carnut65

Two weeks back I dodged a bullet when the car started to idle very rough. Took it to my independent tech who said all the codes (different at times) being spit out were leading towards camshaft position (exhaust-bank) issues. Likely several thousand dollar repair since engine pull required. Well, thanks to a thread here my tech checked and found a bad exhaust solenoid to be root cause.

The car has little more than 90K miles now and way past CPO/warranty. Question is am I on borrowed time until the above issue or another similar big dollars issue comes along? It's a big ask. But, would love to know what the worst issues are and how frequent they occur?

Right now, I'm leaning towards getting rid of the car before disaster strikes...Thoughts? I struggle to see how living through a $5K repair makes sense...thanks

KnappAttack

My 2005 4.2 is just shy of rolling 200,000 miles. Been a fantastic vehicle! Best one we've ever owned. I have only $700 out of pocket at the dealer for heater valves just because I did not have time right then to take care of it. I do my own maintenance.

Wife is going to transfer into it for perhaps another 100,000 miles? It owes me nothing if the engine did decide to blow up. Just put in control arms, still drives and rides like brand new. So far I've only done front wheel bearing, valve cover gaskets, brakes and the typical maint items, plugs, filters and such and of course now the upper front control arms.

I might also add it's had the rattle at startup since 50,000 miles. Still rattles the same now, no better, no worse. Oil samples always come back supreme too. So much so I gave up on oil sampling.

Going to pickup my new BMW 550i X-Drive this weekend just cause I was getting bored, well that and took one drive with the monster twin turbo V8 and it hooked me hard, and that was after I got my doors blown off by one too, what a rocket! Let's see if it will go the same distance as my terrific 4.2 is going and be as reliable. Hard to imagine it will. Only time will tell.

KevinGary

Take a look at what happened with my 05 4.2 at higher miles.


Miles Service

884 Miles Warranty
1) MMI hardware replaced

5,283 Miles Warranty
1) 5,000 mile service

10,152 Miles $126.53
1) Oil Change

14,775 Miles Warranty
1) 15,000 mile service
2) tighten front passenger seat
3) tighten air vent outlets
4) update airbag software
5) tighten dashboard
6) update MMI software

20,059 Miles $112.74
1) Oil Change
2) tighten dashboard

20,685 Miles Warranty
1) Replaced pollen filter door
2) Replace tire pressure sensor
3) Replace Mmi control ****

24,727 Miles Warranty
1) 25,000 mile service
2) tighten dashboard
3) replace windshield wiper blades

28,506 Miles $204.97
1) Brake fluid flush
2) Repair front passenger seat frame
3) Replace license plate light bulb
4) Update MMI software
5) Repair ski sack
6) oil change

28,620 Miles Warranty
1) Replace all 8 coil packs
2) Replace throttle control valve

29,806 Miles Warranty
1) replace fuel door cover
2) update airbag software

32,254 Miles Warranty
1) Replace front brake pads
2) clean HVAC drains
3) replace pollen filter

33,926 Miles Warranty
1) Replace rear brake pads
2) Replace fuel filter
3) Lube steering column
4) Tighten dashboard
5) 35,000 mile service

36,129 Miles Warranty
1) Update fuel gauge software
2) Replaced power steering hose clamp

36,739 Miles Warranty
1) Replace interior light in driver's footwell

37,715 Miles Warranty
1) Update airbag software

40,759 Miles Combination Warranty/$341.74
1) Transmission fluid flush
2) Replace fluids in differentials
3) oil change

44,754 Miles Warranty
1) Replace steering column
2) convert front brake pads
3) 45,000 mile service

49,419 Miles Warranty
1) Replace head cover gasket
2) Oil Change

50,283 Miles Warranty
1) Replaced rear sunshade motor

54,659 Miles combination warranty/$891.32
1) coolant system flush
2) replace coolant temperature sensor
3) replace fog lamp
4) replace trunk latch
5) 55,000 mile service

56,440 Miles combination warranty/$110.29
1) update ECU module
2) replace tire air pressure sensors
3) replace windshield wipers

60,168 Miles combination warranty/$241.49
1) oil change
2) brake fluid flush
3) replace rear seat air bag ignitor

61,040 Miles $1,186.67
1) replace front brake pads and rotors
2) replace rear brake pads and rotors

65,209 Miles combination warranty/$323.54
1) 65,000 mile service
2) replace coolant temperature sensor
3) replace parktronic speaker

65,635 Miles $435.50
1) replace thermostat

66,553 Miles $168.85
1) Replace light bar in front passenger door

66,848 Miles $268.20
1) Replace wood trim on driver's front door

69,020 Miles $123.55
1) Oil change

70,741 Miles $287.34
1) Replace rear right tail light assembly
2) Clear air bag codes

75,099 Miles $761.88
1) 75,000 mile service

75,762 Miles Warranty
1) replace center rear seat air bag sensor
2) replace rear seat bracket

80,187 Miles $1,223.61
1) oil change
2) flush transmission fluid
3) replace brake fluid

85,450 Miles $320.44
1) 85,000 mile service
2) update airbag software

87,879 Miles Warranty
1) replace rear seat air bag sensor connector
2) readapt tilt wheel steering column

90,746 Miles $826.97
1) oil change
2) replace oil pressure sensor
3) re-adapt steering column
4) replace rear brake pads and rotors

93,793 Miles combination warranty/$315.09
1) Replace steering column
2) replace front brake pads

95,964 Miles $720.33
1) 95,000 mile service
2) replace battery

100,600 Miles $1,529.52
1) oil change
2) replace all 8 coil packs
3) replace fuel filter
4) replace brake fluid
5) coolant flush
6) replace supplemental rear passenger air bag

103,924 Miles $1,191.74
1) 105,000 mile service
2) replace passenger tailight assembly
3) replace right side motor mount

110,515 Miles $2,277.12
1) oil change
2) replace all 4 upper and lower control arms and tie rod ends
3) replace both side sway bar links

115,704 Miles $861.73
1) 115,000 mile service
2) 4 wheel alignment
3) replaced left side license plate bulb
4) replaced passenger side running light

120,490 Miles $1,105.50
1) oil change
2) replace transmission fluid
3) replace differential fluids

124,683 Miles $2,303.08
1) 125,000 mile service
2) replaced front brake pads and rotors
3) replaced rear brake pads
4) replaced satellite radio module
5) replaced battery

127,496 Miles $552.87
1) replaced rear passenger window regulator
2) replace passenger sider amber light bulb

133,383 Miles $1,516.17
1) replace jet pump valve
2) replace engine temperature sensor
3) replace both radiator hoses
4) coolant flush
5) brake fluid flush
6) 135,000 mile service

133,600 Miles combination warranty?$502.96
1) replace right side combi valve
2) replace passenger side adaptive headlight assembly

133,714 Miles $225.52
1) fuel injection service

134,585 Miles $1,977.74
1) replace vacuum line under manifold
2) replace temperature sensor
3) replace driver side adaptive headlight assembly

135,880 Miles $493.54
1) replaced thermostat
2) bled coolant system
3) replaced rear passenger side seat latch

137,015 Miles $1,540.46
1) replace drivers air bag
2) replace wiper blades

138,250 Miles $849.93
1) replaced radiator

138,682 Miles $9,116
1) oil change
2) replace torque converter
3) replace timing chains
4) replace timing chain guides
5) replace timing chain tensioners

138,939 Miles Warranty
1) replace intake manifold
2) replace all coil packs
3) replace all fuel injectors
4) replace fuel distributor rail
5) replace front heated oxygen sensor
6) replace combi-valve

raj99

Kevin, you should include the last 'expense' item on your list as your '15 A6 and when you take delivery of it that Excel file should add another tab Hopefully less maintenance and we know it will be less in running costs (4.2 vs. Diesel)

carnut65

KG, thanks for all the detail (HS) . I forgot to mention in my post that I've already been through replacing 90% of the front suspension ($1800). Just curious then: any regrets on the 'cost of ownership' and how were you still getting 'warranty' service as high up as 138K miles?....thanks

ajg617

Darn power liftgate on my 06 Avant. Audi techs have no way of diagnosing whether the problem is with the two motors, two struts, or electronic latch as being the culprit. So they first replace the struts, then the latch, and then the motors. In my case, I didn't need the latch or the struts. Total cost was over $2400 (motors alone were $1600+).

am_ver

My <first> oil sample couple of weeks ago came back super-awesome as well. So the engine block is in good shape.

Just spent $2500 on a Parking brake malfunction - harness, followed by motor followed by control module. And the dealer fried the MMI in the process (Tuner is kaput which costs $1010 in part alone) - have a long letter to the Audi execs for that. We'll see what happens.

But other than that - no major repair bills. Been doing my own maintenance - oils (engine, tranny, dif ferentials). filters (air, cabin, fuel), spark plugs, brakes (rotor and pads), coolant flush, battery. Use indy for brake fluid flush, power steering flush.

Oil was leaking recently, so replaced the driver side gasket valve cover ($35 and a torx bit). Replaced the bank 2 oxygen sensors while diagnosing the issue with the Cat convertor; $125-$140 each (pre and post).

TQ convertor was replaced under warranty when the car had 47k miles. Bank 2 Cat convertor was replaced at 75k miles, again under warranty (imposed by fed govt on car manufacturers). Those two, were each $4-5k in repair bills had they not been covered under warranty.

Other items replaced under warranty (pre-50k miles): Wheel bearing, coil pack, carbon build up, parking brake control module, tranny fluid.


IMO, you need a VAG COM, Benteley manual and a good indy if you want to own this car for the long run.

KevinGary

I suspect the Audi Service Department was creating good will warranties.

KevinGary

I pick it up tomorrow morning!

KnappAttack

I suspect the service department was creating work to stay busy! One thing led to another and WOW, look at those bills!