First Post, First Thread, First Audi and it’s an S4 (B8)

[Procheese]

Hi all, Noob here

I’ve not bought my own car for 15yrs, I’ve always had company cars and had to pick from a list.

I started a new job and get a car allowance so thought I’d go for something a little older and a little more powerful then I’m used to.

I put a deposit down on an S4 (B8.5) yesterday, here she is, freshly reserved

I pick her up next Thursday. I’m really excited

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the Wednesday after collection she going to MRC for a Stage 2 + TCU remap and a full service (just in case)

Hope you don’t mind me asking a few questions, i’ll Research what I can but chatting always yields the best results

James

 

[JG51 AUD]

James, nice motor, enjoy!!!

JG

 

[scotty76]

Welcome! Nice to see another shiny S4 on the forum.

 

[jdp1962]

Welcome, James; great choice.

 

[Procheese]

Thanks guys, I'm in the process of working out how to make it sound better without breaking the back or encountering drone. It seems to be a mine field!

I think the car will last me 3-4 yrs (I hope!) Due to the high miles I do, therefore I want all of my mods done straight off so I can enjoy them for the longest time (ie get best value for money).

So far it looks like Scorpion, Powervalve or stick with stock.

 

[Procheese]

Also guys, is there an easy way to tell if have I the black edition?

I don't think the car has the B&O sound system but can't remember. It's supposed to have the tech pack so I'm hoping it has DAB radio at least

 

[Procheese]

Having spoken to @BCS Nige I think I’ve found my route to a more fulfilling exhaust note.

Rear “not so” silencers are the way forward haha.

I can’t get my head around the trim options but I’m sure we can talk through that when I place my order

 

[Andy Butcher]

As already said, welcome to the forum James and another fellow S4 owner

From the one photo it certainly looks like a black edition, black grill surround and black trims, 19" Rotor wheels, tinted glass from the B pillar back.

If it is indeed the BE it comes with the B&O system as standard, as a bonus it looks like it has the optional Supersport seats fitted.

 

[Procheese]

Sweet! Hope you’re right.

It’s has got the super sport seats, I did some research and worked that out yesterday. Great observation though, I had to get the full sales pictures up to tell.

 

[jdp1962]

It is a Black Edition.

 

[Dippy]

Details from 2015 brochure.
How many miles? Even if the s-tronic service is not due for quite a while I'd advise adding it to the list on MRC's service because stage 2 cars should not follow the service schedule for a stock car (and likely Doug would agree).

 

[Dippy]

So far it looks like Scorpion, Powervalve or stick with stock.

Don't expect much power gain from an exhaust (and some even cause power loss!). Also be ready for drone. I believe I have read more reports of people regretting aftermarket exhausts than those who like them.

 

[Procheese]

@Dippy - thanks mate.

It’s done 27k miles, I’ll add it on if you think it’s a must. I need the car to last so won’t scrimp on stuff like this.

From what I’ve read the Powerflow backboxes don’t suffer from drone (or at least the drone is minimal due to the way the silencers work, they have valves or flaps that open under heavy acceleration in them).

I’m not changing them for power, just to please my ear drums a 10hp gain or loss is neither here nor there as I won’t be drag stripping it... might go once for fun I suppose.

 

[jdp1962]

Yup; I second what @Dippy said. I only went stage one but still had the DSG oil changed at 23,000 miles. Also got rear diff oil changed which is supposedly sealed for life in S4 but renewable in RS4. Go figure.

 

[Chris Paine]

Nice car. Got a powerflow exhaust on mine and it's not that bad aside from around 2k revs but it doesn't often sit at that so not a huge problem.

 

[Andy Butcher]

Mine had a Milltek "race" (no rear boxes) exhaust fitted when I bought it, thankfully It came with the original standard system which was fitted within a week of getting it home, Milltek was just to droney and loud for a bloke in his late 50's, plus there's no real advantage to having an aftermarket exhaust fitted unless chasing serious performance No's.

 

[Flowrider99]

Nice car, the black bodywork is a ****** to keep clean and shiny though. A great mod, if not already done, is to change all the interior and door bulbs to LED and buy a Carista.

 

[Procheese]

@Flowrider99 I know! I had a black C250 Amg line before this one and it drove me mad... this was the right car for me an I can live with the colour just about so had to go for it.

What’s a Carista?

I’ll look into the led mod... do you have any links to hand? What is the benefit?

@Andy Butcher - I’m mid 30’s but with my job I can’t have anything to silly I have to remain a bit professional

@Chris Paine - is it livable? I’ll be doing lots of motorway miles.

Cheers

 

[Flowrider99]

For Carista follow the link and all will be explained.......

https://caristaapp.com/

LED bulb kit.......

https://emtuning.co.uk/product/a4-b8-led-interior-kit/

 

[Dippy]

@Dippy - thanks mate.

It’s done 27k miles, I’ll add it on if you think it’s a must. I need the car to last so won’t scrimp on stuff like this.

From what I’ve read the Powerflow backboxes don’t suffer from drone (or at least the drone is minimal due to the way the silencers work, they have valves or flaps that open under heavy acceleration in them).

I’m not changing them for power, just to please my ear drums a 10hp gain or loss is neither here nor there as I won’t be drag stripping it... might go once for fun I suppose.

Not necessarily a must, but there has been a history of problems with the s-tronic gearbox on the B8 (however we're hoping that the final version fitted from Q2 2014 is now reliable) so I strongly advise it. Audi price is £225 IIRC but MRC may charge a bit more just because Audi dealer can get the bulk oil cheaper (MDM Technik has to charge a bit more for this very reason). I chose to have mine done at 3 years even though I'd only done 13K, but especially because of the stage 2. I'm having both oils in my SD changed later this year (probably about 22K by then) and then next year will be the 6th and so I'll have both oils changed on the s-tronic. Similar to what Jeff stated for the SD, the RS4/5 has fundamentally the same gearbox and the schedule requires the gear oil to be changed every 19K.

We are alike in our appreciation of the S4 (or S5 in my case). We are unalike in wanting more noise from the exhaust. I can't understand why anyone would want that. But then again I haven't got the LED kit, don't care about the V6T badges and think those dynamic sweeping indicators are also pointless. I also can't spell bling.

 

[jdp1962]

I also can't spell bling.

Liar!

 

[Flowrider99]

Not necessarily a must, but there has been a history of problems with the s-tronic gearbox on the B8 (however we're hoping that the final version fitted from Q2 2014 is now reliable) so I strongly advise it. Audi price is £225 IIRC but MRC may charge a bit more just because Audi dealer can get the bulk oil cheaper (MDM Technik has to charge a bit more for this very reason). I chose to have mine done at 3 years even though I'd only done 13K, but especially because of the stage 2. I'm having both oils in my SD changed later this year (probably about 22K by then) and then next year will be the 6th and so I'll have both oils changed on the s-tronic. Similar to what Jeff stated for the SD, the RS4/5 has fundamentally the same gearbox and the schedule requires the gear oil to be changed every 19K.

We are alike in our appreciation of the S4 (or S5 in my case). We are unalike in wanting more noise from the exhaust. I can't understand why anyone would want that. But then again I haven't got the LED kit, don't care about the V6T badges and think those dynamic sweeping indicators are also pointless. I also can't spell bling.

Like you i don't see the point of a noisy exhaust and from inside the car the factory one sounds pretty nice to me on the S5. The LED interior bulbs make the interior very nice, it was the first mod I did. I also removed the V6T badges but in my case I didnt replace with the "supercharged" badges.

 

[Procheese]

@Dippy - I’ll do very little with the look of the car, I do like a more throaty sound and would prefer a valved exhaust but don’t want to stretch to one.

Thanks for all the info so far all!

The big day tomorrow, I pick the car up.

James

 

[Bristle Hound]

Hi all, Noob here

I’ve not bought my own car for 15yrs, I’ve always had company cars and had to pick from a list.

I started a new job and get a car allowance so thought I’d go for something a little older and a little more powerful then I’m used to.

I put a deposit down on an S4 (B8.5) yesterday, here she is, freshly reserved

View attachment 196215

I pick her up next Thursday. I’m really excited

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the Wednesday after collection she going to MRC for a Stage 2 + TCU remap and a full service (just in case)

Hope you don’t mind me asking a few questions, i’ll Research what I can but chatting always yields the best results

James

@Procheese - Hi & to ASN James !
Don't forget collection pic's & enjoy the day mate
I had a sepang blue B8.5 for 2 1/2 years & loved it. I didn't go down the stage 1 / 2 route as I was never going to keep it
My thoughts on it here -
https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/bhs-sepang-blue-b8-5-audi-s4-black-edition-saloon.240456/

 

[Procheese]

Collected the car, I'm in love with it already (except that I can't connect my work phone for calls and my iphone for spotify at the same time )

I'm off to buy a disklok for it shortly so it doesn't get knicked on the first night from outside my hotel!

First trip was 15 miles and was 50% motorway and 50% city centre, it did 31mpg, I'm pretty please with that, I drove very conservatively mind.

It is the black edition with B&O stereo too which is nice although one of the speakers sounds blown so may have to get the garage to sort that out.

 

[jdp1962]

Collected the car, I'm in love with it already (except that I can't connect my work phone for calls and my iphone for spotify at the same time )

I'm off to buy a disklok for it shortly so it doesn't get knicked on the first night from outside my hotel!

First trip was 15 miles and was 50% motorway and 50% city centre, it did 31mpg, I'm pretty please with that, I drove very conservatively mind.

It is the black edition with B&O stereo too which is nice although one of the speakers sounds blown so may have to get the garage to sort that out.

Nice one, fella.

I have a Disklok; I also have an Autowatch Ghost.
Can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[scotty76]

And if you want to play the mpg game...

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threa...age-mpg-figures-according-to-your-dis.242304/

 

[Dippy]

That's another thing I can't relate to - buying a car with a 3 litre supercharged engine and then worrying about fuel economy...

 

[cadguy77]

Nice looking car, enjoy

 

[Procheese]

I’m not worried, I get free fuel

More intrigued and hoping to not spend too much time standing at a pump as it’s my daily.

 

[scotty76]

That's another thing I can't relate to - buying a car with a 3 litre supercharged engine and then worrying about fuel economy...

The thread also says worst.

 

[yusuf7869]

Welcome to the forum mate. The guys on here are brilliant.

mine is still standard but Tashfeen had showed me what stage 2 MRC feels like and its brilliant.

Definitely will love driving it.

 

[Procheese]

Went out and had some fun today, took my brother in with me (he has a 500bhp Evo IV) and my mate was in his Accord Type R. The Accord was impressive when I drove it, revs for days! No match for the S4 though. Did a few drags and a few 3rd gear pulls.

It’ll be a good real world comparison to go out again next weekend once the works been done. I wonder if they can map out that damn alarm that goes off when you hit 100mph. Not that I ever heard it, obviously!

Needless to say my brother wants an S4 now too.

 

[jdp1962]

That's another thing I can't relate to - buying a car with a 3 litre supercharged engine and then worrying about fuel economy...

It’s not so much a question of worrying about mpg. Monitoring long term consumption in like for like conditions is a good barometer of an engine’s general health. Also, the ample power reserves give the S4/5 many driving qualities in addition to its performance. A long day’s cruise across the country in great comfort and relative frugality is one that I find particularly attractive.

 

[jdp1962]

Went out and had some fun today, took my brother in with me (he has a 500bhp Evo IV) and my mate was in his Accord Type R. The Accord was impressive when I drove it, revs for days! No match for the S4 though. Did a few drags and a few 3rd gear pulls.

It’ll be a good real world comparison to go out again next weekend once the works been done. I wonder if they can map out that damn alarm that goes off when you hit 100mph. Not that I ever heard it, obviously!

Needless to say my brother wants an S4 now too.

Glad it’s winning friends already. About the speed alarm, I seem to recall it’s a driver selected function - can’t remember which button without looking it up in the manual. It’s possible a previous owner has programmed it, and you just need to deselect it. Time to read the manual, maybe.

 

[Procheese]

Glad it’s winning friends already. About the speed alarm, I seem to recall it’s a driver selected function - can’t remember which button without looking it up in the manual. It’s possible a previous owner has programmed it, and you just need to deselect it. Time to read the manual, maybe.

Read the manual! I nearly reported you for that comment!

 

[scotty76]

I concur with @jdp1962 it's something you set. The S4 I test drove had it on at 90. It's definitely something you can turn off.

 

[Andy Butcher]

I can't remember exactly where I found it but yes it is set by yourself, mine was originally set at just over 70mph, however I use a lot of private roads when I'm about in the S4 so adjusted it to 100mph.

 

[Procheese]

Cheers chaps, I’ll have a look tomorrow... although it might be a good thing to keep on. 100mph is goodbye licence speed after all.

 

[Procheese]

I did a real simple security mod today, I took pictures as a guide but not sure if I should post as it’s only secure if people don’t know what to look for.