Intro and Some Questions

[MartinC2S]

Hello All,

Long time lurker, first time poster. Been a four rings owner for a while, first with a B6 S4 Avant, now with a B7 RS4 and in the future looking to get into a C6 RS6.

I've been looking for a while now and with the Canadian 15 year import rule expring on the C6 I'm looking at bringing one across the pond in the near future. I've been doing a tonne of reading over the last few months and am well aware of the common issues like the 50p (now probably more) oil seal, the coolant lines, the wheel bearings and other problems. I'm not really looking to tune the car as that would probably just further accelerate the frequency of my speeding tickets so a stock car is actually preferable.

Having said all that I do have a few questions that I havent been able to find the answer to. The car that has currently caught my eye is a relatively low mileage (77k kms) LHD example that was imported into the EU from Japan. It look like it's had a bunch of recent work done but I will obviously get it inspected before I pull the trigger. The questions I have are:

1. I read reference to JDM RS6s having a higher spec than mainland EU and UK models. Does anyone know what this actually translates in to spec wise?
2. This particular car has the carbon ceramic brakes, again I've read up on the pros (longetvity) and cons (replacement cost) but am curious if it would be possible and if it would make sense to go back to regualr steel rotors and pads once the time came for replacment? Are there rotors available in a size that would match the calipers? Or am I sniffing some glue here?
3. Would 19" wheels fit onto a car with carbon ceramic brakes? If I'm going to drive this car year round I'll need to get a set of winter wheels and would prefer something with a bit more sidewall for the winter months. I have a set of 19" OEM wheels from my RS4 that I wouldn't mind using.

I think that's all for now. Any help with the above would be appreciated.

Martin

[MartinC2S]

Anyone have any input?

[welwynnick]

1. I don't know anything about Jap spec models, but each car seems to be different, so you have to consider the spec of each car on a case by case basis....
2. Except for ceramic brakes. They're very valuable, and I think you have to really want them to buy a car with them. And it sounds like you don't. You could possibly consider C8 steel front brakes (part no. 4K0615301S) but that doesn't seem to be what you want. I doubt there are any off-the-shelf steel discs that fit, and even if there were, you'd need special pads, and there's no chance of that.
3. Ceramic discs are huge - 420mm vs 390mm, and you do need 20" wheels to fit them.

Nick

[MartinC2S]

Thanks for the input Nick.

1. I'm planning on getting a picture of the option Sticker so hopefully that will clear up the spec question. I was just hoping that someone had some clarity here beforehand.
2. I'm not too fussed either way quite honestly. The car won't be a daily driver but rather fun, occasional drive car that can accomodate the family and give me a bit of respite from the MB GLS that's our current daily family hauler.
3. That clears that up then. Maybe in that case I'll just keep it as a summer only car.

[ATinOf]

BG Developments in the UK specialise in vintage/custom/performance brakes and if you were serious here they may be able to provide you with custom steel conversion discs providing you could find pads to keep the calliper's (and have the dollar)

You'd no doubt find someone on here interested if you were going to be selling those ceramics but they'd want the discs, calliper's and pads as a shebang probably

As Nick mentions with the larger diameter discs, or more accurately their calliper's, I doubt you'd fit 19" wheels