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i have a 2003 audi a4 cabriolet with a cvt transmission.at 61000 miles it started to chatter while cruising anywere from 30 to 60 mph outside of that problem it seems to be ok.i took it to the audi dealer and was told it needed a new transmission,was quoted 9,000.00 to replace,damn near fainted.i love the car outside of this defect.i went on the internet and found a company that rebuilds these transmissions(european transmissions,cummings georgia,ph.770-888-1499)and was quoted a price of 4,000.00 installed.has anyone used these people and if so what was your xperience with them?any input would be appreciated.  

wow... thanks.... i have built transmissions only once in a while for decades...    i had not a clue of what the audi CVTs looked like insides...

check it out...

http://www.europeantransmissions.com/cataloge/01j_audi_cvt_transmission.htm

this looks like one might be able to just replace the conventional clutch discs ... and possibly the chain if the other parts test good...

it sure looks like some really qualified transmission rebuilders ... might get into it .... or at least pick up some core units to see whats going on inside...  and to put a few parts in the bin if a unit does come in the door..


i wonder how they rebuild the adjustable width pulleys..   if they weld them up and then have the surfaces reground..  perhaps... the wear surfaces don't wear that much do to the chain being moved across the full face by the computer programing..


seems they also have parts for the mini s also...  

I started taking one apart and then threw it in the junk pile and bought a used one from Hunts Point in the Bronx.I said a little prayer when that one left the shop {and im not religious} Do yourself and everyone else a favor and buy a non CVT vehicle.

The reason the dealer told you $9000 is that they dont even want to touch it. If you say ok do it they will say......how about 10,000?
If you get it done at that other place expect to pay more than 4000 and read the warranty very carefully.And dont expect to get more than 60,000 miles out of it.most likely much less.  

I just looked at Europeans web site.If your going to get it done that looks like the place to do it.  You probably will wind up paying close to 5000 by the time its done and dont forget sales tax. The trade in value of your car is between 8 and 10,000.The retail value is about 14,000.If you trade it in and they dont notice the bad trans then trade in plus the 5,000 you didnt spend on the trans adds up to the retail value of the car.I would trade it in. If you trade it in dont do it at a Audi or VW dealer because they will be looking for a trans problem.{and those cars suck}  

mini cooper automatics are CVT also.... i had a friend who needed a clutch installed in his...  he took it in before he ask me...  he told me they charged him 3500 bucks to do it...  i was knocked to the ground... he described them having to take the front sheet metal off ... to get the motor out and apart... ..... i am afraid to look in my flat rate book....   there are MINIs all over the place..

i have not had the pleasure to work on them yet...  

The transmission industry is on its deathbed. They are moving toward a day where if your trans goes you throw the car away.People with older classic cars in the the near future will have to pay outrageous prices for trans repairs. The same way rebuilt carburators went after electronic fuel injection.And wait till Chrysler starts using the Fiat dual clutch trans.Start shorting the stock of extended warranty companies now.

In the mid 70's to mid 80's the transmission business was phenominal.You could rebuild a TH350 in 2 hours with $50 in parts and install it in 30 minutes.That job would bill out at 7-1100 adjusted for inflation thats more than we get for todays transmissions..Most shops had at least 20 rebuilt trannys on the shelf.Even Aamco is moving away from transmissions now.  

but.. only half the cars that come into wxyz actually need a transmission...    

but i guarantee that all of them get one anyway..  out here the ads have changed slightly..  as to free scan with additional work performed..  one of my first jobs was at one...   i lost a 3/8-16 nut.. i got a 10 minute lecture of how that lost nut is cutting into the profit margin.. he took a huge insult when i reached in my pocket and tossed him a dime... i quit that day..  he was the one who took the stainless steel chore boys out of the drain openings in the floor to prevent it from happening..  running around with them in his hand.. saying who's clogging my drains.. i was the one who payed for them and put them there..

i guess forward thinking bits you in the bottom sometimes..  i was also the one who wanted to put up a pulley on the roof beam outside the building room door... with some some chains on one end.. and a big nut on the other.. to balance it when nothing is attached... to lift the transmissions off the builders carts to the top of the transmission ***   a few weeks later.. my friend fell lifting a TH400 up and another R&R guy dropped a C6 and shattered the case.. that really set him off... he had to buy a new case... remember.. this was 1980...


the rare ones i do now.. i have spare pans with brackets welded on to stop them from sliding off the transmission jack.. costs more.. .    like 5 bucks for a spare pan from the transmission parts house.. but it is a lot safer...