Audi A6 C5 facelift 2.5 TDI, 180 PS, 5-speed automatic, all-wheel drive (2001–2004)

Research for this car

Generation guide Audi A6 C5 (1997-2004): known problems and buying guide
Buy only with timing-belt and camshaft records for the 2.5 V6 TDI, and avoid a multitronic with judder or no service history.

Issue	Affects	Typical km	Repair cost	Source
2.5 V6 TDI camshaft and follower wear	2.5 V6 TDI, mainly cars built before 2002	Not stated	No confirmed price	Generation guide
2.5 V6 TDI timing belt and water pump	2.5 V6 TDI	60,000-80,000 miles (about 97,000-129,000 km)	About EUR 1,000 (Germany, year not stated, AUTO BILD)	Generation guide
Tiptronic shifting and torque converter	4- and 5-speed tiptronic, including RS6	150,000-200,000 km	GBP 3,500-4,000 for an RS6 torque converter rebuild (UK, year not stated, PistonHeads)	Generation guide
2.5 V6 TDI injection pump	2.5 V6 TDI	Not stated	No confirmed price	Generation guide
Water in the footwell and comfort module	All models	Not stated	No confirmed price	Generation guide
Front suspension wishbones and joints	All models	80,000-100,000 km	No confirmed price	Generation guide
Brittle brake hoses	All models, mainly cars over five years old	Not stated	No confirmed price	Generation guide

Tiptronic: on a test drive, revs rising without speed (slipping), late or harsh shifts, or a warning light are bad signs. Needs a scanner: read the gearbox fault memory. Ask for fluid service records.
2.5 V6 TDI camshaft: after a cold start, listen for tapping or knocking from the top of the engine. Rough idle or power loss is a bad sign too. Ask for camshaft and lifter work records.
2.5 V6 TDI timing belt: ask for the record of the timing belt and water pump change. No record, or a change longer ago than 60,000 miles (about 97,000 km), is a bad sign.
2.5 V6 TDI injection pump: do a cold start. Hard starting, stalling, black smoke or a lit check-engine light is a bad sign.
Front suspension: on a bumpy road, listen for clonks from the front. Knocks over bumps or a loose steering feel are a bad sign. No tools needed.
Water in the footwell: lift the carpets under the front seats and check for damp or a musty smell. Check the bulkhead drain holes for blockage. Damp carpets or blocked drains are a bad sign.
Brittle brake hoses: look at the rubber hoses at each wheel for cracks or swelling. Cracked or swollen hoses are a bad sign.

Operational	€266
Workshop	€138
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)	€130
Total per month	€534
New-car depreciation (not included)	€36

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Listings on mobile.de in this generation with this fuel, gearbox and power.

First registration	Listings	Median price	Median mileage
2005	1	–	–
2004	16	€2,999	266,000 km
2003	21	€3,200	294,090 km
2002	12	€3,000	276,000 km
2001	6	€2,500	298,000 km

Medians only for years with at least 5 listings. Many cars are first registered after production ends, so years can run past the build years.

Month	Listings	Median price	Middle half	Median mileage
Nov 2026	56	€3,000	€2,349 – €5,000	288,521 km
Oct 2026	56	€3,000	€2,349 – €5,000	288,521 km

Median asking price at the last snapshot of each month.

All 2 ADAC versions

Version	Power	Body	Doors	Production years	Running cost per month
A6 2.5 TDI quattro tiptronic	180 PS	Saloon	4	2001–2004	€534
A6 Avant 2.5 TDI quattro tiptronic	180 PS	Estate	5	2001–2004	€534