D3 Audi S8's on 80+k miles. Risky?

[DeanR32]

Morning all

I've been eyeing up Audi S8's for a while now (along with M5's) and they've crept down into my price range, but am I looking for trouble with these higher mileage cars? I know 80k isn't anything for modern day vehicles but the expense of repairs on a V10 does worry me.

I drive a BMW diesel at the moment, and as capable a car it is, it doesn't make the right noise for me

Cheers

[Dr G]

Properly serviced and inspected before purchase you should be just fine. Only expensive concerns for me would be wear items (bushes, discs etc.) at that mileage but if from a dealer with a proper PDI that need not be an issue.

The V10s behave themselves pretty well and do not seem to suffer the coking issue as badly as the 8s (although they still do). Only had one car where it was problematic and the warranty covered a new flap motor in the inlet manifold. Manifold itself was fine after cleaning.

Always needs sying with any A8: electronics and suspension are generally very good and serious faults are rare. Make damn sure everything (EVERYTHING) works as repairs can be expensive and your choice of garages to fix them is limited.

[Nasrallah]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Audi-S8-5-2-V10-Qua...

G would you avoid that?

[Dr G]

Half leather, no B&O, scary ceramics, mega miles, not that cheap.

if it was 10k, the discs were sound and you planned to keep it would be worth a pop. Another 2k will get you far fewer miles and a hope in hell of reselling it.

[Nasrallah]

Any experience with remaps? I see dms quotes a 42bhp gain!

[Dr G]

We had an S6 a while back with a Milltek (including 100 cell cats) and an AMD map - that was quite entertaining.

S6/8 motor doesn't rev like the R8 version but is still in a relatively mild state of tune in comparison.

[DeanR32]

Thanks for the replies

So as long as everything works, and bodywork is all straight (obviously) then they don't generally throw any curve balls at you at that sort of mileage?

I suppose if you keep on top of things it will do six figure mileages easy enough?

[the-photographer]

Loverly ceramics will stop without fade, which is good for a big car.

I've read on audi only forums, 4 discs + pads = £6000 replacement cost, yes half the cost of the car.

Check wear and don't be tempted to track it.

Perhaps DrG can give an official figure.

Edited by the-photographer on Wednesday 1st August 21:57

[Adrian E]

A SINGLE front brake disc for a ceramic S8 is £2528.54 incl VAT, excluding any discount you might be able to get. Pads are £315.68 a set, add 50 quid if you actually want new pad wear indicators as they're not included!! Just noticed they recommend replacing the 'cover plates' for the discs at £127.58 each too.....

Rears aren't much different - discs are £2300 plus change EACH, pads £257

So that's about £10k for a full set BEFORE labour.....

By contrast, front steel discs are £140 each, pads £208 a set so go figure...

Amusingly while browsing the above prices I came across a retrofit ceramic brake kit - yours for only £13858.28!! As well as all the above that will include a master cylinder etc

[Dr G]

...and the ceramics are not nice to use in daily driving. The torque convertor on an S8 has quite an agressive lockup so when you take your foot off the brake it creeps immediately and with more shove than you might expect.

Cold ceramics have no bite unless you mash the pedal and squeak like bds. If you're manouvering in a tight space it's horrible, nasty noise and no pedal feel. On the run and warmed up the power is awesome but they're a little bit old school in that they're nothing-nothing-nothing-WHAM, not what you need in a big, smooth car.

I don't know if there's any truth in this but I was told that sitting stationary with your foot on the brake is bad for them too (heat soak?).

[Nasrallah]

Adrian E said:

A SINGLE front brake disc for a ceramic S8 is £2528.54 incl VAT, excluding any discount you might be able to get. Pads are £315.68 a set, add 50 quid if you actually want new pad wear indicators as they're not included!! Just noticed they recommend replacing the 'cover plates' for the discs at £127.58 each too.....

Rears aren't much different - discs are £2300 plus change EACH, pads £257

So that's about £10k for a full set BEFORE labour.....

By contrast, front steel discs are £140 each, pads £208 a set so go figure...

Amusingly while browsing the above prices I came across a retrofit ceramic brake kit - yours for only £13858.28!! As well as all the above that will include a master cylinder etc

If true then that's ridiculous, how the bloody hell do they get away with it? I thought ceramics outlive the car, but according to Audi they need replacing every 200,000 miles...and that's if they don't crack.

Speaking of which, is the.cracking solely a vag issue or doed it effect all ceramics?

If I spent £20k on an s8 which then needed New discs at over 10 grand I would just do a steel disc conversion. Not sure why the master cylinder would need changing though.

[Dr G]

Ceramics are mega money across all the manufacturers.

[the-photographer]

Someone here, got a massive 50,000 miles on his one (but dusty conditions)

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[the-photographer]

This post would seem helpful to the original poster, see list about half way down;

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

As a comparison to £12,000 for ceramic replacement, steel brakes are £700.

[Nasrallah]

the-photographer said:

Someone here, got a massive 50,000 miles on his one (but dusty conditions)

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Very interesting post and the wear marker is useful.

I do wonder why the abs and servo are different though.

[Dr G]

Servo probably to counter the lack of feel and ABS because the ceramics can smear your 20s all over the tarmac without even trying

[Adrian E]

As an idea of how brittle ceramic discs are, I've been told that if a muppet removing your wheels without using the alignment tool drops said wheel onto the brake disc as it's coming off it will more than likely crack the disc.....

A retrofit of standard brakes is definitely viable and should be possible using second hand parts for things like calipers, master cylinder etc, by the time you're likely to be considering it. I wouldn't be utterly put off a car if it was otherwise perfect spec and history if it had ceramics.

I'm sure once these cars get a bit older the aftermarket suppliers will start making replacement carbon discs at 'slightly' more sensible money.

[Nasrallah]

Dr G said:

Servo probably to counter the lack of feel and ABS because the ceramics can smear your 20s all over the tarmac without even trying

Are you speaking from experience? I absolutely love extreme brakes, its a fetish. Consequently I'm always disappointed with the braking performance of most cars, especially at triple digit speeds.

[Dr G]

Build some temperature in them and pin the pedal. It'll make you feel sick.

[Nasrallah]

G, can you expand on the issue of cracking? I've done some Googling and I've got nothing other than the usual surface cracks which are entirely cosmetic.

Not saying you are wrong of course, but these cars are rare as it is and the obvious owners are too important to post on car forums!