My Audi Allroad 2.7T and ownership history

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• N.B. I hadn't put the make or model in my previous thread, so I deleted it and started fresh*

Long time lurker here, I've always enjoyed browsing readers rides threads and so thought I'd contribute with my list of previously owned motors, and my current car.

I passed my driving test in 2006 aged 17 and bought my very first vehicle, a Fiat Punto 1.2 LX. While this little car may not conjure much interest, I absolutely adored it. That is, until this happened..



Someone kindly drove into my passenger side at around 80mph on the M4 near Swindon while myself and some friends were travelling to the Brecon Beacons for a camping trip. The offender didn't stop to assist once they caused this mishap, which was nice.

Shortly after this crash I was keen to get another cheap, reliable hatchback, so god knows why I picked up a Peugeot 206 1.4 Quicksilver Edition..



This car remained standard for a short while, but ended up like this, predominantly using original Peugeot sport parts:



I genuinely loved this car, in fact I still have it as a daily. However, having always loved Audi Avants I jumped at the chance to pick up an interestingly modified B5 A4 1.8T. This is a photo from the advert:



I understand that Pistonheads isn't really the place to discuss slammed / stanced / stupid motors, but I instantly fell in love with it, and upgraded the turbo, breathing apparatus, interior and wheels. After nearly two years of ownership it had seen a few homegrown paint-jobs:







I genuinely spent as little as I could when respraying it - in fact on two occasions I used common household paint rollers to do the job, simply masking areas I didn't want to touch. Matt finishes are easier to get uniform than gloss so the end result was usually decent enough, and at £25-30 for a repaint it didn't bother me that they weren't remotely professional finishes. I eventually sold it as it was getting expensive to maintain, but I miss it sorely to this day. Driving a camouflaged Audi is certainly a talking point!

Then, after half a year of searching for my next Audi, I settled with an Allroad 2.7T with 96k on the clock. I practically robbed the seller.



It. Is. Amazing. So capable, so comfortable, SO thirsty. It has factory Recaros, fully working air suspension and a smooth-as-silk engine. I haven't done much to it apart from a service and a thorough clean, although long term plans include more power, more lows, 19's and a general tidy up.






The only thing I've done so far is fully debadged the rear and added 20mm spacers to each rear axle to lessen body-roll.



I'd done a fair bit of reading up on the 2.7T lump, and I pined after a B5 S4 Avant for years but mileages and modifications put me off so I settled with my Allroad which I'm starting to think I should have done initially. I know the engine / drive-train / suspension CAN be problematic, but that depends entirely on the treatment of the car and this particular one came with 95k on the clock, 2 executive owners and full Audi service history with stacks of receipts.

Being nearly 2.5 tonnes it is quite a floaty beast in the corners and doesn't give me much confidence when driving hard, at least not compared to an equivalent A6 Avant or my silly-low B5. Numerous people have swapped the original air suspension over for Bilstein coilovers, which is sacrilege in my opinion, so what I plan to do is known as the '402 mod'; a VAGcom induced suspension override which can trick the computer into believing 1st and 2nd levels are around an inch lower than factory. I then plan to upgrade the ARBs and address any component issues (wishbones, lower arms etc). Another alternative to the VAGcom would be to purchase some lowering sensor arms, tiny CNC machined parts that drop the whole around 2.5cm car without much hassle.

Also I ordered a compressor refurb kit for the air suspension unit, once fitted it should remain largely problem free.

I had quite a lengthy conversation with Reuben at TuningWerkes in Croydon and we compiled a list of engine upgrades that should help the car reach what it's safely capable of and keep me smiling, which consists of:

- Stainless bi-pipes for charge air (replaces rubbish plastic ones)
- Full silicone hose kit (inlets, breathers etc)
- Upgraded Y-pipe (either stainless or carbon fibre)
- Drop-in panel filter or conical induction system
- Intake heat shield
- OEM headgaskets
- Longlife stainless cat-back
- Forge Diverter Valve x2

All topped off with some adequate stage I / stage II software. I am considering downpipes / gutted pre-cats but I'm concerned about potential tantrums the car might throw when sensors are messed with, but all in I should hope to see figures around 350bhp and 450 lb-ft. That's unless I upgrade turbos..!

Thanks for reading - comments and criticisms most welcome!

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-crookedtail- said:

I thought I had read all of this before.

The title thing was bugging me!

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Hudson said:

Camo paint job made me chuckle. Think it looked best in white though!

I have to agree - the white looked really tidy, especially considering I rolled it on using Wickes primer

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C7 JFW said:

I'm looking to buy a runaround and I had no idea the 2.7 was the S4 engine - looks like that's going on the list!

Indeed it is, albeit a slightly detuned one.

B5 S4 - 261 bhp, 295 lb-ft
C5 Allroad - 247 bhp, 258 lb-ft

Both platforms share engine codes and anciliaries. I've gotta say, having driven a B5 S4 and also having owned my B5 A4 for two years, the Allroad is an all together better built machine. No annoying cabin rattles and far less likely to have been thrashed about. Performance is still awesome in stock form and I can only assume it'll improve exponentially with the various modifications I intent to run.

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cb31 said:

Isn't that the point of the allroad though, higher suspension, 4x4 and estate car combined into one? Why not just buy the non-allroad version?

That was probably the initial selling point, yes. A 'non-allroad' version would be an A6 Avant, and those aren't exactly uncommon. I bought this car primarily because of the engine, and subsequently because of the plethora of options it came with. For the price I paid there wasn't a single A6 equivalent that was close to this car, nor A4, nor any other real world contender for that matter.

I know it will seem silly to some, but the truth is the super-soft ride quality and standard height at level 1 is quite numb from a drivers perspective, and lowering it will inevitably reduce body-roll; increase cornering stiffness and generally improve looks.

All photos above were taken with the car at level 2, which is the setting I use for everyday driving. There are 4 levels, so even if I lower the car by one inch(ish), I'll still be able to achieve ground clearance of 7 inches + on level 4, which is ample considering my future travel plans.

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Audio update! I have now fitted my Alpine iPod (iDA-x305s) deck and Infinity subs. It already came with 1000w worth of Bose stereo so I doubt I'll do much else audio wise apart from a bit of sound deadening.




I'm also thinking of perfoming the following as soon as finances permit:

Exterior:
- 19" / 20" alloy wheels with suitable tyres (leaning towards AMG / Rota)
- Body coloured bumpers / colour change
- Bee-sting aerial
- Dechromed rails, door blades, skid plates and window surrounds (perhaps to black)
- RS6 spoiler

Interior:
- LED / white bulb change
- Floor mats

Thanks for looking!

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Hallsy01 said:

Nice - I really like that.

The 2.7t A6 has been on my radar for a little while, I had looked into buying a B5 S4 before and will soon be looking to buy another estate car - S4 prices seem all over the place, and in reality I would prefer the extra space of the A6.

Is the 2.7t considered just as problematic in the A6 as the S4? I understand the A6 has better cooling due to having more space around the engine, and less likely to have had the boost wound up - but I guess the same weakpoints are there? Is it still a big job on the A6 to replace the turbos?

I actually really like the Allroad styling as well, I have no need for an offroad styled car, but I like the fatter arches and two tone colour scheme. I'm guessing an allroad is generally more expensive than the equivalent Avant? Are they generally better specced?

On the subject of mpg, how bad is bad? Mid 20's or worse? Auto or manual?

You have got my head in a spin again!! I had settled on a urS6, but they are pretty thin on the ground so have to have a backup plan, lol!!

The 2.7T is, it would seem, a marvelously complex beast. Audi managed to shoehorn it into the B5 platform, and as you rightly say there is a tad more space around the sides and front of the engine on my Allroad as opposed to an S4. The bottom-rear of each side of the block houses the turbo units so it's still a massive undertaking to replace a turbo - usually an engine-out job. Fingers crossed I won't need to fiddle with turbos any time soon.

I've wanted to get my hands on this block for years. As with all turbo'd engines, weak points include boost and oil leaks, coolant circulation issues and gasket failure. I'm currently in need of some OEM rocker gaskets to replace my perished ones which are now leaking traces of oil onto my turbos causing a burning smell and occasional smoke. It's a minor fix but access to the lump is obscured by a multitude of ancillaries. This is, however, my only issue to date. People have a gripe with the air suspension, which is an expensive fix, but if you can find an example that travels through all 4 height modes within a minute or two, doesn't sag at one side, or depress itself over night, you're probably ok. I'm going to pick up a compressor refurb kit from a guy called BagPipingAndy off eBay soon which should remedy any potential problems.

Mine is a tip-tronic 5speed, so essentially an auto box with a sport and sequential manual mode, plus buttons on the steering wheel. I've not really used the steering wheel controls but I love manual mode and the gearbox is actually really quick to respond in auto. Being such a big car I think I prefer the lack of clutch and ability to simply enjoy cruising along! I currently average 21.8mpg, have seen 5.5mpg under heavy acceleration, and regularly achieve around 26-30 on a run.

I too considered a URS6, and S2 Avant, and S4 Avant. All three of these are considered 'performance' vehicles, while the Allroad would qualify for 'luxury' in my opinion; mine is quite lavishly decorated with Recaro leather trim and upgraded audio to name a few things. Plus, prices aren't as volatile as the other models mentioned. I picked this lot up for just £2k from a genuine private seller. A truly epic piece of kit that continues to impress!

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Tiny update: I removed the 'quattro' badge from the front grille - oh how I do love a bit of symmetry.



Still loving every minute of ownership although it's depressing not having the funds yet to perform any serious modifications!

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ManOpener said:

How are you finding the seats? My dad's old one was an incredibly comfortable place to spend time in.

I bloody love them. One of the defining reasons I opted for this car. Even after the longest of journeys I exit the car feeling as fresh as when I set off. I've done 6,000 odd miles since April and, coupled with the floaty air suspension, it's a wonderfully comfortable ride irrespective of road conditions. The seats are electrically adjustable with lumbar support - the leather is supple and shows no real wear anywhere for a car going on 12+ years old.

The rear bench is in time-warp condition, and I've had numerous passengers tell me how astonished they are at the leg room on offer behind the front seats. To be expected I suppose, being Audi's first hearse

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I added 30hp to my car this afternoon..

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Max M4X WW said:

I wonder how much extra the Recaro's were when new? Audi offered them in most cars of this era of late 90's/early 2000's and I get a bit excited when I find a non 'S' car for sale with them!

I have the original paperwork which lists them as a £1600 option - eyewatering money just for seats considering I paid a bit more than that earlier this year and bought the whole car!

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Tiny update: my compressor refurb kit has arrived!



Cars fitted with factory air suspension will inevitably run into issues - my compressor has recently been noisy when running, and sometimes slow to lift or lower; after a bit of research the name BagpipingAndy popped up as a manufacturer of refurb kits which should remedy my issues. Apparently the manufacturer also provides these kits for other vehicles kitted with factory air suspension. It's a really well crafted item and I've only heard good things about the kit and the maker.

The Allroad is booked in with TuningWerkes for 21st November so I'll post up my progress once a bunch of work has been completed!

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Sprint blue is just beautiful on these cars, even with the contrast bumpers. My long term plan is to either body-match the lowers or change the colour entirely (finance dependent!).

I'm still staggered by the build quality on these things - my old B5 developed a host of cabin rattles when I brought it to our London roads from Exeter, where as this remains solid and silent. Hopefully the work being carried out next Friday will negate any of the niggles that can so easily plague a 2.7T! I will of course update this thread as the progress continues

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I'd tend to agree with LeoSayer on the topic of mpg, ideally I should get one of those mobile apps as I've heard they're uber accurate compared to the trip computer. That said, I didn't purchase this car based on economy so I'm not really bothered!

AGee said:

Good work! Out of interest, what paint did you use for the rollering on your old Audi?

I used a specially mixed automotive paint for the purple (sourced at LE Went, New Malden);for the matt black I bought a tin of army vehicle paint from eBay, and the white was achieved using Wickes home brand primer. Oh and Halfords spray paint for the camo. Literally couldn't have been more of a cheapskate I've gotta say though, using a paint roller on a car is seriously fun!

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Update: I picked up the car this morning after it's stay with Tuning Werkes over the weekend; my leaky rocker cover gaskets have been replaced for genuine Audi parts, it's been thoroughly serviced (all fluids, filters, plugs), and it's also had a general health check. They're very happy with it, as am I now

One thing Reuben did say was that my air suspension compressor is running as it should, so he didn't carry out the refurbishment using BagPipingAndy's machined parts. I still have the kit and may revisit this job in the near future.

y2blade I'm instantly jealous - the B5 chassis is probably my all time favourite car, especially in S4 / RS4 guise. So well proportioned and understated. Love the 2.7T, my god it pulls. Can't wait to begin tuning!

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y2blade said:

Thanks, I look forward to hearing how you get on with the 2.7T...my sister has a late 2.5 TDI Allroad, lovely car.

btw this is my S4 thread (if you want to have a read) : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

So far I love it, and since the recent health check it's even more of a joy to drive. Couldn't bring myself to go for a diesel though, not just yet!

I'm quite familiar with your thread - in fact after reading through it the first time I priced up a Milltek cat-back. The sound is immense! Yours really is a lovely example. Due to the system configuration on Allroads I need two tailpipes and an x-pipe so all in I'm looking at circa £900 excluding fitting

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billywhizzzzzz said:

We too have an old (52 plate) Allroad 2.7T and I love it. I can't think what we'd get to replace it - glorious creamy V6, 6 speed box and compliant suspension. We run it on Pirelli All Seasons and it is the most sure footed car I've ever driven on greasy and wet rural British B roads and lanes. I particularly love the compliance of the suspension (when compared with almost every other car I've had and also my current Z4m (which is glorious in other ways)). I've done the compressor refresh and it's in at the moment having the 2 rear airbags done. It's still only done 75,000 miles so hopefully a little life in it yet.

Nice! I'm slightly jealous you have the 6sp, I only opted for this 5sp tiptronic example as it was silly cheap and it's still amazing so I would imagine a manual transmission is utterly brilliant!

I'm running Allroad-specific Pirelli P6 tyres at the moment (came with the car) but I'm looking at upgrading the wheels soon so will keep your recommendation in mind. At 75k miles I'd expect you have tens of thousands left in it, mine recently breached 100k and still going strong as ever.

With regard to the compressor refurb, did you purchase the same kit from BagPipingAndy? I've yet to fit mine but it's on the ever growing list

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As long as you take care of what I like to call 'preventative maintenance', these cars should be fine. I recently had a rocker-cover oil leak which was rectified by a specialist and while it was in they did a full inspection and service so fingers crossed for another year of hassle free motoring.

So true about a replacement car - I literally cannot think of another vehicle that is as well-rounded as the C5 petrol Allroad. And you're right; apart from the rare-as-hens-teeth 3.2 V6 Quattro (C6 I believe) there are only diesel options available and, quite frankly, no thanks. Audi certainly don't make cars like they used to!

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Finally, some updates!

It's been a few months since my last post and I've been busy doing yet more maintenance. As this is my daily its been racking up the miles (12k in the last 9 months!) so I can now make some genuine conclusions on how the car is to live with.

It's still an absolute joy, and a beast when required. Last month I went with a friend to pick up his E39 M5 and the drive back was.. spirited shall we say!



Since I picked it up there was an unsightly scuff on the offside front bumper and arch extension:




I visited a local repair garage, OSC Body Repairs in Chessington, who did an amazing job matching the colour on the satin finished grey bumpers, so much so that I may get them to tidy up the rest and darken some of the chrome / brightwork in the coming months too. All for £160!

Another annoyance has always been one cloudy headlight lens cover (offside, again):



I treated it using a Meguiars Headlight Restoration Kit - wonderfully easy to use and has brought the lens cover back to total transparency. All for £20, compared to at least £150 for a second-hand / new non-genuine replacement!

Then I took the car back down to Tuning Werkes in Croydon for a full service, fluid change and BMC panel filter, plus a suspension and engine check. It was then established that my front lower and upper arm bushes were badly perished and in need of replacement so I'm currently hunting for an OEM Allroad-specific set (as A6 kits are too short).

Then.. I was pulled over. Very badly worn rear tyres (which I was warned about by Reuben before leaving TW) with around 1mm tread out back and 2(ish)mm up front. Got lucky, but vowed to sort them out asap.

I've always loved the look of Rota Grids, and never liked the original 5 spoke 2-piece 17" rims that came with the car. These were mated to a specifically designed Pirelli P6 Allroad tyre which I found out was discontinued in the last few years, so decided to get some upgrades.

Stock setup: 17 x 7.5J, ET25, 225/55/17
New setup: 18 x 9.5J, ET20, 255/45/18

I'd done my research and thought the new setup would be a direct fit - not the case. The rears needed at least 10mm to clear the airbags, which I could accomodate with some old 20mm hubcentric spacers I used on my B5. The fronts were about 1mm from the upright when stationary:



I had no other spacers to use up at the time, so I had to ride on level 3 until the new H&R 15mm hubcentrics arrived this morning.



They're now on, and the Allroad now sits like this on level 1:










Finat setup: 18 x 9.5J, 255/45/18, F: ET5, R: ET0

To do:

- Replace front suspension components
- Replace cam seals (leaking oil slightly)
- 710N diverter valves
- EBC disks and pads front and rear
- 402 mod: 15mm all round
- Compressor refurb
- RS6 spoiler
- Colour coded / darkened brightwork
- Longlife stainless steel cat-back (for now..!)
- Remap

Overall still very happy with the car - it continues to impress in both speed and comfort departments. Hopefully once running perfectly and mapped it should be twice as much fun!

Thanks for reading!

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I knew the wheels would be a bit marmite but I absolutely love them, in my opinion they suit the offroad style almost as well as they suit the Japanese coupe scene! Also please consider the fact that the original 7.5J rims gave me little confidence in the bends, and are rotten / flaky throughout - pretty much anything else is an improvement.

I chose flat black as it's the closest Rota colour option to the original bumper shade / finish. Not to everyones tastes, I know, but I'm unsure on the long-term plans for the body / lowers so I thought black would be a failsafe option for now.

guitarcarfanatic - UK legislation doesn't allow for wheels to poke out from the fenders but these cars sit quite high as standard; the wheels are in fact only about 2-3mm out all round so I'm not particularly concerned for anything other that potentially curbing a rim! As MrBarry123 said, Allroads are already beefy and I think these alloys compliment the body style 10 fold.

Thanks for the feedback folks - hopefully many more updates in due course!

Edited by Resolutionary on Thursday 2nd April 11:58