C5 A6 Avant 2.5tdi buying advice BAU BDH

[HerefordQuattro]

Hello all new to this forum as you can see, been a long time Omega driver and looking to change my car, recently missed out on a quattro sport with a destroyed top end (suprise) so looking around for another (pref working!)

Been lurking about for a bit trying to glean info, and so far i've learnt that the top end on these 2.5tdi is made of chocolate especialy with long service life oil changes!

Correct me if i'm wrong but the late C5's with engine code BAU or BDH (180bhp) have roller rockers which go a long way to preserving the cams?
is there a way of identifying if a car has this engine code from the model year or is it more complicated?

any other advice you like to offer? kind of got my heart set on a 180 quattro sport (has to be avant for the pram) prefer manual but don't mind if its tiptronic (ie all quattros) as multichronic sounds bad news.

thanks guys

ps posted this first in A6 forum but no replies - hope you diesel heads can do better

 

[adamss24]

If its a quattro, then it will have a stronger ZF gearbox with a conventional torque converter, much better than the cvt/multitronic ones but not failproof. It still needs changing oil and filters in the box every 40-50k. The cam roller heads are stronger in the late models but not infailible. The boffins at audi designed the early engines with rocker arms so-in the event of cambelt breaking- the rocker arms will shatter and the valves, cams and pistons will be saved without major damage(the valves will stay shut and the pistons will come to a halt). The last v6 i have rebuilt- v reg passat v6 tdi- had only 2 bent valves...the cambelt broke at 70Mph on the motorway ! In the later models, when the belt breaks, pistons hit the valves so the cams will take all the impact and often pistons get damaged in te process. There is not such thing as soft cams on v6 tdi engines, its all to do with poor quality/incorect grade of oil used and the longlife service intervals (what a daft ideea to keep oils for 20k/2 years in an engine)... I had/have a few high mileage v6 tdi's (170k+) and none had cams issues. However, bought a lowish (120K) mileage b5 avant a few years ago and that had once the heads replaced under warranty (due to cam wear !) and the lifters and cams were badly worn when i got it as a "non starter". I Surprise, it had full service history and you guessed, Longlife service intervals again ! There is a good y reg c5 a6 6 speed manual quattro avant on the Autotrader now- belongs to a friend of mine- cherished car and clean as a wistle. Its high mileage but runs like a brand new one. I had replaced last summer: pump belt, cambelt/all tensioners, all rellay rollers(aux. belt pulleys),thermostat and a lot more (track rod ends, all wishbones on the front-genuine- serviced withgenuine filters and fully synthetic Castrol Edge 5w30 Longlife oil/ changed every 6-8K !
Car has the ussual: factory xenons, sport factory lowered suspension, cruise, electric mirrors/windows,full leather, dog guard/rear blind, tinted windows, tax and mot, good sound system(Infinity speakers all round),etc. Car its in london and me mate Marius is open to offers ! Here is the link to the advert: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201007352974829/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/4000/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/fuel-type/diesel/model/a6/make/audi/page/1/keywords/quattro/postcode/n111pq/radius/1500?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fused%2Fcars%2Faudi%2Fa6%2Fpostcode%2Fn111pq%2Fradius%2F1500%2Fkeywords%2Fquattro%2Fprice-to%2F4000%2Fengine-size-cars%2F2l_to_2-5l%2Ffuel-type%2Fdiesel%2Fpage%2F1%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc&logcode=p

 

[HerefordQuattro]

Thanks for the reply adamss24, couldn't agree more about the frequency of oil changes, only do about 6k a year in my current car but still do oil changes once a year minimum.
Was watching your friends car on Autotrader already but slightly put off by no mention of mileage (how high?) obviously your recomendation puts a different spin on it.
Nice looking car with a lot of my wish list ticked (leather, xenons, manual) bit dubious about the wheels, and the ride height 'looked' a bit high for a sport but will bear it in mind.

thanks

Jake

 

[HerefordQuattro]

Went and had a look at an A6 sport 163 today with 153k on the clock : http://www.pioneerautomotive.co.uk/vehicle-details.asp?Make=4&Model=635&RSpage=2&ID=1121559

It drove very well but is overpriced especially considering the state of the interior (went to adjust mirrors on test drive and the knob was missing lol!!)

One thing i did notice was the vibration from the engine at idle, now bearing in mind this will be my first ever diesel purchase is this common? i'm obviously not expecting it to idle like a petrol but it was so bad you could see the drivers seat back shaking!!!!

guessing engine mounts may be shot or is this just the way it is???

thanks

Jake

 

[HerefordQuattro]

Well thanks to adams24 I've bought his mates A6 tdi 180 quattro and so far all is going well, despite having 175k on the clock it does drive like new (touch wood). Needs a few corrosion bits sorting and some sidelights fitting but all in i'm pleased.

what i really need now is a haynes manual or tis, anyone got recomendations for this?

 

[joedredd]

No chance of a haynes manual, I have never been able to find one for years. But I have bought ETOS parts catalogue on CD to help, and also just downloaded an A6 manual from the net, try this site;

www.whichmanuals.com

It take a bit of time to download but it seems worth it as gives full diagrams of assortment of jobs, one thing print off the download instructions and follow them very closely.

 

[HerefordQuattro]

No chance of a haynes manual, I have never been able to find one for years. But I have bought ETOS parts catalogue on CD to help, and also just downloaded an A6 manula from the net, try this site;

www.whichmanuals.com

It take a bit of time to download but it seems worth it as gives full diagrams of assortment of jobs, one thing print off the download instructions and follow them very closely.

that manual is £9.99 to download which i'm willing to spend if it's any good but it has no example screen shots or anything, is it worth it?

 

[joedredd]

Is it worth it? I definetly think so. If you send me your email via PM I will send an example of what a page looks like, but there is heaps of info and a worthwhile investment.....what else can you get for a tenner ????

 

[HerefordQuattro]

Is it worth it? I definetly think so. If you send me your email via PM I will send an example of what a page looks like, but there is heaps of info and a worthwhile investment.....what else can you get for a tenner ????

3 pints!:thumbsup:

 

[adamss24]

Well thanks to adams24 I've bought his mates A6 tdi 180 quattro and so far all is going well, despite having 175k on the clock it does drive like new (touch wood). Needs a few corrosion bits sorting and some sidelights fitting but all in i'm pleased.

what i really need now is a haynes manual or tis, anyone got recomendations for this?

If I knew he'll sell for £3200 i would have bought-it myself ! Last time he advertised the car for £3800 and i was tempted but had too many cars at the time... Hope its all goes well, really good car for the money !