thinking about buying an A4 Multitronic

[clough103]

Hi folks, am back in the business looking for an audi and have seen a nice 03 reg 1.9TDI multitronic for sale. It has 72k and ful dealer history apparntly.

Not gone too far into whether the 40k oil change has been done but am reading a lot of different posts here that have almost put me off it already.

is it really THAT bad and the multitronics that prone to dying frequently or should i just look for a manual

any input would be appreciated

cheers

 

[AudiiduA]

No, this happened to me too! almost didnt buy the car! well i ended up buying a diff one anyway! awsome box! all you here on here are the horror stories! as long as oil in box changed regular! 20 k even better and dont remap the diesels for more power there fine! ive spoken to 6 different Audi mechanics and all agree can be trouble if not looked after! but generally ok if oil is changed! had mine a week now and having oil done for the second time next week as original oil was sooooo black! so first oil change was like a flush!

 

[paulsb]

i have a multitronic box on mine and never had a problem. i think its most because people don't service them. getting mine done by audi next week. don't know if it everwhere but stirling audi are doing a special offer on gearbox services for £180.

 

[Siffion]

hello, i what way is it better than a manual, i am in the process of looking for an A4 Cab, i have see the multitronic's out there, but have ever only driven a manual.

is there a MPG loss as the same as an auto box. i have also read the horror stories, but would consider a tronic, if i knew a bit more about them, and there reliabillity

regards

tom

 

[BahnStormer77]

in particular if you get the TDI: get a multitronic that's a lot more torque than the petrols, so make sure you get one that's had the 7 plate clutch conversion done: all the 2.5TDI's were recalled and some of the 1.9TFI's and 1.8T's were also done under Audi warranty.

or at very least get it with a couple of years warranty... they are amazing gear boxes until they go wrong.

 

[Digger1]

I had 2004 A4 1.9TDI SPORT MULTITRONIC, Gear box ECU failed at 16k miles, replaced under warrenty,
then gearbox failed at 45k miles, needed the seven clutch upgrade, the standard in-put shaft can not
cope with a high torque deisal engine with out the seven clutch upgrade !!!

 

[jdp1962]

I echo pretty much what the others have said. Provided they're maintained well, and not forced to handle more torque than they were designed for, most multitronics will be ok (you can never rule out a a random early failure like Diggers1's) and when they are, they are a wonderful transmission. Smooth, seamless drive, step-less changes, and no loss of performance or economy. Only thing is, if they do go wrong, the bill will be big!

With that in mind, as far as the car you're thinking of buying is concerned, make absolutely certain - get written documentation to prove it if you can - that this car has had the gearbox oil changed at or around 40,000 miles. If you have any doubts that it might not have, walk away and look for another one.

 

[AudiiduA]

hello, i what way is it better than a manual, i am in the process of looking for an A4 Cab, i have see the multitronic's out there, but have ever only driven a manual.

is there a MPG loss as the same as an auto box. i have also read the horror stories, but would consider a tronic, if i knew a bit more about them, and there reliabillity

regards

tom

I think it would be unfair to say there better than a manual, but they are better than normal auto's in my opinion as there so much better on fuel! in fact i think there better than a manual on fuel? could be wrong??? i have the 3.0 V6 and driven gently i can easy get over 30 mpg usually around 32 mpg, on a run averaging about 80 microns wink wink!! got 36mpg... from a heavy Cabriolet with the 3.0 i thought was very good!
if you go for diesel though dont remap it for more power! its a torque issue... if you buy one then budget for a gearbox oil change deffo!! im paying 148 at an indipendant Audi specialist..

 

[clough103]

thanks for the replies folks. the horror stories did put me off a little, however i ended up buying an auto tiptronic instead. picking up in the week.. cant wait lol

 

[ThisIsMusic]

Hi all, new here.

Been looking for an up to date A4 / Multitronic thread. I am about to order a brand new A4 Avant 2.0 so I think that is the B8 chassis.

I read a few horror stories about the multitronic, but I want auto transmission and that's what Audi pair with the 2.0 diesel. Most of the horrors seem to be about maintenance problems (in particular seem to be a lot of people not changing oil as required etc.) but that doesn't really concern me as I will be leasing and wont have the car beyond warranty period and I'm unlikley to do more than 30,000 in it.

I am more interested to hear about some of the concerns people have mentioned about a take-off lag. I am not keen on a major lag when starting off, but it seems from what I have read, the B8 chassis build has solved some of the lag problems from the B6 and B7 chassis? I am also told that basically if you stick it in "S" mode anyway, you lose that lag problem altogether and it's just the "D" mode doing what it can to reduce fuel consumption at pull away?

Any comments. Like I say, I am interested in new A4 owners thoughts, not the horrrors from the past please.

Thanks

TiM

 

[quattrojames]

You'd need to post in the B8 forum then for recent viewpoints.