About to pull the trigger on an S4 cab...

[Greg66]

Well, I think I might be, anyway.

How serious is this timing chain noise on start up? I've got the 4.2 engine in an A8 at the moment, and don't get any rattles on start up. The engineer I sent to give the car I want the once over seemed quite concerned about it.

And besides aux rads, coil packs, oil and tyres, anything long term I need to think about? Front discs?

TIA.

[xyber]

Mine sounded pretty rough on start-up, but and oil change cured it

[elmo]

Same here. I bought mine last february and it was on the Long AVS service regime. Swapped it to a yearly regime in September and have lost the engine rattle on startup and oil consumption has dropped like a stone.

Can't recommend enough a regular oil change regime.

The engine rattle on cold start up wouldn't put me off, but budget to get the car serviced ASAP (£250 at an independant specialist).

[chunky79]

It could be a different engine in the A8 thats why there's no rattle.
The same as all cars, you never know what is going to fail. Get a spare coil pack to keep with you and get vag-com.

[elmo]

I believe the A8 has timing belts while the S4 has a timing chain system to make the engine more compact. It is the hydraulic chain tensioners which cause the rattle, until they build sufficient pressure.

[BlingBling]

As pointed out by everyone the rattle lasts for about 3secs. Alsp the A8 engine is a different beast to the S4. Belts and chains respectively. It happens more often than not. However, at times when I have start the car there is no rattle. Discs are a consumable and are dependant upon your driving style. My originals lasted 60k before I decided to upgrade. They were still shy of the minimum thickness. Petrol is another thing to consider. The severity depends on your driving style.

In general bullet proof cars if cared for but if not then I suppose it is a lottery.

[ShaneyB]

Front brakes - £349.00 including pads from Fontain last week.

[jamess4cab]

Roof mechanism - £550 fitted last year. Not clever.

If it has a Milltek, be very prepared to spend an awful lot of time at the pumps. Since I have had mine fitted, all i want to do is hear it growl, so have been extremely heavy on the right boot.

[quattrokid1]

Front brakes - £349.00 including pads from Fontain last week.

Christ please tell me this included fitting

I have a warped disc on mine.... 79 quid per disc from a dealer.hopefully this will be addressed under its warranty oh and we have a clunk from the front suspension, suspected drop link or bush has died..... with 52k miles on it I am also surprised.

Anyway for good parts prices (Stirling Audi ask for Peter Chimes at parts)

he can give discounts.

Also had the steering angle sensor changed as well, it was bringing up the yellow triangle on the dash.

ok.... we got the car in June and now done 6000 miles in it, it was given its 50,000 service before we collected it, so at what intervals do you change your oil then folks please?

chain tensioners should be good for at least 100k miles according to Grizz (Unit 20) and Ben of AVPerformance.

[Greg66]

This is all good guys - keep it coming.

On the fuel front, the A8 averages around 16-17 long term. I'll be hanging onto that; the S4 will be a toy <cough, cough>. Don't therefore expect to be doing additional mileage - we'll just be sharing the mileage we do between two cars from now on.

No Miltek (AFAIK). The RS4 ARB will be above that on the list, as will a Kufatec BT kit for the RNS-E. And possibly a front centre arm rest. And a wind deflector.

Hmm. I can see how these can be expensive...

Two more questions:
1. I've read the Miltek can produce a drone with the tip box (which is what I want - the tip, not the drone). True or false? Is gutting the pre-cats a drone free option?
2. (esp for the cab owners - I've never owned a cab before). How long (if at all) before the novelty of having the hood down wears off? Do you get to the point where you could put the hood down, but just can't be bothered, and leave it up?

[ShaneyB]

Yep included discs, pads and fitting. Far cheaper than Watford and Amersham Audi.

[quattrokid1]

Hmm. I can see how these can be expensive...

Two more questions:
1. I've read the Miltek can produce a drone with the tip box (which is what I want - the tip, not the drone). True or false? Is gutting the pre-cats a drone free option?
2. (esp for the cab owners - I've never owned a cab before). How long (if at all) before the novelty of having the hood down wears off? Do you get to the point where you could put the hood down, but just can't be bothered, and leave it up?

I had a Milltec cat back fitted (Tiptronic box on ours) bloody hell it is like sitting in a Wellington Bomber

unfortunately I didnt think to ask because i didnt realise it but I had the NON resonated centre section fitted ( in cabrio) IMHO BIG mistake.... around town at 40 mph or around 1200-1800 revs it dromes like hell BUT when you nail it it sounds like a Nascar the noise reverberating off buildings must surely loosen thier foundations!!!!


I had the centre sections replaced to silenced pipes which has made it far more confortable on the lug holes.There is still a nice rumble but its not as intrusive as before.Each to their own I suppose.

AS for dropping the roof.... mine is up and down like a hookers drawers.

you cant beat a V8 rumble with the roof down and that engine purring away up front, its a belter

if you want the roof up 24/7 then buy a saloon !!

the B6 S4 cabrio is a gem of a car, well built, well engineered and its an Audi so it will last for years.

IF you buy it please stick some photos up

oh....check that when you open/close the doors check that the window goes up and down about half an inch...I hadnt noticed that the drivers side on ours didnt becuase when we test drove the car, I was in the jump seat then when it was my turn, the roof was already down and remained down when we returned it to the dealers. Cut to the chase when i noticed it and took it in, it turns out there was a broken wire in the door loom and the window regulator was tits. The window went up and down as it should with the window switch but not when opening and closing the door.

oh and another thing... on cabrios, the windows do not close when you keep your finger pressed on the keyfob when locking the car like they probably do on saloons and avants I thought we had a fault on the new key we had given to us on collection of the car since it only came with 1 key so I asked for another if it hadnt been tuned to the car, this isnt the case. its fine.

buy th car and ENJOY V8 al fresco motoring

[grum71]

oh and another thing... on cabrios, the windows do not close when you keep your finger pressed on the keyfob when locking the car like they probably do on saloons and avants I thought we had a fault on the new key we had given to us on collection of the car since it only came with 1 key so I asked for another if it hadnt been tuned to the car, this isnt the case. its fine.

I'm sure mine did. I bought a 2004 cab fresh from the bubblewrap. The 'hold the keyfob' thing did all the windows - the M3 cab also did the roof. Very 'Vauxhall Astra.'

Millteks are a must. I have an avant with the full system (inc cats) and it sounds like a bi-plane at half throttle. It does have a louder tone but I have Bose and I just turn the music up if on a run.

I have experienced 2 S4's now and would advise anyone to buy one.

It's worth it for the look on peoples faces when you turn the key.

[quattrokid1]

oh !!!


dealer told me it didnt close the windows when the roof was up with the keyfob when locking the central locking...... I'll have nother go then, thanks for the heads up Grum