Running costs...

[ecain63]

The fact that it had some short term ownership only shows that it was probably too expensive to run, and the owner hadnt done any research prior to purchase.

[kaisersolsay]

Yip I agree. If you are put off by the repair bill to replace an alternator you've defo got the wrong car!

[bam_bam]

I've got DK's old car. I put it in for a 20,000 miles service 16th last month... it's still there. Every time it gets put back together they test drive it and something else breaks. Then predictably, the part that breaks is on back-order. This bill is going to be massive, I won't see the labor costs but the broken bits are adding up and most of these parts aren't covered by warranty. Oddly enough, the health check recommendations from MRC (NS intercooler leaking and DRC replace) were ignored by Cambaudi but they found a sump leak so that was their starting point and that took forever because a £0.30 oil gasket was on back-order.
Apparently whomever did the cambelt, installed it incorrectly. Upon inspection with the engine out the cambelt was so loose it could be removed by hand?! The tensioner had seized so it had to be done all over again (regardless of how many miles the cambelt had covered). Before that happened it was the power steering pump and pipework (corroded). The latest test drive caused some oil pipework to 'pop off'. So that bit isn't covered and to top it off, it's also been put on back-order. I'll probably not get it back before Friday morning when I have a long roadtrip starting (booked 2 months ago).
I knew this was going to be an expensive car to keep on road but for some reason I'd thought Audi could've turned this around by now - 14 days and counting! I guess I'm just getting my RS6 readjustment earlier than expected.
Without warranty this would be super costly but if it wasn't with Audi then it wouldn't be £110 an hour labor - double-edged sword and all that. The RS6 history document is interesting but it's fair to assume that the labor costs would be less than half if works were completed by a specialist... then I guess no one would buy an RS if it was touched only by a specialist (out of warranty) - ah, that double-edged sword again.
Rant. Over.
I'm just sick of waiting. I just want to be back in it and out of the oldman diesel replacement.

Sorry, that bitch hissy fit has been a week in the making.

[Golffather]

bam bam - what's the percentage of what you have to pay for on all this?

[bam_bam]

No idea at the moment, that's one of my pains. I've requested Cambaudi email me with a list of costs to-date but I've not received any confirmations. Today was the third time I've asked, the first time I asked was 2 days into this ordeal.
If I wasn't so busy with business (very little sleep too) then I'd be onto this a lot more aggressively.
It's the length of downtime and how many times it has been put back together that's starting to worry me... that and having to take this roadtrip sans RS.
I'm just bitching. It'll all be forgotten next time mash the loud pedal.

Golffather - I see the warranty offset benefit but I'm a very skeptical person. I'm not saying that having a warranty on this car has Audi crawling around looking for stuff to fix, I'm just saying that it's easier for Audi to justify stuff to fix to a warranty company, rather than to an owner without a warranty on hand. Most of these fixes listed above have been investigated, written up and photos sent on to the warranty company for their decision before anything had even been discussed with me. If this car didn't have a warranty, then that wouldn't have happened, they'd be straight on the phone and sending emails... and due to the probable costs and my bias for upgrades, I'd be looking for a second opinion and 3 quotes... and they'd probably know this... but this is an RS and it pays to have everything done by Audi, so Audi have us over a barrel. It's points like this that probably aren't fully considered (if at all) by the average C5 RS6 buyer.

I'm looking forward to September, the car will be over 100k miles and the warranty is finished, so it'll be upgrade components, instead of replace with OEM and specialist techs at half the price of Audi techs. I don't think it'll be the end of the world.

Teh B5 RS boys have no doubt been out of warranty for a while, it'd be interesting if one of those guys made a B5 RS history xls. I know it's not a direct apples for apples compare but I'd be interested to see if there was a drop off on running costs when they moved away from Audi warranty care and into a specialist at own expense. Not that i know anything about the running costs of a B5 or even if any of their owners are even out of warranty, just a thought. For all I know, teh B5 RSs could run on unobtanium, use seal pup fur for brake pads and have air filters made from £50 notes making it essential to have a warranty.
Anyways, there must be someone on this forum running a C5 RS6 out of warranty?!?! Anyone?

[Golfather]

Fek me.
Goes to show that theres more to think about RS6 ownership than just warranty....

Glad I got out when I did... Quite content with my humble passat now ...

[Shoppinit]

Anyways, there must be someone on this forum running a C5 RS6 out of warranty?!?! Anyone?

Yup. Me. Don't believe in them; Had one that was with the car, and made a half hearted attempt to claim for DRC once, but I could see that it was going to suck the spirit out of me to fight for it, so now I'm warranty-free and living on the edge

[rsmonkey918]

Hello boys.
I run a B5 RS4 that I bought at 42000 miles and I know I'm gonna regret saying this but nothing has dropped off yet or needed fixing other than regular routine servicing a MAF, new DV's and pre-remedial CV boots and rear diff seals last September- although as you can see I spent the money on essential mods- have just posted them in order on the B5 RS 4 forum- bar the remap and exhaust which were already fitted I went with the ordr listed.
I know I'm a bit of an interloper here but I've always liked the RS6 from early days but liked the rarity of the RS4- a good job as I had to shell out 27000 for it in 2007......
No warranty- just a slush fund- although I realise that your DRC's and gearbox issues seem to cost a fortune to replace and a savings jar probably won't cut it if they go in short order. Seems like there have been quite a few failures, but how this relates to the number on the road I have no idea.
The most common faults on the RS4 are pretty well documented, but I think we benefit from having a more fully developed, bespoke build processlate on in the model life of the B5 whereas the B6 may suffer from a degree of 'experimentitis' just to make the headline figures and provide the range with a halo model to push sales up. The B5 was basically handed to Quattro Gmbh and Cosworth with the post it 'go nuts' attached with virtually every component modified or different to its nearest relative.
I think the perception of a twice blown V8 frightens the life out of the average high performance punter when mated to semi-auto, and I, for one salute you all- apart from the guys selling before they have to spend any money on 'em.
Will enjoy dipping into your forum passively from now on...... (I'll probably have to- or someone may try and rub me out to- woodlum).
Look on the bright side- at least your heads won't have to come off for a good de-coke in the name of green credentials like the B7 RS4 boys.....

[Shoppinit]

Very interesting perspective. I'm very interested in the B5 RS4 and I'll be having one some day I hope. It'll have to come after the RS2 though which I just can't get out of my system; Once driven forever smitten and all that...

Aren't the turbos weak on the RS4? Or is that the S4?

[woodlum]

I think Shoppinit's is trying to take me out so he can break my car for spares!

[Shoppinit]

hehe. I want to make the first bimotor RS6 RS12

[woodlum]

Good idea, engine in the front and another in the boot, 900bhp

[woodlum]

Imagine the fuel / running cost of that beast?

[Pau1]

Fek me.
Goes to show that theres more to think about RS6 ownership than just warranty....

Glad I got out when I did... Quite content with my humble passat now ...

I still love running the black beast!

[Daveperc]

Yup - I'm warranty free too - 111K miles and counting....

Had a warranty up to 100K and Camberley were excellent - never did anything uneccessary, but always took the time to investigate likely weaknesses and get them fixed - last round was ensuring DRC was all on the version 3 (I had to pay for one corner) and sorting out the gearbox oil seal.

In between times car goes in to MRC where I can be sure of expert attention, and the occasional tweak

Will something expensive break one day - sure - it's a 500HP Beast that I drive like one - that's the price of owning a piece of motoring history!

Stop worrying and go play - that's my motto!!

Dave