I've ridden a Beemers. Love the German (well, originally Bavarian) over engineering. Little stuff. Like the Classic K bikes, didn't have a wrap around throttle cable - or has a tiny rack and pinion arrangement in the housing. Cool stuff.
Never owned a bimmer (occasionally called beemers buy the uninlightened) or a Benz.
So, now that Mrs Panther is the proud new owner of a 05 Allroad (2.7 turbo) very clean, but 240K miles;
Learn me them furrin things!
Runs and drives great, recent suspension to replace air, but is starting to show its German quality - the good and the bad. 
We had a 2004 with the same engine, we loved it!
I replaced the front factory air bags with Arnott bags - big mistake - I replaced 5 of theirs in the next 5 years or so......it's not a hard job (took about 1/2 hour after I did the first one) but the nuisance factor got to me after a while, and I also didn't trust them anymore - I had one pop a block after leaving my driveway!
Our car only had 85K on it when we traded it for - yes, you guessed it - another Allroad! This one a "smallroad", as it's based on the A4 chassis instead of the A6 and uses a 4 cyl turbo motor instead of the twin turbo v-6. We really liked the '04 and think it rode and drove smoother than our "new" 2014, but I sure like the 34+ fuel mileage I can get on the 4 vs the at best 24mpg on the 6.....I say at best cause it was usually closer to 14!
In the 16+ years we owned the '04 we had virtually no problems with it - I did have to replace a temp sensor ($16 part) and an amp for the stereo - the latter due to water intrusion from a blocked sunroof drain.
We've had Audis since the late 70's as our main car and they've always been great. With 240K on yours now I think it reasonable to expect some issues, but I sure don't know where to point you at this mileage. I assume the gearbox is an automatic?
In reply to MiniDave :
Thanks.
I thought this is the a4 "smallroad" and not the a6, but no clue about differences. I do know it has the 2.7 v6 . I assume twin turbo.
At 240K, some of the impending maint issues have already been addressed! This was his wife's baby! She bought it 7 years ago, before he was around. And you can tell they (both of them are WONDERFUL folks) were both particular about good maintenance.
It does have the tip tronic AT.
Some Audi folks apparently consider this trans to be the weakest link in that car, but I've always heard a tip tronic was a great trans. One of the important questions for my (hopefully) several years of ownership.
Good news, there is, I will not be trying for huge HP and performance ; any tuning or mods would be strictly for long term reliability, or mpg.
I drive for higher mpg numbers better than my wife (or anyone on both sides of our family) but not a hyper miler by any stretch.
I get 23 hwy, and 20 running errands out of our 03 Merc (no, that's not a Benz nick name) only got 11-12 when it lived in a city.
if we can match that with this, my wife will be ecstatic!!!
The 99-05 allroads were C5 chassis -- A6 based. That's the one with the 2.7T (there were also some with the 4.2L V8), and is the only A6 allroad we got in the US.
The 2009+ allroads are A4 based, I believe we only got the B9 version (2016+).
There are C6-C8 A6-based allroads as well as a B8 A4-based allroad in Europe.
Yes, there are A6 Allroads now.
The transmission issues were pre-2004, after that they figured out the problem and made a change...the issue was something internal that killed the torque converter, then it lost reverse.....or vice versa. There are transmission shops that rebuild these with the update, I think cost is around $3K exchange.
Like I said, mine was very reliable, but after 16 years and the fact that we tend to keep our cars a long time (duh!) we decided it was time - that and the wife found us a smokin' deal on this 2014 smallroad.
It now has about 77K (69K on it when we got it in July 2020) on it and we're heading off on a quick 3K round trip next week. We normally have a hard time doing more than about 3K miles a year on it as I have a couple of Mini/MINIs I usually drive.
I tend more to 3000 miles a MONTH! I put 20K on my camper tires in 2003, but that was a very aggressive year. (I make about the same yearly pay now, just in less weeks) that year was about 60k miles on two different trucks, and my hot rod
I always laugh at the car shows. They consider 5000 miles a year a "daily driver" . I towed my 66 airstream around the S. E. With my 48 COE to jobs. Prolly 20K a year on it, for a couple years
But fortunately my wife is semi retired now, and is probably closer to your use numbers.
Mrs Panther would have enjoyed the factory air suspension, but from a maint. side, the good news is brand new shocks and springs to replace high mileage air suspension system.
If it does get handed down to me, I was impressed with the factory 3300 lb tow rating. 
Yes, mine had the factory (dealer installed) hitch setup and I towed with it often, with twin turbo torque it moved my 1500 lb trailer load easily....and the air suspension was self leveling, so it didn't squat when you put the load on it. Only issue I ever had with that setup was the required conversion box to use with regular 4 wire trailer light setups, Once I found the Hoppy kits it was no issue either, but till then I was struggling to find one of the rare factory conversion boxes.
The Bilstien shock/spring kits were generally well regarded, but I would have stuck with the factory air suspension myself.
Other than the Arnott bags mine never gave any problems.....I should have spent the money and replaced that first failed bag with another factory one.....it had lasted 8-10 years and I never had to replace either of the rears.
One thing a lot of mfrs had issues with in cars of this vintage are the displays in the center between the gauges. Mine never failed, but again with a little searching you can find the guy that fixes thise pretty reasonably.
The two main Audi forums will be a good source for info and tips on repairs. They also will scare the hell out of you with all the possible issues - which I never had any of!
I'll have to dig up a diagram/install sheet for the "euro peeing" or factory hitch. Already heard the us hitches that are available hang too low; as well as dubious mounting.
can't come close to affording to buy one, so building one it is!
The air is a cool feature, but the maintenance costs of it vs springs, would probably tip it over me being able to afford to one it!
Bairly afford to buy it, even with the GRM discount
I use a weight distribution hitch for a lot of my towing. Self leveling air suspension can sometimes present some problems with that.
Does work well with light towing.
I've used the converters on a few vehicles; mostly seemed to have one that didn't suit the plug and play, so wired in a universal.
Ways from needing that!
Got the chance to drive it to work this am... 30 miles of back road , bout half twisties. In brutal rain /wind 
The AWD LOVED it!
Since i learned to drive in old loose RWD us cars - my first was a 64 Mercury Comet ; high miles 4 lug, back end got loose if ya blinked at it! Anyway, always have preferred a bit of oversteer, to under. Couldn't even come close to finding the limits, and i was kinda trying. I think if I actually found (and overcame ) the limits, I might not live through it. Amazing, to this non professional.
Audi all wheel drive is always fun in bad weather. I had two A4 Quattros and an A6 2.7T. So much fun in the snow and on a rainy road, you have a ton of traction. The 2.7T is a great engine but does require maintenance but once that is done good for another 100K.
Im glad to hear youre enjoying it
It's not a bad car, we were just a a point we couldnt keep going with it
But we put a lot into it the last couple of years, should have ditched the airsuspension a long time ago and saved lots, as that was the biggest money pit of it and only thing that ever put it down/out of commission
Never had any mechanical troubles aside from the air suspension
Weeps a little oil, so check it about once a week, dont always need to add, but check to make sure
Never had any overheating issues, once had the overflow hose that cracked and we replaced with OEM
Good heat, I liked the seat warmers a lot, too
I didnt go to the junkyard today - REALLY bad weather up here in NC. They actually closed a lot of schools as the wind is a constant 15-20mph and gusts getting up to 40...not good for a 40' long schoolbus!
It's pouring, too. Supposed to get a few inches of rain. My yard is already saturated and it's not even noon. Supposed to end around 6.
ANYWAY - I will try to go SOON and grab some things like coilpacks from it etc. It had an intermitten misfire, Everything Euro said to replace coils and plugs. I'll get those from the junkyard and mail them down. Anything else I can think of too
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
No worries! I'm going to be happy to have my wife in something as stable as this!
When the air bags on my Merc started leaking, I put off replacing the bags, since I heard how expensive they were (350-400, for oem, and 3-350 for aftermarket) Working nights with call ins, and no time... had to drive (actually during the early panic, a few years ago. Maint. can't w. f. h. )
after compressor finally died it's impending death, I looked up the spring/shock conversion kit... same $150 or so I had heard. But bags were only 69.99 a peace! But now I needed a compressor. $395.00 for compressor, filter soft lines and bags. Nice price, but had to go springs, (couldn't afford the air kit) due to putting it off, over "they said"
To ad insult to injury, last year, I set aside some money for the air kit... no longer available. Now it's 400 for just compressor, buy air bags and other parts separate. Looks like my Merc is gonna stay on springs!
I'd put 'em both back on air, were someone ain't as broke as me, to buy the parts 
On the spring note, are adjustable on the fly shocks available for it? Probably kinda high, also, but possibly less than all the air parts woulda been.
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
Btw, do you remember off hand what the specs, brand etc. the suspension stuff you put on is? I'm sure it's in the papers somewhere, but, then, I'd have to look!
also, I assume very recent oil change? Sticker gives a due at 242,000, but that is more than 3000 from now (I think) and that's the "usual" due date figure.
One more thing... if (I assume) the turbos share oil from crank case sump, what is the modern OCI recommended? Might have to get Bobzilla in that question!
I have the little brother to that car. B5 S4 avant. It's a real fun car and very versatile. It's the dog-wagon in my household. I change oil on the near side of 10 with a good synthetic. Mine's coming up to 315k on stock engine. Downside to that chassis is if there is a turbo issue, it's an engine out job. Not hard with a lift but a pain on the ground.
In reply to iansane :
I'd read the engine out. So turbo life will be ruling the maintenance!
Like our 95 Volvo wagon (non turbo) we had about 9 years ago; they'll last a million miles, as long as ya stay on top of the (sometimes) expensive maint. And can live with all the oddball quirky things that pop up, with age. Like the cruse kicks off, if you use the left turn signal. Not the right - just left. 
or the Volvo: radio would turn off when the rear window wiper was used ? 
This thing is small comparatively. I remember when my falcon wagon was a small car. It was bigger. I have never driven or ridden in any Audi, but since this ain't quite as big as I'd prefer, I think I'd actually like the small one better. Counter intuitive, but I imagine y'all follow me.
Am happy with the 20.5 mpg average on the dash. Hope that's somewhat accurate.
NOT happy about the cost of 91 octane fuel!!!
Is there a tune available for 87, that doesn't destroy the mpg? I don't need all that extra power. In fact, with the huge turbo lag in the low end, ruining for low end, at risk of power up high , should help the mpg considerably.
So, wrong audience, but I want a tune for 87, and low end !!!
Strutmasters suspension on it, I can forward you emails from the purchase etc
You COULD go back to air suspension, and likely source stuff from the junkyard...but, man, it's a pain.
It's great when it works, but when one thing goes it creates issues/harder work for the other parts, then that'll fail, then the next, next...
Wifey had a 2001 A6 with the 2.7T. Wonderful car, purchased new, driven to 120k-ish miles. Largely trouble-free. I recall an auxiliary coolant pump leaking/failure. Repaired under warranty. Timing belt at 105k. We bailed when it looked like a good bit of oil in the intake plumbing, presumably due to leakage at the turbos, and a singing noise at low rpm and moderate load. Body and interior, while pampered, looked brand new after 7 years.
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
Yep. If I had the money, I'd do the Merc. The a6 is prolly an order of magnitude higher. So even if I had the money many guys on here throw around, I still wouldn't!!!
If someone gave me all the parts to do it right, I would, just 'cause it'd be the right thing. But I'd rather have the money ! Neither is gonna happen though, so moot point.
Anyway, if any information in differences on a4 vs a6, or any general knowledge of this high miles 6 is out there, keep it coming! Thanks
I also did oil changes well over 3K, usually every other year as we drove so few miles....so probably closer to the 6-7500 range. I used good ol Mobil 1, never had any issues. The lower ends on these engines are well built.
I did the cam belt at 11 years, as we still only had about 60K on the car at that point. Cam belt job means water pump, cam seals, valve cover gaskets and a bunch of small parts too. You can borrow the tool kit (I think it was free with a deposit) from the guys who sell the parts kits....I used Blauparts IIRC.
They also sell transmission oil change kits with the pan gasket and filter.....in fact I think I have one of those, happy to send it to you for cost of shipping only as I no longer have that car.
She only used Mobil1 in the car
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
Thanks. I did see the Mobile 1 quart in the car, as well.
