Problematic S5 B8 keep or sell

mdog

Registered User
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
2
Points
3
Location
Norwich, Norfolk
Hello all,

Looking for some input on the following topic. So after lusting after a V8 S5 for some time I bought one last year in November. Test drove it and loved it, was a clean example for the age and seemed good. FSH and only 2 previous keepers. However on the way home I noticed excessive vibrations through the steering wheel so contacted the guys I bought it from and then took it to my local specialist. They balanced the wheels and gave it a thorough check over. Got it back and they said all was good aside from a few minor points. Nothing urgent. Guys I bought it from refunded me half my bill, said they wouldn't pay for diagnostics, whatever I was happy to get some money back. That was £75 paid out. All was fine for a while then a headlamp went. Changed the bulb that didn't help. Took it back to the garage said it was the ballast. They wanted £300 for a new one, I sourced one from eBay and they installed it. Was about £100 for the part and the install. All was fine for a bit longer then we were hit by that cold snap at the start of the year and after freezing solid and working intermittently the driver's door handle failed. Another trip back to the garage. Think that was about £300 for parts and labour.

Again everything was ok for a bit, you guessed it though, then got the engine management light come on intermittently under acceleration. Was actually on the way to the garage for an oil change at the time. They kept it, ran diagnostics and said there was a misfire on cylinder 5. Investigation found that it was the injector. After some discussion with the garage they advised that other injectors could go but that there was nothing to suggest that currently. So decided to do just the one and the carbon clean whilst they were in there. £1700 bill followed.

About a month later under acceleration the engine management light came back on. Took it back again. Injector again this time on cylinder 3. Decided to just do the remaining 7 whilst they were there. £2000 bill followed.

As I'm sure anyone reading this can imagine I'm pretty sick of the sight of the car by now. But I'm in 2 minds. Do I just get rid of it, if I did it would be for something more practical and less expensive to run. Or after all that expense do I just keep the dam thing? I don't want it to depreciate too much and actually be able to get roughly what I paid for it last year. Or if I keep it does anyone think these might appreciate? Probably not with the RS5 around.

After reading this through I realise it's all very negative and there are still things I love about the car. I still love how it looks, how it sounds, the performance (fastest thing I've owned) the B&O sound system is the best I've had in a car and it is clean inside and out for the age. Having kids it isn't at all practical but that's why the wife has an estate and I didn't buy it for practicality.

Apologies for the long thread but wanted some input. Thanks in advance
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kayobong
Hello all,

Looking for some input on the following topic. So after lusting after a V8 S5 for some time I bought one last year in November. Test drove it and loved it, was a clean example for the age and seemed good. FSH and only 2 previous keepers. However on the way home I noticed excessive vibrations through the steering wheel so contacted the guys I bought it from and then took it to my local specialist. They balanced the wheels and gave it a thorough check over. Got it back and they said all was good aside from a few minor points. Nothing urgent. Guys I bought it from refunded me half my bill, said they wouldn't pay for diagnostics, whatever I was happy to get some money back. That was £75 paid out. All was fine for a while then a headlamp went. Changed the bulb that didn't help. Took it back to the garage said it was the ballast. They wanted £300 for a new one, I sourced one from eBay and they installed it. Was about £100 for the part and the install. All was fine for a bit longer then we were hit by that cold snap at the start of the year and after freezing solid and working intermittently the driver's door handle failed. Another trip back to the garage. Think that was about £300 for parts and labour.

Again everything was ok for a bit, you guessed it though, then got the engine management light come on intermittently under acceleration. Was actually on the way to the garage for an oil change at the time. They kept it, ran diagnostics and said there was a misfire on cylinder 5. Investigation found that it was the injector. After some discussion with the garage they advised that other injectors could go but that there was nothing to suggest that currently. So decided to do just the one and the carbon clean whilst they were in there. £1700 bill followed.

About a month later under acceleration the engine management light came back on. Took it back again. Injector again this time on cylinder 3. Decided to just do the remaining 7 whilst they were there. £2000 bill followed.

As I'm sure anyone reading this can imagine I'm pretty sick of the sight of the car by now. But I'm in 2 minds. Do I just get rid of it, if I did it would be for something more practical and less expensive to run. Or after all that expense do I just keep the dam thing? I don't want it to depreciate too much and actually be able to get roughly what I paid for it last year. Or if I keep it does anyone think these might appreciate? Probably not with the RS5 around.

After reading this through I realise it's all very negative and there are still things I love about the car. I still love how it looks, how it sounds, the performance (fastest thing I've owned) the B&O sound system is the best I've had in a car and it is clean inside and out for the age. Having kids it isn't at all practical but that's why the wife has an estate and I didn't buy it for practicality.

Apologies for the long thread but wanted some input. Thanks in advance

Keep it and enjoy it since you have paid to keep it going. You'll never get your money back on from all that you have spent on it, although they do seem to be appreciating in value.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mdog
Keep it and enjoy it since you have paid to keep it going. You'll never get your money back on from all that you have spent on it, although they do seem to be appreciating in value.
Thanks for your input. I think that's the way I'm leaning for sure. Had a little 'race' with a Golf GTI after posting this and put a smile on my face afterwards.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kayobong
What's the mileage? Unfortunately expensive cars have expensive faults. You seem to have had bad fortune, rather than a chronic problem with a specific issue (which is better).

How much carbon build was there?

The optimistic view is that you have brand new injectors firing in a V8, in a car with history. So as other have said, get the ROI from the money you've put into it and enjoy!
 

Similar threads

Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
0
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
34
Views
16K