Pedal & Footrest Issues

[Cortecs]

Hi,

I recently bought a 2019 A6 S-Line in white and it's a beautiful looking car in my opinion (40TDI). Really happy with it but......the pedal positions are crucifying me. I can accommodate the offset nature somewhat but the pedals seem too "close" compared to the footrest. 

They also seem "high" in terms of their position too. My heels and ankles are killing me. I've tried just about every seat position that I can.

I assume there's nothing I can do....just try to live with it? Changing the car is not an option at this time.

The ergonomics seem very poor to me.

[mstv]

I am not sure if it will help you, but I found in general that I am much more comfortable with the overall seat position being much lower than I would have expected (also an A6 C8). In particular that seemed to decrease the pressure on the backs of my legs considerably. 

[Cortecs]

Thanks. I'll give that another go. 

I think the footrest is set too far back and/or the angle of the rest is not right for my left foot or something. Might be the way my body is!

Of course, it's one of those things that a person doesn't really notice during test drives.

[FMOB]

Hi OP, the ergonomics in the C8 are the worst and seating/pedal offset is bad.

I have a 2021 S6 and 9 months later I am still struggling to get comfortable, it seems like everything they could get wrong they did. The footrest for your left leg feels at least 2" too far away compared to the gas pedal and as for the seats.

I have sports seats in the car and these are awful, what seats do you have?

Considering I drove a manual B7 S4 Avant for 120,000 miles I am aware of the pedal offset and seat issues but the C8 is horrendous.

I currently have 2 blocks of 3/4" ply screwed to the footrest and a wedge cushion on the seat trying to get comfortable, it is a truly terrible car but I like the mpg.

I would like to know how other owners get comfortable in this thing as I am struggling.

[Cortecs]

Yeah, it's an awful set up and I don't know why there isnt more about it in general.

I have also tried the block of wood against the footrest to pull it forward by a couple of inches but never made it a permanent fixture. I don't think it's just the distance though, the angle seems off as well.

I have the S-Line seats so I do have plenty of scope for adjustment. I can never get a position that's comfortable for my legs over a long journey though.

I was hoping there might be some aftermarket solution but it doesn't look like it. I don't know who signed off on the pedals set up but it's poor ergonomically as far as I'm concerned.

 

[FMOB]

Yup, whoever signed off the driver setup must be working for a competitor as is so awful.

I suffer with pain in the left leg and my conclusion is that you can't lower the front of the seat relative to the back independently, my old S4 had electric Recaro sports seats where you could. This allowed the seat to be low and flatter, the current crop of Audi seats only allow the rear to raised but this also raises the seat more creating pressure on the rear of the thigh.

The wood on the footrest is to try and align both feet as bizarrely my legs are the same length like the majority of the human race which Audi obviously missed.

The whole car just screams cost reductions everywhere and the seats are no different where adjustments have been reduced, personally the car is a pile of junk that I regret buying.

[Cortecs]

Mine seems to have developed a rattle or vibration somewhere around or behind the binnacle now. Started when going around a roundabout this morning and has come and gone all day since depending on the road surface 🥺.

I've pulled and prodded at all of the plastic stuff around the binnacle but it's still there. Must be inside it somewhere. I might ring the dealer and see if there are any known rattles and fixes. I didn't buy it from an Audi dealer but whatever chance there is of fixing it, they might know the fix.

I actually love the car but the ergonomics of the driving position and the plastic all over the dash causing rattles let's it down.

 

[FMOB]

Best of luck with getting the rattles fixed, this is a known issue but expect to be fobbed off. Mine has been into the dealer twice for dash rattles, the fixes lasted a week tops and I have a little pile of broken tabs collected from the footwells.

If you Google Audi A6 C8 dash rattles there is a guide for a bit of diy fixing of the dash and get a decent set of trim tools if you decide to have a go.

 

[Cortecs]

Couple more bugbears. They seem routine enough browsing through the forum.

1. My fuel pump is pretty damn noisy. It hums pretty loudly and while it fades into the background if doing any kind of reasonable speed, it is quite annoying if idling or trundling along in traffic. Mine is a late 2019 model so out of Audi warranty when I bought it a few months ago. I bought from a non Audi dealer but I always use Audi for servicing. The pump itself seems to be working well. My question is if there's an Audi "fix" to improve the noise (outside of paying out I don't know how much for a new pump). 

2. Damn rattle somewhere at the top of the dash or inside the binnacle somewhere. It's really hard to locate it exactly as it only comes up under certain conditions such as road surface or a particular resonance. Would Audi have "known" fixes for the likes of this? I'm finding it hard to tie down the exact location but they might know due to frequency of complaints?

[Steve Q]

The fuel pump is a known issue. The only fix seems to be to replace the pump 

[Cortecs]

9 minutes ago, Steve Q said:

The fuel pump is a known issue. The only fix seems to be to replace the pump 

Dammit. That's hardly cheap and the pump itself is functional so I'm unlikely to get any allowance from Audi I'd say.

[Steve Q]

11 hours ago, Cortecs said:

Dammit. That's hardly cheap and the pump itself is functional so I'm unlikely to get any allowance from Audi I'd say.

I doubt it. 

[Cortecs]

I've tried every seat position under the sun and no matter what I do. I get pains starting after about 10 mins and I now have some kind of left butt pain going down my left leg as well. It becomes excruciating by the time my hours journey to and from work is done. It's always fine initially but starts after about 10 mins. 

I had my wife's CRV one day this week and had no pain at all. Nothing. 

I'm convinced it's the pedal positions coupled with the transmission ingress that's causing me to have to sit in an unnatural position.

I've ordered a seat cushion for drivers with sciatica to see if that will help.

Alternatively, I might need to have to consider moving it on and take a hit. Do the Q5 have the same ergonomics or are they better? I'm fairly reluctant to go with another Audi after this but I love my A6 with the exception of the ergonomics for the driver. 

[FMOB]

20 hours ago, Cortecs said:

I've tried every seat position under the sun and no matter what I do. I get pains starting after about 10 mins and I now have some kind of left butt pain going down my left leg as well. It becomes excruciating by the time my hours journey to and from work is done. It's always fine initially but starts after about 10 mins. 

I had my wife's CRV one day this week and had no pain at all. Nothing. 

I'm convinced it's the pedal positions coupled with the transmission ingress that's causing me to have to sit in an unnatural position.

I've ordered a seat cushion for drivers with sciatica to see if that will help.

Alternatively, I might need to have to consider moving it on and take a hit. Do the Q5 have the same ergonomics or are they better? I'm fairly reluctant to go with another Audi after this but I love my A6 with the exception of the ergonomics for the driver

Exactly the position I am in, I have a wedge cushion to try and reduce the pressure the seat creates on the back of the thighs near the knee. Really just need to set the seat base flatter but the adjustments don't allow that. I suspect it is down to pedal offset which is not something that can be fixed.

Car is a pile of dog doo-doo.

[mstv]

"Really just need to set the seat base flatter but the adjustments don't allow that" - I guess we have the same electric seats? (mine is a 2023 s-line black edition). I was able to move the front portion of the seat downwards (flatter) whilst not moving the overall seat down. Or are the seats manually adjusted in yours?

[FMOB]

8 hours ago, mstv said:

"Really just need to set the seat base flatter but the adjustments don't allow that" - I guess we have the same electric seats? (mine is a 2023 s-line black edition). I was able to move the front portion of the seat downwards (flatter) whilst not moving the overall seat down. Or are the seats manually adjusted in yours?

I have the supersport seats, you cannot lower the front independently, the rear can be raised relative to the front but this also raises the overall seat height. Can't believe Audi can get this so wrong. 

[jammy]

8 hours ago, FMOB said:

I have the supersport seats, you cannot lower the front independently, the rear can be raised relative to the front but this also raises the overall seat height. Can't believe Audi can get this so wrong. 

Isn’t this maybe the root of the problem?

I also have the Black Edition with multifunction Alcantara seats. They are brilliant, comfortable and very adjustable. I find the A6 a great place to sit, and no ergonomic issues.

I use to have an S4 with leather Supersport seats. Hated them and found the car very uncomfortable. They were not adjustable in the areas that you needed them to be. Also found the leather in the lumbar region very hard.

 

[FMOB]

2 hours ago, jammy said:

Isn’t this maybe the root of the problem?

I also have the Black Edition with multifunction Alcantara seats. They are brilliant, comfortable and very adjustable. I find the A6 a great place to sit, and no ergonomic issues.

I use to have an S4 with leather Supersport seats. Hated them and found the car very uncomfortable. They were not adjustable in the areas that you needed them to be. Also found the leather in the lumbar region very hard.

 

I was wondering this, good to have some else shed a bit more light on the issue. Could you provide a photo of your seats as I find identifying them a bit confusing.

Happy to change the drivers seat if it solves this problem.

[mstv]

Pics of seats from A6 C8 2023 Saloon 40 TDI black edition. Shows ability to raise / lower the seat base without changing seat height. You can just see the marks on the leather which show the amount I have the seat base lowered, then the maximum amount it can be lowered. First pic in fully raised position, second pic in fully lowered position. 

Hope that helps.

[The wobble]

On 9/13/2023 at 7:24 PM, Cortecs said:

Couple more bugbears. They seem routine enough browsing through the forum.

1. My fuel pump is pretty damn noisy. It hums pretty loudly and while it fades into the background if doing any kind of reasonable speed, it is quite annoying if idling or trundling along in traffic. Mine is a late 2019 model so out of Audi warranty when I bought it a few months ago. I bought from a non Audi dealer but I always use Audi for servicing. The pump itself seems to be working well. My question is if there's an Audi "fix" to improve the noise (outside of paying out I don't know how much for a new pump). 

2. Damn rattle somewhere at the top of the dash or inside the binnacle somewhere. It's really hard to locate it exactly as it only comes up under certain conditions such as road surface or a particular resonance. Would Audi have "known" fixes for the likes of this? I'm finding it hard to tie down the exact location but they might know due to frequency of complaints?

Hi! Did make any progress with the rattle around the binnacle?? I have a 2020 S6 and it started rattling/buzzing from the binnacle area. I’ve took off the silver black binnacle and it still rattles. I was able to unlock the virtual dash and the rattle is still there! I’m thinking it’s the heater vents now 😡😡

[Cortecs]

23 minutes ago, The wobble said:

Hi! Did make any progress with the rattle around the binnacle?? I have a 2020 S6 and it started rattling/buzzing from the binnacle area. I’ve took off the silver black binnacle and it still rattles. I was able to unlock the virtual dash and the rattle is still there! I’m thinking it’s the heater vents now 😡😡

I've pretty much narrowed it down to the plastic covering on the dash further forward towards the windscreen between the speakers! Even when I tap on that with my fingers there's a plasticky rattle from it. It's not solidly stuck or joined or whatever the term is. If it starts that rattle when driving it stops if I put pressure on it but only with a lot of pressure. I'll be getting the car serviced in about a month or so and I'm going to get them to fix it. I'm not 100% sure that's it but I'm 99%. When it starts that rattle it's terrible. The dash in my C7 was much much more well put together. I hate all this plastic stuff.

[Cortecs]

On 10/20/2023 at 8:20 PM, The wobble said:

Hi! Did make any progress with the rattle around the binnacle?? I have a 2020 S6 and it started rattling/buzzing from the binnacle area. I’ve took off the silver black binnacle and it still rattles. I was able to unlock the virtual dash and the rattle is still there! I’m thinking it’s the heater vents now 😡😡

Hi, just following up on this. Yes, the cause of my issue was the plastic bit that sits where the HUD would be. It got worse and worse and eventually it was vibrating and rattling all the time. Even a small tap on it when the car was stopped would result in a loose plasticky sound. They fixed it during my car service yesterday by adding felt. That's rock solid now and no rattles anymore thankfully.

If only I could solve the offset pedals, transmission tunnel ingress into the footwell and footrest position I'd be sorted 😆

[piccybabes]

I have the same problem Cortecs, but I have a 2014 Q5 S Line. In reality I can accommodate the offset pedal, but the transmission ingress and footrest location makes for a very unrelaxed driving position. I think both of these could be resolved by extending the footrest pedal buy 5-10cm forward and I may need to make something from rubber covered timber, because long distances I just  cant get comfortable - the space for my left leg/foot is just cramped.

I'm surprised there isn't an after market add on.

[Cortecs]

Yep. I'm surprised too. I didn't know the issue extends to the Q5 as well.

I also think that the footrest position being so far away makes the tunnel ingress situation worse. If the footrest was closer it would help. 

[FMOB]

Something worth trying is to extend the seat base front extension in addition to 2x18mm ply on the foot rest, just the ply wasn't comfortable but extending the front of the seat has made a big improvement in comfort. Still not perfect but a lot better.