RE: Audi S8 (D3) | The Brave Pill

[BIRMA]

Welshbeef said:

Surely if you had a minor oil leak but the cost to fix was £3k and it’s a “cheap” car you simply keep topping up the oil unless it’s gushing out.

I have no idea as to what amount of oil leaks out, I take your point but it put me off. As someone above has posted and I did initially post the hot V V8 car that followed had a superb engine and a gearbox to match, but due to a change in my business needs despite the later cars being a good secondhand/end of lease buy I didn't go ahead.

[Krikkit]

jase_llan said:

MikeM6 said:

Whilst the 5.0 V10 used in the 1st Gen Gallardo was a Lamborghini engine through and through, I think the later 5.2 used in the 2nd Gen Gallardo, R8 V10, the S6 and S8 are basically the same save for minor differences such as mapping etc.

So would it be more accurate to say that the Lamborghini uses an Audi engine?

I could be entirely wrong though haha

Pretty sure a recent PH post about a Gallardo said the same thing, and it is referred to in this article as well so I think that's the case.

This is correct- the 5.0 was the Lamborghini engine, although who designed it is another matter, as it was partly done while under Audi ownership.

The 5.0 has an 88mm bore spacing, Audi wanted to use their own production facilities, so developed a 90mm bore spaced version which became the 5.2. This replaced the Lamborghini one when they updated the Gallardo and was used in the R8, S8 etc.

[Augustus Windsock]

Helicopter123 said:

Augustus Windsock said:

The guy who owns the chip shop down the road from me owns one
Nuff said....

Does he swear he's Elvis by chance?

Well, he’s a liar and I’m not sure about you..🤣

Just checked the MOT of my greasy chippys car and it had done 132k when MOT’d in May, an average of 11k a year (obviously more in its formative years I’d suggest) and must have had some serious dish thrown at it over the years
It’s had a clean MOT history for the last few years, only failing in 2017 on arb bushes and thin rear brake pads iirc
Bizarrely the government MOT site lists it as a diesel (and I bet Chippy Dave wishes it was)

[TheAngryDog]

I like these, considered one when I was coming to replace my E39 M5, was almost sold on starting to view, but realised that I couldn't afford the maintenance. I still can't afford the maintenance, despite owning an E60 M5 that cost me £13k earlier this year to fix

The 4.0 V8 BiTurbo looks a much better buy and prices are still dropping.

[Chestrockwell]

I must be the only person that this car doesn’t appeal to.

Correct me if I’m wrong as I haven’t driven or been in one but surely a car like the A8 is about wafting and a high revving NA V10 is the opposite of that.

If I’m going to buy a barge like this, I’d want low down torque and I imagine this is why they didn’t sell a lot of these and sold a lot more of the following generation twin turbo V8 S8’s.

If I had the choice between this and a 4.2 TDI, I’d honestly go for the diesel, even if it’s free, it would be wrong to waste so much money on fuel in such a big heavy car that probably isn’t that quick by today’s standards!

I just can’t believe that’s 7 grand, I remember watching transporter 2 or 3 it was with Jason Statham like it was yesterday with my dad.

13 years later, it’s 7 grand, wow

[MadDog1962]

I'd want this thing independently inspected by an Audi specialist for it to merit worthwhile consideration. That would include a comprehensive OBD2 scan and putting the car up on a lift.

Magnificent machine though it undoubtedly is, it's 13 years old with over 150,000 miles, and offered without a documented service history. Even if it came back with a clean bill of health from a proper inspection, I'd be offering something a bit less than what's being asked.

Nice though!

[1781cc]

I used to own the Silver S8 that was featured on pistonheads 3 times, it was a great car and I only sold it because of the mileage I was doing for work made it far from cost effective. I had the car two years and largely didn't have any problems with it, it was fast (a hell of a lot faster after the carbon clean,., inlet flap delete and millltek with a proven dyno at 487bhp after VRS did their thing - the car was 100bhp down before we started, much like the RS4 B7s)

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general/audi-s8-v...

https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/au...

I'd happily have another one, as a fast, luxurious A/M road crusher its perfect but can hustle on B roads when required but not its best playground.

With any S8 I would recommend getting an AA inspection prior to purchase, I did it with mine and it was a thorough 24 page document, very reassuring. If you could get this for £6-£6.5K I think it'd be a good buy as long as theres evidence of the gearbox oil being done correctly by Mackies or Unit 20/VRS/MRC. If not it'd be worth doing, then the power steering pump and air compressor for the suspension a decoke/flap delete and a decent set of tyres - all in that would set you back about £3K or considerably less if you are handy with spanners (the steering pump can be accessed thought the N/S wheel well.

You could easily get another 100K+ miles out of that car maintained correctly.

The B&O is sublime by the way, best audio in a car I've ever heard.

To anyone considering an S8, join the A8forum and buy VCDS, both helped me massively and saved a ton of money.

As for the comment about the newer S8, yes they are better, but factor in £6K for replacement turbos - which will go during your ownership.

Edited by 1781cc on Sunday 8th December 06:01

[FlukePlay]

That's the cheapest way into V10 ownership. Somebody is about to have a lot of fun

[Welshbeef]

Unless the version I drove had the coke issue mentioned above I didn’t find it very fast at all.

[BIRMA]

1781cc said:

I used to own the Silver S8 that was featured on pistonheads 3 times, it was a great car and I only sold it because of the mileage I was doing for work made it far from cost effective. I had the car two years and largely didn't have any problems with it, it was fast (a hell of a lot faster after the carbon clean,., inlet flap delete and millltek with a proven dyno at 487bhp after VRS did their thing - the car was 100bhp down before we started, much like the RS4 B7s)

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general/audi-s8-v...

https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/au...

I'd happily have another one, as a fast, luxurious A/M road crusher its perfect but can hustle on B roads when required but not its best playground.

With any S8 I would recommend getting an AA inspection prior to purchase, I did it with mine and it was a thorough 24 page document, very reassuring. If you could get this for £6-£6.5K I think it'd be a good buy as long as theres evidence of the gearbox oil being done correctly by Mackies or Unit 20/VRS/MRC. If not it'd be worth doing, then the power steering pump and air compressor for the suspension a decoke/flap delete and a decent set of tyres - all in that would set you back about £3K or considerably less if you are handy with spanners (the steering pump can be accessed thought the N/S wheel well.

You could easily get another 100K+ miles out of that car maintained correctly.

The B&O is sublime by the way, best audio in a car I've ever heard.

To anyone considering an S8, join the A8forum and buy VCDS, both helped me massively and saved a ton of money.

As for the comment about the newer S8, yes they are better, but factor in £6K for replacement turbos - which will go during your ownership.

Edited by 1781cc on Sunday 8th December 06:01

An excellent summarizing from an actual owner, the only real way to get an idea of ownership, thanks. Your last comment about the later S8 rang some alarm bells that I sort of had a feeling could be the Achilles Heel of the hot V design after a decent mileage were the turbos. Have there been many reported incidents?

[dvs_dave]

BIRMA said:

An excellent summarizing from an actual owner, the only real way to get an idea of ownership, thanks. Your last comment about the later S8 rang some alarm bells that I sort of had a feeling could be the Achilles Heel of the hot V design after a decent mileage were the turbos. Have there been many reported incidents?

With earlier cars, yes. Problem is a mesh gauze filter in the turbo’s oil supply lines can get clogged, starving the turbos of oil. Pop go the turbos.

The issue was fixed with updated parts, so not an issue with later cars, or ones that have been repaired.

[BIRMA]

dvs_dave said:

With earlier cars, yes. Problem is a mesh gauze filter in the turbo’s oil supply lines can get clogged, starving the turbos of oil. Pop go the turbos.

The issue was fixed with updated parts, so not an issue with later cars, or ones that have been repaired.

Thanks, always good to know. I always thought the hot V was a good idea but did wonder about heat soak around the V over the long term.

[EarlOfHazard]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

This example is just under £6k and has fewer miles(if correct). But eml light is on..

[anonymous-user]

EarlOfHazard said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

This example is just under £6k and has fewer miles(if correct). But eml light is on..

I’d check that one for front end damage too. The front fogs are the rectangular design that came in with the facelift in 2008. The rear lights are the pre facelift type which are the correct ones for this car’s year.

[RobEB]

lot of car for 7k, i find myself wondering exactly how much work the most recent inspection has identified. Or its next service schedule.
Are these engine out jobs for pumps, seals, plugs etc the kind of thing an independent garage would want to take on?

[dvs_dave]

BIRMA said:

dvs_dave said:

With earlier cars, yes. Problem is a mesh gauze filter in the turbo’s oil supply lines can get clogged, starving the turbos of oil. Pop go the turbos.

The issue was fixed with updated parts, so not an issue with later cars, or ones that have been repaired.

Thanks, always good to know. I always thought the hot V was a good idea but did wonder about heat soak around the V over the long term.

I don’t think heat soak is any particular problem with this design. It’s arguably less of one as the major heat source is contained well within the V, rather than blasting out into the engine bay either side by virtue of more pipe work and components involved with traditional setups.

[BIRMA]

RobEB said:

lot of car for 7k, i find myself wondering exactly how much work the most recent inspection has identified. Or its next service schedule.
Are these engine out jobs for pumps, seals, plugs etc the kind of thing an independent garage would want to take on?

It is indeed a lot of car for the money. I've been a fan of the idea of buying such cars and have myself ran one or two as a University Taxi for my daughter and general long distance cruiser. My philosophy has always been only spend what you can afford to throw away in the very worst scenario.
I bought a £10K V10 Phaeton and ran it for four years at very little cost. Like this car and bargain Bentleys it's as much luck as skill/judgement/research as anything.
My ownership experience of running such cars was one of great enjoyment, although after 4 years it went pop due to something very silly but I still managed to sell it to some gentleman for £2.5K cash and the car was off to Europe somewhere.
This car has carbon ceramic discs which may well be coming up for replacement if they haven't been replaced so expensive consumables like this make the bargain barge Russian Roulette just a tad more risky.

Edited by BIRMA on Monday 9th December 09:53

[soad]

There has to be a cheaper option to replace those brakes, surely? Makes no sense to spend that much.

[BIRMA]

soad said:

There has to be a cheaper option to replace those brakes, surely? Makes no sense to spend that much.

I expect Tarox do a conversion for it that utilise the existing callipers but it is a high quality product so won't be cheap, I did investigate this but have forgotten what I concluded. Either way with the cars performance you don't want to do cheap. I noticed the next generation cars were steel discs.

[1781cc]

You can retrofit steels, there is a "how to" on the a8forum. I specifically chose steel discs on my S8 when I went hunting, but people have gone backwards with great effect so to speak.