Print

[nugen]

Hey guys, it's been a while since I posted anything, but I need a little B7 S4 advice from you.

I'm looking at a 2005.5 S4.  It's already modded with downpipe, exhaust, and Vogtland coil overs. 

Everything looks good, and it has a transferrable powertrain warranty with 50K left on it.  I've always been a B5 guy, so I'm not sure what the hard questions to ask are.  Are there any specific things I need to look for that might indicate bigger problems? 

Thanks for the help, and Merry Christmas!

[Barry]

Go buy another Mustang!


You say it has a downpipe? Like a set of headers? My brother has a 2005 S4 and he loves it.... Its damn near impossible breaking the tires loose with ESP turned off....


I don't know a whole lot about the history of maitenance related issues.... I do know that 150 MPH is not hard to come by in that car!

[Giggidy]

Go buy another Mustang!


You say it has a downpipe? Like a set of headers? My brother has a 2005 S4 and he loves it.... Its damn near impossible breaking the tires loose with ESP turned off....


I don't know a whole lot about the history of maitenance related issues.... I do know that 150 MPH is not hard to come by in that car!

Haha that was a fun night... cept for the near blacking out part.

[JohnnyAlQaeda]

Coil pack issues. Theres a service bulletin out to replace the coil packs with the updated version as the originals are prone to failure, which causes a hell of a misfire and eventually kills your cats. being that its a b7 you wont have to worry about the flywheel issues like the b6's did. regardless though, the 4.2 burns oil so plan on your oil changes every 3-5000 and not the 10000 that the computer will tell you.

[nugen]

I heard about the coil pack issues.  The car still has 50,000 miles left on the extended warranty, so if there are any problems with that I'm sure Audi will take care of it.  I've already had to replace the coils on my B5 S4 twice so I kind of expect that.

I'm most concerned about the suspension.  This is going to be my daily driver and I don't want to live with a jarring suspension.  The Vogtland's are well reviewed and it seems like a common mod to the B6/B7's to clean up the "slop" in the suspension due to their weight. 

[lnferno]

There aren't a whole lot of mods that you can do to those S4s so it sounds like it already has the two most common mods already. Vogtland coilovers are nice - not bone jarring at all. I'd say go for it! 

[Barry]

You're looking into it for a daily driver? Hope you dont mind filling the tank up. Alot....

[nugen]

You're looking into it for a daily driver? Hope you dont mind filling the tank up. Alot....

Company gas card 

[Barry]

well played sir.... well played


I am looking at a few different vehicles for a new daily driver, and everytime I ride in my brothers S4 I have to talk myself out of even considering one for me. At 120 miles per day, and 18 MPG with a real light foot (which I have not been able to find mine yet) the S4 would be rediculous for me to consider!

[JohnnyAlQaeda]

I have a B6 but the only difference in the suspension between 6 and 7 is the rear sway bars. stock my suspension is just dandy so if the coilovers are supposedly better your in for a treat. as far as a lack of parts thats complete bullshit go to jhmotorsports. com granted gas mileage isnt good. at all. but thats the price you pay for the whole package.

[JohnnyAlQaeda]

why you getting rid of the b5? for the time being thats still the platform to have. i recently rode in a stg 3+ rs6 ko4'd b5 and it was unreal. almost as good as head on the autobahn.

[Giggidy]

I don't think he's saying lack of parts, rather lack of mods... esp in comparo to a B5 where there is everything imagineable. Honestly what can you get for a B6/B7?? Exhaust/header.... Intake....and suspension. I'd really love to get a 'garo B6 S but the thought of 500hp in a B5 S is too alluring

[Barry]

There is a company out there selling a roots style charger for the B6 / B7.... It will set you back $8500 and only add 30% 


It was pretty crazy watching that S avant get sideways in Ocean City at h2o this year....

[JohnnyAlQaeda]

The S/C kits for the S are complete garbage, theres a guy on audizine whos automatic S with just an exhaust runs a faster time than all of the s/c'ed cars. JHM is currently putting the finishing touches on their direct port nitrous kit which puts the 1/4 times in the low 12's 11's are just around the corner.

[scurvy_bandit]

jeebus thats insane

[nugen]

why you getting rid of the b5? for the time being thats still the platform to have. i recently rode in a stg 3+ rs6 ko4'd b5 and it was unreal. almost as good as head on the autobahn.

It does hurt me to get rid of this car, especially considering how much I've invested in it.  Unfortunately, the car has over 100,000 miles on it now and it's starting to show it's age.  Every time I take it to get serviced it costs anywhere from $300-$700 on top of the routine stuff, even at my local mechanic.  When I was in the Army at Ft. Carson I could go to the shop and do the work myself.  That's gone now.  In addition I see some electrical things happening.  That just scares the hell out of me!  The power roof works only when it wants to.  The dash is becoming erratic, one of the vanity lights is getting tempermental, and the auto dimming rear view mirror doesn't dim!  The fan in the dash shakes a little when it's on, and the noise and rattling makes me crazy.  I drive alot more now going into and out of NYC and I like the features on the B7.  The Bose stereo and cold weather package is similar, but the B7 has integrated bluetooth w/ navi and wheel mounted controls.  Most importantly, the car has less than half the miles of my current S and the same quattro that I'm used to on these messed up roads!  It doesn't hurt that the V8 grumble retains lots of cool factor for this 30 something guy...

[JohnnyAlQaeda]

i see i see. cant say i blame you there i dont like dealing with electrical gremlins myself. if you do end up getting that b7 theres alot of support on audizine.com its worthwhile depending on what if anything you might want to do with it.

[nugen]

I have a B6 but the only difference in the suspension between 6 and 7 is the rear sway bars. stock my suspension is just dandy so if the coilovers are supposedly better your in for a treat. as far as a lack of parts thats complete bullshit go to jhmotorsports. com granted gas mileage isnt good. at all. but thats the price you pay for the whole package.

Thanks for the tip.  I've been looking at their website nad JH Motorsports is an awesome resource.  Does anyone have any first hand experience with their tuning?

[JohnnyAlQaeda]

This guy does. Hands down their tune fucking owns. Unlike APR and all the other companies, they dont make it just to put on a stock car while throwing a shit ton of timing at it and fucking with the throttle by wire calibration. The fastest B6/7 S4's are ALL running JHM tuning. read through this thread and hear some more of the gospel lol

   http://www.euroaddiction.net/forum/showthread.php?t=377