General Advice A6 All Road BiTDI (C7)

[AudiA6BiTDIC7]

 

Hi everyone,

First time post on here.

 

Had been biding my time to pick up an A6 All Road BiTDI (C7) for some time. Wanted a 2015MY Refresh with low miles and standard wheels. Plus, the sport differential and a new enough MMI to get Apple Car Play retro. Picked it up today. No pan roof, folding mirrors, reversing camera or privacy glass though - which would have been nice (first world problems I know). 

 

Picked up a 2016 with only 44k miles, one owner and low mileage over last couple years, 2018 (14k), 2019 (17k), 2020 (23k), 2021 (31k), 2022 (33k), 2023 (40k), 2024 (44k). No advisories for any MOT on record.

 

FASH until 2018 then a couple of independents and not much else (obviously not great given the various recommendations on here and elsewhere).

 

The car is great and will be a keeper, so I am going to look after it. In that vein, my plan is to get a great independent specialist near by to give it a full service and additional maintenance items including (all with genuine Audi parts - prices just FYI) and then drop back onto normal service/maintenance (with some additional oil/gearbox filter/oil changes/services):

 

Brake fluid        £60
Wheel alignment    £90
Glow plugs        £271
Sports diff oil change/service  (including 4*4) £196
Gearbox oil change/service     £650
Major service (including all filters etc etc)        £350

 

On top of this:

 

(1) Reversing camera (through Autologics)

(2) SD card Apple Car Play retro install

(3) Privacy Glass (subtle obs)

(4) Valet and ceramic coating

 

I was just wondering if there is anything I should also think about getting done from a service/maintenance point of view when getting all the above done, to prevent future potential problems. Will obviously consider anything that comes up in the health check as well. Any non-essential luxuries I could also consider?

 

I did chat with Audi who said the gearbox was sealed for life 100k/10 years. But it’s basically BS and will eventually go. Hence getting the gearbox oil/change service.

 

Really appreciate any advice from your collective experience.

 

Cheers. 

 

 

 

[AudiA6BiTDIC7]

Any advice/help much appreciated.

[Steve Q]

Sorry this hasn't been responded to yet. Your list of what you plan to do is fantastic. And should give you peace of mind. 

When is the Cambelt and water pump needs changing? 

If you're concerned about any hidden nasties then you could look at getting a diagnostic check to see if any fault codes flag up. 

I've heard nothing but good things about Autologics as other members have used them and been pleased with their service. 

[Magnet]

Hello Brain, (not Brian?). 
Sounds great - as Steve says - but to me, an expensive overkill at that mileage. 
Basics - OK ‘with genuine Audi parts’…. your choice of course, but I would simply use (just as good) German origin filters such as Mann, Bosch, Hengst, at a comparative fraction of the cost, with no compromise. As an aside, if this car has been serviced to schedule it will still be running on its original air filter since it hasn’t yet got to 45k ( yes, daft I know). 
Why pay your independent £90 to carry out a four wheel alignment when they are likely to subcontract this to a local tyre depot? Not sure what your local ATS is like, but the chaps at my local branch are great, and they do it for around £60. But the over riding consideration is:- does it need doing? Are the tyres wearing unevenly? If yes, get it checked, if no, very much leave well alone. 
Why are you renewing the glow plugs on a 44k vehicle? 
Gearbox service - not normally until c75K.

Apologies for questioning/contra opinion. I’m very much into adequate, even reasonably over, servicing, but within sensible limits. 
Hope this is not too negative, but have you had a good study of the benefits and downsides ceramic coating? 
Good luck with it all.

Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Steve Q]

6 hours ago, Magnet said:

Hello Brain, (not Brian?). 
Sounds great - as Steve says - but to me, an expensive overkill at that mileage. 
Basics - OK ‘with genuine Audi parts’…. your choice of course, but I would simply use (just as good) German origin filters such as Mann, Bosch, Hengst, at a comparative fraction of the cost, with no compromise. As an aside, if this car has been serviced to schedule it will still be running on its original air filter since it hasn’t yet got to 45k ( yes, daft I know). 
Why pay your independent £90 to carry out a four wheel alignment when they are likely to subcontract this to a local tyre depot? Not sure what your local ATS is like, but the chaps at my local branch are great, and they do it for around £60. But the over riding consideration is:- does it need doing? Are the tyres wearing unevenly? If yes, get it checked, if no, very much leave well alone. 
Why are you renewing the glow plugs on a 44k vehicle? 
Gearbox service - not normally until c75K.

Apologies for questioning/contra opinion. I’m very much into adequate, even reasonably over, servicing, but within sensible limits. 
Hope this is not too negative, but have you had a good study of the benefits and downsides ceramic coating? 
Good luck with it all.

Kind regards,

Gareth.

Sorry Gareth, I was just questioning what the interval would be as it's an 8 year old car, and I thought it's usually 5 years or 120k, but I could be wrong and it could have already been done previously. 

[Magnet]

Very good point on age Steve.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 
 

[AudiA6BiTDIC7]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the various responses - much appreciated.

I will post an update once I’ve picked it up and taken it for a spin. Will post jobs/prices etc. It’s had some Powerflex bushes also … as they were severely perished and the Audi/OEMs were on back order. 

Any recommendations on window tinting? I’ve been looking for some details on the factory tinting %s to have this replicated (as mine does not have this option). I drive in Europe quite a lot … so it’s for practical rather than aesthetic reasons TBH. Also found out that factory tinted glass vs aftermarket tinting stops virtually no heat/UV … 

Any advice appreciated!

 

[Steve Q]

Glad we've helped, please keep us posted on how you get on once you've picked it up 🙂 

Changing the glass with genuine tinted glass would be costly. Especially the side boot windows as these are bonded into the car body. I paid £120 (very good price) for one to be replaced after someone smashed one of mine. 

Door windows are more straightforward to change. Not sure about the boot window, but I believe it's bonded in also. 

[56Doc]

Nice motor, as said elsewhere, ‘genuine’ Audi parts are mostly made by other specialist parts companies, filters especially!

Tiptronic gearboxes, defo NOT sealed for any period, I had my 1st in a 2004 V8 Allroad, specialist advice was oils & filter every 40k, so it’s a bargain at whatever price compared to a possible failed box.

not sure if the BIturbo has the same water leak in the ‘V’ design issue that the other V6 diesels do but it’s worth asking your specialist/ keeping an eye on it as it’s not a cheap fix.

is the BIturbo cam belt or chain? 
 

Other possible issue may be the air suspension, but that seems far more reliable now  than the 1st couple of generations. However, just be aware that again, aftermarket versions of the airbags (US made, guaranteed for life) are often better quality and a LOT cheaper. Air pumps too:

If you ever need a suspension air pump, they’re not made by Audi either, one company supplies them to Merc, RR, Range Rover (virtually every make that uses air suspension) etc. Audi wanted to charge me £1300 for pump + labour. I bought one direct from the US manufacturer (after an internet search) for my 2004 Allroad for £300 and had it fitted at a local garage, 1 hour!

 

 

[56Doc]

Oh, forgot to ask, as it’s a 2016 model I’m assuming it uses ‘Adblue’ by law. BUT, it’s worth getting yr specialist to check the exact date as if the car was made before it became law to have it fitted, then it can be disabled and you’ll never have to worry about it or refill it again! It only became an MOT checked item after it became law that the system had to be fitted.

before that date it was just an optional extra.

Be aware that as the system fluid level drops, and parts of the system dry out, the drops left behind will dry out and crystallise, eventually, this causes the system to stop working and it needs cleaning/flushing, no big deal unless it goes into ‘limp’ mode!

[56Doc]

Had my windows tinted (film), cost about £200 I think, couple of hours, after 2.5 yrs years, no signs of peeling, fading, splitting or bubbles etc. much cheaper & faster than replacing glass.

[56Doc]

PS; You can now get both UV & IR (heat) reflective tints.