7.5k miles in & a few little niggles / anyone else experienced any of these?

NickGun · Oct 22, 2016

As per title our B9 A4 3.0 218 Quattro Avant Sport has just passed the 7.5k mile mark since purchase in May, we (my better half and myself) both love the car but we seem to have amassed a few of those annoying, little niggles we need to get sorted, prior to booking into dealers just thought I'd ask the ask to see if anyone else had experienced any of these on their B9's so I can go armed with information if need be, all responses appreciated:-

Occasional sticking of the electronic boot opening, as in you hear it unlocking but it doesn't actually rise open, rectified by manually lifting with switch on boot then it opens as usual.

Very occasionally the boot has opened fine but then its stopped halfway up from its usual ending point, with nothing blocking it, which in the last instance, where I was distracted and looking the other way while picking up one of the dogs to place in back (to save the fun scratches they like to try to leave when leaping in or out) resulted in my turning around and splitting my head open on the now stationary much lower than usual boot lid. Much swearing and claret lost from head, entirely my fault for not noticing the boot had inexplicably stopped in its movement - but then again if it had opened as usual I wouldn't have nutted it.

Three or four times I've seen the same MMI / control lighting flickering others have, hasn't done it for a while though.

Temperature gauge has gone wonky a few times too, reading zero degrees when its clearly 20c, fixed when car parked up and then started again when returning from shopping or whatever.

Persistent loss of time on cars system clock, loses on average a least a minute or two each week, checked against iPhones and watches set correctly.

Heated rear window has ceased to work, was working a few months ago when I unexpectedly needed to use it on a very early morning start, now stubbornly refuses to come on, press the switch which lights up but then goes off instantly, irrespective of how long the car has been running or the settings on heating system (have tried every combination). Also tried the holding the switch longer to override the heated rear window shutoff after 10-20mins which I think it normally does, makes no difference at all.

The flickering MMI / Temp gauge / clock time loss could all presumably be fixed with a software update I would have thought, if one is available, the occasional boot issues and heated rear window maybe not.

I'd have thought that if the rear window had fused then there would be a dash warning? but could be wrong on that - have checked for any obvious breaks to the elements and there are none I can see.

Any theories welcome and apologies for length of post.

f1nny · Oct 22, 2016

I've had the temperature reads zero when it was 26 degrees outside. I have experience or noticed any of your other issues.

I did however get a call from my local Audi dealership asking to bring the car in for some campaigns but I'm unsure what they were actually for as I told them I was getting rid of the car in a few days and wouldn't have the time to take it in.

Might be worth asking the dealer or Audi UK if there's an campaigns for your vehicle

Bungle17 · Oct 22, 2016

You can set the clock to sync to the correct time (like your iPhone does), can't remember exactly where the setting is, but it's somewhere in the MMI

wideboybloke · Oct 22, 2016

Haven't experienced any of those symptoms, but only 1900 miles completed. My main niggle is the delay between pressing the throttle pedal and anything happening. Can be awkward if you need to nip out from a junction smartly or nip into a gap when joining a roundabout. Different drive settings and sport mode make no difference. I guess it's the combined effect of turbo lag and the s tronic box sorting itself out.

For your tailgate problems, I suggest viagra for the gas struts. (Sorry - somebody was bound to say it)

NickGun · Oct 22, 2016

Bungle17 said:
You can set the clock to sync to the correct time (like your iPhone does), can't remember exactly where the setting is, but it's somewhere in the MMI

Thanks, hadn't noticed that when resetting the clock via the MMI, as Ive done several times as its losing time as discussed, will dig into settings again.

NickGun · Oct 22, 2016

wideboybloke said:
Different drive settings and sport mode make no difference. I guess it's the combined effect of turbo lag and the s tronic box sorting itself out.

I can see what you mean in all settings bar dynamic, which on ours does seem more, well dynamic for want of a better description... Pulling out in tight gaps / junctions I tend to use the paddles in dynamic to eliminate any lag or perceived delay.

rich_16 · Oct 22, 2016

wideboybloke said:
Haven't experienced any of those symptoms, but only 1900 miles completed. My main niggle is the delay between pressing the throttle pedal and anything happening. Can be awkward if you need to nip out from a junction smartly or nip into a gap when joining a roundabout. Different drive settings and sport mode make no difference. I guess it's the combined effect of turbo lag and the s tronic box sorting itself out.

For your tailgate problems, I suggest viagra for the gas struts. (Sorry - somebody was bound to say it)

I've noticed the lag in power arriving. Which engine do you have? I've got the 218ps diesel and find it odd Whatcar rated the engine so much with the lag it has. I've stopped using efficiency mode because of it but even in auto mode the lag is bad.

wideboybloke · Oct 22, 2016

See my signature - 2 litre tfsi 190 PS. Apart from the lag, a lovely power unit.

rich_16 · Oct 23, 2016

wideboybloke said:
See my signature - 2 litre tfsi 190 PS. Apart from the lag, a lovely power unit.

Interesting, I thought it might be a diesel issue but sounds like it's gearbox related.

I tried pulling away in efficiency mode with the hill hold activated the other day, hilarious how long it took to actually pull away from pressing the pedal. Oh well.

nathanrich · Oct 23, 2016

I have the flickering mmi screen and the temp display issue. It's been into the dealer but they say it needs a software update. I've also noticed the clock losing time. Despite regularly going into settings and selecting auto update of time.

I had a loan A4 190PS s line avant s tronic for a week while my A4 190PS s line avant manual was having some bodywork delivery marks tended to. I hated the lag when trying to accelerate. I've posted before regards this. Just unacceptable that the car doesn't do what you need it to at that time. Undrivable. The engine is great as long as you're in dynamic and you have a manual box. Auto was great in stationary traffic but awful while trying to drive anywhere!

The car is OK. But it will not make it into my list of 'vehicles I've loved'. First A4 and a bit of a letdown. Annoying niggles. Even the beautiful interior can't rescue the experience.

NickGun · Oct 23, 2016

rich_16 said:
Interesting, I thought it might be a diesel issue but sounds like it's gearbox related.

I tried pulling away in efficiency mode with the hill hold activated the other day, hilarious how long it took to actually pull away from pressing the pedal. Oh well.

Morning, we've got the same engine, quattro etc as yourself (but Sport not S-line) and while there's a slight lag in delivery in Efficiency & Comfort I find Dynamic all but eliminates it, can't comment on Hill Hold as we don't have that option.

Initially it felt a little strange to both myself and better half, but as our other car is a manual MX5 (and previous 2 VAG cars were manual) we just put it down to being used to them, having now played around in both cars with gear change and power delivery in mind, I'd say that by the time we can drop down a gear in the MX5 and then re-apply the throttle the A4 will have already starting pulling away when doing the same via DSG in Dynamic mode / Paddles, for us at least we think its as you don't have an actual off throttle / clutch down / engage gear / reapply throttle sequence in the DSG gearbox, then we expect it to be instant, while there's a little latency, for us in reality its faster than we can be in our slick gearbox manual car (when in Dynamic at least).

Thats all subjective of course and seems your experience is different.

NickGun · Oct 23, 2016

nathanrich said:
I have the flickering mmi screen and the temp display issue. It's been into the dealer but they say it needs a software update.

I had a loan A4 190PS s tronic for a week while my A4 190PS manual was having some bodywork delivery marks tended to. I hated the lag when trying to accelerate. I've posted before regards this. Just unacceptable that the car doesn't do what you need it to at that time. Undrivable. The engine is great as long as you're in dynamic and you have a manual box. Auto was great in stationary raffic but awful while trying to drive anywhere.

Thanks for info about flickering, I'll speak to dealer but not sure if as yet there's a software update.

Interesting re your thoughts / experience on same engine A4 S-tronic / Manual, personally we'd have opted for a manual if it was an option in the 3.0, but the more miles we've driven it we have more than gotten used to the gearbox now, in fact actually quite like it for day to day / long distance / European driving.

If it was a blast around the country lanes of the Dales I'd probably opt for our small, manual 2 seater - but when I've had the need to hustle the A4 a little on country roads (when late for dropping off teenage daughter at a DoE award thing) the Audi never felt slow in its responses, naturally I was in Dynamic mode and using paddles mostly then.

nathanrich · Oct 23, 2016

The software updates for flickering mmi and temp display were available back in September. Not sure if it is available now.

nathanrich · Oct 23, 2016

I don't think autos ever really cut it when trying to press on. The auto can never pre-empt the exact point you want an exact gear. It's not fair to expect it to! Great in slow traffic though.

Bungle17 · Oct 23, 2016

NickGun said:
Thanks, hadn't noticed that when resetting the clock via the MMI, as Ive done several times as its losing time as discussed, will dig into settings again.

I've just had a look again, and it's the very top option under Date & Time.

Once selected, you get this symbol on the DIS

Snoop · Oct 23, 2016

Has anyone got any experience driving the the 3.0 272ps version? Is there as much lag as in smaller powered engines?

firebits · Oct 23, 2016

Bungle17 said:
You can set the clock to sync to the correct time (like your iPhone does), can't remember exactly where the setting is, but it's somewhere in the MMI

Yeah, it continually turns itself back off again

rich_16 · Oct 23, 2016

nathanrich said:
I don't think autos ever really cut it when trying to press on. The auto can never pre-empt the exact point you want an exact gear. It's not fair to expect it to! Great in slow traffic though.

BMW seem to have cracked it with their 8 speed. My old 330d was instant performance when I pressed accelerator, 2 lite diesels were the same, even in eco mode. I do really like my A4 but have to be honest the lag is really disappointing. Even my old Golf GTI was fine. I'm hoping I just get used to it.

hmy7k · Oct 23, 2016

I normally travel in efficiency mode where response is predictably slow, when I need more response, such as an overtake, I knock the gearstick back into S mode and response is pretty good. If I really need to go I also use the paddles to drop down a couple of gears. You just have to plan ahead like you would in a manual car.

NickGun · Oct 23, 2016

hmy7k said:
I normally travel in efficiency mode where response is predictably slow, when I need more response, such as an overtake, I knock the gearstick back into S mode and response is pretty good. If I really need to go I also use the paddles to drop down a couple of gears. You just have to plan ahead like you would in a manual car.

Exactly how we drive ours, efficiency went cruising and a quick knock into sport or dynamic when pressing on.

NickGun · Oct 23, 2016

Bungle17 said:
I've just had a look again, and it's the very top option under Date & Time.

Once selected, you get this symbol on the DIS

Thanks - will have a butchers shortly and see if it cures the time loss but not holding my breath.

ScottishA4B9 · Oct 23, 2016

Instant throttle response in my manual 2.0tdi 190.

For those with throttle issues, try getting a DTUK throttle box which speeds up the throttle response.

cuke2u · Oct 23, 2016

Would be nice however dtuk hasn't got anything available for the 2.0l 190ps petrol engine yet..

Simonb1975 · Oct 23, 2016

Isn't this lag built in to the auto's ?
Didn't a German reviewer ask Audi about this ?

N11KDJ · Oct 24, 2016

I'm 5000 miles in and have had a couple of the same issues as you with the temp gage showing zero when it's warm and the clock losing excessive time.

Also got a couple of my own..

The mileage trip computer resets its self so I can't easily keep track of how many miles I get per tank of fuel.

Also, a couple of times the radio has come on and the dash has lit up after I've turned everything off and got out. I came back to get something out the boot and the radio was playing away. Couldn't turn it off using the button so had to restart the car , turn it off and open the door.

/dev/null · Oct 25, 2016

Not experienced those, but niggles I have are:

-) Stop/start being far too sensitive - just posted a separate thread about this.

-) Auto-headlights being far too sensitive - I have them set to late however even then they still come on very early compared to my old A3 saloon. Going under a bridge on the motorway junction can trigger them or even just shade from trees on a B road.

-) Entertainment systems sometimes says "I'm processing the entry" for simple commands. Again, the A3 never used to do that.

-) Email on Audi Connect doesn't work with iPhones. Though I'm told that's an Apple problem not Audi.

-) The parking sensors sometimes have a delay on them - so they're about a second behind where you actually are! You stop when they're slow beeping and then they catch up and start beeping really quickly.

NickGun · Oct 25, 2016

/dev/null said:
Not experienced those, but niggles I have are:

-) Stop/start being far too sensitive - just posted a separate thread about this.

-) Auto-headlights being far too sensitive - I have them set to late however even then they still come on very early compared to my old A3 saloon. Going under a bridge on the motorway junction can trigger them or even just shade from trees on a B road.

-) Entertainment systems sometimes says "I'm processing the entry" for simple commands. Again, the A3 never used to do that.

-) Email on Audi Connect doesn't work with iPhones. Though I'm told that's an Apple problem not Audi.

-) The parking sensors sometimes have a delay on them - so they're about a second behind where you actually are! You stop when they're slow beeping and then they catch up and start beeping really quickly.

Thanks for info, only thing similar I've experienced is slightly slow to come in rear parking sensors a few times, which seemingly fixed once car was cleaned.

NickGun · Oct 25, 2016

Bungle17 said:
I've just had a look again, and it's the very top option under Date & Time.

Once selected, you get this symbol on the DIS

Tried this several times, comes on and stays on until car switched off, next time you start it then the symbol is gone.

mjcourtney · Oct 25, 2016

NickGun said:
Tried this several times, comes on and stays on until car switched off, next time you start it then the symbol is gone.

Sounds like a fault - it should stay on once set. Back to the dealers with it!

syed123 · Oct 25, 2016

rich_16 said:
I've noticed the lag in power arriving. Which engine do you have? I've got the 218ps diesel and find it odd Whatcar rated the engine so much with the lag it has. I've stopped using efficiency mode because of it but even in auto mode the lag is bad.

How many miles have u completed so far?
I have the 272ps now tuned to 320ps 700nm but I did find the throttle response and lag pretty bad at first (I drive in comfort) I got the car tuned by tdi after about 1500 miles and although big difference to it I still had lag and throttle response wasn't always that good ( dynamic mode is pretty much perfect though 100 percent of the time even when the mileage was new)
My car has now done 4500 miles and throttle response is extremely responsive even in comfort mode and the gearbox does a damn impressive job of choosing the right gear, dynamic is just beast mode lol
‎
Expectedly with a new tdi , it still feels like it will get better as the mileage increases ( I would say the lag started to completely go after I hit 3000 miles)
Despite my car being tuned I still reckon it would have been perfectly responsive now if stock purely based on the engine racking up more miles..
So don't lose hope guys I'm very confident you'll all see better performance/efficiency as ur car slowly but surely starts to loosen up :

syed123 · Oct 25, 2016

Snoop said:
Has anyone got any experience driving the the 3.0 272ps version? Is there as much lag as in smaller powered engines?

Yes, I have the 272.. if you are interested I'm not surprised!
It really does feel like a baby a8 but as u may be wondering how the turbo lag/ throttle response is from new id admit it wasn't especially great.
It felt like a heavy car (prob the quattro system) at first but as the mileage goes up you'll notice that the performance/driveability improves dramatically!
Having done 4500 miles I can certainly vouch for this.
How it compares to the petrols I can't say.. but I remember having the a1 1.4 150cod as a loan car a while back and that was a pocket rocket lol
The acceleration would hurt ur face -_-‎

nathanrich · Oct 25, 2016

nathanrich said:
The software updates for flickering mmi and temp display were available back in September. Not sure if it is available now.

Sorry, I meant were not available in September.

Snoop · Oct 25, 2016

syed123 said:
Yes, I have the 272.. if you are interested I'm not surprised!
It really does feel like a baby a8 but as u may be wondering how the turbo lag/ throttle response is from new id admit it wasn't especially great.
It felt like a heavy car (prob the quattro system) at first but as the mileage goes up you'll notice that the performance/driveability improves dramatically!
Having done 4500 miles I can certainly vouch for this.
How it compares to the petrols I can't say.. but I remember having the a1 1.4 150cod as a loan car a while back and that was a pocket rocket lol
The acceleration would hurt ur face -_-‎

Thanks Syed123. I have just placed an order for the car so will see how bad it is before going down the road of tuning. Surly it can't be any worse than a 2.0 tdi Q5 that I have just now

syed123 · Oct 26, 2016

Snoop said:
Thanks Syed123. I have just placed an order for the car so will see how bad it is before going down the road of tuning. Surly it can't be any worse than a 2.0 tdi Q5 that I have just now

Np

No no, it shouldn't be that bad

For the record, my previous car was a 63 plate a3 1.6tdi (ecu/tcu tune/ DTUK pedal box with sport plus plus 3)
Was absolutely rapid, throttle response was extremely sharp n there was literally no lag, felt much quicker than most stock 2.0tdis in my opinion..
I take the q5 u have has the 190 engine? In my friends a6 it isn't very responsive so I know wat u mean about lag..
However in the new a4 I thought it was very decent, didn't feel as quick as the a3 but still good..
Overall I'm sure u won't be dissapointed at all

my minor niggles were cause I was prob expecting too much at first.

Snoop · Oct 26, 2016

syed123 said:
Np
No no, it shouldn't be that bad
For the record, my previous car was a 63 plate a3 1.6tdi (ecu/tcu tune/ DTUK pedal box with sport plus plus 3)
Was absolutely rapid, throttle response was extremely sharp n there was literally no lag, felt much quicker than most stock 2.0tdis in my opinion..
I take the q5 u have has the 190 engine? In my friends a6 it isn't very responsive so I know wat u mean about lag..
However in the new a4 I thought it was very decent, didn't feel as quick as the a3 but still good..
Overall I'm sure u won't be dissapointed at all my minor niggles were cause I was prob expecting too much at first.

No I have the 177 engine so even less responsive. Thanks for putting my mind at rest. Roll on March

NickGun · Oct 27, 2016

nathanrich said:
Sorry, I meant were not available in September.

Dropped by Leeds Audi today as was nearby and the car is booked in for niggles looking at on 10th Nov, including a software update that's available and some addition to boot (Avant only I believe), think it's a check strap or something to stop chaffing (not that we've noticed any) but its applicable to the car so might as well have it done while its in.

Will report back after then to see what difference Software update makes.

A4B9 · Oct 27, 2016

Should these software updates not be available OTA? This was one of the things the dealer was going on about when I went on my first test drive just under a year ago along with being able to remotely diagnose any issues with the car

Wagster · Oct 27, 2016

NickGun said:
Will report back after then to see what difference Software update makes.

I had the updates done this week and it has not sorted out retaining the ticked box so the clock automatically updates via gps.

I was meant to query it with the technicians but forgot as was sorting out other issues.

Kestrel · Oct 27, 2016

A4B9 said:
Should these software updates not be available OTA? This was one of the things the dealer was going on about when I went on my first test drive just under a year ago along with being able to remotely diagnose any issues with the car

`OTA`?

A4B9 · Oct 27, 2016

Kestrel said:
`OTA`?

Over the air

7.5k miles in & a few little niggles / anyone else experienced any of these?

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