B8 S4 Ownership

[jimmyjimjim]

apreading said:

Blimey, just had a heart attack reading that you cant listen to music from a bluetooth device but I think I have worked out that you can in the B8.5 with the HDD Sat Nav option? Read about the tune2air wma3000a and have a question - if I can indeed stream music from my phone paired properly to the Audi MMI and also make/take calls on my phone - can I ALSO have the tune2air wma3000a plugged in the glovebox for the kids to stream music through the MMI while my phone is still paired directly for making/taking calls? That would be fantastic if it works that way?

You definitely can listen to music from a bluetooth device in the B8.5. I'm never sure what the UK MMI options are but mine is HDD 3G satnav, so probably the same. However, when the phone is paired, the music playing is muted when on a call. Obviously.
The AMI in the glovebox counts as a separate interface, so you should be able to have something plugged in at the same time as the phone is paired and playing, though you can obviously only have one active source at a time - I've never tried, but I see no reason why it shouldn't work.

[theboyfold]

jimmyjimjim said:

apreading said:

Blimey, just had a heart attack reading that you cant listen to music from a bluetooth device but I think I have worked out that you can in the B8.5 with the HDD Sat Nav option? Read about the tune2air wma3000a and have a question - if I can indeed stream music from my phone paired properly to the Audi MMI and also make/take calls on my phone - can I ALSO have the tune2air wma3000a plugged in the glovebox for the kids to stream music through the MMI while my phone is still paired directly for making/taking calls? That would be fantastic if it works that way?

You definitely can listen to music from a bluetooth device in the B8.5. I'm never sure what the UK MMI options are but mine is HDD 3G satnav, so probably the same. However, when the phone is paired, the music playing is muted when on a call. Obviously.
The AMI in the glovebox counts as a separate interface, so you should be able to have something plugged in at the same time as the phone is paired and playing, though you can obviously only have one active source at a time - I've never tried, but I see no reason why it shouldn't work.

I have an 8.5 Black Edition, so not 100% it's the same, but I can do what you describe. With my iPod playing, I can still make and receive calls. Same when I stream music from the phone.

[silentbrown]

apreading said:

Blimey, just had a heart attack reading that you cant listen to music from a bluetooth device but I think I have worked out that you can in the B8.5 with the HDD Sat Nav option? Read about the tune2air wma3000a and have a question - if I can indeed stream music from my phone paired properly to the Audi MMI and also make/take calls on my phone - can I ALSO have the tune2air wma3000a plugged in the glovebox for the kids to stream music through the MMI while my phone is still paired directly for making/taking calls? That would be fantastic if it works that way?

A2DP streaming from phone on an 8.5 with Tech pack is fine. BUT are you sure you have the AMI (Audi Music Interface) in the glovebox? It's not standard except on Black Edition models.

Not sure, but it's possible you can pair one BT device for media and a second for phone calls anyway...

[catso]

apreading said:

Blimey, just had a heart attack reading that you cant listen to music from a bluetooth device but I think I have worked out that you can in the B8.5 with the HDD Sat Nav option?

Yes, I've been listening to music from my phone.

I've also copied a load of albums into the 'jukebox' using an SD card which took a long time but otherwise fine, but I've just bought a USB cable for the socket in the glove box and found a USB stick works just as well and with bigger capacity and no need to wait for it to transfer, cheaper and less fragile/precious than an ipod...

[apreading]

silentbrown said:

A2DP streaming from phone on an 8.5 with Tech pack is fine. BUT are you sure you have the AMI (Audi Music Interface) in the glovebox? It's not standard except on Black Edition models.

Not sure, but it's possible you can pair one BT device for media and a second for phone calls anyway...

I didn't look but the ad from the dealer said Audi music interface - will double check when I pick it up and if it doesn't will have words... Would be even better if you can pair multiple devices to the normal mmi

[troc]

I just play music off the two 32Gb SD cards in the dash and use AMI for the odd occasion I want to listen to a podcast or something that's not there.

What I am pondering is whether to replace the factory-fitted DAB radio with the newer DAB+ one. Whilst it makes little difference in the UK, most of mainland Europe appears have shifted to DAB+ which means my radio is useless except for the odd 2-3 weeks of the year I'm back at home.

[MattS5]

apreading said:

Interesting - I saw the Bosal too and my guy stocks them. 'Towing' will be mainly a bike carrier and maybe a jetski in the future (if I can convince the mrs). Presumably they code it so the rear parking sensors disable when attached?

Yes, I went for the Audi specific wiring too.
Cost was around £525 fitted from memory.

[Easternlight]

apreading said:

MattS5 said:

I went with a removable Bosal bar on mine. The guy who fitted it said there was better clearance between that and the bumper than with the Westfalia.
I guess it depends what you're towing though. (I needed to have as much room for the ALKO stabiliser as possible)

Interesting - I saw the Bosal too and my guy stocks them. 'Towing' will be mainly a bike carrier and maybe a jetski in the future (if I can convince the mrs). Presumably they code it so the rear parking sensors disable when attached?

I didn't think the S4 was type approved for towing, or is that just internet bks?

[apreading]

Easternlight said:

I didn't think the S4 was type approved for towing, or is that just internet bks?

S4 is fine for towing - I dont think the B8 was type approved when it first came out but I saw a post somewhere that it was later on. There is a factory fit option from Audi so it must be OK. Spoke to a fitter and he said around £500. He said S4 was OK but RS4 was not.

[FUBAR]

Dammit dammit dammit. Had a boring B9 diesel loan car all week. Didn't like the interior much, certainly not the dash/instrument layout (unfair to say I found a 2.0tdi engine boring after the S4) decided I didn't want a B9 S4.

Got back in my car last night and it suddenly feels really old and dated, both interior and road noise etc. Same feeling I had when I went from B7 to B8. Bugger.

[F40GT346]

Easternlight said:

I didn't think the S4 was type approved for towing, or is that just internet bks?

I have an S4 B8 with a factory fit Westfalia towbar. It makes a great tow car especially with the DSG box.

Gap between the tow ball and the bumper is very tight though - my bike carrier will not fit on it.

[MattS5]

Easternlight said:

I didn't think the S4 was type approved for towing, or is that just internet bks?

B6 and B7 S4 (4.2 V8) wasn't approved for towing. Nor was the RS4 B7
B8 S4 is however. And so is the S5 which is what I have.

[apreading]

Picked it up on Saturday and loving lots about it - most of all the power and the noise! You can feel its size a little more than the B6 though, maybe its the longer wheelbase but it feels a little less nimble and chuckable - it might just be that the improved refinement makes it feel a little less 'raw'.

Much more comfy ride though - not sure what people's problem is when they say its harsh!

Only niggle is that there seems to be a rattle from somewhere inside the cockpit at just under 3000rpm - my ears suggest its somewhere around the passenger door mirror or maybe the speaker grille in the corner of the dash there but my son says it is over my side when he sits in the passenger seat. Its not too bad and passes as soon as you exit that part of the rev range but will annoy over time if I cant solve it...

Got the audi chrome ash tray to fill one of the cup holders and a pack of chewing gum nicely fits the smaller one. I think I have most of the storage sorted now but the sunglass holder is useless - cant fit anything in there. What do people keep in theirs?

Getting the hang of the technology, some really good stuff and getting used to stop/start and auto-lights.

Oh - and I am loving the noise, did I mention that!?! A quick stab of the accelerator is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and from what I see here, that enjoyment never wears off.

[catso]

apreading said:

Getting the hang of the technology, some really good stuff and getting used to stop/start and auto-lights.

Not a fan of stop/start myself, although the S4 version works better than the one on my Wife's (manual) Qashqai that can catch you out if you from stop/neutral/go too quickly - left me coasting with the engine stopped, had to turn off the ignition to start again so ever since then when I drive it I switch it off - and really at 60mpg+ it hardly needs it anyway!

I would like the option to switch it off permanently rather than just the 'until next startup' and I do wonder what extra wear it will put on the starter and engine over a number of years?

[silentbrown]

apreading said:

Much more comfy ride though - not sure what people's problem is when they say its harsh!

Like me, you've got the sensible 18" wheels, which helps a lot.

Interesting that you mention the noise. Might be worth checking if you have a milltek exhaust fitted, as I'd have said the standard car is mostly quiet and unobtrusive. (Apart from the annoying revvy blip when you push the starter. Thank god it doesn't do that every time the stop/start 'starts'" )

[MattS5]

apreading said:

I think I have most of the storage sorted now but the sunglass holder is useless - cant fit anything in there. What do people keep in theirs?

I pop my sunglasses in there. Seems to be loads of room for them and the rubber padding inside protects the lenses.

[Hol]

MattS5 said:

apreading said:

I think I have most of the storage sorted now but the sunglass holder is useless - cant fit anything in there. What do people keep in theirs?

I pop my sunglasses in there. Seems to be loads of room for them and the rubber padding inside protects the lenses.

It is too small for mine, so my wife keeps a pair of her glasses in there, in case she needs to drive it.

My sunglasses live in the armrest cubby.

[daveydees]

Hol said:

MattS5 said:

apreading said:

I think I have most of the storage sorted now but the sunglass holder is useless - cant fit anything in there. What do people keep in theirs?

I pop my sunglasses in there. Seems to be loads of room for them and the rubber padding inside protects the lenses.

It is too small for mine, so my wife keeps a pair of her glasses in there, in case she needs to drive it.

My sunglasses live in the armrest cubby.

I thought it was useless too, until I realised if you put them in bottom of the lenses first and kind of pivot them in there's plenty of room inside. You can easily fit a pair of aviator style Rayban's in there once you've nailed the technique.

[MattS5]

daveydees said:

I thought it was useless too, until I realised if you put them in bottom of the lenses first and kind of pivot them in there's plenty of room inside. You can easily fit a pair of aviator style Rayban's in there once you've nailed the technique.

Yep, thats how mine fit (I just didn't explain it as well as you, thank you )

[apreading]

Thought my heated mirrors werent working - they didnt seem to demist a few days ago but wasnt sure - this morning they definately didnt and it was a real problem. I didnt wipe them with a cloth because I wanted to be sure they werent working. Checked the ad for the car to make sure they dealer said it had them. Checked the brochures to make sure they were definately standard fit on the S4 and the dealer didnt mess up the listing. Then googled it and found that you have to have the switch for adjusting them in the middle position - mine had been left set to the left from when I was seeing if the mirror would dip automatically when selecting reverse (it doesnt). Put it back in the middle and they now feel warm if I put the rear demister on, so looks like they were working all along - so user error! I am sure the B6 didnt need to be in a specific position though.