Hello....and seeking some RS5 advice

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madferritt

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Hey all, long time lurker and avid Audi owner (previous models, B5, B7, S4, RS4, multiple C5 RS6s etc etc), but having spent a while being responsible, swanning everyone around in a family wagon from Bavaria, I'm getting back into the fold!

Kids grown up and the mother doing the majority of the ferrying, I'm looking for some wholesome coupe fun.

I'm set on an Rs5. Just need a V8 back in my life ;)

I'm looking at post-facelift 2012/13 onwards with a budget of around £30k'ish.

Just wanted to get some advice as I know little about the A5s, on what to look out for in terms of

1. Service must haves, faults etc.
2. What are the common problems (still DRC and carbon?)
3. Issues to be aware of
4. Must have spec...
5. Signs of mis-use

....you get my drift. Forearmed is forewarned and whilst i've owned many and had some interesting debates with Audi warranty in some cases, so have a broad understanding of what to look out for, your specific knowledge of this model will be very helpful for me.

Thanks in advance.
 
In my opinion, the RS5 is one of the more reliable vehicles in this category, carbon buildup notwithstanding.

I can only speak from the vantage point of U.S vehicles but some of the known issues are...
-Front rotor premature wear. I've heard this has not been an issue on Euro cars.
-Carbon buildup. Yes, it's still an issue.
-Gas cap solenoid, can fail on 2013's there was a TSB in the U.S.
-Rear spoiler faults, sometimes they will not raise nor close properly.
-Various squeaks and rattles over uneven surfaces, especially from the glass roof area.
-Gear indicator issues-this is an internal transmission part that needs to be replaced as a unit, part of the mechatronic. Uncommon.
-Tickets. Lots and lots of speeding tickets. (Ah, you're still reading.)
-Premature radiator hose wear in hot climates...should not be an issue for you.
-Exhaust valve squeak.
-Edit..also rare, I know that occasionally there's a sprag gear for the a/c unit that makes noises when moving slowly while backing up and moving forward when parking. It's an engine-out fix for a $2 part. I don't know if the part ends up failing but it'll make a funny grinding noise (sort of like grinding synchros in a manual transmission) that's sometimes hard to hear.

My advice is to purchase a car with a service history making sure all the big services were done in proper time and manner. The homeland may have a different service interval than U.S. cars but generally it's the 15K 25K and 35K which are essential and include servicing of either/or the AT and mechanical side of the S-tronic and rear differential. If there are no receipts or records of maintenance, I'd run away quickly. The next big service is at 55K. Audi service is not inexpensive by a long shot. A qualified independent shop may be the ticket if you're not a do it yourself type of person (and it's completely realistic to service an RS5 at home.)

Change the oil every 5K, not 10K and stick with a better full synthetic and not the OEM Castrol. I'm using Motul Specific. Make sure to properly warm the vehicle's oil and transmission before ensuing abuse. There's an oil temp gauge. I live by it. Do thrash the vehicle to help keep carbon buildup at bay and make sure your drives are long enough to properly heat the oil and burn off the contaminants. The RS5's oil temps are designed to run hotter for that very reason.

As for spec, we did not have many options here in the U.S. (no DRC) but we did have carbon ceramic brakes (recommended), rear privacy curtain and a few other small items. I also have the driver assist tech package which includes adaptive cruise. If you hit the motorway for long distances this may be a must-have for you. I also have the Audi MMI Navigation plus package with the B&O sound system. Personally I could skip nav with modern smart phones (and there's now an add-on aftermarket Carplay module) but it helps resale.

On the aesthetics front, I'm a big fan of the black optics although the aluminum looks stellar on the Daytona Gray. I'm also partial to the Alcantara interior and the U.S. sport seats. I'd been looking for a full leather interior but could not be happier with the Alcantara version.

I'm torn on the sport exhaust. If you do not plan on meddling, go for the sport exhaust. Otherwise there are plenty of nice systems to fit every need. Just be aware, uncorked, the car sounds ungodly and it'll turn you into a proper **** as you find every opportunity to run the car to redline and downshift while approaching every roundabout. I received my AWE resonated downpipes to quiet the car today. Installing tomorrow. **** problem solved.

Basically, get it loaded if you're able to find one.

As for what to look for, beyond the normal no leaks, cosmetic defects, etc...make sure the transmission operates smoothly at low and high speeds. No clunks, no rough downshifts, etc...My advice is to always get a pre-purchase inspection at an Audi-certified shop.
 
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Thanks very much Ape Factory, for taking the time for a detailed response.

It will be low'ish miles with meticulous history or i won't part with cash, and preferably standard and un-fettled, i'll do the fettling ;)

I know carbon build up remains an issue so I'll test out a few to see if I can feel a difference, nonetheless, i'll budget for a full carbon clean up.

I just need to find the right spec and colour and we're good to go.

Cheers
 
I looked at five or six in-person and I purposely drove a few that had been put away wet to see how the car feels when all wasn't quite right. None had transmission issues, half had brake issues, one felt "weak" and one felt noticeably stronger. I wouldn't shy away from a car that's non-standard either. An exhaust, wheels and suspension are just fine in my opinion, and may save you a good amount over purchasing new aftermarket parts and having them installed. I'd obviously stay away from a car that's been flashed.

I purchased my car with a full history, low miles and it had a host of high quality aftermarket parts including full coil-overs, forged wheels, full exhaust, sways, and other chassis bits. The engine was left alone. The only thing I need to do was dial back the exhaust noise a bit. And I flew out to purchase it and drove the car back. Plenty of photos were sent my way but I'd not seen or driven the car in person prior. I was prepared to walk (ok, fly back) if it wasn't up to snuff but luckily it was.

The advice everyone gave me was to be patient and don't settle. It took me about four months to find mine although I did pass up on one early on that I should have purchased. I'm sure the RS5 isn't as rare as it is here so hopefully you have a few more to choose from locally. Good luck!
 
I'm keeping an eye on your thread as we are looking at purchasing a facelift RS5 probably next spring/Summer.

When to see one yesterday and was not in good condition at all.

We are using it a joint car/toy. I'll be keeping my A3 170 Quattro as my everyday car
Our issue is we can't agree on the colour. I prefer Sepang Blue she likes black. We have met have way and both like the Suzuka Grey.
 
Whilst I can appreciate the cachet of an RS5, IMHO buy an S5 and tune it....
 
arad85 said:
Whilst I can appreciate the cachet of an RS5, IMHO buy an S5 and tune it....
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Don't want it for all out performance.

Want the V8 rumble and the RS5 looks ;)

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arad85 said:
I'll wave as I sail past you then ;) :D
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Lol that's fine... I get to drive above speed limits legally at work...maybe pull ya over one day lol ;)

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It’s an interesting prospect - the S5. However I’m done with tuning and modding, spent way too much time and money in the past. The V8 and RS5 looks, not to mention the spec are enough for me.

I’ll wave you on arad85, content with my V8 burble
 
arad85 said:
No... I only get to 70. Just really quickly ;)
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Lol part of the games not getting caught ;) or being stopped by a petrol head :)

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Have to say the after market exhaust makes a big difference. Ms arad85 said the other day that mine sounded "grown up" compared to a 4-cylinder after market.
 
arad85 said:
Have to say the after market exhaust makes a big difference. Ms arad85 said the other day that mine sounded "grown up" compared to a 4-cylinder after market.
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And we both think the standard exhaust is a bit pants... Let me put it this way, she hasn't complained at the price of the AWE bought when the £:$ was at its worst...
 
My RS5 is for sale if you are interested.

Daytona grey with black styling pack
18500 miles 2014 14 plate.
Has Audi warranty left until June next year.
2 brand new tyres (other 2 on 6mm)
Dynamic sports package inc sports exhaust
Driving assistance package
Carbon inlays
Band and olfsen
Reversing camera
Full Audi history
Adaptive cruise
Tech pack

Im sure there’s options I’ve missed.
I’m after £35k for it.
 
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a fair price for the spec and mileage, but more than my current budget i'm afraid.
 
madferritt said:
a fair price for the spec and mileage, but more than my current budget i'm afraid.
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No problem, I thought I would ask, I’ve given it to Audi on sale or return but it’s always better to sell to someone on here and save some money both ways.
 
An S5 doesn't get you the ungodly sound of an 8200rpm screaming V8. There's truly nothing like it, especially with a good exhaust. It's also better in the twisty bits.

JH Motorsports has a centrifugal supercharger under development along with header-back modular exhaust and apparently a naturally aspirated ECU tune that we'll all be quite happy with. I know there's a German company who offered a tune which purportedly gave a round 50hp. The SC should produce an easy 600hp as it's intercooled. S5 what?
 
The big benefit of a charged S5 over an RS5 would be the option to go with a manual box. If that doesn’t matter - RS5 all day long!

Definitely change the exhaust though.

My B7 RS4 with an aftermarket exhaust is a world away from how it was with a stock exhaust:




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Getting closer. I've narrowed the selection down to a couple but realistically won't be till the new year.

Finding one with all the desirable options is the challenge!
 
madferritt said:
Getting closer. I've narrowed the selection down to a couple but realistically won't be till the new year.

Finding one with all the desirable options is the challenge!
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Know how you feel. Seen a lovely one but probably about £2k over budget if i was to buy now. Not tried asking for a discount as it's already at a good price so don't think dealer would budge. Realistically we need to wait until were back from New York end of Feb then start looking.

I just can't stop browsing for RS5's lol

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We bought one a couple of days ago. Didn't go for a facelift version as we saw this one and loved it. Came with quite a few extras.. the main ones were the bucket seats and miltek sports cat and non res cat back system, sat nav plus, B&O, high tech pack ext. Had Autowatch Ghost fit yesterday to help sleep better at night :)

Fully serviced including all transmission/haldex oils etc. 4 new verdestein tyres, new brake pads and discs recently done and car generally in excellant condition.

Just wondering if it's worth taking out some kind of extended warranty or just put money away each month?

Also car will mainly be doing 9 mile trips in mixed driving i.e. 30 to 60 mph zones. Is it recommended to change oil sooner? Say every 5k?
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Congrats mate. It looks a peach!

I must admit, the pre-facelift does look good, and if the spec is high then why not.

In terms of Warranty, I’ve always paid a little more and opted for Audi Warranty with EU breakdown cover. No quibbles when it comes to genuine claims, all taken care of through the main dealer whilst you’re in an Audi courtesy car, and the repairs are guaranteed for 2 years.

No brainer in my book.

5k service sounds reasonable if mileage is low and driving is local stop/start.

Video clip of the exhaust on start up and revving would be appreciated
 
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madferritt said:
Congrats mate. It looks a peach!

I must admit, the pre-facelift does look good, and if the spec is high then why not.

In terms of Warranty, I’ve always paid a little more and opted for Audi Warranty with EU breakdown cover. No quibbles when it comes to genuine claims, all taken care of through the main dealer whilst you’re in an Audi courtesy car, and the repairs are guaranteed for 2 years.

No brainer in my book.

5k service sounds reasonable if mileage is low and driving is local stop/start.

Video clip of the exhaust on start up and revving would be appreciated
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I didn't know Audi could do extended warranty on used cars? I've got an A3 170 Quattro and the 3rd party warranty runs out tomorrow on that and had well over £2k of repairs ( only couple months ago Audi replaced the prop shaft at over £1400) but was Arnold Clarke's warranty.

I'll look into it see if they can cover the RS5. ;)

I'll try and get a video sorted but wife has took it to work so won't be today. She did take a video the day we got it but it didn't do it any justice. It's insane on dynamic mode I laugh like a school kid haha.

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Audi do used car warranties. I think you can get a quote online or you’ll have to call them: ‭0345 641 9707‬
 
madferritt said:
Audi do used car warranties. I think you can get a quote online or you’ll have to call them: ‭0345 641 9707‬
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Yeah just have a look online and got some quotes. Quite steep, full cover on all parts with no excess and under 10k miles a year is £2033 per year lol.

Change it to Names components (major ones only) with £100 excess is £1400 or with £250 excess is £959.

Might be better off just sticking £100 a month a side. From what I've read these cars seem pretty reliable and although expensive if a major fault occurs it seems quite unlikely.

Undecided...

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Congrats! Love the color, love the seats. Wish those had been an option here in the States. Enjoy it!

Tough choice on the warranty. The cars are generally reliable although the DRS seems to have been an issue for more than a few people if your car is so equipped. Otherwise, squirreling away a bit of money is good advice. Now if you'd bought an E92 M3...would be a different story!

I'd definitely change the oil more often as it may help with carbon buildup long-term. I'm on a 5K mile (8k Kilometer) interval for a 25 mile round trip jaunt, 2/3 motorway, 1/3 city. I'm adding miles quickly and I'm at 39K miles and plan on a carbon clean some time within the next year, even though it doesn't fee like it needs it.
 
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Yes it does have Dynamic Ride Control and softens or stiffens the suspension going between Comfort and Dynamic. In Dynamic mode its almost spine crushing its so firm, specially for our country lanes in the UK. So far Ive set my Individual setting so that the engine/gearbox, sports differential are in Dynamic and the steering and suspension in Comfort and feels quite good.

These seats were a must for us when buying the car. They are amazing, heated and also the lower sides and backrest sides can be inflated/deflated by the press of a button to increase/decrease firmness and fitting.

Car is on 53k and feels and drives fine. I have read about the engine carbon issue and at the moment im undecided whether to pay for a rolling road run to see the power output and see if it needs a carbon clean or just get it done. I'll probably leave it for a few months and just go with the clean ;)




Ape Factory said:
Congrats! Love the color, love the seats. Wish those had been an option here in the States. Enjoy it!

Tough choice on the warranty. The cars are generally reliable although the DRS seems to have been an issue for more than a few people if your car is so equipped. Otherwise, squirreling away a bit of money is good advice. Now if you'd bought an E92 M3...would be a different story!

I'd definitely change the oil more often as it may help with carbon buildup long-term. I'm on a 5K mile (8k Kilometer) interval for a 25 mile round trip jaunt, 2/3 motorway, 1/3 city. I'm adding miles quickly and I'm at 39K miles and plan on a carbon clean some time within the next year, even though it doesn't fee like it needs it.
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If you have access to an OBDII dongle and a smart phone, there are a number of apps that'll allow you to pull codes and you can see if the car's having any misfires under load (one of the tells) and needs carbon cleaning. You can also hear them on cold startup but don't confuse with hot fuel hitting the cats (may be a U.S. only thing) which also sounds similar.

I don't know what the "rules" are in the UK but if you're able to acquire all of the service records, look to see if they've had to repair the DRS. If not, you may have a "good one". I did this for mine as I also bought used and made an informed decision on the warranty based on it's past history. I also have a good sized garage with plenty of tools and the ability to service most items myself if need be. My body no longer appreciates that I have the ability but the wallet does!
 
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Ape Factory said:
If you have access to an OBDII dongle and a smart phone, there are a number of apps that'll allow you to pull codes and you can see if the car's having any misfires under load (one of the tells) and needs carbon cleaning. You can also hear them on cold startup but don't confuse with hot fuel hitting the cats (may be a U.S. only thing) which also sounds similar.

I don't know what the "rules" are in the UK but if you're able to acquire all of the service records, look to see if they've had to repair the DRS. If not, you may have a "good one". I did this for mine as I also bought used and made an informed decision on the warranty based on it's past history. I also have a good sized garage with plenty of tools and the ability to service most items myself if need be. My body no longer appreciates that I have the ability but the wallet does!
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Yep I have a dongle and carista app along with vcds as my main commuting car is an A3 170 diesel Quattro so have stuff to read errors on that. Never got chance to hook it up yet and wife's still at work with car. Thanks for the top though I'll definitely be checking for misfire errors. Can't say I've heard or felt a thing but I love that noise it makes when changing gear lol

I've I've not noticed any repair records regards the suspension and it feels fine. I'm guessing it's an expensive dealership job if theirs a problem with it due to the pistons etc linking the diagonal suspension up to stiffen it up mid corner etc? I think in the UK all cars come as standard with it so not having it isn't a choice but I could be wrong.

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Ah good...I have the Ross-Tech VCDS as well, wasn't sure how available it was overseas or the cost hence me not recommending it. I have the Carista too but only used it for that first month of ownership and switched over to the VCDS which is obviously far more powerful as a diagnostic tool.

The noise is amazing. Definitely one of the best aspects of the RS5. Not sure how loud the non-res Milltek is. I had the AWE with non-res. Sounded incredible but in the end, was too loud for daily driving and the life of a middle-aged professional. I slotted on the AWE resonated downpipes and I'm almost happier. Not quite, but no drone is good. Guess I'm still an irresponsible kid at heart. Almost bought an S3 instead of the RS5 and that fact horrifies me after spending a few months in the RS.
 
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Ape Factory said:
Ah good...I have the Ross-Tech VCDS as well, wasn't sure how available it was overseas or the cost hence me not recommending it. I have the Carista too but only used it for that first month of ownership and switched over to the VCDS which is obviously far more powerful as a diagnostic tool.

The noise is amazing. Definitely one of the best aspects of the RS5. Not sure how loud the non-res Milltek is. I had the AWE with non-res. Sounded incredible but in the end, was too loud for daily driving and the life of a middle-aged professional. I slotted on the AWE resonated downpipes and I'm almost happier. Not quite, but no drone is good. Guess I'm still an irresponsible kid at heart. Almost bought an S3 instead of the RS5 and that fact horrifies me after spending a few months in the RS.
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The Milltek is just right in comfort mode. You can hear it slightly but it's not a droning noise that annoys you. When I dynamic mode though my god it's totally different, nice deep note when the revs are low and was piercing high up! Completely makes the car.

Not sure the neighbours like us going to work early in the morning as we live in a quiet culdesac and it's loud in comfort setting from outside on a cold start as it revs to around 2k due to it being freezing and snowy lol

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With the non-res downpipes, I had to resort to starting the car with the garage door closed until it settled into a normal idle. I sent my neighbor's young daughter fleeing in fear, crying, back into her house one morning. She was near the end of my driveway when I'd started the car up. With the resonated pipes, I feel much better about firing her up with the garage open. I'm on a quiet culdesac as well so I can relate!
 
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i am driving a 65 plate rs5 cabrio as a courtesy car whilst my rs3 saloon is in the workshop. Have to say whilst the car looks pretty decent, the noise, ride, kit and power is disappointing. I thought being a v8 i would hear it but it sounds quieter than my s3 let alone the rs3. Its weird to drive too. Dont think a cabrio is sensible in a car that size and weight tbh.
 
You have to drive them differently. I will admit, the RS5 Cabrio, if you're looking for something a bit more hard core, is not the way to go as it's even heavier than the coupe. And a good aftermarket exhaust makes a massive difference in the aural department. If the Cabrio doesn't have the sport exhaust, that's yet another level of separation of where the car should be audibly.

I actually cross-shopped the S3 (no RS3's for test drives) and RS5 and the S3 "feels" faster due to the low end pull in comparison to the paltry top end where the turbo falls off. Feels fast due to the torque swell down low. Drive the RS5 above 4K, and keep it there, you'll be singing a different tune. But again, the Cabrio is probably not the best choice. The RS3 is step up power wise and it's a good deal quicker in stock form than the RS5 without a doubt. I still haven't seen an instrumented test on the RS3 on our side of the pond but most are expecting it to be a high 11 second car whereas most RS5's are in the 12.4-12.5 range in the 1/4 mile (because that's how we measure everything here).

Yesterday, I had a run-in with a new C7 Corvette on the way home from a photo shoot (in Mexico, standard disclaimer). Trunk full of camera gear and a ladder (love the massive trunk!). I was in front and had passed him earlier as my cruising speed was higher. He sped up and was behind me. Ok, fine. As soon as the road opened up with no traffic, I nailed it with him in tow. I jumped out, intentionally, as I didn't want him using the draft. And sure enough, he couldn't gain on me through redline in two gears. I was actually surprised and figured he'd gain on me quickly.

Back to the exhaust front, there are two new systems coming out for the RS5. I'm not affiliated with either one, just sharing the information. JHM, in the U.S., has a 2.75" valved kit coming out here shortly which sounds absolutely wicked.


The second is from a Canadian company called VelocityAP which makes some wicked Aston Martin exhaust parts including headers along with Audi, BMW, etc...Their kit is 2.5" and also valved and comes in at a really good price point. And it appears to be a solid design unlike Armytrix which took the cheap route with their valved system in my opinion and costs waaaaay more than it should.
 
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