So, I ignored everyones advice....

[Plugers]

Another update.

Central vacuum pump went out, ECS has one. Thanks, but no thanks.

Found a used pump module from an Audi 90($17), opened both of them up, unsoldered the pump motor/wires from the old one and swapped it into my module.

 

[Arkaign]

At least that is far more reliable than the similar-era RS6. Transmission faliures common with less than 100k (often 50k or less, sometimes 20k or less!), Audi wants something like $20k to replace + months of waiting.

 

[Plugers]

Sounds like a fun time....

If mine goes out I will probably go with a 6 speed from a S4 and order the center console trim pieces and peddle assembly from Europe.

I forget the Co, but the one that makes the high performance parts for the 4.2 S4 can comment out the automatic code in the chip so it doesn't cause issues.

The RS6 only came in the Avant here, correct? I think I looked at one of those too.

 

[nerp]

Well, at least you're getting a taste of what owning this car is like right off the bat.

 

[Plugers]

At least I know how to search the internet and work on cars, lol.

If I didn't it would suck. As it is, it is not too bad.

 

[nerp]

Well, cars like this need buyers like you otherwise they'd be off the roads a lot sooner and that can be a shame. Who knows, you might eventually fix enough things that the car suddenly is flawless for a long stretch of time. My 79 Rabbit was like that. After everything was rebuilt or replaced around 200,000 miles, I got another 120,000 out of it until it was so rusted I couldn't get it to pass inspection.

Edit: I realized I'm comparing a 79 Rabbit to this car. It's an indirect comparison, heh.

 

[Plugers]

I agree, I have a buddy that just replaced lots of stuff on his Jeep Cherokee and at 140,000 mi wants to fix a hesitation, plugs / coil / wires and get rid of it. but, he still loves the truck.

I told him not to as he just fixed so many things and he may very well end up picking up someone's trouble and have to start back over.

 

[Alienwho]

A few years ago my brother bought an '01 S6. He had enough after about 4 months and bailed.

 

[DaTT]

Ahh I love these cars. Fell in love after I saw Ronin in 8th grade. Congrats, I wish I had the time and money to work on something like this. Keep us posted and more pics

"We need something fast, an Audi, S8"

 

[Plugers]

A few years ago my brother bought an '01 S6. He had enough after about 4 months and bailed.

Sorry your brother isn't very good at auto repairs.

 

[Arkaign]

Sorry your brother isn't very good at auto repairs.

Being good is only part of it, if you start needing lots of parts (or forbid, a motor or tranny fails), it can simply be too expensive to keep going. That and the hours involved can be extreme.

 

[Plugers]

Yes, if either of those went out I would have to start driving one of the other cars for a while again.

Although if I was relying on a mechanic, I may have been frustrated myself already.

 

[Howard]

Vacuum for door locks... Why, Germany, why?

 

[alevasseur14]

Vacuum for door locks... Why, Germany, why?

I have never heard of that kind of door lock but it total sense. I hate the locks on my old VW! Oh, and the fantastic door handles.…

 

[yhelothar]

My friend had a 97 Passat when I met him about 6 years ago. It cost him more money to maintain it than the monthly payments on a BMW 3-series lease.

He had like 4 pumps on it fail, the tranny, random parts of the interior were falling off. When it did work, it drove like a dream though.

 

[amyklai]

My friend had a 97 Passat when I met him about 6 years ago. It cost him more money to maintain it than the monthly payments on a BMW 3-series lease.

He had like 4 pumps on it fail, the tranny, random parts of the interior were falling off. When it did work, it drove like a dream though.

Wow, that's kinda crazy.

Lots of people here (Germany) drive VW Passats, lots of older ones too. It's been one of the most common cars here for decades. I've never heard of a 15 year old one (which usually go for 1500€-4000€) costing as much in repairs as a M3 (which would be somewhere around 8000-15000€/year, depending on your down payment, extras and predicted mileage) nor have I ever heard anybody talking about a Passat driving "like a dream" (typical comment would be along the lines of "well yeah, it drives").

Are you sure we're talking about the same car? The comments sound more typical of people who bought an early 2000's Maserati Coupe, but a freakin Passat?

 

[NutBucket]

Vacuum for door locks... Why, Germany, why?

They're quiet. Mercedes used them too. Not sure if that's still true in current models.

 

[amyklai]

They're quiet. Mercedes used them too. Not sure if that's still true in current models.

No,that wasn't the real reason. It was engineered that way so that women who forgot their keys inside the locked car could open it with a tennis ball:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNaSTipOYy8

 

[phucheneh]

They're quiet. Mercedes used them too. Not sure if that's still true in current models.

Quiet? The VW's I've heard sound like one of those big Japanese Gundam robot things powering down or something.


*BBBBBBBBBRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*. As opposed to *click*.

Also I like how that fake Youtube video has those text prompts that assume you have the reading speed of a kindergardener. Or maybe my cat.

 

[alevasseur14]

Quiet? The VW's I've heard sound like one of those big Japanese Gundam robot things powering down or something.


*BBBBBBBBBRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*. As opposed to *click*.

Hahaha! You nailed it. I've never heard anything like my '96 VW locking/unlocking. Neither have most of my friends but when I proceed to roll down all the windows with my key, curiosity turns to amazement! Lol.

 

[NutBucket]

My experience with 80's Mercedes was the opposite?

 

[halik]

Awesome, just get the trans fluid replaced. Weakest part of the car.

Edit: whoops this is about year old

 

[Plugers]

Hahaha! You nailed it. I've never heard anything like my '96 VW locking/unlocking. Neither have most of my friends but when I proceed to roll down all the windows with my key, curiosity turns to amazement! Lol.

I'm not sure about the VWs, but my car has a soft foam box around the pump and it seems to absorb most of the sound. You can still hear it if it is quiet and you listen for it.

Awesome, just get the trans fluid replaced. Weakest part of the car.

Edit: whoops this is about year old

Tranny service was done before I got my car, I will probably do it again though as the pump sounds a bit loud.

From what I've read the replacement filters have too long of a pickup tube and this causes the pump to work hard to pull the fluid from the pan and sound a bit like a power steering pump. Apparently the tube is only couple mms from the bottom of the pan, it is recommended to trim 12mm off and the noise disappears.

 

[phucheneh]

My experience with 80's Mercedes was the opposite?

I guess they're just made different. Like alevasseur, I had a mk3 VW and the funny noise was standard operation. I've worked on a decent amount of other VW's, but BMWs and Mercs are fairly foreign to me; especially interior stuff or chassis electrical- those problems tend to go to dealers or specialty shops, I assume. I only get them when they're old pieces of crap and someone just wants me to make it not run like garbage.

I actually can't recall ever hearing loud locks in said non-VW's, actually. Maybe I've been in some with vac locks and not even known it. Don't know what years they used them until.

If the Audis are quiet, it must have to do with the pump- the N/A VW's just use engine vacuum. The noise comes from the lock actuators themselves.

 

[halik]

At least that is far more reliable than the similar-era RS6. Transmission faliures common with less than 100k (often 50k or less, sometimes 20k or less!), Audi wants something like $20k to replace + months of waiting.

There's an O1E conversion available now for ~2K (you lose ABS and traction control apparently)... but it beats dealing with that stupid transmission.