B8 S4 Ownership

[catso]

Adrian E said:

I tend to rely on the parking brake auto release when your seatbelt is on

The seatbelt on requirement can easily be coded out so that it just releases regardless, something I find useful when reversing out of my garage.

As for the flat-bottomed steering wheel, mine has it and whilst I'm not a fan, really don't see the point? I've not noticed any issues in use with it, would have preferred a round one though.

As for spec, I'm not convinced the sports diff is of any importance to most? I've certainly never felt mine was lacking through not having it but I do like the heated seats, B&O music and the pano roof that mine's got. The ride is a tad harsh though which maybe due to the 19" wheels so maybe 18" are better?

[ninjag]

I didn't realise the pre-facelift were so expensive with road tax. Would it be worth doing a bit of budget creep to get into a facelift and only £375 road tax?

If you don't mind higher miles then you can even get a 2015 with the CREC engine for £12,950 at the moment, which is only £320 road tax per year, plus it has dual injection so no carbon problems.

[Adrian E]

ninjag said:

I didn't realise the pre-facelift were so expensive with road tax. Would it be worth doing a bit of budget creep to get into a facelift and only £375 road tax?

It’s only manual avants that attract the top rate of VED for the time - and they sold in tiny numbers new by that point. Stronic ones are fine. Mine was £360 when last renewed

[RoVoFob]

catso said:

As for spec, I'm not convinced the sports diff is of any importance to most? I've certainly never felt mine was lacking through not having it but I do like the heated seats, B&O music and the pano roof that mine's got. The ride is a tad harsh though which maybe due to the 19" wheels so maybe 18" are better?

I’d really like the diff, but I suppose it’s not essential. Having swapped 19s for 18s on my A6 - saving more than 5kg per corner - I’m definitely a fan of smaller wheels. They look better to me and suit most cars better for British roads.

At least that’s an easy thing to sort out yourself, so don’t need to worry about wheels too much as long as the ones on the car aren’t trashed.

[ninjag]

Adrian E said:

It’s only manual avants that attract the top rate of VED for the time - and they sold in tiny numbers new by that point. Stronic ones are fine. Mine was £360 when last renewed

I never even noticed that it was just the manuals!

[AshyS4]

Was thinking about selling but decided i'm just going to keep it as money on WBAC etc was garbage

So just had 4 new Eagle F1 Assy 6 fitted along with full MEYLE HD front end arms as I was getting some clunking, also had 2 brand new Audi Hub / uprights. feels like a brand new car - not bad for 155000 miles

[RoVoFob]

AshyS4 said:

Was thinking about selling but decided i'm just going to keep it as money on WBAC etc was garbage

So just had 4 new Eagle F1 Assy 6 fitted along with full MEYLE HD front end arms as I was getting some clunking, also had 2 brand new Audi Hub / uprights. feels like a brand new car - not bad for 155000 miles

Selling a car isn’t just about WBAC. What’s the spec/history? I’m sure there are people here who may be interested if it’s the right car for them

[AshyS4]

RoVoFob said:

Selling a car isn’t just about WBAC. What’s the spec/history? I’m sure there are people here who may be interested if it’s the right car for them

I'm the 3rd owner, 1s't being Audi and 2n'd being the person I bought it from, last owner 10 years and FULL Service History with everything done.
High mileage due to being used for Switzerland trips twice a year, this was evident from the 10 years worth of Toll stickers in the window when I bought it.

155k

Supersport Seats
Carbon Pack
Unicorn Motor Developments Stage 1 Engine and Gearbox Map - 430BHP
Brand new Eagle F1s
Brand new complete front end suspension arms - Meyle HD
Navigation and Bluetooth Music
New battery as original was still installed


Thats about it to be honest, I've had it 18 months and its been flawless

Edited by AshyS4 on Thursday 10th August 15:09

[RoVoFob]

Went to look at this earlier:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306078...

Saw that it had B&O speakers plus the sports diff, dynamic steering and adaptive suspension - none of which were mentioned in the advert.

Also had pretty mediocre bodywork with paintwork that didn’t look great, two or three different types of tyre, an electronic handbrake fault and a gearbox that didn’t feel quite right to me. Drove nicely but felt a little slack.

Can’t believe that this is the typical calibre of an £11k pre-facelift S4…

[RoVoFob]

AshyS4 said:

Supersport Seats
Carbon Pack
Unicorn Motor Developments Stage 1 Engine and Gearbox Map - 430BHP
Brand new Eagle F1s
Brand new complete front end suspension arms - Meyle HD
Navigation and Bluetooth Music
New battery as original was still installed

Edited by AshyS4 on Thursday 10th August 15:09

I take it this is an S tronic if it has a gearbox map. Does it have any of the following, as I imagine spec will affect how much interest there is from private buyers - especially with a higher-mileage car?:

B&O speakers, Drive Select, DAB, AMI, panoramic roof etc…

[AshyS4]

RoVoFob said:

I take it this is an S tronic if it has a gearbox map. Does it have any of the following, as I imagine spec will affect how much interest there is from private buyers - especially with a higher-mileage car?:

B&O speakers, Drive Select, DAB, AMI, panoramic roof etc…

Zero of the above although I use tune 2 air for Bluetooth streaming, so I guess it does have Ami

[Searider]

It’s a strange model to price - especially when considering spec.

There will be those who want all the spec - who maybe aren’t aware of the costs and possible faults with the S-Tronic gearbox and sports diff.
Some will want the s-tronic as it’s quicker than the manual and more “modern”.

Others will see the high spec as simply lots to go wrong!

For me it had to be a manual Avant, not black, had to have Bluetooth and preferably colour satnav.
All the spec over an above this I saw as potential costly maintenance or repairs.

I found one on here, kept it a couple of years and sold it on here.

Sprint blue manual Avant, 19” peelers, Bluetooth, colour satnav, black leather and owned by a lovely chap in Suffolk called Paul! Bought it unseen.

[HiAsAKite]

Searider said:

It’s a strange model to price - especially when considering spec.

There will be those who want all the spec - who maybe aren’t aware of the costs and possible faults with the S-Tronic gearbox and sports diff.
Some will want the s-tronic as it’s quicker than the manual and more “modern”.

Others will see the high spec as simply lots to go wrong!

For me it had to be a manual Avant, not black, had to have Bluetooth and preferably colour satnav.
All the spec over an above this I saw as potential costly maintenance or repairs.

I found one on here, kept it a couple of years and sold it on here.

Sprint blue manual Avant, 19” peelers, Bluetooth, colour satnav, black leather and owned by a lovely chap in Suffolk called Paul! Bought it unseen.

And said car is stil going very strong, bought for pretty much the reasons as you did..

Edited by HiAsAKite on Saturday 12th August 15:57

[ninjag]

Miner has no heated seats, no sunroof, no folding mirrors, no keyless entry, no adaptive cruise, no drive select, no sports diff, no reversing camera and no problems!

I would have liked adaptive cruise though.

[Easternlight]

HiAsAKite said:

Searider said:

It’s a strange model to price - especially when considering spec.

There will be those who want all the spec - who maybe aren’t aware of the costs and possible faults with the S-Tronic gearbox and sports diff.
Some will want the s-tronic as it’s quicker than the manual and more “modern”.

Others will see the high spec as simply lots to go wrong!

For me it had to be a manual Avant, not black, had to have Bluetooth and preferably colour satnav.
All the spec over an above this I saw as potential costly maintenance or repairs.

I found one on here, kept it a couple of years and sold it on here.

Sprint blue manual Avant, 19” peelers, Bluetooth, colour satnav, black leather and owned by a lovely chap in Suffolk called Paul! Bought it unseen.

And said car is stil going very strong, bought for pretty much the reasons as you did..

Edited by HiAsAKite on Saturday 12th August 15:57

I still miss that car every day.

[Gad-Westy]

ninjag said:

Miner has no heated seats, no sunroof, no folding mirrors, no keyless entry, no adaptive cruise, no drive select, no sports diff, no reversing camera and no problems!

I would have liked adaptive cruise though.

I have to say I hated adaptive cruise on ours. Was good on busy A-roads when you had no chance to overtake but I found it a disaster on motorways. I’d have probably liked it if you could switch between dumb and adaptive. It’s also worth mentioning that the radar needs to be recalibrated if the front bumper is removed and my local dealer quoted up to £1k to do so. Independents are much cheaper but it was still £300+. For me the only must have options are heated seats and b&o. Bluetooth and nav etc are far better dealt with by modern CarPlay alternatives.

[Raddors]

I've got mine going in for a service and thorough health check next week. Going to look at walnut blasting if necessary, has anyone had this done on the B8? Good results?

[RoVoFob]

There’s still life in the S4/S5 market: this ad was published yesterday afternoon and the car was reserved/sold this morning.

Yes, this is an unusually low-mileage model from an Audi dealer but the first two services were notably late (two years and eight months for the first one and then three years and three months later for the second), which would have given me pause for thought…

[ninjag]

Gad-Westy said:

ninjag said:

Miner has no heated seats, no sunroof, no folding mirrors, no keyless entry, no adaptive cruise, no drive select, no sports diff, no reversing camera and no problems!

I would have liked adaptive cruise though.

I have to say I hated adaptive cruise on ours. Was good on busy A-roads when you had no chance to overtake but I found it a disaster on motorways. I’d have probably liked it if you could switch between dumb and adaptive. It’s also worth mentioning that the radar needs to be recalibrated if the front bumper is removed and my local dealer quoted up to £1k to do so. Independents are much cheaper but it was still £300+. For me the only must have options are heated seats and b&o. Bluetooth and nav etc are far better dealt with by modern CarPlay alternatives.

That's good to know and makes me feel a little better lol

I've got B&O (Black Edition) which was a deal breaker for me because after having the top Meridian sound system in my previous Jag I couldn't be having a bad one.

My seats are leather on the outer parts and Alcantara on the inner, so don't really get all that cold which is handy. I don't both with the nav and just use my phone, but the Bluetooth is pretty good on mine?

[RoVoFob]

I’m booked in to see a 2011 S5 Sportback over the weekend. Are there any S5-specific issues to watch out for?

I’m assuming the typical issues are the same (with on-time S tronic and Quattro servicing being important), though I understand from this thread that gearboxes are more robust than with pre-facelift S4s. Have I got that all right? Thanks.