Problems w/ 2008/08 Audi A6 2.7TDi SE MultiTronic 7 Speed CVT

[_Azza_]

Hi Guys,

Great forum here, my first post - after some advice if possible.

I've read around and the MultiTronic CVT boxes aren't very good on Audi's before 2008? Not sure if it's just the keyboard warriors out there making it sound worse than it is but I'm looking to buy my first Audi AND my first automatic. It's a 2008/08 Audi A6 2.7TDi SE MultiTronic 7 Speed CVT saloon model, not Avant but I did notice it had the optional flappy-paddle buttons which made driving it as a semi-auto really good!

I test drove it the other day, it's on 82,000 miles and is pretty solid out on the road. Engine sounds good, pickup is strong and no real problems I could tell.

I'm gonna go back and look at the FSH properly, make sure transmission fluids have been changed etc... but other than the MultiTronic box and the MMI are there any other issues I should be looking out for? What are the main problems?

Any advice is much appreciated.

[gupsterg]

Hi,

Welcome to VWAF! ...

On the V6 swirls flaps can be a common issue ... google for ssp 325 , page 13 has some info ...

A swirl link repair kit is available Link:- Audi V6 TDi 2.7 & 3.0 Inlet Manifold, Swirl Flap Repair Kit.

You'll also find some videos in linked thread showing some of the faults that can occur with the swirl manifold system besides the motors ...

Other than that the 2008 has many production issues sorted concerning the V6 ... the 2.7 is a 3.0 TDi re-engineered ...

The multitronic is also improved vs early production years on the A6 4F/C6 , gearbox oil change interval is every 40K miles ...

ATB
G

[_Azza_]

Thanks G.

Is it worth just chucking the swirl flap part on anyway or just waiting for the engine light to appear? It can't be that detrimental to the engine, surely?

It's on an 08 (pre-facelift) but after driving it I was very impressed!

Do you think it's worth taking a mechanic up for an inspection even though it's main Peugoet dealer?

Az

Hi,

Welcome to VWAF! ...

On the V6 swirls flaps can be a common issue ... google for ssp 325 , page 13 has some info ...

A swirl link repair kit is available Link:- Audi V6 TDi 2.7 & 3.0 Inlet Manifold, Swirl Flap Repair Kit.

You'll also find some videos in linked thread showing some of the faults that can occur with the swirl manifold system besides the motors ...

Other than that the 2008 has many production issues sorted concerning the V6 ... the 2.7 is a 3.0 TDi re-engineered ...

The multitronic is also improved vs early production years on the A6 4F/C6 , gearbox oil change interval is every 40K miles ...

ATB
G

[gupsterg]

Is it worth just chucking the swirl flap part on anyway or just waiting for the engine light to appear? It can't be that detrimental to the engine, surely?

The fault is not detrimental to engine, unlike the BMW swirl flaps which enter engine causing damage (but I think they have a fix for that now) ...
TBH I'd just wait until a fault happens ... I bought the links as they were cheap and just in case they were no longer available when I needed them ...

Something more to read Link:- Swirl flaps - are they worth it?

Do you think it's worth taking a mechanic up for an inspection even though it's main Peugoet dealer?

If it's at a Peugoet dealer it has come in as a P/X , my own opinion would be they may lack certain expertise concerning the car but I would think they will give you better support than a private/small car trader ...

I do not know your own capabilities to judge if it is a good car or not so my advise would be to get a VAG specialist mechanic to view it ... I spent over 3 hours with my current A6 and it turned out to be a lemon and please don't ask what has been going on otherwise we will be here to long! (via my profile page check started threads) ...

Once when I bought a car using AA data check they insured it against eventualities surrounding purchase decision based on information supplied, it may be worth checking to see if you buy a car after an AA or RAC inspection that they give such an insurance ...

[_Azza_]

Thanks again dude.

Sorry to hear you've had so many issues with your VAG. What year/trim/gearbox/specification is yours?

The AA/RAC inspections are £250 upwards, I guess it's weighing up the risk of paying it now, finding a problem and walking away or buying the car and paying any repair costs later... My peace of mind is it's given a 1 year platinum warranty which essentially extends the original Audi warranty but I'd probably get them to put it all in writing first. Did you get yours private?

I'm really keen on buying it, other than the swirl flap issue I'm not seeing any real problems with these motors... would you still recommend them/buy one again?

The fault is not detrimental to engine, unlike the BMW swirl flaps which enter engine causing damage (but I think they have a fix for that now) ...
TBH I'd just wait until a fault happens ... I bought the links as they were cheap and just in case they were no longer available when I needed them ...

Something more to read Link:- Swirl flaps - are they worth it?



If it's at a Peugoet dealer it has come in as a P/X , my own opinion would be they may lack certain expertise concerning the car but I would think they will give you better support than a private/small car trader ...

I do not know your own capabilities to judge if it is a good car or not so my advise would be to get a VAG specialist mechanic to view it ... I spent over 3 hours with my current A6 and it turned out to be a lemon and please don't ask what has been going on otherwise we will be here to long! (via my profile page check started threads) ...

Once when I bought a car using AA data check they insured it against eventualities surrounding purchase decision based on information supplied, it may be worth checking to see if you buy a car after an AA or RAC inspection that they give such an insurance ...

[gupsterg]

Thanks again dude.

Sorry to hear you've had so many issues with your VAG. What year/trim/gearbox/specification is yours?

The AA/RAC inspections are £250 upwards, I guess it's weighing up the risk of paying it now, finding a problem and walking away or buying the car and paying any repair costs later... My peace of mind is it's given a 1 year platinum warranty which essentially extends the original Audi warranty but I'd probably get them to put it all in writing first. Did you get yours private?

I'm really keen on buying it, other than the swirl flap issue I'm not seeing any real problems with these motors...

No worries ...

I'm finally getting there ... Here is my spec Link:- My Car Spec (Current as of 2013).txt

Had 70K on clock, FASH, 55 Plate, bought Aug 11 paid £10K, you'd be looking 07/57 for comparison now ... bought from indi garage, major costing issues after warranty expire (3mths IIRC) ...
Audi would not sell me a warranty when I asked straight after buying ...

IMO due to yours being a 2008 you will avoid chain rattle which I had, mine had poorer production injectors, have a nose of this Link:- Audi A6 4F C6 V6 2.7 3.0 TDi Buyers Checklist ....

would you still recommend them/buy one again?

Honest answer on the fence currently, has not been easy to plough the money I have done into car ... chain rattle fix £2k ... home DIY injector install approx £1.(x)K ...

Total ownership exc. fuel, ins., tax so far since owning been £6.(x)k ...

Perhaps once a longer period of the nearly 12mths plus fight been going on with car I will resoundingly say YES!

Heres a link to Audi A6 brochures ... Link:- Brochures < A6 < Approved Used Range < Used cars < Audi UK

[_Azza_]

Wow, that's a heavy specification! So £3k on injector/chain rattle? Someone told me the 2.7/3.0TDi are solid, it's the 2.0TDi which are prone to issues?

Whoa! That's a lot of money to have spent in addition to the £10k you bought it with. £6k is about what I'm wanting to spend ontop of my P/X!

I appreciate all of your help, you've been great, honestly! I've now made a hefty little check-list to take with me the next time I go.

So long as the oil changes on the engine and transmission have been regular I don't think I have much to worry about mechanically? The MMI/ECU are pretty solid aren't they? I can't really check them for wear?

One more (silly) question... the orange engine light normally comes on when you put the key in but don't start the engine, but goes off once you turn the key and engine starts right?

The only thing I noticed on this was the electronic parking break switch had a fair bit of wear on it presumably from wear and tear and the setup switch was stuck which the salesman unstuck with his credit card just enough to show me around the MMI. He said he'd get someone to unstick it fully.

Thanks again.

No worries ...

I'm finally getting there ... Here is my spec Link:- My Car Spec (Current as of 2013).txt

Had 70K on clock, FASH, 55 Plate, bought Aug 11 paid £10K, you'd be looking 07/57 for comparison now ... bought from indi garage, major costing issues after warranty expire (3mths IIRC) ...
Audi would not sell me a warranty when I asked straight after buying ...

IMO due to yours being a 2008 you will avoid chain rattle which I had, mine had poorer production injectors, have a nose of this Link:- Audi A6 4F C6 V6 2.7 3.0 TDi Buyers Checklist ....



Honest answer on the fence currently, has not been easy to plough the money I have done into car ... chain rattle fix £2k ... home DIY injector install approx £1.(x)K ...

Total ownership exc. fuel, ins., tax so far since owning been £6.(x)k ...

Perhaps once a longer period of the nearly 12mths plus fight been going on with car I will resoundingly say YES!

Heres a link to Audi A6 brochures ... Link:- Brochures < A6 < Approved Used Range < Used cars < Audi UK

[gupsterg]

Wow, that's a heavy specification!

Thank you ... mine is not the most option loaded but more than some others ... one of the reasons I have kept ploughing the £££ in it is if I looked at getting another and then perhaps retro fit some elements I'd blow mega £££ ... for instance on the MMI 2G AMI & DAB are not complicated or costly retro fits but MMI 2G Basic/Basic + to High is costly/complicated ... converting from halogen to xenon's again is £££ ...

I would possibly make a list of must have options & ones you'd like, some options are rarer to find on the used market, I've been peaking at the Autotrader virtually all days since having issues, just to justify what I've been blowing on my car ...

So £3k on injector/chain rattle? Someone told me the 2.7/3.0TDi are solid, it's the 2.0TDi which are prone to issues?

What you are looking at is very worst case scenarios plus mine was on long life servicing from new til 70k miles which IMO exaggerated issues. Due to your current prospective purchase being a 2008 it has the superseded injectors, mine did not. Yours will have the improved chain tensioner, mine did not. Again the multitronic gearbox is improved vs a 2004 to 2007, IIRC 2007 was when they improved design will try to double check as I need to put that in the "V6 buyers" thread.

There are plenty of early V6 owners which have not had issues, same goes with the 2.0 TDi ... the later car you buy will have improved software in modules and parts ... if your budget stretch to a facelift car ie 2009 -11 I would go for that instead if buying again ...

MMI 3G Low is standard in facelift cars which is kinda same/better than MMI 2G high but retros to it are done differently vs 2G...
MMI 3G High has HDD nav/jukebox which is sweet IMO ... on the facelift Xenon equipped cars you have those cool LED DRL's ...
The 2.0 TDi on the facelift is common rail and you can get a 170 BHP version which is close to 2.7 on power but with more economy ...

PM c4a5er once you got more than 10 posts he had a Touareg V6 and went to a facelift A6 2.0 PS170 and enjoys it ...

I appreciate all of your help, you've been great, honestly! I've now made a hefty little check-list to take with me the next time I go.

So long as the oil changes on the engine and transmission have been regular I don't think I have much to worry about mechanically? The MMI/ECU are pretty solid aren't they? I can't really check them for wear?

No worries mate , I'm just an owner I've had a hard time with mine and some of the suggestions are things I'd do if buying again ...

Yes if engine/gearbox oil has been done regular they are sound as a £ and you shouldn't have anything to worry about ...

From what I've seen in the past 20 mths of being glued to forums the MMI/ECU are solid, the amount of failure just due to failing on its own accord is very low that no one should worry about it IMO ...

One more (silly) question... the orange engine light normally comes on when you put the key in but don't start the engine, but goes off once you turn the key and engine starts right?

Yes that's normal ... to the left of the MMI screen is a "Check" button push that when car is started and it will go through the check system, if it flick through all checks all is well, if it displays/pauses on just one or more check screen and a message there is a fault related to that ... I will do a video and upload later today ...

The only thing I noticed on this was the electronic parking break switch had a fair bit of wear on it presumably from wear and tear

Mine has a little on the lowest edge, some elements of trim have a soft feel coating on them which does wear off with use ... on the facelift car some of those elements have been improved with a different coating ... in the case of the EPB switch it has a chrome section where most wear on coating would occur ...

the setup switch was stuck which the salesman unstuck with his credit card just enough to show me around the MMI. He said he'd get someone to unstick it fully.

Check all things work ... something for you to read Link:- Setting Clock / date

[_Azza_]

Yeah they do seem to be generous with the kit though! I mean when I started looking it was literally big German diesel saloon, minimum lots of toys inside lol! Initially was after a 5 series and wouldn't touch an Audi but after test driving the A6 I fell in love!


How do I check if it's on long life servicing? The dealership guys said it's serviced every 20,000 miles...? That sounds like long life to me?


I'd like to push the budget but to be honest I'm looking closer to 9-10k but I would get a Le Mans or S-Line for that money!


Thanks for that I will push the check button when I see it!


Cheers again for the advice.

Thank you ... mine is not the most option loaded but more than some others ... one of the reasons I have kept ploughing the £££ in it is if I looked at getting another and then perhaps retro fit some elements I'd blow mega £££ ... for instance on the MMI 2G AMI & DAB are not complicated or costly retro fits but MMI 2G Basic/Basic + to High is costly/complicated ... converting from halogen to xenon's again is £££ ...

I would possibly make a list of must have options & ones you'd like, some options are rarer to find on the used market, I've been peaking at the Autotrader virtually all days since having issues, just to justify what I've been blowing on my car ...



What you are looking at is very worst case scenarios plus mine was on long life servicing from new til 70k miles which IMO exaggerated issues. Due to your current prospective purchase being a 2008 it has the superseded injectors, mine did not. Yours will have the improved chain tensioner, mine did not. Again the multitronic gearbox is improved vs a 2004 to 2007, IIRC 2007 was when they improved design will try to double check as I need to put that in the "V6 buyers" thread.

There are plenty of early V6 owners which have not had issues, same goes with the 2.0 TDi ... the later car you buy will have improved software in modules and parts ... if your budget stretch to a facelift car ie 2009 -11 I would go for that instead if buying again ...

MMI 3G Low is standard in facelift cars which is kinda same/better than MMI 2G high but retros to it are done differently vs 2G...
MMI 3G High has HDD nav/jukebox which is sweet IMO ... on the facelift Xenon equipped cars you have those cool LED DRL's ...
The 2.0 TDi on the facelift is common rail and you can get a 170 BHP version which is close to 2.7 on power but with more economy ...

PM c4a5er once you got more than 10 posts he had a Touareg V6 and went to a facelift A6 2.0 PS170 and enjoys it ...



No worries mate , I'm just an owner I've had a hard time with mine and some of the suggestions are things I'd do if buying again ...

Yes if engine/gearbox oil has been done regular they are sound as a £ and you shouldn't have anything to worry about ...

From what I've seen in the past 20 mths of being glued to forums the MMI/ECU are solid, the amount of failure just due to failing on its own accord is very low that no one should worry about it IMO ...



Yes that's normal ... to the left of the MMI screen is a "Check" button push that when car is started and it will go through the check system, if it flick through all checks all is well, if it displays/pauses on just one or more check screen and a message there is a fault related to that ... I will do a video and upload later today ...



Mine has a little on the lowest edge, some elements of trim have a soft feel coating on them which does wear off with use ... on the facelift car some of those elements have been improved with a different coating ... in the case of the EPB switch it has a chrome section where most wear on coating would occur ...



Check all things work ... something for you to read Link:- Setting Clock / date

[Guest 2]

Yep the 20k is longlife and more suited to long distance drivers or company fleets.

Most recommended is the 10k/1 year regime which seems to suit most people