A6 3.0T vs S6 vs 535

[nels2825]

I am looking into replacing my 08 A6 and 2016 wrx with either a 535 xdrive, C7 A6 or C7 S6. I was originally planning on doing the S6, but I am seeing a lot of posts about turbo reliability issues. With the 535, you can get an upgraded turbo and get 450whp pretty easily. What kind of numbers would an A6 with upgraded pulleys and e85 do? I haven't been able to find much of anything. I am trying to get something that has good performance but also something that would be reliable. If that means swapping out turbos when I get an S6, I could deal with that, but are there any other common issues?

[yeuchau]

I am looking into replacing my 08 A6 and 2016 wrx with either a 535 xdrive, C7 A6 or C7 S6. I was originally planning on doing the S6, but I am seeing a lot of posts about turbo reliability issues. With the 535, you can get an upgraded turbo and get 450whp pretty easily. What kind of numbers would an A6 with upgraded pulleys and e85 do? I haven't been able to find much of anything. I am trying to get something that has good performance but also something that would be reliable. If that means swapping out turbos when I get an S6, I could deal with that, but are there any other common issues?

Depends on what you want from these cars.

Stage 2 A6 (running race tune) is capable of low 4/high 3 from 0-60
If you go all out (i.e. Dual pulley, cooling upgrade, ported supercharge..etc) and you will be under 3.5 0-60 mph.

[Ze_Nardo6]

Just a tune on an S6 and you're shitting on 450whp

[esimp2k]

A6 and 535 are comparable. S6 is a different animal imo. I cross shopped the a6 and 535. I’d drive them both and then make decision. BMW has tons of option packages however. I would look for one with the dynamic suspension. I ended up with an a6 with the sport suspension also partly because of the much better extended cpo warranty from Audi.


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[Hofahome]

I wrote up review here on my brother-in-laws f10 535. Nowhere close to the power of my s6 stock for stock. It felt in line with my b8.5 S4 stock (so it will be similar to A6 with 3.0t). What I hated about the 535 (even with M suspension pkg and summer tires) is the horribly numb steering feel. I played with settings too. Makes sense though given the 5 series is (was?) based on 7 series chassis. Don't get me wrong it is still a nice car but it would be a large jump to luxury car from your WRX.
Funny when Audi gets nod over BMW for steering but it was true for me.


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[nels2825]

The S6 is what I would really like, however I can't seem to get a concise list of common failure items other than the turbos. Is there an aftermarket turbo option that isn't 4k+? Even for an Audi that is really expensive.

[sikessr]

I picked the C7 A6 with sport package over the 535 because the steering sucked in the 535 and it has turbo lag. My A6 is the family whip, I daily drive the M5. Steering isn’t great in the A6, but better than the 535 and no lag with the supercharger. I recently added a larger Fluidampr crank pulley and stage 2 tune. It made a world of difference. It hasn’t been dyno’d, but should have around 430-450bhp. With the 8 speed trans, it uses the power very nicely.


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[yeuchau]

I picked the C7 A6 with sport package over the 535 because the steering sucked in the 535 and it has turbo lag. My A6 is the family whip, I daily drive the M5. Steering isn’t great in the A6, but better than the 535 and no lag with the supercharger. I recently added a larger Fluidampr crank pulley and stage 2 tune. It made a world of difference. It hasn’t been dyno’d, but should have around 430-450bhp. With the 8 speed trans, it uses the power very nicely.


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did you do dual pulley or just single crank pulley upgrade?
how's the power compare to M5 (0-60)

[Hofahome]

did you do dual pulley or just single crank pulley upgrade?
how's the power compare to M5 (0-60)

Not that I want to answer for him but I had a DP s4 and have ridden in a new M5.
The DP S4 feels very similar to stock S6 from power perspective.
New M5 is in a different league. My stage III S6 is probably in line with it.


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[dbd723]

S6 hands down but needs mods to be a competent car. eurocode sways at a minimum.
apr stage 2 with downpipes and tcu tune is the way to go, then it is as fast and nice to drive as just about any sedan out there.

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

I am looking into replacing my 08 A6 and 2016 wrx with either a 535 xdrive, C7 A6 or C7 S6. I was originally planning on doing the S6, but I am seeing a lot of posts about turbo reliability issues. With the 535, you can get an upgraded turbo and get 450whp pretty easily. What kind of numbers would an A6 with upgraded pulleys and e85 do? I haven't been able to find much of anything. I am trying to get something that has good performance but also something that would be reliable. If that means swapping out turbos when I get an S6, I could deal with that, but are there any other common issues?

These are all nice cars. I came from a highly tuned 335xi and I'm now driving a 2018 A6 "Competition" without any modifications. BMW, generally, feels more connected, but it seems the newer 5 series are a bit numb and I personally like the A6 styling more than BMW. That said, you need to drive each and see what best suits your tastes. Read-up on tuning and 1/4 mile times for each stock and at stage 2, or so. You'll see they're similar and, again, it seems you really need to decide which car you'd like sit in for the next couple years. You can add power and handling to either, but if you like being in one more than the other, you should think about that seriously.

Also, note that power delivery SC versus turbo is different. Thats something that becomes even more dramatic when tuned and, again, I'd suggest you think about what you personally enjoy more than looking at pure numbers..

Happy motoring.

[sikessr]

did you do dual pulley or just single crank pulley upgrade?
how's the power compare to M5 (0-60)

I just did the crank pulley (single pulley) with stage 2 tune and it’s quite a bit quicker, especially in the midrange, and even low range. The supercharger spools a lot faster, so torque comes on quicker. I wish I could play around with the trans tuning myself. I might do the supercharger pulley, but it’s fairly quick for the family whip already.

I should have clarified, I have 2 E39 M5’s. The 2001 is mostly stock (400bhp from the factory). The 2003 is highly modified with supercharger, headers, meth injection, 3.45 rear diff (stock is 3.15), and several other goodies, over 600bhp/500whp.

They are very different cars. 0-60, the tuned A6 is pretty close to the stock’ish M5, maybe quicker. Both my M5’s have upgraded suspensions, so the A6 feels a bit squishy in comparison, and the narrower tires don’t help the A6 in handling. The A6 takes off from the line quicker with the AWD than the RWD M5’s. The M5’s are much more driver’s cars, but the tuned A6 has some straight line punch that should have come that way from the factory. The modified M5 is stupid fast with the 3.45 gearing.


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[DocTJ]

s6