Picked up the S8
Discussion
Well, thanks everyone for successfully dissuading me. Not. I picked it up yesterday, drove it back from Leeds to Manchester, went to see my girlfriend, had a run out and scared the bejesus out of her. It's already done 90 miles and drunk about £25 worth of petrol in 24 hours.
Good stuff: It's like driving the Starship Enterprise. Relentless power and speed, with more technology than CERN. It's a completely different experience to the S-Max - lower and more snug, but very comfortable. The quality of all the controls and displays is unlike anything I've experienced before. I'm really still only scratching the surface. I'm very, very pleased with it.
I find myself mostly driving it in a gentlemanly manner. I was worried that it'd make me a hooligan, but it encourages civility. I want to be the nice Audi driver that everyone remembers.
Bad stuff: surprisingly quite a bit:
If I can get that bad stuff clarified and/or fixed, I will be one happy camper indeed!
Good stuff: It's like driving the Starship Enterprise. Relentless power and speed, with more technology than CERN. It's a completely different experience to the S-Max - lower and more snug, but very comfortable. The quality of all the controls and displays is unlike anything I've experienced before. I'm really still only scratching the surface. I'm very, very pleased with it.
I find myself mostly driving it in a gentlemanly manner. I was worried that it'd make me a hooligan, but it encourages civility. I want to be the nice Audi driver that everyone remembers.
Bad stuff: surprisingly quite a bit:
- Slight rumbling sound on 80% or more steering lock - I assume this is the massive wheels and tyres rubbing inside the arches?
- Driver side soft-close doors don't seem to work. Is this likely to be expensive?
- Took me ages to work out the Bluetooth pairing, and it isn't importing my contacts from my Nokia 1520. Also, the cable seems to be for a 90 year old iPhone, and there's a mahoosive cradle (with no handset) in the centre cubbyhole. Is the cradle removable, and can you fit a different cable?
- Occasional feeling of "bumpiness" through the wheel at 70ish MPH - wonder if I need the balance and alignment checking.
- The car says "Service!" on startup, despite the dealer having supposedly serviced it. I'll speak to them about this later in the week
If I can get that bad stuff clarified and/or fixed, I will be one happy camper indeed!
Edited by Witchfinder on Wednesday 18th March 12:27
The bumpiness is likely to be the size of the wheels and the suspension setup, my S4 did it as well as my current A6 (on 20"), RS4's do it also, it sort of feels like the front wheel are scrubbing...all normal.
With regards the service the dealer (if not Audi) might not have the facility to reset it, if you happy they have actually done it anyone with a VCDS tool can reset it for you (I'm Solihull if you're local)...5min job...can also do a scan of the relevant ECU's for any faults logged.
The unlabelled button could be a switch to disable the interior alarm sensors.
Enjoy!!
With regards the service the dealer (if not Audi) might not have the facility to reset it, if you happy they have actually done it anyone with a VCDS tool can reset it for you (I'm Solihull if you're local)...5min job...can also do a scan of the relevant ECU's for any faults logged.
The unlabelled button could be a switch to disable the interior alarm sensors.
Enjoy!!
Witchfinder said:
Bad stuff: surprisingly quite a bit:
- Slight rumbling sound on 80% or more steering lock - I assume this is the massive wheels and tyres rubbing inside the arches?
- Driver side soft-close doors don't seem to work. Is this likely to be expensive?
- Took me ages to work out the Bluetooth pairing, and it isn't importing my contacts from my Nokia 1520. Also, the cable seems to be for a 90 year old iPhone, and there's a mahoosive cradle (with no handset) in the centre cubbyhole. Is the cradle removable, and can you fit a different cable?
- Occasional feeling of "bumpiness" through the wheel at 70ish MPH - wonder if I need the balance and alignment checking.
- The car says "Service!" on startup, despite the dealer having supposedly serviced it. I'll speak to them about this later in the week
- The slight rumbling - mine does this. Either rubbing or some noise through the PAS. My older shaper A8 used to have it too, and I am pretty sure my 996 had as well. Not bovvered, personally.
- Dunno about this. I have heard that they go after a while. I must admit that I find the soft close doors one of the most useless features I have come across on a car. I probably remember to use it about 1 in 20 times.
- Bluetooth. The cradle can be removed and replaced - there are contact points which will be revealed when you remove it. Latching your phone into the cradle allows the phone to use the car's phone aerial for better reception; charges the phone; and talks to the MMI using "wired bluetooth" (I kid you not). I use wireless BT though, with an iphone.
- Not had bumpiness.
- Should be able to get "service" reset easily enough.
- post a pic of the unlabelled switch. Doesn't ring a bell.
- the box on the rear parcel shelf might be a secondary GPS antenna. On my D2 the GPS antenna (a hockey puck on the boot lid died. Replacement is expensive, because it has to be painted, and the part isn't cheap. I did a self fix with an antenna from ebay which I set up under the dash (to give line of sight to the sky through the windscreen. Could be that the cable to the shark fin has been diverted to the parcel shelf for a new GPS antenna in yours.
Tom8 said:
Is yours standard exhaust? Always a bit disappointing!
It's plenty loud enough for me!Greg66 said:
- The slight rumbling - mine does this. Either rubbing or some noise through the PAS. My older shaper A8 used to have it too, and I am pretty sure my 996 had as well. Not bovvered, personally.
- Dunno about this. I have heard that they go after a while. I must admit that I find the soft close doors one of the most useless features I have come across on a car. I probably remember to use it about 1 in 20 times.
- Bluetooth. The cradle can be removed and replaced - there are contact points which will be revealed when you remove it. Latching your phone into the cradle allows the phone to use the car's phone aerial for better reception; charges the phone; and talks to the MMI using "wired bluetooth" (I kid you not). I use wireless BT though, with an iphone.
- Not had bumpiness.
- Should be able to get "service" reset easily enough.
- post a pic of the unlabelled switch. Doesn't ring a bell.
- the box on the rear parcel shelf might be a secondary GPS antenna. On my D2 the GPS antenna (a hockey puck on the boot lid died. Replacement is expensive, because it has to be painted, and the part isn't cheap. I did a self fix with an antenna from ebay which I set up under the dash (to give line of sight to the sky through the windscreen. Could be that the cable to the shark fin has been diverted to the parcel shelf for a new GPS antenna in yours.
Is the cradle removal a DIY job? Presumably you can just replace it with an empty tray from a car that doesn't have the phone preparation? Would I be able to wire USB micro up to the contacts, or am I on a hiding to nothing?
This is the switch. No idea what it does:
This is the little box. I suspect you may be right, or I wonder if it's a bluetooth receiver wired into the AV, that seems to be a popular modification. I'll check the wiring.
Thanks everyone!
Edited by Witchfinder on Wednesday 18th March 20:54
Yes, that switch is definitely not OEM. I wondered about speeding kit (mine had a radar and laser jammer fitted!). Have a look around the grills at the front, esp the lower ones, for anything that has been fitted behind them.
Dunno about the thing on the parcel shelf. Any manufacturer's marks on it?
Removing the existing phone cradle is a DIY job. It reveals a mounting plate:
I'm not sure I would fancy wiring something into the cradle myself though!
Dunno about the thing on the parcel shelf. Any manufacturer's marks on it?
Removing the existing phone cradle is a DIY job. It reveals a mounting plate:
I'm not sure I would fancy wiring something into the cradle myself though!
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 19th March 08:15
Greg66 said:
Removing the existing phone cradle is a DIY job. It reveals a mounting plate:
Aha, I pulled the cradle out just fine, thanks! There's a cable in there that runs into the centre console, with an iPod/iPhone 30-pin connector on the end. Is this something I should be able to just buy a replacement for so I can plug in my new iPod or phone?Slight rumbling sound on 80% or more steering lock - I assume this is the massive wheels and tyres rubbing inside the arches?
Driver side soft-close doors don't seem to work. Is this likely to be expensive?
Took me ages to work out the Bluetooth pairing, and it isn't importing my contacts from my Nokia 1520. Also, the cable seems to be for a 90 year old iPhone, and there's a mahoosive cradle (with no handset) in the centre cubbyhole. Is the cradle removable, and can you fit a different cable?
Occasional feeling of "bumpiness" through the wheel at 70ish MPH - wonder if I need the balance and alignment checking.
The car says "Service!" on startup, despite the dealer having supposedly serviced it. I'll speak to them about this later in the week
The slight rummbling on more than 80% lock is the diffs working, mine does it too even thought it's a 08 face lift when they altered the torque bias, I thought it was a CV joint or something prop related but there is nothing worn external, it's not tyre related either as I swapped back to the proper 20" with new michelins, still did it.
Pay for the Geo to be totally checked by some one that has something like the Hawk system, out even a little bit and they eat tyres and upset the balance.
To the rest make friends with some one that has VAG-COM/ Ross-tec STAY AWAY FROM MAIN DEALERS it will save you hundreds, no thousands!!! and make sure the inlet manifold flaps have been checked, a bit of a pain to do as the manifold has to come off but worth it caused when they brake/wear and they do, bits go into the engine, plus it will need the inlet tracks to the valve tops decoking too, ALL FSI engines do this, its a bad breather design.
Don't forget that the air suspension defaults to low and stiff over I think 100 KPH 62MPH even if you select comfort ride.
As most of us say and think, they are an epic motor car.
Driver side soft-close doors don't seem to work. Is this likely to be expensive?
Took me ages to work out the Bluetooth pairing, and it isn't importing my contacts from my Nokia 1520. Also, the cable seems to be for a 90 year old iPhone, and there's a mahoosive cradle (with no handset) in the centre cubbyhole. Is the cradle removable, and can you fit a different cable?
Occasional feeling of "bumpiness" through the wheel at 70ish MPH - wonder if I need the balance and alignment checking.
The car says "Service!" on startup, despite the dealer having supposedly serviced it. I'll speak to them about this later in the week
The slight rummbling on more than 80% lock is the diffs working, mine does it too even thought it's a 08 face lift when they altered the torque bias, I thought it was a CV joint or something prop related but there is nothing worn external, it's not tyre related either as I swapped back to the proper 20" with new michelins, still did it.
Pay for the Geo to be totally checked by some one that has something like the Hawk system, out even a little bit and they eat tyres and upset the balance.
To the rest make friends with some one that has VAG-COM/ Ross-tec STAY AWAY FROM MAIN DEALERS it will save you hundreds, no thousands!!! and make sure the inlet manifold flaps have been checked, a bit of a pain to do as the manifold has to come off but worth it caused when they brake/wear and they do, bits go into the engine, plus it will need the inlet tracks to the valve tops decoking too, ALL FSI engines do this, its a bad breather design.
Don't forget that the air suspension defaults to low and stiff over I think 100 KPH 62MPH even if you select comfort ride.
As most of us say and think, they are an epic motor car.
Witchfinder said:
Aha, I pulled the cradle out just fine, thanks! There's a cable in there that runs into the centre console, with an iPod/iPhone 30-pin connector on the end. Is this something I should be able to just buy a replacement for so I can plug in my new iPod or phone?
That's a bit odd - in that you shouldn't need an iphone cable there to use an iphone. You just buy the iphone cradle and click it into place. It is possible that it is a mod which will enable you to play music from your iphone through the MMI. I have a similar set up - an additional cable emerging from the centre console which is a 3.5mm headphone jack. Means I can plug my iphone in there and play music (Spotify over 3G), rather than have the AMI in the glovebox.
To test, connect an ipod/iphone that is 30 pin compatible, and play around with the CD/TV button to see whether an AUX input picks up what your iphone is playing.
Back to your question:
- I would likely as not just buy a 30pin to lightning adapter and stick that on the end of the cable you have, then work out what that cable you have does.
- Your iphone should still work over wireless bluetooth in the car if it is an audio input.
- You could also buy the iphone cradle to get wired bluetooth and charging for your iphone.
OK, some more great info, thanks everyone.
I'll get the alignment checked as soon as I can, and I'll check the tyres for uneven wear. Good to hear that the rumbling isn't anything to be worried about!
The phone cable looks aftermarket - I think a hole has been drilled, and the cable fed through the edge of the storage box into the centre console. I'll get an adapter and see if it works with my iPod. If it does, then I'll be able to play Spotify in the car - bonus!
I weighed up cradles - I might get one next month. £120 seems a bit steep to just charge your phone and have it connect to the car's antenna. In any case, the phone still doesn't seem to be synching my contacts over bluetooth, even though it pairs correctly, and gets my recent call list and suchlike. Slightly annoying.
This is the cubby with the cradle removed, showing the cable
I'll get the alignment checked as soon as I can, and I'll check the tyres for uneven wear. Good to hear that the rumbling isn't anything to be worried about!
The phone cable looks aftermarket - I think a hole has been drilled, and the cable fed through the edge of the storage box into the centre console. I'll get an adapter and see if it works with my iPod. If it does, then I'll be able to play Spotify in the car - bonus!
I weighed up cradles - I might get one next month. £120 seems a bit steep to just charge your phone and have it connect to the car's antenna. In any case, the phone still doesn't seem to be synching my contacts over bluetooth, even though it pairs correctly, and gets my recent call list and suchlike. Slightly annoying.
This is the cubby with the cradle removed, showing the cable
Edited by Witchfinder on Friday 20th March 12:19
One week in, and still very happy indeed! Not quite as miffed about the soft close doors any more, maybe I'll get them sorted in a couple of months. The bubbling paint is a pain - I wonder if over-aggressive polishing might have caused it. Contacts still won't sync, but I'll just have to live with that until I change my phone I guess.
I'm going to fill the thirsty beast up with fuel later. Does everyone run their S8 on 98 RON?
Incidentally, it's averaged 19.5 MPG so far. That's a mix of town and motorway driving. I stick to 70 on the motorways, but like to blast up the sliproads, so I do put my foot down occasionally. It's not as terrifyingly thirsty as I'd feared, and only 6 MPG down on my S-Max
I'm going to fill the thirsty beast up with fuel later. Does everyone run their S8 on 98 RON?
Incidentally, it's averaged 19.5 MPG so far. That's a mix of town and motorway driving. I stick to 70 on the motorways, but like to blast up the sliproads, so I do put my foot down occasionally. It's not as terrifyingly thirsty as I'd feared, and only 6 MPG down on my S-Max
Edited by Witchfinder on Wednesday 25th March 22:12
Bubbling paint? Whereabouts? Alu bodywork can rust, but unlike steel alu oxide is inert so forms its own protective layer. So it doesn't tend to spread catastrophically like steel. More like glacial progress.
I sometimes use 98 ron and sometimes regular. Doesn't seem to mind either way.
For various reasons I've been driving into work the last week or so and playing with the paddles a bit. Quite a violent pullaway in 1 if you stamp the gas, and you have to be quick to shift up - not ideal if your turning a corner and "lose" the paddle! Also quite good sport for getting the engine into the higher revs, as toddling around doesn't come close to that.
I sometimes use 98 ron and sometimes regular. Doesn't seem to mind either way.
For various reasons I've been driving into work the last week or so and playing with the paddles a bit. Quite a violent pullaway in 1 if you stamp the gas, and you have to be quick to shift up - not ideal if your turning a corner and "lose" the paddle! Also quite good sport for getting the engine into the higher revs, as toddling around doesn't come close to that.
Greg66 said:
Bubbling paint? Whereabouts? Alu bodywork can rust, but unlike steel alu oxide is inert so forms its own protective layer. So it doesn't tend to spread catastrophically like steel. More like glacial progress.
Some on the boot lid near the handle, some mid-panel on the lower driver-side front door, and yet more on the forward edge of the driver-side rear door. There's a little on the side trim, but I suspect that's where it's been bumped into objects, so not worried about that.I might treat it to a tank of Tesco's Finest* and see how it likes that.
Witchfinder said:
One week in, and still very happy indeed! Not quite as miffed about the soft close doors any more, maybe I'll get them sorted in a couple of months. The bubbling paint is a pain - I wonder if over-aggressive polishing might have caused it. Contacts still won't sync, but I'll just have to live with that until I change my phone I guess.
I'm going to fill the thirsty beast up with fuel later. Does everyone run their S8 on 98 RON?
Only ever super. Handbook says only small amount of the cheap stuff if an emergency.I'm going to fill the thirsty beast up with fuel later. Does everyone run their S8 on 98 RON?
I'm beginning to think that the switch might be related to an aftermarket towing kit. I can't see any towbar prep under the car, but yesterday whilst driving home in heavy fog, I noticed that the rear fog lights did not engage (and neither did the indicator light on the dash) when I pulled the switch. However, toggling the switch seems to make no difference to the lighting, but it does seem to make the ride at the rear end less "bumpy." I assume that towing on an A8 would require the air suspension to be set into a specific towing mode?
Really vexxed now, and slightly annoyed. The rear foglights not working is a safety issue - there is no bulb warning, so I can only assume they're disabled somehow. If it is aftermarket, I can't really make a warranty claim for it, but I don't fancy being out of pocket for getting it fixed. Any suggestions?
Really vexxed now, and slightly annoyed. The rear foglights not working is a safety issue - there is no bulb warning, so I can only assume they're disabled somehow. If it is aftermarket, I can't really make a warranty claim for it, but I don't fancy being out of pocket for getting it fixed. Any suggestions?
Witchfinder said:
This is the switch. No idea what it does:
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