Hunting for Sport Differential

[Moho]

So I'm in the market for a 2013-2015 S4 with Sport Differential. I've been scouring websites like Autotrader, TrueCar, and CarGuru and each car dealership shows their upgraded packages differently. I have found that differentials are listed three different ways:

1.) Locking Differential
2.) Front Locking Differential, Center Locking Differential, Rear Locking Differential
3.) Sport Differential

My understanding is that #1 is the stock differential and that #3 is the upgraded Sport Differential Package. My question is: where does #2 fall.

I have also seen where the dealer lists the S4 as having the "Sport Package". Are they referring to the fact that the S4 is the Sport Addition of the A4 line of cars? Or are they saying that the car has the upgraded Sport Differential, as I don't believe there is actually a "Sport Package" that you could purchase when the car was bought originally?

It's like pulling teeth with a salesman to get them to take a picture of the PR Codes or Build Sticker in order for me to find out if the car actually has the Sport Diff. It would be one thing if I could go check out each car in person, but I'm looking all over the West Coast and 700 miles is quite a distance just to find out that the car actually doesn't have the Sport Diff.

Sorry for being a newb here.

[Estoril4]

Usually those websites will have the vin. If so use this, credit to another AZ member for showing me. http://www.wikilender.com/ultimate-w...-decoder-tool/
Pretty sure all will have the center diff

Sent from my SM-G955U using Audizine mobile app

[Moho]

That sounds like the perfect solution... unfortunately that decoder is spitting out an error code. I've tried it with 3 different vins. Thanks for the fast response.

[Silver Streakin]

Call AoA with the VIN and they can email you a copy of the window sticker.

You can tell visually... have the salesperson take a couple pics.

[saxon]

the easiest way is to look for the buttons on the dash to control it.

[Estoril4]

Search for another decoder there should be quite a few out there. I wouldn't trust anything a dealer puts in their description even if it's rear locking diff but that's just me. Best of luck in your search

Sent from my SM-G955U using Audizine mobile app

[nicknice91303]

the easiest way is to look for the buttons on the dash to control it.

What do the buttons on the dash look like because I'm in the market for the same..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[superswiss]

Yeah, you can't really go by their descriptions. Most don't even know what the sport differential is. The options above make very little sense. The quattro center differential is a mechanical self-locking differential. That's all standard with quattro. However, depending on whether you are looking for a 6MT or S-tronic, the car will have a different center differential. The 6MT has the older Torsen differential and the S-tronic has the newer crown-gear center differential from the RS5. The front differential is an open differential, so if somebody write front locking differential in the description, they have no clue what they are talking about. The sport differential is a torque vectoring open differential. It also doesn't lock, but it has the ability to direct additional torque to the outer rear wheel during cornering, so again if somebody describes it as a rear locking differential they again don't know what they are talking about. Best is indeed to take the VIN and call AoA. They can give you the exact options the car was ordered with.

[superswiss]

What do the buttons on the dash look like because I'm in the market for the same..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

You can't go by the buttons on the dash. Depending on the year and options, the car can have the Drive Select button on the dash, but that doesn't mean it has the sport differential. The adaptive suspension and dynamic steering also added Drive Select to the car in the past. As of MY2014 I believe Audi Drive Select was standard regardless of whether the car has the sport differential, adaptive suspension or dynamic steering. The most reliable way of telling if you can't look under the car is to pull up the Individual drive mode settings in the MMI and see if the Sport differential is listed. That will also tell you if the car has the standard steering rack or the dynamic steering rack. In the following example the car has the dynamic steering rack. If it had the standard steering rack it would just say "Steering" instead of "Dynamic steering".

[Dr GP]

So I'm in the market for a 2013-2015 S4 with Sport Differential. I've been scouring websites like Autotrader, TrueCar, and CarGuru and each car dealership shows their upgraded packages differently. I have found that differentials are listed three different ways:

1.) Locking Differential
2.) Front Locking Differential, Center Locking Differential, Rear Locking Differential
3.) Sport Differential

My understanding is that #1 is the stock differential and that #3 is the upgraded Sport Differential Package. My question is: where does #2 fall.

I have also seen where the dealer lists the S4 as having the "Sport Package". Are they referring to the fact that the S4 is the Sport Addition of the A4 line of cars? Or are they saying that the car has the upgraded Sport Differential, as I don't believe there is actually a "Sport Package" that you could purchase when the car was bought originally?

It's like pulling teeth with a salesman to get them to take a picture of the PR Codes or Build Sticker in order for me to find out if the car actually has the Sport Diff. It would be one thing if I could go check out each car in person, but I'm looking all over the West Coast and 700 miles is quite a distance just to find out that the car actually doesn't have the Sport Diff.

Sorry for being a newb here.

The car either has a Sport dif or not. nothing in between. But it can be concfusing becuse the sport dif can be a stand alone option ,OR part of the ADS option. And most dealers or sales associates have no clue as to wwhether the car has one or not. If you look, there usually are buttons on the dash(above the driver side HVAC control knob) or the console(on a non nav
car) that say Comfort/auto/dynamic/individual. Ot the button might just say Drive select. https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...g&action=click.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...g&action=click
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...g&action=click

[850tgul]

As others have suggested, get the vin and call AoA. I did this when there was a discrepancy as to whether or not my car had it or not during my initial discussions with the seller. They were able to tell me right then and there over the phone.

[wangshuo1989]

You can use this website to get windows sticker by vin: http://www.wikilender.com/audi-windo...i-vin-decoder/

[LINDW4LL]

Typically, if mentioned in the seller's description, it will simply be listed as "sport differential". I'd ignore any of those generic options lists on Autotrader, etc... that are meant to fit all cars. This car does not have locking front or rear diffs regardless of configuration.

The easiest way to confirm, especially when talking to a salesman, is to simply look/have them look at the individual menu in MMI and see if the sport diff is displayed. Otherwise a quick glance under the car you can see the electronics hanging off the diff.

[doughboy17]

Call AoA with the VIN and they can email you a copy of the window sticker.

You can tell visually... have the salesperson take a couple pics.

This

[jnicho1]

Look for the Drive Select button on the center stack (Google images has photos of the different buttons per model year).

[superswiss]

Look for the Drive Select button on the center stack (Google images has photos of the different buttons per model year).

Just so OP doesn't get mislead. As I mentioned above, this is not at all a reliable way of telling if the car has the sport differential. As of MY14, even a base model S4 has the Drive Select button to adjust steering and engine/transmission dynamics. Prior to MY14, there were three options/packages that added the Drive Select button. Adaptive Suspension, Sport Differential and Driver Assistance Package (due to the Dynamic Steering and ACC included in the package). The presence of the Drive Select button would only indicate that the car has one or more of these three options, but it won't tell you which one.

[jygesq]

just look at the underside of the car, you will as others have stated see a little shiny control box on the diif/ Call AoA is also a good way,

[Moho]

Thank you all for your responses. It sounds to me like calling AoA with the VIN is really the only truly reliable way to know for sure unless I can get the salesman to take a picture of the control box that is on the differential under the car or for him to pull up the screen in the MMI and take a picture proving that Sport Differential is an option listed. Why can't there just be one for sale close to where I live?! I've asked three different salesmen for pictures. All they do is send me the KBB estimated value. This is not good enough!

[audigsr]

I'd go based off the number 3 only. Also, you can physically check in person when you check out the car. Just look under the rear of the car and the unit (I believe it's part white) should be to the right of the rear differential. Good luck!

[Helmet165]

Thank you all for your responses. It sounds to me like calling AoA with the VIN is really the only truly reliable way to know for sure

Not only that but I believe you can also have them check and see if the vehicle has a TD1 flag.

[sacandagaD]

Or you can test drive the car as fast as you can around an on-ramp and if you sail into the woods, it didn't have the Sport Diff,

[doughboy17]

Thank you all for your responses. It sounds to me like calling AoA with the VIN is really the only truly reliable way to know for sure unless I can get the salesman to take a picture of the control box that is on the differential under the car or for him to pull up the screen in the MMI and take a picture proving that Sport Differential is an option listed. Why can't there just be one for sale close to where I live?! I've asked three different salesmen for pictures. All they do is send me the KBB estimated value. This is not good enough!

I flew from central IL to pick up mine in Greenwich, CT, but to each their own. Once you experience the Sport Diff., you will be glad you have it. It's pretty unique when going around sharp corners; rather than a four wheel drift, your car holds the line through the corner.

[EricPro21]

yeah, dynamic mode w/ sport dif is an indescribable feeling that you will have to just experience. took a turn going 90 (slightly hilly too) and it felt like i was going the recommended 35.