HELP Audi A6 Drivers
Discussion
I'm tempted to buy a ~ 1998 Audi A6 2.8 Quattro to barge myself to work and back in.
Do we like them? It's done 180k, am I likely to find myself sobbing next to a pile of smoking german metal when it goes bang in 2 weeks?
I'm tempted by the size, comfort and 4wd, as I live in the sticks. What am I likely to see on the motorway at 65mph, 28mpg?
Thanks in advance.
Do we like them? It's done 180k, am I likely to find myself sobbing next to a pile of smoking german metal when it goes bang in 2 weeks?
I'm tempted by the size, comfort and 4wd, as I live in the sticks. What am I likely to see on the motorway at 65mph, 28mpg?
Thanks in advance.
hora said:
Check the rear diff. Check the fluids been changed in it recently. I was speaking to a bloke who owns a 02 golf 2.8 4motion and his was packing up- apparently its a known-thing and if you were to buy one 'new' it'd be close to 1k.
Yikes! I'm no stranger to getting my hands dirty, or changing diff oil, are there any telltale signs? Whining etc, or does it just "go"? Are they belt or chain driven. I recall an Audi needing basically the whole front end pulling off and about 6 hours labour to do a timing belt, and I've a funny feeling it's the A6 V6 lol.i had an a6 of that vintage. I'd budget for a later year of that style, perhaps 2000+
This is becuase the quality of the 97/98 and perhaps some 99 cars was below audis normal standards - audi even admitted so if remember correctly.
Mine was ok, but part prices are really expensive, and the front double wishbone suspension is prone to repairs and is alloy, and so i've been told a real pain.
As said earlyier i'd try to budget for a 2000 onwards as there quite a lot of quality issues fixed by then.
This is becuase the quality of the 97/98 and perhaps some 99 cars was below audis normal standards - audi even admitted so if remember correctly.
Mine was ok, but part prices are really expensive, and the front double wishbone suspension is prone to repairs and is alloy, and so i've been told a real pain.
As said earlyier i'd try to budget for a 2000 onwards as there quite a lot of quality issues fixed by then.
The golf diff and a6 diffs are different units the a6 unit is pretty strong but checking servicng and the usual like hora said
All in all the 2.8 a good high miler engine its the multi link suspension that let's it down check for knocking on test drive normally indicates worn arms and if ones knackered more will be. The timing belt is front end off though I wouldn't say 6 hours work but not far off
All in all the 2.8 a good high miler engine its the multi link suspension that let's it down check for knocking on test drive normally indicates worn arms and if ones knackered more will be. The timing belt is front end off though I wouldn't say 6 hours work but not far off
D4MJT said:
I recall an Audi needing basically the whole front end pulling off and about 6 hours labour to do a timing belt, and I've a funny feeling it's the A6 V6 lol.
On V6 A4s of that vintage, I can attest to that being the case. Takes as long to get to the thermostat as well, and I can't imagine the A6 is going to be much different. You can do it yourself without much difficulty, two or maybe three hours to get the thing apart and get the job done, perhaps another couple to put it back together but we weren't rushing or timing it.With any experience at all, you should be fine. I'd do it for £100, never mind f
king £800! Not hard, just labour intensive for the work it is. Also makes the car look like it's been in a massive accident, see my profile 
As regards the A6 generally, they're a very good car and very light for their class. You should expect to see 30mpg at 70mph, which is a rough guess from a 2WD 2.8 30v A4 doing 35ish. You should take a lot of care to listen to the suspension when test driving, because front suspension components should really be considered consumables on the A6s.
I had a 2001 A6. As has already been said, timing belt is a diy no-no unless you have the locking tools (approx £200), a grage will charge about £600 for that engine. The V6 engines love to leak oil everywhere, it can be a pig to fix. The multi link suspension at the front is a git, the bushes wear and squeak and you end having to replace the lot. I did mine DIY, nightmare, Google "Audi pinch bolt" for tales of woe.
The biggest issue I found with the A6 overall is that even if you do the work yourself parts cost a fortune.
Other than that it is a nice car!
The biggest issue I found with the A6 overall is that even if you do the work yourself parts cost a fortune.
Other than that it is a nice car!
944fan said:
I had a 2001 A6. As has already been said, timing belt is a diy no-no unless you have the locking tools (approx £200), a grage will charge about £600 for that engine. The V6 engines love to leak oil everywhere, it can be a pig to fix. The multi link suspension at the front is a git, the bushes wear and squeak and you end having to replace the lot. I did mine DIY, nightmare, Google "Audi pinch bolt" for tales of woe.
The biggest issue I found with the A6 overall is that even if you do the work yourself parts cost a fortune.
Other than that it is a nice car!
Thanks all, it sounds like there's better smoker barges out there!The biggest issue I found with the A6 overall is that even if you do the work yourself parts cost a fortune.
Other than that it is a nice car!
We really didn't have anything like these problems with the 1.8T we ran for a few years that had 150k on it too - only worry was suspension arms.
A lot of experience with that 2.8 engine in the A4 suggests there ain't a lot that goes wrong with that, either - perhaps it's the newer 3.0 V6 people have had trouble with? I've never come across this oil leaking business.
Admittedly it's a pain if the cam belt hasn't been changed to schedule, but otherwise, as an urgent cheap barge and if you've got this A6 on offer, I would go for it.
that had 150k on it too - only worry was suspension arms.A lot of experience with that 2.8 engine in the A4 suggests there ain't a lot that goes wrong with that, either - perhaps it's the newer 3.0 V6 people have had trouble with? I've never come across this oil leaking business.
Admittedly it's a pain if the cam belt hasn't been changed to schedule, but otherwise, as an urgent cheap barge and if you've got this A6 on offer, I would go for it.
944fan said:
I had a 2001 A6. As has already been said, timing belt is a diy no-no unless you have the locking tools (approx £200), a grage will charge about £600 for that engine. The V6 engines love to leak oil everywhere, it can be a pig to fix. The multi link suspension at the front is a git, the bushes wear and squeak and you end having to replace the lot. I did mine DIY, nightmare, Google "Audi pinch bolt" for tales of woe.
The biggest issue I found with the A6 overall is that even if you do the work yourself parts cost a fortune.
Other than that it is a nice car!
Thanks all, it sounds like there's better smoker barges out there!The biggest issue I found with the A6 overall is that even if you do the work yourself parts cost a fortune.
Other than that it is a nice car!
I had a couple of A6s of that vintage, including a V6 2.8.
Everything said so far is very fair. Timing belt change is front off job and suspension can need monitoring. 30mpg is about the best you'll get.
However I still rate that 2.8 as one of the nicest cars I've had. I sold it to my father, who has driven a lot of plush metal, and he rated it the same. By the time he moved it on (to another happy recipient) it had 200K miles on the clock and still felt fresh inside.
Everything said so far is very fair. Timing belt change is front off job and suspension can need monitoring. 30mpg is about the best you'll get.
However I still rate that 2.8 as one of the nicest cars I've had. I sold it to my father, who has driven a lot of plush metal, and he rated it the same. By the time he moved it on (to another happy recipient) it had 200K miles on the clock and still felt fresh inside.
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