B8 S4 Ownership

[silentbrown]

Sports Differential

(Although, I would say that ..)

[InfamousK]

I'd add the adaptive suspension and adaptive cruise too.

[Adrian E]

And for full unicorn spec, all the ADS options AND ACC lol

Weirdly I’ve seen more manuals than autos with ACC (which makes no sense to me). I have sports diff and steering ADS options, plus sunroof and tech pack high with
Memory super sports seats (which also means auto dimming mirrors all round)

[RoVoFob]

Looks like I have a slightly odd S4/S5 wishlist. I have a budget of up to £10,000, maybe £11,000, but know that a car with everything I wanted sold a week back for around £10,000 - just before I sold my car. Doh.

Which of these are likely to be hardest to find/find on budget? Sports differential? Anything particularly worth having that I haven’t mentioned/particularly easy things to retrofit that aren’t worth worrying about? PS If anyone is selling a car that has these features, do let me know…Thanks.

MUSTS:

• S4 Avant or S5 Sportback
• Pre-facelift
• S tronic
• B&O speakers
• Sat-nav/Tech package
• Bluetooth

WANTS:

• As late a pre-facelift model as possible
• Ideally sub-120,000 miles, under 100,000 would be nice
• Audi Music Interface (AMI)
• DAB radio
• Super Sport seats
• Full leather
• Heated front seats
• 18-inch standard alloys (this is easy to address, though, so would buy one with 19s…)
• Drive Select adaptive suspension/steering
• Sports differential
• Hill Hold Assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Electric folding door mirrors
• Memory seats

DON’T WANTS:

• Panoramic sunroof (wouldn’t avoid a car just because of this)
• White or red paint
• Remap (wouldn’t be the end of the world if from a reputable company and/or easily reversible)
• Significant modifications (don’t want more supercharger noise!)

[DonkeyApple]

Re buying. My experience a few months ago was that most that were for sale were very shabby and all had mixed tyres and some ditchfinders. My impression was that they were all being run on budgets that were already too stretched and the rise in costs elsewhere in life wasn't exactly going to help.

I had planned to focus on spec but in the end ignored that and focussed on the general state as I like to keep cars for long periods.

I sent mine off for a full service to ensure everything was caught up. I then dropped all the floor panels, hot washed the underside and engine bay the. Sprayed it with diluted waxoyl. I sold the 19s on mine and got some boggo 18s and a set of allweathers.

[RoVoFob]

DonkeyApple said:

Re buying. My experience a few months ago was that most that were for sale were very shabby and all had mixed tyres and some ditchfinders. My impression was that they were all being run on budgets that were already too stretched and the rise in costs elsewhere in life wasn't exactly going to help.

I had planned to focus on spec but in the end ignored that and focussed on the general state as I like to keep cars for long periods.

I sent mine off for a full service to ensure everything was caught up. I then dropped all the floor panels, hot washed the underside and engine bay the. Sprayed it with diluted waxoyl. I sold the 19s on mine and got some boggo 18s and a set of allweathers.

Interesting to hear. This is why I was so disappointed when the two-owner one I was watching sold. Looked very well cared for AND the spec was perfect for me, which is a rare thing.

In theory, I could wait until January until buying (not sure my patience will last, but have no immediate need to replace my previous Audi, as I have another car), but after cycling through five ‘second’ cars that I’ve had for less than six months each, I’d like an S4/S5 keeper.

Otherwise, I’ll keep buying the best looked after car that pops up when I’m looking that meets my broad criteria - whether it’s something sensible like a Lexus RX400h or less sensible like a 2001 BMW 530i Touring. This is how I ended up with a second A6 4.2 V8…

[Adrian E]

Hill hold is a fairly straightforward retrofit (new switch and running a wire to the ABS module in the engine bay). I’d be fairly relaxed about ADS and if it’s got any that’s a bonus. Mine has factory 20s and the ride isn’t bad without adaptive suspension (which I have on my Golf GTI) so I wouldn’t ignore one without.

Even fairly rudimentary stuff is an option - heated front seats and front parking sensors - so if you rule out the real poverty spec ones you should find something to suit. I’d ignore anything without B&O as it was a cheap option so it’s unlikely if that wasn’t ticked that there’s much that has (and it’s easy to spot on sales pics from the silver rings on speaker covers)

[silentbrown]

RoVoFob said:

Looks like I have a slightly odd S4/S5 wishlist. I have a budget of up to £10,000, maybe £11,000, but know that a car with everything I wanted sold a week back for around £10,000 - just before I sold my car. Doh.

Curious as to why "pre-facelift"? Is that £££ or just taste?

I specced my facelift S4 with HHA as it was really useful on me previous manual A4, but it's never used now, as it doesn't play nicely with start-stop (which I actually like)

[RoVoFob]

Adrian E said:

Hill hold is a fairly straightforward retrofit (new switch and running a wire to the ABS module in the engine bay). I’d be fairly relaxed about ADS and if it’s got any that’s a bonus. Mine has factory 20s and the ride isn’t bad without adaptive suspension (which I have on my Golf GTI) so I wouldn’t ignore one without.

Even fairly rudimentary stuff is an option - heated front seats and front parking sensors - so if you rule out the real poverty spec ones you should find something to suit. I’d ignore anything without B&O as it was a cheap option so it’s unlikely if that wasn’t ticked that there’s much that has (and it’s easy to spot on sales pics from the silver rings on speaker covers)

Thanks. At least it’s easy to spot cars with B&O as you said, even when owners/dealers are oblivious.

It’s more the sports diff that I’m keen on, but I’d rather all the ADS than individual bits of it. Think I’m going to have to set myself a date and pick the best car that pops up in that timescale…

[RoVoFob]

silentbrown said:

Curious as to why "pre-facelift"? Is that £££ or just taste?

I specced my facelift S4 with HHA as it was really useful on me previous manual A4, but it's never used now, as it doesn't play nicely with start-stop (which I actually like)

Pre-facelift cars have hydraulic steering as I understand it, I prefer the looks, they don’t have idiotic non-circular steering wheels and are cheaper.

Do all S4s have start-stop?

[mrdanbartlett]

Personal opinion, if you can wait for the right car then do it, with my latest car I waited probably 8 months to find the right one, spec wise, condition and price. I'm so glad I did now as in the past I've caved in early and ended up wishing I had waited for the right car.

It WILL appear, especially if you are keeping tabs everywhere and ok to travel (I went to Scotland from Essex for my S4). Keep tabs on the usual sites but also if you have facebook maybe there is an owners group where you could say hello and that you are looking to buy, sometimes there are people who are a bit reluctant to sell privtely but might if there seems a nice and genuine buyer rather than them having to go into the scam-land of the usuall AT etc.

[silentbrown]

RoVoFob said:

Pre-facelift cars have hydraulic steering as I understand it, I prefer the looks, they don’t have idiotic non-circular steering wheels and are cheaper.
W
Do all S4s have start-stop?

IIRC only Black Edition cars have the 'idiotic' steering wheel as standard. Mine certainly doesn't!

Not sure about stop start. I think only later facelifts have it.

[catso]

Adrian E said:

Hill hold is a fairly straightforward retrofit (new switch and running a wire to the ABS module in the engine bay)

On an auto/S-tronic it's completely unnecessary IMHO. Mine doesn't have it and it doesn't drop back on hill starts as there is sufficient time where it holds itself between releasing the brake and applying the throttle to hold it.

As for stop/start, I re-coded mine to 'remember' it's last state so that it will stay off if I switch it off because it's bloody annoying especially on an auto.

[Adrian E]

I haven’t retrofitted it on mine, as agree it’s not needed. Only benefit I see to it is not blinding those sitting behind you in a traffic jam, as you can take your foot off the brake and brake lights extinguish. Sometimes on a really steep hill from a standing start the car will creep the wrong way before the clutch catches up. I tend to rely on the parking brake auto release when your seatbelt is on, for those rare events (MIL drive is very steep)

[RoVoFob]

mrdanbartlett said:

Personal opinion, if you can wait for the right car then do it, with my latest car I waited probably 8 months to find the right one, spec wise, condition and price. I'm so glad I did now as in the past I've caved in early and ended up wishing I had waited for the right car.

It WILL appear, especially if you are keeping tabs everywhere and ok to travel (I went to Scotland from Essex for my S4). Keep tabs on the usual sites but also if you have facebook maybe there is an owners group where you could say hello and that you are looking to buy, sometimes there are people who are a bit reluctant to sell privtely but might if there seems a nice and genuine buyer rather than them having to go into the scam-land of the usuall AT etc.

Thanks. I’m sure that’s good advice. I have no deadline, just impatient after having worked through three S4 substitutes in the last 21 months or so. The risk for me is that I find a decent version of something else and buy that

My list of places to look includes a Facebook S4 group and four Audi owners’ groups, so hopefully that should cover most bases outside of AT, PH etc. Think I will put up wanted adverts everywhere I can and cross my fingers…

[RoVoFob]

silentbrown said:

IIRC only Black Edition cars have the 'idiotic' steering wheel as standard. Mine certainly doesn't!

Not sure about stop start. I think only later facelifts have it.

That’s good. Hate non-circular steering wheels as much as having four out-of-shape wheels on the car.

[DonkeyApple]

RoVoFob said:

Interesting to hear. This is why I was so disappointed when the two-owner one I was watching sold. Looked very well cared for AND the spec was perfect for me, which is a rare thing.

In theory, I could wait until January until buying (not sure my patience will last, but have no immediate need to replace my previous Audi, as I have another car), but after cycling through five ‘second’ cars that I’ve had for less than six months each, I’d like an S4/S5 keeper.

Otherwise, I’ll keep buying the best looked after car that pops up when I’m looking that meets my broad criteria - whether it’s something sensible like a Lexus RX400h or less sensible like a 2001 BMW 530i Touring. This is how I ended up with a second A6 4.2 V8…

My gut feeling is that cars like these that cost an abnormal amount to run will continue to depreciate and at a quicker rate meaning the longer you can wait the more choice you will have. I was really surprised just how ratty all the stock was under the skin when buying mine.

[ninjag]

RoVoFob said:

That’s good. Hate non-circular steering wheels as much as having four out-of-shape wheels on the car.

I never liked the look of them either and always wondering how much it would affect going to full lock, but it doesn't bother me now.

Mind, if looking at pre-facelift then I'm sure the DSG went through an update or two. If so, worth checking as I think earlier ones had mechatronics issues to the temperature sensor or something. Can't quite remember exactly.

[RoVoFob]

DonkeyApple said:

My gut feeling is that cars like these that cost an abnormal amount to run will continue to depreciate and at a quicker rate meaning the longer you can wait the more choice you will have. I was really surprised just how ratty all the stock was under the skin when buying mine.

Well, judging by how difficult it was to sell a very tidy £6,000 A6 4.2 with £695 road tax over the last four months, I’m sure perceived running costs are offputting for many drivers. Thought the tax was the main problem, though, and that S4s (S tronic ones, at least) would be less affected. Maybe not…

Yes, many S4s look pretty ropey, even from the pictures, whether they’re dealer or private sales. Other ones look outwardly alright and then you find they’re salvaged cars, including one where the history check showed it parked with the doors open in the rain in the salvage yard, with a thoroughly soggy interior, which could hide all sorts of hard-to-trace electrical problems.

It’s not like they’re cheap either…Wait, it is.

[RoVoFob]

ninjag said:

I never liked the look of them either and always wondering how much it would affect going to full lock, but it doesn't bother me now.

Mind, if looking at pre-facelift then I'm sure the DSG went through an update or two. If so, worth checking as I think earlier ones had mechatronics issues to the temperature sensor or something. Can't quite remember exactly.

Yes, my understanding from this thread is that late 2010 and 2011 should be safer to begin with. My previous DSG Passat R36 had had a new gearbox previously and that was pretty pricey even years ago. Don’t fancy a similar bill on an S4…