B8 S4 Ownership

[HiAsAKite]

Easternlight said:

Hi, Sorry to see you have sold the S4
I hope it was as good to you as it was for me

Still haven't replaced it (Thanks COVID) and still miss it.

Easty

And here is the next owner..

Work and commitments mean I've yet to drive it properly since picking it up (literally have just taken it home and then been WFH/cycling to work), but really looking forward to get to know the car properly and stretch its legs :-)

Parked up next to my (now sold ) A6 2.7T

Edited by HiAsAKite on Friday 17th June 21:09

[Easternlight]

I hope you get on with it OK
I had it for eight years and loved it, fast but so sure footed in any conditions.
Definitely the best car I've ever owned and one I have been unable to replace. And with the state of things now I doubt I ever will.

[HiAsAKite]

Easternlight said:

I hope you get on with it OK
I had it for eight years and loved it, fast but so sure footed in any conditions.
Definitely the best car I've ever owned and one I have been unable to replace. And with the state of things now I doubt I ever will.

Fingers crossed.
Not really had the opportunity to get the measure of it yet - hopefully this weekend, but I will also have the kids in the back at the same time so..

Impressions so far, feels lighter, pointier, and tighter than the A6 2.7T (as you'd frankly expect!)
Power delivery very very different from the v6 biturbo, I suspect the 2.7T will "feel" faster as you get the surge of torque as the turbo spools up (indeed, the car felt like it accelerated itself without even needing to move the throttle once it started to build) but real terms the S4 should actually be quicker.

In the same way the 2.7T "felt" quicker than my Chimaera, but in truth wasn't. All down the mode power delivery, and torque surge with the biturbo.

I'm assuming the sat nav maps are the original 2009 maps- I can see that I can order updated 2022 maps from Audi for €200 ( https://shops.audi.com/en_GB/web/zubehoer/p/naviga... )- almost tempted to, however they will date, and I suspect even the updated maps will date fairly quickly, and I'm not sure I'm on the mood to pay this in regular basis.

Plus curiously despite being for the MMI3G High, the audi.com webpage implies it comes on a DVD, not an SD card as i would expect..

Alternately there is the likes of this https://www.satnavishop.co.uk/audi-mmi-3g-high-202...

Anyway - promise to be a good custodian and take good care of it after yourself and SeaRider

[Adrian E]

You can do map and firmware updates yourself - if you look up the current version info on the MMI wiki page it’ll tell you what year the maps are from

Links on a5oc site or I can help if fairly local (takes about half a day and need a back up power source)

[Dr G]

I personally would be more tempted by an aftermarket Carplay kit before spending time/money on the standard gear; even HDD nav is slow and archaic these days.

Your phone perched on the dash will do a better job than any number of software updates, unfortunately.

As Adrian says though, if you feel like tinkering it's basically free to do it yourself so why not?

[silentbrown]

Dr G said:

I personally would be more tempted by an aftermarket Carplay kit before spending time/money on the standard gear; even HDD nav is slow and archaic these days.

Your phone perched on the dash will do a better job than any number of software updates, unfortunately.

I've been using android auto on my phone, magnetic phone holder in the CD slot (good to find a use for that!)

However, Google are dropping the Android Auto phone app, and the alternative seems to be rubbish - and portrait mode only.

What aftermarket systems fits and works well - and do you still get stuff like green screen access?

[catso]

silentbrown said:

What aftermarket systems fits and works well - and do you still get stuff like green screen access?

I fitted this; https://unique-ad.co.uk/product/audi-a4-carplay-bo... to my 2014 S4.

Works very well, integrates with the car switchgear and can even connect to iphone wirelessly (though I disabled that as it kills the phone battery too quickly) and also has touch screen control for the carplay functions. Can still do everything else as before - green screen etc.

I also added a reversing camera https://unique-ad.co.uk/product/direct-fit-rear-re... whilst fitting it and that fully integrates as per the OEM system. Fitting was simple enough, worst part was running the cable from the camera in the tailgate handle to the box (fitted on top of the glovebox) and patience/gentle touch is required for safe removal of trim panels to get at the screen etc. but was easily done in a couple of hours.

All seems very well made, I fitted it a couple of years ago and have had zero issues.

[ninjag]

Easternlight said:

I hope you get on with it OK
I had it for eight years and loved it, fast but so sure footed in any conditions.
Definitely the best car I've ever owned and one I have been unable to replace. And with the state of things now I doubt I ever will.

Is scary how well it grips, especially in the rain.

[HiAsAKite]

Ok, has a bit more of play over the weekend. Still with the kids in the back so some restraint was shown, but once you wind it up and use the full rev range (which I recall SeaRider mentioned to me, when we were test driving - albeit we were hemmed in by 50/60mph average speed limits) it really, really does shift and pile on the speed.

Mpg round town was 22ish (which is what I'd expect to be honest- or worse), average across a 22mile loop with some spirited acceleration was approaching 27, so for longer distance cruising I'm expecting it to get close to 30 or so.

Hopefully get few more opportunities this week.

Adrian E- many thanks for the comment about updating the Nav. I think I've found the A5oc post about updating to 2022 maps. Have managed to download the firmware update, but there appears to be a daily download limit on the hosting site (Mega) which means down of the maps likely need to be down in bits over a fortnight or so.

Once I've done that - main concern will be in not breaking what I've got as happy with the rest of the functionality in the MMI.

Thanks for the offer to help - I'm not "that" far (NE Hants), but realistically finding a 1/2 day slot is not that easy. I have an accumate charger which I can use to keep the battery live whilst updating if required.

Appreciate just using Google maps, Waze or OSMAnd on the phone would still probably still be way more effective!

Edited by HiAsAKite on Monday 20th June 09:21

[ninjag]

I've never bothered updating the car nav, Google and Waze are always up-to-date and the latter speed trap warnings are good.

I use a magnetic phone holder disc in my centre left vent and close the airflow to it. I also run a magnetic USB-C cable from the central cubby tucked under the passenger seat gap and then up to my phone. This makes connecting a charger dead easy and a simple click rather than faffing around trying to plug it in and eventually ruining the port.

I've got a little metal disc (spare that came with the phone hold disc) stuck just above the ashtray under the ridge, this is for the end of the charger to magnetically stick to when not in use but allows quick access when needed. All works quite well when on the move.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/YOSH-Magnetic-Cellphones-...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Charging-Kuulaa-...

[Adrian E]

The Mega download limits are a bit of a pain, but you can use a download manager (I use JDownloader) to make it less tedious

I also mainly use Waze - I update the in car maps as a backup option for those rare occasions that Waze has no signal or I’ve forgotten my phone charger!

[aussieal]

Always enjoy coming back to this thread to see how fellow S4 owners are getting on.

Mine had a fresh MOT last week which it sailed through, had new pads all round in April and is in for an inspection service at Unit 20 today.

Then sadly, it's going up for sale. Combination of usage having changed meaning we're going to be doing more miles than planned, and just never quite feeling it was big enough interior wise, particularly for longer journeys - I can only really get comfy when there are no children sat behind me and that is a rare thing.

Still, loved my year with it and am at a bit of a loss as to what to replace with.

[mrdanbartlett]

What age/miles/spec is it?

My exhaust is blowing a little, had it checked out and apparently one of the flexihoses from the downpipe area needs doing, £600ish. Anyone else had this?

[aussieal]

mrdanbartlett said:

What age/miles/spec is it?

My exhaust is blowing a little, had it checked out and apparently one of the flexihoses from the downpipe area needs doing, £600ish. Anyone else had this?

It's a 13 plate avant in phantom black, black supersport seats and panoramic roof, just coming up to 64k on the clock with a full history and s-tronic service done on time, sc belt changed last summer.

[mrdanbartlett]

aussieal said:

It's a 13 plate avant in phantom black, black supersport seats and panoramic roof, just coming up to 64k on the clock with a full history and s-tronic service done on time, sc belt changed last summer.

Sounds lovely

I'm interested as I'll be listing mine in a month or so, but it's a different age/mileage - and a saloon.

[Dr G]

mrdanbartlett said:

What age/miles/spec is it?

My exhaust is blowing a little, had it checked out and apparently one of the flexihoses from the downpipe area needs doing, £600ish. Anyone else had this?

Yup, they all do that, sir. Audi will probably quote you for a downpipe, a decent exhaust place will repair it with a new flexi.

[HiAsAKite]

Ok so update.
All going well. Managed another 120 miles over the weekend, which include a mainly M3/M25/M1/fast A roads at a fairly (ish) legal pace -- averaged 32-33mpg on super unleaded, which I'm more than happy with.
Clearly if "one presses on" this is going to drop, but as a backstop for long distance cruising this is ok.

Also managed to fit both the kids bikes in the boot, without removing any wheels or putting the seat down etc - was a game of tetris getting pedals to lock together between the bikes so it all fitted, but they went in.

Will revisit the maps piece at some point (would be nice to update the maps, but clearly they don't give the visual traffic congestion information that the likes of google maps does). Will probably invest in a CD mounted phone holder, if I can find one I trust not to break off in the CD holder..( ! ).

Next stop, noticed some speckles of surface rust on the front sill just behind the front wheels - I suspect from where grit/water/spray has been thrown against this, so will try to clean this up and repaint/touch up.

Edited by HiAsAKite on Monday 27th June 15:59

Edited by HiAsAKite on Monday 27th June 16:00

[ninjag]

Was driving back from Blackpool today and taking it easy resulted in 38.1mpg. Not bad for a six cylinder supercharged petrol, AWD and loaded up with family and luggage. It stayed at this for quite a while until I had some spirited driving sections and a bit of fun (otherwise I'd buy a 2.0d) it eventually dropped to 35.7mpg after 170 miles, which is still not bad I reckon. This is regular 95 RON Esso and a completely stock car.

[mrdanbartlett]

Dr G said:

Yup, they all do that, sir. Audi will probably quote you for a downpipe, a decent exhaust place will repair it with a new flexi.

Thanks, found a specialist exhaust place so will go see them next

[mrdanbartlett]

ninjag said:

Was driving back from Blackpool today and taking it easy resulted in 38.1mpg. Not bad for a six cylinder supercharged petrol, AWD and loaded up with family and luggage. It stayed at this for quite a while until I had some spirited driving sections and a bit of fun (otherwise I'd buy a 2.0d) it eventually dropped to 35.7mpg after 170 miles, which is still not bad I reckon. This is regular 95 RON Esso and a completely stock car.

Please clean the dash!!

I keep a micro-fibre in the glovebox, give it a quick wipe down every so often.

That is remarkable MPG though, I find my MPG is worse on 95 RON, so I use 99 RON pretty much all the time.