story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

I had also stumbled upon a mint Octavia VRS but before I could muster up the courage to let go of my Vento, it was sold.

BHPian Blackbolt recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have mostly been a parasite on this forum, seeking information & enjoying ownership posts by fellow BHPians… I thought of writing on the forum about my experience with VW Vento 1.6 TDI but never came around to posting about it, in over 10 years of ownership… However, this project car #2 is very close to me. It has taken more time & resources and hopefully, people will enjoy reading it. So here it goes…

How did it start

During covid lockdowns, there was time for introspection; thoughts on what made me happy and blah blah. The output of all that pondering was to buy project car #2 to replace the Vento. Criteria was simple, a quantum leap in power and better legroom at the back. It had to be a sedan, not a fan of fast SUV or any SUV for that matter. I started frequenting secondhand car sites/apps and spotted a Jetta 2.0 TDI, it was a good one at the right price. Even if dialled it up the mod stages it wasn’t going to be a quantum leap from Vento. So, I moved on, wondering if did the right thing by letting it go.

Months pass by and then in July ’21 I stumbled upon a mint VRS and did a test drive. I did write about it here.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Well, before I could muster up the courage to let go of the Vento, the VRS was sold the very next day (come to think of it from today’s obscene secondhand car prices I should have got it anyways, would have been able to sell it above cost price now).

Months passed by and I kept on thinking what a fool I was to let go of a mint stock VRS at that price. Meanwhile, midlife crisis hit upon me with 40 years milestone approaching; all the thoughts of paths not taken started daunting me (added for dramatic effect ). The urge to act upon the bucket list became strong and I started hunting for the project car #2.

Car 1

Checked out an Audi A6 V6 TFSI “on the app” It is a super rare car. Spoke to the dealer, he said the car was coming in 2 weeks to their showroom as the owner was waiting for his new ride. Called him back in a week and he was like the car is rare and a couple of folks from “Bangalore” are eyeing it; if I wanted it, I should pay an advance. I did pay an advance on the condition that I could see the car before he lays his hands on it (dealers can hide all the problems with some quick fixes).

I run the number plate with a friend at Audi for service records and I was told to run away from it. The car was in shit condition. The dashboard had mechatronic error sign; the intake has been kept together with cello tape! Damn, who does that, imagine all the dust that has now gone in the engine. Cancelled the deal there and then. This action met resistance but got the refund after some frequent stern calls. That did not go well. Damn, I was dejected. I thought I had found a rare gem, but destiny had a different picture in mind.

Car 2

I had shortlisted an Audi 3.0 TDI while I was searching for this car. The car seemed to be in good shape. I checked the car out over the weekend. It just had an airbag error on the dash which the owner said was a sensor problem and that he would get it fixed before delivery. Went pedal to the metal in the car on sea link and it did feel like a quantum jump in power from my Vento (unlike the VRS). So, I took an impulsive decision yet again (letting go of Jetta, VRS and one bad lemon playing in my head in the background). Bargained a bit and cut the cheque. It has no funny noises, car shifted gears properly with paddle shifts at high RPM, was stable at three-digit speeds. Yay! Did I do the right thing or was I wrong the second time too?

Well, the trigger had been pulled; Audi 3.0 TDI V6 was the project car #2. So, time would tell if I was right or wrong on this call. The car had to be handed over in 2 weeks as the owner was waiting for his new ride; we decided he won’t ride for more than 1000 kms during this time period. In the meantime, I got a call from him mid-week saying that the front suspension balloon had burst at the signal. He was going to fix it anyway as he had promised to give the car in good condition. I was happy I met the right guy and he was sticking to his words. He sent me photos of him replacing the front right balloon. The day of the handshake finally arrived. I was pissed as the airbag error was still there (which got resolved a couple of weeks later with him changing the sensor module).

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

I was so happy that I had got a rare CBU unit; A6 3.0 TDI V6 as my new ride. I started riding it to work and checking it before spending on it further and one day I see an “F” sign on the dash in Red, was the car overheating? Coolant issue? I called the owner; told him what was with the error, did he face this earlier? He asked me to just add water and send it over to his garage for a checkup. On inspection, he said the coolant was low and he had topped it up, and gave me a new bottle of coolant just in case. By this time, I started doubting the car’s internals and knew the guy has washed his hands off the car.

The following day post my ride I thought I saw some oil underneath the car. Post this all hell breaks loose.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

I called my school friend who runs Auto Landmark Garage in the Mumbai suburbs. He starts abusing me for buying the car without showing him. I tried to sell a passion story and I wanted it really bad, which calmed him down. He took the car in. His first words post-inspection were, I would have never let you buy this car. This car has been worked on. The coolant and the oil are mixing, and the oil is leaking.

So, he sends me some scary snaps and said we will change the oil cooler.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Well, that was just the beginning of all the problems that were to follow to say the least. While waiting for the oil cooler the car had dropped from the front left side (same balloon which the previous owner had changed). I call him up again to check if there is any warranty on the part he replaced, which typically with FNG isn’t there. We did the test of the valve block for any leaks by swapping the terminals to see if any other wheel was going down. There was no such sign, so had to bite the bullet and change the front right suspension balloon too.

The car still had not been checked thoroughly for oil leaks and coolant mixing. I reached out to Vivek & Vicky from Tune – O -Tronics (they had worked on my Black Vento; I trusted them with Project Car#1; hadn’t run into any kind of issues for years clocking tons of miles). I was seeking their expert advice as to where I could get all this fixed. They directed me to Mechanix Automotive Garage Pune which was closer to Mumbai. Nikhil, their teammate, was there and was willing to work on the car with folks at Mechanix Auto to fix the mess.

We drove from Mumbai to Pune for the drop, the ride was just bliss, the power on tap was just amazing and addictive with my brother-in-law and fellow BHPian hogging the ride. There was a wide smile pasted on our faces all the time during the drive, confirming the ride was a perfect choice. We take a small test drive of the car in Pune, and mechanically the car to a layman was perfect. We didn’t know what was going on inside, they said they will check everything and let me know what to fix.

This was like opening the pandora box. The car was leaking engine oil from various places. The most prominent was between the gearbox and the engine. We planned to attack that first. Also, there were traces of M-Seal everywhere (I was shocked at what’s a plumbing material doing in my car) I will let the pictures do the talking now!

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Well post the sealant between the gearbox and the engine was fixed, we hit a junction where we had to take a call about taking the engine out if I wanted everything to be in place. As there were traces of oil leak from the top.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Should I bite the bullet? This meant we were entering into unknown territory; parts were 10 years old; engine mounts were fine but on opening what if they snap?! Well, I thought I wouldn’t be able to take the car on long drives without peace of mind if I didn’t fix these issues. Told sorry to my bank account; gave them a go-ahead and out came the engine.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

With the engine out, they could see all that needed to be replaced. Well, the list was so freaking long. Check it out.

  • DIPSTICK HOLDER
  • CONTROL VALVE O RING
  • SEALANT FOR UPPER OIL SUMP 4PCS
  • OIL LEVEL SENSOR O RING
  • LEFT TAPPET COVER
  • RIGHT TAPPET COVER
  • VENT HOSE
  • COOLANT BREATHER LINE
  • O RING
  • COVER
  • SEALING FLANGE SEAL
  • SHAFT OIL SEAL
  • FLANGE SEAL
  • O RING
  • SEALENT FOR TIMING COVER 2PCS
  • GEARBOX OIL STRAINER
  • GEARBOX PAN GASKET
  • LEFT AXLE OIL SEAL DIFFERENTIAL
  • SUSPENSION BOLT 2PCS
  • BELT TENSIONER
  • IDEALER PULLY

Phew! Had to order these parts, there was no way out. The painful waiting period for the parts to arrive from Estonia had begun.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

With parts reaching the custom clearance, the engine bay was prepped up!

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Finally, the parts van arrived!

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Work started with all the seals/packing having to be replaced. Open heart surgery snaps follow.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Oil Stump with new sealant, attached

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Woohoo! All done, right guys? Want to see the final pics of the car? Finally, I will be bearing the fruits of waiting for 4 months since buying the car!

Haah! Surprise, surprise! There was bearing noise from the tyre area so both front wheel bearings were then changed.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Finally, after waiting for 4 odd months the car was ready! Ready to be driven. BUT a new issue had popped up. The AC was working intermittently. I had lost my patience by now. I had new tires and alloys on the waiting in Mumbai. I wanted to have the car now, the AC problem was intermittent. I will try and fix that in Mumbai. Couldn’t stay away from the car anymore! So, THUNDERBOLT came home, here’s the snap of how it left Pune!

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Soaked that in guys? Let’s not get complacent here; work is not done yet! Let’s see through the last phase.

First, let’s fix the AC! Couldn’t freaking figure out what was wrong with it. Race the car, the compressor would come on and work. In stop-and-go traffic, it would stop. Changed some sensor chips, that didn’t work, tried with all the iterations and finally had to replace the AC compressor.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

This is a project car, isn’t it? What I have done is just fixed what was broken, what about how I wanted the car to be?

Let’s get the logo painted black, get those alloys and tyres to fill in the wheel arches and finally let’s get that steering wheel I always wanted!

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Done! Here’s how my vision turned out. Check it out. The end, right? Time for fellow BHPians to comment?

Nah nah; wait, wait! I’m not done yet. Never say never! Took Thunderbolt to Nashik. Shit roads. Suspension error popped up along with the rear LED light not working.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Also, had ignored the missing wheel lining part, which started making the engine bay dirty.

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

So, got these things fixed

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro
story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Now, I’m finally done. I cannot end this without thanking the people who helped me see my vision through with their hard work! Glad to know there are people who have the knowledge and play a big role in keeping the auto-enthusiast culture going on.

  • Auto Landmark Mumbai – Dhaval Shah
  • Tune-O-Tronics: Vivek, Vicky & Nikhil
  • The Mechanix Automotive: Anirudhh, Sushant
  • Straightline: Trevor
  • NT Composite: Nirmal

story of buying & fixing my new project car, audi a6 3.0 v6 tdi quattro

Cheers, drive safe!

Keyword: Story of buying & fixing my new project car, Audi A6 3.0 V6 TDI Quattro

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

What’s the correct tyre pressure for your Audi A3

We take you through the recommended tyre pressures for all Audi A3 models produced from 2003 until 2022. Effects of incorrect tyre pressure Under-inflated tyres will cause excess wear and tear on the inside and outside edges of the tread. Over-inflated tyres have a much narrower contact patch with the road ...

View more: What’s the correct tyre pressure for your Audi A3

Audi Elevates A4 and S4 Sedan Appeal With Black Edition Offshoot

Image: Audi Image: Audi Image: Audi NewsBy: Ryan De Villiers Audi has emboldened its A4 and S4 sedan model’s appeal by debuting the Black Edition offshoots, which offers greater visual appeal and improved convenience features. Image: Audi Pricing:  Audi A4 35 TFSI S tronic Black Edition: R900 000 Audi ...

View more: Audi Elevates A4 and S4 Sedan Appeal With Black Edition Offshoot

The Audi TT Is Dead. This Is The Last Car Built

After 662,762 vehicles assembled, the Tourist Trophy is no more.

View more: The Audi TT Is Dead. This Is The Last Car Built

New Audi cars and SUVs coming to South Africa in 2024

Audi will expand its South African portfolio in 2024 with a number of special-edition models for its most popular vehicles. In no particular order, the German automaker confirmed that, next year, it will bring the following vehicles to our shores: A3 and S3 Black Edition A3 Sportback 35TFSI Urban ...

View more: New Audi cars and SUVs coming to South Africa in 2024

Limited-edition Audi A4 Black Edition for South Africa – Only 100 up for grabs

Black Edition specifications Price Audi A4 Black Edition The Audi A4 Black Edition is launching in South Africa soon in four specifications starting at R900,000. The popular four-door has been on sale in its current form since 2020 in Standard, Advanced, and S Line trims, with the Black Edition ...

View more: Limited-edition Audi A4 Black Edition for South Africa – Only 100 up for grabs

834-HP Honda Civic Wagon Vs. Stock Audi RS5 Drag Proves Power Isn't Everything

This battle is between an all-wheel-drive Honda Civic wagon making 834 hp against a stock Audi RS5 shows that grip is just as important as power numbers.

View more: 834-HP Honda Civic Wagon Vs. Stock Audi RS5 Drag Proves Power Isn't Everything

Audi e-tron GT caught with a sporty facelift for the first time

Audi’s high-performance EV is getting an upgrade. The Audi e-tron GT was caught testing for the first time, revealing the electric car’s sporty new facelift. Audi, Porshe upgrade to rival Tesla Like the Porsche Taycan, Audi’s e-tron GT was one of the first fully electric models to take on ...

View more: Audi e-tron GT caught with a sporty facelift for the first time

We Spied The Next-Gen Audi S5 Sportback

Photo: Daniel Golson/Jalopnik One of my favorite car-related things about living in Los Angeles is the frequency with which I see camouflaged test vehicles. Automakers from America, Europe, Japan, Korea and more have design centers or R&D facilities in Southern California, and others will just ship cars out here ...

View more: We Spied The Next-Gen Audi S5 Sportback

This Is Audi's New A5 Wagon Before You're Supposed To See It

Audi S3 And RS3 Sedans Are Getting New Lights And Bumpers

Audi SQ8 e-tron first drive: This tri-motor EV drives nimbly for its size, but sacrifices a lot of range

The Tri-Motor SQ8 E-Tron Is The First Audi That’s So Fun It Made Me Giggle

2024 Audi SQ8 Sportback E-Tron First Drive: Maybe The Best-Handling Electric SUV Right Now

30 lakh budget: Exploring options for a preowned German petrol sedan

Most affordable crossover from every brand in South Africa

What is the Audi RS3 top speed?

Tesla, Audi, And Nissan EVs Have Minimal Winter Range Loss

Cost of maintaining my 10-year-old Audi A6: Got a major service done

Tesla releases update with new way to activate Autopilot/FSD and separate backseat audio

Here's An Early Look At The Next-Generation Audi Q7

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel