What extras to go for on S4 B8?

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metzer_001

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Hi,

I am struggling to find a car with the particular extras I would like. The one's I am pretty sure I would want are the Tech Pack (with B and O sound system - does this come with DAB radio also?)

I am not overly bothered with the sports diff, due to me not really going on track days, or driving the car rapidly around bends etc. And would rather save on the servicing costs on the sports diff too.

Super sports seats vs standard Sline-style seats? What do you think on this, are the super sports seats that much more comfy?

Any other extras that I have missed would people recommend having?

Cheers
 
Hi, I wont get into a debate about the sports diff: you have your reasons for not being bothered and I’m not going to argue the alternative point of view. Sports seats will be a matter of personal choice too. I find the additional shaping and bolstering absolutely brilliant but that’s partly because I’m a fat old man with a bad back. The other reason I went for them, though, is that they’re the only way to get full leather. That was important to me, it might not be to you.

Not sure that DAB radio is dependent on having B&O. You can have one without the other if I remember correctly.
 
The DAB is a separate option.

I’m very impressed with the adaptive suspension, if you can find one with it. The sport diff has no expensive additional servicing requirements.

Super sport seats are very nice but the other seats aren’t bad but you’ll narrow the market when you come to sell the car.
 
jdp1962 said:
Hi, I wont get into a debate about the sports diff: you have your reasons for not being bothered and I’m not going to argue the alternative point of view. Sports seats will be a matter of personal choice too. I find the additional shaping and bolstering absolutely brilliant but that’s partly because I’m a fat old man with a bad back. The other reason I went for them, though, is that they’re the only way to get full leather. That was important to me, it might not be to you.

Not sure that DAB radio is dependent on having B&O. You can have one without the other if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think if I find a car within my budget that has a rear diff or even Drive Select, then I would go for it, but I am after the other 'extras' first such as B & O and super sports seats.

Surprisingly there's not too many s-tronics between 2010 and 2011 that have Super sports seats here in the UK!
 
They are out there, last month my dad and I got two S4’s with full drive select and supersport seats a 2009 and a 2010. Took a while of waiting but my advice would be to stick to your ideal spec or you’ll end up feeling you’re missing out.
 
weekenny said:
They are out there, last month my dad and I got two S4’s with full drive select and supersport seats a 2009 and a 2010. Took a while of waiting but my advice would be to stick to your ideal spec or you’ll end up feeling you’re missing out.
Click to expand...

Can I ask did you find these on autotrader or other means? I've seen a few on auction sites such as BCA but I wouldn't want to spend that amount of cash on a car from an auction.

I'm trying to get rid of my current 320d soon-ish as i've had the infamous engine fault light pop up quite a bit recently!

Cheers
 
On Autotrader and Piston heads. Both sub 75k miles as there are a few high milers kicking about. The ones with a truly high spec don’t hang about long, I saw plenty advertised as high spec that were anything but.
 
I was looking for ages for one with the right spec in my price range. In the end I sacrificed the sports seats.

The sports seats definitely look better and probably offer better support but the standard ones are very comfortable and there's nothing wrong with them.
 
@metzer_001 - what MY are you looking at? The DL502 s-tronic gearbox fitted to the B8 S4 has a history of changes. MY09/10 has produced a worryingly high number of DL501 problems which can be expensive to fix. Unfortunately the revised DL501 in MY11/12 (ish) did not eradicate the problems. So far it seems that the latest DL501 is good (I and many other owners keeping our fingers crossed about that), but it is not clear exactly when that was introduced. In addition the DL501 can suffer if not maintained and there are a surprisingly high number of cars out there which missed their gearbox service milestone(s) in spite of being sold as having a full service history.

Actually sports diff helps in the wet and snow, not just on fast corners, but like Jeff I'll not try to sway you. And although @weekenny is correct that according to Audi, there are no service requirements for sports diff on the S4, enthusiasts should make their own decision about that. Just like I had my gearbox service done early, at some point I shall also have its hypoid oil changed, but I shall also have the AFT and hypoid oils changed on my sports diff (which will be about £400).

IMO DAB is over-rated. It's just as well that I have this opinion because I had to switch my radio to FM permanently because the rear camera on my dashcam interferes with DAB reception.
 
The regular rear diff should get its oil done too. So what I meant was not just sport diffs that need maintained.
 
Dippy said:
@metzer_001 - what MY are you looking at? The DL502 s-tronic gearbox fitted to the B8 S4 has a history of changes. MY09/10 has produced a worryingly high number of DL501 problems which can be expensive to fix. Unfortunately the revised DL501 in MY11/12 (ish) did not eradicate the problems. So far it seems that the latest DL501 is good (I and many other owners keeping our fingers crossed about that), but it is not clear exactly when that was introduced. In addition the DL501 can suffer if not maintained and there are a surprisingly high number of cars out there which missed their gearbox service milestone(s) in spite of being sold as having a full service history.

Actually sports diff helps in the wet and snow, not just on fast corners, but like Jeff I'll not try to sway you. And although @weekenny is correct that according to Audi, there are no service requirements for sports diff on the S4, enthusiasts should make their own decision about that. Just like I had my gearbox service done early, at some point I shall also have its hypoid oil changed, but I shall also have the AFT and hypoid oils changed on my sports diff (which will be about £400).

IMO DAB is over-rated. It's just as well that I have this opinion because I had to switch my radio to FM permanently because the rear camera on my dashcam interferes with DAB reception.
Click to expand...

Useful info Dippy thanks.

I'm looking at 60 plates onwards, 60, 11, maybe 61 plate, (unlikely I could stretch to a 12 plate but the ones I've seen are obviously higher mileage in my budget). I noticed you mentioned DL502 and Dl501. Just wondering if thats a typo or?
 
Yes, that was a typo.
In that case please pay particular attention to the service record. If the gearbox should have been serviced then I advise that you see the invoice proving it.
 
Dippy said:
Yes, that was a typo.
In that case please pay particular attention to the service record. If the gearbox should have been serviced then I advise that you see the invoice proving it.
Click to expand...

You mean to show the oil changes were done at the correct intervals?

I wonder if buying a used approved car from Audi itself, may be safer, with regards to these 'time bomb' Stronic gear boxes. If anything were to happen, they should replace/fix free of charge depending on whether a warranty is taken out maybe. One would hope anyway!
 
Yes.

I think you should do a bit of research first. I can only give you third hand accounts of what has happened. However I have read reports from unsuspecting owners who have bought a used B8 and then discovered that it had gearbox problems. You might like to read them yourself.
 
metzer_001 said:
You mean to show the oil changes were done at the correct intervals?

I wonder if buying a used approved car from Audi itself, may be safer, with regards to these 'time bomb' Stronic gear boxes. If anything were to happen, they should replace/fix free of charge depending on whether a warranty is taken out maybe. One would hope anyway!
Click to expand...
Doesn't guarantee much. There was a thread about a guy who bought an RS4 from Audi. The gearbox went pop. The service interval had been missed so Audi UK wouldn't pay. He had to sort it out with the dealer and lost money in the process. From here on...

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/rs4-owner.333660/page-2#post-3060379
 
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