B6 S4 running costs

[m12_nathan]

Anyone run one?

CSL is being turned to a track only car so I need a new road car, thinking about several things, including a B6 S4 - what are the running costs like?

[jimmyb]

Fuel dont expect more than 20mpg. Anything above is therefore a bonus. Mechanically pretty much sound. Servicing variable dep on mileage between 10 and 18k miles.
Servicing will range from a main dealer between 200 and 8-900 for a major service.

[C2HYM]

20mpg? If you drive around Town all day long.
I get 28mpg on an average tank, if I set cruise at 70mph on a long journey - 34mpg isn't unrealistic.

Realiability wise, pretty much bullet proof...

I chose a saloon, but given the choice now would go for the Avant.

• Just thought I'd add that mine is actually for sale* check my profile.

Edited by C2HYM on Sunday 28th December 19:35

[m12_nathan]

Avant would be my preference too - can't see a link to the ad anywhere in your profile?

Thanks for the info, fuel wise doesn't sound too bad, similar to the wifes 335i.

[jimmyb]

C2HYM said:

20mpg? If you drive around Town all day long.
I get 28mpg on an average tank, if I set cruise at 70mph on a long journey - 34mpg isn't unrealistic.

Realiability wise, pretty much bullet proof...

I chose a saloon, but given the choice now would go for the Avant.

• Just thought I'd add that mine is actually for sale* check my profile.

Edited by C2HYM on Sunday 28th December 19:35

As i said merely what i have been informed and also as i said figure on 20mpg average that way when you average 28 you will be dead chuffed.

[m12_nathan]

My CSL averages about 18 as it is used for the commute and the wifes 335i computer now says average 20.9 so same ball park, unless you are talking about 20mpg as an average for a motorway journey?

[jimmyb]

m12_nathan said:

My CSL averages about 18 as it is used for the commute and the wifes 335i computer now says average 20.9 so same ball park, unless you are talking about 20mpg as an average for a motorway journey?

28-35mpg motorway less in town basically is what the chap who owns one is saying.

[JohnP68]

my long term average over several years is about 19 mpg. a mix of road types, but all fairly spirited driving. about 23mpg or so if cruising at 80 on a motorway. nearly all on shell optimax

sorry no caps - baby in other hand

[Fort Jefferson]

JohnP68 said:

My long term average over several years, is about 19 mpg. A mix of road types, but all fairly spirited driving. About 23mpg or so if cruising at 80 on a motorway. Nearly all on Shell Optimax / V Power.

What he said ^^^^^^

More than 25mpg? in my dreams.

[caiss4]

Fort Jefferson said:

JohnP68 said:

My long term average over several years, is about 19 mpg. A mix of road types, but all fairly spirited driving. About 23mpg or so if cruising at 80 on a motorway. Nearly all on Shell Optimax / V Power.

What he said ^^^^^^

More than 25mpg? in my dreams.

According to the on board computer the average over 30K miles is 22.7mpg - mainly motorway/A-road/rural and little town driving. Bearing in mind the 'optimistic' tendencies of the onboard computer I'd say work on 20mpg too (and only use 97RON).

Best result I ever had was 28.4mpg over 60 miles; I drove like a saint. Impossible to keep that up though...

[C2HYM]

Guess those figures just prove how drivng styles must vary massively. Mine barely dips below 20 even with 40 or so miles of fun on a tank.
mine is mostly motorway miles though.
I never run on anythig but 97/98 octane either.

[JohnP68]

C2HYM said:

Guess those figures just prove how drivng styles must vary massively. Mine barely dips below 20 even with 40 or so miles of fun on a tank.
mine is mostly motorway miles though.
I never run on anythig but 97/98 octane either.

Might be worth checking under your bonnet though. I fear you might have been mis-sold a 3.0 TDI

[jimmyb]

JohnP68 said:

C2HYM said:

Guess those figures just prove how drivng styles must vary massively. Mine barely dips below 20 even with 40 or so miles of fun on a tank.
mine is mostly motorway miles though.
I never run on anythig but 97/98 octane either.

Might be worth checking under your bonnet though. I fear you might have been mis-sold a 3.0 TDI

Im with c2 here.;) I think you need to reassess your driving style.Or maybe get your car checked as it may have something wrong with it.

[John Carter]

I had a B6 saloon for just over two and a half years and over that period it averaged 22mpg, almost always on Optimax/V-Power. It wasn't my daily driver so it got used with enjoyment in mind rather than economy. On long motorway runs 26-27mpg average wasn't unusual, but start to have fun and really use the power and this will quickly drop into the teens - the engine just begs to be revved and the noise is intoxicating.

No real problems reliability-wise, but on B6s the auxiliary radiators can corrode causing coolant leaks.

Edited by John Carter on Tuesday 30th December 12:52

[stinkysteve]

Sorry for being late to the party all but i'mm thinking of one of these.

Several comments on using 97/98 octane fuel only, is this manufacturers recommendation?

If the opinion is about 22-26mpg then that's fairly thirsty (not as bas as an RS4 or my old XJR admittedly) but why not use the cheaper stuff?

Surely these engines can run on both and it's not in a very high state of tune won't make any difference.

Am i missing something?

Thanks for any pointers!

[NST]

according to my friend who has a manual saloon S4 on a 05 plate as a daily runner he gets 18mpg around town/b-roads, and 24/25 on a motorway run @ 70-75mph.

servicing is approx 350-400.

[mitch78]

stinkysteve said:

Several comments on using 97/98 octane fuel only, is this manufacturers recommendation?

If the opinion is about 22-26mpg then that's fairly thirsty (not as bas as an RS4 or my old XJR admittedly) but why not use the cheaper stuff?

Surely these engines can run on both and it's not in a very high state of tune won't make any difference.

Yes it is a manufacturer recommendation. They are mapped to use the higher octane fuel in order to produce the amount of power that they do. You can use the lower octane fuels in them and the ECU will pull back the timing to compensate, but you will lose out on some of the power and in my experience economy too.

If you're buying an S4 then why worry about the £2.50 difference between a tank full of 95 and a tank full of 98? It's hardly a massive difference is it?

Edited by mitch78 on Tuesday 6th January 13:42

[John Carter]

That's pretty much spot on. IIRC filling up with 95 often resulted in a marginal (albeit noticeable) drop in performance. I generally got better MPG from 98 so I think it's safe to say it pays for itself.

[stinkysteve]

Thanks chaps.

I'll be doing 25k a year in it so the extra for good fuel does mount up. It's got enough power anyway so a small drop in performance really wouldn't make it particularly slow.

cheers for the replies.

[matts4]

I drive 5 miles to work each day in traffic.
I see 16mpg, but then on a run, around 80-85mph will see around 25mpg.

It averages around 20mpg for me, but then I only do around 9k per year so thats pretty painless im terms of fuel costs.