S6 pending work items...

A6 All/ S6 All
#1

Hello AR folks,

First, let me just say thanks to everyone active on this forum, especially here in the S6 section. (Almost) all the posts here seem to be full of lots of experienced members working with the V10 platform. I have enjoyed reading all of the (on-topic) threads very much.

I am a new S6 owner (as you may have guessed from my few posts), had the car just over two weeks now. I just had my oil changed as the first of complete fluid changes to get a baseline going forward. Car is 2010, 59k on the odometer.

Photos are here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tg5v8l6unhx3ii3/AAD7nKTn0dj3-r28Ly1wX8p0a?dl=0

While my car was on the lift (at Dougherty’s Automotive in West Chester PA), here’s the list of recommended items they provided:

  1. 55k service (car is due based on service light) - oil is already done, I am doing air filters this week, but was planning on them doing the rest - $800 or so, P/L

  2. front upper control arms, swaybars - bushings are torn. quoted $2268 for P/L. - The car is lowered but I don’t know if the suspension components are aftermarket, or maybe just springs? any thoughts based on the pics?

  3. left side valve cover gasket starting to leak - $548.34 P/L - I assume if I have this fixed the manifold will be off? I should do carbon cleaning and JHM spacers at this time?

3a. - No inspection was done however the tech did recommend Carbon cleaning based on his experience with FSI and the mileage.

  1. drive belt is dry/cracking, replace drive belt and pulleys - $517 P/L. I assume this would be a good time to install LW pulleys?

  2. Right side headlight washer is leaking (no $$ yet)

Does anyone have any suggestions of other items I should plan to address during any of these services? Thanks for reading my post!

#2

2.) I’ve found essentially a complete front suspension kit here https://www.europaparts.com/control-arm-kit-a6-s6-c6-12-piece-meyle.html For $600. I’ve used Meyle on just about every BMW I’ve owned with good effect. IMO they’re OE equivalent. I’ve been told by the only dealer in town they won’t install anything aftermarket, so you might need an independent if you go this route.

3.) after spending many hours in the engine bay yesterday I suppose it’s remotely possible to leave the intake on to R&R the valve cover gasket, but not probable. I had to pull the intake chasing an oil leak and decided to put the spacers in while it was off. Wasn’t able to schedule the time to also include the carbon clean, but thankfully it’s not that bad. I’ll definitely have to do it end of the summer next year though. It’s a remarkable difference in heat. Truly.

3a) if the intake’s off, it’s a good time

4.) if you’re going to replace the belt, not a bad idea to replace the tensioner as well - it’s not terribly expensive. https://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalog/accessory-belt-tensioner-oem-for-c6-s6-52l-fsi-v10-p-3986.html?cPath=21_360_361 If they’re going to pull the front end to do it, you might as well do the pulley as well, for the same reasons you’d do the intake spacers and carbon clean while the intake’s off to save on labor. (spend money to save money?!)

5.) Thankfully the roads aren’t loaded with slush and salt with bad weather for too long in my part of the country - headlight washers are honestly of dubious requirement - if it was me, I’d try to disconnect/bypass them and live without…

You really found a clean one man - jelous!

#3

Compugeek already kinda hit all of the good points Ill just back him up.

Deffinitly do the JHM intake spacers and the tensioner and crank pulley.

The carbon clean is a must but also make sure you clean your fuel injectors or send them out to get cleaned or talk to the JHM boys and see if they have the matched set of injectors. I saw they were doing this for the RS4. Where they send out injectors to get cleaned and flow matched. It would save you money over new injectors.

Check stuff like the O rings for the oil filter and the O rings on the oil cooler. Have them inspect the oil seperator if you pull the intake off and lastly check the intake to see if all the flaps are working

#4

Update, after a few emails and calls back and fort between my local shop here in PA (Dougherty Automotive) and JHM, things are in progress for some of this to be completed. Some of the parts were ordered today from JHM today:
Intake Spacers full kit
Lightweight Crank Pulley
Flow matched injectors and new seals
ECU Tune
SAI delete plates

This will all be installed the week of the 20th as part of a service at DA to include:
Carbon Clean
New spark Plugs
New belt and tensioner
Coolant Flush
New Oil Separator
Both valve cover gaskets
SAI delete

I’m looking forward to seeing how much all of this improves an already outstanding vehicle.

#5

Thats a super solid list.

All the parts your ordered and the work you have planned are almost must do things at this point. Very smart on the injectors as well. I think sooner or later almost everyone is finding out these injectors are not life of car parts and they need to be changed or checked. honestly you should be good.

The only thing I would say be on the look out for is after you replace your valve cover gaskets and your oil seperator dont be suprised if you get an oil pan leak or a leak from the oil seperator gaskets. Make sure to doubble check your PCV system to make sure it flows well and there isnt any carbon or crap restricting the flow of the cross over hose.

#6

Ok, thx for the heads up. Two questions:

  1. Why is that likely? Should those be serviced at the same time as the rest of these items?

  2. Is that another labor intensive fix with service position etc or something easy for a change?

#7

You should also replace the valley pan gasket below the oil filter. It’s a common source for leaks into the V and easy to reach when the IM is out.