B8 S4 Ownership

[Scuffers]

Kuhmo Ecsta LE Sport KU39.

Easy to source, cheaper, quieter, better dry/wet performance (IMHO).

[lemonslap]

Adrian E said:

I've been trying to get super sports for our 20s and struggling. Only stock is in Germany or Poland but of indeterminate age!

Michelin uk have told me mid-late March for uk stock but their allocation may go straight out to fulfil existing orders. If you're on 18-19" you might have more luck?

I'm on 19"s luckily! Whilst having the wheel alignment adjusted after the clutch job at Elite, I asked for a quote and they had them in stock.

[mikeallison13]

Hi guys,

Just looking for thoughts really, I am looking at a 2011 S4 Avant in Sprint blue. I have been looking for a while but they don't come up often and never in the right spec.

I have seen one that has done 70,000. My Question is should I be worried at a 2011 car having higher mileage. My 58 plate Leon Cupra K1 has only got 35,000 miles on it. Just don't want to any big bills coming my way.

Cheers guys!

[silentbrown]

mikeallison13 said:

Hi guys,
I am looking at a 2011 S4 Avant in Sprint blue ... I have seen one that has done 70,000.

1. Buy on condition and history rather than focussing on mileage. I'd be particularly concerned about DSG service history and condition. DSG oil change every 40K miles
2. S4's are uncommon enough that fixating on a particular colour makes things difficult. I'd love sprint blue, but my search criteria has relaxed to "anything other than white".
3. There's a tasty looking '12 plate car in Moonlight Blue in the classifieds. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Edited by silentbrown on Thursday 29th January 10:57

[Scuffers]

Only worry I have with high mileage is the stronic gearbox, just how far can they go before needing work?

[mikeallison13]

silentbrown said:

1. Buy on condition and history rather than focussing on mileage. I'd be particularly concerned about DSG service history and condition. DSG oil change every 40K miles
2. S4's are uncommon enough that fixating on a particular colour makes things difficult. I'd love sprint blue, but my search criteria has relaxed to "anything other than white".
3. There's a tasty looking '12 plate car in Moonlight Blue in the classifieds. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Edited by silentbrown on Thursday 29th January 10:56

Edited by silentbrown on Thursday 29th January 10:56

Thanks for the reply. Yes it is really only the S-Tronic that I would be worried about looking at the manual would be a good alternative but it's the change in road tax that bugs me!

Yes like yourself the net is having to be widened due to lack of sprint blues available, current car is white so not looking to go down that route again.

I had seen that one looks really nice but slightly over my budget.

[FUBAR]

Traded my circa 80k 2010MY car in in September, which was starting to use an alarming amount of engine oil. Always had a thirst but from 60k miles on it really liked a drink (circa 1ltr per2.5k miles)

Id already had a replacement gearbox so that was running smooth as....

[bungle]

FUBAR said:

Traded my circa 80k 2010MY car in in September

Do high miles hit the trade-in hard on these?

[FUBAR]

Well they bumped me into a brand new S4 Avant sitting in their showroom that they had 3 days to get rid or pay for it, so I think they went easy on me. I think I got about £14/15k for it, but it needed a service (only went in to the dealer to book the bloody service lol) and a set of boots.

[mikeallison13]

FUBAR said:

Traded my circa 80k 2010MY car in in September, which was starting to use an alarming amount of engine oil. Always had a thirst but from 60k miles on it really liked a drink (circa 1ltr per2.5k miles)

Id already had a replacement gearbox so that was running smooth as....

Good to know that, will maybe hold on for a lower mileage example. To save any added expense! Not in a terrible rush to get into a new car at the moment.

Although driving past the Audi garage, I am starting to come round to the S3 saloon. So will see how long that lasts!

[bungle]

This might be a really stupid question, but I'll ask it anyway…

In the headlight switch, this:



(I know this isn't the S4 one, but you know what I mean), when I turn the sidelights on, the sidelight symbol lights up green (as shown in the picture). When I turn the dipped beam on the sidelight stays green, but the dipped beam symbol doesn't go green.

So whether I have sidelights or dipped beam on, only the sidelight symbol is green (as in the picture).

Is the dipped beam meant to go green as well?

If I have the lights on auto, it's the same (dipped never lights up, even when they are on).

Do I have a blown bulb(LED?), or is this normal? The manual (yes, I actually read it this morning!), mentions the sidelight symbol illuminating, but not the dipped beam, so maybe it is normal, but just seemed strange to me.

[gaz1234]

Read 4 pages so mpg c25

[jdd]

Hi,
Now covered 1,500 miles in my S4 and thought I'd provide some feedback, including comparison to previous E92 335is BMW coupe (though the coupe would be compared to S5 really I know):

Likes
-A manual, though I could have got a manual BMW but were very hard to find
-Bose produces a great sound
-More compliant ride over holes and bumps. BMW's was fierce, though the run flats absorbed some huge holes
-Looks - to me so much better than an equivalent 4 door BMW
-Good seats
-Good sat nav and nicely integrated into main info area between speedo and revs

Dislikes/Irritants
-Only back-up parking sensor no front - cheapskates
-Squeaky brakes - can't wait for it to warm up
-Power isn't as immediate as 335is, due lower torque that comes in at higher revs
-Muted engine sound- though sure the neighbours prefer it
-Not the greatest interfaces - took me ages to work out how to adjust the fan speed - some odd design with those buttons
-Flat bottomed steering wheel, though slowly getting used to it
-No split screen between satnav and audio
-Fuel economy - yet to crack 20mpg

Overall glad I made the switch to the S4.

Need to start a campaign to put manuals back in the RS4 / 5, and actually sell the RS4 in the US.

Cheers
Jan

[silentbrown]

jdd said:

-Fuel economy - yet to crack 20mpg

That's your fault for having those tiny gallons over there...

[jdd]

silentbrown said:

That's your fault for having those tiny gallons over there...

Very fair point!

[silentbrown]

jdd said:

Very fair point!

I assume it's a newish one? We don't get the manual in the UK anymore But at least we get the wagon here.

[bungle]

silentbrown said:

jdd said:

Very fair point!

I assume it's a newish one? We don't get the manual in the UK anymore But at least we get the wagon here.

Manual wagon

[jimmyjimjim]

jdd said:

silentbrown said:

That's your fault for having those tiny gallons over there...

Very fair point!

Change up early, get to 6th asap, use cruise control and set ads to comfort, shouldn't be a problem

Thanks for reminding me about the cold and the brakes, that was pissing me off yesterday, good to be reminded that it'll sort itself out.

[Scuffers]

silentbrown said:

jdd said:

-Fuel economy - yet to crack 20mpg

That's your fault for having those tiny gallons over there...

That's still only ~23mpg?

Lead right foot?

[Dr G]

jdd said:

-No split screen between satnav and audio

You can't have both on one screen but you do have two screens that work independently.