Looking at buying a 2003 RS6 - a couple questions

[jgrant750]

New to the board, but always been an Audi fan. I have found a 1-owner, 2003 RS6 with a 125k, but with a ton of records and a Carfax that shows very detailed maintenance at the same Shop for many years:

- Battery and valve cover gaskets @ 125k
- CV boots @ 124k
- Power steering pump @ 124k
- ABS module and all wheel speed senors @ 123k
- Oxygen sensors and engine mounts @ 115k
- New headlights @ 111k
- Timing belt/tensioner @ 105k
- Thermostat - 105k
- Serpentine belt @ 104k
- Brake rotors and pads @ 103k
- Blower motor/compressor control module @ 100k
- Fuel shutoff valve @ 87k
- Torque converter @ 78k
- Driveshaft @ 55k
- Plus a myriad of records for oil/filter changes, steering/suspension/body lubricated, brake fluid flushes, etc over the years.... the like 15k, 25k, 35k, 45k, 55k services were all done, etc.

These are all well and good and I have always heard that the timing belt/tensioner is a big deal, but are there any other things I need to ask about or have checked?

Thanks in advance and if things go right I hope to be a regular here with a new-to-me RS6.

Cheers!

[steve2003rs6]

Annual services, oil changes done
Cambelt change at the required intervals - 4years or 40,000 miles. Depends on usage.
Regular gearbox oil and filter
Smooth gear changes
Run a full auto scan to check for any DTC,s
Cambelt chains and tensioners.
Test Drive.

If looked after these cars are very reliable. If misused they are very costly.

Is the car you are thinking of buying known to this forum ?

[jgrant750]

Annual services, oil changes done
Cambelt change at the required intervals - 4years or 40,000 miles. Depends on usage.
Regular gearbox oil and filter
Smooth gear changes
Run a full auto scan to check for any DTC,s
Cambelt chains and tensioners.
Test Drive.

If looked after these cars are very reliable. If misused they are very costly.

Is the car you are thinking of buying known to this forum ?

Looks like the majority of the recommended services were done over the years. I did not mention trans, gear/rear diff changes, but those were done.

Pardon, my ignorance, but when you say "cam belt" are you referring to the timing belt? If so, that was done at 105k.

Will definitely have them run a scan to see if any codes pop up.

Not sure if the car I am looking at has ever been associated with this forum.

[allroadadi]

Cambelt at 40,000 miles or 4 years? What juice are you on? I think it’s 10 years or 80Kmiles, service manual probably asks for 105Kmiles. Unless you use Chinese cam belts, then change them once a year.
You want to tell me that you changed your cambelt 5 times already?
I have a Jeta with 260Kmiles and only seen 3 belts since new. Made in 2000. 3 times 80k is 240k… just changed it not long ago. <beep> wasn’t even cracked. But I mean, go for it…

[srichards]

V8 engine cambelt AND water pump is 4 years or 40,000 for a standard belt. You can get uprated belts that will do 5 years. All the tensioners need changing too. It's essential. The OEM water pump had plastic innards as well and the good kits have metal impellers. I did mine regardless. The mess if it fails is a million times worse than the irritation of just having it done.

RS6 will also bite you on the arse with a big bill regardless of maintenance too. You have to be prepared for that to be in the burning £50 notes for fun club!

[steve2003rs6]

Hi Suz.
I would just add. I also do the thermostat and extra roller that’s not included in the kit every time I do the timing belt.
Good point on water pump. To date I have not removed a pump with the plastic impeller. Mine have all been metal.
Unit 20 have done my Cambelts and water pumps.

Hi allroadadi
I wish it was 10 yearly or 80000 miles. I stick to what it says in the service manual, 4 years or 40000 miles.
So yes mate. My car has had 5 Cambelt/water pump changes over the past 20 years.
If you are doing yours 10 yearly on a RS6 C5 I recommend you change it pretty damn quick.
As to what juice I am on
12 year old Macallan

[allroadadi]

I have 3 service manuals, one on paper and 2 different online versions. The smallest timing belt interval I can find on a 4.2l is 75 kmiles on 2004 models. They don’t specifically mention BCY or rs6, so maybe in UK/Europe is different.
Up to year 2003 on the 4.2 L and the majority of engines sold here: varies from 80 to 105 kmiles.

[allroadadi]

Hi Suz.
I would just add. I also do the thermostat and extra roller that’s not included in the kit every time I do the timing belt.
Good point on water pump. To date I have not removed a pump with the plastic impeller. Mine have all been metal.
Unit 20 have done my Cambelts and water pumps.

Hi allroadadi
I wish it was 10 yearly or 80000 miles. I stick to what it says in the service manual, 4 years or 40000 miles.
So yes mate. My car has had 5 Cambelt/water pump changes over the past 20 years.
If you are doing yours 10 yearly on a RS6 C5 I recommend you change it pretty damn quick.
As to what juice I am on
12 year old Macallan

I bought the rs6 last year and changed the all timing components, thermostat, even tensioner chains and pads, etc… and found the timing belt was 11 years old and still in very good condition. The 2 guide rollers were starting to rust and not spin freely, thats how long ago it has been done. I’m not suggesting pushing it that long. The car I bought was neglected , the dirtiest engine I’ve ever worked on(got a deal on it), but 4 years seems a bit excessive and expensive. How much do you guys pay for the job? I do all the work myself, but just the thought of doing it again in 4 years is making me feel tired
Pictures are after and before (how it’s uploading on the iPad) on the difficult side (easy side looked the same), and only did a manual clean with gasoline/petrol (chain and guides are new along with cam bolts). It seems the oil change intervals were also long…

[steve2003rs6]

It’s your car Adi. If you want to do the Cambelt and water pump at 10-11 year interval that’s up to you. Surprised there hasn’t been a bang and a fooked engine after 10 years.

I will stick to the recommended 4 yearly or 40000 miles interval.
I would hate myself if I ruined the engine because of a failed Cambelt
I do know some members with low annual mileage push the interval to 5 years. That would be my absolute max.

Ps Shoppinit.
this 12 year macallan is going down very smooth.

[srichards]

I'd think the long interval was the original planned one then a load of them failed so interval was shortened. There was a spate of snapped belts in a lot of cars when manufacturers started pushing out the intervals from the usual 36-40k out to 60 or 72k or beyond. Lots had to return to the normal 3/4 years and 30-40k. I think the belt in the 1990 Nissan I had was good for 8 years or 100k. That I think had the proper metal tensioners. Water pump was probably off another belt as well so if that siezed it didn't take out the whole engine.

That was the ultimate problem. Cheaping out on tensioners so those did the belt in. Cheaping out on water pumps so those did the belt in. I remember Watchdog in the UK had a load of stuff on it with Vauxhall as their belts just about made it to 3 and the interval was 72k originally. Then it was 60k (collegue's snapped just before 60k) then it was back to every few years.

If the belts and tenionsers and everything else is all high quality you can probably push it out that far and be ok.