Looking at High Mileage A6

[whtsnkes4]

Hello,

I'm looking at purchasing a 2012 A6 3.0T car with 184k miles. How long does this engine typically last? Also, is there anything I should look out for in particular?

I have a Q7 with the same engine but it's only at 84k miles.

[SteveC]

I have a 2017 A6 with 60K+ so I am curious as well.I'd like to keep this car for a while if I can.

[sepheroth86]

I have 165k on mine. It needs a few of the 'normal' maintenance things at this point. PCV, etc.

It has been APR stage 2 since 150k and seen some pretty excessive speeds during those times.

[whtsnkes4]

Nice. The car I'm looking at has 184k miles but looks like it's been well kept. Is their anything I should be looking for in particular on the car?

[fastboatster]

I'd just pass unless it costs an insignificant amount of money to you and/or you don't mind doing/paying for some very involving/expensive stuff like timing chains and/or cats. At 184kmiles, it's a complete gamble how much life it has left in it. Buying a car with such high mileage is just a bad idea, never mind Audi's fabled reliability and ease of diy repairs. It is an A6, though, so chances are it had an easier life than a comparable S4 and has a trans which actually works. Bottom line - if it costs an insignificant amount of money to you then gamble, if not then pass.

[sepheroth86]

I'd do a cold start and listen for rattle upon startup with the hood open.

Get under the car and look for oil leaks, etc with the belly cover off.

Check the control arm bushings for wear. (I had to do all front control arms on mine a year after purchase at around 135k miles)

Hard to quantify oil consumption via PCV etc during a test drive. So it is a gamble there. But the PCV, waterpump, thermostat are hit and miss seemingly anyway.

Ask for paperwork on intake valve carbon cleaning (typically done during PCV service) and Secondary Air Injection.

Bring a GOOD scan tool?

[TexasDfwS4]

12 X 12 is 144. That is the normal usage, so I would have to say this was a salesman that did a LOT of highway driving. I would think that's is better then a car with half that and a lot of crazy driving. Like mentioned I would have it looked at and get the maintenance records and don't forget the leak down test on compression.

[Valpo A7]

214K on my 2012 A7. Last summer (around 204,500 miles) I had to pull the motor for timing chains but otherwise she is running good. There is a guy on Audiworld that last I saw was over 345K miles. I think I have a rear shock going bad but I have to make time to get under it and check. My suspension is original so if its a bad shock I will replace both rear shocks and think about the fronts depending on price.

I did my motor mounts when I did my chains as well. Previous owner had 2 of the wheel bearings replaced and then just normal maintenance stuff on the car.

[whtsnkes4]

Thanks everyone for all the replies! It's been really helpful. I'll probably be bringing a vag-com

[A6sport]

IMO, the 3.0t (SC) is as bullet-proof as the old 2.8 V6.

If it's been serviced you're probably good to go, BTW I just gave my brother an A6 2.8 PES SC w/ 245k. Running like a top.

It's all about the service records. If it got this far, you can assume it's been serviced, but do your homework.

[Valpo A7]

Service records may or may not tell the story of the car. When I bought mine used I had the car fax report that said it went to the dealer about every 10,000 miles but said very little about what was done other than “recommended service performed” while other car faxes I have seen go in to greater detail. I was able to get a copy of the records from the dealer to see what they actually did. BUT, if it was ever taken to an indie shop that is typically not recorded much of any place. Also when I sell or trade mine in there should be nothing on an “official” report during my ownership since I perform my own work. I keep a list of what I have done but it’s certainly nothing official.


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[fastboatster]

IMO, the 3.0t (SC) is as bullet-proof as the old 2.8 V6.

If it's been serviced you're probably good to go, BTW I just gave my brother an A6 2.8 PES SC w/ 245k. Running like a top.

It's all about the service records. If it got this far, you can assume it's been serviced, but do your homework.

That 2.8 v6 has a timing belt in front instead of the chains in the back so 3.0t def can have more problems. I don’t think 3.0T is really that bulletproof, not as bad as 2.0T but not something I’d consider again.

[Alabama]

I keep a list of what I have done but it’s certainly nothing official.

Not to mention that your list won't indicate your level of detail and care involved, I suspect more than many dealer mechanics. Always going to be some unknowns . . . .