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  1. #1
    Established Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jul 22 2016
    AZ Member #
    376941
    My Garage
    2011 A4 2.0 CVT FWD
    Location
    Atlanta

    Swapping A4 transmissions and drive trains?

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    I've got a project 2011 A4 2.0L CVT FWD Sedan. I'm rebuilding the engine now, but I still don't know for sure that the CVT transmission even works. Even if it does, I've only heard bad things about them, and it's still 2WD.

    My friend has a 2010 A4 2.0L A/T Quattro Avant Wagon that he is essentially parting out.

    Is it possible to swap out my A4's FWD CVT transmission for the Avant's Automatic transmission, ECM and rest of the Quattro drive train? (which is all in good running shape) I can take any/all parts I would need from the Avant.

    I gather that the Avant's ECM would have to be reprogrammed for my sedan and I would need to use the Avant's engine wiring harness too, right? But would the Quattro transmission and 4WD drive train bolt up to my car?

    Would there be other considerations or other parts that I would need to swap from his Quattro to my FWD sedan?
    I can pull, rebuild, and install these engines, and am getting half decent with VCDS. But this swap might be a pretty big undertaking! What do you guys think?

    FWIW:
    My sedan's VIN: WAUAFAFL9BN047***

    His Avant's VIN: WAU4FAFL1AA107***

    As far as I can see the only main differences in the VINs are the series number, and the NHTSA code.
    Last edited by Spaceboy3000; 03-26-2025 at 10:08 AM.

  2. #2
    Veteran Member Four Rings
    Join Date
    Jul 16 2018
    AZ Member #
    422473
    Location
    Atlanta

    You'd need the rear subframe and rear diff and axles and rear wheel bearings and all the other relevant parts.

    The only difference on the CAEB engine will be the flex plate that the transmission bolts to. So if you take the avant ECM and TCM and transmission and rear drive aspects, should be feasible. ECM bitching about which TCM is present seems to be a complication Audi has made more complicated in recent years. But for an already matched set that would just need to be immobilizer adapted to the car, might make it easy. Yes, would be easier to swap over the engine harness with the connectivity for the ZF than chopping up the existing harness, but either can be done. But this kind of stuff is always easy enough with the physicals and the electrics. It's about Audi's artificial f u's in the programming that's always a problem. But with the engine and transmission and ECM and TCM that were all an existing configuration, should be possible. No idea what other coding changes you might need, such as in the ABS, etc.

    If the avant is operational, you'll want to get a complete VCDS autoscan log so you have the coding config to compare vs your vehicle to look for any differences and determine the why of that difference (ie, will you need to change to its config for that bit, or is the difference not related to quattro/ZF). The avant is a Prestige trim. The sedan is a Premium trim. There's going to be a lot of equipment differences between the vehicles, so you'll see a lot of that in the coding. Thus finding all the differences and sorting what are trim related and what are drivetrain related. Making the prestige avant work would be a lot more valuable than that premium sedan. But maybe the avant has some major break?
    2009 A4 Avant 2.0T quattro Prestige, 275k miles

  3. #3
    Established Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jul 22 2016
    AZ Member #
    376941
    My Garage
    2011 A4 2.0 CVT FWD
    Location
    Atlanta

    Thanks, Scott!

    What you're describing is about what I was expecting. My friend already has a full VCDS autoscan log from the Avant. I'll double check but I'm pretty sure there is/was no issue with anything broken in the drive train. I'm going to give this swap a try and I'll post the results..... thx!

  4. #4
    Veteran Member Four Rings
    Join Date
    Jul 16 2018
    AZ Member #
    422473
    Location
    Atlanta

    Out of curiosity, is it a beige interior and what's the state of the headliner?
    2009 A4 Avant 2.0T quattro Prestige, 275k miles

  5. #5
    Established Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jul 22 2016
    AZ Member #
    376941
    My Garage
    2011 A4 2.0 CVT FWD
    Location
    Atlanta

    The interior in both cars is black. My sedan has the gray headliner etc. I imagine you're just thinking about the Avant.... I'll PM you.
    Last edited by Spaceboy3000; 03-26-2025 at 10:26 AM.

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