Audi RS4 B7 issues ?
Discussion
Usual VAG (un)reliability, plus loss of power from oil deposits building up on the back of the intake valves due to recirculated oil mist that isn't cleaned off by port injection because it is direct injection. DRC can also fail but seems less common than on the C5 RS6.
Maybe you can clean up the valves and then fit a catch tank to stop it recurring, and replace the shocks as required.
I tried one and enjoyed the car except for concerns over these issues and that I wanted auto and turbocharging. It only felt quick when you were over 6000 RPM, but never astonishing like an E60 M5 can up there.
Maybe you can clean up the valves and then fit a catch tank to stop it recurring, and replace the shocks as required.
I tried one and enjoyed the car except for concerns over these issues and that I wanted auto and turbocharging. It only felt quick when you were over 6000 RPM, but never astonishing like an E60 M5 can up there.
Edited by john banks on Wednesday 2nd February 18:14
The carbon choking issue is a bi product of most DI engines not just the RS4.
Running on good fuel 99ron V power etc is recommended and some think has a positive effect on coking up...
Also these cars like to rev...driving like Miss Daisy and town driving is thought to make issue worse...a good italian tune up is required!!!!These cars love being driven as they are designed.
The power issue is subjective...most are as quick as OEM figures although most standard run slighly below 400bhp.
DRC does NOT effect all cars...mines been fine as have many others...it is covered up to 5 years 70,000 miles by Audi anyway with full audi history.
On the price issue dont forget the oldest cars are now to 4.5 years old...and out of warranty..
You wont pick a good one with the much have options up for much less than 25k...anything less will be poor spec and high mileage.Prices are 25k to 40k when you look..hardly loosing money!!!
An awesome car...it was pitched againest a M5 in this thread above,,The M5 isnt its natural competition...more like M3.
Running on good fuel 99ron V power etc is recommended and some think has a positive effect on coking up...
Also these cars like to rev...driving like Miss Daisy and town driving is thought to make issue worse...a good italian tune up is required!!!!These cars love being driven as they are designed.
The power issue is subjective...most are as quick as OEM figures although most standard run slighly below 400bhp.
DRC does NOT effect all cars...mines been fine as have many others...it is covered up to 5 years 70,000 miles by Audi anyway with full audi history.
On the price issue dont forget the oldest cars are now to 4.5 years old...and out of warranty..
You wont pick a good one with the much have options up for much less than 25k...anything less will be poor spec and high mileage.Prices are 25k to 40k when you look..hardly loosing money!!!
An awesome car...it was pitched againest a M5 in this thread above,,The M5 isnt its natural competition...more like M3.
doogz said:
Hmm.. 80%
Debatable certainly.A later B7 S4 has 360bhp, and given that some tests managed a 4.9sec 0-60 sprint in the 344bhp version, it's not far behind the RS4 - especially as they are both limited to 155mph tops.
Plus, if these coking issues are true, some RS4s might soon be putting out less bhp than S4s...
TTwiggy said:
Alternatively, spend £15k on a B7 S4, get 90% of the performance, and no coking issues
^^ 
If the S4/RS4 is the same V8 in different states of tune, how will the S4 avoid coking...? I'm only asking...
The VAG FSI technology needs a sustained high rpm blast now and again to clear out all the gunk that builds up from the recirculation.
Certainly, my piddly little GTI always feels better after some 'spirited' driving...
FamilyDub said:
^^
If the S4/RS4 is the same V8 in different states of tune, how will the S4 avoid coking...? I'm only asking...
The VAG FSI technology needs a sustained high rpm blast now and again to clear out all the gunk that builds up from the recirculation.
Certainly, my piddly little GTI always feels better after some 'spirited' driving...
ASFAIK, the 4.2 in the S4 is not FSI...If the S4/RS4 is the same V8 in different states of tune, how will the S4 avoid coking...? I'm only asking...
The VAG FSI technology needs a sustained high rpm blast now and again to clear out all the gunk that builds up from the recirculation.
Certainly, my piddly little GTI always feels better after some 'spirited' driving...
Guffy said:
The B7 RS4 is so much more than 0-60 when compared against the S4, the handling is up on another level.
Granted, but ultimately they are both 4 door saloons/estates with 4WD. Neither are going to be the very last word in handling. Their forté lies in going very quickly in a straight line – something they can both do very well.Dr G said:
An S4 does not have FSI (direct injection) and is not 90% of an RS4 no matter which way you look at it.
They're both A4 saloons with a 4.2 litre V8, that's it. RS4 goes, stops, steers, sounds, rides and feels a totally different game of soldiers.
With all due respect, have you owned both in order to make such an informed point of view?They're both A4 saloons with a 4.2 litre V8, that's it. RS4 goes, stops, steers, sounds, rides and feels a totally different game of soldiers.
I've owned neither personally but have driven probably in excess of 30 different RS4s of avant, saloon and cabriolet versions (and driven saloon and Avant on track) as well as S4s both B6 and B7; again of each body type and both gearboxes.
I would not dispute for a moment that an S4 is a fantastic piece of kit and I've reccomended them on here many times. An RS4, however, is a different game again.
I would not dispute for a moment that an S4 is a fantastic piece of kit and I've reccomended them on here many times. An RS4, however, is a different game again.
Dr G said:
I've owned neither personally but have driven probably in excess of 30 different RS4s of avant, saloon and cabriolet versions (and driven saloon and Avant on track) as well as S4s both B6 and B7; again of each body type and both gearboxes.
I would not dispute for a moment that an S4 is a fantastic piece of kit and I've reccomended them on here many times. An RS4, however, is a different game again.
Maybe you could help me then!I would not dispute for a moment that an S4 is a fantastic piece of kit and I've reccomended them on here many times. An RS4, however, is a different game again.
I'm currently looking for a B6 S4 - I think I want a manual avant... is that a good choice do you think?
cheers,
Yes, most definitely.
Go (if you can) for a contemporary colour, so Dolphin or Ebony rather than Misano or Nogaro. They've aged better and are more desirable although only things like the green and yellow are seriously difficult.
The more spec the merrier but things like Bose, GSM, DVD Nav and heated seats are always nice to have. The earlier (CD) sat nav is almost too old to be useful sadly.
In terms of protecting your investment buy the best car you can in terms of condition and history. They're now bought by either enthusiasts or people that see the price tag/performance/badge. There's a lot out there that's been ragged and not been very well loved but equally there are cars out there that have been owned by enthusiasts. I just sold a 68,000 mile car that looked like it had done 15-20,000 tops. Don't be worried too much by the number of owners as long as it isn't silly. Obviously 1-2 is nice but if a 4-5 owner car is in lovely condition do not discount it.
Have a read of the various recent S4 threads in here as we've a lot of owners around (Tony Hetherington has posted lots of useful info on hsi manual Avant) and feel free to shout if you need to know anything specific or want an opinion on a car.
Go (if you can) for a contemporary colour, so Dolphin or Ebony rather than Misano or Nogaro. They've aged better and are more desirable although only things like the green and yellow are seriously difficult.
The more spec the merrier but things like Bose, GSM, DVD Nav and heated seats are always nice to have. The earlier (CD) sat nav is almost too old to be useful sadly.
In terms of protecting your investment buy the best car you can in terms of condition and history. They're now bought by either enthusiasts or people that see the price tag/performance/badge. There's a lot out there that's been ragged and not been very well loved but equally there are cars out there that have been owned by enthusiasts. I just sold a 68,000 mile car that looked like it had done 15-20,000 tops. Don't be worried too much by the number of owners as long as it isn't silly. Obviously 1-2 is nice but if a 4-5 owner car is in lovely condition do not discount it.
Have a read of the various recent S4 threads in here as we've a lot of owners around (Tony Hetherington has posted lots of useful info on hsi manual Avant) and feel free to shout if you need to know anything specific or want an opinion on a car.
Having owned an RS4 for nearly a year and spent lots of time in S4's previously - there's no comparison. Handling's in a different league and in a straight line an RS4 is noticeable quicker - especially once you get above 5500rpm.
Never heard of a 360 hp S4 - they were all 344hp as far as I know - that's what my B7 S4 Brochure from 2007 tells me anyway.. ;-)
If you're serious about an RS4 - Check DRC, Bolsters on seats - particularly if it's got buckets and check the bolsters stay inflated when you press the sport button on buckets as well, check the life left in brakes as they aren't cheap and that the disks aren't warped - make sure it has Sat Nav, adaptive lights etc - But more than anything buy on condition. There's usually a reason why the cheap ones are cheap... It took me three months to find a good one.
Cheers Paul
Never heard of a 360 hp S4 - they were all 344hp as far as I know - that's what my B7 S4 Brochure from 2007 tells me anyway.. ;-)
If you're serious about an RS4 - Check DRC, Bolsters on seats - particularly if it's got buckets and check the bolsters stay inflated when you press the sport button on buckets as well, check the life left in brakes as they aren't cheap and that the disks aren't warped - make sure it has Sat Nav, adaptive lights etc - But more than anything buy on condition. There's usually a reason why the cheap ones are cheap... It took me three months to find a good one.
Cheers Paul
Dr G said:
Yes, most definitely.
Go (if you can) for a contemporary colour, so Dolphin or Ebony rather than Misano or Nogaro. They've aged better and are more desirable although only things like the green and yellow are seriously difficult.
The more spec the merrier but things like Bose, GSM, DVD Nav and heated seats are always nice to have. The earlier (CD) sat nav is almost too old to be useful sadly.
In terms of protecting your investment buy the best car you can in terms of condition and history. They're now bought by either enthusiasts or people that see the price tag/performance/badge. There's a lot out there that's been ragged and not been very well loved but equally there are cars out there that have been owned by enthusiasts. I just sold a 68,000 mile car that looked like it had done 15-20,000 tops. Don't be worried too much by the number of owners as long as it isn't silly. Obviously 1-2 is nice but if a 4-5 owner car is in lovely condition do not discount it.
Have a read of the various recent S4 threads in here as we've a lot of owners around (Tony Hetherington has posted lots of useful info on hsi manual Avant) and feel free to shout if you need to know anything specific or want an opinion on a car.
Many thanksGo (if you can) for a contemporary colour, so Dolphin or Ebony rather than Misano or Nogaro. They've aged better and are more desirable although only things like the green and yellow are seriously difficult.
The more spec the merrier but things like Bose, GSM, DVD Nav and heated seats are always nice to have. The earlier (CD) sat nav is almost too old to be useful sadly.
In terms of protecting your investment buy the best car you can in terms of condition and history. They're now bought by either enthusiasts or people that see the price tag/performance/badge. There's a lot out there that's been ragged and not been very well loved but equally there are cars out there that have been owned by enthusiasts. I just sold a 68,000 mile car that looked like it had done 15-20,000 tops. Don't be worried too much by the number of owners as long as it isn't silly. Obviously 1-2 is nice but if a 4-5 owner car is in lovely condition do not discount it.
Have a read of the various recent S4 threads in here as we've a lot of owners around (Tony Hetherington has posted lots of useful info on hsi manual Avant) and feel free to shout if you need to know anything specific or want an opinion on a car.
Shame - I like Nogaro Blue!
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