Thinking of a C5 4.2

[ChrisFurlong]

Hi guys,

I've been thinking about buying a C5 A6 4.2 Avant Tiptronic recently (as I need an avant now) and selling my 2.0T A4.

I've found one that looks really nice, as it is an RS6 replica. Its fairly cheap (~£5k) but has done 140,000 miles. The guy said he has replaced the coolant sensor, timing belt, water pump and tensioner recently as it was overheating (coolant sensor I guess). He also says it has a gearbox problem in the fact that when driving at a constant speed it revs up and down slightly. He says hes had an auto electrician plug into the car and no faults were found.

Does anyone know if this is a commom problem? Is it an easy fix? Maybe a tiptronic oil replace might solve it?

And how solid are these engines? Any major issues I should look out for before I buy it?

[redneck truck]

You will be rebuilding or replacing the gearbox very soon. Mine went at 127k. They all do eventually.

[ChrisFurlong]

Did you have the same problem as this car does? With the revs going up and down while driving at a constant speed?
Could it be another problem that doesn't require rebuilding or replacing the gearbox?

[G Men 08]

I would talk him down some and swap in a manual 6 speed!

[ChrisFurlong]

I just prefer autos. I don't really want to go through changing the gearbox, so I think I'll have to pass on it.

[mithril]

Did you have the same problem as this car does? With the revs going up and down while driving at a constant speed?
Could it be another problem that doesn't require rebuilding or replacing the gearbox?

His comment was more a general statement about the 4.2L. A tranny rebuild is pretty much standard maintenance on these cars.

[redneck truck]

Yeah, buy a Lexus.