Audi S4 (03/04 Vintage) Servicing

[gdunc]

Hello knowledgeable Audi types,

I'm looking for something a bit quick yet sensible and have enjoyed S model Audis in the past so am considering an S4 avant.
I was wondering if the 4.2 models are on a variable service interval and what the service costs are typically like. I'd also hope to be above 20mpg on average (fair bit of motorway stuff with some open throttle blats) is this possible?

Thanks in advance

Dunc

[mel]

I use a really good independant specialist as opposed to main stealer on my 54 plate and normally around £250-£280 every 16-18,000 on a variable (and over £90 of that is on oil!!!) as for mpg yes it's just possible dependant on the way you drive, I do mainly urban with a few motorways and average high teens

[gdunc]

Thanks Mel,

Those are good breaks between services if you do a lot of urban driving amd reasonable prices too.

Cheers

[philip walker]

Top cars just sold mine.
Around 23mpg on open roads, 240 miles on a £60 tankfull. Servicing costs as suggested find a good independant. £200 sounds about right for a lub service as they have a big sump full of oil. Lub plus Air, pollen filters and plugs would be more like £500
Pads and discs can be costly £150 discs pair and pads £90
Ask to hear the car on a cold start to listen for any timing chain rattle.

[mel]

The brakes note is very worthwhile they do eat them, I used to work on a set of front pads every service but used the Mintex ones at £33 per front set, when my discs got low I took the plunge and replaced them with bigger fully floating Brembos and 996tt calipers as the standard ones are a little woefull on a car with that power and weight. If you're handy with spanners though a front pad change takes about an hour and is very straight forward.

[mel]

oh yes and a plugs service at 60,000 adds another couple of hundred quid as oddly enough they're 8 of them and they're foxtrot expensive.

[bigburd]

mel said:

The brakes note is very worthwhile they do eat them, I used to work on a set of front pads every service but used the Mintex ones at £33 per front set, when my discs got low I took the plunge and replaced them with bigger fully floating Brembos and 996tt calipers as the standard ones are a little woefull on a car with that power and weight. If you're handy with spanners though a front pad change takes about an hour and is very straight forward.

Slightly off topic on my R32 the OEM Brake Pads are around £170/set (discs are £170 each). I am currently running EBC RedStuff and DOT5.1 brake fluid

[EC2]

Personally I get my main dealer to service and MOT my 03 S4 Avant still - had some goodwill out of Audi UK due to this and they give the car a good look over when it is in. Sure I might pay another £100 pa for this but to me it is worth it.

19k/two years on servicing and I got 38k out of the front pads, rears still unchanged after 50k.

21mpg average, 25mpg on a run. Great cars. If you are buying, check that the aux rads (two of them low set in the bumper, one at each side) have been replaced as they do leak.

[gdunc]

Those prices don't seem too bad and squeezing 25mpg out of it would help me make the plunge. I currently run two cars with a runabout and one for more interesting journeys but i'd rather just have one which I can use for everything and an Avant gives me plenty space.

My local Audi garage have been good with me and have offered free MOTs on my old A3 as part of some club or other. Cheaper per hour than some other main dealers too.

Unfortunately there are few S4s around up here but i'll have a search on the Audi network and try and get out in one for a good test drive.

[gdunc]

I've just searched the network and there's an '05 avant near me. Is this car the same as the '03/04 variants but with a facelift or are they dynamically different?

Just wondering if it's worth getting it out for a spin.

[mel]

Exactly the same car, just with a ditterent smile