B8 S4 Ownership
Discussion
Just had an email to say the milltek system is now avaialbel at £1325+vat.
http://www.millteksport.com/exhaust.products.cfm?v...
http://www.millteksport.com/exhaust.products.cfm?v...
Yup, was awesome (apart from one mini roundabout that it decided to go straight on 
)
The road out of my turning is up a slope and my car and a neighbour's Cayenne were the only 2 cars to get out unassisted.
Roads were quiet enough to have some slow speed tail out fun too
I remember getting caught out in a bad snowstorm in Essex about 4 years ago in my previous Quattro (the M25 was impassible to all but 4WD) and one of the reasons I was keen to stay with the quattro system instead of changing to a BMW
)The road out of my turning is up a slope and my car and a neighbour's Cayenne were the only 2 cars to get out unassisted.
Roads were quiet enough to have some slow speed tail out fun too
I remember getting caught out in a bad snowstorm in Essex about 4 years ago in my previous Quattro (the M25 was impassible to all but 4WD) and one of the reasons I was keen to stay with the quattro system instead of changing to a BMW
Edited by FUBAR on Friday 18th December 15:07
Hi to all B8 S4 owners.
Can you please tell me what you are averaging on your MPG.
About to order a new A4 Avant, head says Diesel is obviously the best, but heart wants a S4, but I am concerned if it only manages 17mpg!!!
I own a 997 C4S (Keeping) and currently average 26mpg at the moment, which I think is great for the car, just worried that a S4 maybe a bit of a nightmare!
RT911
Can you please tell me what you are averaging on your MPG.
About to order a new A4 Avant, head says Diesel is obviously the best, but heart wants a S4, but I am concerned if it only manages 17mpg!!!
I own a 997 C4S (Keeping) and currently average 26mpg at the moment, which I think is great for the car, just worried that a S4 maybe a bit of a nightmare!
RT911
rt911 said:
Can you please tell me what you are averaging on your MPG.
It depends. The S4's MPG for short commutes is shocking - I get around 17 at the moment because of the cold weather and all the hanging around in traffic jams. However a 400 KM drive to Germany for the weekend (there and back, so 800 in total, around 500 miles) averaged around 26. So, if you are using ot for short hops, be prepared to suffer! If it's going to be a long distance cruiser etc, then it should be ok. Plus, Audi engines (VAG ones in general) take ages to run in and loosen up properly so none of us really knows what the real MPG will be Hi RT911, I managed an average of 10.4 the other day 
In real world I'm hitting 25/26, with a mixture of M, A and Town roads, in comfort mode and not exceeding speed limits of 50 or less. On a motorway run I've seen 40mpg on cruise Round town averages are much lower of course.
Last week I managed 5 trips to Aldershot (from Swindon) to a tank of about 57 litres, that works out at just over 27mpg.
Should point out mine is DSG, co2 is lower for the Auto box so MPG should be higher.
In real world I'm hitting 25/26, with a mixture of M, A and Town roads, in comfort mode and not exceeding speed limits of 50 or less
. On a motorway run I've seen 40mpg on cruise Round town averages are much lower of course.Last week I managed 5 trips to Aldershot (from Swindon) to a tank of about 57 litres, that works out at just over 27mpg.
Should point out mine is DSG, co2 is lower for the Auto box so MPG should be higher.
Edited by worsy on Tuesday 22 December 09:34
worsy said:
In real world I'm hitting 25/26,
I think you need to get on the 
to your dealer and ask them to activate the other half of your engine mate 
Funnily enough I checked Trip 1 this morning, says Ive averaged 22mpg over the past 600 miles (motorway and town driving). On a motorway only run, in Comfort, I can get it up to 28, sometimes even the heady heights of 30mpg (providing I dont go any where near the NSL).
As has been said, round town mpg is frankly disturbing. But, TBH, despite watching the fuel guage sink before your very eyes, pressing the loud pedal you can forgive the car just about anything
More a 'B8' issue than an S4 issue (as I remember the same problem with a couple of B8 service loaners last winter). Where the hell do they route the damn screen washer tubes/jets? In this weather I can never get the fackin things to defrost. 30 minute drive to work with salty crap over the windscreen. Drives me 
Just thought I'd bump the thread up Happy New Year S4s
Just thought I'd bump the thread up
Happy New Year S4s Edited by FUBAR on Tuesday 5th January 17:15
No problem with my washer jets, I just switch the rear screen heater on and wait a few minutes whilst I scrape the ice off the car - by then the rear screen is clear, the inside of the car is warm(ish) and the washer jets are working. The fact that the fluid I spray onto the windscreen instantly freezes after one wipe of the wipers leads me to believe I need more antifreeze.......
You do need to dig the snow out of the pocket where the jets and wipers are though
You do need to dig the snow out of the pocket where the jets and wipers are though
When I first got my S4 I comlained to my local dealer about the S-Tronic when cold/in cold weather, as I found it quite snatchy until warmed a little. Was told there was nothing wrong with it and it would improve with miles. Which, to a degree, they where right, but the issue never completely went away. Never serious, and almost seemed that I was the only person who could detect it.
Well, seems Im not alone. Got a from jy dealer on Friday to say that Audi have relased a software update for the gearbox due to cold weather issues.
If you experience similar problems (guessing its a B8 issue, not S4 specific?) and havent been contacted by your dealer then I'd suggest you call your dealer
Well, seems Im not alone. Got a
from jy dealer on Friday to say that Audi have relased a software update for the gearbox due to cold weather issues.If you experience similar problems (guessing its a B8 issue, not S4 specific?) and havent been contacted by your dealer then I'd suggest you call your dealer
Alright boys!
Happy new year to you all. Delighted to see that you have kick started a S4 (B8) ownership thread. My apologies for not contributing earlier, but been having too much fun in my S4...
Below a littly synopsis of my heady 3600 miles to date.
Spec:
S4 Saloon - S tronic 2010 MY (Dec 2009)
Options.
Too be honest - I went a little over the top. Just about everything bar openning roof, TV and that self adjusting cruise control thingy.
Exterior: Sprint Blue with Black out effect (no chrome details) and 19in RS6 style wheels.
If someone can tell me how to get a bl***ed picture loaded on, I will attach some images for you all to see.
Impressions so far.
Short version: Am concerned that I am developing unnatural feelings for the beast. Think the 1980s horror film 'Christine'. Seriously, it just gets better and better.
I have no regrets moving back to the Audi after 3 BMWs
Long version:
Handling: In the snow (a bit topical)
I foolishly planned to drive to Denmark the second day of the heavy Christmas snow in the UK (weekend of Dec 19-21). After only just making it to the Euroshuttle before they shut it for two days, I should have been weary. Nothing could have prepared, or stunned, me like driving through Belgium. Picture this: -15C, Snow blizzard kicks in, no lights on the motorway. I have never seen anything like it. Absolute carnage on the road. Cars spinning off in the distance, families stuck in the snow with loss of traction, lorries jack-knifed along the central reservation. All in all, I most have passed over 200 abandoned cars, and seen over a dozen accidents (most of them rear wheel drives!). And you guessed it, I kept on moving - on normal tires (Pirelli P-Zeros). Admittedly not very fast: Averaged less than 40 MPH over 4 hours period. Then got to Germany and I was one of the few, possibly foolhardy, cars in the fast lane (and they have winter tires there.). Got to Northern Germany and snow turned to rain, and wow it felt like I was set free. It might as well been a summers day. I was doing 120 MPH without any hesitation in the unrestricted sections.
Then imagine 2 weeks of driving in snow laced scandinvia again with the wrong tires. Now I did walk a little more than usual, and avoided the car for one particular brutal day when they shot the motorways, but other than that - I was as mobile as the rest of them. In fact got to test a little four wheel drift on the round abouts. Totally agree with Fubuar - impressively manageable. Makes you feel like a finnish rally ace.
If ever you want to be sold on quattro traction - this will do it. With winters only set to get colder, I can see no reason to ever get anything else.
Performance:
At first I felt the engine a little tight. It was quick for sure, but not the real thump in the back that I was used to from my BMWs.
Then came the 3000 mile mark. And suddenly the car seems to have developed more bark and considerably more thrust (especially off the line). While in Dynamic mode, the pick up at 3000+ revs is now diesel like. I frightened a Carrera S on the M3 just recently.
The funny thing is, I think there is more to come, it seems to be loosening up by the journey at this stage.
Fuel Consumption
Now I quizzed you guys about this a fair bit before buying the car as I had been used to potent diesels averaging +40MPG. I am not going to kid you - it is not great, though getting better. I get a claimed 330 miles out of a tank. But here is the funny thing: It reads empty with 10 litres left in the tank! Meaning I never tank more than 54 litres. I actually tested it beyond the 0 reading and got another 30 miles before I chickened out, so range is probably closer to 350 miles at this stage. Still, wonder if anyone else has that issue?
Here is another strange point. Putting the DSG in manual mode actually improves the MPG by about 3 MPG on average. As if the auto is labouring a little more by opting for higher gears than one would naturally select.
Also, it is odd how you find yourself forgetting about the MPG with ownership time, as the engine just eggs you on to squeeze the fun pedal when the roads get intersting. But for the rest of the time, I feel content to just cruise along, comfortable in the quiet knowledge of the potency available at my beck and call. As a consequence I find myself driving less quickly on motorways, relaxing in the city, but give me a windy A or B road, and well... head differs to foot.
Other particularily nice features
The colour. It seems to draw more attention from fellow drivers than one has the right to expect driving a 4 door saloon.
The sports seats: You could live in them. May remove them before I sell it on and put them in my front room!
The sat nav: Pretty cool software up-grade for the 10 MY. 3D images are superb, new track ball on the MMI knob allows you to flick across maps, and wealth of additional info can be displayed on the side of the screen. The mobile phone software and voice dial is also vastly superior to anything else I have tried. It connects to the car instantly, and has very simple dial and search features.
The DSG - I was not sure at first, but coupled with the hill hold feature, it makes driving in town a cinch, whilst I never tire of the paddles when a little sporty move is needed.
B&O Stereo. Best £500 I spent on options. A real joy to listen to. Beats the more expensive BMW options hands down for clarity and bass control.
The side-assist. Strobe lights on the side of the wing mirrors flash when cars appear in your blind spot. A life safer in the Europe and when the weather gets bad on multiple carriage roads.
The RS wheels. They look the business, and set the car out from other A4s (though no doubt they will become available on less models in time...). Also of note are the brakes. Far more progressive and reassuring than what I have been used to, and surprisingly good in the wet/snow.
Any problems to date
On the first days of ownership the sports differential played up a little with a waring light coming on. It has not happen again, and seems to be working well. I have a reversing camera option; which is not much use on the rain and snow as it gets dirty very quickly.
Storage is a little sparse, so definitely recommend going for the £100 extra storage components, as without this I would be relying solely on a, not that large, glove box.
Bottons near gear stick are a little distracting until you get used to their location.
Folding mirror mechanism is a bit fiddly on manual, but you can set it to automatically fold which removes the hassle somewhat.
That is where I am at for now. I just keep on feeling that grin every time I set off. It like being in some sort of stealth cruiser: You can just mesh into the traffic at ordinary speeds or simply turn up the wick with bowel displacing effects when you fancy. I can not recommend it enough...and am really looking forward to spring time.
Will keep you posted on car impressions + Audi dealers (have not had the best memories from many years back).
PS No issues with DSG in the cold so far.
Happy new year to you all. Delighted to see that you have kick started a S4 (B8) ownership thread. My apologies for not contributing earlier, but been having too much fun in my S4...
Below a littly synopsis of my heady 3600 miles to date.
Spec:
S4 Saloon - S tronic 2010 MY (Dec 2009)
Options.
Too be honest - I went a little over the top. Just about everything bar openning roof, TV and that self adjusting cruise control thingy.
Exterior: Sprint Blue with Black out effect (no chrome details) and 19in RS6 style wheels.
If someone can tell me how to get a bl***ed picture loaded on, I will attach some images for you all to see.
Impressions so far.
Short version: Am concerned that I am developing unnatural feelings for the beast. Think the 1980s horror film 'Christine'. Seriously, it just gets better and better.
I have no regrets moving back to the Audi after 3 BMWs
Long version:
Handling: In the snow (a bit topical)
I foolishly planned to drive to Denmark the second day of the heavy Christmas snow in the UK (weekend of Dec 19-21). After only just making it to the Euroshuttle before they shut it for two days, I should have been weary. Nothing could have prepared, or stunned, me like driving through Belgium. Picture this: -15C, Snow blizzard kicks in, no lights on the motorway. I have never seen anything like it. Absolute carnage on the road. Cars spinning off in the distance, families stuck in the snow with loss of traction, lorries jack-knifed along the central reservation. All in all, I most have passed over 200 abandoned cars, and seen over a dozen accidents (most of them rear wheel drives!). And you guessed it, I kept on moving - on normal tires (Pirelli P-Zeros). Admittedly not very fast: Averaged less than 40 MPH over 4 hours period. Then got to Germany and I was one of the few, possibly foolhardy, cars in the fast lane (and they have winter tires there.). Got to Northern Germany and snow turned to rain, and wow it felt like I was set free. It might as well been a summers day. I was doing 120 MPH without any hesitation in the unrestricted sections.
Then imagine 2 weeks of driving in snow laced scandinvia again with the wrong tires. Now I did walk a little more than usual, and avoided the car for one particular brutal day when they shot the motorways, but other than that - I was as mobile as the rest of them. In fact got to test a little four wheel drift on the round abouts. Totally agree with Fubuar - impressively manageable. Makes you feel like a finnish rally ace.
If ever you want to be sold on quattro traction - this will do it. With winters only set to get colder, I can see no reason to ever get anything else.
Performance:
At first I felt the engine a little tight. It was quick for sure, but not the real thump in the back that I was used to from my BMWs.
Then came the 3000 mile mark. And suddenly the car seems to have developed more bark and considerably more thrust (especially off the line). While in Dynamic mode, the pick up at 3000+ revs is now diesel like. I frightened a Carrera S on the M3 just recently.
The funny thing is, I think there is more to come, it seems to be loosening up by the journey at this stage.
Fuel Consumption
Now I quizzed you guys about this a fair bit before buying the car as I had been used to potent diesels averaging +40MPG. I am not going to kid you - it is not great, though getting better. I get a claimed 330 miles out of a tank. But here is the funny thing: It reads empty with 10 litres left in the tank! Meaning I never tank more than 54 litres. I actually tested it beyond the 0 reading and got another 30 miles before I chickened out, so range is probably closer to 350 miles at this stage. Still, wonder if anyone else has that issue?
Here is another strange point. Putting the DSG in manual mode actually improves the MPG by about 3 MPG on average. As if the auto is labouring a little more by opting for higher gears than one would naturally select.
Also, it is odd how you find yourself forgetting about the MPG with ownership time, as the engine just eggs you on to squeeze the fun pedal when the roads get intersting. But for the rest of the time, I feel content to just cruise along, comfortable in the quiet knowledge of the potency available at my beck and call. As a consequence I find myself driving less quickly on motorways, relaxing in the city, but give me a windy A or B road, and well... head differs to foot.
Other particularily nice features
The colour. It seems to draw more attention from fellow drivers than one has the right to expect driving a 4 door saloon.
The sports seats: You could live in them. May remove them before I sell it on and put them in my front room!
The sat nav: Pretty cool software up-grade for the 10 MY. 3D images are superb, new track ball on the MMI knob allows you to flick across maps, and wealth of additional info can be displayed on the side of the screen. The mobile phone software and voice dial is also vastly superior to anything else I have tried. It connects to the car instantly, and has very simple dial and search features.
The DSG - I was not sure at first, but coupled with the hill hold feature, it makes driving in town a cinch, whilst I never tire of the paddles when a little sporty move is needed.
B&O Stereo. Best £500 I spent on options. A real joy to listen to. Beats the more expensive BMW options hands down for clarity and bass control.
The side-assist. Strobe lights on the side of the wing mirrors flash when cars appear in your blind spot. A life safer in the Europe and when the weather gets bad on multiple carriage roads.
The RS wheels. They look the business, and set the car out from other A4s (though no doubt they will become available on less models in time...). Also of note are the brakes. Far more progressive and reassuring than what I have been used to, and surprisingly good in the wet/snow.
Any problems to date
On the first days of ownership the sports differential played up a little with a waring light coming on. It has not happen again, and seems to be working well. I have a reversing camera option; which is not much use on the rain and snow as it gets dirty very quickly.
Storage is a little sparse, so definitely recommend going for the £100 extra storage components, as without this I would be relying solely on a, not that large, glove box.
Bottons near gear stick are a little distracting until you get used to their location.
Folding mirror mechanism is a bit fiddly on manual, but you can set it to automatically fold which removes the hassle somewhat.
That is where I am at for now. I just keep on feeling that grin every time I set off. It like being in some sort of stealth cruiser: You can just mesh into the traffic at ordinary speeds or simply turn up the wick with bowel displacing effects when you fancy. I can not recommend it enough...and am really looking forward to spring time.
Will keep you posted on car impressions + Audi dealers (have not had the best memories from many years back).
PS No issues with DSG in the cold so far.
Nice writeup from a BM convert Glad you are enjoying the car
I think the Audi quoted mpg is M25 mpg, as the only time I ever get near 30mpg is on that damn motorway! Average is up to about 25/26 now the engine has loosened
Glad you are enjoying the car Jhart said:
PS No issues with DSG in the cold so far.
Perhaps, having a 2010 model, you already had the gearbox software update? The update really has smoothed out the gear changes in automatic mode, although, and I may be imagining this, in Auto mode, the car feels slighty more sluggish yo change up unless you really push the right foot down some, almost as if they changed the throttle setting as well as the gear changes? All is well in Dynamic and manual though I think the Audi quoted mpg is M25 mpg, as the only time I ever get near 30mpg is on that damn motorway! Average is up to about 25/26 now the engine has loosened
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