DRC on the B8

[murph7355]

Am familiar with DRC on RS4s having had my B7 a while, but thought I'd ask here anyway to make sure I'm not being over cautious...

A car I'm interested in had a few advisories at its last MOT (December), including "Both front Shock absorbers have a light misting of oil".

On normal suspension this wouldn't worry me. But on DRC, it's making me cautious.

Rightly so? Or stop being a wuss and go for it?

[RS4B8LYF]

Am familiar with DRC on RS4s having had my B7 a while, but thought I'd ask here anyway to make sure I'm not being over cautious...

A car I'm interested in had a few advisories at its last MOT (December), including "Both front Shock absorbers have a light misting of oil".

On normal suspension this wouldn't worry me. But on DRC, it's making me cautious.

Rightly so? Or stop being a wuss and go for it?

Is it still under warranty? If so they will swap them out.


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[murph7355]

Nope. (December 2013 car).

[RS4B8LYF]

Nope. (December 2013 car).

Hmmm, from what I gather from other posts people just end up swapping out for other set up. I don't think misting is as much an observation as stating they are leaking. Do they knock on slight bumps in road? Wait until they're bad?


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[murph7355]

Haven't been to see the car. Am trying to figure out whether it's even worth bothering going to look - to be serious about buying it I'd need to sell my current B7 (which I think would be straightforward) and then have a 300 mile round trip. Which I'm not inclined to do if it looks like a prospective purchase has issues in store

Having replaced a shock on my B7 I know how quickly they can go from that to needing to be replaced. Just thought I'd ask on here in case the B8 was any different (I thought later versions of DRC were meant to be more robust).

Dealer reckons nothing wrong with the suspension. But then they would No record of when the discs/pads were last changed either but they're also noted as fine. My head's telling me to leave it (even though the spec is spot on).

[RS4B8LYF]

Haven't been to see the car. Am trying to figure out whether it's even worth bothering going to look - to be serious about buying it I'd need to sell my current B7 (which I think would be straightforward) and then have a 300 mile round trip. Which I'm not inclined to do if it looks like a prospective purchase has issues in store

Having replaced a shock on my B7 I know how quickly they can go from that to needing to be replaced. Just thought I'd ask on here in case the B8 was any different (I thought later versions of DRC were meant to be more robust).

Dealer reckons nothing wrong with the suspension. But then they would No record of when the discs/pads were last changed either but they're also noted as fine. My head's telling me to leave it (even though the spec is spot on).

Your head is telling you something, if you can get a 2015 model as warranty will still be on car OR buy that car and put Audi warranty on it and claim later down line if it gets worse? Just my thoughts. Good luck


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[murph7355]

Thanks.

I'm not in any major rush really, so happy to wait for the right car. I doubt my B7 will be losing much money over the next year or two.

Just that new car itch....

[RS4B8LYF]

Yep, get an itch every 3months....but think I'll stop scratching for sometime as the B8 is pure pleasure!


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[Surrey Sam]

The itch is worth scratching, B8 is a slightly different but nice step up from the B7.

My advice would be buy one with an Audi warranty or make sure that it has full Audi dealer service history, so that you can then put an Audi warranty on separately. The B8 DRC is generally less problematic than the B7's were, not faultless though, but no DRC equipped Audi seems to be including the latest generation RS6. There is apparently a TSB for customers complaining of front shocks knocking and an updated part, I've not seen this myself but have read about it on here.

[RS4B8LYF]

The itch is worth scratching, B8 is a slightly different but nice step up from the B7.

My advice would be buy one with an Audi warranty or make sure that it has full Audi dealer service history, so that you can then put an Audi warranty on separately. The B8 DRC is generally less problematic than the B7's were, not faultless though, but no DRC equipped Audi seems to be including the latest generation RS6. There is apparently a TSB for customers complaining of front shocks knocking and an updated part, I've not seen this myself but have read about it on here.

Sam, are you coming to Box hill meet?


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[Surrey Sam]

Sam, are you coming to Box hill meet?

Unfortunately not this time as moving house in the next few weeks, so busy sorting and packing boxes. I still plan to be at the Wales meet though

[murph7355]

Thanks guys.

Probably been done to death elsewhere, but what's the cost of Audi extended warranty?

Also, Sam...as someone who's done it, would you say the switch is worth 15-20k?

[Surrey Sam]

Oooh, tough one.

For me it looks better, goes better, handles better and has better tech, is that worth 20k extra? Probably not. Do I regret paying the £20k extra to move up, certainly not. This is my last RS4 though, as going Turbocharged in the next one doesn't interest or excite me. So I was quite happy to play the long game with the B8 and just enjoy it.

My factory warranty ends in the 8 weeks’ time, so currently just waiting for a renewal quote to come through for extending it. I've checked Audi's online warranty configurator and can get for £655 a year:

Full Component cover.
Up to 15k miles a year.
£250 excess.

That seems quite reasonable value, whereas to get full component, unlimited miles and zero excess, increases the annual cost to just over £1300.

[murph7355]

Thanks Sam.

Just Google Audi's extended warranty pages...for a Dec 2013 RS4 I'm getting £1,296 for the same cover you're noting. Possibly the miles on the car (44k on the one I'm considering). Though I've tried the same details with 20k miles on and it's the same....?

£655 would be worth it for a year potentially, but not £1,300

[RS4B8LYF]

You won't regret buying a well equipped RS4 B8. I'll say it again as I have elsewhere.....this model will hold its value well and as the option for a V8 NA becomes obsolete when buying new across all makes the value of these could well go up!!!


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