New Owner - Observations and questions

[23skip]

Hi Guys,

been looking for an RS4 Avant for many months, but came across a Sepang Blue 2008 RS6 on a dealer forecourt. Test drive sealed the deal!
First impressions - wow! This is one quick beast, but only managed 12.1mpg on first tank of fuel - a bit worrying.
Feels big (I came from a VW Golf!!!) but great to drive with a definite split personality depending how hard you push the loud pedal.
Couple of early observations, I seem to have the condensation problem in one headlight that I have read about on here even though the dealer assures me the grommets/seals have been replaced.
More worrying is that the Driver Information Display (DIS - between the speedo and rev counter) sometimes takes some time to illuminate. Seems to be when the outside temperature is lower. Drive for a few miles and it slowly fades up and becomes visible. Stop and retart and it comes on straight away. Next morning not on again. Anyone else had this?

[gmk666]

First of all welcome to the club. Did you go for a saloon or an Avant? I only ask as I looked at a couple of Sepang Avants before buying my Daytona Grey one. Sepang is such a great colour for these cars.

This is one quick beast, but only managed 12.1mpg on first tank of fuel - a bit worrying.

These two facts are related.

Feels big (I came from a VW Golf!!!) but great to drive with a definite split personality depending how hard you push the loud pedal.

It gets smaller with time.
Regarding the split personality, my default is the comfort suspension and standard auto gearbox setting, but when the mood (and road) takes me, JESUS! I love that barking noise and throttle blips on downshifts.

Couple of early observations, I seem to have the condensation problem in one headlight that I have read about on here even though the dealer assures me the grommets/seals have been replaced.
More worrying is that the Driver Information Display (DIS - between the speedo and rev counter) sometimes takes some time to illuminate. Seems to be when the outside temperature is lower. Drive for a few miles and it slowly fades up and becomes visible. Stop and retart and it comes on straight away. Next morning not on again. Anyone else had this?

I haven't had either of these problems (yet), but I wouldn't care if the dealer tells me the grommets have been replaced. They need replacing again. Was it from an Audi dealer?

[mcfreedom]

The grommets wasn't actually a fix for the condensation problem. In the end they recalled ALL RS6's and completely replaced the headlights.

This is a two day job, and involves removing the front bumper.

Not had the DIS problem YET, had MANY others but I'm sure it's coming.

[23skip]

[quote="mcfreedom"]The grommets wasnSepang Blue Avant. Purchased from Reading Audi.

Regarding the headlight replacement are you saying that my car should have been recalled and actually had the headlights replaced?
The dealer told me all recalls/updates had been done! How would I check this? Is there anything to distinguish the new lights from the old?
Do the replacement headlamps solve the condensation problem or does it just come back after a while?

[23skip]

Sorry last post a bit messy. Still learning the ropes!

[Nudenut]

The recall is just to dry them out and replace the seals and grommets, if you continue to have a problem I know some owners have had replacement units fitted (a fair sized job, not without issue I believe... set up after can be wrong )

I had my grommets etc done, has cured the issue, good luck!

Funnily, or not... I noted it tells you in the manual that you can suffer misting of the lamps

[Bushy]

Welcome aboard, from teh Berkshire area then

I have had one misting lamp with grommets changed and one unit treplaced

gett hem to sort out the dash is my suggestion

Great colour for this car

[gdavison]

Double post .. deleted

[gdavison]

Welcome aboard .. I'm biased on the colour choice what interior have colour you got ? Need pictures

Another Reading RS6, reckon that's close to 6 now I know off.. hopefully will see you around the area. Who sold you it .. was it Guy he's ok bit dippy some times but all in all ok .... however I'll give you the warning now that Service is pretty naff at Reading

Re the milage you'll get back to 16 ish once you calm down

Re the headlights .. the condensation will kill it eventually .. I have had both replaced due to failures.. It'll start with DRL failures which will be intermittent than permanent .. I'd ask for a new headlight now.. Remind them of the number of headlights they have already done for members of this forum. Thread for most of us reporting DRL failures due to condensation is http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ic&t=81281

Re the DIS .. none of us have seen anything like that

[mc3744]

Welcome aboard!

As already mentioned the headlights had several problems for many owners.
I had my RS6 recalled and after that the rubber sealing changed. It seemed to have solved the problem, for now at least.
Never had or heard about the DIS issue. I'd definitely insist that they fix it.

Good luck!