Classic tuning: Audi RS6 by MFK Autosport

----------------------------------- Audi

I have the U.S. version of the RS6, in sedan guise. Bought new in 2003 (the only year they imported to the U.S.) it came with 450 bhp and 415 lb-ft of torque. It had 18 inch wheels.

Since buying it, I have chipped it to 507 bhp and 420 (?) lb-ft, added BBS LM 19 inch wheels, with Bilstein shocks over. It goes like stink (of course) especially at highway speeds - 60 to 80 happens very quickly. Zero to sixty is about 4.4 secs.

It is my every day driver, and in the winter time, equipped with Blizzac snows, it goes where other's fear to go, climbing unplowed hills and traversing poorly plowed highways with ease.

It is, however, expensive to maintain. Brake jobs are horrendous, changing the timing belt (every 35K miles) is jaw-dropping. I religiously change the synthetic oil every 3k miles (again, expensive).

I would like to find a front driver's side floor matt with the RS6 logo. So far, no luck.

Great car. Fools a lot of Porsches, Vettes, and Mustangs.

Dave (Driving Quattros for 25 years.)

On Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:11:03 -0400, against all advice, something compelled David LaCourse , to say:

You have a very short service interval. My TT will go 10,000 miles between services. Why do you have to do these things so frequently? I can't imagine a timing belt needing to be replaced every two years or so.

The RS6 will go 10k between services. I wouldn't drive ANY car on ANY oil for 10k miles. I once had a Porsche that supposedly could go 15K between services. I changed it twice before the dealer changed it. I change the oil frequently because I drive it hard and I don't want it to fail.

The timing belt typically should be changed at 75 k miles on most Audis. However, on the RS6 with all of its power and torque, 35,000 miles is recommended. No big deal, really, except the dealer, or whomever, needs the car for a day.

I hit a buck deer one night with my 94 S4. It broke the timing belt and the engine repairs were astronomical. I ended up replacing the entire top end of the engine. Total cost, including body work, was $19,000. They replaced all 20 sodium filled valves twice because the cam shaft was bent at the pully from the collision and the dealer didn't notice it at first.

Dave

It would be interesting to compare new oil to oil removed after 3k and

10k miles to see how much of a difference there is. My A3 has the variable service and although it's not driven overly hard, I only get it serviced when it recommends. The last two have been after 17k miles each (about 18months - 2yrs of use).

I guess if you're happy paying the additional cost then it's not an issue. For me personally, I'm happy with replacing it as and when advised.

And *that's* why we have chocolate and vanilla.

d;o)