02 a6 2.5 tdi- to buy or not? HELPPPPP!

Newbie Joined: Feb 22, 2009 Posts: 17

Looking at one as above, an auto 2.5 tdi v6 with 81k and fsh. Known faults? Service liabilities i.e. cambelt, etc etc? What do our readers recommend? Economy on urban use? All helpful info anyone can point me at warmly welcomed indeed! Any things to specifically check on these? So many questions,,,,,, TIA people! Cheers an' beers,,,,,BB

Needs to get out more Joined: Aug 02, 2008 Posts: 138

81k is nothing for an Audi engine never mind a 'v'. At that point it is barely run in!
Mine is on 128k and doesn't use a drop of oil,smoke etc. And it pulls like the proverbial train.
I fitted a tuning module about 5k ago and have nothing but praise for it, increasing the horsepower and more importantly the torque and increasing the MPG also.
Urban MPG is never going to be any good really, they are a big heavy car and take a bit of fuel to get moving, moreso on mine as its a quattro auto. But when moving they can be surprisingly frugal if not booted too much.
If urban driving is your thing you will be better off with a1.9tdi.
Whatever as with any engine you must make sure they cam belt and ancilleries were done at the specified interval,and FSH is a must really.

Other than the usual faults (have a search through the forum) there are no particular faults. Mine is still on original exhaust, shocks etc and has just sailed through its MOT.

HTH, Al.

Newbie Joined: Feb 22, 2009 Posts: 17

Cheers for that Moosehead. I currently have a laguna diesel estate, which have their faults for sure (forums full of it) but have had renault espaces for last 13 years and love em to bits. Thinking of jumping ship now as I had some bother with the lag, which I didn't need altho' it didn't end up costing any money really to date. Used to have an 84 100 td 5 pot Avant with auto box with freewheel on top ratio- never saw another- whilst rubbish on fuel, went well and boy did the turbo howl on that one! Cooooool. All the power was low down, it got off the line with neck jerking urge. As for the v6 pulling like a train- I don't need that as I do that for a living- LOL- so don't want the same in me car! But point taken. Thinking maybe a 1.9 with remap or tuning box (have yet to try a 2.5 OR a 1.9) to give low down grunt, which is what I like, and early change ups. Beware the EGR with that tho'; are these **** things Evil or Very Mad

fitted to Audi's? I guess they are, all modern stuff has 'em. Just wondered if there was anything specific with these apart from general items that would apply to any brand of diesel, like cambelts etc, and history. Anyone with further thoughts or assiatnce still welcome to post for me!! BTW, would the auto box on this be tiptronic, cvt or regular slush bucket? Oh, and how about giving it a go with VAG-COM as well first? I have an ELM and can load s/ware on me laptop.Cheers y'all,,,,Dave

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:24 pm

The only real issue with the 180hp engine can be the fuel injection pump. If these need servicing it can cost approaching £1k.

Cambelt change with all pulleys and waterpump is imperative, at 81k it should have been changed, but ask for documented proof that all those items have actually been changed, if not knock £500 off and get it done yourself.

They do have a reputation as a bit of a "fragile" engine with my local specialist, but if you get a good one they are crackers. Having said that a remapped 1.9 will see 170bhp quite comfortably, but it may be harder to find a quattro one? Certainly in the A4 range 1.9q's are few and far between.

Can't help with your gearbox questions sorry, I only ever drive manuals!

Good luck with your decision Cool

Newbie Joined: Feb 22, 2009 Posts: 17

Cheers James,, don't need a q anyway. Seen the odd ref to the v6 being a bit fragile, hence my posts. As the car I have seen is an 02 and has only done 81k, maybe it has spent long time off road, or owner has been frightened to use it LOL. What interval are belts due, and are pumps noted for poor longevity? Think I need to try a 1.9 and see if I will need to fiddle with it. Ta very much folks, keep em coming!

Needs to get out more Joined: Aug 02, 2008 Posts: 138

Dave, The auto on mine is a tiptronic being a 180bhp. The Multitronic could not take the extra torque at that time, still not sure about now.
Multitronic 'box does feel a bit strange if you are used to auto boxes. There is no step at gear changes, just a smooth flow of accelration. Having said that after fitting the tuning box to mine, gear changes are now almost un-noticable also, just by engine tone and rev counter needle.

If your are familiar with the ease of driving style with an auto you would never go back to a manual, especially when coupled to a quattro!!
Who needs busy hands and feet?

Newbie Joined: Feb 22, 2009 Posts: 17

Hi MH,,, not sure what hp is in the one I am looking at. My old 100 was an "ordinary" auto, but had a freewheel on top (like a bicycle; it disengaged when coasting in top), as for not being like a regular 'box, well, I have had plenty of DAF's with cvt and think its the biz, wonderful. Is that what I am looking at here? Main concern is reliability, expense of maintenance, things to watch for specifically, related to the whole of the car. Going back outside my comfort zone (espaces and my smart car) but have had audi before tho' things have indeed moved on. Cheers for info mate! Dave

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:20 am

Dave,

I recently just bought a 51 plate 180bhp TDI quattro avant. What a car it is i have never looked back, does mid to the upper 30's MPG, on a long run i'll easy get 40MPG.

The boot is massive goes like stink when you boot it, and luckly on my one just about every optional extra has been ticked.

Yes a injection pump will be expensive to refurb or buy new as James pointed out, make sure it has had it's belts and water pump done

cheers
John

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:49 am

as far as engines go on the A6
1.9tdi 130 was FWD only, never was a quattro
2.5tdi 150/163 FWD 150/180 quattro

200bhp on a FWD A6 ( i have a remapped 1.8T a6 avant and a 180 2.5 A4) the A6 is a handful if you boot it, the TC isn't good enough to cope. hence why the big power cars were all quattros.

Johns one has leather recaros which i have only ever seen on an S2. But the A6 is generally quite a well spec'ed car. My only comment is the SE seats don't hold you in the seat well if you have some enthusiast cornering. However even the SE set-up from 2001-02 onwards is very good ride/handling compromise is good. there was a slight facelift 2001-2002 era.

Belts and ALL ancillries must be done. Oil is the other one if its longlife make sure its religious. If its feeling low on power then get the turbos checked out as these can soot up very easily and the power drops off over time. have search through past threads its well documented. other usual culprate for almost all VAG cars is the MAF, these are notorious for giving poor performance and poor economy.

other than that look after it and it is a relentless servant. our A6 has served 4 years and 75k of motoring flawlessly. Very good family car, driven to spain and back from aberdeen three years ago without a hitch. interiors wear well, although the climate control buttons do wear away.

injection pump is the biggy. get it scanned for faults first .the injection pump comes up as a J399 error. if it does ask for a grand off at LEAST! or get them to fix it.

enginewise its quite lazy and fairly smooth a bit of lag until 1800rpm then it picks up. in FWD should be looking at 40mpg+, you may get 50mpg if you are very very lucky.

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:03 pm

Heated Leather Recaros!

Inexperienced Joined: Jan 01, 2008 Posts: 22

Hi bb
I've got a 2.5tdi sport auto 04plate with all the extra bits and thats the best car i've had. It's now comming time to sell it and its such a nice car to drive that me and the wife argue if it goes or not. Fuel not that good round town low 30ish motorway high 30's

Newbie Joined: Feb 22, 2009 Posts: 17

ta to all who replied- lost out on the one I was looking at- it sold! maybe a 1.9 is available, so we'll see!

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:00 am

1.9TDI is a good buy also, my father has a 1.9 TDI(A6) and had a remap recently put on it and it goes like stink, definitely worth a look i would not rule one out!

It's a shame Audi did not do a 1.9TDI quattro in the A6 Sad