I have a 99 a4 2.8 quattro manual transmission. When I pull out in first gear there is a loud growling noise. It gets louder as you go through the rpms in first gear. Its sounds like my old honda civic when the front trans bearing goes out( only thing I really know how to describe it to). After I shift into second gear i do not really hear it, or in any other gear. I have just replaced the passenger side front axle. the sound is definitely coming from the front. Could this bea an axle or is this something int he transmission.?

 

It happens in first, or it happens at the speeds that you're in first at? What if you shift to second early on or start off in second? What if you kick it into the neutral when it's happening? Does it not happen/go away in those cases?

 

It happens only in first gear, not the speeds in first gear - only first gear. If I take it out ofgear or put the clutch in it goes away. I don't know much about Audi trannys( this is my first one) but I thought if it was somesort of bearnf it would make the noise all of the time

 

Does first gear have its own Bearing?

 

My car has made this same noise since i bought it, and i've heard several other B5's with 5MT make the same noise. No one seems to know what it is. I took my car to an Audi dealer before i bought it and they told me it was normal?

 

Wow I can't beleive they told you it was normal. Maybe mine is worse than yours. My car does have 240,000 on it. Mine sounds horrible! I guess I won't worry about it too much then

 

holy crap 240k?!!? that might be an AF record lol.

I'll see if i can get a sound clip of mine this weekend. Its not TERRIBLE, but its definitely noticeable. A few people have asked me about it but like i said i've never really had a straight answer. I'm going to be replacing my clutch in the next year or so i guess we'll see if that helps?