3.0 tdi quattro owners question

[Craig Cull]

Hi guys, after 2 and a half years of my dad worshiping my car, he now decided he wants a b7.

with him being the car enthusiast that he is, he likes todo his home work. Or shoulda say he likes me to the homework lol!

he lives in the sticks and in the winter it gets pretty bad when the snow arrives. Withhim not being local a diesel is his only viable option. He wants either the 170 quattro s line or the 3.0 tdi quattro s line. I've found most or nearly all of the 3.0 tdi quattro's are all auto's..... What are these like in the snow? The quattro is the main selling point so I don't want him to end up with the only quattro that's sh*t in the snow. My 2.0t fsi quattro is brilliant, but its a manual. I'd like to think I've exhausted every option for him, after all its my fault he's chosen this route lol!

Any honest opinions would be great

 

[jdp1962]

I have a 3.0TDi Quattro Automatic. It is an absolutely brilliant combination. Massive torque and power combined with smooth seamless gearchanges. Outstanding in the snow. Pop it into drive at idling speed and watch as it just creeps forward whilst everyone else around you is slithering and spinning around.

 

[adamss24]

Get a manual at all costs ! Your father might think otherwise though...

 

[Craig Cull]

I have a 3.0TDi Quattro Automatic. It is an absolutely brilliant combination. Massive torque and power combined with smooth seamless gearchanges. Outstanding in the snow. Pop it into drive at idling speed and watch as it just creeps forward whilst everyone else around you is slithering and spinning around.

Excellent mate, aslong as its good in the snow that's the main thing coz it gets real bad where he is! But he loves a v6 and especially the economy figures for so much torque!

 

[Craig Cull]

Get a manual at all costs ! Your father might think otherwise though...

I think either way if he had the option he would go manual, but he just likes the look of the car and couldn't believe you could have such a nice car that will get through snow without having a land rover. As much as he's a driver, he loves economy for the long drive over to see me and the family etc. I've not seen a manual 3.0 tdi, do they exist?

 

[jdp1962]

I've not seen a manual 3.0 tdi, do they exist?

They certainly do; a couple of members here have them, and they and I have had long healthy debates about the merits of the two transmissions!

 

[Craig Cull]

They certainly do; a couple of members here have them, and they and I have had long healthy debates about the merits of the two transmissions!

Great stuff, at least the two are a healthy option, any horror stories with the engine or anything else for that matter? Anything I should be watching out for?

 

[jdp1962]

Great stuff, at least the two are a healthy option, any horror stories with the engine or anything else for that matter? Anything I should be watching out for?

The engines are generally pretty robust. I sem to recall reading recently that early ones (04-05 or thereabouts) had a bit of a weakness in the camshaft chain drive - in fact I think it might have been adamss24 who said this, and he definitely knows these things.

The other issue is the inlet manifold swirl flap assembly, which wears loose and slopppy over time. It doesn't effect the running very much (very small drop off in torque) but it will cause the engine light to come on. It used to be the only way to fix it was to replace the entire manifold assembly (roughly £700 per side at Audi dealer rates) but there are now cheap and cheerful repair kits available.

Overall, though, it is a strong engine.

 

[Craig Cull]

The engines are generally pretty robust. I sem to recall reading recently that early ones (04-05 of thereabouts) had a bit of a weakness in the camshaft chain drive - in fact I think it might have been adamss24 who said this, and he definitely knows these things.

The other issues is the inlet manifold swirl flap assembly, which wears loose and slopppy over time. It doesn't effect the running very much (very small drop off in torque) but it will cause the engine light to come on. It used to be the only way to fix it was to replace the entire manifold assembly (roughly £700 per side at Audi dealer rates) but there are now cheap and cheerful repair kits available.

Overall, though, it is a strong engine.

Was there any recognition of these faults through an Audi TPI? That's not too bad really, I expected more faults than that. But I guess everything has its faults, sounds like good option. What are they like mileage wise? Would you say away from a high mileage one? Or is this not really an issue for a big diesel?

 

[gradwells]

Just a few points on quattro's in the snow -- tyres the standard fit no tread tyres ( just rubber rings with virtually no cut out treads ) are hopeless on ice and snow compared with tyres from a few years ago . The other issue is ground clearance -- on 3 or 4" of snow the cars ( s-line ) will just sit in there belly and all 4 wheels will just spin even on the flat . I had the indignity of having to be towed in April this year on the flat ! Car A4 170 tdi q !
Budget for a set of winter tyres its essential these day as summer tyres are lethal now .

 

[jdp1962]

Was there any recognition of these faults through an Audi TPI? That's not too bad really, I expected more faults than that. But I guess everything has its faults, sounds like good option. What are they like mileage wise? Would you say away from a high mileage one? Or is this not really an issue for a big diesel?

Mine is a 57-plate on 83,000 and feels totally solid. I've had the manifold flap problem occur on the driver's side, but that's all.

 

[Craig Cull]

Just a few points on quattro's in the snow -- tyres the standard fit no tread tyres ( just rubber rings with virtually no cut out treads ) are hopeless on ice and snow compared with tyres from a few years ago . The other issue is ground clearance -- on 3 or 4" of snow the cars ( s-line ) will just sit in there belly and all 4 wheels will just spin even on the flat . I had the indignity of having to be towed in April this year on the flat ! Car A4 170 tdi q !
Budget for a set of winter tyres its essential these day as summer tyres are lethal now .

Thanks for that mate, point taken. I think if it gets that deep he won't bother anyway, but any improvement on a front or rear wheel drive will do

 

[Craig Cull]

Mine is a 57-plate on 83,000 and feels totally solid. I've had the manifold flap problem occur on the driver's side, but that's all.

Sound so its a fairly reliable engine then. Aslong as I have a few points to watch for, to at least avoid the expense, or recognise if the previous owner has had it done already

 

[g00se]

if he wants a quattro B7 manual diesel - maybe get the 2.7tdi ?

just another option...

goose

 

[jdp1962]

if he wants a quattro B7 manual diesel - maybe get the 2.7tdi ?

just another option...

goose

I might be wrong, but I seem to recall the A4 2.7TDi wasn't available as a Quattro.

 

[jabba]

i have a manual 3.0tdo quattro, and its been amazing tbh, very happy, only small annoyance is first gear is pretty short and i would also watch out on the 2.7tdi the road tax can be very expensive.

 

[A4_MaJiK]

x2 on the first gear being too short. The launch from a manual transmission is addictive believe me.

 

[Craig Cull]

I didn't even know they did a 2.7 tdi, think there a bit more expensive as none came up in the search.
So overall good reviews then! That's good news! Think he mite choose the auto just for the fact that you don't need to put a clutch in. But ill pass on the reviews! Cheers guys, you have been most helpful

 

[scotty76]

If I had my time again I'd be having a 3.0TDI auto. Don't get me wrong, my remapped 2.0 TFSI is great fun but the creamy power of the 3.0TDI/auto combo really appeals now. I just couldn't find a good one when I was looking and I'm not very patient. Ho hum.

 

[Craig Cull]

If I had my time again I'd be having a 3.0TDI auto. Don't get me wrong, my remapped 2.0 TFSI is great fun but the creamy power of the 3.0TDI/auto combo really appeals now. I just couldn't find a good one when I was looking and I'm not very patient. Ho hum.

Ill be honest, I very nearly bought a 3.0 tdi Quattro myself. But spotted the special edition and had to have it lol

 

[Mr-C]

I've not seen a manual 3.0 tdi, do they exist?

I have a 2007 Manual and I had to search for it. I wanted a late B7 3.0 TDI S Line Avant in red and a manual took me about 3 months but found one in the end. I'll rave about this car till the cows come home, stonking performance and returns a decent MPG. I have the manifold fail but cost me £9 for the repair kit from Audi

 

[Craig Cull]

I have a 2007 Manual and I had to search for it. I wanted a late B7 3.0 TDI S Line Avant in red and a manual took me about 3 months but found one in the end. I'll rave about this car till the cows come home, stonking performance and returns a decent MPG. I have the manifold fail but cost me £9 for the repair kit from Audi

If that's the price of the repair kit then its sounds to me like a no brainer! I've had loads more to replace on my 2.0t fsi alone, so it sounds like we could be onto a winner! I'd just hate to point him in the direction of a troublesome car, so I'm making sure the homework is complete lol!

 

[Craig Cull]

Does anybody know if these are on a cam belt or a chain. Where off to look at a 233bhp manual this week with 76k on. If all pans out my dads probably gonna buy it. Any info on service intervals etc?

 

[jdp1962]

Does anybody know if these are on a cam belt or a chain. Where off to look at a 233bhp manual this week with 76k on. If all pans out my dads probably gonna buy it. Any info on service intervals etc?

They're chain-driven. Service intervals can either be fixed interval (i.e. annual) or variable up to a maximum of two years if the car is on the Audi Variable Servicing (AVS) system. The car can be programmed for either fixed or variable, so if you don't fancy 2 year service intervals, you can switch it to annual.

 

[Craig Cull]

They're chain-driven.

Thanks mate