Issues with Audi RS6 2023 (15.000 KM)
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 1:25 am
So I have a few issues ongoing with the car. I unfortunately had a rock hit my windshield, so I had to get the windshield replaced. It was done with all OEM parts at the dealership. The issues is have:
Issue #1: Squeaking noise from the sunroof (only when closed)
My car started to produce a squeaking noise directly above the driver's head. It is a very annoying squeaking sound. The sound can be dampened by closing the sunshade, but it doesn't stop the sound. Tilting the sunroof into the tilted open position seems to completely stop the sound. The same happens when you open the sunroof. Considering it is the winter, this is not a viable solution. Also, having paid for that nice sunroof, I would prefer to be able to pull the blinds away every-now-and-then without having to listen to a loud squeaking noise. My car is going to the service center to get a TSB done on it. Apparently Audi has known about this defect for many years and the solution is to completely disassemble the headliner and the sunroof and apply felt tape between the clips that hold the sunroof to the headliner. Not so happy about the car getting torn to pieces, especially considering that Audi has known about this issue for a long time.
Issue #2: Knocking sound from the cabin heater from the center console area
Since the heating season has started and its cold outside. I too like many motorists like to use the cabin heater... go figure. I noticed that whenever the car (or rather the heating system is cold) there is a loud knocking sound that seems to come from the center console area. This sound happens approx. every 10 seconds and continues for a around 5-8 minutes. I have had instances where the sound would stop after driving about for 8 minutes, then I kept driving for another 20-ish minutes. Turned off the car. The car sat for 30 minutes and then I started driving again and the knocking started for a bit (not for the usual 5-8 minutes though). I can't seem to alter the climate control settings in anyway to make this noise go away. The only thing that will stop it a complete climate system shutoff. They ran diagnostics on the air conditioning system and no errors popped up. The same knocking sound could be heard during the test when the car tested each of its 14+ actuators in the climate system. Unfortunately, the motors cannot be individually actuated to figure out which one is making the noise. The next step is to do a partial dissemble of the center console. Apparently there are 2 flaps there that could be making this noise. This is still less intrusive than what we thought would've had to be done (taking out the brand new windshield that was just installed, removing the entire dash, entire center console, cross member support). I am still concerned about opening up stuff cause the interior already rattles likes Fiat Ducato that has done well over 500.000 km, I don't want it to get worse.
Here is a video: https://youtube.com/shorts/hmstjFyXws4?feature=share
Issue #3: Rear windshield Wiper
Just watch this short video. This has been going on since day one. I figured that the rubber just had to go through some wear and it will sort itself out. Now I am most likely going to be responsible for buying a new rear wiper that should resolve the situation. Lesson: complain early!
Here is a video: https://youtube.com/shorts/8OnWqV5Ng-w?feature=share
Issue #4: Plastic knocking sound from behind the rear view mirror and around the windshield are towards the front passenger side
Since the brand new windshield was installed, there is a ridiculous amount of knocking that is coming from the plastic box behind the rear view mirror. I am assuming that the tech didn't do a good enough of a job at reinstalling the cables that are mounted within that box and those cables are either hitting each other or they are hitting against the plastic housing.
Overall review of the 2023 Audi RS6 Ownership experience
This car is phenomenal to drive flat-out. It truly is. But the moment you just want to drive it like a normal car, you start noticing the laughable interior build quality. The Skoda Octavia has multiple-fold better interior build quality. I am not talking about the "bRO tHE mATERiALS aRE sO MuCH bETter". I am talking about the construction, the rattling, the creaking of materials. Audi really did a poor job on the interior build quality. For example, if they know of an sunroof issue for 10+ years now, why on earth can't they change their manufacturing process on this assembly.... This interior quality issue is taking away so much from the experience. Mechanically the car is sound and is a delight to drive. The only complaint I have about the car mechanically that it is so so good and so well engineered, that its too tame. It's crazy fast and agile for its size. But it does everything so effortlessly and without "trying to kill you" that the car almost suffers from a little more rawness and purity.
Either way if anyone has any suggestions on the above mentioned issues or have some experiences with a similar issue, please let me know in a comment. Thanks.
Issue #1: Squeaking noise from the sunroof (only when closed)
My car started to produce a squeaking noise directly above the driver's head. It is a very annoying squeaking sound. The sound can be dampened by closing the sunshade, but it doesn't stop the sound. Tilting the sunroof into the tilted open position seems to completely stop the sound. The same happens when you open the sunroof. Considering it is the winter, this is not a viable solution. Also, having paid for that nice sunroof, I would prefer to be able to pull the blinds away every-now-and-then without having to listen to a loud squeaking noise. My car is going to the service center to get a TSB done on it. Apparently Audi has known about this defect for many years and the solution is to completely disassemble the headliner and the sunroof and apply felt tape between the clips that hold the sunroof to the headliner. Not so happy about the car getting torn to pieces, especially considering that Audi has known about this issue for a long time.
Issue #2: Knocking sound from the cabin heater from the center console area
Since the heating season has started and its cold outside. I too like many motorists like to use the cabin heater... go figure. I noticed that whenever the car (or rather the heating system is cold) there is a loud knocking sound that seems to come from the center console area. This sound happens approx. every 10 seconds and continues for a around 5-8 minutes. I have had instances where the sound would stop after driving about for 8 minutes, then I kept driving for another 20-ish minutes. Turned off the car. The car sat for 30 minutes and then I started driving again and the knocking started for a bit (not for the usual 5-8 minutes though). I can't seem to alter the climate control settings in anyway to make this noise go away. The only thing that will stop it a complete climate system shutoff. They ran diagnostics on the air conditioning system and no errors popped up. The same knocking sound could be heard during the test when the car tested each of its 14+ actuators in the climate system. Unfortunately, the motors cannot be individually actuated to figure out which one is making the noise. The next step is to do a partial dissemble of the center console. Apparently there are 2 flaps there that could be making this noise. This is still less intrusive than what we thought would've had to be done (taking out the brand new windshield that was just installed, removing the entire dash, entire center console, cross member support). I am still concerned about opening up stuff cause the interior already rattles likes Fiat Ducato that has done well over 500.000 km, I don't want it to get worse.
Here is a video: https://youtube.com/shorts/hmstjFyXws4?feature=share
Issue #3: Rear windshield Wiper
Just watch this short video. This has been going on since day one. I figured that the rubber just had to go through some wear and it will sort itself out. Now I am most likely going to be responsible for buying a new rear wiper that should resolve the situation. Lesson: complain early!
Here is a video: https://youtube.com/shorts/8OnWqV5Ng-w?feature=share
Issue #4: Plastic knocking sound from behind the rear view mirror and around the windshield are towards the front passenger side
Since the brand new windshield was installed, there is a ridiculous amount of knocking that is coming from the plastic box behind the rear view mirror. I am assuming that the tech didn't do a good enough of a job at reinstalling the cables that are mounted within that box and those cables are either hitting each other or they are hitting against the plastic housing.
Overall review of the 2023 Audi RS6 Ownership experience
This car is phenomenal to drive flat-out. It truly is. But the moment you just want to drive it like a normal car, you start noticing the laughable interior build quality. The Skoda Octavia has multiple-fold better interior build quality. I am not talking about the "bRO tHE mATERiALS aRE sO MuCH bETter". I am talking about the construction, the rattling, the creaking of materials. Audi really did a poor job on the interior build quality. For example, if they know of an sunroof issue for 10+ years now, why on earth can't they change their manufacturing process on this assembly.... This interior quality issue is taking away so much from the experience. Mechanically the car is sound and is a delight to drive. The only complaint I have about the car mechanically that it is so so good and so well engineered, that its too tame. It's crazy fast and agile for its size. But it does everything so effortlessly and without "trying to kill you" that the car almost suffers from a little more rawness and purity.
Either way if anyone has any suggestions on the above mentioned issues or have some experiences with a similar issue, please let me know in a comment. Thanks.