B8 S4 Ownership

[silentbrown]

Something I've been meaning to ask: My gearbox switches from D to S at a repeatable but bizarre moment.

Every morning I do a short (1 mile) trip to school bus stop. When I set off home again, the car's changed into Sport. Happens every morning I do this trip. Is it just me??

[catso]

Can't be right, mine certainly doesn't switch modes and stays in whatever is selected.

[bungle]

Chaps, is an old (standard) exhaust worth anything?

Been cluttering up my garage for ages, and the car is long gone.

(ps. it was cut in the middle to enable me to get it in the car)

[Mr Scruff]

silentbrown said:

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.

If your coolant level is OK and uncontaminated than I don't think anything is wrong. Just cold weather!

Figured as much but thought I’d ask. Doesn’t do it when the weather is warm.

Dunno, 18 months in I’m getting itchy feet I think. Nothing wrong with it but perhaps getting a little bored!

[chris285]

Looking for some advice(might be stop dreaming and get your head screwed on right mind you lol)

In terms of cost of ownership(outside of fuel/tax/insurance) how big of a jump is it from say a golf gti in terms of pricing?

I've looked at discs and pads and such and it doesn't seem that bad, but looking for some owners input on that

[silentbrown]

chris285 said:

In terms of cost of ownership(outside of fuel/tax/insurance) how big of a jump is it from say a golf gti in terms of pricing?

What sort of age car, and are you planning to use main dealer, independent or just DIY?

General servicing, brakes,etc are probably about 25-30% more than a GTI.
Take a look at the Audi fixed price servicing as a starter...
https://www.audi.co.uk/account/fixed-price-service...

[Adrian E]

Fuel will be the biggest change (ignoring insurance factors that aren't vehicle related) - my Golf GTI PP is easily 30% more fuel efficient than my S5 Sportback (basically S4 in a frock) although if post-2012 facelift that gap will be smaller

Wear parts aren't horrific (new discs and pads all round in the summer were £250 in parts for good quality non-OEM, and the labour cost won't be any different to fit) on the S.

Bork potential from the gearbox is higher, and more expensive if it happens. Ours is fine with over 60k miles and just the one oil and filter change to date.

Other than that it depends what meets your needs better. I prefer driving the Golf, on the whole, but the S is better when traction's an issue at this time of year and it's more practical for boot space

[Mr Scruff]

I'd agree with the above - I went from a Mk5 GTi to a 2010/60 plate S4.

Servicing costs are a little higher, not really noticed any difference in insurance costs, mpg definitely noticeably different!

ETA - worth noting I have an older, higher mileage car and am outside the dealer network

Edited by Mr Scruff on Tuesday 29th January 19:38

[chris285]

I was looking around 2012 ish with the stronic box, which could be a nightmare as said but just got to shop around

Not sure on the shock of MPG as i currently have an old mk1 Leon PD150 so pretty decent on fuel, but after 10yrs I am ready to move on to something newer and more comfortable

I was discussing with a friend and he said to get something which won't plummit in value in 3-5yrs which makes sense, the s4 takes my fancy being quattro and 6pot and it is just about in budget in terms of what i was going to spend(need to find a good example of course)

I am not mechanically minded so would not be doing work on it myself, local specialist has servicing prices which seemed reasonable compared to say golf gti prices and parts didn't seem terrible.

So far the info seems good and what i was expecting where it's obviously going to cost me more to run, but just trying to get an idea as to what to expect if i did get one

[Dr G]

The facelift cars in particular seem to give minimal aggro on reliability; earlier cars (particularly 09-10) have had some S-Tronic box problems, the power steering on them isn't the best either. It doesn't give up but does start to feel lumpy and heavy with age, the electronic steering on facelift cars feels better and has proved reliable.

If you're going S-tronic maintenance is key either way, gearbox oil is every 40k. A few miles here or there I'm sure won't hurt it but if the car's done 70 and the box has never been touched...

[chris285]

Yep gearbox I know needs to be treated like cambelt and serviced as you say, thanks for the info as want to try to look for a 2012 sort of age and milage may fall into that close to second gearbox service so would want it doing before getting if so

Thanks for the info

[theboyfold]

What's the expected cost of a major service on a B8.5? Been quoted £485 from the local Audi dealership.

As I'm out of warranty, I guess there is no harm in going to an independent dealer. Would be interested to hear what prices people have paid. Mileage is 47k and it's a 2015 model

[MattS5]

theboyfold said:

What's the expected cost of a major service on a B8.5? Been quoted £485 from the local Audi dealership.

As I'm out of warranty, I guess there is no harm in going to an independent dealer. Would be interested to hear what prices people have paid. Mileage is 47k and it's a 2015 model

Check the Audi website......the local dealer wanted to charge me £265 for the oitl service....the website said £170.
The dealer just undertook to match the price.

I *Think* the major service was £365 on the website too, so grab a screen grab and tell them thats what you want

[theboyfold]

MattS5 said:

Check the Audi website......the local dealer wanted to charge me £265 for the oitl service....the website said £170.
The dealer just undertook to match the price.

I *Think* the major service was £365 on the website too, so grab a screen grab and tell them thats what you want

Fixed price is £485

[MattS5]

theboyfold said:

Fixed price is £485

How odd, the figure which comes up for my 16 plate is £335 for a major service

[silentbrown]

MattS5 said:

How odd, the figure which comes up for my 16 plate is £335 for a major service

Weird. Shows £485 for my 15 plate. Does it recognize the model correctly? Mine shows... S4 Avant Nav 3.0 TFSI quattro 333 PS S tronic

I thought the last B8's were on 65 plates, BTW...? <<< Just seen, yours is an S5, not S4. Should affect the price tho....

Edited by silentbrown on Wednesday 6th February 20:09

[theboyfold]

The 16 plate is the facelift turbo isn't it?

[MattS5]

silentbrown said:

Weird. Shows £485 for my 15 plate. Does it recognize the model correctly? Mine shows... S4 Avant Nav 3.0 TFSI quattro 333 PS S tronic

I thought the last B8's were on 65 plates, BTW...? <<< Just seen, yours is an S5, not S4. Should affect the price tho....

Edited by silentbrown on Wednesday 6th February 20:09

Yep, it’s an S5 sportback, but maybe that’s the difference, same engine, same amount of oil though.
It’s a 16 plate, one of the final few to be registered I guess and it does come up as the correct model on the website, exactly the same as yours, but with sportback, not S4 in the description.

[silentbrown]

theboyfold said:

The 16 plate is the facelift turbo isn't it?

With S4s, the final B8.5 facelift supercharged cars were registered in 2015, mostly on 15 plates

B9 turbocharged deliveries started at the tail end of 2016, so 66 plate.

I don't think you'll find a 16 plate S4!

The S5 changeover to B9 was later...

[Michaelbailey]

chris285 said:

Yep gearbox I know needs to be treated like cambelt and serviced as you say, thanks for the info as want to try to look for a 2012 sort of age and milage may fall into that close to second gearbox service so would want it doing before getting if so

Thanks for the info

I think you need to go and sit in one and drive one around (assuming you haven't already). I had a similar dilemma when I was looking at a B5. The horror stories scare you to death and you don't know if its worth it or if you can afford it! I went and test drove one and it was sensational and I immediately knew I needed one and I bought the car. I have spent huge amounts on it but only because I am modifying it and going for big power. In terms of servicing its not been bad at all and been ultimately completely reliable which I wouldn't have thought by reading about them online. These kind of cars are a cut above the everyday Gtis and similar cars and it is obvious when you get in and drive them. Things can go wrong and be expensive but if that's your main concern factor in warranty costs and then your not going to get any unexpected bills. if you really appreciate cars I doubt you will look back with regret on the decision!

If you already know these cars all that will kind of be irrelevant but these cars can be such good all rounders now and the proof is in the pudding.