This article discusses the wheels and components for the Audi C5 A6 with the 4.2 V8, as made from 2000 to 2001, with the main focus being on the styles of rim. If you’re not here for the technical analysis but would rather buy a used part from us, guaranteed to work and fit, then please select the link below:

• Wheel rim (17″ size, “Pie Plate” a.k.a. “Pie Cutter” style, Jx17H2 ET35 5/112), as on: C5 A6 4-door 4.2 2000, C5 A6 4-door 4.2 2001, Part Number: 4B3601025M
• Wheel rim (Alloy, 5-spoke, Jx17H2 ET35 5/112. Style similar to early D2 A8), as on: C5 A6 4-door 4.2 2000, Part Number: 4B3601025P
• Wheel rim (Alloy, 6-spoke, Jx16H2 ET32 5/112 ), as on: C5 A6 4-door 4.2 2000, Part Number: 4B0601025K
• Wheel rim (Alloy, 6-spoke, Jx16H2 ET35 5/112 ), as on: C5 A6 4-door 4.2 2000, Part Number: 4B3601025L

The information herein is based on my own cars, plus reading, discussion and analysis.

My 2000 Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8 cars all came with 17” rims whose style earned them the generally accepted nicknames of “Pie Plate” or “Pie Cutter.” According to the official manual, their specifications are Jx17H2 ET35 5/112. These rims are neither particularly convex nor concave. Their part number is 4B3601025M, and since “4B3” designates (as far as I know) the post-facelift cars.

The center caps for these are part number 4B3601165A, and as far as I know they fit only the “Pie Plate” a.k.a. “Pie Cutter” wheels. Their weakness is that one or more of the tabs in the back breaks off.

Also, Chinese-made fake parts are known to be in circulation.

I have yet to see a 2001 vehicle with such wheels but allegedly they were available on some 2001 Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8 cars too.

Not a style that I recall ever seeing in person, yet as per the official parts manual it was available for the 2000-2001 Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8: six-spoke rims that, according to the official manual, were only available in 16” size. Their specifications are Jx16H2 ET35 5/112. These rims are arguably slightly convex. Their part number is 4B3601025L. There is a variation with specifications Jx16H2 ET32 5/112 (as in ET32 as opposed to E35). That part number is 4B3601025K.

According to the http://forums.generationdub.com forum, “ET and Offset both have the same meaning and value. The term ET originates from the German word ‘Einpresstiefe’ which translates as ‘insertion depth’ … Higher offset (ET50 for example), wheels sit closer to car, have chance of hitting brake and suspension components … Lower offset (ET10 for example), wheels sits further out from car, lots of room for components but may poke past fender or impact fender on dips and bumps…”

Presumably the measurement is in millimeters so the ET32 rims sit 3mm further out from the car compared to the ET35 rims.

The center caps for these are part number 8N0-601-165-A, and as far as we can tell they were used on various models of Audis, not just the Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8 and not just the A6 either.

According to a source I don’t trust very much, the 4B0-601-025-J was a 15” rim available for the Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8. As to specifically the Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8 models, I’m not convinced that 15” rims would fit over those large front brakes.

A rim style that I have on my own 2001 Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8 and that I’ve seen on a 2003 Audi A6 Quattro 4.2 V8, is a 5-spoke 17” concave rim with a style similar to on the early D2 A8 cars. Part number was 4B3601025P; specifications were Jx17H2 ET35 5/112.

The center cap for these rims has part number 4D0601170A, with the “4D0” implying this part was first used on the D2 A8 – which supports the premise that this A6 rim is based on the A8 rim style.

The non-locking wheel bolts for all of these rims are part number WHT002437, but for the 5-spok rim, as was offered on the D2 A8, the bolts (which were not covered by a center cap, in this style rim) each had a plastic cover, which might have helped for rust and also helped for aesthetics. Problem is that if you were trying to change a tire, these could be a problem unless you happened to have a pick, or the official Audi removal tool: 8D0012244A. In gray, the plastic cover part number was 321601173AZ37 (with the “Z37” being the color code for gray) whereas the back plastic cover part number was simply 321601173A with the color code omitted.