Canadian Imported S4?

[DaveLinger]

Hey everyone!

I recently picked up a 2011 S4 from a dealership. It had been on their lot for a while, so the free carfax link on their listing had expired - but the car looked clean and the description said "clean carfax, no accidents", so I had that in writing to fall back on if there were actually any issues with the history.

Anyway, the car is fine so far, but I've noticed a few things.

1. In the owner manual binder, there's the main manual, the MMI booklet, and a Canada warranty booklet. No US warranty booklet. I know it's possible that it originally had BOTH (my S6 did), and the previous owner removed/lost the US one.
2. The car doesn't seem to have a "passenger airbag off" light, which I was pretty sure was legally required on US cars manufactured past a certain date. Obviously it DOES have a passenger dash airbag, however.
3. The lights/icon in the gauge cluster are the nice/cool "icon" versions of the lights, not the ghetto US BLOCK LETTERING icons. For example, when I engage cruise control, I get the icon showing the speedo with the needle on it. The airbag light is the little icon of the person and the airbag. The parking brake icon is the (P) icon. This is unlike my S6, which had "CRUISE", "AIRBAG" and "PARKING BRAKE" lights. The S4 manual seems to specify that the former are the "rest of world" icons and the latter are the US icons - which would lead me to believe it's not a US cluster. However it reads in MPH, and I've read that Canadian cars read in KMH. So I'm unsure on this one.
4. There's a sticker in the driver door jamb that says (paraphrasing) "manufactured by Audi AG, imported by [some motor car company]. Meets US emissions and safety standards blah blah blah model year blah blah". However, the inside of the hood seems to have an OEM Audi sticker saying the engine meets US/California emissions standards, which I assume wouldn't be placed on Canadian cars. MMI is totally in American/US as far as I can tell. Navi has all of North America.
5. When I went to start my Sirius radio free trial, I entered the car's VIN and was told that the vehicle entered did not have a satellite radio. However when I pulled up the radio ID in the MMI and entered THAT, it worked and the radio was activated.
6. The listing for the vehicle says that the previous owner was in Quebec Canada, although it doesn't explicitly say whether the car was originally sold there.

I have emailed the dealer to see if they'll provide me with a copy of the carfax, although I'm not really particularly WORRIED about whether the car is Canadian (I bought a TDI from Canada and had no issues). However I am wondering what it may MEAN for me as in differences between it and a US model that I may not be aware of.

The car is a Premium Plus but seems to have all of the features that a US Prestige would have.

Edit: only funny thing I noticed about the MMI is that when I am listening to Sirius, the station name in the DIS always has null after it. For example, it'll say "Octanenull" or "Pop2knull" or "Hits 1null". I am going to update the firmware and see if it fixes that one.

[moose_head]

Premium in Canada was basically the same as prestige. (The naming has changed since 2014 to Progressiv and Technik like most other markets)

2. Those annoying passenger airbag off lights aren't required in Canada.
3. It was probably covered to MPH as part of the import process. I think that's a legal requirement.
4. Sounds like more stickers from an import. It's normal for the Nav to have all of North America. My Canadian car has the US too (haven't looked for Mexico :) )

[DaveLinger]

Cool, thanks for the info!

[Chibo]

I would monitor for rust if the car was from Quebec, they have really salty roads...

[plat]

Hey everyone!

I recently picked up a 2011 S4 from a dealership. It had been on their lot for a while, so the free carfax link on their listing had expired - but the car looked clean and the description said "clean carfax, no accidents", so I had that in writing to fall back on if there were actually any issues with the history.

Anyway, the car is fine so far, but I've noticed a few things.

1. In the owner manual binder, there's the main manual, the MMI booklet, and a Canada warranty booklet. No US warranty booklet. I know it's possible that it originally had BOTH (my S6 did), and the previous owner removed/lost the US one.
2. The car doesn't seem to have a "passenger airbag off" light, which I was pretty sure was legally required on US cars manufactured past a certain date. Obviously it DOES have a passenger dash airbag, however.
3. The lights/icon in the gauge cluster are the nice/cool "icon" versions of the lights, not the ghetto US BLOCK LETTERING icons. For example, when I engage cruise control, I get the icon showing the speedo with the needle on it. The airbag light is the little icon of the person and the airbag. The parking brake icon is the (P) icon. This is unlike my S6, which had "CRUISE", "AIRBAG" and "PARKING BRAKE" lights. The S4 manual seems to specify that the former are the "rest of world" icons and the latter are the US icons - which would lead me to believe it's not a US cluster. However it reads in MPH, and I've read that Canadian cars read in KMH. So I'm unsure on this one.
4. There's a sticker in the driver door jamb that says (paraphrasing) "manufactured by Audi AG, imported by [some motor car company]. Meets US emissions and safety standards blah blah blah model year blah blah". However, the inside of the hood seems to have an OEM Audi sticker saying the engine meets US/California emissions standards, which I assume wouldn't be placed on Canadian cars. MMI is totally in American/US as far as I can tell. Navi has all of North America.
5. When I went to start my Sirius radio free trial, I entered the car's VIN and was told that the vehicle entered did not have a satellite radio. However when I pulled up the radio ID in the MMI and entered THAT, it worked and the radio was activated.
6. The listing for the vehicle says that the previous owner was in Quebec Canada, although it doesn't explicitly say whether the car was originally sold there.

I have emailed the dealer to see if they'll provide me with a copy of the carfax, although I'm not really particularly WORRIED about whether the car is Canadian (I bought a TDI from Canada and had no issues). However I am wondering what it may MEAN for me as in differences between it and a US model that I may not be aware of.

The car is a Premium Plus but seems to have all of the features that a US Prestige would have.

Edit: only funny thing I noticed about the MMI is that when I am listening to Sirius, the station name in the DIS always has null after it. For example, it'll say "Octanenull" or "Pop2knull" or "Hits 1null". I am going to update the firmware and see if it fixes that one.

As you suspected, it is a Canadian S4.
1. Canadian cars do not get the US Warranty Booklets and vice versa. So, it came with a Canadian warranty booklet, it is a Canadian model.
2. Until recently, Canadian cars did not have the passenger air bag off light. My '16 Canadian S5 has them. I think this started during the introduction of the B8.5 models.
3. Another sign it was a Canadian car are those gauge cluster icons. Canada gets icons while US gets the word version. The Speedo is in KPH in Canada. I believe there was no MPH scale. US Cars have MPH and KPH on the speedo. Not sure how the gauge cluster in your car ended up having a speedo in MPH. The vendor probably replaced the speedo face with a US version in MPH.
4. When I imported my US '96 Honda Accord into Canada, the Registrar of Imported Vehicles, required me to buy the required stickers that said my car complied with Transport Canada regulations after it was inspected for compliance. So, the same thing probably happened here. The importer was asked by the US car importation authorities to get an OEM US sticker that says it now complies with US/Cali Emissions Standards.
6. Previous owner is in Quebec, Canada. Another dead give-away that your S4 is Canadian.

Here's a link to a site that details the different options for the Canadian 2011 S4.

If you want to compare it with the US 2011 S4, here's a link to the US Brochure.

[nekky]

As you suspected, it is a Canadian S4.
1. Canadian cars do not get the US Warranty Booklets and vice versa. So, it came with a Canadian warranty booklet, it is a Canadian model.
2. Until recently, Canadian cars did not have the passenger air bag off light. My '16 Canadian S5 has them. I think this started during the introduction of the B8.5 models.
3. Another sign it was a Canadian car are those gauge cluster icons. Canada gets icons while US gets the word version. The Speedo is in KPH in Canada. I believe there was no MPH scale. US Cars have MPH and KPH on the speedo. Not sure how the gauge cluster in your car ended up having a speedo in MPH. The vendor probably replaced the speedo face with a US version in MPH.
4. When I imported my US '96 Honda Accord into Canada, the Registrar of Imported Vehicles, required me to buy the required stickers that said my car complied with Transport Canada regulations after it was inspected for compliance. So, the same thing probably happened here. The importer was asked by the US car importation authorities to get an OEM US sticker that says it now complies with US/Cali Emissions Standards.
6. Previous owner is in Quebec, Canada. Another dead give-away that your S4 is Canadian.

Here's a link to a site that details the different options for the Canadian 2011 S4.

If you want to compare it with the US 2011 S4, here's a link to the US Brochure.

I am also very much guessing that it is a Canadian car. I wouldn't worry too much, as the differences are few and far between and in fact the Canadian S4 is at least marginally closer to a "euro" spec for what it's worth... Take a look for rust but to be completely honest, I wouldn't worry about it on an Audi - MB and BMW yes, but Audi, no. And I'm a BMW guy. These cars are very, very well built and despite their quirks, I still feel they are worth their headache.

Is your cluster: KP/H at the outermost ring and in MP/H on the inner ring in the speedometer? If so, for CERTAIN it is a Canadian car. I doubt any state would require cluster replacement if MP/H was displayed (even in a smaller font than other, US market cars).

Did all that make sense? I went to the Canucks game tonight. [beer]

[Sport Line]

Lots of vehicles are being sold in Toronto that where originally registered in Quebec . They tend to be a bit cheaper due to bad roads (there are some better areas as well). Salt wise , I will say it is similar with Toronto and yes there is allot of it during winter . People doubt as well about odometer tampering . Personally I would't buy a car that comes from there if it is not under factory warranty and all maintenance had been done at the dealer .You should get a new car fax if you have doubts

[plat]

Lots of vehicles are being sold in Toronto that where originally registered in Quebec . They tend to be a bit cheaper due to bad roads (there are some better areas as well). Salt wise , I will say it is similar with Toronto and yes there is allot of it during winter . People doubt as well about odometer tampering . Personally I would't buy a car that comes from there if it is not under factory warranty and all maintenance had been done at the dealer .You should get a new car fax if you have doubts

Talk about bad roads! I lived in Montreal for a year back in 2003. The roads were very bad. Lots of pot holes. As a driving enthusiast, their roads don't elicit excitement and pleasure. Just pain and suffering.

[plat]

I wouldn't worry too much, as the differences are few and far between and in fact the Canadian S4 is at least marginally closer to a "euro" spec for what it's worth...

Did all that make sense? I went to the Canucks game tonight. [beer]

I beg to differ. Canada and US models are built to matching specs. Only the options are packaged differently including the trim lines. The base cars are the same. Chassis code and Engine code are the same that's why US and Canada use the same parts catalogue.

As for the Canucks, GO CANUCKS GO! Or, is that out of style since they're not winning?

[Dr GP]

I beg to differ. Canada and US models are built to matching specs. Only the options are packaged differently including the trim lines. The base cars are the same. Chassis code and Engine code are the same that's why US and Canada use the same parts catalogue.

As for the Canucks, GO CANUCKS GO! Or, is that out of style since they're not winning?

I also beg to differ. I do not think you can get heated rear seats in the US models. Not sure what else might be different. Nevertheless, the differences are minor.

[moose_head]

Ya, rear comfort package (heated seats) was only offered in Canada in some years and another difference is Canadian cars might not have TPMS. On newer cars, the MMI doesn't support the cell phone SIM for Audi Connect or Google Earth. In some years, Alcantara not even offered and the standard was full nappa.

Any menu option to disable DRL (lights) would be hidden in Canada too. Obviously VCDS etc can change it.

[plat]

I also beg to differ. I do not think you can get heated rear seats in the US models. Not sure what else might be different. Nevertheless, the differences are minor.

As you pointed out, some options are available in Canadian vs. US models such as the heated rear seats. But, as I mentioned, differences between Canada and US models are mainly their options, trim lines, and how these are packaged together. The basic car, chassis and engine, are the same.

[plat]

Ya, rear comfort package (heated seats) was only offered in Canada in some years and another difference is Canadian cars might not have TPMS. On newer cars, the MMI doesn't support the cell phone SIM for Audi Connect or Google Earth. In some years, Alcantara not even offered and the standard was full nappa.

Any menu option to disable DRL (lights) would be hidden in Canada too. Obviously VCDS etc can change it.

TPMS was and is available on sold orders only as far as my S5 is concerned. Disabling DRL is not an option in Canadian vehicles because it is a mandatory feature to comply with Transport Canada regs. But, as you mentioned, it can be enabled via VCDS.

[DaveLinger]

another difference is Canadian cars might not have TPMS.

I noticed this one this morning. Tires are supposed to be at 41PSI cold. Two were at 32, two were at 28. Looked through the CAR menu and didn't see anything for tire pressure! I don't really mind because as a "car guy" it's easy for me to remember to periodically check the tire pressure (as you should regardless since the TPMS system only "notices" large changes), but I am wondering why they wouldn't include TMPS on this car... isn't it "free"? In other words, no wheel sensors required, just a box ticked in the ABS module?

[DaveLinger]

Update: Yes, I was able to simply enable TPMS in the ABS controller, Central Electronics (MMI), and Instrument Cluster.

Here's what my speedometer looks like:

You can see it has both MPH and KPH although MPH is the dominant scale, as is normal for US cars. But you can also see the icons are ROW.

[emnahum]

Good to know this can be done, in case a 6MT B9 shows up in Candada!

[plat]

I noticed this one this morning. Tires are supposed to be at 41PSI cold. Two were at 32, two were at 28. Looked through the CAR menu and didn't see anything for tire pressure! I don't really mind because as a "car guy" it's easy for me to remember to periodically check the tire pressure (as you should regardless since the TPMS system only "notices" large changes), but I am wondering why they wouldn't include TMPS on this car... isn't it "free"? In other words, no wheel sensors required, just a box ticked in the ABS module?

FYI, the tire pressures listed on the door jamb sticker is for full load conditions. 41 psi. According to the user's manual, here are the tire pressures for normal (up to 3 occupants) conditions:

Tires: 245/40R18 93Y High-Performance
Normal Conditions F/R Psi: 39/35
Full Load Conditions F/R PSI: 41/41

Tires: 255/35R19 93Y High-Performance
Normal Conditions F/R Psi: 39/35
Full Load Conditions F/R PSI: 36/33

In the US, I believe TPMS is required in cars by the US DOT. In Canada, it is not a required feature by Transport Canada. That's the reason why Audi made TPMS optional up here. But, I agree, it should have just been a standard feature that can be turned on or off.