My Current S4 Woes

dsmclark30v said:
Cheers Bill how are you enjoying yours? Driving to work and back today it didn't miss a beat, the only problem I have at the moment is trying to resist hoofing it everywhere it pulls like a train and is very addictive!
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Absolutely loving it. :icon_thumright:

With the Milltek it sounds like an earthquake. :w00t:
 
dsmclark30v said:
...the only problem I have at the moment is trying to resist hoofing it everywhere it pulls like a train and is very addictive!
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I've had mine since December and I still can't believe the huge torque you get at low revs - very handy when you're in the wrong gear.

So far, I've found general cruising gets me 30-40 mpg but, due to the huge mpg drop when accelerating, most journeys average in the early twenties. I have noticed that staying in too high a gear and accelerating from about 1000 rpm gives better mpg than dropping down a gear. Not sure how good that is for the engine/gearbox but the torque's so great it's really usable at those low revs.

It's a pity you've had all these problems but, if all's okay now, it won't be long before it's a distant memory and you'll only be thinking about the driving pleasure you'll get when you see the S4.

I've never driven an RS4 but I'm not sure they can't be that much better on the road - the acceleration of the S4 is almost too much (verging on excessive in some cases) and, being an Impreza owner, I know that you'll never get anywhere near the handling capabilities of good performance car on the road as it's just too dangerous to be going round blind b-road corners at those types of speeds. I like the S4 for the acceleration and refined ride.
 
quattrojames said:
Sounds like things are finally looking up then Sam :icon_thumright:
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Yeah James everything seems good now. I have done 700 miles in it already this week! drove it to Nottingham and back so if anyone saw a blue blur around that way t'was me :racer:

BillTheButcher said:
Absolutely loving it. :icon_thumright:

With the Milltek it sounds like an earthquake. :w00t:
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Mine has a Milltek on it as well and it sounds spot on! I am thinking of maybe getting the highflow cats but not sure if they are worth the expense
 
Mystik Journeyman said:
I've had mine since December and I still can't believe the huge torque you get at low revs - very handy when you're in the wrong gear.

So far, I've found general cruising gets me 30-40 mpg but, due to the huge mpg drop when accelerating, most journeys average in the early twenties. I have noticed that staying in too high a gear and accelerating from about 1000 rpm gives better mpg than dropping down a gear. Not sure how good that is for the engine/gearbox but the torque's so great it's really usable at those low revs.

It's a pity you've had all these problems but, if all's okay now, it won't be long before it's a distant memory and you'll only be thinking about the driving pleasure you'll get when you see the S4.

I've never driven an RS4 but I'm not sure they can't be that much better on the road - the acceleration of the S4 is almost too much (verging on excessive in some cases) and, being an Impreza owner, I know that you'll never get anywhere near the handling capabilities of good performance car on the road as it's just too dangerous to be going round blind b-road corners at those types of speeds. I like the S4 for the acceleration and refined ride.
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I think I saw you driving down school lane in Chandlers ford a few weeks ago. You don't see many B6 S4's out there let alone Goodwood Green ones!

I find I am getting about 21mpg at the moment with a mix of town but mostly motorway so its slowly creeping up! I also block shift most of the time from 2nd straight into 6th and just waft along and most of the time I pull away in 2nd. don't think it will cause any damage as the car isn't struggling
 
I must admit, each time that I see you have replied to your own thread my heart drops a little thinking you're going to be having more woes. Thankfully it's all good news though. Perhaps make a new thread entitled "My Current S4 Joys" or something.

And 700 miles in a week, that'd make me cringe in a TDI, never mind an S4.
 
dsmclark30v said:
Mine has a Milltek on it as well and it sounds spot on! I am thinking of maybe getting the highflow cats but not sure if they are worth the expense
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I don't know how different it is as mine is the only S4 I've driven. All I know is that the combination of the catback, cats and remap makes me very happy indeed. :rockwoot:
 
Mine's just got a standard system which is a bit disappointing; it's too quiet.

I saw a Maserati GranTurismo yesterday with a 4.2 V8 and it sounded incredibly - just as you'd expect a burbley V8 with raspy exhaust to sound.

See here.

1536385-6.jpg
 
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Mystik Journeyman said:
Mine's just got a standard system which is a bit disappointing; it's too quiet.
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I have the quad-pipe Milltek catback from the B7 (with modified valance) and it sounds completely different to other B6 and B7 S4s that I've heard. It's got much more of a bassy gargle to it.:cool:

Here it is:
 
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crazy88 said:
I must admit, each time that I see you have replied to your own thread my heart drops a little thinking you're going to be having more woes. Thankfully it's all good news though. Perhaps make a new thread entitled "My Current S4 Joys" or something.

And 700 miles in a week, that'd make me cringe in a TDI, never mind an S4.
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Yeah I was thinking people might think that. But worry not its all good for now. :icon_thumright:

I don't always do mega miles every week but my daily commute is a 70 mile round trip so I do rack up the miles
 
Mystik Journeyman said:
Mine's just got a standard system which is a bit disappointing; it's too quiet.

I saw a Maserati GranTurismo yesterday with a 4.2 V8 and it sounded incredibly - just as you'd expect a burbley V8 with raspy exhaust to sound.

See here.

1536385-6.jpg
Click to expand...

I have to drive past that garage every day they have some lovely cars there! a friend of mine has one of those GT's and mine with the milltek isn't far off it!
 
BillTheButcher said:
I have the quad-pipe Milltek catback from the B7 (with modified valance) and it sounds completely different to other B6 and B7 S4s that I've heard. It's got much more of a bassy gargle to it.:cool:

Here it is:
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They look good Bill, I was thinking of changing the tips on mine as they look a bit big and clumsey! and as the previous owner in all there wisdom cut the rear valance I was thinking of getting some oval tips instead
 
Wow ive just read this from start to finish and all i can say is OMG , glad you have it back thou and its behaving its self i would have been in bits if it was me as i hate other people working on my car as theres so many people with no respect for other peoples property
once again glad its all good happy Motoring :icon_thumright:
 
paul20v said:
Wow ive just read this from start to finish and all i can say is OMG , glad you have it back thou and its behaving its self i would have been in bits if it was me as i hate other people working on my car as theres so many people with no respect for other peoples property
once again glad its all good happy Motoring :icon_thumright:
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Cheers Paul yeah its all good, although I still need them to get the service book stamped, they haven't called me about the new engine bay trim that they broke and I haven't heard anything about the extended warrenty! Might have to pop down there Friday!

I'll have to post some more picture of the car after I have cleaned it as its filthy at the moment covered in 100's of flys and possibly volcanic ash...
 
Jesus Christ!! Just read through the thread and am amazed at the bad luck you have had!! I currently own a 55000 mile 2002 S3 in Absolute Red and am currently negotiating a deal for a 2004 92500 mile S4 avant in Nogaro Blue. It is from a private seller and I am slightly concerned about a similar thing occuring! What milage was yours when the problems started? The one I am looking at is identical looks wise to yours, was very excited about doing the deal this week until I read this thread.
Jamie
 
paneristi232 said:
Jesus Christ!! Just read through the thread and am amazed at the bad luck you have had!! I currently own a 55000 mile 2002 S3 in Absolute Red and am currently negotiating a deal for a 2004 92500 mile S4 avant in Nogaro Blue. It is from a private seller and I am slightly concerned about a similar thing occuring! What milage was yours when the problems started? The one I am looking at is identical looks wise to yours, was very excited about doing the deal this week until I read this thread.
Jamie
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mine was at 79000 when the problems started. I wouldn't let it put you off I was just unlucky and its a great car to drive. I'd say if it had got to 92500 miles with no problems then you should be ok :thumbsup:that said tho might be worth looking into getting a warranty for it as the bill for mine came to £4885 :faint:
 
paneristi232 said:
When you bought it at 79000 had it had a belt and waterpump service?

Cheers J
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Bit different on the S4 v8 as the timing chains are at the rear of the engine and don't have to be serviced. the problem was a tensioner snapped in half and a bolt sheared off the chain then stretched on the offside bank causing the exhaust valves to touch the pistons bending them slightly
 
dsmclark30v said:
Bit different on the S4 v8 as the timing chains are at the rear of the engine and don't have to be serviced. the problem was a tensioner snapped in half and a bolt sheared off the chain then stretched on the offside bank causing the exhaust valves to touch the pistons bending them slightly
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I've been slightly concerned with the timing chain as Audi say it's a 'lifetime' component but I've heard the odd story of them going.

Any idea what caused your tensioner to go?
 
Mystik Journeyman said:
I've been slightly concerned with the timing chain as Audi say it's a 'lifetime' component but I've heard the odd story of them going.

Any idea what caused your tensioner to go?
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No idea they didn't tell me. Does yours make a rattle noise on start up when cold?
 
I think so. The engine is loud as it fires up - literally just as it fires up - then it's quiet.

I don't know specifically what causes it to make the rumpus though.

I've never worried about it as it's supposed to be a trait of the car.
 
Mystik Journeyman said:
I think so. The engine is loud as it fires up - literally just as it fires up - then it's quiet.

I don't know specifically what causes it to make the rumpus though.

I've never worried about it as it's supposed to be a trait of the car.
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The roar on start-up is there on all the S4s that I've heard but the noise dsmclark30v is talking about is in the clip he posted in the first post of this thread. Does yours sounds like that?
 
It's hard to tell. In his video there's a roar then it rattles after a second. Mine roars and then is quiet(ish).

I've had the car since and December and twice (once a few weeks ago and once this weekend) the whole engine has wobbled (like an engine mount is loose or something) on startup and the engine check light came on. I turned it off and restarted the engine immediately and both times it was fine straight after and fine the following days/weeks.

Anyone experienced that before?

I haven't worried about it as it's been into a VAG specialist twice since I bought it and there's been no fault codes and they would have started it cold a few times.

The first thing was a fuel smell that turned out to be a leaking injector seal (one of the previous owners had had the fuel rail off and not replaced all the seals).

The second thing was the weekend before last - the A/C hadn't worked since I bought. I hoped it was just a re-gas needed but the pressure switch had a crack in it. A bit of clever positioning from Audi meant that they had to take off the front of the car to get at it. Since there were no switches available that day they kept it overnight. They replaced the fan belt too. All this meant, instead of sub-£100 re-gas, I had to pay £265.

At least the A/C works now - in time for summer!
 
Mystik Journeyman said:
It's hard to tell. In his video there's a roar then it rattles after a second. Mine roars and then is quiet(ish).
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Yes, the rattle is the symptom of the knackered tensioner; the roar is a normal S4 trait so if yours roars but doesn't rattle then I'd say the tensioners are fine. :laugh:

Mystik Journeyman said:
I've had the car since and December and twice (once a few weeks ago and once this weekend) the whole engine has wobbled (like an engine mount is loose or something) on startup and the engine check light came on. I turned it off and restarted the engine immediately and both times it was fine straight after and fine the following days/weeks.

Anyone experienced that before?
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No never had anything like that. :huh:
 
May have been a co-incky-dink but the first time it happened I didn't turn the key for as long as I normally would.

I can't remember about the last time though.
 
Talk of this has concerned me although looking on an S4 forum it seems the rattle will only be an issue if it continues after startup.

It has got me thinking about a warranty though. I did a quick quote on Warranty Direct's website and the cheaper one came in between £5-600.

Does anyone have any recommendations? My car's done 99 000 miles so I'd need to get it done soon as that particular company don't offer warranties for over 100 000 miles - presumably it's still covered if I go over 100k during the warranty period but what about renewing? Will they refuse to renew for the next year?
 
well after clocking up 1100 miles mine is making the knocking rattle again :crying: and it sounded awful first thing this morning. Got to take it over to Poole this afternoon so they can have a look at it and they will keep it over night so they can start it in the morning. Its a noise that happens a few seconds after the initial roar that sounds like a spanner being rattled around in a metal box.

I took a recording of it after the car was sat for just 3 hours and it wasn't as loud as first thing in the morning but it was definatly there. Did try and upload it to youtube but its playing silly buggers at the moment and won't let me upload anything.

As for the warranty Mystik mine came with an AA gold one that covered the fault, the only problem was the put the maximum claim at £2000 which didn't even cover half of it. The warranty on mine has technicly expired but they agreed to give me extended cover as I didn't have the car for 50 days of it!

Hopefully they will get it sorted asap as I am starting to lose faith in this car as the last thing I want is for in a year or so time something major will go wrong and the repair bills will be huge
 
BillTheButcher said:
I am so sorry to hear that. Your car is cursed. :(
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Thanks bill it does sound that way, Hopefully it is something simple. It did feel a bit odd on the way into work this morning when cruising at 30 mph in 4th it felt unbalanced if that makes sense like it was speeding up and slowing down but within a split second! and the whole car doesn't feel as tight as it did before...

I'm just glad that at the moment this isn't costing me anything
 
Mystik Journeyman said:
Talk of this has concerned me although looking on an S4 forum it seems the rattle will only be an issue if it continues after startup.

It has got me thinking about a warranty though. I did a quick quote on Warranty Direct's website and the cheaper one came in between £5-600.

Does anyone have any recommendations? My car's done 99 000 miles so I'd need to get it done soon as that particular company don't offer warranties for over 100 000 miles - presumably it's still covered if I go over 100k during the warranty period but what about renewing? Will they refuse to renew for the next year?
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Double check with Warranty direct because I am fairly sure once you go over 60,000 there is a sliding scale as to how much they cover for parts and if you don't go for the full main dealer hourly rate they tend to try and haggle alot. I had a warranty with them until last month. I had one claim that they did honour, for a wheel bearing, but I had to pay and claim it back from them. I tried to claim for a nearside front lower ball joint and the auxillary belt tensioner, but they said neither of these were covered. I did not bother renewing!
 
quattrojames said:
How did you get on at Autotechnick Sam?
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Well I got given a VW polo as a courtsey car and I thought the clutch was slipping at first it was so slow! They were going to park it up over night and start it up cold this morning and let me know so just waiting to hear from them.
 
You have really been through the mill with this just hope once you have it all sorted it doesnt stop you enjoying the car. When I bought mine I had similar issues after owning for just 4 days and was without the car first for a week then for 6 weeks so know what you have gone through.

Mine has done 39k and for the past year has been doing a similar noise on start up, not sure if its quite as bad as its difficult to tell if the video makes it sound worse. I am hoping mine will just carry on making the noise and not actually break as the rest of the time it runs great. Most people seem to think that changing engine oil more frequently helps but as yours has only just been done!

Would it be a good idea to have a poll of S4 guys on the forum to see how many are experiencing the problem? could be done in this thread or a seperate thread? You would think that AUDI would do the right thing and sort this problem, for what was an expensive car to be suffering in this way after only 30k in my case is a heap of cr#p and should not be allowed to happen, 'fit for purpose' etc. I wouldnt mind writing to AUDI if we got results to give them a piece of my mind!
 
heli_madken said:
You have really been through the mill with this just hope once you have it all sorted it doesnt stop you enjoying the car. When I bought mine I had similar issues after owning for just 4 days and was without the car first for a week then for 6 weeks so know what you have gone through.

Mine has done 39k and for the past year has been doing a similar noise on start up, not sure if its quite as bad as its difficult to tell if the video makes it sound worse. I am hoping mine will just carry on making the noise and not actually break as the rest of the time it runs great. Most people seem to think that changing engine oil more frequently helps but as yours has only just been done!

Would it be a good idea to have a poll of S4 guys on the forum to see how many are experiencing the problem? could be done in this thread or a seperate thread? You would think that AUDI would do the right thing and sort this problem, for what was an expensive car to be suffering in this way after only 30k in my case is a heap of cr#p and should not be allowed to happen, 'fit for purpose' etc. I wouldnt mind writing to AUDI if we got results to give them a piece of my mind!
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Sounds like we went through exactly the same problems. I did read somewhere of someone having the same noise on start up and had the chains and tensioners changed twice and it still made a noise on start up so he just ended up living with it!

I did see a thread on audizine with a list of people who have the problem and people who don't and it also lists what mileage they are at. so we could do a similar thing on here :thumbsup:

My main concern with mine was that it was going wrong again like it did last time. The mechanic said that its just the chain slapping as oil gets to it and its perfectly normal. Bit of a worry but when my car was at audi as well and it made the noise ever time on start up and they initial called me back to say there was nothing wrong with the car.

Kartechnics did however find that some of the front bushes had quite a bit of play in them so they are changing them and the could have been why it didn't feel as tight as it did before and could be why its feeling lumpy when just cruising along at low speed. :shrug:
 
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dsmclark30v said:
The mechanic said that its just the chain slapping as oil gets to it and its perfectly normal. Bit of a worry but when my car was at audi as well and it made the noise ever time on start up and they initial called me back to say there was nothing wrong with the car.
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I checked mine last night and it definitely doesn't make this noise on start-up (yet!). It's quite a bit noisier than yours (because of the Milltek) so I tried it with the bonnet open and there was no rattle.

dsmclark30v said:
Kartechnics did however find that some of the front bushes had quite a bit of play in them so they are changing them and the could have been why it didn't feel as tight as it did before and could be why its feeling lumpy when just cruising along at low speed. :shrug:
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The front bushes on mine got an advisory at the MOT last week so I'll be getting them changed soon. I think they'll be OK for a while though as the ride is perfect at the moment.
 
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