A6 3.0TDI opinions
Discussion
Hi, I'm looking for a change of car and now need something comfortable, automatic, large enough to holiday in to France and carry lots of triathlon gear such as bikes etc. reasonable economy and quick enough to keep me interested.
Clearly with that list of wants I will need to compromise and I'm finding the 530D and Audi A6 3.0 Quattro to be that compromise. I'm very much swaying toward the Audi simply as I prefer the interior. I'm looking at a budget of around £10,000 and seem to be hovering around the 2007-2009 models. I have good knowledge of the BMW 5 but when it comes to the Audi I'm not as well versed as I'd like when buying so are there any glaring pieces of information I should know, must have options or serious reliability issues I should be aware of?
Thanks
Clearly with that list of wants I will need to compromise and I'm finding the 530D and Audi A6 3.0 Quattro to be that compromise. I'm very much swaying toward the Audi simply as I prefer the interior. I'm looking at a budget of around £10,000 and seem to be hovering around the 2007-2009 models. I have good knowledge of the BMW 5 but when it comes to the Audi I'm not as well versed as I'd like when buying so are there any glaring pieces of information I should know, must have options or serious reliability issues I should be aware of?
Thanks
There are lots of threads n ths, I reply to one about once a month! I cant reply very Blackberry cos it will take forever, so please use search.
I had an Audi A6 LeMans 3.0tdi 2007 car. It was the best everyday car I have had by some margin (allso had bmw 330 etc)
I kept mine from new until Feb this year and di £116k miles.
Look at the other threads by usuing search, but they are great
I had an Audi A6 LeMans 3.0tdi 2007 car. It was the best everyday car I have had by some margin (allso had bmw 330 etc)
I kept mine from new until Feb this year and di £116k miles.
Look at the other threads by usuing search, but they are great
Thanks Blue33, I also had a 330D so it's good to see you were happy with the transition.
I've done searches but not found anything other than one from from 2012 which didn't mention any problems or weak points but I appoligise and I'll look again. I did however find several on the 530d.
Thanks again
I've done searches but not found anything other than one from from 2012 which didn't mention any problems or weak points but I appoligise and I'll look again. I did however find several on the 530d.
Thanks again
sebdangerfield said:
Thanks Blue33, I also had a 330D so it's good to see you were happy with the transition.
I've done searches but not found anything other than one from from 2012 which didn't mention any problems or weak points but I appoligise and I'll look again. I did however find several on the 530d.
Thanks again
In the search box if you type A6 Blueg33 quite a few come up.I've done searches but not found anything other than one from from 2012 which didn't mention any problems or weak points but I appoligise and I'll look again. I did however find several on the 530d.
Thanks again
Sorry I can't type a long reply - bloody blackberry
I wanted an A6 about 7 years ago, but just couldn't stretch to the 3.0TDi.
In the end, we got a 55 plate BMW 530d M Sport Touring.
Plus points - it was a great drive and my first quick diesel. Previous car was an A4 Avant 2.5TDi which was slow.
Negative points - everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong and it cost us thousands to keep on the road. (I'll try and find the list I put together).
Because we'd bought it with a loan, I wanted the loan paid off before we got rid, but literally, on the day it was paid off we went out looking for an A6.
We've now got a 58 plate 3.0TDi Le Mans Avant. It's by far the better car (IMHO). It's quicker (240PS v 218 in our BM), more frugal (overall 33mpg v 30mpg in the BM), has quattro, arguably looks better.
We just went to the Alps and back in it with four adults and my 9 year old daughter and it was comfortable for all. We did the trip four years ago in the BM with just me, my wife and my then 5 year old daughter and I don't think I would have wanted another two people in the car. The BM was (or felt) narrower.
To me, it's by far the better car.
In the end, we got a 55 plate BMW 530d M Sport Touring.
Plus points - it was a great drive and my first quick diesel. Previous car was an A4 Avant 2.5TDi which was slow.
Negative points - everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong and it cost us thousands to keep on the road. (I'll try and find the list I put together).
Because we'd bought it with a loan, I wanted the loan paid off before we got rid, but literally, on the day it was paid off we went out looking for an A6.
We've now got a 58 plate 3.0TDi Le Mans Avant. It's by far the better car (IMHO). It's quicker (240PS v 218 in our BM), more frugal (overall 33mpg v 30mpg in the BM), has quattro, arguably looks better.
We just went to the Alps and back in it with four adults and my 9 year old daughter and it was comfortable for all. We did the trip four years ago in the BM with just me, my wife and my then 5 year old daughter and I don't think I would have wanted another two people in the car. The BM was (or felt) narrower.
To me, it's by far the better car.
Just found something I posted before
blueg33 said:
I have an A6 3.0tdi Le mans Tiptronic, bought new in Mar 2007
TBH I find it to be a very good car (better than my 05 BMW 5 series). I only planned to keep it for 3 years, but reckon that I will keep it for 7 years. It currently has 81k on the clock
The ride is firm but I prefer that to wallowy as it makes the kids less car sick, the 19 inch tyres aren't cheap and on a quattro you have to replace all 4 together.
The tiptronic box is great, I never use the flappy paddles, sport mode gives a very aggressive gear change that is much quicker than the paddles. It also sharpens throttle response. I can select gear with my right foot
, so IMO the box is pretty good.
Beware the multitronic gearbox in 2wd 2.7 cars, it is well known for problems.
Check that the MMI software is up to date and that EVERY function works properly. Mine has had 3 phone/cd modules in the first 3 years at £1400 a time but done under warranty. It has been fine since.
Check that there have been no spilt drinks in the front cupholder, they can kill the ecu that lives under it.
The car is very fast mid range, but slightly slow off the line as a combination of turbo lag and 4wd bog down, but that is only momentary.
I really like quattro especially for wet roads, plus the balance feels better than the fwd versions IMO
20k miles approx between services
The car is not as nimble as my old 5 series, but its a much nicer place to sit, more comfortable, lighter and more airy, definitely better made. No rattles after 4.5 years.
IMO its best to go for the 3.0tdi as its noticeably quicker for overtaking than the 2.7 and is much the same on economy unless you go 2wd.
We have driven across europe several times 4 up and boot full, so much more comfy than the 5 series. Bigger boot too, all the stuff for a family of 4 on a 2 week holiday goes in the boot (saloon) with nothing having to be stowed in the passenger compartment.
Leg room is good, son is 6ft 3 and has plenty of space behind me driving, I am 6ft.
TBH I find it to be a very good car (better than my 05 BMW 5 series). I only planned to keep it for 3 years, but reckon that I will keep it for 7 years. It currently has 81k on the clock
The ride is firm but I prefer that to wallowy as it makes the kids less car sick, the 19 inch tyres aren't cheap and on a quattro you have to replace all 4 together.
The tiptronic box is great, I never use the flappy paddles, sport mode gives a very aggressive gear change that is much quicker than the paddles. It also sharpens throttle response. I can select gear with my right foot
, so IMO the box is pretty good.Beware the multitronic gearbox in 2wd 2.7 cars, it is well known for problems.
Check that the MMI software is up to date and that EVERY function works properly. Mine has had 3 phone/cd modules in the first 3 years at £1400 a time but done under warranty. It has been fine since.
Check that there have been no spilt drinks in the front cupholder, they can kill the ecu that lives under it.
The car is very fast mid range, but slightly slow off the line as a combination of turbo lag and 4wd bog down, but that is only momentary.
I really like quattro especially for wet roads, plus the balance feels better than the fwd versions IMO
20k miles approx between services
The car is not as nimble as my old 5 series, but its a much nicer place to sit, more comfortable, lighter and more airy, definitely better made. No rattles after 4.5 years.
IMO its best to go for the 3.0tdi as its noticeably quicker for overtaking than the 2.7 and is much the same on economy unless you go 2wd.
We have driven across europe several times 4 up and boot full, so much more comfy than the 5 series. Bigger boot too, all the stuff for a family of 4 on a 2 week holiday goes in the boot (saloon) with nothing having to be stowed in the passenger compartment.
Leg room is good, son is 6ft 3 and has plenty of space behind me driving, I am 6ft.
Edited by blueg33 on Wednesday 30th November 14:05
The list of problems with our E61 530d M Sport.
Day 1. Within 20 minutes of picking it up, tyre pressure monitor buzzes saying there's a flat. Take it in to BMW and lo and behold on the reverse of one tyre there's a mahoosive bulge on it. Replaced FOC.
Year 1. Complete software fail. Needed to go back to BMW to be re-installed. Down to a leak in the Shark's fin. Thankfully, it was still under warranty at this point and the software is upgraded to latest version.
Year 2: Compressor failure on the self-levelling rear suspension. Had to be put on a tow-truck from Devon to High Wycombe. Replaced by an independent for about £1,000 (£700 part, plus labour).
Hit huge pot-hole on way to airport. Burst front tyre. As it has run flats, continue to airport and decide to worry about it on return. Get flashed by speed camera for the first time in my life. Was warned about the camera by a mate of mine as he knew the area but I'm convinced to this day that someone had turned around the sign as just before the speed camera was a sign saying 40. Turns out speed camera was in a 30 zone.
Find out when having front tyre replaced that front alloy is also cracked - cue £600 bill for the pair. Agree settlement with Somerset council for replacement, but don't get money for further 90 days.
3 months later - blow out. Find out at this point (after settlement is agreed) that rear wheel is also buckled. £300 bill.
Year 3: Self levelling suspension failure again. Car put on tow truck from Yeovil to High Wycombe. Compressor replaced under year's warranty as a genuine BMW part.
Month later, suspension failure again. Car put on tow-truck from Reading to High Wycombe. Car miraculously fixes itself overnight and I drive it for a couple of weeks. Self-levelling warning light flashing on, then clearing itself intermittently. Car goes in to independent on low loader. They replace compressor with one from a scrap car to see if that works, and car self-levels. They decide the new compressor must be faulty and order another. Come back following morning, car is sitting on bump stops again. Car miraculously fixes itself again during the day. Independent unsure of problem, as owner is an ex-BMW mechanic, he takes it to BMW friends for an assessment. They don't know either. Eventually, it gets plugged in to BMW UK HQ in Brackley to be diagnosed remotely. Fault traced to a loose connector.
BMW wants £1,300 for a whole new wiring loom. Plus 20 hours labour @ £120 an hour to strip out the entire interior and replace the loom. Total estimate £3,700. Independent wants £300 to solder a new connector on to existing loom. Guess which way I went.
New windscreen needed after huge stone puts a 10cm circle into it.
Suspension now seems sorted.
Year 3: Relatively fault free. Save for a new rear screen after tile blows off houses roof and smashes through it.
Oh, and someone reverses into it.
Oh, and my wife drives it into a barrier that the parking sensors didn't pick up.
Year 4: Something's not right. Central locking is intermittent. Alarm keeps going off. Rear tailgate glass won't open. Fault finding reveals 4 of the 9 wires for the Failgate* have split. £900 to fix. *Unintentional typo that I spotted, but think it now sums up the part perfectly, so I've left it.
Oh, and it needs a new battery as the only way to unlock the car was to do it with the key in the door. Unfortunately this doesn't disable the alarm, so the only way I can stop it going off everytime I unlock the car was to hold the key in the lock till the windows dropped, then put key in ignition, then open the door. This killed the battery.
Two weeks later, the car dies on me. Completely. Have to open the car with the key in the door (again). Not enough juice to set alarm off. In fact there's so little power, that when I put the key in ignition, the dash lights don't even come on. Take keys out while I manouevre our other car into position to jump start.
I hook it up to our other car, at which point it creates a load of sparks and gives the BM just enough juice to set the alarm off. I panic, unhook it and jump in the BM and put the key in to turn the alarm off. Still nothing from the car. Alarm still going off. Very loudly.
Get out, determined that I need to man up and not worry about the sparks and just give the car the juice it needs. Hook it up again, and the alarm stops. But now I have a new problem. Now the car has power, it decides that it wants to lock all the doors and my keys are in the ignition.
As are the keys for the Mini.
And the keys for the house.
Leaving me stranded outside the house and I can't drive the Mini as my keys are locked in the BM. Have to wait several hours for wife to return.
Turns out the car needs to told it has a new battery or it doesn't charge it. Bizarre. Car gets recoded and works OK.
Year 5: Get rear-ended in stationary traffic. Car gets resprayed and we use it as an opprtunity to get the front redone after wife had hit it. In the meantime I have an A6 as courtesy car. Both of us like it and our minds are made up and we decide to sell up before the swirl flaps get sucked into engine and it explodes.
Other than that, it was fine.
Day 1. Within 20 minutes of picking it up, tyre pressure monitor buzzes saying there's a flat. Take it in to BMW and lo and behold on the reverse of one tyre there's a mahoosive bulge on it. Replaced FOC.
Year 1. Complete software fail. Needed to go back to BMW to be re-installed. Down to a leak in the Shark's fin. Thankfully, it was still under warranty at this point and the software is upgraded to latest version.
Year 2: Compressor failure on the self-levelling rear suspension. Had to be put on a tow-truck from Devon to High Wycombe. Replaced by an independent for about £1,000 (£700 part, plus labour).
Hit huge pot-hole on way to airport. Burst front tyre. As it has run flats, continue to airport and decide to worry about it on return. Get flashed by speed camera for the first time in my life. Was warned about the camera by a mate of mine as he knew the area but I'm convinced to this day that someone had turned around the sign as just before the speed camera was a sign saying 40. Turns out speed camera was in a 30 zone.
Find out when having front tyre replaced that front alloy is also cracked - cue £600 bill for the pair. Agree settlement with Somerset council for replacement, but don't get money for further 90 days.
3 months later - blow out. Find out at this point (after settlement is agreed) that rear wheel is also buckled. £300 bill.
Year 3: Self levelling suspension failure again. Car put on tow truck from Yeovil to High Wycombe. Compressor replaced under year's warranty as a genuine BMW part.
Month later, suspension failure again. Car put on tow-truck from Reading to High Wycombe. Car miraculously fixes itself overnight and I drive it for a couple of weeks. Self-levelling warning light flashing on, then clearing itself intermittently. Car goes in to independent on low loader. They replace compressor with one from a scrap car to see if that works, and car self-levels. They decide the new compressor must be faulty and order another. Come back following morning, car is sitting on bump stops again. Car miraculously fixes itself again during the day. Independent unsure of problem, as owner is an ex-BMW mechanic, he takes it to BMW friends for an assessment. They don't know either. Eventually, it gets plugged in to BMW UK HQ in Brackley to be diagnosed remotely. Fault traced to a loose connector.
BMW wants £1,300 for a whole new wiring loom. Plus 20 hours labour @ £120 an hour to strip out the entire interior and replace the loom. Total estimate £3,700. Independent wants £300 to solder a new connector on to existing loom. Guess which way I went.
New windscreen needed after huge stone puts a 10cm circle into it.
Suspension now seems sorted.
Year 3: Relatively fault free. Save for a new rear screen after tile blows off houses roof and smashes through it.
Oh, and someone reverses into it.
Oh, and my wife drives it into a barrier that the parking sensors didn't pick up.
Year 4: Something's not right. Central locking is intermittent. Alarm keeps going off. Rear tailgate glass won't open. Fault finding reveals 4 of the 9 wires for the Failgate* have split. £900 to fix. *Unintentional typo that I spotted, but think it now sums up the part perfectly, so I've left it.
Oh, and it needs a new battery as the only way to unlock the car was to do it with the key in the door. Unfortunately this doesn't disable the alarm, so the only way I can stop it going off everytime I unlock the car was to hold the key in the lock till the windows dropped, then put key in ignition, then open the door. This killed the battery.
Two weeks later, the car dies on me. Completely. Have to open the car with the key in the door (again). Not enough juice to set alarm off. In fact there's so little power, that when I put the key in ignition, the dash lights don't even come on. Take keys out while I manouevre our other car into position to jump start.
I hook it up to our other car, at which point it creates a load of sparks and gives the BM just enough juice to set the alarm off. I panic, unhook it and jump in the BM and put the key in to turn the alarm off. Still nothing from the car. Alarm still going off. Very loudly.
Get out, determined that I need to man up and not worry about the sparks and just give the car the juice it needs. Hook it up again, and the alarm stops. But now I have a new problem. Now the car has power, it decides that it wants to lock all the doors and my keys are in the ignition.
As are the keys for the Mini.
And the keys for the house.
Leaving me stranded outside the house and I can't drive the Mini as my keys are locked in the BM. Have to wait several hours for wife to return.
Turns out the car needs to told it has a new battery or it doesn't charge it. Bizarre. Car gets recoded and works OK.
Year 5: Get rear-ended in stationary traffic. Car gets resprayed and we use it as an opprtunity to get the front redone after wife had hit it. In the meantime I have an A6 as courtesy car. Both of us like it and our minds are made up and we decide to sell up before the swirl flaps get sucked into engine and it explodes.
Other than that, it was fine.
Edited by Kell on Thursday 1st May 17:04
Thanks very much both for taking the time to reply.
I'm really happy with the observations and as I have a drive to Dordogne in June it sounds like it may well be in an A6.
One of my concerns, although not great, was that the quattro saps economy and the A6 is far worse on fuel. I had an E46 3.0d with 201 hp and was expecting the consumption to be worse than the BMW but on the last post I'm now not so sure. Either way it wouldn't put me off.
I'd say my mind is 90% made up to go with the A6 now. Thanks for the help and if there are any other obvious things I should be aware of such as reliability issues then please chip in.
I'm really happy with the observations and as I have a drive to Dordogne in June it sounds like it may well be in an A6.
One of my concerns, although not great, was that the quattro saps economy and the A6 is far worse on fuel. I had an E46 3.0d with 201 hp and was expecting the consumption to be worse than the BMW but on the last post I'm now not so sure. Either way it wouldn't put me off.
I'd say my mind is 90% made up to go with the A6 now. Thanks for the help and if there are any other obvious things I should be aware of such as reliability issues then please chip in.
We've just taken our 2008 A6 3.0 TDI quattro to the South of France for 9 days. Calais, Nice, Chamonix, Annecy and back.
We had a roof box, full boot and 2 children. At 75-80mph it averaged 36mpg over 1970 miles, which I thought was pretty decent, I can get low 40s without a roofbox. Even with some mammoth miles we arrived feeling fine, no aches. I'd put this down to the comfortable seats and legroom.
The integrated sat nav is excellent in my opinion, with all but one of our hotels being in the directory.
Add a set of winter tyres, you have an excellent winter machine
One note for France I'd say is that they have loads of underground, or multi-storey car parks. In Nice, I had to remove the roof box to get into the hotel's multi storey
When you're buying, I'd say check the following:
The boot lid for water leaks, could be washer fluid from a detached pipe, or in my case the seal had gone in the n/s inner light cluster. Ease off one of the courtesy lights at the base of the boot lid to check for water.
Central DIS display can stop working when cold, less than 5 deg. This is caused by a dry joint somewhere behind the dash, can be fixed for about £250 by a company in Portsmouth.
The rear wiper works, ours had to be replaced at 70k.
As for servicing, I was recently quoted £670 by Audi for the 4th service (75k) including a brake fluid change
I showed them a quote from my local garage for the same work and they price matched it for £400 Still not exactly cheap though, but only every 2 years, with an intermediate oil change in between.
We had a roof box, full boot and 2 children. At 75-80mph it averaged 36mpg over 1970 miles, which I thought was pretty decent, I can get low 40s without a roofbox. Even with some mammoth miles we arrived feeling fine, no aches. I'd put this down to the comfortable seats and legroom.
The integrated sat nav is excellent in my opinion, with all but one of our hotels being in the directory.
Add a set of winter tyres, you have an excellent winter machine
One note for France I'd say is that they have loads of underground, or multi-storey car parks. In Nice, I had to remove the roof box to get into the hotel's multi storey
When you're buying, I'd say check the following:
The boot lid for water leaks, could be washer fluid from a detached pipe, or in my case the seal had gone in the n/s inner light cluster. Ease off one of the courtesy lights at the base of the boot lid to check for water.
Central DIS display can stop working when cold, less than 5 deg. This is caused by a dry joint somewhere behind the dash, can be fixed for about £250 by a company in Portsmouth.
The rear wiper works, ours had to be replaced at 70k.
As for servicing, I was recently quoted £670 by Audi for the 4th service (75k) including a brake fluid change
I showed them a quote from my local garage for the same work and they price matched it for £400 Still not exactly cheap though, but only every 2 years, with an intermediate oil change in between.Edited by Maracus on Thursday 1st May 20:35
Kell said:
The list of problems with our E61 530d M Sport.
Day 1. Within 20 minutes of picking it up, tyre pressure monitor buzzes saying there's a flat. Take it in to BMW and lo and behold on the reverse of one tyre there's a mahoosive bulge on it. Replaced FOC.
Year 1. Complete software fail. Needed to go back to BMW to be re-installed. Down to a leak in the Shark's fin. Thankfully, it was still under warranty at this point and the software is upgraded to latest version.
Year 2: Compressor failure on the self-levelling rear suspension. Had to be put on a tow-truck from Devon to High Wycombe. Replaced by an independent for about £1,000 (£700 part, plus labour).
Hit huge pot-hole on way to airport. Burst front tyre. As it has run flats, continue to airport and decide to worry about it on return. Get flashed by speed camera for the first time in my life. Was warned about the camera by a mate of mine as he knew the area but I'm convinced to this day that someone had turned around the sign as just before the speed camera was a sign saying 40. Turns out speed camera was in a 30 zone.
Find out when having front tyre replaced that front alloy is also cracked - cue £600 bill for the pair. Agree settlement with Somerset council for replacement, but don't get money for further 90 days.
3 months later - blow out. Find out at this point (after settlement is agreed) that rear wheel is also buckled. £300 bill.
Year 3: Self levelling suspension failure again. Car put on tow truck from Yeovil to High Wycombe. Compressor replaced under year's warranty as a genuine BMW part.
Month later, suspension failure again. Car put on tow-truck from Reading to High Wycombe. Car miraculously fixes itself overnight and I drive it for a couple of weeks. Self-levelling warning light flashing on, then clearing itself intermittently. Car goes in to independent on low loader. They replace compressor with one from a scrap car to see if that works, and car self-levels. They decide the new compressor must be faulty and order another. Come back following morning, car is sitting on bump stops again. Car miraculously fixes itself again during the day. Independent unsure of problem, as owner is an ex-BMW mechanic, he takes it to BMW friends for an assessment. They don't know either. Eventually, it gets plugged in to BMW UK HQ in Brackley to be diagnosed remotely. Fault traced to a loose connector.
BMW wants £1,300 for a whole new wiring loom. Plus 20 hours labour @ £120 an hour to strip out the entire interior and replace the loom. Total estimate £3,700. Independent wants £300 to solder a new connector on to existing loom. Guess which way I went.
New windscreen needed after huge stone puts a 10cm circle into it.
Suspension now seems sorted.
Year 3: Relatively fault free. Save for a new rear screen after tile blows off houses roof and smashes through it.
Oh, and someone reverses into it.
Oh, and my wife drives it into a barrier that the parking sensors didn't pick up.
Year 4: Something's not right. Central locking is intermittent. Alarm keeps going off. Rear tailgate glass won't open. Fault finding reveals 4 of the 9 wires for the Failgate* have split. £900 to fix. *Unintentional typo that I spotted, but think it now sums up the part perfectly, so I've left it.
Oh, and it needs a new battery as the only way to unlock the car was to do it with the key in the door. Unfortunately this doesn't disable the alarm, so the only way I can stop it going off everytime I unlock the car was to hold the key in the lock till the windows dropped, then put key in ignition, then open the door. This killed the battery.
Two weeks later, the car dies on me. Completely. Have to open the car with the key in the door (again). Not enough juice to set alarm off. In fact there's so little power, that when I put the key in ignition, the dash lights don't even come on. Take keys out while I manouevre our other car into position to jump start.
I hook it up to our other car, at which point it creates a load of sparks and gives the BM just enough juice to set the alarm off. I panic, unhook it and jump in the BM and put the key in to turn the alarm off. Still nothing from the car. Alarm still going off. Very loudly.
Get out, determined that I need to man up and not worry about the sparks and just give the car the juice it needs. Hook it up again, and the alarm stops. But now I have a new problem. Now the car has power, it decides that it wants to lock all the doors and my keys are in the ignition.
As are the keys for the Mini.
And the keys for the house.
Leaving me stranded outside the house and I can't drive the Mini as my keys are locked in the BM. Have to wait several hours for wife to return.
Turns out the car needs to told it has a new battery or it doesn't charge it. Bizarre. Car gets recoded and works OK.
Year 5: Get rear-ended in stationary traffic. Car gets resprayed and we use it as an opprtunity to get the front redone after wife had hit it. In the meantime I have an A6 as courtesy car. Both of us like it and our minds are made up and we decide to sell up before the swirl flaps get sucked into engine and it explodes.
Other than that, it was fine.
You'd buy another one though, right? ;-)Day 1. Within 20 minutes of picking it up, tyre pressure monitor buzzes saying there's a flat. Take it in to BMW and lo and behold on the reverse of one tyre there's a mahoosive bulge on it. Replaced FOC.
Year 1. Complete software fail. Needed to go back to BMW to be re-installed. Down to a leak in the Shark's fin. Thankfully, it was still under warranty at this point and the software is upgraded to latest version.
Year 2: Compressor failure on the self-levelling rear suspension. Had to be put on a tow-truck from Devon to High Wycombe. Replaced by an independent for about £1,000 (£700 part, plus labour).
Hit huge pot-hole on way to airport. Burst front tyre. As it has run flats, continue to airport and decide to worry about it on return. Get flashed by speed camera for the first time in my life. Was warned about the camera by a mate of mine as he knew the area but I'm convinced to this day that someone had turned around the sign as just before the speed camera was a sign saying 40. Turns out speed camera was in a 30 zone.
Find out when having front tyre replaced that front alloy is also cracked - cue £600 bill for the pair. Agree settlement with Somerset council for replacement, but don't get money for further 90 days.
3 months later - blow out. Find out at this point (after settlement is agreed) that rear wheel is also buckled. £300 bill.
Year 3: Self levelling suspension failure again. Car put on tow truck from Yeovil to High Wycombe. Compressor replaced under year's warranty as a genuine BMW part.
Month later, suspension failure again. Car put on tow-truck from Reading to High Wycombe. Car miraculously fixes itself overnight and I drive it for a couple of weeks. Self-levelling warning light flashing on, then clearing itself intermittently. Car goes in to independent on low loader. They replace compressor with one from a scrap car to see if that works, and car self-levels. They decide the new compressor must be faulty and order another. Come back following morning, car is sitting on bump stops again. Car miraculously fixes itself again during the day. Independent unsure of problem, as owner is an ex-BMW mechanic, he takes it to BMW friends for an assessment. They don't know either. Eventually, it gets plugged in to BMW UK HQ in Brackley to be diagnosed remotely. Fault traced to a loose connector.
BMW wants £1,300 for a whole new wiring loom. Plus 20 hours labour @ £120 an hour to strip out the entire interior and replace the loom. Total estimate £3,700. Independent wants £300 to solder a new connector on to existing loom. Guess which way I went.
New windscreen needed after huge stone puts a 10cm circle into it.
Suspension now seems sorted.
Year 3: Relatively fault free. Save for a new rear screen after tile blows off houses roof and smashes through it.
Oh, and someone reverses into it.
Oh, and my wife drives it into a barrier that the parking sensors didn't pick up.
Year 4: Something's not right. Central locking is intermittent. Alarm keeps going off. Rear tailgate glass won't open. Fault finding reveals 4 of the 9 wires for the Failgate* have split. £900 to fix. *Unintentional typo that I spotted, but think it now sums up the part perfectly, so I've left it.
Oh, and it needs a new battery as the only way to unlock the car was to do it with the key in the door. Unfortunately this doesn't disable the alarm, so the only way I can stop it going off everytime I unlock the car was to hold the key in the lock till the windows dropped, then put key in ignition, then open the door. This killed the battery.
Two weeks later, the car dies on me. Completely. Have to open the car with the key in the door (again). Not enough juice to set alarm off. In fact there's so little power, that when I put the key in ignition, the dash lights don't even come on. Take keys out while I manouevre our other car into position to jump start.
I hook it up to our other car, at which point it creates a load of sparks and gives the BM just enough juice to set the alarm off. I panic, unhook it and jump in the BM and put the key in to turn the alarm off. Still nothing from the car. Alarm still going off. Very loudly.
Get out, determined that I need to man up and not worry about the sparks and just give the car the juice it needs. Hook it up again, and the alarm stops. But now I have a new problem. Now the car has power, it decides that it wants to lock all the doors and my keys are in the ignition.
As are the keys for the Mini.
And the keys for the house.
Leaving me stranded outside the house and I can't drive the Mini as my keys are locked in the BM. Have to wait several hours for wife to return.
Turns out the car needs to told it has a new battery or it doesn't charge it. Bizarre. Car gets recoded and works OK.
Year 5: Get rear-ended in stationary traffic. Car gets resprayed and we use it as an opprtunity to get the front redone after wife had hit it. In the meantime I have an A6 as courtesy car. Both of us like it and our minds are made up and we decide to sell up before the swirl flaps get sucked into engine and it explodes.
Other than that, it was fine.
Edited by Kell on Thursday 1st May 17:04
I've had a 530d touring and now have a 3.0 tdi Quattro Avant Le Mans. The Audi in my opinion is a way better car. The BMW was ok and never had any reliability issues but was just so un satisfying to drive. The fly by wire throttle was unresponsive and the transmission suffered significant levels of shunt.
The run flat tyres I got used to - especially after suffering a blow out at speed on a crowded M6. That probably saved me from an almighty accident.
Now, onto the Audi. Mines a 2010 tiptronic and it's probably the best all round car I've ever had. Unlike one of the previous respondents I do sometimes use the flappy paddles but mainly for fun. The 19" wheels do give a harsh ride but are no worse than the run flats on the BMW.
I've got a second set of wheels and tyres for winter. They're 17 and give a much more compliant ride but don't look as sexy! On winter tyres in the Alps it was epic - no risk of getting stuck unless the snow was stupidly deep.
The interior is a genuinely nice place to be. We've done three trips to the Alps this year, only two up but with the back full of skis and stuff for self catering accommodation. It's quiet, comfortable and can happily cruise at stupid speeds always feeling completely planted.
Driven sensibly it will do 40mpg but mostly it does circa 34/35 mpg.
Mine is an ex demonstrator and is stuffed full of toys. I get it serviced by an independent specialist rather than pay over inflated dealer charges.
Given all of the above it's no surprise I'd recommend one to anyone.
The run flat tyres I got used to - especially after suffering a blow out at speed on a crowded M6. That probably saved me from an almighty accident.
Now, onto the Audi. Mines a 2010 tiptronic and it's probably the best all round car I've ever had. Unlike one of the previous respondents I do sometimes use the flappy paddles but mainly for fun. The 19" wheels do give a harsh ride but are no worse than the run flats on the BMW.
I've got a second set of wheels and tyres for winter. They're 17 and give a much more compliant ride but don't look as sexy! On winter tyres in the Alps it was epic - no risk of getting stuck unless the snow was stupidly deep.
The interior is a genuinely nice place to be. We've done three trips to the Alps this year, only two up but with the back full of skis and stuff for self catering accommodation. It's quiet, comfortable and can happily cruise at stupid speeds always feeling completely planted.
Driven sensibly it will do 40mpg but mostly it does circa 34/35 mpg.
Mine is an ex demonstrator and is stuffed full of toys. I get it serviced by an independent specialist rather than pay over inflated dealer charges.
Given all of the above it's no surprise I'd recommend one to anyone.
Let's see, I've has a 3.0 le mans for roughly 3 years now. In that time,
2 services, about £230ish each, done as "majors", so included all filters.
1 Set of tyres, £500ish, which was cheap at the time.
Wheel refurb, £300ish
Paintwork tidy-up, £250ish
Manifold linkages, £20.
Rear lights full of condensation, drilled some holes, £0. (drilling holes is the only fix that works)
MMI software update, £10.
ARB droplinks, £not much.
They really don't have much in the way of "weak points", the only thing that crops up often is the manifold flap\linkage problems, and even that isn't as bad as it once was - at one stage the only fix was new manifolds at about £1200, now it can be fixed for much less.
Oddly, one of the best-value fixes there was the software update, which fixed a load of niggles with things like hyperactive windscreen wipers.
2 services, about £230ish each, done as "majors", so included all filters.
1 Set of tyres, £500ish, which was cheap at the time.
Wheel refurb, £300ish
Paintwork tidy-up, £250ish
Manifold linkages, £20.
Rear lights full of condensation, drilled some holes, £0. (drilling holes is the only fix that works)
MMI software update, £10.
ARB droplinks, £not much.
They really don't have much in the way of "weak points", the only thing that crops up often is the manifold flap\linkage problems, and even that isn't as bad as it once was - at one stage the only fix was new manifolds at about £1200, now it can be fixed for much less.
Oddly, one of the best-value fixes there was the software update, which fixed a load of niggles with things like hyperactive windscreen wipers.
With mine (3.0tdi LeMans Saloon) over 7 years and 116k miles
Service every 18k miles at circa £250-300 at dealer (you have to haggle)
ARB drop links £130 (at 80k miles or so)
4 wheel geo £90
4 sets of tyres cira £650 a set for Vredstein Ultrac Sessantas 255 35 19 xl
Rear light contacts fixed FOC by dealer
2 headlight bulbs (halogen) £45 fitted
3 x speeding tickets
2 x European driving holidays 4 people in the car very comfortable for blasting across France to the Alps
Average MPG 35.6
Best mpg 42 (on motorway run to Doncaster)
Best points - engine and space
Worst points - satnav (no full postcode) and parking in tight spaces
I would have another in a flash if I was looking for a family car. I traded mine for a Lotus Evora, so very different.
Service every 18k miles at circa £250-300 at dealer (you have to haggle)
ARB drop links £130 (at 80k miles or so)
4 wheel geo £90
4 sets of tyres cira £650 a set for Vredstein Ultrac Sessantas 255 35 19 xl
Rear light contacts fixed FOC by dealer
2 headlight bulbs (halogen) £45 fitted
3 x speeding tickets
2 x European driving holidays 4 people in the car very comfortable for blasting across France to the Alps
Average MPG 35.6
Best mpg 42 (on motorway run to Doncaster)
Best points - engine and space
Worst points - satnav (no full postcode) and parking in tight spaces
I would have another in a flash if I was looking for a family car. I traded mine for a Lotus Evora, so very different.
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