S8 madness

[richardracer]

Hi witch finder,

I bought 2 years worth from Warrantywise, top of their range. They covered most things but process was sometimes a little beuracratic, but I guess they get all sorts of claims. They allowed up to 8 years and 80,000 miles, subject to having proper service history.

I left 2 electrical things alone when they stopped working, soft close drivers door ( could hear it clicking) and auto boot opening ( never worked).

VCDS is a cable with a built in dongle with software supplied or downloaded. plug into orb port and laptop. Vcds software gives excellent access to all the cars modules and allows quite a lot to be read and updated if you are willing to learn. Several good forums such as a8parts.co.uk and vortex.com for advice. I never failed to get an answer for my questions.

Good luck with your search. Don't be afraid of mileage and buy on condition and service history/evidence is my advice. If you are down in Thames Valley your welcome to look mine over. I live near Bracknell.

Cheers

Richard

[anonymous-user]

Witchfinder said:

Does the diagnostic cable require specific software, and does it just let you read the fault codes?

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 9th March 10:48

Yes, but the software is a free download from VCDS. It lets you read and erase the fault codes.

[Witchfinder]

richardracer said:

I bought 2 years worth from Warrantywise, top of their range. They covered most things but process was sometimes a little beuracratic, but I guess they get all sorts of claims. They allowed up to 8 years and 80,000 miles, subject to having proper service history.

Good luck with your search. Don't be afraid of mileage and buy on condition and service history/evidence is my advice. If you are down in Thames Valley your welcome to look mine over. I live near Bracknell.

I'm "oop North" - thank you for the offer though. IIRC, the 2 year Warrantywise cover is about £3000, is that right? Audi want £2300 per year. Good to know they stand behind their solid German engineering

Edited by Witchfinder on Monday 9th March 21:23

[Witchfinder]

Went and had a look at a car in Leeds today. I liked it a lot. The specific car was a little tatty in places (the gloss black on the rear doors was bubbling, a couple of scrapes, a kerbed wheel, and the interior aluminium had a few divots), but nothing worse than I'd expect from an 8-year-old car. Took it for a test drive, the engine was sweet as a nut, and I really like it. I'm pretty much set on getting an S8 now, it's just a matter of getting the right deal.

I was offered a pretty derisory amount for my S-Max, which is a clean, very high spec 2.5T, and a highly confusing finance deal, but a decent price on a 12 month warranty.

[richardracer]

Hi Whichfinder,

With some competitive negotiation, you should get ww down a bit, but if Audi do it for £2300, I would favor that. What mileage is that for and 1 year or 2?

Richard

[Witchfinder]

richardracer said:

Hi Whichfinder,

With some competitive negotiation, you should get ww down a bit, but if Audi do it for £2300, I would favor that. What mileage is that for and 1 year or 2?

It's from a Jag dealer - this is the car, actually: http://www.inchcapesignature.co.uk/used-cars/audi-...
They took it in PX for an ex-demonstrator XJR

I fiddled with as many of the doo-dads as possible, and everything seemed to work except the soft close on the drivers door. I can live with that to be honest, and could potentially even fix it myself.

Apparently the warranty is the one they supply with their used Jags, and they claim a 80-90% payout rate, with up to £16k of work covered. EDIT: They emailed me back and said "...warranty, it is very comprehensive cover as to even covering catalytic converters and infotainment systems" - that was itemised at £895 for 12 months. Seems like pretty good value.

In the end, they've offered me what looks like a decent deal with 2 years of warranty. I guess once it hits 10 years old, I can start to assess my options. I plan on keeping it 3 or 4 years anyway.

Anyone know a good Audi specialist in Manchester for servicing and whatnot?

Edited by Witchfinder on Wednesday 11th March 14:55

[popeyewhite]

Witchfinder said:

Anyone know a good Audi specialist in Manchester for servicing and whatnot?

Looks lovely. It has the same interior as mine had.

This is the indy I used in Stockport (Hazel Grove)...very good ex-Audi technician: http://audidoctor.co.uk/

I also know someone very good with Audi entertainment systems - he's used by the dealerships themselves to sort MMI gremlins. I hope you don't need his services but if you do PM me.

[Witchfinder]

popeyewhite said:

I also know someone very good with Audi entertainment systems - he's used by the dealerships themselves to sort MMI gremlins. I hope you don't need his services but if you do PM me.

Thanks for the reference. Any others in the area?

If the warranty is as good as their word, the MMI should be covered. Anyone know a good place to get updated navigation discs? Is this what I need? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A6-A8-Q7-MMI-UPDATE...

Edited by Witchfinder on Wednesday 11th March 14:23

[Witchfinder]

Whoops. I just bought it

[S5V8]

Witchfinder said:

Whoops. I just bought it

Well done, good choice. I was just about to post saying I do 20k a year in my S5 V8 and its only money and you in the meantime have spent yours and bought an S8, good on you.

[rufmeister]

Witchfinder said:

Whoops. I just bought it

Congratulations.

Hope you enjoy that drive home.

[KungFuPanda]

Looks lovely. Set around a grand aside for a Milltek...

[Witchfinder]

KungFuPanda said:

Looks lovely. Set around a grand aside for a Milltek...

I don't see the point. It sounds plenty gruff with the standard exhaust, and I'd be worried about losing the refinement.

[popeyewhite]

Witchfinder said:

KungFuPanda said:

Looks lovely. Set around a grand aside for a Milltek...

I don't see the point. It sounds plenty gruff with the standard exhaust, and I'd be worried about losing the refinement.

I didn't bother with a Miltek for exactly the same reason.

I haven't used anyone else for Audi work other than Unit 20 (Ellesmere way) so can't help on that score I'm afraid. Enjoy the car.

[Witchfinder]

I should also thank everyone for their help and advice. I've gone into this with my eyes open - for better or for worse!

[anonymous-user]

Unit20.org should be able to help with maintaining your s8

[anonymous-user]

Good decision. Don't think you will regret it, esp once you start playing with the paddles...

[Adrian E]

Witchfinder said:

Thanks for the reference. Any others in the area?

If the warranty is as good as their word, the MMI should be covered. Anyone know a good place to get updated navigation discs? Is this what I need? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A6-A8-Q7-MMI-UPDATE...

Edited by Witchfinder on Wednesday 11th March 14:23

Hiya

most of those are firmware update discs. You can download them for free or TPS will sell you a set for peanuts (get friendly with your local branch!)

Assuming it's DVD based you can either burn one yourself or I can supply you one for beer tokens. That link may well be genuine firmware, but the nav media is studiously not described as genuine.

They also don't mention in the advert that your MMI can go into component protection doing the firmware updates, although it's unlikely.

Sign up to the A8parts forum - lots of experience of running D2 and D3 '8s and a number of D3 S8 owners not afraid to DIY

[Witchfinder]

Adrian E said:

Hiya

most of those are firmware update discs. You can download them for free or TPS will sell you a set for peanuts (get friendly with your local branch!)

Assuming it's DVD based you can either burn one yourself or I can supply you one for beer tokens. That link may well be genuine firmware, but the nav media is studiously not described as genuine.

They also don't mention in the advert that your MMI can go into component protection doing the firmware updates, although it's unlikely.

Sign up to the A8parts forum - lots of experience of running D2 and D3 '8s and a number of D3 S8 owners not afraid to DIY

Adrian E, YHM

[rufmeister]

Done firmware updates on 3 cars now without issue. I'm dreading my next one, as I must be due some bad luck with it!

Sat Nav discs are available on ebay, both genuine and non-genuine, I've used both and never had issues with either, you pays your money and all that...