B8 S4 Ownership

[lemonslap]

h3lp said:

Inner pads?

Also any recommendations for a brake upgrade in general? I have noticed already that the stock brakes leave a bit to be desired....

Your brake caliper will have two pads installed, one for each side of the disc. Because the hydraulic piston in the brake caliper pushes the inside pad into the disc which inturn pulls the outside pad inward on sliders, this causes it to wear quicker then the outside. If your outside pad only has about 3mm left it would be worth removing a wheel and visually checking the inside one.

[Scuffers]

I have used brembo sport pads (24743), they're cheap and have no downside.

Front pads are the same as ford focus RS

[h3lp]

Thanks all.

Got the car back now. The discs are a bit "lippy" but not too bad....Here's the "90% worn pads..." thoughts??

[Scuffers]

Lol!

~50% imho...

Disc looks fine.

Inner will be a bit worse, but not by much, take another look in 10k miles...

[h3lp]

Thought they must just be a bit quiet so they're "recommending" all sorts! I rang them to book her in for the S Tronic service and they did it the very next day.

I'll wait for the wear light to come on then.

[M7NDP]

have any of you fitted wheel spacers to the S4 Avant?
I currently have the standard 18's and will be upgrading to 19's next year after the winter but I think the car could do with pushing the wheels out to fill the arches and get a more 'squat' look in any case.
Any particular size/brand I should look towards considering I'd be looking to change the wheels later too?
If anyone has any pics of a 'spaced' S4 avant then even better!

Also, i've read previously that some have managed to swap out their 'T' bar s-tronic lever for the newer B8.5 selector - as anyone came across a straightforward swap solution?

cheers again

[jimmyjimjim]

Audizine has an ongoing wheel fitment thread and wheel photo thread. Both cover spacers, though as has been said on here previously, if you go for S5 fitment wheels, they have a slightly more aggressive offset and fill the arch better.

As for replacing the gear knob, you have to be a bit brave, it's a heat and twist job in order to align the button correctly, again, details on Audizine and a5oc.

[Dr G]

Pads in the above photo are spot on.

jimmyjimjim said:

Audizine has an ongoing wheel fitment thread and wheel photo thread. Both cover spacers, though as has been said on here previously, if you go for S5 fitment wheels, they have a slightly more aggressive offset and fill the arch better.

I was going to say that, A4s look great on A5 wheels.

[FUBAR]

Bugger! Called in to my local dealer to book the S4 in for a service and left 20 minutes later with prices for the high spec Sepang blue S4 Avant Black Edition sitting in the showroom which was cooing "buy me buy me".

With Audi contributions the discount is circa 15% and very affordable monthly payments (I could buy cash but finance is very cheap and car wouldn't be eligible for the Audi contributions). How does that stack up? Im an impulse buyer (and salesman's dream) so someone talk me out of it please!

Anyone want to buy a meticulously maintained, very high spec 72k red S4 saloon with Miltek? lol

[lemonslap]

FUBAR said:

Bugger! Called in to my local dealer to book the S4 in for a service and left 20 minutes later with prices for the high spec Sepang blue S4 Avant Black Edition sitting in the showroom which was cooing "buy me buy me".

With Audi contributions the discount is circa 15% and very affordable monthly payments (I could buy cash but finance is very cheap and car wouldn't be eligible for the Audi contributions). How does that stack up? Im an impulse buyer (and salesman's dream) so someone talk me out of it please!

Anyone want to buy a meticulously maintained, very high spec 72k red S4 saloon with Miltek? lol

What does new one do that the old one can't? If it was me I would be waiting for the new B9 S4...

[M7NDP]

Dr G said:

I was going to say that, A4s look great on A5 wheels.

Thanks for the info.
Are you saying rather than fit spacers and then A4 19" wheels, just go for A5 19" wheels to do the job?

[Adrian E]

If you take the 5 segment spoke wheels as an example, the optional 19" fitment for an S4 is an 8.5x19 wheel with offset of ET43

The same design wheel from an A/S5 is a 9x19 with ET33

Sticking these sizes into a wheel size calculator suggests the wheel will stick out 16mm further than the S4 wheel (a combination of offset and extra 0.5" width) and will give 3mm more clearance on the suspension.

Given most of the suspension design is basically the same I can't see it causing any issues so long as the wheel stays within the arch line.

There are 8.5" wheel options for the A/S5 in 19" fitment which may stick out less, but depends what wheels you like the look of

German ebay will be your best bet for 2nd hand sets

[Scuffers]

Big difference is in scrub radius.

Depends on tyres to some extent, but expect more tramlining etc.

[Adrian E]

I need to do some more checking of suspension part numbers, but our S5 Sportback is a very close relation to an S4 saloon in wheelbase and track width. 36mm difference in width measured fromm the wheel centre (same front and rear) which wouldn't surprise me if that's mostly down to wheel specs. Wheelbase is identical

[bungle]

Adrian E said:

If you take the 5 segment spoke wheels as an example, the optional 19" fitment for an S4 is an 8.5x19 wheel with offset of ET43

For me, they look just right "as is" on an Avant (in terms of size (19s) and offset). (and I've got/had spacers on other cars, so not averse to the principle, but (IMO) the S4 with those wheels doesn't need it).

[Adrian E]

I agree - they're my favourite wheel on the S4 in terms of the factory options. Only reason for suggesting the wider fit options was I think that's what the query above referred to in terms of '4 wheels with spacers vs '5 wheels without, so thought I'd do some Etka digging

Looking at where the 9x20s sit on our S5 I reckon they could stick out a fair bit further without sticking out of the wheel arch, so a wider offset/width rim could work

[FUBAR]

lemonslap said:

What does new one do that the old one can't? If it was me I would be waiting for the new B9 S4...

It's newer (slightly more economical, more modern technology over my 2010MY car)

Dealer said (took with a slight pinch of salt) the B9 S4 would be at least 18 months away which would put me into almost 7 years and 100,000 miles of ownership.

Anyway, signed the paperwork today, collect Friday or Monday

[JulianHJ]

FUBAR said:

It's newer (slightly more economical, more modern technology over my 2010MY car)

Dealer said (took with a slight pinch of salt) the B9 S4 would be at least 18 months away which would put me into almost 7 years and 100,000 miles of ownership.

Anyway, signed the paperwork today, collect Friday or Monday

Did you trade in the saloon or are you selling privately?

[lemonslap]

FUBAR said:

It's newer (slightly more economical, more modern technology over my 2010MY car)

Dealer said (took with a slight pinch of salt) the B9 S4 would be at least 18 months away which would put me into almost 7 years and 100,000 miles of ownership.

Anyway, signed the paperwork today, collect Friday or Monday

Congratulations mate, look forward to the shiny pictures when you collect!

[Adrian E]

FUBAR said:

Anyway, signed the paperwork today, collect Friday or Monday

Which dealer had a spec'd S4 in stock?!