2.0 TDI SE 4dr Saloon

Oil Pump nightmare detracts from a good car

I did love my Audi A6.

Then, with 72K miles on the clock, whilst commuting on the motorway, the display flashed up a red warning oil pressure alert. I pulled over and called Audi, as directed by the owner’s manual and explained what had happened. I was advised to drive on. Within a few hundred yards I could hear the engine was running rough, and the warning light came on again.

I stopped and called Audi again (who I had a service plan with) – they advised me to contact my roadside assistance to arrange a tow. After 4 days I was finally told that it was a known issue so I would receive a subsidised repair – with 70% funded by Audi, I ONLY had to pay £700! However, there was a delay with the new oil pump.

Then I was informed that the turbo was shot due to the oil pump failure. Another £300 bill and 3 day wait.

I finally received my car back - with an engine that sounded like a tractor, which I was told they ‘hoped would get better’. After the car emptied all of it’s oil whilst standing outside of my house for 48 hours it went back to Audi.

Audi then replaced the Cam shaft and the Cam belt. When I went to collect it again, I was told there was still an oil leak, and another 4 days later I finally got the car back.

A quick Google reveals this problem is well known - so common now that there are a number of E-bay traders and garages who offer a pre-emptive solution to upgrade the oil pump design from chain driven (Audi BLB engine code) to gear driven – a system that avoids this massive problem.

After 5 weeks I got back an executive salon car that sounded like a tug. After a complaint to Audi UK I took the car back to the dealer to wait another fortnight to get the car back, with a further £430 bill.

I was without my car for 52 days, and £1500 out of pocket – I no longer love this car. Audi tell me I should be grateful of the 70% discount, and they deny there is anything wrong with the design.

I will not buy a VAG car again; my research shows this same design fault effects 2004-2006 Skoda, Volkswagen and Audi 2.0 TDI engines.

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