C6 A6 3.0 tfsi saloon (59 plate)

C6 A6 3.0 tfsi saloon (59 plate)

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Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Monday 30th January 2017
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Hi all,

I'm currently running a 2015 S4 avant, but getting fed up with my wife/kids treating it like a skip so thinking about getting something a little cheaper/older but love the supercharged v6. Have seen a few C6 A6's with the slightly detuned S4 engine and just wondered if anyone had any experience from swapping in either direction? Clearly the C6 is an older model and runs tiptronic rather than stronic but are there any major problems? Would be planning an APR or MRC visit too so is anyone running them with stage 1/2 tunes?

I'm assuming water pump etc would have been swapped already by now on cars of this age? I know the estates have a tendency to get a bit soggy around the rear washer due to ingress etc, but anything else ?

Does the tiptronic need fluid changes as regularly as the stronic?

Cheers

Dr G

15,163 posts

242 months

Monday 30th January 2017
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Those things are really tough and with facelift C6s a lot of the gremlins with earlier cars were sorted.

The 6 speed ZF box is as tough as old boots; Audi say sealed for life but I believe ZF recommend 60k mile oil changes. If it's something you're considering keeping for a while it could be a good bit of preventative maintenance.

They make for absolutely mega sleepers.

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Monday 30th January 2017
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Cheers Alex. My thinking exactly re the sleeper route. There is a rather nice one on Autotrader at the moment (1 owner, sub 30k miles) which looks great (in a very subtle, gentlemanly way). Good to know the boxes are tough. Any other major work it should have had by now if I go and have a look?

Dr G

15,163 posts

242 months

Monday 30th January 2017
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At 30 not really; if it hasn't been driven much make sure things like the handbrake work smoothly, discs aren't excessively corroded, perished tyres etc.

KungFuPanda

4,329 posts

170 months

Monday 30th January 2017
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My 2011 A8 with the 3.0 tfsi engine. Absolutely love it. Had it remapped by by DMS to around 400bhp. Mated to the 8 speed ZF gearbox, it is a really smooth drive. Just added the 21" rotors last week. Not had any problems with it whatsoever.

I'd consider selling if you're interested.

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Monday 30th January 2017
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Thanks guys. Went to look at the saloon today - looks like a great car but my wife has vetoed a saloon (despite the boot being vast) as she basically just likes to throw any old crap in it and the saloon does make access a bit harder to be fair. This rules out the a8 route too, but yours looks ace KFP!

Very difficult buying a car when you love the one you have!

KungFuPanda

4,329 posts

170 months

Monday 30th January 2017
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In that case, I'd keep the S4. Surely by part exing the S4 (and getting a crap trade in deal) and buying retail, the majority of any savings will be wiped out.

Man maths says keep the S4.

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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So I didn't get the saloon, but I did find a 59 plate avant, so the S4 has gone. The a6 needed some small bits doing (passenger door actuator was broken) and needs wheels refurbed and a proper bit of paintwork tlc but it's a very honest car. I have already had it tweaked with a Revo stage 1+ and the difference is huge.
Seems to have developed a rattle from the front near the transmission tunnel (that I'm assuming is a heatshield) so it's going to be checked next week.
Feels like a very different car to the S4 but is cavernous and very quick once it's rolling! First time I've had Pirelli p zero's though and can't wait to get rid of them. The Goodyear Assym 3's on the S4 were fantastic.

Dr G

15,163 posts

242 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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That rattle from a 3.0T is quite often the exhaust flexi on the downpipe rather than a heat-shield. Replacement is expensive but as long as the pipe isn't too crunchy a decent exhaust fabricator can put a new flexi section in.

Or it might just be that shield...

Fun cars, enjoy.

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Dr G said:
That rattle from a 3.0T is quite often the exhaust flexi on the downpipe rather than a heat-shield. Replacement is expensive but as long as the pipe isn't too crunchy a decent exhaust fabricator can put a new flexi section in.

Or it might just be that shield...

Fun cars, enjoy.
Presumably that would be a great excuse for a milltek though wink

leem5

243 posts

216 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Ah, glad I've found this as I'm currently looking either an S4 or A6 with this engine myself. Though the A6's seem rare?

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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There were very few 3.0t A6's and I think most were saloons. They are very different cars (although I am comparing a later b8.5 S4) but benefits to each. The S4 feels far more compact and properly specced (ADS, sports diff, adaptive damping etc) are surprisingly good fun. Certainly very complete cars that feel incredibly well sorted. Having moved to an older and leggier A6, the biggest differences are the gearbox, throttle sensitivity and the steering. The ZF box feels very lazy after the S Tronic and the whole thing feels far less taught than the S4. Having said that, as a family wagon there is a lot more space and with a remap it still feels very capable.
The S4 was/is a brilliant do everything car as it's just about enough fun to enjoy driving it. The A6 is basically a big, well sorted family car. Where it benefits (from my view) is being completely under the radar to 99% of people.
Basically if you are happy to spend a bit more initially, enjoy corners and a bit of feel, get the S4. If you want a discreet and (with a map) fast family carrier, go a6 - if you can find one!

leem5

243 posts

216 months

Friday 24th February 2017
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Thanks for the info, though I should have stated that I'm coming back to the fold having hand an C6 S6 avant a few cars back. So it's was the engine that I'm really interested in, and the gearbox as you mentioned.

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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So the car has been in to the garage today to try and diagnose the rattle. They are confident it's not the exhaust or heatshield, but this isn't great news as it doesn't leave much other than the transmission. Spoken with a ZF specialist today who said it doesn't sound like anything common/they've encountered before so booked in for a diagnostic check on Fri. It's basically a rattle/hum as the car decelerates between about 1600 and 1200rpm. Let's see what Friday brings 🙏

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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So Friday became Thursday and the good news is that although gearbox related, it's not the gearbox itself. The gearbox mount has snapped, so just waiting on a price for the part, but hopefully a lot cheaper than a gearbox rebuild.

laurenz

44 posts

134 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Nice to see some love for the C6, is the Revo ECU mapping considered to be rather good? I've never had an ECU map but have just picked up a C6 myself last weekend but with the 3.0TDi and fancy remapping it.

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
quotequote all
laurenz said:
Nice to see some love for the C6, is the Revo ECU mapping considered to be rather good? I've never had an ECU map but have just picked up a C6 myself last weekend but with the 3.0TDi and fancy remapping it.
Generally speaking Revo and APR are considered probably the best 'stock' maps. I.e they are uploaded files. If you want the best tune for your specific car, then somewhere like MRC would be the place to go.

Dr G

15,163 posts

242 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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laurenz said:
Nice to see some love for the C6, is the Revo ECU mapping considered to be rather good? I've never had an ECU map but have just picked up a C6 myself last weekend but with the 3.0TDi and fancy remapping it.
3.0TDI is (particularly a late one) is really tough and loves a map. Massages that nice swell of mid-range torque that's already there and much more satisfying to rev out.

ATM

18,270 posts

219 months

Sunday 6th August 2017
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Does this £7000 a6 have the b8 s4 engine?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263120839161

Chiefbadger

Original Poster:

417 posts

198 months

Sunday 6th August 2017
quotequote all
ATM said:
Does this £7000 a6 have the b8 s4 engine?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263120839161
Yes. That has been for sale for months though. Might be something crook with it. I sold mine for £8300 though with 98k on it as I needed rid, so some bargains to be had!