High Mileage Audi A6 – Anything I should look out for?

Afternoon all.

Went to look at a 2006 Audi A6 3.0 auto with 127k on the clock. Looked tidy enough – body and wheels are in good nick and the interior is fine given the age / miles.

Looking to test drive it tomorrow – is there anything in particular I should be looking for apart from the usual starts, stops and goes round corners?

DSG? Check for metronic box FOC recall from Audi.

Check for regular transfer box oil changes.

Check for regular engine and transmission oil changes and filters, don’t forget the filters.

Check for Coil Packs that should be grey not black (FOC change by Audi)

Engine sensors fail regularly, so if it’s flashing lights on the dash it’s most likely the Chocolate covered Sensors Audi used during that era.

Rear discs and callipers cease, check handbrake works and wear on rear discs is even.

HTHs

Turbo been done? Not a deal breaker but would save a few hundred as it won’t need doing again for a while.

a neighbour had the sensor issues on his above but he liked it and bought another , brand new.

Thanks BB. Not DSG – straight auto and didn’t see any warning lights when I started it up.

How do I see the coil packs?! Had the big engine cover thing on – can I get to them without taking that off?

MOT history would suggest its been looked after and will check the brakes.

Edit: @bsims. Will check turbo – are they known for needing doing at any particular stage and is there a way I can tell if it’s on its way out?

A quick google of VAG turbos suggests they can fail, PD engines seem particularly bad as they run hotter egt, when mine went I was told it was quite common for turbos to bake deposits onto the turbine which increases wear by ‘throwing’ it out of balance. So I assume the PD engine will be more prone as they run hotter. I don’t know if the 3.0 was PD.

Personal experience is two PD engines ( a 1.9 130 and 2.0 140) needed new turbos at 60k. Whereas one VAG common rail is fine at 90k.

Just something to watch out for, if it has had regular serving at the correct intervals I sure it will be ok and if you really like the car, budget £600 for a turbo at some point. generally they make a siren sound if they are staring to fail, slightly out of time with the revs rising and falling.

You can take the inlet pipe off and check for play in the compressor when turned off but I have no idea how much movement to feel for. Smoking is another sign.

Edit- don’t let me put you off with my scare story! If the rest of the car is sound and you like it, treat a turbo like a consumable part albeit an expensive one.

@bsims – thanks that’s useful. I’m slightly suspicious about the turbo based on what you’ve said but the car is priced such that it’s still a good deal even if it needs doing.

I nearly bought one just before Xmas. It looked great and drove well. This was my latest update on the thread at the time:

“soo.. car is back from garage. Mechanically it’s in great condition for it’s age.

but .. there are a few electrical issues such as spannered door opening assembly, washer motor dead, one air con fan dead.

codes 00657, 00156, 00420, 02115 for anyone excited by it?!

Have mentioned all the above to the dealer so will see what they come back with..”

Turned out the door opening assembly alone would have been £1k to fix as required servos and the like. Check the doors (and fault codes if you can!)

No specific advice, but how the hell is sub-10k miles a year “high mileage”..?

If the indicators are working, walk away.

It’s a wrong’un

No specific advice, but how the hell is sub-10k miles a year “high mileage”..?

127k is 127k regardless of how it’s been put on the clock – still going to have age / mileage things to watch for.

@RopeyReignRider – noted. The electrics all seem to work but will be sure to give all the knobs a twiddle! May take my fault reader thingy with me too.

@pp – that made me chuckle…

Why buy a 12yr old car with 127k on the clock? Many newer cars for same money, it’s not like a 12yr old car will have any prestige about it or image that anyone will care about. At this budget surely all that matters is reliability and a VAG group car isn’t high on that list

Why buy a 12yr old car with 127k on the clock? Many newer cars for same money, it’s not like a 12yr old car will have any prestige about it or image that anyone will care about. At this budget surely all that matters is reliability and a VAG group car isn’t high on that list

Mainly because I want an Audi A6 3.0 TDI in Avis Silver and this one is on at £2495 which is very well priced.

I happen to really like the 2006 shape as well.

Not too many cars of anywhere near the spec at that money.

I have a 2008 3.0 quattro model, things I was concerned about were the chain cam on the 3.0 engine- a rattle on startup should worry you. Engine out job to fix.

The intake manifold flaps go often, which used to be expensive, but I think there are repair kits now.

The 2g MMI sound system is tricky to pair with Bluetooth unless you buy an expensive aftermarket kit.

Mine had a cracked rear spring which was expensive to replace, needs a special jig that costs 1500 quid, so specialist or AUDI dealer to do. Rear sat lower on one side with hindsight.

Door lock actuator goes on central locking. Only drivers door gone for me which is a pain but key still works

Large alloys are easy to kerb.

Bulbs at front are a pain to change due to access, but not impossible.

Led rear light clusters fail if fitted.

Love mine though, surprisingly rapid, massive boot, amazing road holding – with winter tyres so confidence inspiring. Best biking car I can think of.

Not particularly frugal though especially when in sport mode! 32ish mpg for me.

DSG box should have oil and filter change every 40k.

As others have said the regular maintenance is the key.

I think they are all tiptronic of that vintage. Gearbox oil does need changing but I think it is at 80,000 miles.

Mine has now done 120,000 with not much else to report apart from the bulbs and cracked spring. Bought it at 75,000.

Check the VED some can hit the £500 quid mark

stuff I didn’t expect on my somewhat similar age and similar(ish) A4 –
warped brakes thanks to sticky calipers
rusty arches are a common thing according to internet lore (and my car)
central locking gizmo has gone south on mine
and the drivers door handle is a bit rattly

Coil Packs are under that dinner tray thing on the engine, unless you take it off you can’t see them 🤷‍♂️

Nice cars, big and floaty boaty and the engine isn’t really stressed like the 2ltr versions.

Should be good if service is up to date..

During that era me and mates were all going through the “I need an estate, what should I get?” decision points.

I went 530s Sport Touring, mates (2off) went 3ltr A6’s.

All of us were happy with the choices, mine did more miles than either A6’s (275k to 200k) and apart from regular servicing and the slightly bigger A6 all cars were flipping awesome.

Care about mpg? They’re damn juicy from what I’ve heard.
Followed one this morning (well, I couldn’t actually keep up because he was doing 40+ in all the 30mph roads, past schools etc.) anyway, yeah, the whole boot was completely black from the diesel shit this thing was chucking out. Would’ve reported it but couldn’t even read the no. plate.

VAG diesel innit? Comes with free emissions busting smokescreen, just depress loud pedal.

Diesels dont have coil packs as they dont have spark plugs.

I had an A6 2.7 estate of similar vintage. Very nice and capable cars.

You need to check the rear washer pipe location, in my old car it went across the top of the computer thingy in the hidden compartment found in the boot area (it did in mine anyway). The pipe can split quite easily and the water will drip straight onto the computer thingy. If this happens the car will stop working.

A replacement computer thingy might cost you more than the cost of your car.

Well I took it for a test drive and it was flipping awesome. No rattle on start-up, no turbo whine. Felt nice and tight handling-wise and pulled exactly as it should.

Also has FSH up to the last 10k and the last one is showing as a full ‘longlife’ one as Audi seem to call them.

Had to have it. Seem to get around 30-35mpg out of it which is what I was getting from my Mazda 2 sport to be fair.

If it gives me 2 years of use I’ll be more than happy…

Obligatory photo…

Seem to get around 30-35mpg

As I said, juicy 🙂
Same as the one I drove my mate to his wedding in a long time ago. Was a nice motor.

@DezB. If it gives me that I’ll be happy as it’s no worse than my 1.5 petrol Mazda 2 gave me.

And on a long run I could never get the Mazda above 40mpg but on a motorway cruise this’ll at least top that.

Much more fun too 🙂