More S4 questions

[ammwhite]

Ok, now that I've actually got an S4 (2000 'V' Silver S4 Avant, picked up on Friday [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]), I've got even more questions than before!

First off, let me say that I'm delighted with the car. Despite everyone telling me to go for blue or black, I am very happy with the Silver [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] and the performance, handling, and quality of the car are all living up to my expectations [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

I spent most of the weekend washing and polishing it (as well as driving it!). I was going to post some pics, but my digi camera started acting up - I'll post some when I get it sorted [img]images/graemlins/062802beat_prv.gif[/img]

Now for the questions:

1. Red brake calipers - I think the brakes are standard, but the calipers are painted red. Does anyone know if the standard brakes ever came with red calipers?

2. There is quite a rattling noise from the engine at idle (appears to come from the front of the engine bay). Is this normal? If not, any ideas what might cause it?

3. The car has a FASH, and was serviced at 7K, 11.5K, 20K, and 30K miles. However, at the first service after 1year/7K they don't appear to have changed the oil [img]images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] The first oil change seems to have been ater 18months/11.5K, at the 2nd service. Is this normal? My Subaru got an oil change every 6 months, regardless of mileage.

4. How do you work the headliamp washers [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

cheers,
Andy

[toasty]

Hi,

I've never seen an S4 standard with red calipers. I've attached an image of a standard set.

Dunno about the rattling, mine certainly doesn't do it, would suggest that if it is under warranty then take to the dealers.

Oil changes should be every 10,000miles or 12months which ever is sooner.

Headlamp washers work when you have full beam on and you pull the washer stalk towards you (you have to hold it for about 3 seconds)

Hope this helps.
-Dan

[ammwhite]

Thanks Dan!

My calipers look exactly like those, but they are red. I must admit I quite like them - from a distance it looks like I've got Porsche brakes [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

Don't know if they came like this new, or if one of the previous owners had them painted. I suspect the latter, but I just thought I'd ask.

It's an Audi approved used car, so I've got a 12 month warranty. I think you're right, I'll book it in to the dealers and get them to check it out.

So, the headlamp washers only work when you've got the full beams on? I'd never of guessed that. Thanks! [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

cheers,
Andy

[jeffw]

The washers work on dip as well. When you clean the windscreen it cleans the headlights.

[toasty]

Yep, sorry didn't mean full beam, just meant headlights as apposed to sidelights. [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Get someone else to operate them and just watch it's quite impressive!!

-Dan

[Dippy]

Andy,

Any rattling is of course something loose so it should be sorted asap in case it leads to something worse. The heatshielding can rattle, and this is expensive to fix, so get it done well within warranty.

Oil change actually depends on what service schedule you are on. Your car probably allows the Audi Variable Service schedule (viscous oil sensor required), and if the previous owner was on this then the 7K service could have been a standard 6 months 'check-up', and the service indicator might not have required new oil. Since an oil change costs a fair bit on AVS*, the customer would be happy to leave it.

*The S4 has a choice of oil spec, although it must by fully synthetic. For AVS it must meet VAG 503.01 (IIRC) which means Synta, Mobil 1 or Castrol Formula SLX, none of which is really cheap (around £30 for 5l IIRC). However if you're on fixed intervals then you can use any fully synthetic.

When (not if [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]) you get mods done, take a note of the Audi REQUIREMENT that RS4s and 225bhp TT/S3s must use the 503.01 oil. This is because of the high performance. IMO a modded S4 should be in this category.

Most of us S4 owners who care about our cars use the full spec oil (I use Mobil 1) and change it regularly (around 5,000 miles for me).

[ammwhite]

Thanks guys [img]images/graemlins/bowdown.gif[/img]

When I got home tonight, I got my wife to operate the headlamp washers while I watched from outside the car - very impressive bit of engineering [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

And I've booked the car into my local Audi dealer to have them check out the rattling noise at idle.

cheers,
Andy

[jeffw]

Bet your wife was impressed.....lol

[Joshie]

Thanks guys [img]images/graemlins/bowdown.gif[/img]

When I got home tonight, I got my wife to operate the headlamp washers while I watched from outside the car - very impressive bit of engineering [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

And I've booked the car into my local Audi dealer to have them check out the rattling noise at idle.

cheers,
Andy

I can see that you're chuffed to bits with the S4. I can still remember when I first got mine. I had been driving a 520i which was, well, extremely slow and sedate. Let's just say that after tear arsing up the road I arrived home with a great big smile on my face. My wife just couldn't understand it [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]. It a bloke thing really, isn't it? [img]images/graemlins/biggrin3.gif[/img]

[toasty]

I got my wife to operate the headlamp washers

Wow, so you basically let her drive it!!! [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
You are a braver man than me, I've never been the same since my girl managed to rip the engine undercowling off my GSi on the motorway.

I still get night-terrors when I think about it [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

....congrats though on the car, an excellent choice. Mine still makes me smile, unlike those I leave at the lights [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

[ammwhite]

I am delighted with the car in general [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img], although it is not a massive difference in performance from my previous car (Impreza Turbo), but a huge step up in build quality, refinement, image, and stealth [img]images/graemlins/sekret.gif[/img] - it is a bit different having nobody notice the car when I drive past.

With the Subaru (Rally blue with gold alloys [img]images/graemlins/colours.gif[/img]) people tended to stop and stare, especially yound neds with baseball caps on [img]images/graemlins/033102bad_1_prv.gif[/img]

I quite like a bit of anonymity, plus they get an even bigger surprise when I fly past their max power novas and corsas [img]images/graemlins/smile_smoking.gif[/img]

.. and yes, I let my wife drive it - got to keep in the good books [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

cheers,
Andy

[SJS]

Hi Andy,

When you get a moment could you write a un-biased comparison between the Impreza and the S4. As you know i was looking at impreza's but as i currently drive an Audi i fanceied the S4 instead. Differences in performance, handling, fuel economy. The better interior is taken as granted, as the standard impreza interior would have to improve to be woeful.

cheers
Steve [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[ammwhite]

Hi Steve,

Scooby vs. S4 - my impressions so far (only had the S4 for 5 days):

performance - not much in it, but I think the S4 is probably slightly quicker, especially at higher speeds. Also, because the torque in the S4 is available from such low revs, it feels quicker when you aren't pushing it hard.

handling - I think I would have to give the scoob the edge here, just because it is much lighter than the S4 and feels more responsive. Having said that, I'm still getting to know the S4 and haven't tried pushing too hard yet. Also, I haven't had a go in the S4 in the wet - amazingly, we haven't had any rain here for a couple of weeks!

fuel economy - let's face it, you don't buy either of these cars for their fuel economy. Having said that, they are probably about the same. I would expect to get between 20-25 mpg from either (so far the computer in the S4 is showing an avg. of 24mpg).

Overall, I would say the scoob is more of an outright drivers car, but the S4 is a better all round car - you can enjoy driving the S4 when you are just cruising along.

cheers,
Andy

[Dippy]

I came from Scoob to S4, but I've had a little longer than Andy to compare (my Scoob was a standard MY00, and my S4 was standard for the first 9 months). I agree with Andy's points, but can add the following:

1) The S4 is on average a fair bit quicker. The instantaneous acceleration of both is similar, however the S4's flat torque curve makes it accelerate all the time, whereas the Scoob suffers from bad turbo lag and the hesitation problem (see Scoobynet for that). Also because of the build quality, the S4 never feels like it's going as fast as it really is. I recently gave a lift to someone who asked "what's that beep sound?". I said "it's the alarm to let me know that I've just reached 90mph." He was amazed, as he didn't think we were doing anywhere near that.

2) Yes the Scoob handles better in the dry because it's so much lighter. However in the wet, IMO, the S4 handles better for the average driver. The Scoob has too much understeer which I found out to my mistake (see my website for the pictures).

3) You should get better economy from the S4. Scoobs are well-known for being fuel-rich.

However the biggest difference between the S4 and the Scoob comes from modifications:

1) The handling of the S4 can be made far better than the Scoob with H&R coilovers. I'm not sure how better the Scoob can get with suspension mods - I've driven an RB5 and it didn't seem much better than standard.

2) A simple chip takes the S4 to around 500Nm & 300-310bhp, increases of around 25% and 15%. With an exhaust this gets to around 560Nm and 340bhp, i.e. 40% and 30%. However this is not at the cost of torque range. A simple chip for the standard Scoob takes it to around 240bhp (15%), but there's still the lag. I'm not sure about torque or exhaust, but the point is that the gains are greater because of the bigger engine capacity, and for the same vehicle mass this means even better performance improvement.

Cheers,
Dave

[ammwhite]

Looks like it's a fairly natural progression from scooby to S4 [img]images/graemlins/033102bigblink_1_prv.gif[/img]