high miler help/service help... General paranoia!

[steeevvvooo]

Does this add up? I’m looking at a A6 2.7 tdi Quattro tip. High mileage (120k), so should I worry about the box blowing up? I realise it’s not multitronic, but is this particularly high mileage for a Quattro.

Had 3 services at Audi, then an independent garage after the warranty had expired, and another recently at Audi. However, the last two are not on the Audi system as the seller says his local Audi used to let mechanics work on older/higher mileage cars “in their own time”, although it’s now been stopped . Hmmm, anyone ever come across this? (TT, especially looking for your view!)

Another thing, wheels have been upgraded, but it’s not registered as a factory option. Although it apparently had model deletion from the factory, although his pictures show full model on the back? Should I be suspicious of a bump? Do Audi options get these things wrong or has someone put badges and wheels on at some point?!

As you can see, I’m a pretty paranoid buyer, but I like the car…

Any thoughts?

[Tame Technician]

Tiptronic boxes are pretty good, we have very litle trouble with them. But as a technician I always think of an auto box as a ticking bomb, it will one day go bang. And generaly over 120k. If I had my way we would change the gearbox oil every 60k or so, but ZF and Audi insist they are filled for life and we cant go arround advising people to have there oil changed when Audi tell us not too.

The 2.7/3.0 V6 TDI's are pretty good. Listen for timing chain raltes on startup anything more than 1 or 2 secs is bad. Drive through the rev range from 1200 to 4500 a few times to test the turbo. Run away if any warning lights come on etc.

Make sure all the switches and buttons work, especially if its got MMI, people spill drinks all over the control panel.

All modern cars have so much expensive technology on them, They can all have expensive bills just around the corner so its ok to be a bit paranoid.

[Dr G]

Have sold 2.7s and 3.0s with higher mileage than that, don't give us any grief at all

I'd agree with the above on a box oil change even though Audi insist it isn't necessary. For years they said the RS6 box didn't need it but all of a sudden it's 'recommended'.

[Tame Technician]

steeevvvooo said:

However, the last two are not on the Audi system as the seller says his local Audi used to let mechanics work on older/higher mileage cars “in their own time”, although it’s now been stopped . Hmmm, anyone ever come across this? (TT, especially looking for your view!)

Forgot to say, yes this does happen in some places. We do work on cars in our own time. Would you rather do it on your drive in the snow, or at work on a ramp with air tools and heating? However most dealers mine included would not allow work to be done on a car that could be thought of as taking work off the company. So older high milage vehicles that dont belong to our customers are ok, but depends how strick the service manager/dealer principle is. At jag we were not alloud to work on any jaguars, regardless of how old or how long they had been out of the dealer network, but anything else was ok.

If the book has been stamped, and the service was done as a cash job and not showing on the system, someone is going to be in big trouble, that a big no no anywhere, people have been sacked for this.

[steeevvvooo]

Tame Technician said:

If the book has been stamped, and the service was done as a cash job and not showing on the system, someone is going to be in big trouble, that a big no no anywhere, people have been sacked for this.

Thanks TT. The book WASN'T stamped (just to be clear as I don't want to get anyone sacked) . The guy had some paperwork/receipt for the service (I guess it was just a hand written note) but the book was not stamped, which made me question it.

I am still tempted, but I think I might wait a bit longer to try and sell mine for cash, and then look for something with lower miles.

Appreciate all the advice!