I have a 2004 2.7T Allroad with 85K miles. I loved this car in the beginning...the design, power, and versatility. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if I can afford to love the car.

My ownersship experience:

Tires: I've ready many of the posts about the OEM tires. I was able to get about 40K miles on the Goodyears, although I pushed it. I just purchased some Bridgestones and hope to get 65K from these.

Ignition Coils: I've been put into limp home mode twice by faulty ignition coils. And it happened within a month of eachother. I had them all replaced the 2nd time around. I thought they worked all this out with the huge recall in 2003.

Axel Boots: cracked and replaced once

Turbos: the latest hit to the wallet. On a very cold morning, started the car to let it warm up before driving. When I drove off, there was a plume of white smoke behind me, different from the usual steam on cold mornings. Drove it straight to my local mechanic. Read many discussion board entries and unfortunately, it was the left turbo that was leaking oil into the engine and not breather valve, turbo oil return, etc... I called Audi for good will repair and they referred me to local dealer. The quote, with estimated Audi assistance, came to $6,500. I'm having my local mechanic due it with OEM parts for $3600. I'm going to have him replace the water pump and timing belt while I'm at it, so the total bill will be hefty.

I follow all the maintenance schedules as prescribed in the manual, often changing the oil more frequently.

I use this as my daily commuter car to Boston 38 miles each way. Have others had this experience? Are there even bigger repairs in my future.

Any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks.

 

Park it in a heated garage over night and then drive it. Worth a try.

 

Turbos are 20 hours of labor and parts. It should be 4500+/- at the dealer before any audi assistance.

Mine went at 30K,I now have 169K. CPacks do go. We have 6 of them and they do wear. Most of us have changed all of them by 100K.

 

I had them check that. There is a considerable leak around the left turbo. Oil can be wiped from the tail pipe too.

My other car is a 95 Saab 900 SE Turbo. Turbo fine with over 140K miles.

Are CPacks the ignition coils? Sorry...I'm not totally versed in all the terms.
Thanks.

 

Yes, Coilpacks are the ignition coils (coil-over-plug).

 

Bummer. I dread the day... Hard times to be shelling out that kind of cash.

 

And we were looking at a TB & TC in the near future. The air bags would have been ~ $ 2,100, but the dealer goodwilled the parts & charged us $ 684 labor. Still, with all the upcoming repairs, we had to sell. We found a very clean '01 A6 Avant with 35k. I really miss the AR. The Avant does not compare - the ride is too soft and 2.8 sluggish, without giving that much better mileage. However, since my wife drives it 90% and can't tell any difference, I don't plan on any mods.

 

$2,100 for airbags (assuming two) is ROBBERY!

 

I'm doomed now that I said it, aren't I...

 

In 14 months I have had the following over a period of 32k to 45k miles:

both front air bags
all front bushings
torque converter
transmission
prop seal
tpm module

Latest issues were loose cowl (reattached by dealer but missing center clip, $300 for a new cowl which I passed, and throttle body boot.

I have spent over 1k and the warranty company has covered the rest.