Noob investigations ...

[MadMark]

Hi everyone. I'm new on here, but a serial Scoobynet / Pistonheads / Type R forum member and I'm investigating B8 RS4's as a potential daily. I had a late 2017 RS5 a few years ago and In essence I've got a Golf R on lease and I'm selling my Porsche 991 C2S and a CTR JDM to fund an RS4 and a garage to put it in!

Picked up lots of info so far. The trade seem to be expecting a price drop for all but the lowest mileage examples. This is borne out in that only one car in my shortlist of 15 has sold in the last 6 weeks. Lockdown and shitty weather not withstanding ....

Tell me I'm wrong, but so far I've worked out that:

• I don't want a Panoramic Roof as they just rattle or the drain holes block.

• Brake discs and pads are horrendously expensive - so really I want a car that's had them done.

• I probably want a non-DRC car as I'm not sure I want to go aftermarket and the the system is ludicrously expensive to replace.

• Carbon deposits are a problem, just like the B7.

• Tyres are not cheap. Standard fit was the PZero but MPS 4S are the best.

• The cars are very colour sensitive and Metallic Blue or Black seem the most popular. Nogaro is one colour you pay over the odds for but the special editions spec is very basic - love the blue alcantara all the same!

• Very few cars were optioned with Carbon Brakes - mostly the press cars that had them.

• Diffs and DSG boxes must have their oil changed when specified. Failures happen when this is not done.

My question is what I should be paying for the last of the 2014/2015 cars with 45,000 miles or ideally much less?

[Rugslasher]

So ya want a s-line tdi avant

[MadMark]

So ya want a s-line tdi avant

Probably a safer bet - but no I want a V8. Never had a V8 ....

[Rugslasher]

Yeah it was scary for me when I bought mine knowing how expensive parts are , I’ve binned the DRC for some KW’s , the panoramic sunroof are good if you keep the mechanism greased up , I’m sure coke is just an issue on high mileage cars,the diff oil service isn’t expensive & minimal but you need a milltek system

[MadMark]

Yeah it was scary for me when I bought mine knowing how expensive parts are , I’ve binned the DRC for some KW’s , the panoramic sunroof are good if you keep the mechanism greased up , I’m sure coke is just an issue on high mileage cars,the diff oil service isn’t expensive & minimal but you need a milltek system

Thanks Rugslasher - that's a helpful view!

[Rusty Racer]

You seem to be on the case... I went for a non DRC car and thoroughly enjoy the ride 99% of the time. Yes, when you really give it beans on that odd occasion it could be stiffer but it’s hardly a big issue.
Not really sure how badly effected the B8 is for carbon build up. I only use V power and don’t use it unless it gets completely warmed up before switching off I.e. long runs
It’s doctor’s orders to use the full rev range at least once every trip, so a bit impossible if you are driving in town!
Optional equipment seems to be your best option as all the toys make for a more enjoyable experience- it was easy to spec up the car with £6k+ of extras

[MadMark]

You seem to be on the case... I went for a non DRC car and thoroughly enjoy the ride 99% of the time. Yes, when you really give it beans on that odd occasion it could be stiffer but it’s hardly a big issue.
Not really sure how badly effected the B8 is for carbon build up. I only use V power and don’t use it unless it gets completely warmed up before switching off I.e. long runs
It’s doctor’s orders to use the full rev range at least once every trip, so a bit impossible if you are driving in town!
Optional equipment seems to be your best option as all the toys make for a more enjoyable experience- it was easy to spec up the car with £6k+ of extras

I gather that when it works - DRC is impressive, but having had quite a few cars with electronically adjustable suspension, I only put it in Dynamic / Sports plus etc about 2% of the time. The rest is in comfort / normal and so the setup you have is probably ideal.
Bilstein Damptronic means you can still have coilovers that are electronically adjustable via the "Drive Select" button (not unlike Magnaride). Then Koni and Eibach seem to have developed a cheaper and more conventional replacement for the DRC, albeit with the requirement for stiffer antiroll bars and the removal of some pipework.


Oh yes - trying to learn what I can and not buy something that needs piles of cash throwing at it straight away. But it is a bit of a minefield, because so many seem to have been abused by at least one of their owners. Of course I'm wondering why I never bought one brand new. Maybe because I bought one of the first new turbo M3's in 2015.

I'm prepared for that. I've seen videos of what it can look like at even 50,000 miles. Supermarket fuel and lots of time in traffic doesn't seem to help, but getting them really hot probably only bonds it harder. Still, most direct injection engines do this, so I'll take it to a rolling road and if it's down on power, then have it investigated and cleaned if necessary. Luckily I've got MRC and Fontain not too far away.

I'll bet it was - you must have been like a kid in a candy store! Yup I'm not fussed about the Bucket seats, Panoramic Roof, or Dynamic steering, or DRC really. But so many were ordered with the Sports Pack - its hard to avoid. What I really want is a Nogaro (but the only two on the market are seriously expensive or 500 miles away); but Blue / Black / Silver or Grey - with the Black (not Silver interior). Rotor 20" in Silver, the Sports Exhaust, Seat Heaters, Reversing Camera, Alcantara Centres and the B&O Speakers is my ideal spec!

[Rusty Racer]

I got mine a couple of years back (and meant go for one with options if you can/want) via a dealer. Pleased I did as I had some issues early doors that were covered under their warranty. I know it’s easy to knock the dealer network but for me they were good.
I think it’s wise to get some kind of warranty at the beginning while you get to understand the car... all to often the test drive is brief and the car had no fuel in it (a common problem!!) A good long ownership and mot history is a start plus condition of wheel rims and tyres too.
I believe my rotors are £1200 each so no parking by ear!
As to the perfect car, I’m not sure - I guess you will know that when you see it. I didn’t want all shouty and love how understated mine is. I guess the more you drive it the more you like it.

[MadMark]

Rusty Racer - What kind of issues did you have? The usual? It resonates with me because I usually buy via dealers but their uplift on RS4's seems enormous even when compared to the "indies" who are a disproportionate amount again over private sales. I'd like to buy one with some Audi warranty, but assuming anything I buy has been Audi serviced, surely I can just go and buy it myself?

The Misano red ones are cheaper for a reason IMHO - lovely colour - but too shouty for me. I like Q-cars and to be understated when mooching about, attracting attention is something you rarely want. And that's coming from an ex-911 owner. Its also why I wouldn't have a Lambo, even if I had the money!

I think I've seen a couple so far, but I'm struggling with spending the pennies required to purchase what I want. Not because I haven't got them, but because the cars I want seem overpriced. And I'm not sure that the independent dealers have a clue about what they're selling. Maybe it's time for a "Wanted" post to see if anyone has something nice they'd like to sell me?

[Rugslasher]

Tbh when I purchased mine I wanted black & after comparing with a mate of mines B8 the first owner of mine added black pack sports pack carbon pack pan roof leather memory seats etc & they all work together to make it a nice place to be (apart from the DRC) & for me the memory seats is a must so I don’t have to mess after the wife’s drive it

[114uyc]

Audi extended warranty is not transferable

Rusty Racer - What kind of issues did you have? The usual? It resonates with me because I usually buy via dealers but their uplift on RS4's seems enormous even when compared to the "indies" who are a disproportionate amount again over private sales. I'd like to buy one with some Audi warranty, but assuming anything I buy has been Audi serviced, surely I can just go and buy it myself?

[MadMark]

Audi extended warranty is not transferable

Rusty Racer - What kind of issues did you have? The usual? It resonates with me because I usually buy via dealers but their uplift on RS4's seems enormous even when compared to the "indies" who are a disproportionate amount again over private sales. I'd like to buy one with some Audi warranty, but assuming anything I buy has been Audi serviced, surely I can just go and buy it myself?

Oh that's not good.

[Rusty Racer]

Rusty Racer - What kind of issues did you have? The usual?

4th gear syncro - gearbox required £12k
I didn’t notice the noise on the test drive but did on it’s first proper outing so informed the dealer within 2 days. Would have returned the car but got them to fit new discs and pads all round, rear silencer box (sticking actuator) and give me a second years Audi warranty (c. £3.6k).
After that headlamp ballast then headlamp level sensor plus various alarm issues.

Obviously I thought long and hard about replacing the gearbox but decided if they are an issue at least I had a new one and I could have had the same issue with another car. I don’t believe there is a fundamental problem with them however. The car already had 4 new Dunlop’s (seem really good) and a new front calliper (they snapped off the nipple during a break fluid change) and was the spec I wanted.

You sound like you know what you are doing btw!

[MadMark]

Tbh when I purchased mine I wanted black & after comparing with a mate of mines B8 the first owner of mine added black pack sports pack carbon pack pan roof leather memory seats etc & they all work together to make it a nice place to be (apart from the DRC) & for me the memory seats is a must so I don’t have to mess after the wife’s drive it

The memory seats were an option? Jeez!

[MadMark]

Rusty Racer - What kind of issues did you have? The usual?

4th gear syncro - gearbox required £12k
I didn’t notice the noise on the test drive but did on it’s first proper outing so informed the dealer within 2 days. Would have returned the car but got them to fit new discs and pads all round, rear silencer box (sticking actuator) and give me a second years Audi warranty (c. £3.6k).
After that headlamp ballast then headlamp level sensor plus various alarm issues.

Obviously I thought long and hard about replacing the gearbox but decided if they are an issue at least I had a new one and I could have had the same issue with another car. I don’t believe there is a fundamental problem with them however. The car already had 4 new Dunlop’s (seem really good) and a new front calliper (they snapped off the nipple during a break fluid change) and was the spec I wanted.

You sound like you know what you are doing btw!

Gearbox? Wow - that's pretty rare / serious. I assume they had the car for some time to fit all of that? And yes I had to look up what on earth "headlamp ballast" was ....

I can appreciate that, but it sounds like you got a good outcome and lots issues sorted. And there isn't exactly a huge choice of cars and specs vary enormously. For what it's worth, I think fixing what you had was a good idea.

Not sure about that, but I've done a lot of research over the last couple of months ....