Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Grande routière de 1997-2004 au coffre de 551 litres. Les retours publiés sont rares (CarVerif, sur le V6 2.5 TDI 180 seulement) : pompes à gasoil et injecteurs fragiles sur les premières années, robustesse meilleure après 2001. Visez 2001 ou plus.
- Reliability
- 5.0/5
- Indicative prices
- €5,000 – €6,700
- Euro NCAP
- Rating not found
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: 2.5 TDI V6 180 quattro Tiptronic.
2.5 TDI V6 180 quattro Tiptronic
✓ RecommendedDiesel · Automatic · 180 hp · 8.9 L/100 km · 240 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 5
V6 diesel de 180 ch et 370 Nm, transmission intégrale, boîte Tiptronic à 5 rapports (fiche Auto-Data, millésimes 2001-2004). CarVerif y voit un choix prisé des gros rouleurs.
Market prices
€5,000 – €6,700
Indicative range: 2002 à 2003, médianes par année de 13 annonces en ligne relevées par iAutos (années d'au moins 3 annonces).
Collected on 28 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Importing this model
Prices abroad
Yearly medians of each country's listings (AutoScout24, in euros; United Kingdom: cinch dealer, in pounds), over years with at least 3 listings. Useful to judge an import (add transport, inspection and registration).
| Country | Range | Median | Gap vs France | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | €5,000 – €6,700 (2002 to 2003) | €6,700 | — | — |
| Germany | €1,500 – €2,990 (1997 to 2003) | €2,399 | — | 127 |
| Italy | €1,300 – €6,300 (1998 to 2003) | €3,750 | — | 12 |
Median gap shown only when the country's estimate covers the same years as the French one. Add transport, roadworthiness test and registration.
You are importing the car to:
Import penalty (malus) in France
- Emissions of the versions in this guide: 240 g CO₂/km (check the value on the car's registration certificate).
- The CO₂ malus follows the scale of the year the vehicle was first registered, in France or abroad (WLTP or NEDC scale depending on its registration certificate).
- For an imported used car, it is reduced by a flat-rate discount based on its age in months (scheme in force since 1 March 2025). The weight malus also applies on first registration in France.
- Production ended in 2004: a car first registered before 1 January 2015 has no malus.
Source: BOFiP (French tax doctrine), CO₂ and weight malus · CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
Paperwork and procedures
- Importing a used car from another EU country: the step-by-step process
- Importing a car from an EU country: all the documents to gather
- Carte grise for an imported car: cost, taxes and the official simulator
- CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
- Importing a used car from outside the European Union: the steps
- Buying a used car in Germany and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Italy and bringing it back to France
Importing and registering in Belgium: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in Switzerland: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing a car into Switzerland: customs, tax and registration
Importing and registering in Luxembourg: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in the United Kingdom: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Check an imported car's history
HistoVec only covers the vehicle's life in France. For a car coming from abroad, a VIN-based report helps spot inconsistent mileage or a reported accident.
Check the car's history: 20% off → (new tab)Partner link
Known faults
Note: some faults below are cited by a single source only. They are still to be confirmed and the reliability score is only indicative.
Pompe à gasoil et injecteurs sur les premières années (1997-1999)
Severity 2/3 · CostlyCarVerif déconseille les A6 C5 de 1997 à 1999 pour leurs pompes à gasoil fragiles et leurs injecteurs défaillants précocement, et mentionne des campagnes mineures sur le système d'injection avant 2001. Les versions postérieures à 2001 s'en tirent mieux. Un seul site en parle : information à confirmer.
Single source so far: to be confirmed.
- Versions
- 2.5 TDI V6 180 quattro Tiptronic
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Audi A6”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Recalls published in France (RappelConso)
- 9 June 2022 — Le fonctionnement des coussins gonflables nadi pertinents fabriqués par takata, en particulier le générateur de gaz, peut être altéré dans les véhicules concernés en raison de l’âge du dispositif. Dans ce cas, la fonction de protection du coussin gonflable du conducteur peut être réduite lorsque le coussin gonflable est activé. Official notice
Inspection checklist
Audi A6 C5 — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Préférer un millésime 2001 ou plus récent (CarVerif : moins de plaintes après 2001).
- Faire contrôler la pompe d'injection et les injecteurs : démarrage difficile, fumées, à-coups.
- Se renseigner dans un réseau Audi, avec le numéro VIN, sur les campagnes de rappel liées à l'injection.
- Demander les factures d'entretien : distribution, vidanges, boîte automatique.
- Essayer la boîte Tiptronic : passages doux, pas de patinage.
Questions to ask the seller
- La pompe d'injection ou les injecteurs ont-ils été remplacés ?
- Quand la distribution a-t-elle été changée, et à quel kilométrage ?
- Les campagnes d'injection éventuelles ont-elles été effectuées ?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Audi A6
C6 · 2004–2011
- Price
- €4,500 – €5,000
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, Attribution
Audi A4
B6 · 2000–2004
- Price
- €2,900 – €3,100
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, Public domain
Volkswagen Passat
B5 · 1996–2005
- Price
- €3,000 – €3,500
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Audi A6 C5 (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
L'Audi A6 C5 2.5 TDI est-elle fiable ?
CarVerif ne relève pas de casse moteur généralisée sur le 2.5 TDI 180, mais déconseille les millésimes 1997-1999 (pompes à gasoil et injecteurs). Une seule source : à confirmer.
Quel est le coffre de l'Audi A6 C5 ?
551 litres pour la berline, selon la fiche Auto-Data du 2.5 TDI 180.
Found a listing?
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