I've narrowed my search down to 2 or 3 RS6s and I plan to buy one next week. Few questions:

1. I've heard some talk of the chips being a recipe for disaster. Can this be confirmed by anyone on the board? Are there some chips that have better reliability? If you do the engine and tranny ECU (both of them) is it better for reliability or worse?

2. What is the deal with the stock exhaust? I've seen some with chrome tips and others with black tips. Is one the sport tuned Audi exhaust and the other the base exhaust? Much difference in sound/volume?

3. Some pics of cars with nice 19" aftermarkets would be great. I will want to swap out the shoes almost definitley so would be cool to see some pics.

Thanks guys.

Dan

 

1. I have no idea, you might want to check out http://www.rs6.com or http://www.audiworld.com

2. The black tips are the sport exhaust, silver tips are the regular exhaust. There is a noticeable difference between the two, the sport exhaust provides just the right amount of rumble to keep things interesting without being obnoxious while the regular exhaust to me (after having driven the sport exhaust car) left something to be desired.

3. See #1

Hope that helps and welcome to the board,
Jeremy

 

Great choice. Best all 'round car I've ever owned.

1. Chips. Many owners have chipped. Recommend both the ECU and the tranny chip if you do. However, the weak link is the tranny. It has broken on several owners with chipped cars. VERY expensive to replace, unless you can find a parted one. Single biggest problem with chipping is that it voids warranty, and Audi is serious about it. On the RS6, this can be extremely expensive. Agree that RS6.com and Audiworld.com are two very good resources for RS6 info.

2. Not 100% accurate. My sound enhanced exhaust had chrome tips. The sound enhanced exhaust provides no performance gains. Just sound. I've put an Eisenmann on the car and have purchased a Sportec, too. Improves the sound noticeably over the even the sound enhanced exhaust. Some like it. Some don't. Personal choice.

3. Wheels aren't difficult. The Euro RS6 came with 19's. They were 5-spokes as opposed to the US 9-spoke 18's. I've got 20x9 Sportecs on mine. They require a spacer. BBS RS-GTs are popular. Fikse, too.

CW

 

Wow, weird. I was 100% positive the blacked out tips were the sport exhaust, and chrome were standard.

Sounds like you have a nicely setup RS6, any pictures? Those Sportec wheels are great looking.

Travis

 

Here's the Eisenmann site:

http://www.eisenmann-technik.de/

Go to the exhaust part of the site, do a seach for RS6, and you'll get an audio clip.

I'll see if I have any pictures around. Mine's Avus/black w/ carbon interior trim. Fully optioned.

FYI, factory NAV is USELESS (audio only, no map). You can upgrade it to an RNS-E, which is dramatically better. Also, the Euro cars had a fantastic Recaro interior. You can also upgrade to this interior by buying one on ebay. While I haven't done either, yet, I think both mods are worth it.

CW

 

Black tips are the Audi sport exhaust tips.

So far I've done the Dahlback Air intake, Milltek Exhuast, Dahlback ECU chip/Dahlback Tranny chip no problems at all, PSS9's, Sportec 20's summer, BBS Ch's 19 for snow, RNS-E, BT, Sirrius, Euro Recaros, H-sport sways....

I think if you go with dp's and the fuel pump and fuel regulator you may experience tranny failure. There is one place I know of in the US that will rebuild RS6 trannys Level 10 they are in NJ I think.

2nd that the RSN-E is amazing!!!!! Probably the best mod possible. SD cards for MP3's, DVD Nav, BT capable, Sat Radio capable endless things with this unit, video /ipod....

Euro interior is amazing as well.

Here are some pictures:

Sportec 20's

Bilstein PSS9's

Dahlback Air Intake

Not a great pic but euro recaro rears


Euro Recaro front:


Milltek tips:


Audiworld and RS6.com best sources also navplus.us for NAV info and electronics.

 

Well, I can't explain the discrepancy because my sound enhanced exhaust has chrome tips. Regardless, same wheels. Same look. All the upgrades I'd recommend are on pyiu's car.

Good stuff.

CW

 

pyiu,

So are you happy that you ditched DSC in favor the the Bilstein suspension? Also, what winter tires do you run?

CW,

Did you buy your car new, or used? Do you have the window sticker with the option list? If it was used and the sticker says Sound Enhancing Exhaust, perhaps the previous owner switched it out...

 

M5Kid,

Used. I do. AoA was the previous owner, so who knows what they did. However, it is a sound enhancing exhaust. Of this, I am sure. With chrome tips.

Holy schnikes! I've got a collectible!

CW

 

CW,

Not to keep probing at the issue, but what makes you think you have Sounds Enhancing exhaust? If you do, then you have a one-off....

 

yes I like the PSS9's and the H-sport set up. It feels more responsive.

255 35 19 on BBS CH's. Dunlop winter sports

 

M5Kid,

I think I've figured out the confusion. Euro RS6's were offered with a factory option: Black Optics Package. This was basically black window trim, front grill and spoiler trim and exhaust tips.

This was not offered here in the US. So, all exhausts, not just Sound Enhanced, were chrome tips in the US.

CW

 

Pyiu,

Which tires are you running on the 20x9's?

Thanks,

CW

 

255 30 20
Conti Sport 2's

 

Sorry CW, but I have the SE exhaust on my US-Spec RS6 and the tips are black. I have my original window sticker showing the SE exhaust option as well.

I have always seen/etc that SE exhausts were black, non SE exhausts had chrome tips, and never heard of an exception until you.

-m