B8 S4 Ownership
Discussion
Dumb question – if a car has advanced key, would it still have the usual place (hole) to the left of the steering wheel where you put the key in to start it? And would an Advanced Key car have a start button down by the gearstick?
Just seems odd that a car which is described as Advanced Key still has said hole where the key goes, and no sign of a stop/start button. But then I've never had an Advanced Key Audi so I don't know what I am looking for!!
If anyone has a pic, or can link to one, even better! Thanks.
Just seems odd that a car which is described as Advanced Key still has said hole where the key goes, and no sign of a stop/start button. But then I've never had an Advanced Key Audi so I don't know what I am looking for!!
If anyone has a pic, or can link to one, even better! Thanks.
bungle said:
If anyone has a pic, or can link to one, even better! Thanks.
This one has Advanced Key. Round button to left of gearstick. Still has the dash slot, presumably so you have somewhere sensible to put the keys. Otherwise they just get in the way in the cupholders or wear holes in your pockets or the seat. Keyless is pointless IMO!
Don't get confused with "Keyless door locks" in autotrader ads, which just means remote central locking.
I am really struggling to understand what the point of disabling KESSY (keyless module) would be? The key is identical, whether you have KESSY or not, and using the dash slot does not involve a physical metal key being used - you're just sticking the 'key' in the slot where it reads the information off of the transponder etc and allows the car to be started.
In terms of theft, to gain access to the car there's a limited number of options - steal a key, smash a window/brute force the lock, use a cloned key, or a relay attack. The latter requires more specialist equipment, but if a thief has it it'll work on a keyless car to get access to the vehicle without breaking anything. I'd rather they did that than break in to my house to acquire a key, personally.
Once you're in, if it's keyless and the thief has cloned the key or used a relay attack, they start the car and are away. If it's not keyless and/or they've not got a cloned key, then they plug in to the OBD port with a key programmer and a blank key, code that to the car (ignition doesn't need to be on), and drive away. The time difference between the 2 methods is probably no more than 20 seconds and having keyless start is not really the significant issue, it's the fact that the vast majority of the OEMs don't apply sufficient security to the vehicles at the design stage, relying on 'security by obscurity' which only works until someone has reverse engineered the vehicle (usually less than 6 months after release).
Aside from use in other crime, the B8 is getting a bit old to be worth stealing except for parts. The money for thieves is in nearly new vehicles of high value (eg Range Rovers) for export.
There are significant regional variations in the risk of theft - I really wouldn't worry unless you live near a hotspot for thefts, in which case I'd not want to be owning anything that's potentially going to be taken by one method or another.....
In terms of theft, to gain access to the car there's a limited number of options - steal a key, smash a window/brute force the lock, use a cloned key, or a relay attack. The latter requires more specialist equipment, but if a thief has it it'll work on a keyless car to get access to the vehicle without breaking anything. I'd rather they did that than break in to my house to acquire a key, personally.
Once you're in, if it's keyless and the thief has cloned the key or used a relay attack, they start the car and are away. If it's not keyless and/or they've not got a cloned key, then they plug in to the OBD port with a key programmer and a blank key, code that to the car (ignition doesn't need to be on), and drive away. The time difference between the 2 methods is probably no more than 20 seconds and having keyless start is not really the significant issue, it's the fact that the vast majority of the OEMs don't apply sufficient security to the vehicles at the design stage, relying on 'security by obscurity' which only works until someone has reverse engineered the vehicle (usually less than 6 months after release).
Aside from use in other crime, the B8 is getting a bit old to be worth stealing except for parts. The money for thieves is in nearly new vehicles of high value (eg Range Rovers) for export.
There are significant regional variations in the risk of theft - I really wouldn't worry unless you live near a hotspot for thefts, in which case I'd not want to be owning anything that's potentially going to be taken by one method or another.....
Adrian E said:
I am really struggling to understand what the point of disabling KESSY (keyless module) would be?
I guess if I was a thief, and could choose between a keyless car (where I didn't have to smash the window and faff with the OBD port; i just use my relay box of tricks and I'm in, no hassle), or a non-keyless car, I'd nick the keyless one. Yes, it might be 20 secs, but it's more hassle, and I'd just choose the easier one.
Or maybe I'd just old skool, and don't want all this new-fangled tech, which (in my mind) is not needed and (rightly or wrongly) makes me think it's easier to pinch the car.
I get that if they want it they want it, and they will take it, but i just want to make it as "not really easy" as possible.
Yeah, they're a bit old now but you still see them being nicked. But I don't want to live my life not buying a nice car as it might get nicked, but at the same time to make it as unattractive to thieves as possible (non-keyless, Disklok, etc). I might even debadge, though not sure that would fool them! (would need body-coloured wing mirrors then as well, and where do you stop?!).
Actually, has anyone debadged? How easy was it? (hairdryer and floss?!). Did it leave a mess? (or an outline on the paint of "S4" etc?).
Wouldn't want to do it and regret it!!
And I guess the front grille is difficult, as it would then leave an "indent" in the grille where S4 goes. (would have to fill it with a Quattro (or TDi !!!!) badge instead).
Wouldn't want to do it and regret it!!
And I guess the front grille is difficult, as it would then leave an "indent" in the grille where S4 goes. (would have to fill it with a Quattro (or TDi !!!!) badge instead).
As others have said it’s definitely possible for prefacelift and keyless- that’s what I have. Warranty people sent car to VAG to get keyless entry working again, VAG then seemed to go to town and replaced all four door handles. As for keyless, it’s one of the better options to have in my opinion. You certainly miss it when it’s gone. Little things like you can open the boot just by pulling on handle- good when you have shopping and a powered boot lid. As for brakes being done under warranty, that was discs and pads as I argued about it with them
J886ATV said:
Adrian E said:
That one in your link is pretty basic spec bar tech pack low (DVD based nav, not HDD, which also means no SD card slots for music) .
Not necessarily true - My PFL has DVD based Nav & 2 SD card slots. One slot used for a ripped Nav disc, one for music (64GB is plenty)Is yours an S4, as I don't think I've ever seen a PF specced with that system?
J886ATV said:
Not necessarily true - My PFL has DVD based Nav & 2 SD card slots. One slot used for a ripped Nav disc, one for music (64GB is plenty)
64gb SD card? 
Asking because mine (2014, nav on HD/jukebox) has 2 SD card slots but I can't get anything more than 32gb to work, same story with USB in the glovebox interface...
Adrian E said:
That'll be the infrequently spotted third nav setup! MMI 3GBasic, if memory serves? Pretty sure with your setup you've got the miniature mouse on top of the MMI wheel which makes it look more like the HDD nav? You are correct it can either run nav off the built in DVD drive or copy it to an SD card slot.
Is yours an S4, as I don't think I've ever seen a PF specced with that system?
Adrian - yes it's an S4, a really late Manual car. No the wheel doesn't have the mouse. Is yours an S4, as I don't think I've ever seen a PF specced with that system?
I've raised this before but noticed again today - I seem to get loads and loads of condensation out of my exhausts, even when the engine is hot.
Thing is, no idea where it's coming from. The car is high mileage (121k now) but uses no coolant; it uses a little oil (maybe 4-500ml per 1,000 miles) but seems incidental as it's white/steam and not blue smoke.
I pulled off the motorway yesterday after 120 miles or so and I could see the steam in my mirrors.
Any idea what the hell it is? Anyone else's car do this?
Thing is, no idea where it's coming from. The car is high mileage (121k now) but uses no coolant; it uses a little oil (maybe 4-500ml per 1,000 miles) but seems incidental as it's white/steam and not blue smoke.
I pulled off the motorway yesterday after 120 miles or so and I could see the steam in my mirrors.
Any idea what the hell it is? Anyone else's car do this?
Mr Scruff said:
I pulled off the motorway yesterday after 120 miles or so and I could see the steam in my mirrors.
Any idea what the hell it is? Anyone else's car do this?
Water's a natural result of the process of burning hydrocarbons. The amount of visible "steam" you see depends on how external temperature, humidity, and probably how much the gasses are cooled though the exhaust. Any idea what the hell it is? Anyone else's car do this?
If your coolant level is OK and uncontaminated than I don't think anything is wrong. Just cold weather!
silentbrown said:
Mr Scruff said:
I pulled off the motorway yesterday after 120 miles or so and I could see the steam in my mirrors.
Any idea what the hell it is? Anyone else's car do this?
Water's a natural result of the process of burning hydrocarbons. The amount of visible "steam" you see depends on how external temperature, humidity, and probably how much the gasses are cooled though the exhaust. Any idea what the hell it is? Anyone else's car do this?
If your coolant level is OK and uncontaminated than I don't think anything is wrong. Just cold weather!
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