it's my first time, be gentle

[AvantHater]

Hey guys! this is my first post (not counting that obligatory new member one) despite having been on here since last July. Have just been lurking and learning since then but now I feel that I have enough interesting/helpful stuff to contribute.

I picked up a somewhat high mileage 2002 Ming Blue S6 last summer, about 130,000miles when I got it. I believe the previous owner (I'm 4th I think) was a member here too. I'm located in central Indiana, just south of Indianapolis. Car is fairly good condition for its age, I think. A few minor superficial imperfections, but its character. Interior is great, alcantara headliner, all the buttons work, and my favorite part, which might seem weird, is the smell of the leather, every time i get into the car... mmm

I've done a bit of work on it already. when I got it I gave it an fresh oil change with Rotella T6 5w40 synthetic and a Mann filter, new engine air filter, and new pollen filter. After driving it a few weeks a strange thing happened when braking up to a stop light, the car bucked and jerked on the 2-1 downshift. I had already read about the transmission problems these cars are prone to so I immediately ordered the parts for a transmission fluid service. The fluid service went well, no unexpected surprises in the pan but the fluid was not really in the best shape so changing it was a good thing. during my time beneath the transmission I discovered a leak! looked like the tailshaft seal had been leaking for a long time. got some gear oil and topped it up, or should I say filled it up! center diff was pretty much completely empty, who knows how long it would have been before that thing grenaded? I continued to drive it around after that but made sure to top off the diff fluid every week or two. During normal driving (~60 miles a day) the diff would need about half a quart every two weeks. Thats a pretty bad leak! well I decided to not drive the car until I was able to get the leak fixed. some time went by and I decided to nip the problem in the bud. Since it is apparently the catalytic converters that cause the seal to rot and leak I decided to cut them out of the picture! I'll post the details of this in the custom exhaust thread, but short story: QTP electronic cutouts! So yea, replaced the tailshaft seal and cut the cats off and put in cutouts instead.

Now to the bad stuff.
I've only been able to put about 10,000 miles on it before some major problems arose.
I will post up my work so far and as I progress. currently waiting for some parts from Blau.

[4rings2turbos]

Dude, welcome. You've been busy!

Can't wait to see pics.

[AvantHater]

I'll post my progress while I'm at work tomorrow but the exhaust post is up now though.
A hint at what I'm currently dealing with though: poorly done timing belt/water pump job.

[CAL4.2]

Subscribing

[alien_brain]

avants are awesome, jis sayin

[AvantHater]

lol, I know, and I agree. my user name is what it is because prior to having the S6, when I was still looking for a second car I was not too keen on avants or wagons or whatever you'd like to call them. I had really only liked sedans, I needed something with at least 4 doors and was also spacious enough for two dogs, luggage, and maybe some kids in the future. I was leaning towards a small truck or suv or something, but then I found the S6, i drove it, and it was awesome.

[C5S6]

I've wanted to do cutouts on my S6 since I got it in 2008. Cat delete is not an option where I live though.

[AvantHater]

to be honest, they're too loud! but it is fun to go from unsuspecting wagon to the sound of a balls-out V8 racecar in a matter of seconds and then back again when the fun-time is over. lol
the cutouts, when fully open and at wide open throttle, reverberate through the inside of the car so much that sometimes it causes the front courtesy lights to turn on! I think there may be a loose connection up there. probably wouldn't be as bad if they dumped out to the sides of the car or all the way out to the back, but since they dump right down to the ground the sound just bounces back up and makes em sound ridiculously loud! you can check em out in the custom exhaust sticky