C5 RS6's how much borkage?
Discussion
Trying to get a picture of how bad these actually are. Lots of suspension failures but that seems to be solved by a decent set of Bilsteins for £1500 so not the end of the world.
How often do the gearboxes fail? Are we talking every 100k or 20k?
I understand consumables are expensive but that goes with the territory.
How often do the gearboxes fail? Are we talking every 100k or 20k?
I understand consumables are expensive but that goes with the territory.
Hiya
Those still on the road should either have fully sorted DRC, or as you say will already be on coilovers (good or bad!).
Gearboxes have a life expectancy along the lines of 'how long's a piece of string' - some go on forever, others will have had several gearboxes by the time they're over 100k miles. A lot depends on driving style and any efforts to extract more power. Audi never quoted a gearbox oil change interval, which was muppetry of the first order. Any that haven't had routine gearbox oil and filter changes are far more likely to fail early.
Cambelts are a fairly major routine expense (every 4 years IIRC) and discs and pads are extortionate if you stick with OEM. Some USA suppliers offer disc and bell options where you buy their parts once and can then just replace the rotors, so for long term ownership are worth considering. There's also vagbremtechnic in the UK.
The C5 shape cars of any model variant can suffer weird electrical issues to do with central locking and the inconvenience module under the front passenger carpet does not like getting wet from blocked plenum or air-con drains.
Basically buying a good one with up to date servicing shouldn't cost you a fortune to maintain, bar a bork fund for a sudden failure. Buy a cheap one and you could easily spend the same again sorting it.
Those still on the road should either have fully sorted DRC, or as you say will already be on coilovers (good or bad!).
Gearboxes have a life expectancy along the lines of 'how long's a piece of string' - some go on forever, others will have had several gearboxes by the time they're over 100k miles. A lot depends on driving style and any efforts to extract more power. Audi never quoted a gearbox oil change interval, which was muppetry of the first order. Any that haven't had routine gearbox oil and filter changes are far more likely to fail early.
Cambelts are a fairly major routine expense (every 4 years IIRC) and discs and pads are extortionate if you stick with OEM. Some USA suppliers offer disc and bell options where you buy their parts once and can then just replace the rotors, so for long term ownership are worth considering. There's also vagbremtechnic in the UK.
The C5 shape cars of any model variant can suffer weird electrical issues to do with central locking and the inconvenience module under the front passenger carpet does not like getting wet from blocked plenum or air-con drains.
Basically buying a good one with up to date servicing shouldn't cost you a fortune to maintain, bar a bork fund for a sudden failure. Buy a cheap one and you could easily spend the same again sorting it.
A good friend has one that he does all his own work on, with occasional help from me.
Some parts are expensive as you would expect, but there is a surprisingly keen aftermarket for some of the more eye-watering stuff - I believe he gets a lot of stuff from Lithuania? Some stuff you just have to grit your teeth and fork out for - have a quick google of how much front calipers are....
The real expense is time though. Access in the engine bay is non-existent, so many jobs require the engine to come out to some extent. If you're not able to do your own spannering, the costs will be fearsome.
Some parts are expensive as you would expect, but there is a surprisingly keen aftermarket for some of the more eye-watering stuff - I believe he gets a lot of stuff from Lithuania? Some stuff you just have to grit your teeth and fork out for - have a quick google of how much front calipers are....
The real expense is time though. Access in the engine bay is non-existent, so many jobs require the engine to come out to some extent. If you're not able to do your own spannering, the costs will be fearsome.
mrtwisty said:
A good friend has one that he does all his own work on, with occasional help from me.
Some parts are expensive as you would expect, but there is a surprisingly keen aftermarket for some of the more eye-watering stuff - I believe he gets a lot of stuff from Lithuania? Some stuff you just have to grit your teeth and fork out for - have a quick google of how much front calipers are....
The real expense is time though. Access in the engine bay is non-existent, so many jobs require the engine to come out to some extent. If you're not able to do your own spannering, the costs will be fearsome.
I could do most of the work myself that's not a problem it's more of a problem if for example a rebuilt gearbox just couldn't be trusted to last atleast another 50k or if expensive and tricky to diagnose ECUs pack up on a semi regular basis. Some parts are expensive as you would expect, but there is a surprisingly keen aftermarket for some of the more eye-watering stuff - I believe he gets a lot of stuff from Lithuania? Some stuff you just have to grit your teeth and fork out for - have a quick google of how much front calipers are....
The real expense is time though. Access in the engine bay is non-existent, so many jobs require the engine to come out to some extent. If you're not able to do your own spannering, the costs will be fearsome.
Not aware of any ecu problems as a rule. So long as the box it lives in stays dry. There are options for improving box longevity - you can get upgraded torque converters from the USA and any remap that smoothes the power delivery will goodbye reduce torque levels that are known to cause the gearbox difficulty. Replacing gearbox oil and filter every 25k (say) will also help a lot
I have owned 2. Once was a higher mileage example and the other low mileage.
The high mileage car supposedly had gearbox refurb and borked after 18 months. Went through 2 X F125 switches. Sold
The low mileage car cost my all my limbs, first bill at MRC was for £8000+ , OK this did include a new straight through exhaust and remaps but the rest was just cam belt service, new oil cooler, lines, gearbox service and new f125 (think thats the right thing) switch.
Once all work done the car was mega and made 537bhp and they had to peg the torque back so as not to destroy the box.
Then it was discs and pads which was the usual RS unit of £1000+.
Then a £25 valve broke which was a vacuum for the brakes which is buried inside the V and so was many many hours to fix and replacement many other little bits that broke, can't remember the bill but it was close to another £1000.
Range sensor on the gearbox (where the gear lever is) broke, so another few quid.
Curtain airbag went bad also
Lots of other little tiny bits and of course servicing on top of all of that.
Kept the low mileage car for 2+ years and as much as I truly loved it I would never go back as it was a money pit like nothing i've ever owned.
The high mileage car supposedly had gearbox refurb and borked after 18 months. Went through 2 X F125 switches. Sold
The low mileage car cost my all my limbs, first bill at MRC was for £8000+ , OK this did include a new straight through exhaust and remaps but the rest was just cam belt service, new oil cooler, lines, gearbox service and new f125 (think thats the right thing) switch.
Once all work done the car was mega and made 537bhp and they had to peg the torque back so as not to destroy the box.
Then it was discs and pads which was the usual RS unit of £1000+.
Then a £25 valve broke which was a vacuum for the brakes which is buried inside the V and so was many many hours to fix and replacement many other little bits that broke, can't remember the bill but it was close to another £1000.
Range sensor on the gearbox (where the gear lever is) broke, so another few quid.
Curtain airbag went bad also
Lots of other little tiny bits and of course servicing on top of all of that.
Kept the low mileage car for 2+ years and as much as I truly loved it I would never go back as it was a money pit like nothing i've ever owned.
Edited by Bobskirs6 on Monday 9th March 13:58
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