S4 vs M3 (e46): Which is better overall, more fun to drive and reliable??

[cerberusM5]

Hi guys!

I am new to the forum and considering buying a B6 S4 as my daily driver. I have never owned an Audi before, but I am now seriously considering one. I have been a huge BMW fanatic for many years and have owned M3’s and M5’s over the years. However, I think now might be the right time to try an S4. I only want a 6-speed manual transmission and prefer the Avant, but open to the sedan. The only Audi’s I have driven is my friend’s 2007 RS4 several years back and a brief drive in a 2003 RS6.

I am looking for a daily driver to minimize the miles on my current daily driven sports coupe and something more practical on a daily basis. The only other car I am seriously considering is an e46 M3 coupe with manual transmission.

How do you guys compare the S4 and the M3? I know all the specs and mechanical differences, but do not have the luxury of testing both of them at the same time, so I am trying to decide which one and then find that car. However, from a practicality standpoint, the S4 has the edge due to 4 doors for my two small kids, but this is not my top priority.

Here are some questions:

1. Is the S4 as fun to drive as the M3?

2. How about the handling? Honestly, I prefer RWD over AWD, but I remember the RS4 handled quite neutral when pushed hard.

3. How about for HPDE’s? Are S4’s well suited for track days?

4. How reliable are S4’s? This is probably the one thing I know the least about the S4. M3’s have their problems as well like VANOS, cooling systems and a few other things.

5. What are the cost of parts for the S4 and how do they compare to the M3?

6. Are there inherent parts that are likely to fail on the S4’s V8 engine?

7. Is the S4 a DIY car in regards to maintenance and repairs?

Thanks in advance
Sandy

[dparm]

You don't have to go to the dealership for goofy Castrol TWS oil...you can just go to Pep Boys and buy what you need. :-)

Like the M3, it's a performance car and it has its quirks. Go drive one and see if you like it.

[dmaxben]

honestly, it sounds like an M3 is a better fit for YOU, from what you have said in your post.

[Axel-]

I'm more curious as to why you'd like an Avant (preferably) but you're also considering an M3 coupe.

Not really in the same ballpark.

[tdn]

honestly, it sounds like an M3 is a better fit for YOU, from what you have said in your post.

I'm lost as to how you came to that conclusion. Can you elaborate? Might be useful to the OP.

[Apat]

For me exhaust note is a big deal when purchasing a car. No comparison between the S4 and M3. The M3 (e46) sounds like crap no matter what exhaust you buy IMO.

[SCuattro NYC]

I'm lost as to how you came to that conclusion. Can you elaborate? Might be useful to the OP.

I'm guessing he's basing his conclusion on the OP's preference for RWD over AWD, and having back seats not being a top priority for him.


OP, just curious, you're looking to minimize the miles on your current sports coupe, by replacing it with another sports coupe? I don't get the logic. The S4 will consume more gas than the M3, but if Virginia has another winter like the one it had last year, the snow will render the m3 useless.

[stormscr3]

I owned a 2003 BMW M3 before I sold it to my close friend and purchased a 2006 Audi S4. I don't regret it at all. For one, I don't get the ridiculous amount of looks, questions about mods at stoplights, and the non-stop challenges to drag my car to and from work. With the S4 I get a lot of "double-takes," to where the person staring is usually drawn to the V8 badge on the side and the sound of my Fast Intentions Exhaust with ASP 2.5" gutted downpipes. Comparing the two sound-wise and the M3 can't compete. The V8 is like no other sound. It doesn't have the wreck less feeling the M3 did with having rear wheel drive and the high rpm racing engine but does have torque and more than enough power to keep up. When I drove the M I always expected the power and with the S4 it always surprises me. Hope this helps some of your decision making because I was on the fence for about 4 months lol. Good-luck!

Here are some questions:

1. Is the S4 as fun to drive as the M3?
- M3 is a reckless kind of fun and S4 is a more refined performance as far as sound and drivability.

2. How about the handling? Honestly, I prefer RWD over AWD, but I remember the RS4 handled quite neutral when pushed hard.
-Handling is amazing depending on your suspension setup and wheel size but overall i can fly around an on-ramp a lot faster/more controlled than my old M

3. How about for HPDE’s? Are S4’s well suited for track days?
-Never track my cars so I couldn't answer this. They are very heavy and having the v8 upfront causes some oversteer

4. How reliable are S4’s? This is probably the one thing I know the least about the S4. M3’s have their problems as well like VANOS, cooling systems and a few other things.
-S4's have their problems too:

Early B6 Build Date: It is known that some early build dates before (10/03) had some engine/transmission (syncros) problems. Those problems should have occurred by now or have been fixed/replaced. Although it is a relatively big concern when purchasing a car, be aware that not all of the early builds had problems. The ones that did should of/have been fixed by now. If you are that concerned with an early build S4 either looker for a newer one or purchase and extended warranty.

Coil Pack Failure: One of the most common issues with the B6/B7 S4 is a coil pack failure. This problem can be identified by a CEL/Flashing CEL accompanied by mis-fires and a hard idle. Coil packs cost around $30 each new. If your coil packs fail under warranty they will be replaced by the dealer.

Common Engine Codes for a Coil Pack Failure:
16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
16686 - Cylinder 2: Misfire Detected

Starter Issues: There are several cases where the starter has gone on the S4. You can most likely detect a bad started while turning the key to start the car, NOTHING will happen. Is you do not have a warranty, this can be a rather expensive repair.

Timing Chain Components: One of the big issues that has surfaced in the recent years is wear of vital components in the Timing Chain System. This information is extremely necessary to read before purchasing a B6/B7 S4 because there is a possibility you will have to service the system during ownership. What makes this such a difficult issues lies with the fact that the Timing Chain in this motor is at the rear of the engine. To service most of the components an engine pull will be required. For more information on this subject matter, please follow the link below.

Timing Chain System Discussion & FAQ

Clutch Replacement: Many owners on the board have experienced their clutch to be in need of replacement around 50k miles. This of course depends on how the car is driven. If your clutch goes you will most likely have to replace the flywheel as well. If you replace your clutch before its toast, it will reduce the chances you will need to do the flywheel. It should also be noted that there is a new flywheel design as a result of many previous ones that have failed.

Headlight Condensation for 2005 B6 (Bi-Xenons): The Bi-Xenon's found in the 2005 model are known to have a condensation issue. Dealerships are very tough to get them replaced under warranty. Some members, however, have had luck in getting them changed. Others have used this DIY to eliminate the problem.

5. What are the cost of parts for the S4 and how do they compare to the M3?
-Cost of parts ... they're both European and they both cost a lot. If you look in the right places though ex. ECS tuning, JHM Tuning you can find great deals including the classifieds portion of this website.

6. Are there inherent parts that are likely to fail on the S4’s V8 engine?
-Read above

7. Is the S4 a DIY car in regards to maintenance and repairs?
-Yes. I did all of my own work on my M3 and I d the same now on my S4. Having diagnostic software for each obviously makes it easier to troubleshoot but overall both cars can be worked on using the right tools.

Thanks in advance
Sandy[/QUOTE]

[Docwyte]

I've owned both and daily driven both. They're extremely different cars. The M3 is far sharper as far as handling and performance goes. However it's not a good all weather car and is nowhere near as versatile as my current S4 avant. On the track the M3 is better. It's more balanced and the S54 screams at high rpm. The brakes are also better stock.

For versatility, everyday, winter driving, daily driving duties the S4 is WAY better. Much more comfortable and I don't worry about driving to work in a foot of snow. if there was more than 3" of snow on the ground when I had the M3 I took my old Jeep Cherokee instead.

[CHECKERED]

As far as reliability: The M3 has a bunch of little things go wrong with it, while the S4 has mostly big things, AC compressor, flywheel failure, chain tensioner, scored walls.

M3 parts are usually more expensive

[tdn]

I'm guessing he's basing his conclusion on the OP's preference for RWD over AWD, and having back seats not being a top priority for him

Those two kind of cancel out. He prefers RWD, ok, 1 for bmw. Then he gives the "edge" to the audi for having 4 doors, 1 for audi.

The OP seems neutral, actually, the OP seems to be deciding between having a little more fun in the M3 vs being a little more practical in the s4.

Not looking for an argument, I just read dmaxben's post and had (still have) no idea how he came to that conclusion.

[crabpot]

For me exhaust note is a big deal when purchasing a car. No comparison between the S4 and M3. The M3 (e46) sounds like crap no matter what exhaust you buy IMO.

YES! I've heard a couple that sound decent, but generally it sounds like a goddamn tin can.

[Axel-]

3. How about for HPDE’s? Are S4’s well suited for track days?
-Never track my cars so I couldn't answer this. They are very heavy and having the v8 upfront causes some oversteer

I think you meant understeer.

[powderrecon]

Just like the boys on Top Gear said

"For the track....M3"
"Daily Driver - S4"

nuff said.

[madkimchi]

Just like the boys on Top Gear said

"For the track....M3"
"Daily Driver - S4"

nuff said.

+1. cant go wrong with any audi as your daily car.

[cerberusM5]

I'm more curious as to why you'd like an Avant (preferably) but you're also considering an M3 coupe.

Not really in the same ballpark.

I prefer the look and utility of the wagon and the fact they are more rare I believe. Also, I have always wanted a discrete family car sleeper such as an E55 or E63 wagon, but never owned one. I think the M3 is more aggressive looking, but less versatile as a trade off.

For me exhaust note is a big deal when purchasing a car. No comparison between the S4 and M3. The M3 (e46) sounds like crap no matter what exhaust you buy IMO.

I agree the S4's V8 sounds better than the raspy 6 in the M3.

I owned a 2003 BMW M3 before I sold it to my close friend and purchased a 2006 Audi S4. I don't regret it at all. For one, I don't get the ridiculous amount of looks, questions about mods at stoplights, and the non-stop challenges to drag my car to and from work. With the S4 I get a lot of "double-takes," to where the person staring is usually drawn to the V8 badge on the side and the sound of my Fast Intentions Exhaust with ASP 2.5" gutted downpipes. Comparing the two sound-wise and the M3 can't compete. The V8 is like no other sound. It doesn't have the wreck less feeling the M3 did with having rear wheel drive and the high rpm racing engine but does have torque and more than enough power to keep up. When I drove the M I always expected the power and with the S4 it always surprises me. Hope this helps some of your decision making because I was on the fence for about 4 months lol. Good-luck!

[/QUOTE]

Thanks for addressing all my individual questions

I'm guessing he's basing his conclusion on the OP's preference for RWD over AWD, and having back seats not being a top priority for him.


OP, just curious, you're looking to minimize the miles on your current sports coupe, by replacing it with another sports coupe? I don't get the logic. The S4 will consume more gas than the M3, but if Virginia has another winter like the one it had last year, the snow will render the m3 useless.

That's my dilemma. I like the M3 a lot, but it is not much more practical than my current car. I am new to Virginia, but was told the winter of 2009 was very rare and unlikely to occur again in central VA. Then again no one can foresee the future. This would be a definite plus for the S4, but I just don't know what to expect here during the winter. However, I figured a set of winter tires would get me through the occasional snow days if I chose the M3.

The OP seems neutral, actually, the OP seems to be deciding between having a little more fun in the M3 vs being a little more practical in the s4.

You hit it right on the money!



Thanks guys for all the feedback!! Please keep your thoughts coming and also any more insight in regards to maintenance and repair issues. I am not tight on cash and unable to pay for repairs, but I do want to be prepared for the cost of keeping an S4 in top shape and as reliable as possible.

[Axel-]

The OP seems neutral, actually, the OP seems to be deciding between having a little more fun in the M3 vs being a little more practical in the s4.

You hit it right on the money!

I have a B7 S4 avant and it's plenty fun. Especially with a few mods. I went with practicality first though. May add a second car down the road like a 2-seater convertible.
The way I see it's like a motorcycle. You get the car first, the motorcycle second. The motorcycle (or 2-seater convertible) is a luxury in my eyes. Not exactly the same as the dilemna you're facing but along the same lines/principle.

[cerberusM5]

Do the Avants typically demand a premium over a similarly equipped sedan and if so how much?

Is the 6MT transmission cars a lot more fun to drive compared Tiptronic ones or similar? How about the reliability factor on Tip cars?

[Apat]

Do the Avants typically demand a premium over a similarly equipped sedan and if so how much?

When I was looking for S4's the Avant MTs were usually above NADA retail value. I should note that S4s for for a premium up here in MN due to our crazy ass winters. Not sure if the market is the same in VA or true for northern climates in general because our choice of year round sports cars is quite limited compared to someone in sunny CA

[Docwyte]

Yes, avants sell for a premium over sedans simply because Audi made far fewer avants. I wouldn't drive a tiptronic as my daily, just sucks all the fun out of it for me. My wife's A4 avant is a tip and I hate the throttle lag it has. 6MT all the way for me, which is even harder to find in an avant.

[cerberusM5]

Yes, avants sell for a premium over sedans simply because Audi made far fewer avants. I wouldn't drive a tiptronic as my daily, just sucks all the fun out of it for me. My wife's A4 avant is a tip and I hate the throttle lag it has. 6MT all the way for me, which is even harder to find in an avant.

I figured the 6MT was the only way to go, but i thought i would ask. Thanks

Where do you think is the best source to locate S4's other than the forum classifieds? Are places like Auto Trader and cars.com good choices? Typically, i like to buy from forums, since there members are generally enthusiasts and take care of their cars, but I have seen plenty of forum cars with tons of deferred maintenance because the owners have more enthusiasm for the cars than cash to keep them properly maintained.

How much do you guys think is the average expense for maintenance and repairs to expect annually on a car with approximately 60k miles?

[audivoodoo]

I figured the 6MT was the only way to go, but i thought i would ask. Thanks

Where do you think is the best source to locate S4's other than the forum classifieds? Are places like Auto Trader and cars.com good choices? Typically, i like to buy from forums, since there members are generally enthusiasts and take care of their cars, but I have seen plenty of forum cars with tons of deferred maintenance because the owners have more enthusiasm for the cars than cash to keep them properly maintained.

How much do you guys think is the average expense for maintenance and repairs to expect annually on a car with approximately 60k miles?

Well I got my S4 a year ago now and it had 59K on the OD when i got it, and I'm at 68k now. Ive spent $4,623.34 on stuff. BUT this is also after a friend blew up my clutch, and I upgraded it to a JHM stage 3 clutch and a light weight flywheel. Labor and parts on that was 3k alone, but the rest spent was just pasts as DIY everything, and Im anal about maintenance. Id have 3k set aside just in case. Glad I had it set aside. Even after that money was spent, I still have no regrets.

[Slobo7x]

I had an 02m3 smg fully loaded with less then 50,000 miles on. Don't regret selling it as its not very practical for every day driving.
Its a lot of fun and you'll get tons of looks from other driver, but not very comfortable or practical.

Great car to have as spare for Audi s4 :)

[dparm]

The S4 is more docile and easier to drive day-to-day. You get 9/10ths of the M3 performance with almost none of the drawbacks. That's precisely why I chose it over the M3.

[Mr. Goodwood]

Do the Avants typically demand a premium over a similarly equipped sedan and if so how much?

Is the 6MT transmission cars a lot more fun to drive compared Tiptronic ones or similar? How about the reliability factor on Tip cars?

Theoretically speaking, Auto/Tip cars are not driven as hard as Manuals. But they are a lot more boring to drive. In D mode my car feels very average, S mode is like a completely different car. As for common problems. I would add,
-control arms
-secondary rads
-valve cover gaskets

Good luck with your dicision. IMO you can't go wrong with either.

[Docwyte]

I found my car on cars.com. I also searched here, quattroworld.com, audiworld.com, craigslist, autotrader.com.

[Arkaid]

Being fortunate enough to have owned both cars back to back and still getting to drive a B6 semi-regularly (used to have a dolphin, currently have an E46 but my brother owns a noggy), I can tell you that comparing the two is really extremely difficult. I'll try and answer some of your questions.

1. Is the S4 as fun to drive as the M3?

- Honestly, it depends on how you drive and where you like your power. Do you like staying in higher gears and not pulling all the way to the stratosphere? The torque plateau in the S4 is going to make it a more fun car to drive on the street, and certainly feels faster around town. That being said, the high RPM rush of the M is unparalleled in my opinion. I think you learn to drive each one a certain way, and personally I think my M might slightly edge it out in terms of fun to drive factor. At least stock-for-stock anyway.

2. How about the handling? Honestly, I prefer RWD over AWD, but I remember the RS4 handled quite neutral when pushed hard.

- I actually really like the way the S4 handles. It's a heavy car but it feels very solid and planted coming through turns, and is slightly more predictable. The M3 is very light on its feet and has high limits, but once you cross those it's a free for all with traction. 19's also make the M3 handle terribly on the stock suspension. I have copious amounts of roll and the only good way to get rid of it would be aggressive sways or coils. Again, stock-for-stock the M3 wins out slightly in the handling department for me, you feel more connected to it while driving (plus I like the heavy steering).

3. How about for HPDE’s? Are S4’s well suited for track days?

-Never tracked either but I would assume the M3 would win here.


4. How reliable are S4’s? This is probably the one thing I know the least about the S4. M3’s have their problems as well like VANOS, cooling systems and a few other things.

-I would do a quick search and dig some info up. Common issues include control arms, starters, window regs, etc. Major issues like cylinder wall scoring and tensioners can occur, these seem to be more commonplace with the late '03/ early '04 builds though. They are reliable when properly taken care of. Depends a LOT on the previous owner. Both of the B6's I have experience with are early '03s. My dolphin never had a single major issue at all. My brother's nogaro had a long history that finally ended in a motor failure. I think aside from VANOS you wont see a whole lot of issues with the E46; parts and labor will definitely be more expensive though.

5. What are the cost of parts for the S4 and how do they compare to the M3?

-Slightly cheaper than an E46, but again see question 4. More major issues with the S4.

6. Are there inherent parts that are likely to fail on the S4’s V8 engine?

- Question 4 and a quick forum search should yield results.

7. Is the S4 a DIY car in regards to maintenance and repairs?

- Both cars are DIY cars, it just depends on the time and space that you have. I would DIY both of mine but neither time nor space is readily available for me at this point.


It all comes down to personal preference and how you like to drive. I've wanted to own an E46 since I was 13. I live in a climate where I don't need AWD and the M3 gets used year round. I'm willing to sacrifice comfort for driver involvement if i feel I can get more out of a car that way. Do I miss my dolphin? Of course I do, and had circumstances been different than the way they were I would likely have kept it. Will I be getting another S4 if I move east? Without a doubt. But for now the E46 is perfect for me, slightly more raw and soulful than the 4.2 at the expense of overall comfort and drivability. Bottom line: two very different cars with different personalities, but you can't go wrong with either one. Sorry for the long post, hope this helps.

[mbgt72]

^very nice post. I'd agree on pretty much all that as it seems you hit on everything.

[cerberusM5]

Arkaid, thanks for all the feedback to my questions.


A couple other questions guys. I have been researching the Timing Chain nylon guide failures and trying to clarify a few things:

1. When should these guides be replaced? Sounds like they start to fail around 100k or more and cost about $5K to replace.

2. Do you replace them as a preventive maintenance or do you just wait until start wearing out and make noise?

3. If they fail completely, does it cause a serious failure ($$$) in the engine?

4. Do these guides always wear out eventually around the 100K mark? Are there instances they occur earlier?

I'd have to say this is the only concern I have with the S4's maintenance required, but it's a biggie. This would make looking for a lower mileage car a definite plus if the guides are a must do repair in the future.

I just hope finding an Avant 6MT at reasonable price is not too difficult.

Thanks again

[dparm]

There is no guide replacement interval (like you would have with a timing belt) because it supposedly should never break or wear out. Some have failed with <50k, but plenty of motors are past 100k without problems. I would not worry about that as it is an extremely small percentage of cars. Have a pre-purchase inspection done if you are concerned. The 2005+ cars don't seem to have the issue because the parts were redesigned.

Avant 6MT is very rare. You'll be looking for a while.

[Axel-]

Avant 6MT is very rare. You'll be looking for a while.

Took me 3 years... (but that's because I didn't want to compromise on the colour and I'm in Canada, less overall cars)

[Docwyte]

My current car has 113k miles on it and the tensioners/chains seem fine...

[cerberusM5]

Thanks for all the info guys!

[CHEROHALA]

m3 hands down

Dan, Senior Moderator Bimmer.com

[samadagha]

My best friend owns an E46 M3 and I have an 04 S4 Avant 6MT. We test drove each other’s car a few weeks ago. It was not for performance and just more overall feeling we get. Just like everyone has pretty much pointed out: M3 is a track car with some dressing to make it less tracky and raw. S4 is more of a luxury sports car that has a nice engine in it (and a very nice V8 sound). The M3 is very precise and nimble and likely it’s far more customizable and trackable (my friend tracks his). Whereas S4 is more of a car that can surprise with its understated looks and its AWD advantage does make up in many places for its extra weight (especially the Avant, I’ve seen so many surprised faces and even some of my friends have a hard time associating a wagon with the performance the S4 Avant offers). Both are different machines to different types of driving really. I adore the muscle that’s on the body of an M3. That car is just amazingly beautiful (and I’m not too keen with BMW styling really). But it’s also very showy. I love the exterior of the S4 and, arguably, Audi does make some really well balanced and good looking wagons out there. But what I really love over the M3 is the interior of the S4. It’s just a really good place to be. Just like Top Gear put it, M3 is like a beach party and S4 is like a posh dinner. Either is fine. But how much of each is fine is up to you!

Living in Canada, it’s a much easier decision to go with an S4 over the M3. He had a winter car up to this year but he’s now planning on driving it in winter and I’m curious how it’s gonna handle some of snow storms in Eastern Canada. I, on the other hand, feel excited to try mine on some fun snow surface.

That said, I’d say, S4 is a little harder to work on when it comes to maintenance. There’s not much room under the hood, the suspension seems to be more complicated (4 control arms on each side in front) and Audi’s record with some their reliability stuff is not anything to brag about. So yes it is still a DIY car, but likely harder to work on. In terms of parts, I can’t really tell. I think they may be on par as there are more M3 parts suppliers than S4 ones so there may be a better competition out there when it comes to parts.

At the end, I think, if I were in your shoes, I’d lean towards the S4 Avant. You already have a sports coupe or two. Another coupe is just gonna add more to impracticality that’s likely pushing you to think about something more practical. Those coupes also can be readied for track. S4 Avant is that sleeper car that makes a soccer mom car (although it’s hardly that) feel like a performance car with a couple of downshifts while happily taking the kids or other things around. M3, on the other hand, is gonna break your back everytime you have to put your kids in it and will have many of the younger kids wanna race you everytime you stop at a set of light. In the S4 Avant, you can skip over that annoyance and probably have less maintenance to deal with  and an officer will likely cut you more slack since you’re a “wagon” owner and not an “M3 Bimmer” boy! Although you’ll likely end up spending more at the gas station and probably the extra quart of oil you gotta put in here and there!

[DDR2]

Hope you also asked this question on a BMW forum to get more balance. You'll likely get just as biased responses as on here. Go find an M3 and an S4 to test drive yourself with all the information you gathered from Audi and BMW enthusiasts. The S4 is a luxury car that's sporty whereas the M3 is more a sporty car with luxury appointments.

I'll point out that you said 4 doors aren't a priority with your 2 kids. I'll add that you'd likely realize that 2 extra doors would have been great if you should decide on the M3. Only saying this coz a friend went through just a scenario. Bought a G37 coupe over a C-class sedan with the same thought about those 2 extra doors and he's regretted it ever since. Likes the car but says it's a huge PITA with only 2 doors. Just sayin.

[cerberusM5]

Hey guys,

I appreciate the continued help on this decision I am trying to make. No, I have not posed the same question on the M3 forum, but it would be a good idea and will do so to hear both sides. I think the feedback I have been receiving is biased a little towards the s4 (expected), but you guys are also very open to the M3 as well and respect it as a worthy adversary. The advice received has been very helpful in guiding me in the right direction. I am currently leaning in the direction of the S4 and like the possibility of having a 4-door again too. I am starting to realize that I might have better use of the s4's qualities versus the m3's most of the time. I've also considered getting an e39 m5 again, which is probably the best sedan I have ever owned, but kinda want to try something different. However, I have not been able to locate many 6MT Avants to compare, but the search has started. I am still trying to get a handle on the maintenance and repair side and searching the forum as much as I can. I really hate being at the mercy of the dealer if I can literally take things into my own hands. However, I don't want to try and work on a car that is too difficult for the average DIY person.

Do you think a pearl white 6MT Avant with black interior will be not too difficult to locate?

Thanks again

[Axel-]

Do you think a pearl white 6MT Avant with black interior will be not too difficult to locate?

Thanks again

Any B6/B7 S4 Avant 6MT will be difficult to locate :) Especially one that will meet your expectations in terms of mileage, price, cleanliness, etc.

[samadagha]

Yeah completely agree on the avant 6mt thingie :-). You'll have much better luck finding an E39 M5 I'd say than an S4 Avant 6mt with your colour choice and interior :-). But there's always a chance

[Lefthook]

there are a lot of b6/b7 S4 avants in California, where I went to get mine. I've seen a number of white avants in Cali, although the silver and dolphin gray ones outnumber them by about 10:1. Haven't seen a white one for a while, even Nogaro is more popular than the white.