Any S4 specialists here?

MFM

MFM

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I need to find out a few things about an S4 I'm looking at buying and don't have a lot of time so would appreciate anyone who knows the S4 well to get in touch.
 
opelfruit said:
Post your questions in here, plenty of S4 owners about who can help.
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Cheers. I've already posted in another thread but had no answers.

Basically I'm looking at buying an MRC stage 2 S4 B8, but when I test drove it yesterday there were a couple of things which aren't normal so I need to try and find out if it's a major concern.

Firstly, on cold start up the engine sounded absolutely fine. No chain rattles or noises. After a couple of minutes however it started making a very noticeable ticking sound. It's not the noise from the injectors as this was quite a bit louder and not as fast. If I had to guess, it made the sound twice every second.

Secondly, on idle the engine felt a bit lumpy. Almost as if it had uprated engine mounts where you can feel the vibration through the seat. But once driving it disappeared.

I've wondered whether it could be the evap purge valve causing both these issues, but I don't know Audi engines at all so it's just a guess.

The car has been looked after and has mostly full Audi service history with with MRC doing the last(major) service.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
skiptowncat said:
Does the tick increase with revs?
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Yes it does.

skiptowncat said:
I'm led to believe there is an active engine mount on these that stiffens up over 10mph, it may not be disengaging.
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Interesting. I've read through the post you linked up, but there is no clunking or moving of the engine that I could feel. And I gave it some stick. Literally only feel it at tick over.
 
MFM said:
Yes it does.



Interesting. I've read through the post you linked up, but there is no clunking or moving of the engine that I could feel. And I gave it some stick. Literally only feel it at tick over.
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It may be sticking in the engaged position which would cause increased vibes at idle.

The tick could be one of the pulleys, very hard to diagnose without having a look and listen.

If it's manual, they could also both be flywheel related.
 
Last edited:
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My manual S4 has a slight vibration at idle felt through the seats, perfectly normal on these. Made no difference when I had my flywheel and clutch replaced.
 
I put a deposit down on another S4 tonight. Mint 2010 model highly specced with 43k on the clock. No funny noises or vibrations!
 
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Had it taken off the net so will take pictures once I've picked it up.

I was under the impression the road tax would be the same as my 5 series BMW, under £300 pa. To my shock I just did an HPI check and see it's nearly £500 a year!! One of the main reasons I didn't go for an RS4.

Why is it in such a high road tax band??
 
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xpowerukm said:
My 2011 is £290 ?
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You sure mate? Everywhere I've checked it says it's £490. Can someone confirm please?

Welcome by the way. Can't mistake you with that nickname! :D
 
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It appears that 25 May 2010 - 26 Oct 2011 are more expensive & higher emission?
 
£290
Just got my service book out & it says in the front on the sticker telling trim level that the emissions are 225.
Mine falls into the 490 bracket on parkers but in actual fact it is 225g/km not 234g/km
 
xpowerukm said:
£290
Just got my service book out & it says in the front on the sticker telling trim level that the emissions are 225.
Mine falls into the 490 bracket on parkers but in actual fact it is 225g/km not 234g/km
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Lol. So I'm still not sure if mine is actually the higher one.
 
MFM said:
Lol. So I'm still not sure if mine is actually the higher one.
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Indeed,does seem odd that the same engine suddenly emits higher emissions.

I'm guessing that the data is wrong for later B8 cars as that is what mine is
 
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From the other thread I linked to:

Carried out a bit of research for you, the S4 had emissions of 225 g/km at launch, however it seems that Audi in their wisdom made the car approx 10 kilos heavier at some point knocking it into the next tax bracket.
I do not have the exact date but I suspect this change was made sometime in 2010.
The original unladen weight was 1650 for the manual.
If you want to pay £280 road tax you need to look for an early model.
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MFM said:
Well this says mine is £290 as well. Would be well chuffed if that is the case. Cheers!
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The DFT should be spot on so I think ya will be fine mate
 
MFM said:
I put a deposit down on another S4 tonight. Mint 2010 model highly specced with 43k on the clock. No funny noises or vibrations!
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Did ya manage to find one with the sports diff?
 
xpowerukm said:
Did ya manage to find one with the sports diff?
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The one I went for in the end doesn't have the sports diff by the looks of it. I need to check through the specs properly though. Apart from that it's got pretty much everything else I wanted, plus it's like a brand new car. Didn't really want a manual or a black one, but seeing it and driving it I fell in love.
 
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MFM said:
Secondly, on idle the engine felt a bit lumpy. Almost as if it had uprated engine mounts where you can feel the vibration through the seat. But once driving it disappeared.
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I know you didn't buy the car which exhibited the idle tremor, but this is quite normal and many B8 S4 owners "suffer" the symptoms. See here for example: http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=97228. I quite like it personally!
 
jaygemson said:
I know you didn't buy the car which exhibited the idle tremor, but this is quite normal and many B8 S4 owners "suffer" the symptoms. See here for example: http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=97228. I quite like it personally!
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Cheers. As long as it's normal I don't care if it plays the trumpet tbh!

One question, how do you check the oil level on these as when I pulled the dipstick out I was standing with a stub in my hand and no dipstick. Lol
 
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Yeah the MMI dipstick is a little different hahaa
 
2009 s4 manual : 234 g/km
2009 s4 stronic: 219 g/km
2012 s4 stronic: 178 g/km


The older manuals are the worst for co2 emissions, and go into the top bracket, all the rest are the next one down. The s-tronic gearboxes also offer lower fuel consumption for some reason.

One of the many, many reasons I went for s-tronic :)
 
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opelfruit said:
2009 s4 manual : 234 g/km
2009 s4 stronic: 219 g/km
2012 s4 stronic: 178 g/km


The older manuals are the worst for co2 emissions, and go into the top bracket, all the rest are the next one down. The s-tronic gearboxes also offer lower fuel consumption for some reason.

One of the many, many reasons I went for s-tronic :)
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I actually wanted an s-tronic! But seeing as I'm strapped for time I couldn't hold out any longer.
 
opelfruit said:
The s-tronic gearboxes also offer lower fuel consumption for some reason.
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Isn't it all 'smoke and mirrors'? The emissions are based on EU rules which the manufacturers can 'program' into the s-tronic so that it artificially reduces co2? What is the idle on a manual S4? My s-tronic seems to have quite a low idle - about 700rpm?

I wonder what is going to happen in the future. As I understand it, now that these tax rates are encouraging the reduction of co2, we now have an problem with no or no2 or something. Maybe there will be another change to the tax rates targeted at diesels.
 
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....yes, yes it is :)


smoke and mirrors that provide me a tangible financial saving :icon thumright:
 
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jaygemson said:
I know you didn't buy the car which exhibited the idle tremor, but this is quite normal and many B8 S4 owners "suffer" the symptoms. See here for example: http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=97228. I quite like it personally!
Click to expand...
Interesting, maybe this is what my garage referred to when talking about a slight misfire on mine, it does shake slightly every now and then. Changed plugs and still there...
Might need them to take another look
 
razza1 said:
Interesting, maybe this is what my garage referred to when talking about a slight misfire on mine, it does shake slightly every now and then. Changed plugs and still there...
Might need them to take another look
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Mine does this too and has from new. Noticeable at idle.
 
Dipstick are only a couple of quid and worth the spend just so you can check the oil quality
 
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