A6 C7 S Tronic gearbox reliability

[housemouse]

How is the S Tronic box in the C7 A6 holding up, particularly paired with the 3.0 TDI?

I believe it's a DSG / dual-clutch box, is that right? I think it's right that the really powerful 3.0 TDI engine gets a ZF slusher. I assume the S Tronic isn't rated for the torque of the highest output 3.0 TDI lump.

Thinking of buying one as a very long term work horse. I have an early B8 A4 with the same engine and the ZF slusher, branded Tiptronic, which I think is pretty bombproof with regular servicing. Car is on over 200K now so considering a replacement and would like to know if it's reasonable to buy on about 100K and expect another 100K without replacing / refurbing the box. Is the S Tronic mostly good for a couple of hundred thousand if maintained like the torque converter? Or is that yet to be proven?

Thanks in advance you. any comments.

[MisanoPayments]

I've used/owned three A6 C7 S-Tronics:

2017 Saloon 2.0 TDI q [190] black edition (leased, 0 - 12,000 miles)
2017 Avant 3.0TDI q [272] black edition (owned, from about 18,000 to 31,000 miles) <- the car I miss the most!
2015 Allroad 3.0TDI q [272] Sport (owned, from about 126,000 to 135,000 miles)

All have been fine - as I'd expect really. However, I booked the Allroad in for a gearbox service within a week after buying it, just in case.

[housemouse]

Thanks.

I thought the 272PS engine had a Tip torque converter box?

[Lotobear]

housemouse said:

Thanks.

I thought the 272PS engine had a Tip torque converter box?

Pretty sure the torque converter box is only used on the Bi Turbo.

My A6 Allroad 7 speed DSG has been fine but as mentioned above, worth getting the oil and filters changed as a precaution. This cost me around £230 at an independent.

[stevemcs]

I thought the ZF box was in the bitdi, everything else is the 7 speed DSG, i personally wouldn't run a high mileage one.

[Dr G]

Correct, only the BiTDI got ZF 8HP "tiptronic". Everything else is 7 speed Stronic. For some reason there are some 245PS A7s around 2013 that also got the tip box, I've no idea why.

They're generally OK, particularly when serviced correctly. Recently sold a 64 plate with 118k that was absolutely spot on. Had just had its third gear oil change but no signs of wear or fault to speak of.

[housemouse]

housemouse said:

Thanks.

I thought the 272PS engine had a Tip torque converter box?

I thought the 272 engine is the early biturbo, which later got more power.

Ideally, I'd have the simpler, single-turbo engine with the ZF torque converter. My A4 has that and the powertrain feels bombproof at over 200K, but the car is wearing out in other ways.

[housemouse]

Dr G said:

Correct, only the BiTDI got ZF 8HP "tiptronic". Everything else is 7 speed Stronic. For some reason there are some 245PS A7s around 2013 that also got the tip box, I've no idea why.

They're generally OK, particularly when serviced correctly. Recently sold a 64 plate with 118k that was absolutely spot on. Had just had its third gear oil change but no signs of wear or fault to speak of.

Not quite true. There's a lower power 200-ish PS 3.0 with a "Multitronic" box which I think might be a CVT?

[Dr G]

If you're talking two wheel drive cars there were manuals, CVTs, and S-Tronics!

[Dr G]

housemouse said:

I thought the 272 engine is the early biturbo, which later got more power.

Ideally, I'd have the simpler, single-turbo engine with the ZF torque converter. My A4 has that and the powertrain feels bombproof at over 200K, but the car is wearing out in other ways.

272 is the facelift car (which previously got 245).

Early BiTDI was 313. These are pretty reliable with decent maintenance. We've had a few higher mileage SQ5 through the doors that were quite good. Needed money on wear stuff (engine mounts, suspension) but basic mechanicals were quite well behaved.