Brakes. Fuel system. Arm Rest stuck full open. Always something.

[SteveC]

I really like and want to like my 2017 A6 3.0T Supercharged with 72K miles. But lately, it seems every time I get in the car, there's another light on the dash or some other problem. Rear brakes last week. $500. OK, brake pads wear out. Next day, after filling the tank, Fuel System warning. Can I direct you to a gas station. No lights on the dash for fuel. That'll be another $500 next week. Next day, I open the arm rest and it sticks fully up. Can't "ratchet" it back. I'd like to go 1 year without doing more than an oil change and filling the tank.

[RPMtech147]

That's Audi life. Really, that's German car life.

[SteveC]

I guess it is. I was warned. Just seems like it’s all at once.

[Jayskywalkers7]

I guess it is. I was warned. Just seems like it’s all at once.

Just the way it is. Sounds like to bad luck though. Push through or you could sell and go for one with less miles?

[Valpo A7]

Other than timing chains my Audi maintenance experience has been only slightly worse than other cars I have owned. Last summer I had a bunch of stuff happen back to back to back but I have not wrenches on the car since then other than an oil change. Now this summer coming up might be a different story. I am getting a suspension rattle so it might be finally time to replace some front end parts. Can’t complain ax it’s a 2012 with 225,000 miles and original front end suspension. Rear shocks and springs and both wheel bearings on the right side are the only parts changed.

[SteveC]

Well, the plan is to drive it until it won’t. It’ll be paid off in a year so then these issues won’t seem as bad. I’ll try to hang in there I guess. When I look at other vehicles or more “dependable” ones, I just don’t like the look of any of them. I think my ‘17 has a great look, even nicer than a new A6 to me. I haven’t done much to it. Some caliper covers. Logo puddle lights. Spacers were the nicest touch. It looks better than stock but not over the top at all. It’s plenty fast for me so I don’t need to tune or whatever. It might be nice if it had a little more growl but it’s ok as is.

[IllusionalTA]

Need help getting the arm rest down? I did it, and it wasn't bad, sadly Audi, wanted 1100.00 to replace the entire thing for some reason... lazy? Greed?

[SteveC]

Need help getting the arm rest down? I did it, and it wasn't bad, sadly Audi, wanted 1100.00 to replace the entire thing for some reason... lazy? Greed?

Drill a hole?

[SteveC]

Well, $1K later I have new rear brakes, the fuel sensor/sending issue is fixed and the armrest is down. Drives like a champ again. It is a sweet car. Love/Hate to the extreme. Waiting for it to warm up this weekend to run it through the (touchless) wash.

[Valpo A7]

Ouch! I would strongly suggest that you find an independent repair shop in your area that you can trust rather than the dealership. You will get less expensive and better service than the dealer. Dealer will fix your car but typically load the OEM parts cannon and just start changing crap that might be bad rather than to actually diagnose the problem and change the right parts that are bad.

[RPMtech147]

Well, $1K later I have new rear brakes, the fuel sensor/sending issue is fixed and the armrest is down. Drives like a champ again. It is a sweet car. Love/Hate to the extreme. Waiting for it to warm up this weekend to run it through the (touchless) wash.

This is so my B6 S4. I love and hate that piece of shit so much. Currently nothing broken, 110k. I never drive it. With that car, I'd get something working, I think I did something to exhaust, got it on the road, did a hard 1-2 shift and the passenger front window just fell into the door....
Back into the garage......

My B8 daily has been pretty solid in the 3 years I've had it. Just did engine mounts and pulled the valve body to change the Orings between the mech and case.

[SteveC]

Ouch! I would strongly suggest that you find an independent repair shop in your area that you can trust rather than the dealership. You will get less expensive and better service than the dealer. Dealer will fix your car but typically load the OEM parts cannon and just start changing crap that might be bad rather than to actually diagnose the problem and change the right parts that are bad.

This is an independent place. It's about the only one that will service Audi, BMW, etc. I don't think the parts were overly expensive. I don't have the receipt in front of me. The labor was 1/2 the bill , but I think that's the case no matter where you go?

[SteveC]

And a day later I still have an engine light. I need to get my own reader to read and clear these codes. It's -15 so I know the cold does strange things, and these cars seem to have sensors for sensors so it's probably nothing as the car seems to be running just fine - even in the cold.

[cuerna]

I bought a A6 2012 recently, needed rear brakes, spent $180 for a set of drilled-slotted rotors from rockauto ($180) and a set of Z26 pads ($40) , total: $220 . Also painted them red and add s line decals.

It saves some cash when you do some work yourself..next, control arms.
I really like this car, feels pretty fast (stock) and transmission is very smooth.

[SteveC]

I don't have tools. I'm not very mechanical. I don't have a garage. I'm a bit at the mercy of my shop. I do have a friend that helped me do my caliper covers and spacers. I would never try anything major as who knows what damage I'd do. The price I pay for caviar taste on a beer budget.

[cuerna]

Yeah I know some issues are hard to fix, specially if you're not very mechanical, I almost messed up my car the other day when I was coding some stuff with obdeleven.

You gotta be careful and know you're limits...I don't know everything but I can do some work like brakes, valve covers gaskets , oil change, etc and I have lots of tools but I would never take a engine apart or a transmission....that's beyond me..

[SteveC]

I'm going to OBDeleven my car this weekend. Nothing fancy. Just apps. Needle sweep. DRL dim with turn signal instead of going off, stuff like that. I think even I can do that without messing something up.

[cuerna]

Cool. I did a bunch of coding and I was happy with the results. I would just do a full backup just in case.

[paul-g]

I don't have tools. I'm not very mechanical. I don't have a garage. I'm a bit at the mercy of my shop. I do have a friend that helped me do my caliper covers and spacers. I would never try anything major as who knows what damage I'd do. The price I pay for caviar taste on a beer budget.

there is always a local buddy that has these things and they can teach if you buy enough beer....look in local forums on here might be someone close to you

[A6sport]

Just the way it is. Sounds like to bad luck though. Push through or you could sell and go for one with less miles?

72k, it's just broken in... I've been driving these cars (Audi) for 39 years. They are soooo much better than they use to be. Your car is solid, like someone said push through. Things will inevitably happen. You have a great car, as long as it was serviced properly at recommended intervals. Most importantly, remember, you gota pay to play in the German arena.

[SteveC]

72k, it's just broken in... I've been driving these cars (Audi) for 39 years. They are soooo much better than they use to be. Your car is solid, like someone said push through. Things will inevitably happen. You have a great car, as long as it was serviced properly at recommended intervals. Most importantly, remember, you gota pay to play in the German arena.

It’s an EVAP issue. The place I had the other fuel issue work done is going to lol at it and be sure they didn’t cause it - which is nice I think. It’ll get fixed one way or the other.
I researched that my car should be one of the more reliable for Audi. And yeah, you gotta pay to play in the Audi world.

I drove a Honda Trailsport for the hell of it. It was nice, but obviously not the driving experience I’m used to. Sitting up high, some extra room, all nice, but I’m going to stick to the plan. Get it paid off and have no car payments by next year.

Thanks for listening. Oh yeah, the OBDeleven works great. Needle sweep, daytime rear DRL’s, gear indicator, auto of memory. All little things but fun.