As mentioned previously, we've got this big move coming up where I'll be leaving my trusted shop of 10+ years. Accordingly, there are some ugly jobs I've been avoiding that now have to be fast-tracked for fear of not being able to find a specialist willing to take them on, at least not until I establish a few months' worth of track records.
The S6 Avant has had a noisy blow motor since I got it. To fix this, you have to remove the heater box, which requires removing the windshield cowl on the outside and the lower console inside the car. Of course, once you do this, you discover that someone else has attempted this and broken a bunch of clips and arms in the process. The arms are connected to servos that (obviously) adjust air direction and mixture. With at least one broken arm, we had to stop work to order spares from an Audi breaker in New Hampshire.
Then, from the "while you're in there" department, it makes sense to replace the heater hose and heater valve attached to the heater box, which (shockingly) are still available. I ordered those, and we'll do that along with the heater core, in addition to the offending blower motor that started all this nonsense.
All of this is to say, it's a pain in the ass job without much in the way of pay-off beyond the HVAC not acting possessed. And God willing, I will never have to tackle this project ever again while I own the car.