After market support C6 vs C7

[B.Ruck]

Hello all,
I’m back but minus my S4 Avant. After going through several vehicles I’m looking for a “full size” wagon. So far the only thing I can find in my price range is the C6 A6. After doing a good bit of lurking and searching through several post I have noticed a couple things and therefore have some questions. Due to limitations of search engine not recognizing less than 3 characters per word example “C6 vs C7” I was not able to find the answers so here goes.

1. Far more C7 aftermarket engine support. Why is that?
2. From my understanding the C6 (facelift) and the C7 share the same engine, 3.0t. Is question #1 a byproduct of engine differences or packaging (car)?
3. If #2 answer is engine.. what are the big differences.
4. Have not seen mention of C7 Avant. Did the US get a C7 Avant?
5. Any other recommendations for sleeper wagon other than the C6 A6? Will be daily driven and travel.

[LionKing]

Hello all,
I’m back but minus my S4 Avant. After going through several vehicles I’m looking for a “full size” wagon. So far the only thing I can find in my price range is the C6 A6. After doing a good bit of lurking and searching through several post I have noticed a couple things and therefore have some questions. Due to limitations of search engine not recognizing less than 3 characters per word example “C6 vs C7” I was not able to find the answers so here goes.


1. Far more C7 aftermarket engine support. Why is that?
2. From my understanding the C6 (facelift) and the C7 share the same engine, 3.0t. Is question #1 a byproduct of engine differences or packaging (car)?
3. If #2 answer is engine.. what are the big differences.
4. Have not seen mention of C7 Avant. Did the US get a C7 Avant?
5. Any other recommendations for sleeper wagon other than the C6 A6? Will be daily driven and travel.

Hey man!

1. Most of these were bought as a simple family hauler. No intent for power gains or a sleeper wagon.
2. You are correct. Difference is body and the minor updates to 3.0T over the years.
3. Minor stuff, things to supposedly make it more robust. C6.5 (facelift) is generation one for 3.0T
4. We did not get the C7, otherwise I would have a C7 over C6.5 simply for the aesthetics.
5. E55 AMG. V8 power wagon family hauler. That would be the only other vehicle I would recommend.

The C6.5 with the 3.0T is a fantastic vehicle and extremely stout and reliable. Ive loved mine for the past 13 months and am definitely still modifying and adding power with plenty of ease and not much researching. There is plenty to do and plenty to modify, will accept most B8/B8.5 S4 parts and modifications.

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[B.Ruck]

Thank you very much for the reply and following the #'s! You'd be surprised how many times in other post or emails and whatnot that people/businesses will only answer one question.

I do like the Merc but I think maintenance and parts will be more expensive and harder to get. So hard to beat the sound of a healthy V8 though. Thought about the Cadillac CTS-V wagon but don't like the looks. Thought about Magnum SRT8 too but is roughly the same price as A6 and I don't think it's full size so would be same size as allroad/A4. Really want a full size wagon.

Good to know the A6 is robust minus the carbon and chain issues. Carbon issue not to bad to fix, chains can be if making noise. Will see what I can find.

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[LionKing]

Thank you very much for the reply and following the #'s! You'd be surprised how many times in other post or emails and whatnot that people/businesses will only answer one question.

I do like the Merc but I think maintenance and parts will be more expensive and harder to get. So hard to beat the sound of a healthy V8 though. Thought about the Cadillac CTS-V wagon but don't like the looks. Thought about Magnum SRT8 too but is roughly the same price as A6 and I don't think it's full size so would be same size as allroad/A4. Really want a full size wagon.

Good to know the A6 is robust minus the carbon and chain issues. Carbon issue not to bad to fix, chains can be if making noise. Will see what I can find.

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So parts are different to fit. For a heat exchanger, ive only seen JHM offer a direct fit.. I myself have a JHM S4 heat exchanger but I'll have to modify the crash bar to fit it.

A full size wagon was my only request as well. I thought of a 3.0T swap to an A4 avant as I was coming from an A4 sedan but the A6 has much more headroom.

Yup, valvecover gaskets, chain tensioners, carbon, and crank pulleys.

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[B.Ruck]

How much did you have to modify the crash bar? Was it fairly simple ie no welding?

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[LionKing]

How much did you have to modify the crash bar? Was it fairly simple ie no welding?

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Unsure, havent done it yet. I'll be swapping to a 2011 front bumper. Waiting until spring.

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[B.Ruck]

Ah I see. I've only seen one post about it and I'm not even sure it was this platform. I do remember they were talking about using a different a/c condenser that made it fit closer to the radiator to create a little more room.

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[LionKing]

Ah I see. I've only seen one post about it and I'm not even sure it was this platform. I do remember they were talking about using a different a/c condenser that made it fit closer to the radiator to create a little more room.

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Yeah, thats the direct fit style from JHM for the C6.5...

I plan on tripling the size of that specific one and making the S4 one work.

I will say, I recieved it and opened the box.. It is HUGE.

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[B.Ruck]

Just saw the link for the audizine app. How does it compare to the Tapatalk app. First time using Tapatalk and just downloaded the Audizine app

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[LionKing]

Just saw the link for the audizine app. How does it compare to the Tapatalk app. First time using Tapatalk and just downloaded the Audizine app

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

Easy because its just audizine. If you only use Tapatalk for AZ, just delete Tapatalk and get the app. Pictures load faster and its just smoother.

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[jbain2]

There’s a small group of us still looking to have fun with these cars. They are never going to be the fastest cars on the road but can be very quick purpose built cars. Best part is the long roof. Not available in NA in the C7 unfortunately.


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[sepheroth86]

I believe the major difference for the 3.0t is in the ECU (Simos 8.3/4 vs 8.5) as to why many of the box tunes do not make as much power. JHM has stated another thing is the C6 has a more restrictive factory exhaust.

The other advantage of a C7 is they have a ZF8 vs ZF6 transmission.

[squirrels]

My two cents, I have my '06 A6 avant (With 3.2L TFSI) up to almost 200k miles and it has required less maintenance than any of my C5's by far.
Thus far, the only things I have had to do are:
1) Replace the ECU - The common problem where outputs go bad, in my case the EVAP output and later the HPFP transducer output. I bought a junkyard ECU for 80 bucks and cloned my existing ECU to it, no immo work or coding of any sort required.
2) Perform the steering column security/lock module repair - Used the eBay kit with the switches and motor in it, the only thing remotely difficult about the repair was getting those dang security screws out.
3) Replaced a few cam sensors, and disassembed and re-sealed the control valves for the cam adjusters (And I ripped all the screens out of those things and left them out, half of them were broken anyway, don't judge me).
4) Spark plugs and 2 ignition coils so far.

The fuel economy is great, it's still on all original suspension, and I will admit, I haven't changed the transmission fluid since 120k because I didn't think the car would even last this long. Now I kind of want another and wish I would have taken better care of this one. I have no experience with the 3.0T, but this 3.2 has been absolutely wonderful to me, far better than I deserve for how I treated it.