Dippy's S5

I remember your original post about that Jeff.

I think I was actually more disappointed than panicked. I was visiting friends and was miffed that I would have to tell them I couldn't come and that I'd have to spend hours waiting for flatbed transport. But I am annoyed that I wasn't level-headed enough to realise that the car was driving OK and so it must be the fault of FIS-Control MMI or the data comms between it and the CAN bus. It's easy to forget that no matter how well SW is developed there can always be bugs. And I need to remember that AFAIK FIS-Control MMI is the creation of a single developer (Stefan), and he sort of went from a limited beta release into production because people like me kept asking him when it would be released. Stefan will look into it - I sent him my config file.

The irony is that if I hadn't been using FIS-Control MMI (and I don't always) then I would never have seen anything and I wouldn't now be still worried if my car is OK. I went out again today and it was fine, although I did notice something that I will create another post about.
 
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Stefan doesn't think there is an FCM bug however he did note that s/c revs and battery are the last two values in my list of 8, and that if one of the previous measurement is given a value that is longer than expected then it could corrupt the later ones (so I guess there is a buffer of limited size, and maybe this partly explains why with some ECUs 10 values are possible but with others like mine only 8).
 
With my MOT due next month it looks like I'll need to get a new set of tyres before then. I hate the task of measuring tyre depth because of all the **** that comes with age - especially my bad near eyesight, and it is so annoying to get different measurements each time! But the inner edge of my rear nearside comes up just below 2mm on some measurements. Its a shame that my fronts could likely last another 6 months but I'll be a "true" quattro believer and buy 4 new tyres at once.

Anyway, the main reason for my post is that I noticed something weird about the rear tyres (which are more worn). As can be seen in the photo, on both rear tyres are these vertical patches on either side of the tread in the centre of the tyre. These are absent on the front tyres. The strange thing is that these patches are raised, i.e. the area around them has worn more. And apart from the inner edge, the tyres are still above 3mm tread depth. Any ideas what causes these patches?

REAR
Rear


FRONT
Front
 
Dippy said:
With my MOT due next month it looks like I'll need to get a new set of tyres before then. I hate the task of measuring tyre depth because of all the **** that comes with age - especially my bad near eyesight, and it is so annoying to get different measurements each time! But the inner edge of my rear nearside comes up just below 2mm on some measurements. Its a shame that my fronts could likely last another 6 months but I'll be a "true" quattro believer and buy 4 new tyres at once.

Anyway, the main reason for my post is that I noticed something weird about the rear tyres (which are more worn). As can be seen in the photo, on both rear tyres are these vertical patches on either side of the tread in the centre of the tyre. These are absent on the front tyres. The strange thing is that these patches are raised, i.e. the area around them has worn more. And apart from the inner edge, the tyres are still above 3mm tread depth. Any ideas what causes these patches?

REAR
View attachment 176598

FRONT
View attachment 176599
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This is rather bizarre @Dippy as I personally have never come across this kind of wear before. My (not so expert opinion) on this is that it appears to be something to do with the steel belts which run under the tread. Also, you are running PS3s on the car. What tyre pressure are you running?
 
Yes, that's what I'm thinking too. These are the factory fit Pirelli P-Zeros. 39psi front 33psi rear (as per door label).
 
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I believe you would need to take them off the car to find out the exact issue with them. I know you were planning on changing them, tis the right time to do it now... I know you've some tread left on the fronts and if it is good enough put them on gumtree/FB marketplace and I am sure someone will come and pick them up as a spare for their car.
 
Dippy said:
Yes, that's what I'm thinking too. These are the factory fit Pirelli P-Zeros. 39psi front 33psi rear (as per door label).
Click to expand...
My 2016 cab is 42psi front and 38psi rear. Only posting for interest to see the difference the extra 205kg car weight makes.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 
With the various news about what Audi may or may not do for the performance market in the future, I again thought about what I might replace my S5 with next (but I have no immediate plans to do so). I found a review of the Tesla 3 Performance. The review states that the "dynamic picture deteriorates a bit when the suspension has to deal with bumps as well as bends, though, when outright body control becomes poorer. It’s also a shame the steering isn’t more naturally weighted and doesn’t better connect you with the front contact patches. As it is, it feels anodyne and lifeless". I suppose Audis are usually criticised for lifeless steering, but I find that my S5, with full ADS, handles well, so maybe the Tesla 3 is not going to be as good. However maybe it will compensate with those powerful electric motors? Well the spec doesn't look as good as a I thought either. 450PS in a heavier car gives it a worse power to weight ratio than my S5, and I calculated that the torque to weight ratio is virtually the same as my S5. So it would only be the fact that the torque is truly instantaneous which will make the Tesla better. Coupled with the projected £60K price tag for the performance version I'm not so sure its going to be a candidate any more...
 
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I just read MRC's statement "we are currently in the process of working with a larger throttle body, which we are hoping for 500+". Once MRC starts publicising dyno graphs for stage 2+ cars that darn tuning bug is going to start nibbling at my brain again...
 
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Larger throttle body means you need to get the supercharger ported. Change the lower pulley and increase the supercharger ratio from your 9% approx current to a 26% ish increase.

Change out the heat exchangers and sort more cooling and enjoy... 520+bhp

Or buy an RS?
 
4 new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres today.
£752.40 including 4-wheel alignment, but I get to claim £100 back from Michelin.

Apparently I have "limited edition" PS4Ss. There is a checkerboard pattern on the tyre wall which gives a strange effect in certain light (wasted on me). I checked the website and it states "Michelin have created the Pilot Sport 4 S Limited Edition with an ultra-reactive tread pattern, adapting continuously to the road - to deliver an optimised surface footprint" and "The Pilot Sport 4 S Limited Edition tyres feature Michelin 'Dynamic Response' technology – made from a hybrid belt of aramid and nylon to provide optimum handling performance".

(For my benefit/poor memory I am recording the tread depth as 7.5mm which matches my measurement and a spec sheet I found online)
 
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Dippy said:
4 new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres today.
£752.40 including 4-wheel alignment, but I get to claim £100 back from Michelin.

Apparently I have "limited edition" PS4Ss. There is a checkerboard pattern on the tyre wall which gives a strange effect in certain light (wasted on me). I checked the website and it states "Michelin have created the Pilot Sport 4 S Limited Edition with an ultra-reactive tread pattern, adapting continuously to the road - to deliver an optimised surface footprint" and "The Pilot Sport 4 S Limited Edition tyres feature Michelin 'Dynamic Response' technology – made from a hybrid belt of aramid and nylon to provide optimum handling performance".

(For my benefit/poor memory I am recording the tread depth as 7.5mm which matches my measurement and a spec sheet I found online)
Click to expand...

Where did you get that deal @Dippy , looks like I need 4 new tyres on my Summer wheels. :puke2:

JG
 
Elite in Reading. They told me that the Michelin £100 offer was ending at the end of March but the leaflet they gave me shows 30 April.
 
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Dippy said:
Elite in Reading. They told me that the Michelin £100 offer was ending at the end of March but the leaflet they gave me shows 30 April.
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Reading is a bit far for me to get tyres changed, had a look around the web last night and found a March deal on Blackcircles that will do me. :icon thumright:

If I were you, I'd be claiming my £100 back asap, wonder if I'll get the same deal, doubt it though, that's probably why Blackcircles have a deal on, they'll be claiming the £100 back on their sales................... :whip:

Cheers for the info Dippy :thumbs up:

JG
 
JG51 AUD said:
wonder if I'll get the same deal, doubt it though, that's probably why Blackcircles have a deal on, they'll be claiming the £100 back on their sales................... :whip:
Click to expand...

I bought PS4s from Blackcircles (nowhere else cheaper in the wild West of Cornwall).

I tried to claim the cashback on Michelin's website but it would not recognise the seller. Phoned up to try and claim and the Michelin agent told me that Blackcircles were not taking part in that promo.

Tyre fitter that I went to told me that Blackcircles are owned by Michelin.


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I did check Blackcircles just to compare price and noticed that they do 10% off Michelin tyres instead.
Yes I have put in my £100 claim already. And of course it is "up to 28 days" to receive payment!

BTW I go to Elite for tyres in the same way that I go to MDM Technik for servicing: 100% confidence in the quality of the work and the care of my car. If I am paying a bit more for that, that's just part of the deal.
 
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Dippy said:
I did check Blackcircles just to compare price and noticed that they do 10% off Michelin tyres instead.
Yes I have put in my £100 claim already. And of course it is "up to 28 days" to receive payment!

BTW I go to Elite for tyres in the same way that I go to MDM Technik for servicing: 100% confidence in the quality of the work and the care of my car. If I am paying a bit more for that, that's just part of the deal.
Click to expand...

Yes, looks like BC are 10% and tyre fitting places are the £100 claim back.

I'm with you on that one Dippy, if you get somewhere that takes as much care of your precious motor as you do, that's the place to use, even if it costs that little bit extra, it's worth the extra care. :yes:

JG
 
GiffGaff just saved me some money. 4 years ago I signed up for their £5/month 500MB "gigabag" data SIM for my SatNav. This time last year they changed it to a "goodybag" adding call minutes and texts, but since the price was the same I didn't care. But today they informed me that I now needed to pay £6/month for extra minutes and texts when I already don't use them, so I decided to decline. At first I found an alternative with iD for £3.99/month. But then I thought I'd check for preloaded SIMs. Last time I looked they only lasted a maximum of 90 days and they weren't worth it when I typically only use around 150MB each month. This time I found an EE 6GB preloaded SIM on Amazon. It is arranged as 500MB/month for 12 months and only cost £18.09. So I'm back to data only which is fine, for 30% of what I have been paying for the last 4 years. If it weren't for GiffGaff raising the price I'd have kept paying more than I needed to. Not a huge saving, but it all adds up doesn't it?
 
I used a three SIM in mine. It has 12GB that lasts a year and cost £13 of eBay.

If Virgin do the same as our Australian friends and allow you to gift data I'll get the cheapest PAYG sim and gift the car 10gb a month from my 100GB allowance.
 
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4 year service done - again by MDMTechnik - great job as usual.
Mark thinks that the faulty offside headlight washer jet that he replaced was new, not the original. That lets Audi Basingstoke off the hook - it seems they did replace it. But it means that the part failed again after only a few months, and there is no revised part. The fact that I've had 3 replaced, and there are other people who have had both replaced, yet some owners have had no problems at all, means that it really is just down to bad luck if these damn jets leak or not!
 
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Dippy said:
4 year service done - again by MDMTechnik - great job as usual.
Mark thinks that the faulty offside headlight washer jet that he replaced was new, not the original. That lets Audi Basingstoke off the hook - it seems they did replace it. But it means that the part failed again after only a few months, and there is no revised part. The fact that I've had 3 replaced, and there are other people who have had both replaced, yet some owners have had no problems at all, means that it really is just down to bad luck if these damn jets leak or not!
Click to expand...

Do you use them a lot @Dippy. Mine is OK so far but I don't use them that often unless necessary. It might be that it is still holding on and going strong.

But then I have had my N/S bulbs fail
 
audi upgrades
No, actually the opposite. Due to my OCD-brain if I have cleaned and polished my car and I get a bit of much on the windscreen then if I can I avoid using the wipers and wait until I get the chance to clean it manually, just to avoid getting splashes on the bodywork. Pathetic isn't it?

So I was actually thinking that my jets might have been failing due to under-use!
 
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Dippy said:
No, actually the opposite. Due to my OCD-brain if I have cleaned and polished my car and I get a bit of much on the windscreen then if I can I avoid using the wipers and wait until I get the chance to clean it manually, just to avoid getting splashes on the bodywork. Pathetic isn't it?

So I was actually thinking that my jets might have been failing due to under-use!
Click to expand...

Not really as I am pretty much the same . Mrs always moan about it as well. I wouldn't have thought that under-usage would cause them to fail but then you never know. I don't remember the last time I topped up the washer bottle on mine - maybe a few months ago and iirc I used the same bottle to top both the S4 and A3. Sad life isn't it
 
curious thought on under use...
Haha I am glad you avoid using them too! means there are other loonies around. I avoid using my headlight washers by turning off my auto headlights temporarily to spray the window (if it is night).. the feeling when you forget and hear the sodding motors go and then see it spray the bonnet!

Seriously unlucky more than 1 has failed for you.
 
audi upgrades
Taxi duty today. As I was waiting for my daughter I heard my dashcam announce that it was turning off due to low battery. Not long after the radio turned itself off. So I unplugged the dashcam and ran the engine for a few minutes. Then I timed how long the radio would last (no other electrical devices on). It was only 10 minutes. I have no idea how long it should last with a new battery, but I think I'll test mine soon. Its 4 years old now and I'd prefer to replace it before it lets me down. I can also look to see if I can fit a bigger capacity one.

On the way home I unintentionally embarrassed a Porsche 911 (don't know which one) - if I'd have known he was there I'd have tried harder :)

But also I noticed a rattle from the dash - somewhere...
 
@Dippy

Not 100% sure but I vaguely recall that radio duration on battery power is configurable in VCDS, with the default set to 10 minutes.

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HTB said:
@Dippy

Not 100% sure but I vaguely recall that radio duration on battery power is configurable in VCDS, with the default set to 10 minutes.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

@HTB. Default is 10 mins and and max is 30 mins.

@Dippy , it's not you but the guy in 911 needs to try harder. You just drive at a normal pace, which I believe is what you were doing

I have the rattle coming from passenger side / or maybe dash as well as from somewhere at the rear under slight load but I can't be asked tbh. But then I am running 40psi Nitrogen all round and iirc it all started after that. I need to adjust the pressure but again can't be asked
 
I can help find your rattles. My new sub has highlighted all of mine..... and more. I can loan it out.
 
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Thanks guys - it never occurred to me that it was a simple timeout of the radio. But I think I'll test the battery anyway. Even thought I am expecting the power management system in my car to give me DIS warnings to indicate that the battery is nearing the end of life, since I have never experienced it I am lacking trust. I was "let down" by batteries dying in my B5 S4 on several occasions over the years so I really do want to pre-empt it on this car.

@Tashfeen - 40psi on the rears seems high.
 
Dippy said:
@Tashfeen - 40psi on the rears seems high.
Click to expand...

It wasn't when I filled it up as I had the boot full of bags so went with the recommended pressure, which is 41 all around. Haven't been able to adjust it since. I might do it next time...
 
For a while now, whenever a dealer has phoned me to try to sell me a new car, I have said that the only one I'd be interested in is an RS5 sportback. Well now that they are available (well 250 of them anyway) I thought I'd at least look at the option.

So I went through the configurator and ended up at £71,449 which would give me a 1720kg car propelled by a 600Nm, 444bhp turbocharged petrol engine, without the electric compressor that will come in the next model. The performance specifics are 349Nm per tonne and 258bhp per tonne. And for what its worth Audi's 0-62 figure is 3.9s.

I'll take a total guess that my car is worth £20k, It's registered mass is 1820kg and my MRC figures are 585Nm and 475bhp. So it's specifics are 321Nm per tonne and 261bhp per tonne. So with the flatter torque curve of the supercharged engine and the slightly higher power to weight ratio I'd say they will be comparable. So I'd pay at least £50K for a car of similar performance and a few nice toys.

What's the alternative? Well I saw a video of a Tesla 3 performance out-dragging am RS4, so that's worth a look. Tesla claim a 0-60 of 3.2s (0-62 3.4s) and the mass is 1847kg. According to the wikipedia page the combined power from the two motors is 473bhp and the torque is 639Nm. So its specifics are 256bhp per tonne and 346Nm per tonne. It has the broadest torque curve so should out-sprint the RS5, which seems to have been proven with the test against the RS4. And the price? Fully loaded is £58,940 which I think does not include the plug-in grant which Tesla suggest is £3,500. And of course there's the running cost. My current tariff is 16p per KWh so it would cost £12 for a full recharge. I suspect that if Tesla quote up to 329 miles per full charge, the real typical will be around 250 miles which is comparable to what I get from about 50 litres of V-power or Momentum which I think is costing around £70 at the moment? I don't do a lot of miles, so I guess no more than 20 fills per year. But that would still make the Tesla over a grand a year cheaper to run.

So whilst I have no plans to buy a new car. Clearly the RS5 loses out heavily to a Tesla 3 performance which is quicker, cheaper to run, and would cost me around £15K less. Now that I have worked that out, I know what to say to any Audi salesperson who phones me to try to sell me an RS5!
 
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All of those numbers support your argument totally, @Dippy. But of course, you still need to want the Tesla 3; that is, be stirred by it and find it desirable. It's not apparent from this post whether you've sat in one, touched it, felt it, driven it, or even just stood for several minutes looking at it from every angle. :)
 
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I had an acceleration test against a Porker last night. The driver was a bit of a knob - I caught up with him on a dual carriageway and he refused to move over even though there was nothing in the left lane of the dual carriageway. We got to a roundabout and he did move over, but then accelerated hard. If he wanted to go faster than me then he could have just done that earlier! Anyway I took the opportunity to see how well my car would do against his and I was pleased that he only just outpaced my car.

I just looked at the dashcam video and it just goes to show how memory of a moment can be skewed. Actually the Porsche did pull away, but at least it wasn't an embarrassment, I think my (relatively) cheap S5 did well. I don't know my Porkers so I decided to find out what it was: A 2010 997 turbo S cab. I don't know what it cost in 2010 but it seems that they go for around £75K used now. It has 530PS and 700Nm and is nearly 100Kg less than my car, so I think it deserved to pull away! :)
 
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Here I am at Basingstoke Audi in the comfortable and spacious mezzanine waiting area. I just received a text with a link to web page which shows my car's status which is 'customer checked in' (although I already watched the service advisor drive it into the workshop). Like Jeff I have had a lengthy discussion with the service manager about the 24DP recall work and checked that the parts were in stock. But I didn't get the feeling that the service advisor knew about that. I told him that my car is modified and at least his reaction was good. He told me that's no problem and that their engineers see modified cars in the workshop almost daily. Nevertheless I did ask to speak to the engineer who will work on my car but he politely declined for the above reason. I decided not to push it. Now I wait.
 
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Dippy said:
Here I am at Basingstoke Audi in the comfortable and spacious mezzanine waiting area. I just received a text with a link to web page which shows my car's status which is 'customer checked in' (although I already watched the service advisor drive it into the workshop). Like Jeff I have had a lengthy discussion with the service manager about the 24DP recall work and checked that the parts were in stock. But I didn't get the feeling that the service advisor knew about that. I told him that my car is modified and at least his reaction was good. He told me that's no problem and that their engineers see modified cars in the workshop almost daily. Nevertheless I did ask to speak to the engineer who will work on my car but he politely declined for the above reason. I decided not to push it. Now I wait.
Click to expand...

Fingers crossed @Dippy. It would've been a nice of them to let the engineer talk to you about the work that they will be carrying out but I understand where they are coming from (or would you) as well as for your reasons to not push them on it.

I am sure it will all go as planned :icon thumright:
 
I'm wondering now about the feasibility of a daytrip to Basingstoke.

(And believe me, there's a sentence I never thought I'd ever type! :) )
 
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The web page is showing progress so I'm not surprised to get a text with a link to the Audicam video. Now I have some accurate measurements of my tyre treads and brake pad thicknesses which is nice. The tech also thinks that my windscreen wipers need replacing. I have a spare set in my garage so I'll do that myself later. My only thought was that this is all very well but I came for the recall but it hasn't started yet. But the service advisor just came upstairs to tell me that the tech is about halfway through and is starting on the 2nd fuel rail. I have been here nearly 2 hours so it seems OK.

Jeff, wait until later before pursuing that thought - there is still time for something to go bad :(
 
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The web page shows 'ready for collection' so I guess the service advisor will be up soon. The good thing about coming here in August is that its not too busy and there are quite a few parking spaces, so less risk to my car.
 
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Well their progress tracker is perhaps not that great. I waited half an hour and then saw my car being taken for its test drive. It was then another half an hour before I got my key back. However fortunately that is the only criticism I have. Audi Basingstoke clearly cared well for my S5 and everyone there was polite and helpful. They (Lookers) definitely do maintain high standards.

After carefully checking the bodywork and wheels (all OK) I drove home and gave the car a good blast, checking that the boost was reaching the same peak (2.3 bar) as before. All seems fine. I then inspected the work (yes I have before and after photos :)) and all seems in order, including that the drive belt has not been reversed. Then I checked my dashcam and saw proof that the supercharger had indeed been removed (you never know...) and also watched the test drive. Although of course the engineer must have known about the dashcam, his drive was very careful and always at or below the speed limit. So finally I hooked up VCDS. There was an engine DTC which was "20679 - Coolant Pump for Intercooler P16BA 00 [032] - Running Dry" with a timestamp of during the test drive. I cleared it and e-mailed it to the service manager. For now I'll just assume that its the sort of DTC that can come up whilst the air gets out of the coolant, but I will of course be checking again periodically.

So now my 24DP recall is done and there is no danger of my engine catching fire (?)
Audi Basingstoke have again done well, but I'll still be taking my business to MDM Technik in future.
 
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Good outcome. It’s looking more and more likely that Audi UK can’t and/or won’t do anything to fix my dissatisfaction with Bexley Audi. I suspect I’ll end up having to take a chance with Maidstone. I like the idea of having the car looked after by the same people that have sorted out @Dippy ’s car. All I’d need to say is “Same again please, fellas.”

But it’s too far out of my way.
 
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