Since 2001, mass production of a new car body called the Audi A4 B6 has been launched. The design of the car has changed a lot, of course, the features of the past body remained, but still the car became more like. As a result, the new body has become more spacious, which again suggests that this car looks more like a solid one than a city car.
In the new body, Audi decided to take care of the driver's safety, they did a lot for this. First of all, they took care of the body and interior, did it so that in the event of an accident, all parts of the body and interior were subjected to deformation as little as possible. Installed front and side airbags. Established anti-roll bar and a system that enhances braking during emergency braking.
Design
The appearance of the car has been changed for the better, but the past generation is tracked. Approximately similar optics in shape are used here, but still it is slightly changed in the filling and slightly in shape. The long embossed hood bends around with its relief a small radiator grille with a chrome trim. The massive bumper received a chrome insert, air intakes and round fog lights.
On the side, the model received even more inflated wheel arches, a small molding also appeared, the windows began to have chrome trim. Otherwise, only the shape of the body has changed.
The rear of the Audi A4 B6 has other headlights with halogen filling and a pleasant design. The trunk lid also looks great, smooth shapes and interesting lines. The rear bumper is also quite massive, most of it is a plastic protection. Under the bumper are two pipes of the exhaust system.
The dimensions of the body compared to the previous version are also changed:
- length - 4548 mm;
- width - 1772 mm;
- height - 1428 mm;
- wheelbase - 2650 mm;
- ground clearance - 110 mm.
Specifications
| Type | Volume | Power | Torque | Overclocking | Max speed | Number of cylinders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1.6 l | 102 HP | 148 H*m | 13 sec. | 186 km/h | 4 |
| Petrol | 1.8 l | 150 HP | 210 H*m | 9.1 sec. | 219 km/h | 4 |
| Petrol | 1.8 l | 163 HP | 225 H*m | 8.8 sec. | 225 km/h | 4 |
| Petrol | 1.8 l | 170 HP | - | - | - | 4 |
| Petrol | 1.8 l | 190 HP | 240 H*m | 8.4 sec. | 232 km/h | 4 |
| Petrol | 2.0 l | 130 HP | 195 H*m | 10.1 sec. | 208 km/h | 4 |
| Petrol | 2.0 l | 150 HP | 200 H*m | 9.9 sec. | 214 km/h | 4 |
| Petrol | 2.4 l | 170 HP | 230 H*m | 9.1 sec. | 223 km/h | V6 |
| Petrol | 3.0 l | 220 HP | 300 H*m | 7.1 sec. | 243 km/h | V6 |
We will not tell you in detail about each engine installed on this car, since there are more than 10 of them. You can find out the data of all gasoline engines from the table above.
And this is the data of TDI diesel engines, of which there were also a lot in the line.
| Type | Volume | Power | Torque | Overclocking | Max speed | Number of cylinders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1.9 l | 100 HP | 250 H*m | 12.5 sec. | 191 km/h | 4 |
| Diesel | 1.9 l | 115 HP | 285 H*m | 11.5 sec. | 197 km/h | 4 |
| Diesel | 1.9 l | 130 HP | 310 H*m | 10.1 sec. | 208 km/h | 4 |
| Diesel | 2.5 l | 163 HP | 310 H*m | 8.8 sec. | 227 km/h | V6 |
| Diesel | 2.5 l | 180 HP | 270 H*m | 8.7 sec. | 223 km/h | V6 |
All these motors are still famous for their excellent reliability and relatively inexpensive maintenance. The suspension here is interesting, in front there is an independent system on 4 levers. At the rear, in the Audi A4 B6 (2001-2005), unfortunately, a beam is used, trapezoidal levers are also used in addition. In general, the chassis is difficult, in the case of repairs, you will have to pay a little money, but it will be difficult to make it. The car stops with the help of hydraulic disc brakes, which do their job perfectly. BAS is also present.
Interior
The interior of the car already looks much better for the modern world than the previous generation. The driver will already have a steering wheel with buttons, which in 2001 was a rarity. This is a leather 4-spoke steering wheel, adjustable in height and reach. The instrument panel has large analog gauges for the speedometer and tachometer in chrome trim, as well as small gauges for fuel level and oil temperature. There is also a fairly informative on-board computer.
The front seats are leather, quite comfortable, there is heating, a person of almost any body size can fit in them. The back row is equipped with fabric chairs, more precisely a sofa designed for three passengers. There is also an armrest with an ashtray and cup holders. There is enough space in the back too.
The center console of the Audi A4 B6 can have a large head unit with a large number of buttons, it can also get a small display with a navigation system, there will be no less buttons. Its availability depends on the configuration. Below we can observe a stylish for that time control unit for a 2-zone climate control. It consists of setting buttons and three screens, two display the temperature, and the third shows the direction of the air.
The tunnel, in fact, is not surprising, it is a small niche for small things, a large gear selector, a parking brake handle, a cigarette lighter and a large armrest. In the cabin you can also find a tree, including on the tunnel, but it will not be in all versions. Trunk volume is 445 liters, if you fold the rear sofa, it will increase to 720 liters.
Price
In principle, now in the modern world you can easily buy this car in the secondary market, there are many living specimens that will drive for many more years. On average, these models are sold for 300,000 rubles, but there are models for 500 thousand.
A good car, even by today's standards, given its cost. It seems to us that the Audi A4 B6 has a good interior, good technical characteristics, and most importantly, reliability, and therefore we recommend it for purchase.
Video
In the autumn of 2000, the German automaker Audi officially introduced the second-generation A4 model with the internal designation B6, which reached the assembly line early next year. The car not only became larger than its predecessor, but also acquired an appearance in the vein of a more status “six”. In 2004, the next generation of the Audi A4 replaced it, but the serial production of the second generation of this model continued until 2006 - during all this time more than 1.2 million copies.
The “second” Audi A4 is a typical representative of the European D-segment, or to be more precise, its premium group. The car was available in three body styles - a sedan, a five-door station wagon and a two-door convertible with a soft top.
Depending on the decision, the "four" is extended in length by 4544-4573 mm, its width does not exceed 1766-1777 mm, and its height fits into 1391-1428 mm. Between the axles of the car, there is a distance of 2650-2654 mm, and the ground clearance is 110-130 mm.
The 2nd generation car was equipped with eight petrol units to choose from - atmospheric and turbocharged "fours" of 1.6-1.8 liters, developing from 102 to 190 horsepower and from 148 to 2140 Nm of rotational thrust. There were also six-cylinder V-shaped "aspirated" with a volume of 2.0-2.4 liters, the output of which reaches from 130 to 170 "horses" and from 195 to 230 Nm. The diesel part is no less diverse - turbo units with a volume of 1.9-2.5 liters, producing from 130 to 180 forces and from 310 to 370 Nm of peak thrust.
There are four gearboxes - 5- or 6-speed manual gearbox, 5- or 6-band automatic transmission. Drive - front or permanent full.
The basis for the second generation Audi A4 is the PL46 front-wheel drive architecture. An independent four-link suspension is installed at the front, and trapezoidal levers made of aluminum are installed at the rear. The car is equipped with a rack and pinion steering gear with hydraulic booster. The braking system is expressed by disc brakes, supplemented by ventilation on the front wheels, with ABS and EBV.
The advantages of this model are excellent sound insulation, comfortable suspension, efficient engines, reliable design, high-quality performance and a rich level of equipment.
Cons - the high cost of original spare parts, not the most spacious rear row of seats and modest ground clearance.
The Audi A4 B6, in terms of design, has become a smaller copy of the Audi A6 C5, which we considered in. In technical terms, these models also have a lot in common, but there are still a couple of differences and features of operation. The second "four" was released in 2000, and perfectly fit into its niche, thanks to the new design and excellent quality of materials and assembly. And the German wealth and variety of trim levels attracted not only fans of the brand, but also new owners. As always, let's start the review with one of the most important components of any car.
Audi A4 B6 body
Traditionally for a German manufacturer, the body of the Audi A4 is completely galvanized, and in the absence of accidents, it does not cause corrosion problems. The problem can be delivered by plastic panels that sheath the bottom of the car to improve sound insulation and corrosion resistance. Under operating conditions on our "pseudo-roads", these plates often break off, especially in winter, when snow clogs between them. 
If you buy an Audi A4 B6, then do not forget to clean the drain under the battery, otherwise the vacuum brake booster may fail due to moisture. Well, once every couple of years, it does not hurt to clean and lubricate the mechanism of the front wipers, as they often turn sour and begin to perform their function poorly.
Salon
When you get inside the car, you understand that the “Lord of the Rings” is a representative of the premium segment. Interior materials are very high quality and look expensive, the assembly is excellent. The real German order reigns in the cabin, everything is in its place and the right size, it is easy to find a comfortable fit, after one hour of driving you get the feeling that you have owned a car for at least a couple of years. 
Finding a car with full power accessories, alarm, ABS, ESP (stabilization), ASR (traction control), climate control, heated front seats and six airbags is not a problem at all.
If the airbag warning light is on on the dashboard of the Audi A4 that you are going to buy, then there was not necessarily an accident, run diagnostics, a common reason is the airbag connector, which is not expensive to change.
The “four” has grown a little (7 cm in length, 1.3 cm in height can not be counted), but behind it is still “the third extra”. The trunk is average (445 liters), nothing special, and the rear seat does not fold out in all trim levels. The fact that being inside the Audi A4 B6 is comfortable and pleasant is a fact, but we will find out further about the “ride”.
Audi A4 B6 engines
The most popular “motors” in our open spaces are petrol 1.8T (150, 163 or 190 hp) and 2.0 (131 hp), as well as a 1.9 liter diesel (110 hp) . These units have been repeatedly considered in previous reviews, but we will repeat the main features.
1.8T (AVG, 150 hp)- a motor with an impeller, which gives 25 horses and pickup after 2000 rpm. On average, the turbine serves 150,000 thousand mileage, subject to the features of the operation of a turbocharged engine. Mandatory conditions: high-quality oil, timely replacement or cleaning of the oil pipe, turn off the engine with a delay of 30 seconds-2 minutes after stopping, or set a turbo timer. Ignition coils this motor "clicks like seeds", each of the four will cost $ 30-50.
Since 2002, 1.8T (BFB, 163hp) and 1.8T (BEX, 190hp) engines have been produced.
2.0 (ALT, 130 HP)- the dynamics are worse than those of 1.8T, but there are no problems with the turbine. Thanks to the system for changing the length of the intake manifold, the engine pulls well in a wide range of revolutions, but it is possible that after 150,000 km this mechanism will have to be changed ($ 150). Oil consumption, half a liter per 1,000 km, is almost the norm for this engine.
1.9 TDI (110 hp)- the best option for diesel lovers. If the diagnostics did not show obvious problems, then in the near future only routine maintenance will be needed. Compared to the 2.5 TDI, the difference in acceleration dynamics is large, but the cost of a capricious and often problematic six-cylinder diesel can reach several thousand dollars.
Often, engines with a volume of 1.6 liters come across for sale, which can only be recommended to lovers of a very calm ride, since 100 horses is frankly not enough for an A4. But in terms of gasoline consumption, you can keep within 9 liters in the city.
If you want dynamics, then take the gasoline six-cylinder engines, which turned out to be quite reliable, unlike the 2.5 liter diesel. The truth is on sale to find an Audi A4 B6 with an engine 2.4 (BDV, 170 HP) or 3.0 (ASN, 220 HP) not so easy. You will have to pay for dynamics with gasoline, oil and more expensive maintenance (timing replacement is twice as expensive as on four-cylinder engines). A 2.5 TDI is easy to find, only a “live” instance is a rarity. Read more about V6 engines in the review.
Gear shift
On the Audi A4 B6 there may be a five or six-speed “mixer”, which will not bring any problems, but you can spend money on the clutch (not of your own free will, of course). If the previous owner liked to skid spectacularly and “beautifully start”, then the dual-mass flywheel may not withstand this and ask you for $ 500 for a replacement, in addition to the cost of the clutch itself. To avoid this, do not take a car that has any extraneous sounds when switching, especially clanging. Under normal use, the clutch usually travels up to 200,000 km.
If you choose a car with an automatic transmission, then no shocks and delays are allowed when switching, otherwise expensive repairs shine. The Multitronic variator is considered the most problematic, the control unit in it is expensive and unreliable (but fuel consumption with such a box as on the mechanics). An automatic machine with a Tiptronic system is more reliable, according to reviews, electronics can “glitch” in this box, but this is not a general trend.
Chassis
Compared with the previous generation, the suspension of the Audi A4 B6 has become an order of magnitude more reliable. If at B5 the pendant was called gold, now it has become silver. For $600 (LEMFORDER, equivalent to Germany) you can take a set of the entire front suspension, which is enough for at least 60,000 - 70,000 km.
But you do not have to buy the whole set at once (if the suspension is “killed”, then you can easily determine this during diagnostics), you can change individual levers as needed. After 200,000 km, you may have to change the rear suspension bushings.
But the cost of maintaining the suspension is worth it, because the ride quality (ride comfort), as well as the handling, are excellent. Speaking of steering, the steering tips (if you don’t take the cheapest ones, of course) take care of 100,000 km.
If, when choosing a car, you come across an instance with all-wheel drive, you can only rejoice. The all-wheel drive Audi A4 B6 has many advantages, especially in winter, and only the possible replacement of several silent blocks of the rear suspension will be added to the costs. The AUDI all-wheel drive system is very reliable and you should not have any problems with it.
Outcome
Audi A4 B6 can be safely called the optimal city car (considering the year of manufacture, price and class of the car, of course). The main advantages: comfort of movement, high-quality interior materials and excellent assembly, galvanized body made of high-quality metal, good engines.
The disadvantages include a rather weak suspension for our "realities", the relatively high consumption of most engines, the prices for spare parts are above average (especially for electronics).
The second generation Audi A4 debuted in 2000, and the serial production of the model began in 2001. The "Four" shared a platform with the Volkswagen Passat B5. In total, more than a million copies of the Audi A4 B6 were produced in the world. Even despite the relatively respectable age, there are no serious problems.
Audi A4 (B6, 8E) (2000 - 2004)
Engines
Audi A4 B6 was offered with a large number of engines with a displacement of 1.6 liters (100 hp) to 3 liters (220 hp) "charged" S-version. Three units are most widely used: petrol 2.0 l ALT (130 hp), petrol turbocharged 1.8 l (150 hp - avj, 163 hp - bfb, 170 hp - amb (USA) and 190 hp - bex) and diesel 1.9 TDI (100 and 130 hp).
The 2-liter ALT is famous for its exorbitant oil appetite, which comes after 100 thousand km. Only one thing calms - the increased oil consumption, as a rule, no longer grows and averages 2-3 liters per 10 thousand km.
With a run of more than 200 - 250 thousand km, pixels on the on-board computer display often begin to “float”. A new display costs about 2.5 - 4 thousand rubles, for its installation you will need to pay another 1.5 - 2 thousand rubles. Over time, with a run of more than 200 thousand km, the dashboard buzzer also stops. The reason is the failure of the speaker.
On-board computer display. Photo: audi-a4-club.ru
Comfort
The constant rotation (continuous) air conditioning compressor is in dire need of internal lubrication. It does not tolerate a small amount, and even more so the absence of freon and oil in the system. If a leak is detected, it is necessary to immediately find the cause and eliminate it, avoiding the operation of the car. The compressor itself is not repairable, and the need to replace it arises with a run of more than 160 - 220 thousand km. A new compressor costs about 18-25 thousand rubles, and the work to replace it is 7-8 thousand rubles.
On diesel-powered Audi A4s, the damper pulley may be damaged due to increased vibration. A new pulley will cost 6-7 thousand rubles. Over time, it will be necessary to replace or flush the heater core. The need for this will come when, in cold weather, with a fully warmed-up engine, warm air will no longer be supplied to the passenger compartment.
Electrician
Due to a wire break in the protective corrugation of the electrical wiring between the door and the body, the rear door electrics stop working, and the backlight is constantly on in the cabin. For a similar reason (a break in the corrugation), the trunk electric lock stops working. In addition, the license plate light may go out. With good wiring, the cause is a malfunction of the electric motor of the lock. A new one costs about 700 - 800 rubles.
Broken wire in the corrugation. Photo: audi-a4-club.ru
The standard security system may stop recognizing the keys to the car due to oxidation of the contacts on the comfort unit or the failure of the unit's processor.
Conclusion
Audi A4 B6 - the last of the Mohicans. This is a car that was created to serve its owners for decades. Despite a decent age, there are almost no serious problems. Engines serve faithfully, and the body steadfastly holds "salt baths". Against this background, the Multitronic variator, suspension and air conditioning compressor look a little weaker.
