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Please can someone tell me when the S4 changed from a B6 to a B7. What are the main differences between the two. Appreciate any help with this. Thanks.

The B7 came in at the beginning (March IIRC) of 2005, I received one of the last B6's in December 2004.

Apart from cosmetic changes affecting the body panels and lights, the B7 has quad exhaust system which actualy sounds better than the OEM B6 and means some people didn't feel the need for a Milltek. The biggest difference was that the B7 received rear Trapezoidal suspension and hub assemblies and the way you can tell is that with the B6 you can only upgrade to the B7 RS4 brake assembly at the front but with the B7 S4 you can upgrade the front and rear calipers/disks/pads

Thank you for your quick response. I am just looking to change my S2 for an S4 Avant as I need a bigger car but want to keep the power. Now seems to be a good time to pick up a nice pre-owned S4.

Depends on what you like however for me I preferred the shape of the B6 S4 saloon rather than the B7 but the Avant the other way round!

I would agree with P G, I liked the B6 shape better than the B7 particularly the grill. The interiors to me are identical (have owned both a B6 and B7 S4) and most of the changes are cosmetic to the exterior or otherwise hidden. I did notice that the dipped headlamp beams wobbled over bumps in the B6 but don't in the B7 (checked on the same bit of road) .

I still have the view that the B6 was a little less refined than the B7 and felt more raw and involving to drive but both good cars.

Pete

Owned three B6's but never driven a B7 one. The B6 was prone to leaking auxillary radiators which is, apparently, fixed on the B7. You will struggle to find a manual B7 as most punters upgraded to an RS4 as the residuals were better so leasing costs etc were very similar.

I own a manual B7 S4 Avant, I changed from an impreza STi. I have had the car for 2 years and apart from going through tires and fuel at a rate similar to that of the scooby it has been faultless.
A mate of mine has a B6 and while i like them both I wanted a newer car, hence I bought a B7.

Paul

cabin is identical; outside is similar, prefer B6 front as the B7 big grill is ugly as hell; except in RS form.
Not sure on the technical upgrades, im sure the B7 is more refined but surely there is limit to the upgrades Audi could make from the same base?

It it were my money, i'd be in a B6, but make sure it has RNSE sat nav

The aux. rad. problem in the B6 was alleviated by the revised front bumper design on the B7. Having had a B6 I only had one rad. fail on me but with regular cleaning out of the rad. ducts (where the foglights are) with a pressure washer never had the problem again. It is usually an accumulation of dead leaves and road grime corroding the rads and connecting pipes.

The aux. rad problem was not fully solved on the B7. There are several members on here with B7's who have had their rads replaced.

So I heard which is why I tried not to say cured.