I have pasted in two of my earlier posts, which I have slightly revised and updated. I believe these posts will help show the problem areas on our cars and show what maintenance items to expect as our cars get older and have higher mileage. I have not included the scheduled maintenance, brakes or tires.
I have an 05 4.2 that I purchased new about 8 years ago. She currently has 127k on the odometer. As far as reliability, she is ok, but she is no Lexus. But she is a lot of fun to drive. Most of the problems have been nuisances.
1. The airbag light came on two weeks after I purchased the car. It took them 10 days to figure out the problem. Audi then came out with a TSB on updating the computer software for the airbags.
2. The MMI "crashed" a year after I bought the car. After having the car for 8 days, Audi wiped the hardware clean and reinstalled the MMI computer software.
3. The MMI had a few bugs with not updating the satellite radio stations, losing surround settings and sometimes not automatically linking with my bluetooth phone. Audi had the car for a day and updated the MMI computer software. Audi has a TSB on this issue as well.
I have written those three problems off to having a very early computer software version. To give you an idea of the number of changes in the software, my car came with MMI version 10 and now has version 33. Since being updated to MMI version 33, around 2006 or 2007, I have not had any computer issues. I understand that there is now a version 46 that is available. Since my MMI has been stable with version 33 I have not upgraded to 46. From fellow Audi owners I understand that the differences between 33 and 46 are negligible.
As far as non-computer issues. I have had quite a few.
1. All 8 coil packs had to be replaced.
2. The lid for the gas cap would not open from inside the car. In order to open it I had to wedge my credit card inside the lid and open it from the outside.
3. The frame for the front passenger seat came loose and the entire seat had to be removed and the bolts tightened.
4. A rattle in the glove box area of the dashboard that required installation of additional insulation.
5. A bad tire pressure sensor had to be replaced.
6. A mildew smell from the air conditioner vents, which required the replacement of a ventilation duct.
7. A rattle from the rear fold down seats, which required a new clamp.
8. A rattle from the driver’s side of the dashboard, which required additional damping material.
9. The fuel-filter recall, which required a new fuel filter.
10. The fuel gauge started reading empty even though there is fuel in the tank, which required a computer software upgrade.
11. The transmission developed a chirping and the transmission software had to be upgraded.
12. The low coolant light would come on for no reason, which required an upgraded electrical circuit.
13. The power steering reservoir leaked and completely emptied itself, which required a revised clamp.
14. The front brakes developed a vibration at slow speeds and the brake caliper seals had to be replaced due to a re-design.
15. The motor for the power tilt/telescoping steering wheel had to be replaced because of a groaning noise.
16. The MMI knob fell off.
50,000 MILE MARK – 3 ½ YEARS
17. The motor for the rear power sunshade had to be replaced because that motor was groaning and clicking.
18. The coolant temperature gauge stopped working and the sensor had to be replaced.
19. The trunk latch ceased working and had to be replaced with a redesigned latch.
20. The adaptive headlight malfunction light came on and the dealer had to upgrade the software for the adaptive lights.
21. The air bag light came on and the rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a second time.
22. The Parktronic speaker broke and had to be replaced.
23. The coolant gauge broke again and the sensor had to be replaced.
24. The coolant gauge broke yet again and the thermostat had to be replaced.
25. All four dampers were replaced.
26. The gas struts for the trunk were replaced.
27. The air bag light came on and rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a third time.
28. The LED unit had to be replaced in the rear right because the brake and turn signal light would fail to fire.
29. The coil packs were replaced under recall.
30. The air bag light came on and a rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a fourth time.
31. The brackets holding the electric switch panel to the front passenger seat broke and had to be replaced.
32. The air bag light returned and the dealer upgraded the software yet again.
33. An upper control arms was replaced.
34. The motor for the power tilt/telescoping steering wheel had to be replaced yet again.
35. The air bag light came on and a rear air bag sensor had to be replaced for a fifth time.
36. The entire steering column had to be replaced.
37. The oil pressure sensor had to be replaced.
38. The air bag light came on yet again and this time the right rear supplemental (optional) air bag was replaced.
100,000 MILE MARK – 7 YEARS
39. Battery replaced for the first time.
40. The fuel filter was replaced.
41. The coil packs were replaced.
42. The LED unit had to be replaced in the rear left because the brake and turn signal light would fail to fire.
43. Right side motor mount was replaced.
44. All 4 upper control arms were replaced.
45. Both front sway bar links were replaced.
46. Gas strut for the hood was replaced.
47. Satellite Radio Module Replaced.
48. Battery replaced for a second time.
125,000 MILE MARK – 8 YEARS
49. All four dampers were replaced.
50. Rear passenger window regulator was replaced.
Similar to the computer issues discussed above, Audi has TSBs on nearly all of these issues, seeming to indicate that the problems are not isolated to just my car. Audi has also issued dozens of other TSBs on issues that I have not experienced since I have the 4.2 engine instead of the 3.2 engine. In total, the 3.2 has over 200 TSBs. If you complain about these items while the car is under warranty, Audi will fix the problem for free, which sounds like a recall to me.
Despite the car being at the dealer for 95 days for repairs during the last 100 months, not maintenance, which was an additional 32 days, I would certainly buy the car again because the 4.2 is a lot of fun to drive, especially on the highway, and the dealer gives me a loaner (am guessing that I have put approximately 5,000 miles on loaner cars). As part of purchasing, or owning one of these cars, I would check which MMI software version is in the car. If it is below 33, I would take it to Audi and have it updated as soon as possible. In addition, I would check the car's VIN and compare it to the Audi TSBs and see what issues you need to keep an eye on. You can get copies of the Audi TSBs at Erwin's website or at the site that I set up with Dr.Cold at
http://uberlame.com/a6_tsb/ . The dealer will probably give you the car's maintenance records. While the car is still under warranty, I would make sure you complain about any issues contained on the TSBs issued for your VIN. If you decide to purchase an aftermarket warranty I would get an exclusionary warranty that your local Audi dealer accepts.
Despite the issues with the car, I think that it is a great driving car. However, keep in mind that I am an original owner who paid close to $60,000 cash for my daily driver and who according to my wife is the President of the "More Money than Brains" club. For example, changing the transmission fluid costs over a $1,000 just for the fluid (the fluid is $57 per liter), not including labor. Also keep in mind that the 55,000 mile service is the "major" service for the 4.2. The 75,000 mile service is also significant, in that the nose of the car needs to be removed on the 05 and 06 4.2s. If money is an issue, you may want to look for a car that is cheaper to "maintain". Regardless of your decision, you will enjoy driving an Audi, but you may not enjoy the maintenance. Good luck.
Kevin
Here is my post in response to a related topic:
I am afraid that Audi has TSBs on nearly every one of the problems that I experienced indicating that I am not alone with these issues. As far as not hearing about these issues on the forum, I point out that I am one of the few original C6 owners on the forum with the corresponding 8 plus years of experience in owning one of these cars. I doubt that when these cars are purchased used that the original owners are so honest with the buyers. With that said, I think that the C6 is a great driving car and is a lot of fun on the highway. I would also buy it all over again. You just need to make sure that you are carrying some type of warranty coverage.
Kevin
Considering a 2006 A6 3.2 Avant Quattro Wagon with 80K miles.
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Originally Posted by SFB5
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