I Bought an A4! 2006 3.2 quattro

[RobClubley]

It's kind of a pain walking my daughter to school 1.2km then rushing 0.5km to the train then walking 1km to work when I'm paying for a car park opposite work. And I sold the Mazda 626, and the urquattro is fighting me on being ready and will likely break down and will be hard work in traffic. So we decided a second (third) car was required.
I set a budget and started looking on Trademe. The sheer number of incredibly tedious, mundane Japanese s**tboxes is impressive, but inbetween them are some interesting cars. My criteria were: something interesting, preferably manual, probably not Japanese, not silver. Melanie's choices were sensible, economical, preferably auto so she could drive it. A compromise was required
We test drove a bright blue manual Mini Cooper S, looked at some MX-5s, briefly considered a TT convertible. All very hairdresser.
Next was a Skoda Superb, BMW 330i, Volvo V70.

In the end we went to a warehouse place and wandered around. I liked a few non-sensible cars, Melanie didn't like them
We liked a blue Passat wagon (4x4 V6 with lots of toys) but it had some broken trims and a few things to fix. I went back to an Audi we'd looked at earlier. Silver  But 3.2 V6 quattro  Leather, dual climate, stereo with sub (and tape deck) and really solid, nothing obviously broken. So I bought it.

It sounds awesome, goes well (188kW), is comfy and sensible. And auto, which I admit is the sensible choice for commuting. It does have flappy paddles though.
The wheels are seriously kerbed and tyres are worn out. They're fitting 4 new tyres, probably Supercats or Linglongs or something but they'll have to do for now. Pick it up today. Excite.





Hoping I haven't made an expensive error

[schattenblau]

two old audis !

you're brave

 

[RobClubley]

two old audis !

you're brave

 

More likely stupid.

[brian]

You're dead right about looking for something interesting on a budget......................I've spent a lifetime doing it!!!

[RobClubley]

[RobClubley]

Rusty foglight.






6 CD changer and tape deck!




Wheel abuse.

[RobClubley]

Complete lack of any history or manuals. Bugger.



Muppet - didn't check and thought this was an external sticker.

[Pushbutton_auto]

Just one thing, i think the V6s had overheating issues   

Not universal, but a known fault, was never a popular engine.

But if its only a city runabout it should sweet.   

[RobClubley]

It sounds good though

[RobClubley]

Need to get the alignment done, and do an oil and filter and air filter change, check plugs if I can get to them, it's tight in there!

Parking sensors are intermittent, sometimes just a solid beep.

Stereo is great though, now I've burned some CDs like it's 1999.


Got some history from Powerhaus - a local Audi specialist whose sticker was on the windscreen.

They've done regular services but not the timing chain. Looks like they did check it though, need to go through the detailed invoices.

They recommended transmission fluid changes which don't appear to have been done, so I should be able to do that. And I think it's time for new brake fluid too. Lots of fun to be had

Also I need to get Rusty on the road

I think a mechanical warranty is a good plan.

[RobClubley]

Result! Thanks to the internets I now know where the cunningly hidden special manual slot is, so I do have a manual after all.
Now I can find out how that red button works on the door

[schattenblau]

does the cd changer and tape deck work ?

if so, win !

 

[RobClubley]

does the cd changer and tape deck work ?

if so, win !

 

Yes! Well the CD player does, I burned 6 CDs and loaded them into it this morning. Sounds really good, too.
I haven't tested the tape deck yet.

[the phantom]

looks tidy Rob

[robh]

I know everyone hates the rear camchain V6/V8's but I have to say I've really enjoyed driving the wifes, same engine as yours but s-line wagon.  They are very responsive engine I think.

Things we've had happen:

1. O2 sensor fail, normal wear and tear
2. Parking sensors keep popping inside bumpers, really annoying as pulling bumpers on these is a fiddle
3. Magnet fell out of tiptronic shifter mech, fiddly fix, but zero cost fix once I'd worked it out
4. Lock in ignition barrel broke, apparently common.  $2.5k for a brand new one, paid a guy $750 all up to replace with second hand one as car was stranded in field and I had a busy week at work already
5. Seems to eat tyres, could be the wifes driving style
6. Pretty thirsty for city driving, very good out of town.
7. Small in the rear once your kids become teenagers

[RobClubley]

I'm not sure I would have found this if I hadn't found out about it online. This is where the manual lives.



So I have a decent service history thanks to this and Powerhaus emailing me loads of invoices.

Date                    km                     Where   What
5/06/2006                               Team European   Car purchased
29/05/2006                       European   Delivery Inspection
12/02/2007            15,144    Team European   Oil change
15/11/2007            28,564    Team European   Oil change, pollen filter, 
11/12/2008            45,523    Armstrong   Oil change
28/04/2009            57,227    Armstrong   Oil change, air filter, ATF Change, fuel filter, spark plugs
9/08/2010                    66,870    Powerhaus   Oil change, air filter, ATF Change, fuel filter, spark plugs
5/10/2011                    76,267    Powerhaus   Oil change, front discs and pads
16/03/2012            80,119    Powerhaus   Front discs and pads, new inner mounting bushes
21/09/2012            85,629    Powerhaus   Oil change, rear brake pads
12/11/2013            94,558    Powerhaus   Oil change
27/11/2013            94,603    Powerhaus   Remove timing chain covers, clean and re-seal. New vacuum pump
30/04/2014                      Powerhaus   Seat motor repaired
15/09/2014                      Powerhaus   Oil topup
20/11/2014          106,637    Powerhaus   Oil change, cabin filter, 2 tyres
19/11/2015          118,558    Powerhaus   Oil change. Recommended trans fluid, upper arm bushes split
20/07/2016          120,036    Powerhaus   Oil change. Recommended trans fluid, upper arm bushes split
         
Needed at 120k         Oil change, air filter, ATF Change, fuel filter, spark plugs, pollen filter

[RobClubley]

12.7l/100km on the morning commute.

[RobClubley]

Sad I know but I decoded the sticker codes

N0K = Leather seat covering
E0A = No special edition
7A0 = Without CD changer/CD player
4UF = Drivers and front passenger air bag with front passenger air bag deactivation
6XL = Exterior mirrors: with memory function, automatically dimming, electrically foldable/adjustable/heated
5SJ = Left exterior mirror: convex
6TQ = Right exterior mirror: flat, large viewing field
1KW = Disc brakes, rear
J0R = Battery 380 A (80 Ah)
1LA = Disc brakes, front
1BA = Standard suspension/shock absorption
3FA = Without roof insert (standard roof)
5MG = Decorative inserts, burr-walnut
7X1 = Park distance control
4R4 = Power windows with comfort operation andcircuit breaker
F0A = No special purpose vehicle, standard equipment
8GR = Alternator 150 A
0G7 = Tiptronic
0YL = Weight range 11 installation control only, no requirement forecast
0JL = Weight category front axle weight range 11
T14 = 6-cylinder gasoline engine 3.2 L Unit 06E.A (ALU)
3NZ = Rear seat bench unsplit, backrest split folding
8BF = Halogen headlight for driving on the left
U1A = Instrument insert with km/h speedometer,clock, tachometer and trip odometer
X8N = National sales program New Zealand
1N3 = Speed-related variable steering assist (Servotronic)
2ZS = Leather trimmed multi-function steering wheel with Tiptronic
8Q1 = Headlight-range adjustment
9Q2 = Multi-function display/on-board computerwith check control
8Z5 = Not hot country
D2G = 6-cyl. gasoline eng. 3.2 L/188 kW (24V) FSI, homogeneous base engine is T14
7Q0 = Without navigation device
C8F = Cast alloy wheels 7.5J x 17
7K0 = Without tire pressure warning light
4X4 = Side air bag, front and rear with curtain air bag
2K1 = Reinforced bumpers
3L4 = Electric seat adjustment for both front seats, drivers seat with memory system
4KC = Side and rear windows in heat-insulatingglass
3Y0 = Without roll-up sun screen
4K4 = Radio remote controlled central locking
5D1 = Carrier frequency 433.92 MHz-434.42 Mhz
1SA = Without additional front underbody guard
0GG = Emission standard EU4
01A = Gross vehicle weight rating
4GF = Windshield in heat-insulating glass


http://igorweb.org/equidec.aspx

[Pushbutton_auto]

Yeah, no need to go overboard, just check the fluids, filters and keep an eye on the temps.

Looks tidy and should be a reasonable runabout.

 

[RobClubley]

It's in for a wheel alignment today. Don't want to scrub those Chinese tyres.

They're Cratos Roadfors - apparently one step cheaper than Supercats. As far as I can tell they retail at about $87 each. For 235/45/17s.
Need some new wheels and tyres I think.