Audi RS6 C7 Issues with brakes, alloys and coolant hose

[Lostprophet]

I have been researching the Rs6 with the view of buying one. There seems to be 3 main issues with the car which Audi only correct if you're under warranty and take no ownership of if you're out of warranty. The issues are:

1. Alloys buckle and crack under weight of the car - Approx £3.6k to fix out of warranty
2. Brakes warp - cost of replacing brake discs
3. Coolant hose splits on the facelift cars causing significant damage to the engine - Advised its approx £4k to fix

The question is why do people still keep buying these vehicles? Do they not realize the issues with the car or do they have money to burn?

I am really put off by the issues and also the complaints by owners on how crappy Audi are to deal with the problems, even under warranty.

What do folks think about these issues? Am I missing something?

[mikecassie]

Why do you want one?

I'm sure some people are put off owning one after they get stung by a huge bill for any of the faults you've mentioned. Many others will be quite happy with the performance of the car and that will help offset any issues which may or may not occur. That and the usefulness of a performance estate that can be fitted with a towbar will make people want one. I nearly went for one, but the running costs put me off and the fact the performance would only get me in trouble as I am no driving god.

The worst thing about researching a car is you hear more about the bad things, but the happy owners don't say so much. Which weights towards more negative comments.

[RGambo]

Are you sure you mean the new C7??
If you are sure here are my thoughts..

54k miles, 4 years
non of the above issues.
the most my RS has cost me is LOTS of tyres and fuel. Love it so much , i've just ordered a new one.

Edited by RGambo on Friday 16th June 19:36

Edited by RGambo on Friday 16th June 19:37

[anonymous-user]

Not sure where you picked that info up...

21 alloys are prone to buckle. 20s are forged, lighter and problem free as far as forums suggest - but a lot of people prefer the look of the 21s. You can buy a set of 21s on eBay.de for around £2500 with tyres.

Coolant hose can very rarely rub on a clip on the bulkhead in f/l (post 2015 cars) but it is a 10 sec preventative fix (you just move the clip - see RS246 forum)

I have done 21k on original discs and pads and problem free and plenty of life left. Depends how you drive - anyone can knacker discs and pads and these are heavy cars.

Bottom line? An amazing machine that is surprisingly nimble on its toes and makes the previous incarnations look like barges (straight line performance aside).

Buy one!

[Blue62]

I presume that Audi would replace warped discs and fractured wheels under warranty, I've heard one or two reports and as an expectant father of a PE I'd be interested. The hose issue reflects poorly on Audi but is an easy fix. Were you previously known as LostBMW?

[anonymous-user]

Blue62 said:

I presume that Audi would replace warped discs and fractured wheels under warranty, I've heard one or two reports and as an expectant father of a PE I'd be interested. The hose issue reflects poorly on Audi but is an easy fix. Were you previously known as LostBMW?

Wheels bend on hitting potholes rather than fracture and no warranty (so far) on ones I know of. Avoid potholes or go 20 inch. PE is susceptible too even though different wheel design - which suggests it might be a weight versus very low profile issue rather than design fault (30 profiles and 2 tonnes make poor bedfellows on our roads). I know of only one car that had a problem with the clip - loads have checked and were OK (including my f/l car).

[JBE68]

Perhaps that why the dealer was trying to sell me the Revive £499 wheel and tyre repair deal post today's RS6 test drive. The car has 21" wheels.

[Blue62]

Discombobulate said:

Wheels bend on hitting potholes rather than fracture and no warranty (so far) on ones I know of. Avoid potholes or go 20 inch. PE is susceptible too even though different wheel design - which suggests it might be a weight versus very low profile issue rather than design fault (30 profiles and 2 tonnes make poor bedfellows on our roads). I know of only one car that had a problem with the clip - loads have checked and were OK (including my f/l car).

I'd understand that warranty wouldn't apply to a pot holed wheel, but seem to remember an issue with the wheels on the old RS4 B5, I guess it may be that large low profilers are inherently weak. I will be checking the hose and firewall clip when mine arrives.

[Dr G]

We've had a couple of buckled 21s repaired by a specialist without issue after the owners getting scary quotes from Audi. Again, whack a pot hole in most things with massive wheels and low-profile tyres...

Most fast cars with large discs can suffer warping but really this is down to use. The number one cause is getting the brakes hot (the fronts on these get very hot very easily) then holding it stationary on the foot brake. This hot-spots the disc and causes the wobbly pedal. Not *really* the car's fault. As long as there is material remaining on the disc they can be skimmed back flat for not a lot of money.

I've not come across the split coolant hose you describe... Are you sure you're not confusing reports on the C6?

C7 quality and durability so far has proved excellent.

[Blue62]

Dr G said:

We've had a couple of buckled 21s repaired by a specialist without issue after the owners getting scary quotes from Audi. Again, whack a pot hole in most things with massive wheels and low-profile tyres...

Most fast cars with large discs can suffer warping but really this is down to use. The number one cause is getting the brakes hot (the fronts on these get very hot very easily) then holding it stationary on the foot brake. This hot-spots the disc and causes the wobbly pedal. Not *really* the car's fault. As long as there is material remaining on the disc they can be skimmed back flat for not a lot of money.

I've not come across the split coolant hose you describe... Are you sure you're not confusing reports on the C6?

C7 quality and durability so far has proved excellent.

There seems to be a problem with some RS6 cars where a clip that holds the firewall in place on the bulkhead rubs against the coolant hose when the car is under load, it's easily fixed by moving the clip away from the hose. If you pop onto RS246 you'll read all about it (yawn)

[Dr G]

Aaaaah yes, we've had a one of those. It manifested itself as a squeak where hose was rubbing (rather than a leak) though. Amazed it was loud enough (or the owner's hearing acute enough) that such a thing could be heard.

[Lostprophet]

Sorry, these are the links.

https://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=1... Hose issues
https://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=1... Alloy issues

[Ed T]

Great now when driving my nipper around or when on a track I'm going to be worried about the alloy snapping and spinning us.

Is this genuinely prolific or is this a handful of cases?

If its bad surely we should all go back and ask for the 20s?

Ed

[Lostprophet]

It seems to be a significant design issue with the alloys. They also seem to deform under the weight of the car. As you say the 20" are fine.

[Blue62]

Low profile tyres and a 2 tonne car, but some of the stories are pretty scary. I had a loose/raised cats eye burst through the middle of an alloy wheel on a brand new Porsche 997 a few years back, I thought I had just got a flat but when the var was wheeled off the flatbed recovery lorry and inspected we saw a gaping hole in the middle of he wheel. Porsche didn't want to know and nor did the council, can't remember what it cost but it hurt.

[anonymous-user]

And I actually prefer the 20s. Weight (around 10kg a set saving) and fact they are forged and strong aside, I like the concave profile.

[MikeyLCR]

Discombobulate said:

And I actually prefer the 20s. Weight (around 10kg a set saving) and fact they are forged and strong aside, I like the concave profile.

+1

[anonymous-user]

MikeyLCR said:

+1

Forgot to add they are "free" too