Audi A6 - AMAZING car when it was new, what about now...? | Used Car Review | ReDriven

[@ReDriven]

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[@Peter-tc3ep]

Never had an issue with my a6, last one I traded in was 8 years old with 167,000 miles on it. But buying an Audi used requires that the owner before did all the required maintenance at the dealer. German cars really need to be properly maintained to run issue free for a decent amount of years and miles. On my 3rd a6 still love them.

[@carlosponchio1869]

said it all. German cars needs maintenance and not from the corner mechanic or the curious.

[@kaeji_namitsua]

​@@carlosponchio1869All cars need maintenance.

[@shwndh]

I’ve had 2 Audi’s out of warranty and as a result, I became a master mechanic. I loved the cars but I just thought that level of maintenance was normal until we got a Lexus.

[@RN-mk4nb]

I too have become a master mechanic after owning my A7 and VW GTI. After owning Infiniti and Hondas I was not use to the extra maintenance.

[@ClavinZKL]

So infiniti and honda requires more maintenence than an audi? ​@@RN-mk4nb

[@farid7838]

I own a 2016 Audi A6, 4-cylinder engine, 75k miles. Maintained on the clock at my own trustworthy mechanic. No problem at all (no leak, no electronic glitch, no squeaking sound, etc.). Drove it cross country (US) four times, it's perfect on the highway. I did APR stage 1 tuning, adding more horse power AND cutting down fuel consumption. I owned a Mercedes-Benz E before, it simply doesn't compare with the Audi, in terms of reliability, with so many issues (A/C, shocks, fuzzy lighting, etc.).

[@TheSteinbitt]

I wouldn’t expect much wrong at 75k miles though?

[@pervertfudge]

since 2016, i own 520, e250, 320, a6, s320cdi and 740d. best car for the distance always a6. ofc s320cdi comfier but looks like tank act like tank drive like tank... a6 still really good car.

[@wrends]

all cars have issues! let's not be stupid, cars need to be MAINTAINED in order to work properly!

[@darrickschuch608]

I think he is talking about every car ever made. Next....

[@Chris0-58]

Maybe you have missed the part where Jim said even the "MAINTENANED" ones have problems.

[@syrushoule350]

How much does that cost vs an accord tho

[@chh9999]

I think ill stick to my reliable & affordable honda 😂

[@Thumbu-mz4up]

Audis will die even if you maintain them. Its a real gamble.

[@arunpaul2301]

I have a 2018 3.0 supercharged and is close to 100k. Drive like a dream. Did my oil change on time and also did a de carbon at 60k. Take care of the car and it keep driving well. I don't cold start and take off. I let the car warm up on a cold morning and then drive.

[@stephengillman5087]

I drove an A6 3.0 tdi for 12 years covering 240k miles , great build quality ,a lovely understated car, completely reliable , I serviced it per the guidelines.

[@davidbenji1]

I've got the same car. I bought it at the salvage auction with a damaged subframe and rack and pinion. I replaced them both. I've driven the car about 35,000 miles so far problem free. I absolutely LOVE this car. I disagree with this guys comments about the steering. I think the steering is fantastic and the car is tight and responsive. I love this car so much I'm looking to get a second one!

[@whiskeybluez]

You're exception

[@olympbarca3313]

​@@whiskeybluez nope. It's called maintenance.

[@wolfm.9541]

4.5 years of ownership I've never experienced any of these issues described in this video with my 2014 A6 3.0 Bi Turbo TDI with an 8 speed ZF8 gear box, apart from a sunroof switch failing, that's all. I have it serviced by an independent mechanic specializing in VAG products. So far it's been a reliable & an economical sleeper. I'm very happy with my A6 saloon.

[@theDudeknows]

ZD8 OR ZF8?

[@wolfm.9541]

@@theDudeknows correction ZF8, Thanks

[@walladedani2666]

Any tips when buying a A6 3.0 TDI C7

[@ashsurg1]

i have audi A6 35TDI...except for rear aeodynamic balloons, it was flawless..i am driving since 4 years..and no one mentions about incredible mileage it gives! i think A6 is best variant among all to buy...

[@walladedani2666]

@@ashsurg1 thanks mate, its weird tho how so many videos gives the A6 a bad reputation. I may be wrong but that’s how I understand most of the video’s trying find what to look out for. But amazing to hear that she runs well.

[@intellips]

I’ve had 3 Audis including, my current 2020 A7, and they have all had issues. As they’ve been under warranty it’s never been a major inconvenience. However, I would NEVER buy an Audi out of warranty.

[@aramb5482]

What does the 2020 a7 have, I was Interested in one but after owning a 2019 q5 I as second guessing. So far q5 has gotten door sensor, rear hatch sensor and a new master cylinder replaced smh

[@intellips]

@@aramb5482 I had a parking brake fault. It was fixed pretty promptly. The A7 is such a head turner, I love it so much that I recently test drove an S7. The A7 is made in Germany, whilst your Q5 was made in Mexico. I would recommend it

[@zsb707]

@@intellips All I can say about A7: AMAZING CAR! 👍

[@deeply_artificial]

yes, it's better to buy a new one and have depreciation of around 50%, lose 40k euros than pay 1-2k on year maintenance 🤦‍♂️

[@intellips]

@@deeply_artificial I normally buy a demo, which accounts for some depreciation. Also, Audi has 5 year unlimited Km warranty in Australia, which means you don’t pay for maintenance costs apart from servicing. With depreciation, I’m a business owner so depreciation is a tax write off.

[@graymilmine4399]

Had a C7 A6 Bitdi Avant. Best car I’ve ever owned. Only problem I had was a clogged DPF which cost $500 to fix. Every time I see one makes me wish I’d never sold it. So much power and fantastic economy.

[@TruePurpleHaze]

Finest engine they've built

[@walladedani2666]

Any tips when buying a 3.0 TDI c7

[@Manu-Official]

Force regen, 55mph while keeping in third gear, 20 miles and it will force regen. Cost $0

[@graymilmine4399]

@@Manu-Official​​⁠yeah unfortunately that didn’t work, so had to get cleaned professionally.

[@Virtuaalipepe]

@@graymilmine4399 Just swap it to downpipe and you will have no problems and car is running better also ;)

[@joespittle1]

A note for taller folks looking at these: Make sure you test drive a car with the sport seats that have the thigh extension. I've driven Audi's without it and it can be quite uncomfortable after a while

[@mahcooharper9577]

It is gorgeous, but the degree of bravery it would take to spend money on one is something I do not possess.

[@dingdong2103]

I had a 2020 A4 leaser and I hated every second of it. Never getting an Audi again.

[@francistaylor1822]

@@dingdong2103 I had an A5 and it was brilliant. Agree on the steering feeling dead though.

[@dingdong2103]

@@francistaylor1822 I'm used to Mercedeses so the Audi just felt aschetic to me. Also the performance was not comparable to my S500 4-matic, although the TDI was MUCH cheaper to drive. I'm in love to my current EQC. Just superbly comfortable, quiet and plenty of pep.

[@synex5358]

The C7/7.5 with the 3.0T is a gem of a car. Real sleeper and a bulletproof power train.

[@stag0025]

Or epic stupidity, never again

[@vovovovan]

If you want to own one, get a nice tool box and a vw scan tool. They’re fairly easy to work on and parts aren’t that expensive. For those not mechanically inclined, better steer clear

[@AmazingChinaToday]

Most of the complaints about things breaking happen to ALL cars that are 10+ years old. For example, sunroof drains clogging.

[@lennyvalentinoSchiaretti_lvs]

I own a Subaru Outback from 2008 with a Panoramic sunroof which I daily use and it is still working perfectly. So, it is not true that alla 10+ years old cars have issues...

[@randomenzo]

My C7.5 A7 3.0TDI (272hp) just passed 200k kms.. It's been brilliant, oil changes every 15k keeps it happy!

[@talonpilot]

I wouldnt go that long between oil changes but your choice. A car with your mileage should be on the lookout for a coolant leak in the valley of the engine (oil cooler/bypass valve). Next will be the engine mounts, then the crank pulley. All work I’ve done on my 3.0 tdi in the last few years and I have approx 260k km. Should run a long time but expect to have to work on the injectors shortly. Good luck though.

[@randomenzo]

I'll get those checked out with the service, thanks for the advice! Audi in northern Europe recommends service every 30k km or 2 years... ​@@talonpilot

[@sunsetgarage755]

Just a quick FYI. The headlight windscreen washer covers are mechanical, not electrical, & they are just a spring tensioned hinge which pops up due to being rammed open by the hydraulic pressure of the water squirter module which is essentially a hydraulically operated actuator with a leak at the end, which sprays onto the headlight. They are similar for many Audi models & their failure to close is not an electronic issue like you mention AK. Also, you need to point out that EVERY car with a sunroof will need to have its drain tubes unblocked periodically, in fact some of these “problems” you always mention when you review any VAG product, are just regular maintenance issues that EVERY car has. Dirt and debris falls on the roof of all cars & that’s how sunroof drain tubes get blocked. The vast array of forum groups you get your facts from should try washing their car every once in a while & maybe even invest in a tiny compressor & blow some air through the tubes. It’s an easy fix & doesn’t require any mechanical aptitude.

[@theairstig9164]

People need to stop treating these things as appliances. People who lease new BMWs then run away when stuff gets a bit questionable are the worst. No simple maintenance like cleaning out the inlet carbon or making sure the drain holes are all clear

[@jkkchow74]

I'm not a car-maniac but my mechanic said his friend used to work in vw group in Germany. And they said the design life of their new cars are 10 years, which means they were never designed to last. They will export or sell them and expect you to buy their next model. So when it's past their warranties (3 to 5 years with 50 to 70k km), issues will gradually arise and parts fail. I had a pegueot and a BMW 1 series in the past and yeap when those mileages and years come, lights starting to flash more and more often. So better sell it then to keep fixing it with $$. But hey I can't deny that I loved driving a Euro car especially the BMW, they are lovely. (what I don't understand is how can these cars be so unreliable and we still love them? human beings are just not rational I guess)

[@RemyISnow]

My 2013 3.0T had 230k miles before it was totaled in an accident. I bought a 2016 3.0T with 119k miles.

[@RemyISnow]

132k miles on it 4 months later. Still going strong. At 150k I'll probably proactively get the water pump and some suspension parts changed out. ZERO oil consumption so far.

[@zay2759]

@@RemyISnow I really appreciate this update as I’m in the market for an Audi A6, 2016 for 15k.. updates as of now?

[@jpsiable]

What suspension parts? Bushings?

[@sinappanis]

As an American I approve of the shots I have received about our coffee.

[@PastGear]

I'm surprised about the reliability comments - the 3.0 supercharged engine is an absolute gem, and the later CREC models ironed out the typical issues, none of which were catastrophic. The biggest concern in that model is the DSG transmission, which is prone to mechatronics failure. That's why the later model bitdi is the pick of the bunch in my opinion as it uses the ZF 8 speed transmission which is far more reliable. I don't believe the timing chain issues are as common as they're made out to be in this video. EDIT: Supercharged model has DSG transmission in Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. In North America, the supercharged model gets the ZF transmission which is the ideal combination!

[@dingdong2103]

My A4 DPF failed at 100 000km and never got fixed until my lease ended. Bottomed out almost daily on normal kerbs and got damaged in normal use. Getting in and out was cumbersome due to the car being too low, the DSG gearbox was jerky and the engine was vibrating and boomy at 80km/h when the transmission was running the engine at 1100rpm. Nasty nasty car.

[@ln5747]

UK has ZF on BiTDI

[@Hemanfreeman536]

I’m surprised that you’re surprised about the reliability concerns 😂

[@fredzephire4071]

Why would you buy a car that loses so much value so quickly, that alone is a major red flag in my book. Cars that hold good second hand value tend to be better, more reliable and last longer (serviced correctly) Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, Lexus to name a few, let's not forget that VW and all associated products are made by a company that caused great pain with the "diesel gate" fiasko.

[@dingdong2103]

@@fredzephire4071 All cars lose value incredibly fast, a car is the dumbest investment anyone can make.

[@Phil_3491]

Its just a maintenance thing when it comes to these cars. Most people just don't do proper maintenance, use inferior parts or just treat the car badly before it is up to temperature. Thats the same thing for a 5-series or E-Class. If you treat them well, there shouldn't be that many issues.

[@claudiadavies5110]

I'm horrified by the what can go wrong list, $5000 for a timing chain, unacceptable. Excellent video guys 😊

[@Dan-co4zl]

​@@hoolydooly5072unless you own a 1.0 ecoboom 😂

[@jonathanwishart9104]

@@hoolydooly5072 I suppose you like to ignore the rangers horrendous reliability image. Most modern fords are just unreliable money pits.

[@jarokenny]

@@hoolydooly5072 what is this? not familiar with these bss, is it like for real or?

[@Thisonegoestoeleven666]

@@hoolydooly5072best get some clues about Ford’s horrible recent reliability record nimrod.

[@arvilsstraume9304]

simple. dont buy monkey if you can't afford the bananas. in eastern europe they are comparably overall more realiable than anything american or asian. calm down toyota fans, its corrosion not bad design

[@Todd.T]

The segment the A6 is in is a high value one. It's not popular, which keeps the initial price low. You can buy a fully optioned A4 but the build quality will never match the A6 and the cost increase is reasonable given the fact the quality is identical to the A8 People that see the repair costs and panic keep the used market low. You get the car used and bring it to an independent mechanic instead of the dealership which cuts the cost drastically. You replace OEM parts with high performance parts that cost less and last longer. I am on my second A6 upgraded from an A4. With a change of 2 pulleys and some software I can run nearly identical times as a C7 Corvette Stingray at the track. On the unprepped street, you can take those down and 700 hp Dodges unless they want to drive around on slick. I have a CREC version with the deactivate able supercharger, better timing chain guides, 30 percent larger supercharger coolers and dual injectors. My last A6 with the 4.2, I put fuel in it once every 4 weeks. Now I am getting gas every 5.5 weeks. Bose surround sound, dual layer glass, heated/cooled seats and the list goes on. For the amount of money I saved by not buying new, I could really care less about a $5k visit to the dealer, because I would have it done for $3k You can go and buy a new Hyundai G80 for 80k with warranty or I bought my car 2 years old for $33k and buy an aftermarket warranty for $2.5k and pocket the rest. After 5 years, sell it and buy another and still have a chunk of change left over. If you feel better buying a car with warranty, you do you, but 3 used German cars in, I'm winning. The Audi has more toys. People whine about them breaking. When the ashtray full sensor breaks, I just wouldn't have it fixed. You can't complain because you didn't even have one to break. Yes there is no ashtray sensor, it is an anecdote for a non essential item that people don't need to have fixed because they don't use it or don't care.

[@nk53nxg]

Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar/Land Rover and all the rest of the European makers are perfectly capable of building these cars without the "what goes wrong issues" described here. The problem is that to make more money per unit sold, cheap materials are used on cheap components, this increases profit margins and makes shareholders happy. They know full well that plastic water pump impellers will fatigue and fail, they know that the cheap electronics are assembled to a low standard with cheap components. I know they use cheap electronic components and assembly as the electronics are likely 3rd party built in Asia by the same companies that supply Lexus or Honda. However, these 3rd party electronics suppliers build anything you want to the standards you want, IPC Standard is a worldwide recognised standard for soldering and mounting of electronic components to PCBs. Different standards are set by different sectors, for example the aerospace, military/defense and medical equipment sectors will be very high standard, commercial tvs and radios not so high. Lexus and Honda obviously have a higher component and assembly standard which is why they are more robust and go wrong less. The 3rd party electronics suppliers in Asia are not to blame, the companies that ask them to produce the parts set the standards they want and this sets the price? The standards and quality of these electronics are governed by individual componentry quality such as resistors, triacs, diacs and chips, PCB land from preperation, quality of solder and wiring. Assembly controls such as ESD and cleanliness, solder flux cleaning and QC inspection after assembly are vital. This all costs money and ups the price of electronics if the standards are high, if they are built cheaply the incidence of failure from cheap components and assembly environment will be highly impacted. Euro cars are well designed, beautiful to look at, sit in and drive, but they are built with poor quality materials even if final assembly is good and percieved quality is good, because of greed.

[@richardmorris3830]

My A6 2.0 TDi is on 137K miles. 11 years ownership. Maintained properly to the schedule. Zero issues. Rock solid car. Everything still works perfectly.

[@dainiusvysniauskas2049]

Well duh, that's a pretty low mileage for a diesel car.

[@BigBearBjorna]

My dad has this car with the 2.0 TDI. Only things that have gone wrong is the parking sensors and a hose to the gearbox, and the clutch is soon in need of replacement. Expensive to service and arguably not worth it compared to a Passat, and Also quite big and impractical body shape too, but definetely not a bad car to own at all. Not too much maintenance as Audi recommends an oil change every 30.000km/2 years i think. Car has about 140.000 miles/220.000km. It feels like this channel thinks a common problem means that all the used cars of that model has them. Common problems means it might happen. For example has my dad never gotten faded paint nor complications with the emission system. Considering german cars have a decent reputation, i feel like this channel runs alot on fearmongering. German engineering is not what it used to be after costcutting, but most statistics still put them above most American, italian and french cars, and they are still favored by taxi companies. They are not much car for the money, but they are not particularly bad compared to the competition.

[@GamerGabbar]

I live in the Fiji Islands and own a 2014 Audi S6 (with the 4.0T V8), this is country where all we have are 4 cylinder Japanese cars. It has been an amazing car to daily drive both in terms of maintenance and parts cost. I also own a 2017 540i Touring here and it's the same experience. These cars can be very very very good

[@BT_life2]

Lol what do you drive 5000km’s a year? Probs a good car in that situation.

[@GamerGabbar]

@@BT_life2 both the cars are driven 15000-20000kms a year mate 😁

[@nevinkuser9892]

Do you know Mark?

[@GamerGabbar]

@@nevinkuser9892 it's small but we got 800,000 people here. Gotta be more specific 😂

[@bernyjamesbaffoe417]

I am led to believe some people are just unfortunate with purchase sometimes because I owned the 2013 model of this car for almost 4 years and not a single problem, like NONE. And mine was 5 years old with 1 owner from New when I bought it.

[@merkeynerk]

A6 Allroad had few issues other than a coolant leak at 185,000km. Great car for my needs and has no competition. Like with all vehicles the past maintennce is crucial.

[@lelandcole2586]

I had the 2014 A6 3.0TDI, absolutely loved it. The only issue I had was within the head up display, thankfully covered under warranty as the parts person told me the dealers COST for the part was ~$4000. Add on top that they had to disassemble the entire dash and remove the windshield ($2100) which broke on removal. Two days of shop time and recalibration of all the sensors.. thankfully that was all paid by warranty! That said, it was not an issue that I would have bothered enough to pay out of pocket to fix. Mine was dark grey outside, s line, black interior. Spent around $2500 deleting the emissions, giving it a light tune and a straight pipe and it was the perfect blend of speed and comfort for me. 540ftlbs of torque and old man luxury.

[@dacoda6668]

”Had” means you got rid of it!

[@lelandcole2586]

And regretted it ever since

[@williamricketts-o1m]

i just bought a 2009 A6 3.0T for 9300.00 and everything works so well i was amazed. i see some rear tail light cracks that werent from a accident. i am so happy about the price and custom pieces that another owner did.

[@timothyfindlay6253]

It's harsh, but true. I'm on my second A6, after spending far too much fixing my first one, I sold it on, but nothing else felt the same and I endlessly wanted another one. Fortunately, I've been lucky with the current one, 6 years in and so far so good. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[@zsb707]

If you wouldn't mind telling me what exactly made you want another one so badly?

[@thesollys9540]

I agree, nothing drives like Audi, I wouldn't go back to GM or Ford

[@zsb707]

@@thesollys9540 I've had an A6 sedan quattro for 13 years (2006 - 2019). I really liked it but if you like sporty driving Audi is not the answer. Get a BMW or a Jaguar. That's what I did.

[@timothyfindlay6253]

@@zsb707In my case, with a C7.5 Allroad, I couldn’t find anything else that was big enough to carry the bike in the car, and be as comfortable, and look classy and be flexible for soft roading and the 3.0 TD gets along ok too!

[@zsb707]

@@timothyfindlay6253 Fair enough 👍.

[@scottirvine121]

180k miles on my 2012 C7 and only changed an EGR valve other than brakes and tyres Bulletproof IMO

[@TotalRookie_LV]

Got a really old one vith V6 gasoline engine for 3550 Euros, invested almost 5000 Euros in fixes and maintanance - three oil changes so far, one new set of tyres, polishing foggy headlights, change of transmission fluid, had to change main break cilynder and pump of steering assist, new set of window control buttons, new valve block for climate control, new rear window wiper (motor and arm), sparkplugs, new crancshaft space ventilation box / cooler (might have solved or at least diminished oil consumption) and the biggest of them all - changed timing chains.

[@whatstrue1481]

I have a 2019 Audi A4 S-Line wagon in Germany. 3.OL turbo diesel and it has been an awesome car. Comfortable, fast, great handling, super tourer. Unbelievably good fuel economy (Australian speed limits 4.5 - 5L / 100kms. My whole of ownership average which includes fast autobahn driving as well has been 6L / 100kms). ....but the electronics have become a problem. At 55,000kms a whole new computer had to be installed after a warranty arguement with Audi. Now the cruise control is not working, parts of the MMI system are not working, Ad Blue warning system not working, rear windows are not working intermittently and I was just quoted 1200 euros (AUD$2000) to fix the front parking sensors that have stopped working! I have not had any mechanical issues to date - 165K kms. Would I buy another one.......... I love this car because it is sooooo good in all aspects but when things start going wrong...?? However are Audis any worse in this repect to any of the other brands??

[@jevelax70]

I got a 2016 A6 3.0T S line . Bought it 3 1/2 years ago with 39k miles on it. Now odometer makes 76k and so far she’s been good to me. All maintenance are performed at Audi dealership. The only issue was the water pump , they replaced it under extended warranty. Other than that she’s driving flawless and smooth. Love my Audi

[@s7473]

specific to 2.0 TDI in EU, my experience buying 2nd hand one at 150,000km, CV joints go around 150,000km, glowplugs needed replaced around 170,000km EGR cooler failed around 200,000, dual mass flywheel starts to wear out around 250,000km and needed replaced, adblue pump failed around 270,000. aside from these issues, it's been the best car I've ever owned, loads of space, lovely to drive, motorway cruiser. so far no other issues. You MUST change the 7 speed gearbox oil every 60,000km .

[@ardyaprilianta9732]

Should've changed the title into "What's probably not wrong with a used Audi A6"

[@varios4883]

I wanna share my short little story with my a6 c7 with 3.0 tfsi 2012 for someone deciding if he should or shouldn't buy this car. I'm an 24 yo guy, living in middle europe, having a full time job with a bit higher payment than average in my local area. It was my dream car, but obviously didnt have this much money for that car. I've been working for 3 years back then and spend a lot of money for electronics (pc, phone, watch etc). My ex coworker had this car for sale so I decided if I want one - its gotta be from him, since he really took care of this car. So, I decided to take a loan. Yeah. A loan for luxury 12 yo audi. Crazy, right? So, after a purchase it took one weekend to see the check engine light at monday morning. Turned out to be a engine head issue. Its two of them but only one was failing. So, I had a bit of money for repair which was quite expensive, but managed to do it (thankfully my mechanic is amazing guy, managed to fix it without taking out the engine, which other service wanted to do, taxing me twice the price I've payed for my mechanic). Car works and drives without any engine errors in OBD. A few months later I've had an issue with misifiring and turning off one of the cylinders. Luckly it was just a one burned spark plug - it was cheap and fast to repair (not a big deal but had to mention it). And here comes the big one - Timing chain. It was having a short rattle at the cold start, but it's normal, since there is no preassure in tensioners, but after 6 moths of owing the car, I'm hearing a quiet scratching that lasts for like 1-2 mins. And now im pretty sure I have to repleace it. Not necessarily now, but in the near future, yes. The problem is - i dont have money for it. And so, here I am, deciding if I should sell the car for less money than I bought it (duh, didnt expect to sell it for the same price) and lose a lot of money or repleace it and drive it for many more years, so I can sell it for even lower price in the future. Other problems I have to mention are: One mirror enjoys not folding sometimes, other one wont heat, after spark plug repleace, I feel uneven rpm while stationary plus I feel vibrations( I think I might need to repleace the remaining 5 spark plug and for the vibrations, its probably engine mounts but the only way to find out, guess what - pay and replace it.) If I would have to make the choice again I wouldnt buy this car. Yes, it makes you feel better, it drives amazing and it just feels amazing. Its worth its money, but If you are putting 50% of your total incomes into a car that you just dont NEED, Its just a stupidity I'm pay for right now. Cheers. P.S This video was posted 3 months before me purchasing this car. What a shame I've found it today instead of one year ago.

[@chh9999]

Im in the same boat - i think i wont bother

[@varios4883]

@@chh9999 you mean, you are before purchasing or already owning and having issues?

[@chh9999]

@@varios4883 before purchasing- but I’m going to play it safe £££

[@StevenCkoba]

I own a 2012 A6 s line. Never had issues, except smaller ones.. like one side mirror not folding omce locked. Amazing car, looks amazing, great build quality, great fuel economy.

[@Missacek]

I have this car, a pre-facelift 2013 version with a pre-facelift version of this 3.0Bitdi engine. Bought in 2020 and I had none of the mentioned issues. The issues I had were squeaking suspension which was caused by worn front stabilizer sway bar link like 250€ fix, a bad sensor in the drivers door lock which caused ACC not to work another like 250€ fix and regulation on the smaller turbo which was like 300€ fix in the independent shop(Authorized dealer switches whole turbo assembly which cost around 7k). Other than that runs like a dream, oil changed every 15000km. The timing chain problems can be prevented with frequent oil changes and not reving when cold. There are cars with 300k+ Km with factory chains.

[@Griffin_900]

Meanwhile my 2004 A6C6 3.0TDI quattro tiptronic with 350 000km still going strong - no issues at all.

[@sulyokpeter3941]

Newer cars = more problems = more money to fix. We still have the Citroen C4 1.6 HDI from 2010 with 185.000 Miles now. We drove through europe 10th times already. Still no problems at all. Apart from some small stuff... Our biggest problem was that the coolant water was leaking from a pipe. Luckly it wasnt from the engine or from the radiator. Our mechanic fixed it easily. Still no oil leakes after those miles. Engine is like crazy reliable. And is a fckin Citroen C4. French "trash" car. This is what most of the people thinks. In reality? It is not trash but it is a beast. Proper maintenance recommended like in every other car... if you do everything proprely it will take you from Europe to Africa(by driving) easily.

[@schlettistvan8616]

Guys, european owner here of the Audi A6 2.0 TDI engine. I agree with the existence of the technical issues with the car, but please keep in mind that the issues described were all major problems discovered with this generation starting from 2012 to 2018. The majority of the owners wil absolutely not face all these issues. I had mine for 5 years and my car is 10 year old now and while I have had some issues, It was by far my most reliable car to this date. On the other note, please be informed that US Audi`s are not produced in Europe but in Mexico and/or in the US and unfortunately the reliability is poorer. Thirdly, those repair prices mentioned in the video are extreeeeemly overpriced. A timing belt change for the 3.0 TDI is nowhere near 5000 Euros in Europe and it should not be enywhere. Don`t service your car at the dealer if your warranty is over, go a good independent. Choose the parts wisely because Audi (VW group) does not produce the parts in the car. Other, third party manufacturers are producing those parts like (Valeo, Lamforder and others). Here in Europe the single difference between the original part and a part made by a third party is that on the latter the Audi sign is brushed off.

[@ReDriven]

We totally agree mate, hence to mention of not every owner will experience these issues. In terms of parts and labour prices, euro parts here in Australia often ask a huge premium, as does the labour to fit said parts and repair cars that fall under a premium banner. The pricing discrepancy between countries can be enormous and not just for automotive. My other career is in music and we in Aus can sometimes expect to pay easily twice what an instrument sells for in the US or Europe. - AK

[@TrucknMining]

These issues are definitely real, i feel the frequency of occurrence is grossly over estimated. Pick the drivetrain carefully and there wont be too much maintenance cost based on my experience.

[@yslee1401]

Das Auto-German Engineering fiasco, so glad that Jim is so honest and not sugar coating his assessment

[@keepthinking2666]

So I have an old 2000 A6 and I heard the same problems but never came across any of them as long as you came up as a normal human and did Regular maintenance like clean and things now and again

[@benjaminmitchell4901]

I have owned a 2014 Allroad for 8 years and it has been a pleasure to own and completely trouble free. The only issue outside of consumables has been an O2 sensor going. I have had it regularly maintained by an independent for the last 5 years and Audi dealer prior to that. Drives and smells like a new car.

[@yourvehicleswarrantymaybee7350]

My 2014 S7 with 75k miles has been flawless. Bought at 70k from original owner. The car was dealer maintained its whole life by a doctor, so even though it was hit at 5k miles when nearly new, i felt good about the car. Rare spec with Black Optics, Sport seats, Soft Close, LED headlights but no Driver assistance package. I love the cleaner front end without the sensors and extra switches on the steering column.

[@2525Hudson]

Really great video from you guys, funny and engaging at the same time as being educational.

[@Motown_Guy]

His review is spot on. That color is my favorite. Oolong gray? I had a 2013, with the 3.0 supercharged v6. Havana black, brown interior. It was reliable and a hoot to drive. The fit, finish and material quality was excellent. I miss it. In comparison, my 2018 Q5 feels cheap and designed to a (low) price.

[@L52-r5g]

Q5 is low budget its like an Audi a4

[@dustybottoms2780]

I have a 2015 A6 TDI 45 mpg and 312 hp with a tune. It’s sick AWD no stopping it in winter with studded tires.

[@dacoda6668]

When it comes to luxury! Lexus is the only brand i’d go with

[@perryburns6515]

I love all the videos on the channel I've watched so far, but there's nothing left on my potential purchase list now 😂

[@ReDriven]

We have a few surprises coming up mate, that list may require a few new additions. - AK

[@glennr9913]

I have a 2018 A6 3.0 that has almost 60K miles. It's been flawless, until 2 weeks ago when the water pump began to weep. I should have fixed it myself, but I was too busy & too lazy, so I paid $1000 US for a shop to do it. I could have bought the pump for $150 and changed it myself in 3-4 hours. I'll keep this car until I decide to get an EV. KZbin has plenty of great videos about working on these.

[@rsoul7282]

It’s pretty simple. Lease one of these things when it is new if you are that way inclined, and fk it off when the lease is up. You guys aren’t exaggerating the issues such a vehicle has at all, have seen them first hand and had to rectify them.

[@paulvictor9368]

The more you show of luxury cars, the more I lean to a Lexus.

[@matthewhendry4316]

I was so tempted to buy an a6 because they look fantastic and the price on the 2nd hand market is hard to resist. In the end I bought an lci f10 5 series 520d and I'm so glad I did. A well maintained f10 (post lci update it must be said) is pretty much guaranteed to be reliable and the same just can't be said about the better looking a6. It's a shame because on looks alone I prefer the a6. Love redriven by the way. Keep up the good work lads

[@akalankadesilva5040]

Yeah, despite what people say I find that the F10 520d LCI to be pretty reliable and fuel efficient. The annual trip to the dealer hurts a bit but that's nothing in comparison to the depreciation the first owner had

[@smithjohn2416]

Would you recommend the 535i? I hear the 2014+ models are the ones to look at. I want something with a little bit of oomph, 5.5 - 6 second 0-100 at least. I'm on the F10 ownership group pages and have seen issues like the headlights getting condensation and other electronic gremlins.

[@mauripekkarinen1]

​@@smithjohn2416You're pretty much guaranteed to have some electrical problems at some point with a BMW. That said, if you buy a well looked after low mileage example and continue to maintain it rigorously, it'll probably last you quite some time. You just have to remember that you can't be as lenient with the maintenance as you could with a Toyota for example.

[@matthewhendry4316]

@@smithjohn2416 @smithjohn2416 I think the 520d has all the power you need (with really incredible fuel economy) but you make a good point, the 535i is properly fast so if you're looking for that then go for it. I think the condensation issue was rectified with the lci update. Mauriperkannin is absolutely right though, simply MUST be diligent with servicing. I get mine serviced every 12 months at a mechanic who specialises in European cars. Way cheaper than bmw (b/w 400 and 500).

[@smithjohn2416]

@@matthewhendry4316 I see, yeah I'm strict with maintenance and I take my Lexus to a Euro specialist too. Just had a look at the market here (Australia). Not many 2014+ 35i's, in fact I don't think there is any currently on CarSales. They are all pre 2014 models like 2011 for example. Is the 530d worth looking at? Any of the G30's worth looking at?

[@TheStigHCE09]

On the note of the parts thing, Volkswagen Australia recently made it so that the same parts are the same price across all of the different brands, rather than Audi's being more expensive.

[@timfarrington6293]

I was drawn in by what I thought was a lot of car for the money when I purchased a second hand 2017 A6 Allroad. Heaps of car for the money (I thought). The car was heavily optioned and the build quality was pretty good (but nowhere as good as the Lexus IS350 I traded in). Lovely car to drive long distance but the cost to maintain was eyewatering. A minor service was around the $800 dollar mark with a regular service coming in around the $2,000 mark and the Audi servicing department stung me $10 per litre for the add blue, which is around $2 per litre at the service station. After 2 years of ownership I cut my losses and unloaded it at a big loss.

[@EriqCook]

On my 3rd A6, from a V8 to the Turbos: 2001, 2008, and 2016. All have been very good, and I kept/keep up with maintenance. I did occasionally have a random lighting issue with the 2008, but it would only last for a couple hours and work again. I still have my 2008 at 138k miles too, and it still runs well! Looking at '20 next...

[@iRaveBootman]

Im in the uk and own a 2016 3ltr tdi 272ps / 200kw quattro. It has done 80k miles i have had a water pump replaced under warranty on it and have replaced x2 wheel bearings on it. Other than that its been reliable. Maintenance costs are expensive and recommended service schedules are sketchy as the ‘long life’ oil that they use has to be changed every 15k miles. Ive had mine done around 8-10k to aviod the notorious timing chain failure. Rare for the timing chain to snap as the fault lies with the guides/tensioners. Early servicing can help prevent that. All in all i love the car and it pulls through the gears very well!

[@julianmartinrobertsen4787]

Have an 2010 a4 stronic 2l tdi thats over 240 000km on the clock. Never had any mechanical issues. As long as the proper maintenance has been done, there lovely cars. Also owned a 2013 a6, and it runned super smoothly. Just make sure that you follow up on the maintenance.

[@TwistedDonners]

I think I'd rather go a Lexus or Genesis over the A6 too be completely honest. The list of problems with the A6 seem almost as bad as the A4's problems going by how long the what goes wrong section went. Had to laugh at the polka music for the what goes wrong section as wasn't expecting that. Overall guys another brilliant video and as always have a good weekend and look forward to next week's videos as per usual. Keep up the good work guys 👍

[@dingdong2103]

I had a horrible experience with the 2020 A4 40tdi. So happy to upgrade to the EQC...

[@_Xorag]

Lexus all day, everyday

[@mauripekkarinen1]

​@@dingdong2103And you think that'll be reliable?

[@theairstig9164]

Depends on your use case. Lease to own or lease then give it back

[@TwistedDonners]

@@theairstig9164 I'd rather save up and buy it outright instead of financing if i can help it.

[@chriswatt37]

My 2014 S4 - no problems so far. Wife’s 2012 Q7 needed walnut blasting and PCV change. Both cars have 3 Year warranty’s for peace of mind. If you love Audi’s then it is what it is. Most cars have some sort of problem. No Audis will have all the problems mentioned in one car. Buy from a dealer who imports direct from Japan - again who knows what they are doing. I would avoid an import that has done local miles without a warranty.

[@ampm9771]

Most of the people who complain about Audis are the ones who cannot afford new audis. They simply bought used and abused Audis and complained about how bad they were. Audis are bulletproof with proper maintenance.

[@canismajorbeats]

This is facts.

[@kiveshannaidoo3290]

Truth

[@ShonTolliverMusic]

Well most people can't afford be Audis so that checks out, but doesn't invalidate complaints.

[@ampm9771]

@@ShonTolliverMusic That doesn't invalidate my original comment. People who can't afford Audis shouls complain about Audis being unreliable.

[@Kmasse8]

Great personality and good video! In comparison to its main rivals (E-series, 5-series) it is the most reliable out of them but of course far from the reliability of Lexus. We had the 100 2.8E Quattro from 1991-2010 (the name changed later to A6) and it was highly reliable. From 2005 we simultaneously had was the 2005 Audi A6 3.0TDI Avant Quattro tiptronic until 2018. Such a great car. However in 2018, the air suspension broke and it was costly repair (3850 euros in Finland). Neither of the cars had any rust issues in Finland.

[@tomasaukstolis451]

I have 2016 2.0 140 kw tdi Ultra Avant. Main issue I had was DPF filter. Because of Covid. It was not driven enough. After programing adblue Dpf and start stop, It just needs regular checks. P.S. Also it has 210k km.

[@m220108]

My Audi avant from 2015 , no issues other than normal wear but worth mentioning to get Vag software . Means you can work on most things yourself such as parking brake release, forgced regen, error codes, recognizing third party replacement modules and turn on stuff that was in certain option packs. I enabled the power tailgate open and close from keyfob, side lights when turning etc . Software cost a lot less than the audi options

[@josetomasoyarzun895]

My stepfather had one of this, and yes every possible thing went wrong with the car, it spent months in the official workshop till he got rid of the car

[@bradleycrouser]

NO problem with ours--ten years old and 90k miles. Love it!

[@cargonational]

It's my 4th, and I always buy demos. Change them every 4 years. I just love them. My favourite was the 2016 3.0 TDI Bi turbo S Line.

[@copperrose4947]

Drove in one last week and the owner had not but praise for the car. Audi a6 allroad 2017 is now on the top of my list.

[@lewisthompson8705]

I've had my 2011 a6 (3.0tfsi) for a couple of years and it has been very reliable, have probably spent around $200 in repairs for a coolant leak at one point. Note that the speakers can often rattle pretty badly (mine has the bose system) due to the rear speaker deck. The adaptive Cruise control also fails extremely often, and I've never seen any mechanic that can sort it so it'll have to go to audi if you want cruise control (usually the sensors are fine and just need to be recalibrated). I've had a couple of audis now and every single one from this year range have all had the wing mirror folding motors fail as well. Overall been a good car but just look out for these, also if you're looking at the 3.0tfsi, listen for excessive chain rattle, a chain job might cost the same as the car's whole value.

[@friznutzs]

Another problem these cars have started to have recently is a seal failure in the steering rack control unit in cold conditions. The crumbling rubber seal lets water in the control unit which requires a $5000 repair that Audi doesn't warranty if it breaks again the next year

[@VisionStance]

I bought an Audi 2023 S5 and I hope I don't have the problems that the A6 incurs, although I know the Injectors & Heads may have to be cleaned at some time in the future. So far, no problems at 10K miles. My first Audi was an Audi 5000. Ran like a thoroughbred. Then a 2018 S5, No Problems, then a 2021 Q5, No Problems, and Now the 2022 S5. Love your channel!

[@VitaliToronto]

Owned one for two years, 2017 black edition. Great car mechanically, loved the driving feel. Nice interior, however, noisy on 20’ pilot sport tires. But. The interior rattle and creaking noises were killing me, especially one right over my ear coming from a window plastic trim. Four times at the dealer and no fix. Finally solved the problem by selling the car.

[@jasonathey2551]

I have 300,000 miles on my 2014 A6, ask me anything.

[@USA_Forever2023]

I have been thinking about buying a 2014 A6 TDI Preminum plus with 32,000 miles on it and one owner. Anything you can tell me to help me decide because yes car is a 10-years-old car but mileage is extremely low and had one owner only. Any info will be extremely appreciated. Thank you.

[@jasonathey2551]

@@USA_Forever2023 excellent find, before purchasing verify when the emission gate extended warranty ends, you’ll have to google for specifics but essentially everything that oil, fuel, exhaust touches is covered under a 10 year warranty. Aside from routine maintenance, I was trouble free until after 100,000 miles. One warranty visit for a failing DPF @ 85,000 miles. They get 42-45MPG on the highway, and 28-30 combined driving. Engine, zf 8speed, and Quattro drivetrain is bullet proof. When you turn the car on, make sure it’s a cold start, roll down the windows and listen for chain rattle. If there is a startup noise, lasts under 2 seconds you’re okay (it’s normal). 4-5 seconds or longer, walk away. Engine out job, not worth it. It’s not common for 2nd gen 3.0TDI’s to have broken timing chains, but I’ve seen a handful go in for new chains and half of them didn’t need to be replaced. Second, take a pen light and peak into the valley of the engine, make sure there is no oil or coolant. The engine cooler gaskets notoriously leak there. It’s a 4-5 hour job but it’s like $50 in gaskets and coolant. Go over bumps, pot holes, make sure you don’t hear anything bouncing around or squeaking. Control arm bushings and oem ball joints wear out quickly, I’ve been through like 3 sets already (Meyle HD is the best brand). They’re designed for comfort, not longevity. Make sure the sun roof opens and closes normally, the switch panel tends to burn out. Verify the coolant bottle is full and at the correct level, easy to verify. If there is a mystery coolant leak down the road, it’s the EGR cooler leaking internally. Everything else is emissions related, DPF and DEF suck, thankfully you can delete them and if you plan on keeping the car long term you’ll need to delete the emissions. 90% of the issues I had were emissions related and coolant leaks that’s it. Also, soot builds up over time in the intake manifold and will need routine cleaning every 50-60,000 miles… google it, you’ll see what I’m talking about. Deleting the EGR solves that issue. If you want to keep it emissions intact just understand that’s just the nature of the beast. Inspect the injectors, the fuel rails and injector lines, they all should be bone dry. If they look oily, they need to be replaced. It takes a while to throw a code. If everything checks out, as it should with that mileage, buy obd11, change the fuel filter immediately, buy a new battery (it’s prolly 10 years old now and a dying battery will destroy that alternator) and make sure it’s coded to the car with obd11, and learn how to change the oil yourself, it’s super easy and you don’t have to jack the car up to service it. Change the air filter every oil change to keep the turbo happy.

[@andrewrobinson391]

Had my 2017 2.0 Ultra Diesel for 5 years, and ZERO problems!

[@ottar3402]

i owned a Audi A4 and my experience is that Audis are really nice, really good driving feeling and fun to drive but extremly expensive to repair and i owned my for 2 years ish and used 55-60 k norwgian kroner or 5113-5577 dollars on services like oil changes and filters and changed battery , chains and a new start engine. This cost x 2 if it was a newever and more premium A6 or S series and This cost x 4 if it was a RS model i imagine.

[@danielarsenault8930]

Glad I purchased the extended warrant for my 2019 Audi, its already racked up $8500 in repairs from its $4800 cost. The regular service requirements from Audi are also quite demanding, its almost impossible not to drop 2 grand every time you take the car in for an annual.

[@simonh870]

Like most German cars they are overcomplicated and feature lots of cheap plastic parts which have a limited life. Once they get to a few years old (usually just out of warranty) bits start to fail. They make a lot of effort to make the interior and panel gaps nice to give the impression of premium quality, but the oily bits are made from a plethora of cheap and nasty bits, like plastic sumps, plastic water pump housings...

[@karlwagner932]

I bought my A6 TDI with 100000miles and I tuned to 303HP . I already drove another 60 000miles on it and the only failure was an relay for the fuel tank. I change the relay my self ( costs 65 USD ) and then I had to change the front suspension axis another 1500 USD and that was all for my 60.000 miles ! my old S3 1,8 Turbo tuned to 265HP have been sold with 260.000Miles on the clock !without issues!

[@theairstig9164]

There is a grab handle above the drivers seat. That alone is awesome for people who want to lower themselves slowly in to the seat rather than falling in

[@edstraker8451]

I straight up was expecting Jim to pull out a 5 meter scroll of complaints on this one. I wasn't too far off the mark. Think I would go for a Lexus GS F.

[@thatpersiandude7386]

Gsf is like a 100k car mate

[@edstraker8451]

@@thatpersiandude7386 I can dream, can't I?

[@danmccarthy4700]

I will never tire of hearing AK talk about how gross smoking is.

[@gerryreed5573]

You have to change the drive settings to get a "firm" steering feel that doesn't feel wimpy.

[@gilesa.4052]

Had a 2013 a6 4ltr quattro, it got through fuel like crazy, no where near the mpg it said it would get and was very loud, god it was fun though...

[@99tarung]

Hi, I'm currently searching for a used car here in Spain. I am In-between Audi A3, A4 and A6 The main objectives I'm looking for are luxurious feel/aesthetic interior and exterior, cheap maintenance and fuel economy. I believe the A3 and a4 are more fuel efficient although I've heard the A6 has better interior. Budget is 3000-9000 euros for a used car less than 140,000km between 2002-2012

[@albertosilva5935]

Well, are you sure!… 2015 A4 TDI Ultra, 220.000km not an issue, not a noise inside. Amazing value for money bought 4 years ago 2nd hand. What a great car.

[@SomeCan.]

I have an A6 from 2019 with V6 diesel. I love it.

[@caalcb7]

Audi probably the only choice if you want that understated elegance. You know your wealthy but didn't want to show off to others. Unlike Mercedes and BMW that have "look at me" looks.

[@michael9678727]

I have a 2018 A6 biturbo tdi black addition. 182,000 km and hasn't missed a beat

[@ezwanhamdi]

Regular maintenance does the job. Mine is 2013 C7 model A6 Hybrid. I've had a W208 Merc and a F30 Bimmer, love the Audi driving experience the most 😊

[@kristatos2010]

I have a 2012 A6 Prestige (with the 3.0T Supercharged)....I bought it with 91k miles 5 years ago and currently it has 114k miles...Only service I had to do was to reset the ECU...other than that I haven't needed service...everything works in the car...I haven't had any of the issues described here (knock on wood)...I had it tuned as soon as I bought it with GIAC tuning... I previously had a 2006 A6 base model...in 8 years I had it only needed service worth about $350US.... My next car will be another A6...

[@Elaba_]

21:47 A car with cover besides the road. Is that common in Australia?

[@ReDriven]

Yep, pretty often. And where we shoot, around Sydney and Newcastle, the houses people can afford are often not the houses people want. So if you have multiple cars, a ‘sometimes’ car or a project car, it can often end up on the street because houses either don’t have a garage, or it’s being used by another car

[@VioletGiraffe]

When you show wear and tear (or lack thereof) in the interior, please specify the mileage of the car. And when you talk about dynamics and engine sound, please mention which engine it has. Or did I miss that bit of info?

[@ReDriven]

All on the graphics towards the start of the video. - AK

[@aravindpadmauday]

Hi Adam. Great review! Mate could review the current Mazda 3 Hatchback please? Thanks in advance. Keep rolling. Cheers!

[@ReDriven]

Already on the hunt for one for you mate, hopefully happening soon. - AK

[@Levieverest]

Nice. Most honest review ever. Love it!!

[@habe88]

You have done several audis, but no Allroad. And 3.0bitdi is little bit different engine and gearbox than normal 3.0diesel.

[@Serg_lemus]

I'm happy with my Audi A3 turbo diesel! Almost 100k miles and no issues at all 🙌