This has been beaten to death .... b8.5 s4 reliability

[MK7 GTI]

Hey everybody!

I'm currently in the market for a b8.5 s4 and wanted to confirm a couple things.

I've done a lot of research and have read a lot of forums. Many people have said that the b8.5 s4 is reliable.

I know if reliability is the only issue I'd be on a civic or accord forum. My main issue is that I drive a lot.

I am aware of maintenance costs, and some things failing here and there. I drive about 30-40k miles per year, and am planning on keeping a used one for about 3-4 years.

How are these cars at the 130-150k range? Besides regular maintenance, are they solid for that many miles?

Thank you!

[fs454]

Hey everybody!

I'm currently in the market for a b8.5 s4 and wanted to confirm a couple things.

I've done a lot of research and have read a lot of forums. Many people have said that the b8.5 s4 is reliable.

I know if reliability is the only issue I'd be on a civic or accord forum. My main issue is that I drive a lot.

I am aware of maintenance costs, and some things failing here and there. I drive about 30-40k miles per year, and am planning on keeping a used one for about 3-4 years.

How are these cars at the 130-150k range? Besides regular maintenance, are they solid for that many miles?

Thank you!

As far as the research I did here and elsewhere, solid. There isn't anything huge you can point to on the 2013+ models that is a big common failure point even at high miles. My previous car was a 2009 BMW 135i and I knew going into the purchase that the water pump dies every 60-70k, the turbo wastegates always fail and require two new turbos to fix, the high pressure fuel pump may as well be a timebomb and the injectors go like nobody's business.

Stepping in to the 3.0T it's coilpacks, wheel bearings, and maybe the PCV among other little things. Change the supercharger oil at 100k, keep up with your DSG maintenance if not a manual car, get a carbon cleaning done on the intake ports, and don't modify the piss out of it and you should have a nice solid car. I can't think of another German car that's as refined and performance-oriented as this one is coupled with a reputation for reliability. Maybe like a newer Mustang or something on the American-made side, but where's the fun in that?

[MK7 GTI]

As far as the research I did here and elsewhere, solid. There isn't anything huge you can point to on the 2013+ models that is a big common failure point even at high miles. My previous car was a 2009 BMW 135i and I knew going into the purchase that the water pump dies every 60-70k, the turbo wastegates always fail and require two new turbos to fix, the high pressure fuel pump may as well be a timebomb and the injectors go like nobody's business.

Stepping in to the 3.0T it's coilpacks, wheel bearings, and maybe the PCV among other little things. Change the supercharger oil at 100k, keep up with your DSG maintenance if not a manual car, get a carbon cleaning done on the intake ports, and don't modify the piss out of it and you should have a nice solid car. I can't think of another German car that's as refined and performance-oriented as this one is coupled with a reputation for reliability. Maybe like a newer Mustang or something on the American-made side, but where's the fun in that?

Honestly it sounds pretty straight forward. Just expensive maintenance, but I'm okay with that as long as it doesn't have any common failure points.

Just out of curiosity what was the problem with the b8 s4's that made them unreliable?

[fs454]

Honestly it sounds pretty straight forward. Just expensive maintenance, but I'm okay with that as long as it doesn't have any common failure points.

Just out of curiosity what was the problem with the b8 s4's that made them unreliable?

As far as I can tell the major one was the DSG mechatronics unit in pre-2012 models which was allegedly solved for 2013 and up.


If you find an S4 let's go for a cruise up the angeles crest sometime!

[tar]

As far as I can tell the major one was the DSG mechatronics unit in pre-2012 models which was allegedly solved for 2013 and up.


If you find an S4 let's go for a cruise up the angeles crest sometime!

And tstat and water pump. Really nothing major just do them every like 60-80k and its nothing to worry about. Pcv at 100k or whenever ur doing the pump and tstat.

The main issue with dsg cars is they are a dsg and not a manual. Step closer to a appliance.

[Dippy]

I'm reading more and more reports of OE crank pulley failure...

[Nitrousbird]

My wife just bought a higher mileage (83k) '13 S4. The B8.5 should be fairly reliable, especially for an Audi.

Make sure the DSG service has been done, ever time, on time. If not, walk away. Waterpump should be fine now. PCV and thermostat can be an issue but not a guarantee. If replacing one, replace both as they both require pulling the supercharger. Otherwise everything else seemed to be pretty trustworthy on these cars. Obviously a good service history is a big plus - my wife's car had very extensive records, so I could really tell it was cared for during its lifetime (plus its condition was much better than average for its age and still smells new).

The wife and I like buying the German cars after they tank in value after a few years and some miles. I turn my own wrenches and we have 3 vehicles between the two of us, so a little vehicle downtime isn't a big deal and allows me to buy parts online at a significant savings. That said, I've had very little downtime with our couple of German cars. Wife has had her B7 A4 for 10 years and it has been pretty reliable with a thermostat and diverter valve being the main failures (and now a dying torque converter - common on the B7 and I will be selling it like that). I have a E92 335i, which is notorious for being unreliable. Only major issue was a waterpump - otherwise minor stuff to replace.

All owners should get a VAG-COM. $200. Not only for coding features aspect, but for reading/clearing fault codes. For instance, my wife's S4 had a adaptive headlight failure (must get a Prestige model to get this feature). Ended up just being a blow H7 bulb. No biggie, could happen in any car at pretty much any mileage. The problem is that without the VAG-COM, there is no way to reset the code and have the lights work after replacing the bulb. For my BMW, I have all the coding stuff as well (cheaper but harder to use). It has been necessary as well as I've had to replace a couple of modules and that can't be done without the software.

This is where the dealers make an unnecessary killing with the ability to code and reset stuff. I had the Footwell module fail on my BMW. Easy to find online, fairly cheap when purchased used. About a 15 minute job to swap - I would have wasted way more time going to a dealer than DIY. The problem is without the coding tools, you can't code the new VIN and flash the correct vehicle order to the unit, so it wouldn't work. Dealers make it out to be some big deal but it is actually very easy to DIY once you learn the basics. From my 10 minutes of playing with VAG-COM, it should be 10x easier than the BMW tools.

[Silverbullet S4]

I'm reading more and more reports of OE crank pulley failure...

I think mine is starting to go at 55K miles. One of the pulleys at least but haven't had a chance to pin point the culprit. Starting to get that infamous sound of bearings starting to go. No surprise though after modifying and spinning everything faster/out of spec.

[coshesey]

My wife just bought a higher mileage (83k) '13 S4. The B8.5 should be fairly reliable, especially for an Audi.

Make sure the DSG service has been done, ever time, on time. If not, walk away. Waterpump should be fine now. PCV and thermostat can be an issue but not a guarantee. If replacing one, replace both as they both require pulling the supercharger. Otherwise everything else seemed to be pretty trustworthy on these cars. Obviously a good service history is a big plus - my wife's car had very extensive records, so I could really tell it was cared for during its lifetime (plus its condition was much better than average for its age and still smells new).

The wife and I like buying the German cars after they tank in value after a few years and some miles. I turn my own wrenches and we have 3 vehicles between the two of us, so a little vehicle downtime isn't a big deal and allows me to buy parts online at a significant savings. That said, I've had very little downtime with our couple of German cars. Wife has had her B7 A4 for 10 years and it has been pretty reliable with a thermostat and diverter valve being the main failures (and now a dying torque converter - common on the B7 and I will be selling it like that). I have a E92 335i, which is notorious for being unreliable. Only major issue was a waterpump - otherwise minor stuff to replace.

All owners should get a VAG-COM. $200. Not only for coding features aspect, but for reading/clearing fault codes. For instance, my wife's S4 had a adaptive headlight failure (must get a Prestige model to get this feature). Ended up just being a blow H7 bulb. No biggie, could happen in any car at pretty much any mileage. The problem is that without the VAG-COM, there is no way to reset the code and have the lights work after replacing the bulb. For my BMW, I have all the coding stuff as well (cheaper but harder to use). It has been necessary as well as I've had to replace a couple of modules and that can't be done without the software.

This is where the dealers make an unnecessary killing with the ability to code and reset stuff. I had the Footwell module fail on my BMW. Easy to find online, fairly cheap when purchased used. About a 15 minute job to swap - I would have wasted way more time going to a dealer than DIY. The problem is without the coding tools, you can't code the new VIN and flash the correct vehicle order to the unit, so it wouldn't work. Dealers make it out to be some big deal but it is actually very easy to DIY once you learn the basics. From my 10 minutes of playing with VAG-COM, it should be 10x easier than the BMW tools.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Audizine mobile app

[fs454]

And tstat and water pump. Really nothing major just do them every like 60-80k and its nothing to worry about. Pcv at 100k or whenever ur doing the pump and tstat.

The main issue with dsg cars is they are a dsg and not a manual. Step closer to a appliance.

To each their own on that one. I always have had manuals and just got out of 5 years in a 6MT 135i but I find the DSG just as fun and engaging as any of the past vehicles. Nothing like rowing your own but DSG is a fun and interesting drivetrain.

[Helmet165]

To each their own on that one. I always have had manuals and just got out of 5 years in a 6MT 135i but I find the DSG just as fun and engaging as any of the past vehicles. Nothing like rowing your own but DSG is a fun and interesting drivetrain.

I agree 100%, I've been driving stick for 26 years and would 'never get an automatic' - that was until I actually drove a DSG. It is indeed fun and engaging (which I realize is subjective), gets better gas mileage and is faster. For me, it was a no-brainer. Plus, DSG farts FTW!

[Silverbullet S4]

I agree 100%, I've been driving stick for 26 years and would 'never get an automatic' - that was until I actually drove a DSG. It is indeed fun and engaging (which I realize is subjective), gets better gas mileage and is faster. For me, it was a no-brainer. Plus, DSG farts FTW!

All valid points. And after driving a manual for decades, sitting in traffic starts to suck more and more every year. I'll never own a manual again on a daily driver. If I was 20-30 still or if it was just a fun weekend car however.....most definitely. It's also worth mentioning again....DSG farts FTW!lol

[jaxkewl]

do it! I bought a used 2014 s4 manual last week with 176k miles.
id post a pic but not sure how. new to the forum.

[Low Orbit]

Wow Jax, that must be some kind of mileage record for a 2014! How does it run and does it feel relatively tight still?

Welcome to the forum!!!

[AFR1485]

I thought buying a 95k S4 was high. Nice job Jax. Buying a higher mileage German car isn’t usually a good idea, but the B8.5 S4 is probably an exception. B8s did have a more common water pump and DSG (mech-unit) issue. I’m doing the water pump, thermostat and PCV at 110k. Best of luck.


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[S4'ed]

Generally reliable but there are common issues:
Thermostats, DSGs, PCV, sport diff, crank pully failures,mysterious slow coolant leaks, intercooler leaks, wheel bearings, front suspension control arm bushings, upper timing chain tensioners on later production engines (2013+ I think), hydraulic motor mounts.

[Mijolkause]

That makes my 2010 at 126k look like a rookie

[MK7 GTI]

I have read all of your posts multiple times and realy appreciate all the effort for with the responses!

Reading this gives me a piece of mind and more confidence with purchasing a used S4. Especially seeing it at 175,000 miles! That's unbelievable, I would love to be posted on how the car runs. JW, if you dont mind sharing how much did you pay for that thing?