is there preferred year for B6 S4?

[fritzner]

the B6 A4s had many differences from year to year..

are there any differences from year to year on the B6 S4??..

is the 60/40 rear bias quattro a B7 S4 thing or did the B6 S4 have it too??..

B6 A4 poll..
http://audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62931

[SebringSilver]

I wouldn't bet the family jewels on it, but I do believe the 60/40 torque split was newly introduced on the B7 S4 (and only on the manual transmission cars).

As for which is the preferred year for B6s, my guess (and it's completely based on just common sense - which isn't saying a whole lot, haha) would be the final year as that'd be when the year-on-year improvements and refinements have culminated in the "best" B6 possible?

Not sure if that was much help.

[Meddie600RR]

Early 04's had engine problems

[FatAuto]

As above early '04 had problems. Think it was late '04 that got the new windshieldwipers and the non flip cig lighter...

[BSBG]

You only have 2 years to choose from.

A few of the early 04s lost their oil and seized, but if they have made it this far they should be fine. Buy on mileage, condition and CPO status rather than 04 s. 05, IMO.

[phara]

As above early '04 had problems. Think it was late '04 that got the new windshieldwipers and the non flip cig lighter...

Mine is a March 04'. You've got me worried here. I have the "non flip cig lighter". So is it a late 04 model or should i be checking my engine. I have it from June last year and didn't gave me any problems so far. Ohh aand it has 36000 KM on it.

[Inny]

Hmmm, my "early" 2004 is at 63,000kms..~46,000 miles...no issues, no oil burning, tons of power, my flip up cig lighter flips just fine...I'm happy as happy can be. Every other issue is identical, seat noises, strange window issues, police chases, BMW owners hating me for looking so much better, BMW owners gf's/wives going home with me...the usual!

[BSBG]

Mine is a March 04'. You've got me worried here. I have the "non flip cig lighter". So is it a late 04 model or should i be checking my engine. I have it from June last year and didn't gave me any problems so far. Ohh aand it has 36000 KM on it.

April 04 build for mine. The first ones were built in August 03, so yours is "later". They all melted down in the first days of ownership, so if you have made it this far you should be OK.

[pms]

<snip>...
is the 60/40 rear bias quattro a B7 S4 thing or did the B6 S4 have it too??..
...<snip>

No, the change in torque bias was a post B6 thing. The B6 comes with the less optimal torque bias.

[quattroanillos5]

Mine was built January '04.... I've only had it for a month but i've had no problems other than someone stealing a piece of my bumper...

it was a very low milage car whe i bought it... 10,700 miles... is that enough mileage fro the meltdown to have occured.... now I'm nervous

[belinko]

Hmmm, my "early" 2004 is at 63,000kms..~46,000 miles...no issues, no oil burning, tons of power, my flip up cig lighter flips just fine...I'm happy as happy can be. Every other issue is identical, seat noises, strange window issues, police chases, BMW owners hating me for looking so much better, BMW owners gf's/wives going home with me...the usual!

ROFL!

If its an '04 with some decent mileage it should be OK.

IMHO I'd would try to purchase an '05 at this point. If you can wait a little bit longer (6mo - 12mo), the B7 S4's are going to start trickling down into the CPO market, with better options common to most B7's (RNS-E, Aluminum & CF trims are more prevalent in the B7's, 60:40 bias, BBS wheels, etc.). I think you get my point.

[methodtim]

ROFL!

If its an '04 with some decent mileage it should be OK.

IMHO I'd would try to purchase an '05 at this point. If you can wait a little bit longer (6mo - 12mo), the B7 S4's are going to start trickling down into the CPO market, with better options common to most B7's (RNS-E, Aluminum & CF trims are more prevalent in the B7's, 60:40 bias, BBS wheels, etc.). I think you get my point.

Ah, but therein lies the rub. If you keep waiting, there will always be something better coming down the line.

[belinko]

Ah, but therein lies the rub. If you keep waiting, there will always be something better coming down the line.

True^^^.

But if you want the most bang out of your buck. I'd wait.

This weekend I test drove a B6 S4 '05 with 14K on the clock. Their asking price was 36K, but I'm pretty sure I could have got the car for around 32K. It wasn't CPO'ed but there was plenty of warranty left on the car and for an additional 3-5K you can purchase the Audi extendend plan.

Anyways it was silver and it had wood trim. I'm not buying another silver car and I'm not into the wood trim look, so I passed on this vehicle.

Patience is a virtue my friend.

[clancyCJF]

See my reply under "04 S4 Tranny Problems" post. Don't get me wrong I still love my S4 and the new clutch is perfect. If you can get it Audi certified or at least some agreement to your liking get it an enjoy the BMW owners GF's and Wives.

clancyCJF

[Wahoo5]

No, the change in torque bias was a post B6 thing. The B6 comes with the less optimal torque bias.

What is the torque bias on a B6?

[fritzner]

thanks for the replies.. nice to know there isnt much difference..

[Howard Hughes]

What is the torque bias on a B6?

50/50 split.... the new ones have the 60/40.....

[BSBG]

it was a very low milage car whe i bought it... 10,700 miles... is that enough mileage fro the meltdown to have occured.... now I'm nervous

That's enough. Apparently no one can remember when these cars were introduced - they imploded in the first month with some very angry owners.

[Tom Sawyer]

Recently picked up a very low mileage 04 - 19K on the clock for 31K. Absolutely pristine condition, nary a rock chip. Jan 04 build, non-flip lighter etc... so must have been right at the first of the year they changed things.

So far so good..... changed the oil this w/e to Mobil 1 (0w40) and what a PITA that rock shield is!! My rhino ramps don't get the car high enough to give easy clearance to the thing so it was 'interesting'... but the rest was a cake walk... The most expensive oil change I've ever done myself... 78 bucks in oil/filter/crush washer!! Oh and they are NOT kidding about 9.5 quarts... I almost had an I Love Lucy episode on my hands when my oil drain pan overflowed!!!

Absolutely loving this car though. I had a 2000 S4 and have missed that car for 4 years since she went away. So nice to be in an Audi again!

[maskinut]

hmmm I havn't checked the production date but when I let my battery die once the clock reset to August of 2003 which I am guessing was when it was built. I better do a search to see what I can learn more about these early models.

[mystro]

The build date of the engine issues were before 10/03. Any build date 10/03 and later escaped the earlier engine problems they had. Not all cars built 09/03 and earlier had problems but some did. At this point any car you find with a build date of 9/03 should have been corrected. There are very few B6 S4 differences and for that matter B6 and B7 S4 differences. The exhaust flapper that increases sound at idle on the B6's is a hit or miss option in all the B6 S4's. The stationary cupholder in the B7's are better. Half of the B6's had the flip out lighter by the armrest. The B6's have full engine covers under the hood. Audi got cheap and started to delete some engine covers in the later S4's. Some B6's have real aluminum side mirrors instead of the now plastic aluminum looking side mirrors. For the most part the B6/B7 are the same.

[Silver B6 S4]

Back from the dead...

This is interesting... My car's build date says 10/03 on the tag in the driver side door jam. When I changed my battery, the cluster said 02-02-2003? Im guessing my car is the later production model? My car has the exhaust flapper, flip out lighter, and real aluminum mirrors.


The funny thing is, my vin ends in 12345.

[Bravest NY S4]

^^^^12345!!..........If your s*&#! is on the road now with no major probs then we'll be OK. Aside from me replacing a valve gasket and coilpacks, no MAJOR engine issues.

[joeycuccaro]

The build date of the engine issues were before 10/03. Any build date 10/03 and later escaped the earlier engine problems they had. Not all cars built 09/03 and earlier had problems but some did. At this point any car you find with a build date of 9/03 should have been corrected.

Exactly, this is not an issue anymore. Any problems with these cars would have surfaced by now.

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

good to know makes me want a b6 s4 sooner!

[pinkslip]

Funny (and sad at the same time) reading the older posts from less than two years ago talking about a B6 going for $32K as great deal. When I started reading the thread I thought it was a new thread. I was like "This dude is getting ripped off!!" Haha.

[sakimano]

yes, I think the preferred year is 2005.5, 2006, 2007, 2008

B7 WAR!

jk.

[S4PR]

Hmmm, my "early" 2004 is at 63,000kms..~46,000 miles...no issues, no oil burning, tons of power, my flip up cig lighter flips just fine...I'm happy as happy can be. Every other issue is identical, seat noises, strange window issues, police chases, BMW owners hating me for looking so much better, BMW owners gf's/wives going home with me...the usual!

HAHAHAHAHAHHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHE we have a lot in common!!!

[...Mark...]

Recently picked up a very low mileage 04 - 19K on the clock for 31K. Absolutely pristine condition, nary a rock chip.

Did the seller throw in some anal lube too?

[Ill 3.0]

Did the seller throw in some anal lube too?

dates...

[ahhhudi]

Hmmm, my "early" 2004 is at 63,000kms..~46,000 miles...no issues, no oil burning, tons of power, my flip up cig lighter flips just fine...I'm happy as happy can be. Every other issue is identical, seat noises, strange window issues, police chases, BMW owners hating me for looking so much better, BMW owners gf's/wives going home with me...the usual!

hahaha, that gave me a good morning laugh. thank you.

[sakimano]

this was introduced on the 2006 S4 (not available on the 2005.5 B7), and it was only available on the MT6 models

is the 60/40 rear bias quattro a B7 S4 thing or did the B6 S4 have it too??..

B6 A4 poll..
http://audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62931

[FastB7S4]

this was introduced on the 2006 S4 (not available on the 2005.5 B7), and it was only available on the MT6 models

LOL! so you do believe me.

[RocketSurgeon]

Funny (and sad at the same time) reading the older posts from less than two years ago talking about a B6 going for $32K as great deal. When I started reading the thread I thought it was a new thread. I was like "This dude is getting ripped off!!" Haha.

haha same thing happened to me

[road race s4]

Did the seller throw in some anal lube too?

He paid 31k back in 2007

[...Mark...]

He paid 31k back in 2007

Didn't notice it was a bumped old thread..

[ahwest]

what exactly is the engine problem that built date prior to 09/03???
i checked mine just now and it is 07/03!!!!

[b spot]

Pics of the non-flip lighter? I had no idea they weren't all like that! I also had no clue that the later mirrors aren't aluminum. I have a 10/03 build date... phew. Oil consumption is definitely present though. Too bad it's in the "acceptable" range.

[sakimano]

LOL! so you do believe me.

I'm going to edit that post out just for that!

[Curt941]

Didn't notice it was a bumped old thread..

ASS