B8 S4 Ownership
Discussion
Ho hum, guess what? 7 miles outside of London, big red waning light on the dash, coolant level low. Pull over, no frikin water in the expansion tank. Manage to get it to a nearby garage, fill up, drive the final 7 miles to my destination and arrive to a billowing cloud of steam and no coolant again.
I double checked with my dealer and they confirmed I did have the later water pump.
Have to say Audi Assist were brilliant. Car was collected within 90 minutes and less than an hour after collection I was away home in a '10 plate S3.
After I described the symptoms to Audi Assist over the phone they just said "sounds like the water pump, no point in sending a tech out, we will just get it recovered"
So, either my dealer was telling me porkies (and the chap I always speak to has always been straight with me in the past) or the later pumps are prone to go too.
FYI car has now done 20k miles
I double checked with my dealer and they confirmed I did have the later water pump.
Have to say Audi Assist were brilliant. Car was collected within 90 minutes and less than an hour after collection I was away home in a '10 plate S3.
After I described the symptoms to Audi Assist over the phone they just said "sounds like the water pump, no point in sending a tech out, we will just get it recovered"
So, either my dealer was telling me porkies (and the chap I always speak to has always been straight with me in the past) or the later pumps are prone to go too.
FYI car has now done 20k miles
Balls, at least Audi assist sorted you out quickly.
There's a chance that the pre/post water pumps are diagnosed by a chassis # or date range and yours was close enough to the end of the range for an older part to be in a newer car (just a theory).
I wouldn't bet on all the water pumps being crap but I guess that's possible too, Audi have tried to fix DRC god knows how many times and that still goes wrong.
There's a chance that the pre/post water pumps are diagnosed by a chassis # or date range and yours was close enough to the end of the range for an older part to be in a newer car (just a theory).
I wouldn't bet on all the water pumps being crap but I guess that's possible too, Audi have tried to fix DRC god knows how many times and that still goes wrong.
Anybody done a set of tyres yet?
mines done ~10K miles, and the fronts are not looking great, doubt they will live much longer....
from the looks of the wear, it needs more neg-camber (outside of tread worn way more than the inner), looking at it, they look very upright....
has anybody else noticed this/done anything about it?
Have asked Audi what the std geometry setting are (they had no idea when I asked).
on the face of it, going to get them to re-set it adding a degree of neg...
mines done ~10K miles, and the fronts are not looking great, doubt they will live much longer....
from the looks of the wear, it needs more neg-camber (outside of tread worn way more than the inner), looking at it, they look very upright....
has anybody else noticed this/done anything about it?
Have asked Audi what the std geometry setting are (they had no idea when I asked).
on the face of it, going to get them to re-set it adding a degree of neg...
I'm on my second set. The oe set lasted a rather pleasing 18k and when they came off the wear was even.
Replacements are SportContact 3 which initially I wasn't impressed with, but after about 500 miles they have bedded in nicely and grip is great. Only downside is they don't have any rim protection and after a faultless 14 months I've now kerbed my alloys 3 times
Replacements are SportContact 3 which initially I wasn't impressed with, but after about 500 miles they have bedded in nicely and grip is great. Only downside is they don't have any rim protection and after a faultless 14 months I've now kerbed my alloys 3 times
Well, mines another one.....
car went in for 1st service, asked specifically if they could verify if it had the 'dodgy' water pump etc.
assured it was fine etc...
two weeks later, I'm 11,000 miles away, and SWMBO is in the car, 5:30AM, light on, steam everywhere whilst she's in the middle of nowhere.
Audi assist are good, Audi dealers are FFFFing usless.
roll on another 3 weeks, go out to the car, puddle under it, no water in it again!
Back to Audi, apparently one of the rad hoses was split (wonder how that happened??).
Not massively impressed.
Spoke to service manager, and pointed out that HE had said it was 'OK' at service for him to make the excuse he was un-aware of the water pump issue and Audi only just issued a recall - un-beliveable!
apparently, there is also a recall on the thermostat now too (they are trying to suggest it's the cause of the pumps failing).
my annoyance is how he can say he is un-aware of this issue when it affects a huge number of Audi models and has been all over the forums etc for six months now....
I love the car, but it does shake your faith in it when this kind of stuff happens.
had Audi's for years, but as usual, they are great cars let down by shoddy dealers.
car went in for 1st service, asked specifically if they could verify if it had the 'dodgy' water pump etc.
assured it was fine etc...
two weeks later, I'm 11,000 miles away, and SWMBO is in the car, 5:30AM, light on, steam everywhere whilst she's in the middle of nowhere.
Audi assist are good, Audi dealers are FFFFing usless.
roll on another 3 weeks, go out to the car, puddle under it, no water in it again!
Back to Audi, apparently one of the rad hoses was split (wonder how that happened??).
Not massively impressed.
Spoke to service manager, and pointed out that HE had said it was 'OK' at service for him to make the excuse he was un-aware of the water pump issue and Audi only just issued a recall - un-beliveable!
apparently, there is also a recall on the thermostat now too (they are trying to suggest it's the cause of the pumps failing).
my annoyance is how he can say he is un-aware of this issue when it affects a huge number of Audi models and has been all over the forums etc for six months now....
I love the car, but it does shake your faith in it when this kind of stuff happens.
had Audi's for years, but as usual, they are great cars let down by shoddy dealers.
Scuffers said:
Anybody done a set of tyres yet?
mines done ~10K miles, and the fronts are not looking great, doubt they will live much longer....
from the looks of the wear, it needs more neg-camber (outside of tread worn way more than the inner), looking at it, they look very upright....
has anybody else noticed this/done anything about it?
Have asked Audi what the std geometry setting are (they had no idea when I asked).
on the face of it, going to get them to re-set it adding a degree of neg...
I had Pirelli Rossos on my 19" rims they were lacking in grip and cost £265.00 each have just put some Komos on the front and not only has this improved the grip massively but they were £149.00 each (Same Rating)mines done ~10K miles, and the fronts are not looking great, doubt they will live much longer....
from the looks of the wear, it needs more neg-camber (outside of tread worn way more than the inner), looking at it, they look very upright....
has anybody else noticed this/done anything about it?
Have asked Audi what the std geometry setting are (they had no idea when I asked).
on the face of it, going to get them to re-set it adding a degree of neg...
Regarding geometry I would suggest that your wear pattern is more to do with tyre pressures and load in the bends than camber???
If you do have the Camber changed I would be very interested to know the details and if you find it helps!
for now here is a great Audi related joke!!
A German dwarf went 2 London. While there he went 2 a prostitute. She thought "He'll never manage & should be easy money". Just B4 he started, he put a big spring on each elbow & knee, then shagged her for 4hrs non stop.She said breathlessly "How did you manage that?" He said "It's my 4sprung dwarftechnique"
worsy said:
Guys there is another recall out for a Thermostat replacement. Mine is booked in week after next to do that and the water pump. Worth asking your dealer.
Scuffers said:
apparently, there is also a recall on the thermostat now too (they are trying to suggest it's the cause of the pumps failing).
keep up and the back.Hi All,
Just about loosing the will to live with my B8 S4 and it's coolant issues. First bought the car from Crawley Audi last September as an almost new car ( was made in March 2010 ) - within three weeks of having it the coolant warning came on...... Level was two inches below 'Min' mark..... back it went.
Since then it's been back a total of Five times,...... Had the thermostat mod, the water pump replaced, the expansion tank replaced, and finally the last time having told them that I want it bloody sorted .... they kept the car for eight days ..... gave me a story about the pipe that connects to the engine being re-designed as the connection wasn't ever flush from the older original stock so a new series of parts were made ? .. any how they kept the car and tested it for a day for leaks and pressure etc...... gave it back to me.....
.... Today I have my young nephews staying so we planned a surprise treat to go to Lego land for the day ( How bloody expensive is that ! !? ) - stuck in traffic on the M25 ... Beeep goes the coolant warning light ..... pull into Clacket Lane services....... All the coolant has gone - running out from the bottom of the engine compartment.........
I was ready to go right back to the dealer and demand a replacement car or a refund ... but seeing this thread makes me realize that this really must be a massive design flaw . .. dismays me to get a such stunned silence when I asked the dealer if this was a common issue with the new S4 .... and then see from the this thread that many of us have had issues. Has anyone got this sorted now ? I feel like I'm stuck in Groundhog Day ......... car works for a month then goes back to be repaired !
Any updates guys on your own experiences ?
Beer.
Just about loosing the will to live with my B8 S4 and it's coolant issues. First bought the car from Crawley Audi last September as an almost new car ( was made in March 2010 ) - within three weeks of having it the coolant warning came on...... Level was two inches below 'Min' mark..... back it went.
Since then it's been back a total of Five times,...... Had the thermostat mod, the water pump replaced, the expansion tank replaced, and finally the last time having told them that I want it bloody sorted .... they kept the car for eight days ..... gave me a story about the pipe that connects to the engine being re-designed as the connection wasn't ever flush from the older original stock so a new series of parts were made ? .. any how they kept the car and tested it for a day for leaks and pressure etc...... gave it back to me.....
.... Today I have my young nephews staying so we planned a surprise treat to go to Lego land for the day ( How bloody expensive is that ! !? ) - stuck in traffic on the M25 ... Beeep goes the coolant warning light ..... pull into Clacket Lane services....... All the coolant has gone - running out from the bottom of the engine compartment.........
I was ready to go right back to the dealer and demand a replacement car or a refund ... but seeing this thread makes me realize that this really must be a massive design flaw . .. dismays me to get a such stunned silence when I asked the dealer if this was a common issue with the new S4 .... and then see from the this thread that many of us have had issues. Has anyone got this sorted now ? I feel like I'm stuck in Groundhog Day ......... car works for a month then goes back to be repaired !
Any updates guys on your own experiences ?
Beer.
Didn't know about this thread, so pleased to see it resurrected. Can't provide any feedback to issues right now as I'm waiting on my S4 to be delivered, but it's still in Germany and I'm optimistically hoping for next week.
Based on the good comments, I can't wait to drive it - just hope they've got the bad things ironed out ....
Based on the good comments, I can't wait to drive it - just hope they've got the bad things ironed out ....
Well mine is off for a service in a week or two. I've had the car almost 2 years and only managed 13,000 kilometres but I've enjoyed them all 
They will be doing the lot I think as the oil service is also due within a week or two. Plus I asked for the Nav update and no doubt the car will get all sorts of firmware updates so heaven knows what it will be like when I get it back.
(Living in Holland only 5km from work means I usually cycle or take the tram and we have a small car for short trips anyway...)
Car had a new waterpump last year but this time the thermostat will be replaced (as people have mentioned above) which means another engine rebuild so I'll keep my fingers crossed they don't screw anything up!
Oh and I need to order some winter wheels. Any idea about cost etc? (18"x7.5 to fit a 225 tyre, I know that Audi do a set but I bet I can get something cheaper).
They will be doing the lot I think as the oil service is also due within a week or two. Plus I asked for the Nav update and no doubt the car will get all sorts of firmware updates so heaven knows what it will be like when I get it back. (Living in Holland only 5km from work means I usually cycle or take the tram and we have a small car for short trips anyway...)
Car had a new waterpump last year but this time the thermostat will be replaced (as people have mentioned above) which means another engine rebuild so I'll keep my fingers crossed they don't screw anything up!
Oh and I need to order some winter wheels. Any idea about cost etc? (18"x7.5 to fit a 225 tyre, I know that Audi do a set but I bet I can get something cheaper).
Mine's looking a little second hand at the moment due to a van deciding to pull into the outside lane of the dual carriageway that was occupied by me
That's my second non fault RTA in this car in 2 years. You would think a bright red car with DRLs would be quite visible?
On the upside, getting rid of the stone chips on the bonnet
That's my second non fault RTA in this car in 2 years. You would think a bright red car with DRLs would be quite visible?
On the upside, getting rid of the stone chips on the bonnet
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