N_Jay

How hard is it to replace the heater core on a C5?
Car is a 2.7T Allroad if that makes a difference.

Nazman39

Hard. If the Audi dealer charges 10 hours labor to do the job it's not easy. Just look up on YouTube for audi heater core replacement. It's basically the same for an A4 or A6.
Is your heater core leaking or are you not getting any heat out of the system?
If you aren't getting any heating than I would eliminate the climate controller and a plugged up core first.
If the core is leaking you have no choice but to replace it.

N_Jay

It is a for sale car that intrigued me.

georgeb944

This youtube video shows you that it is not that difficult or time consuming at all:

SloopJohnB@mac.com

chances are the dealer is looking at old numbers for the pre-99 C5.
This is easy enough you should be able to do it.

Nazman39

My A4 was a major pain. Here are some images from a service manual that might help.

N_Jay

WOW! Makes buying a car with a bad heater core look attractive.

However the other YouTube shows bad lines where they go through the fire wall, so if these tubes are bad are you screwed?

jcman

Sounds like a good ending! Way to go N_Jay.

N_Jay

Having bought it yet.

Was just intrigued, but I think I need to get my 914 running or I might need the Allroad to live in when I bring another project home.

KHedges

Check the Bentley manual.

I have a 1999 A6 and the heater core is much easier to access than it was for my 2000 Passat (which is essentially an A4). For the B5 A4/Passat, you needed to remove the entire dashboard, including evacuating the AC to disconnect it and seal the lines. (We didn't do that; I just flushed (and flushed and flushed) the core and the radiator. After I got rid of the previous owner's Stopleak, I had heat but the radiator leaked.)