fix it or bin it?

[Neil]

As other have said, I say keep it.

At this age and value of car, knowing some fundamentals are fine is worth it - especially as you hint it's not an ideal time for you to change. If you do, you're nearly always then on the back foot, and compromised in what you can get.

Depending on how handy you are, turbo could be a fairly easy job, DIY. There may even be a kit for doing it (bearings). Otherwise, they seem to be available on an exchange basis (for replacing the whole thing).

Brakes tend to be fairly easy, too, not too pricey.

Least you haven't got one of those fancy, schmancy newer cars, where you need a gadget to tell the computer to retract the calipers, then calibrate them, after you've changed something.

 

[Supratada]

Least you haven't got one of those fancy, schmancy newer cars, where you need a gadget to tell the computer to retract the calipers, then calibrate them, after you've changed something.

Indeed, we bought a newer A6 to back up the old A6 for when it fails. The new (07) A6 spat out its Dual Mass Flywheel within a few months of ownership and cost £1200 to replace. I am still arguing with Audi as they say it is part of the clutch and therefore a wear and tear item. They couldn't even replace the handbrake button without resetting the ECU, and as you say, if I want to replace the pads I'll have to use VAG-COM to wind back the rear cloppers, and I'll bet it will grass me up to Audi somehow.
The original A6, on 0ver 200k miles is still on its original clutch and exhaust. They don't make 'em like they used to.

 

[mikee]

Least you haven't got one of those fancy, schmancy newer cars, where you need a gadget to tell the computer to retract the calipers, then calibrate them, after you've changed something.

Indeed, we bought a newer A6 to back up the old A6 for when it fails. The new (07) A6 spat out its Dual Mass Flywheel within a few months of ownership and cost £1200 to replace. I am still arguing with Audi as they say it is part of the clutch and therefore a wear and tear item. They couldn't even replace the handbrake button without resetting the ECU, and as you say, if I want to replace the pads I'll have to use VAG-COM to wind back the rear cloppers, and I'll bet it will grass me up to Audi somehow.
The original A6, on 0ver 200k miles is still on its original clutch and exhaust. They don't make 'em like they used to.

funny you say that about the flywheel
heard of a few late passats doing the same thing
htose electric hand brakes are a really good idea too :roll:

 

[Supratada]

They are fairly pointless tech. Its not like I spent all my time beofre that cursing the existance of these ugly great levers I was expected to pull to work the handbrake.

Mind you the Mercedes foot-parking brake is a new circle of hell.

 

[mikee]

+1 on that

costs a lot in clutches i hear

a work mate had his passat handbrake fail in the glasgow rush hour
my how we laughed