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I have now owned my RS4 for a year and still fall in love with it every time i drive it, which is a good job as since i have owned it i have covered 20k miles and had the following replaced:

Wheels for harder version
Gearbox 36k
Clutch and flywheel 43k
Oil leak that resulted in the variable valve timing being replaced 51k
Diff will be replaced shortly @52k

From the list above you would think that i drive it within an inch of its life, and that i do not! in fact it spends most of its time going up and down the M3 with cruise on when traffic allows. Martins of Basingstoke have provided an exceptional service which alone has stopped me from getting rid (and of course because the RS4 is simply the best all - round car you can buy) is it just me our do some of you lads suffer the same gremlins. On the positive side bought it as second hand and is now nearly new or at least the parts that break! i suppose it doesn't help that i am a self confessed perfectionist! (poor Audi as it has all been covered by warranty) [img]images/graemlins/24430-audibash.gif[/img]

Darren
You are not alone in having a long list of problems. Many of the original owners had long lists of failures, most of which happened in the first 10k miles of ownership.In the first seven months of ownership, and 8000 miles my list on my first car read:
27 wheels
Front suspension
drive shafts
gearbox, flywheel and clutch
2 passenger seat frames
1 drivers seat frame
Sat Nav head unit
Wind noise at back doors which was never solved
Half a dozen wheel trims
rear window trims discoloured
2 front armrests
1 pair of turbos
Numerous, I think it was 3, sets of front discs and pads
Oil leak from cracked oil cooler. [img]images/graemlins/24430-audibash.gif[/img]
I was told by service manager that I drove the car too hard [img]images/graemlins/dung.gif[/img]
The second car I now own has had nothing apart from discs and pads which was not a failure, just worn and tracked discs due to my gravel driveway, and normal servicing. [img]images/graemlins/sloppy.gif[/img]

Were the seat frames replaced because of a sqeak because my passenger seat has started sqeaking quite badly.

Mog [img]images/graemlins/s4anogaro.gif[/img]

4 soft wheels - problem now permanently sorted [img]images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Rear squirter broke.

2 DV's.

So far (43K miles)easily the most problem free moata I have owned.

Were the seat frames replaced because of a sqeak because my passenger seat has started sqeaking quite badly.

Mog [img]images/graemlins/s4anogaro.gif[/img]

Yep, Mog
The Driver's seat frame started to groan, and was replaced, the passenger seat frames were replaced because when empty, they ratteled. Turned out to be the head rests, and JR, aka JohnRoberts came up with cure [img]images/graemlins/bigwave.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]

I wonder what percentage of gearboxes have been replaced on the RS4 / S4.

I know of several including one of my own (S4).

I'd say the 2.7TT engine is very reliable privided that it is looked after properly (warm-up/cool-down)otherwise turbo's seem to be the weak link.

And the cure was........ [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Mog [img]images/graemlins/s4anogaro.gif[/img]

My driver seat started to squeek very badly... the worst moment is when i operate the clutch... i hope the frame isn't too expensive - my car is no longer under warranty...or maybe is there a different solution than replacing the frame?

The cure was to remove the headrest [img]images/graemlins/tung2.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/biggrin3.gif[/img]

Sorry, no it was to remove the headrest, spread the two legs slightly, steady [img]images/graemlins/spineyes.gif[/img] then refit the headrest. With the slight spread the arms were under pressure and it stopped it rattling when the seat was empty [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]
No tools were needed although I did feel like using No 7 [img]images/graemlins/062802beat_prv.gif[/img] on it several times [img]images/graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

It must be a Recaro seat problem as my headrests do the same thing [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img]

ZERO.

No, I lie. The outside temp is not always right, especially in traffic.

Something to do with the sensor being right next to the intercooler and radiator? [img]images/graemlins/1syellow1.gif[/img]

yep, great piece of design.

I have owned my car since new and it now has 103,000 km on it. In contrast to many it does have a hard life - i.e. it lives outside in all weathers and gets thrashed regularly up and down autobahns.

Touch wood the faults have been relatively few and include:

1. A boken washer pump.
2. Broken armrest.
3. Tempramental CD changer.
4. 3 bent wheels.
5. Faulty heat management chip (or something like that!)

Oh and two new rear discs - but I put that down to natural wear and tear. Nest service due in 3,000 km and I suspect I now need new front discs