Audi A4 TDi automatic - multitronic or DSG?.

[DarkMatter]

I've heard that the 'multitronic' gearbox which was introduced to the A4 TDi around 2002 was dropped in favour of the twin clutch DSG box at some point, maybe 2007/2007.

Can anyone confirm this, and give a more specific date on when the change occurred?

Thanks, Andrew.

[LeoSayer]

No, all front wheel drive A4s (and A6s) are multitronic (or manual).

DSG is only available on A3s and TTs, something to do with the way the engine is mounted in the chassis. Apparently the new A4s will get DSG at some point in the near future.

[Tame Technician]

Yep, no DSG in A4 or A6 etc to date. Slushmatic Multi-Cronic all the way.

Cant see how they would be able to put DSG in a new A4 as it completely the wrong shape and size.

Is designed for VW based transverse engine and gearbox layout (engine runs from side to side), like the Golf, TT and A3 (same car). The A4 and A6's etc have the engine running front to back like a rear wheel drive car, so the gearbox is in the tunnel, not under the bonnet if you that makes sence.

I think what your are thinking of is when they introduced the newer 7plate clutch pack Multi-tronic gearbox, which Was around 2007.

[LeoSayer]

DSG is coming

http://autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/AUDI/2...

Audi is developing its excellent Direct Shift Gearbox for its A4 and A6 ranges.

Adding it to the A4 and A6 would bring the number of transmission types on offer to four, DSG joining the existing Multitronic continuously variable transmission, conventional Tiptronic automatic gearbox, and regular manual gearboxes.

At the moment, the transmission cannot be fitted to cars that use longitudinally mounted engines, such as the A4 and A6. The existing version of the gearbox is also limited in the amount of pulling power than it can deal with.

Audi will be working flat-out to increase availability of the transmission, so we'd be surprised if new options weren't available by the end of the year.

The twin-clutch gearbox is able to pre-select the next gear and offers particularly fast and smooth shifts. It can also offer similar fuel consumption and company car tax bands to manuals, so running costs would be significantly lower than a Tiptronic or Multitronic to run.

Expect to pay around £1500 to £2000 for the DSG option in the A4 and A6.

[DarkMatter]

Thanks LeoSayer and TameTechnician for your advice. I've read here that some people have had problems with their multitronic gearbox, has the 7 plate clutch improved reliability?

[LeoSayer]

I would never buy a CVT again without a cast iron warranty. Do a search, there's plenty to read on this subject.

[Tame Technician]

7 plate version is "MORE" reliably, but then almost every single 6 plate one had some sort of problem. I would never have one and couldn't recommend one to anybody. If you cant drive a manual and you want an A4 you dont have much choice, but if you can drive one a manual is a much much safer bet.

[DarkMatter]

Thanks for your advice, I think I'll avoid a multitronic.

It's not essential that I buy an auto, I currently drive a manual 2001 A4 130 TDi Sport (48.5 mpg average over 78k miles), but quite fancy the benefits of driving an auto when in traffic jams. My original intention was to go for an A3 TDi DSG which I hoped would give me the ease of an automatic with the control of a manual, but having driven some I was disappointed with the higher engine noise levels compared with my A4, so that's why I considered the the A4 multitronic.

I've also considered a BMW 1 series auto - there seemed to be less engine noise than the A3, but other PH'ers don't seem to get very good mpg, probably because it uses a conventional auto box. I think maybe I need to look at the A3 TDi DSG again.

[LeoSayer]

The current range of efficient dynamics BMWs are supposed to be very good on fuel, autos included. Passats use DSG as they are built on the Golf platform, so is the Skoda Octavia. In fact, try the Skoda, very quiet and comfortable and lots of room.

[DarkMatter]

I've become confused with regard to the automatic gearboxes which I may find on a 2006/2007 A4 2.0 TDi. I was under the impression that the only auto box available was a multitronic which is in effect a CVT, originally a 6 speed, but more recently a 7 speed, and that later ones have a 7 plate clutch.

Having looked at used 2006/2007 2.0 TDi autos on the Audi website I have seen some advertised as 6 speed auto and others as 7 speed. Some are also called multitronic and others CVT.

On reading a Parkers review it says the A4 2.0 TDi was available with a six-speed automatic and a seven-speed CVT.

Can someone who knows clarify the situation with regard to these gearboxes? Is the six-speed auto a conventional torque converter/fluid flywheel type, and is the CVT the multitronic, and were they both an option at the same time?

Apart from the possible reliability issues with the multitronic, which is the preferred gearbox to have?

Thanks!

[Ordinary Bloke]

DarkMatter said:

Can someone who knows clarify the situation with regard to these gearboxes? Is the six-speed auto a conventional torque converter/fluid flywheel type, and is the CVT the multitronic, and were they both an option at the same time?

Apart from the possible reliability issues with the multitronic, which is the preferred gearbox to have?

Thanks!

I had an A6 1.8T Multitronic for 3 years and loved it, my friend currently has an A4 2.0Tdi and he loves it. Brilliant, IMO.

Yes, the six-speed auto is a conventional torque converter/fluid flywheel type, and the multitronic is a CVT (continuously variable transmission, and they were both an option at the same time.

I don't know of any reliability problems with multitronic (but I don't doubt the experts, so search the net and make your own decision), and fuel consumption and emissions are similar to a manual box. Whereas the auto box has higher consumption, higher emissions, less acceleration.

Edited by Ordinary Bloke on Wednesday 22 October 22:00

[Tame Technician]

Quatro's have a normal automatic gearbox presumable 6 speed, although I thought it was 5.

The only front wheel drive auto is the Multi-tronic (Multi-cronic and multi-failure are words i use to describe it.)

It is a CVT they are the same thing.

[LeoSayer]

DarkMatter said:

I've become confused with regard to the automatic gearboxes which I may find on a 2006/2007 A4 2.0 TDi. I was under the impression that the only auto box available was a multitronic which is in effect a CVT, originally a 6 speed, but more recently a 7 speed, and that later ones have a 7 plate clutch.

Having looked at used 2006/2007 2.0 TDi autos on the Audi website I have seen some advertised as 6 speed auto and others as 7 speed. Some are also called multitronic and others CVT.

On reading a Parkers review it says the A4 2.0 TDi was available with a six-speed automatic and a seven-speed CVT.

Can someone who knows clarify the situation with regard to these gearboxes? Is the six-speed auto a conventional torque converter/fluid flywheel type, and is the CVT the multitronic, and were they both an option at the same time?

Apart from the possible reliability issues with the multitronic, which is the preferred gearbox to have?

Thanks!

IIRC when the new shape MK2 A4 was introduced (in 2000?) all front wheel drive autos were multitronic (ie. CVT) and quattro autos were torque converter. The 6/7 speed thing on multitronic is only used when you're in tiptronic mode. When the car is in D it is just one variable ratio.

[DarkMatter]

Thanks for your help.

So if I have understood you all correctly...

An A4 Quattro automatic will have a torque converter box.

An A4 2.0 TDi automatic will have a CVT (aka Multitronic) box?
And that these CVT boxes, depending on the age of the car, may be specified as 6 speed or 7 speed when in tiptronic mode?
And finally the later CVT boxes had 7 plate clutches instead or 6 plate.

Slightly off topic - do the DSG gearbox clutches need to be replaced eventually, how many miles might they typically last, and what might the cost be to replace.

Thanks again for your patience!