B8 S4 Ownership

[n12maser]

Great, thanks Adrian. How reliable do these cars tend to be - is an independent inspection a necessity if buying outside of the Audi network?

[Dr G]

If you're confident appraising a car for poor repairs, paint or faults then an S4 is no more difficult than any other car; reliability was pretty well sorted on late ones.

If it hasn't obviously been abused, thrashed, or parked up a tree and taped back together then you're simply checking the usual suspects.

At 40k miles it is important the gearbox oil is changed and spark plugs at the same time. The interval on the supercharger belt seems to have changed for later cars and now shows as 40k also (was 60k) but this is a cheap job. The engine itself uses a timing chain that gives no grief. If brakes and tyres stack up and it drives nice and straight you've very little to worry about.

To my mind these remain a 'high water mark' for S cars.

[n12maser]

Thanks Dr G, super helpful

[Rabond]

Also worth checking what the ongoing service schedule is too - not sure if the B8 is similar to the B9 but if it is there is a fairly hefty service around the 38k mark (£800!)

[bungle]

Anyone fitted an OEM exhaust in an Avant boot? (seats down).

[Dr G]

Rabond said:

Also worth checking what the ongoing service schedule is too - not sure if the B8 is similar to the B9 but if it is there is a fairly hefty service around the 38k mark (£800!)

See my comments 2 posts above

[FurryExocet]

Any easy way to find out what size my 2010 S4 Avant discs are? Looking at https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/brake-discs and it lists different sizes. Can't find my size listed anywhere in the service book or on the car and don't want to buy the wrong ones

[Adrian E]

FurryExocet said:

Any easy way to find out what size my 2010 S4 Avant discs are? Looking at https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/brake-discs and it lists different sizes. Can't find my size listed anywhere in the service book or on the car and don't want to buy the wrong ones

Hiya

Front brakes for the S4 come in 2 flavours - they don't look to be very different, but the pads aren't the same so you do need to make sure you get the right ones. The changeover is 20/6/2011 so I expect yours has the earlier discs which are a whole 0.5mm thinner! As I said, pads are different so it does matter.

Fronts - 345x29.5mm - 8k0 698 151h - RRP £135.12 each
Pads - 8k0 698 151h - £123.65

Rears - 330x22mm - 4h0 615 601k - £114.18 each
Pads - 8k0 698 451g - £85.10
Set - discs and pads - 8k0 098 601h - £284.45 (saves just less than £30)

Hope that helps

Adrian

[FurryExocet]

Adrian E said:

Hiya

Front brakes for the S4 come in 2 flavours - they don't look to be very different, but the pads aren't the same so you do need to make sure you get the right ones. The changeover is 20/6/2011 so I expect yours has the earlier discs which are a whole 0.5mm thinner! As I said, pads are different so it does matter.

Fronts - 345x29.5mm - 8k0 698 151h - RRP £135.12 each
Pads - 8k0 698 151h - £123.65

Rears - 330x22mm - 4h0 615 601k - £114.18 each
Pads - 8k0 698 451g - £85.10
Set - discs and pads - 8k0 098 601h - £284.45 (saves just less than £30)

Hope that helps

Adrian

Thanks for the reply. I don't want to use the original Pagid discs, as I get get brake squeal on the current ones. Have you got a link to the correct Brembo ones for my car? None in the link I have seem to match the sizes

[Adrian E]

FurryExocet said:

Thanks for the reply. I don't want to use the original Pagid discs, as I get get brake squeal on the current ones. Have you got a link to the correct Brembo ones for my car? None in the link I have seem to match the sizes

The OEM part numbers should allow you to cross reference to the Brembo part numbers more easily. First thing I found when I clicked on your link is the front Brembos in the right size?

[FurryExocet]

Adrian E said:

The OEM part numbers should allow you to cross reference to the Brembo part numbers more easily. First thing I found when I clicked on your link is the front Brembos in the right size?

Yep, very odd as I could not for the life of me see the right thickness! Found the right ones now (I hope) and ordered

Cheers

[FurryExocet]

Hmm I think I've ordered the wrong ones, I found a link to the codes for the sizes http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/index.php?threads/179...

According to this, I have 1LJ which are 312mm discs. I ordered 345mm, but I can't see a 312mm disc on the site?

Will have to call them tomorrow and try and change or cancel the order

[Adrian E]

I don't think you've ordered the wrong size - my S5 (2011) also has 1LJ in the service book, but my online decoder just says 'disc brakes, front' and doesn't mention size.

I have Etka access and it ONLY talks about 1LJ for the S models and they are only 345mm diameter.

It is far more likely the website is wrong

[Arctic pompey]

Hi everyone, I run a 2010 s4 avant and wondered if anyone has ever had an "APR" tune via QS Tuning? Apparently it will offer a few more bhp but also says it smooths out the s-tronic box a little. Any comments/experiences most welcome......thanks

[Hol]

MattS5 said:

Hol said:

I kept the genuine Audi one that came with mine in 2014 mine when it went back this June, if anyone needs one?

Hi, is the cable a lightning plug or the older, bigger plug. I'd be interested in having it off you (for a mutually convenient fee) if its' the lightning plug
Thanks

Sorry, I missed this.
I have mailed you.
It's the Lightning one.


Edited. This one in fact.

Edited by Hol on Wednesday 4th October 19:49

[FurryExocet]

Arctic pompey said:

Hi everyone, I run a 2010 s4 avant and wondered if anyone has ever had an "APR" tune via QS Tuning? Apparently it will offer a few more bhp but also says it smooths out the s-tronic box a little. Any comments/experiences most welcome......thanks

Not heard of that company, but APR is a reputable map.

[Adrian E]

FurryExocet said:

Not heard of that company, but APR is a reputable map.

QS tuning/QST/quattro sport tuning is Kim Collins' business - been in the industry for decades, starting with uRs and main agent for MTM amongst others.

You should be fine - worth comparing cost and results with the MRC options

[Big6]

Arctic pompey said:

Hi everyone, I run a 2010 s4 avant and wondered if anyone has ever had an "APR" tune via QS Tuning? Apparently it will offer a few more bhp but also says it smooths out the s-tronic box a little. Any comments/experiences most welcome......thanks

Can't say I've had experience of APR but hear good things from a few that have used but as said MRC are worth a shout. Only place I'd go/have gone to have mine set up tbh and results and drivability are scarily good as a few porsches have found out lol!

[mrdanbartlett]

Adrian E said:

QS tuning/QST/quattro sport tuning is Kim Collins' business - been in the industry for decades, starting with uRs and main agent for MTM amongst others.

You should be fine - worth comparing cost and results with the MRC options

When I looked into tuning (admittedly 2 years ago), it seems only about 3 companies did a proper remap of the ECU and cheapest was £750. (plus more for the gearbox). I think it was becuase only those few had cracked the ECU coding.
Other companies would offer much cheaper options but they were via a piggy-back box of sorts, and I didn't like the sound of that.

In the end I held off as my clutch is probably on its last legs (just hit 90k) and I think a remap will finish it off! The clutch is going to cost me min £1600 as got to do the flywheel too.

[TroubledSoul]

As you guys are the experts, would you have any concerns about towing something that would be borderline max towing weight? I'd be towing an Impreza and with a twin axle trailer it would be 2000kgs or thereabouts.

I don't really want to go for the bigger S6 or an A6 TDI in all honesty. Towing wouldn't be very often and I'd like a car I can still enjoy when not towing rather than a workhorse type car.