B8 S4 Ownership

[molynda]

Just reading previous few posts, I had similar regular coolant loss (about 1ltr per 500 miles), with no visible signs of leaking on driveway, so I started to worry about PCV or other more expensive and complex engine issues. It was going in for a fixed price gearbox oil change with Audi main dealer (Hessle in Hull), so I paid for the £60 one hour diagnostic and asked them to look for any evidence of leaks, explaining that I only see a noticeable drop in coolant level after driving it. The "Master Technician" came back in minutes of getting it on ramp, having waved a torch around in the video, said no leaks and advised me to top up coolant and "keep monitoring", as if it was just going to stop by itself

I knew from that visit that it was pointless throwing more money in that direction, so I took it to local specialist AutoTechnica and they listened to the fact I said only visible signs of coolant loss after it was driven, so they decided to warm up the car before sticking it on the ramp. They identified a slow drip on the water pump within a few minutes, sent me a video to confirm, so I had them replace it and have had no coolant loss for past 6 weeks. I know there are some good main dealers out there but moral of story is don't throw good money after bad and don't stick with them if they show no interest, or don't take the problem seriously. Shame my wife will go on using them as she has new company Audi (A5 / A6) every 3 years, so no choice for her, but I know I won't be taking the S4 there again, it will stick with the local independent!

[Cupramax]

That’s pretty poor, I’d be sending the video to the dealer principal and getting my £60 back!

[matrignano]

I've got a case open with the Ombudsman to get some money back from Allianz, who administer the Audi Extended Warranty.

Finchley Road Audi has had my car in for about 4/5 months in 2020 and never managed to find my source of coolant leak, despite taking the supercharger off and being able to visually inspect the top of the block, where the PCV resides.
After being messed around for so long, I took it to a specialist who, on my suggestion, checked and replaced the PCV valve. All done in a few days at a cost of £1,800, which would have been covered by warranty had Finchley Road Audi correctly diagnosed the problem.

You know what Finchley Road Audi did instead - they tried to charge me £3k to strip the engine apart or, as an alternative, suggested I buy a new car from them and they'd be happy to buy the S5 from me (no doubt for peanuts)...

[Paul Dishman]

Apologies if this has already been covered and if so could someone kindly point me in the right direction.

My 2012 S4 sat nav has convinced itself that it is in the middle of the English Channel. I've tried a factory re-set, but that makes no difference. Is it a trip back to the dealer?

[mrdanbartlett]

Paul Dishman said:

Apologies if this has already been covered and if so could someone kindly point me in the right direction.

My 2012 S4 sat nav has convinced itself that it is in the middle of the English Channel. I've tried a factory re-set, but that makes no difference. Is it a trip back to the dealer?

Not heard of that, have you tried updating the firmware and maps? (quick google should find the site for this, download is fairly big but its all free etc)

[Paul Dishman]

mrdanbartlett said:

Paul Dishman said:

Apologies if this has already been covered and if so could someone kindly point me in the right direction.

My 2012 S4 sat nav has convinced itself that it is in the middle of the English Channel. I've tried a factory re-set, but that makes no difference. Is it a trip back to the dealer?

Not heard of that, have you tried updating the firmware and maps? (quick google should find the site for this, download is fairly big but its all free etc)

Thanks, I'll take a look

[Easternlight]

Paul Dishman said:

mrdanbartlett said:

Paul Dishman said:

Apologies if this has already been covered and if so could someone kindly point me in the right direction.

My 2012 S4 sat nav has convinced itself that it is in the middle of the English Channel. I've tried a factory re-set, but that makes no difference. Is it a trip back to the dealer?

Not heard of that, have you tried updating the firmware and maps? (quick google should find the site for this, download is fairly big but its all free etc)

Thanks, I'll take a look

Does the position of the car move when driven? If not then maybe the connection to the sat aerial has come adrift or the aerial is duff.?

[Paul Dishman]

Easternlight said:

Paul Dishman said:

mrdanbartlett said:

Paul Dishman said:

Apologies if this has already been covered and if so could someone kindly point me in the right direction.

My 2012 S4 sat nav has convinced itself that it is in the middle of the English Channel. I've tried a factory re-set, but that makes no difference. Is it a trip back to the dealer?

Not heard of that, have you tried updating the firmware and maps? (quick google should find the site for this, download is fairly big but its all free etc)

Thanks, I'll take a look

Does the position of the car move when driven? If not then maybe the connection to the sat aerial has come adrift or the aerial is duff.?

I've re-booted it a couple of times to no avail, but then I let the navigation start up while in Waitrose car park in Exeter, rather than at home, and it seems to have sorted it self out. I think I upset it originally by starting the nav when we were on a newly built road, so it thought it was off-road. It was a bit odd it couldn't sort itself out at home as that's where we start from, but it seemed to think it was 100 yards down the hill. Anyway, thanks for your answer, but fingers crossed all is ok

[Dr G]

A "new" antenna needs a short drive to calibrate itself, so could be related to this.

From experience though that's often a sign that the antenna is soon to fail. Will be sporadic on satellite lock and then not get one at all.

[Searider]

mrdanbartlett said:

Paul Dishman said:

Apologies if this has already been covered and if so could someone kindly point me in the right direction.

My 2012 S4 sat nav has convinced itself that it is in the middle of the English Channel. I've tried a factory re-set, but that makes no difference. Is it a trip back to the dealer?

Not heard of that, have you tried updating the firmware and maps? (quick google should find the site for this, download is fairly big but its all free etc)

I could do with updating the satnav on mine -2009 maps still. Google turns up all sorts but trying to work out who to use is very confusing given the possibility of damaging the system.
Can anyone link me to a trusted source?
Cheers

[Cupramax]

There’s a couple of links on the A5OC site, you’ll need to check which version your car has.

https://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-general-q-a.2/

[Dr G]

On that general subject; have any B8 owners installed an aftermarket "Smartphone Interface" type kit?

I've had a limited play with one that seemed good but the owner didn't know the make or model of kit that the supplier installed.

[Cupramax]

I’ve got one of these coming from AliExpress, hoping it’s not coming via Suez

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000801687007.html

[Searider]

Cupramax said:

There’s a couple of links on the A5OC site, you’ll need to check which version your car has.

https://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-general-q-a.2/

Thanks

[troc]

Handed our S4 to the Porsche dealer today so that’s the end of 11 years of very happy ownership. Just hope the new cayenne can be as reliable!

[catso]

Cupramax said:

I’ve got one of these coming from AliExpress, hoping it’s not coming via Suez

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000801687007.html

Be interested to hear how this unit is, as it's a keen price?

It looks very similar to the unit I recently fitted to mine; https://unique-ad.co.uk/product/audi-a4-carplay-bo... works very well, more or less like the OEM carplay in my Wife's Q2 but with wireless as well as wired connection.

Only downsides are that when controlling it via the car switchgear you are also controlling something else in the background and, to that end it was supplied with a touchscreen overlay that solves the problem and makes it easier/quicker to get to carplay menus - that has a downside in that the overlay makes the previously non-reflective screen reflective but I can live with it.

Also can't have sound from carplay and the car's systems (radio, jukebox etc.) at the same time but overall as a retrofit it's very good, bringing Google maps, Waze etc. to the mix.

I also fitted a rear-view, reversing camera whilst in there as it is plug-and-play with the carplay unit.

Installation was really easy, the hardest part was running the cable from the rear camera to the front of the car.

[GroundZero]

Took the car out for a drive yesterday, parked up to take in the views and then continued on but noticed the air-con was no longer blowing cold air and then the power steering failed on me.
Parked up and noticed a leak and by the time I set of again all the power assist was gone and it was a gym work out to limp home.

I presume the power steering issue is due to a pipe or hose leak that starved the pump of fluid, or indeed a pump failure. But can I ask you guys why would the air-con stop blowing cold air just prior to it?

[Cupramax]

catso said:

Cupramax said:

I’ve got one of these coming from AliExpress, hoping it’s not coming via Suez

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000801687007.html

Be interested to hear how this unit is, as it's a keen price?

It looks very similar to the unit I recently fitted to mine; https://unique-ad.co.uk/product/audi-a4-carplay-bo... works very well, more or less like the OEM carplay in my Wife's Q2 but with wireless as well as wired connection.

Only downsides are that when controlling it via the car switchgear you are also controlling something else in the background and, to that end it was supplied with a touchscreen overlay that solves the problem and makes it easier/quicker to get to carplay menus - that has a downside in that the overlay makes the previously non-reflective screen reflective but I can live with it.

Also can't have sound from carplay and the car's systems (radio, jukebox etc.) at the same time but overall as a retrofit it's very good, bringing Google maps, Waze etc. to the mix.

I also fitted a rear-view, reversing camera whilst in there as it is plug-and-play with the carplay unit.

Installation was really easy, the hardest part was running the cable from the rear camera to the front of the car.

it’s still not turned up at the point of cancelling and ordering from somewhere else, just showing as in transit on the tracker.

[silentbrown]

GroundZero said:

Took the car out for a drive yesterday, parked up to take in the views and then continued on but noticed the air-con was no longer blowing cold air and then the power steering failed on me.
Parked up and noticed a leak and by the time I set of again all the power assist was gone and it was a gym work out to limp home.

I presume the power steering issue is due to a pipe or hose leak that starved the pump of fluid, or indeed a pump failure. But can I ask you guys why would the air-con stop blowing cold air just prior to it?

Sounds like a belt failure? Not sure about A4's, but PAS and A/C compressor are typically powered from an auxiliary belt driven of the crank.

[Adrian E]

My first thought too, but think the water pump is also driven off it so would expect temps to rocket pretty quickly.....