the RS4 2.7 v6 bi turbo 6 speed gearbox and never worry about it again

[6cylGolf]

I'm surprised u are going to a main dealer for an 11 year old car for anything!

[NateWM]

Schermerhorn said:

Fluid and filter change.

Could cure it.

Yes of course, spend hundreds on putting in the correct fluid (ZF dextron fluid is VERY expensive), filter etc, only to find out is hasn't cured a MECHANICAL fault...Would you change the oil in your car's engine if it started knocking?

Some people just shouldn't suggest solutions for a subject that they have no idea about!

[Veeayt]

I'd just change it to manual. More fun and reliability. Getrag 01E from early quattros should do the trick (200-300) - they're up for silly torques. And a relatively simple remap.

[EddieFelson]

maxitone said:

If I could get the box done for £1.5k that'd be awesome.
The car puts such a grin on my face I'd be sorry to see it go.
I'll be phoning around your recommendations next week to see who wants to take it on.
THANKS for all your input.
Andy

It will be the labour on removing the old box and fitting your newly refurburbished £1.5k that will be the real cost.