2018+ S4 Opinions

[bwattstl]

Hello,

I currently own a 2016 BMW M3 with a Dinan stage 2 tune. I'm debating on selling and getting a 2018 S4.

The ride is extremely rough even in comfort mode and the car has no traction even on new summer tires. It also just has too much power to ever practically use unless I track it, which I don't plan on doing. I wanted to get some opinions on the ride quality with the S4 as well as power. I don't need the fastest car in the world, but I enjoy accelerating fast from a dig. I also enjoy having little to no wind/road noise when cruising and would like to put the car in the most comfortable settings and not feel like I'm getting beat up which is currently how my M3 feels.

Also wanted to get general opinions on ownership costs, how long do tires/brakes last (I know this depends on driving style), as well as costs to replace those and a typical oil change.

Thanks!

[M3andAMG]

From someone who owns an e46 M3 and has spent some time in an e90 & F80 M3s I'd say the ride in comfort is way better than those two cars. Switch it into dynamic mode and the ride is harsher, but still not at bad as those cars in the stiffest setting. I'd say the power is sufficient for fun light to light, but up top it seems to die a little compared to some other cars. Still was able to manage a 12.5 stock in 1/4 mile which isn't bad. Not much wind noise or tire noise on the highway rides like most new cars in the price point. I'd say the one drawback compared to the M cars in the steering feel, or should I say lack there off. Steering is direct and precise and cars with the sport diff do feel good around corners. My car is a 2020 so I have yet to do brakes, but tires seem they will last 25-30k miles depending on driving and tire rotations. Oil changes are similar to other German car, it does not take expensive 10-60 like the M cars. I think you can buy an oil change kit for around 70-80 dollars.

[bwattstl]

Thank you very much for the response. This was exactly what I was looking for.

Would you recommend getting one with a sport diff?

[M3andAMG]

Thank you very much for the response. This was exactly what I was looking for.

Would you recommend getting one with a sport diff?

Yes, plus you get the red brake calipers. They do have a sport handling package which might help with the steering feel. Maybe someone who has the option can chime in.

[Nvbs4]

i have driven all types of m3 m4 and the ride in the Audi is a lot nicer but don't get p zero tires they are trash i have a 19 premium plus with sport package and its tuned with bolt ons total price with install for the parts was about 3 grand including tune i have done 11.5 quarters and 3.3 to 60s i suprise a lot of cars yes it does die top end but 0 to 100 its fast i daily it take it where ever in whatever conditions interior is really nice get the (digital dash) steering is numb but its a nice cruiser overall its very good car quattro gives you a sense on confidence in any weather on any road surface hope that helps some

[Nvbs4]

also i have around 18k on the odo and i have only changed oil and tires under warranty

[wooster]

Hello,

I currently own a 2016 BMW M3 with a Dinan stage 2 tune. I'm debating on selling and getting a 2018 S4.

The ride is extremely rough even in comfort mode and the car has no traction even on new summer tires. It also just has too much power to ever practically use unless I track it, which I don't plan on doing. I wanted to get some opinions on the ride quality with the S4 as well as power. I don't need the fastest car in the world, but I enjoy accelerating fast from a dig. I also enjoy having little to no wind/road noise when cruising and would like to put the car in the most comfortable settings and not feel like I'm getting beat up which is currently how my M3 feels.

Also wanted to get general opinions on ownership costs, how long do tires/brakes last (I know this depends on driving style), as well as costs to replace those and a typical oil change.

Thanks!

I have a 2009 E90 M3 6sp manual. I also have a 2019 S4, so I am qualified to answer your question. I don't track either--I have a Spec Miata race car for HPDE days, as I won't track anything without a roll cage.

E90 M3 is one of the greatest sports sedans ever made. The suspension is superb, the hydraulic steering is excellent, and the S65 V8 is one of the best engines of all time. The only weak point are the brakes, which are not great, but not an issue if you don't track it.

As for my S4, there is no comparison in terms of suspension quality and steering. The Audi understeers terribly. You really sense the extra weight in front of the front wheels. It is very uncomfortable entering a fast turn. The suspension is soft and turn-in is not sharp.
The S4 electric power steering has no feedback or feel, and is very poor compared to the M3 hydraulic steering.

The advantage is the 370 ft lb of torque that is instantly available in the Audi, compared to the 295 torque in the M3 which doesn't develop until you are at 4000 rpm. If you want to drive torque, there is very big difference. The other advantage is of course the AWD system so you can have one car for all seasons if you live where there is snow. I never use the M3 in the winter as it is undrivable, even with 4 snow tires. I only use the S4 with Michelin Pilot Alpins in the winter.

In general, I would never, ever get rid of my M3 for any Audi other than an R8 V10. There is no serious comparison between the M3 and S4 for true driving satisfaction, especially with the V8 screaming at 8400 rpm.

[Beseeingyou]

I chose the B9 S4 over an F80 M3 for a few reasons:

-The Audi is a more comfortable car day to day. The ride with the adjustable dampers is more comfortable, even with the optional 19’s.
-It’s quieter. I have tinnitus, and fatigue from road/wind noise on longer trips is an issue. The Audi is very quiet at freeway speeds.
-The interior is a nicer place to be day to day, in my opinion.
-354hp is plenty for day to day driving. In city, we don’t have speed limits higher than 35mph.
-Quattro. We don’t get a ton of snow in Seattle, but it also provides some level of active safety in serious rainstorms where the roadways often have 1-3” of standing water. (Yes, tires play a bigger part in that; I have that covered. )
-It’s still sporting enough that if I find myself on a quiet backroad, I can put it in Dynamic, push the shifter into manual, and it’s still enjoyable.

What it isn’t:
-Holy $&@! fast. It’s quick, but it’s also fairly refined and isolated. You never feel like you are accelerating that quickly in stock form, unless you use launch control.
-Engaging. As stated, the steering has zero feedback, which can be a bit unnerving the first time you lean on it. You have to learn to trust it. (I haven’t driven an F8X 3 series that had any steering feel, either. My friend’s M3 spooked me between it’s fairly hair trigger power delivery and lack of steering feel.)
-Hardcore. Even in Dynamic, you are aware that it’s a 3800+lb car with a lot of weight over the nose. M3 or even a 340i M-Sport win here.

For me? That’s all fine, because I have a C6 Corvette with suspension upgrades for when I want to attack a twisty road or hit an autocross/HPDE day. The Audi I look forward to getting in and driving 200+ miles at a go; not as much the Corvette.

[z_wrecker]

I chose the B9 S4 over an F80 M3 for a few reasons:

-The Audi is a more comfortable car day to day. The ride with the adjustable dampers is more comfortable, even with the optional 19’s.
-It’s quieter. I have tinnitus, and fatigue from road/wind noise on longer trips is an issue. The Audi is very quiet at freeway speeds.
-The interior is a nicer place to be day to day, in my opinion.
-354hp is plenty for day to day driving. In city, we don’t have speed limits higher than 35mph.
-Quattro. We don’t get a ton of snow in Seattle, but it also provides some level of active safety in serious rainstorms where the roadways often have 1-3” of standing water. (Yes, tires play a bigger part in that; I have that covered. )
-It’s still sporting enough that if I find myself on a quiet backroad, I can put it in Dynamic, push the shifter into manual, and it’s still enjoyable.

What it isn’t:
-Holy $&@! fast. It’s quick, but it’s also fairly refined and isolated. You never feel like you are accelerating that quickly in stock form, unless you use launch control.
-Engaging. As stated, the steering has zero feedback, which can be a bit unnerving the first time you lean on it. You have to learn to trust it. (I haven’t driven an F8X 3 series that had any steering feel, either. My friend’s M3 spooked me between it’s fairly hair trigger power delivery and lack of steering feel.)
-Hardcore. Even in Dynamic, you are aware that it’s a 3800+lb car with a lot of weight over the nose. M3 or even a 340i M-Sport win here.

For me? That’s all fine, because I have a C6 Corvette with suspension upgrades for when I want to attack a twisty road or hit an autocross/HPDE day. The Audi I look forward to getting in and driving 200+ miles at a go; not as much the Corvette.

I cross shopped my S4 with a 2016 M4. In the end this felt more like me. Didn’t feel as big, comfortable on longer trips and more understated. Just another gray Audi driving. I had the M for a weekend and found it was getting a lot of attention from drivers on the road and people passing by. M4 felt faster but after a tune this feels plenty fast. I do live in an area with some of the best driving roads in VA and take advantage of this almost daily. I have a few suspension mods waiting to go on to hopefully give me more input as it is little vague. I’ve driven this car almost 30k miles so I am very familiar with it and trust it. I still find myself smiling as I rip this whale through the corners.


I will seriously look into C6/7 for a fun car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NoSuchSol]

Actually doing the same thing as you - sold my '16 F80 M3 Comp and purchased a '20 S4 Prestige w/ Sports Pack. I would have preferred adding the dynamic steering to the mix but pickings were slim on used '20s. The car hasn't arrived yet, but all the S4/S5's that I had driven were definitely more compliant for DD than the M3 was. The M3 w/ DCT wants to be on the track so using it as a work/leisure car just wasn't the best choice for me. The G80 is too ugly....

[wooster]

Actually doing the same thing as you - sold my '16 F80 M3 Comp and purchased a '20 S4 Prestige w/ Sports Pack. I would have preferred adding the dynamic steering to the mix but pickings were slim on used '20s. The car hasn't arrived yet, but all the S4/S5's that I had driven were definitely more compliant for DD than the M3 was. The M3 w/ DCT wants to be on the track so using it as a work/leisure car just wasn't the best choice for me. The G80 is too ugly....

I would agree with the above posts that the S4 is certainly a much easier DD than the E90 M3. Just leave the auto in D or S and not to worry with so much low end torque. I have to shift the heck out of my M3 just to drive around town. It's simply a matter of what's important to you. A nice AWD cruiser with a great interior design and quality, but lacking in driving engagement, or a higher strung sports sedan that is more work to drive and no good in the snow.

[NoSuchSol]

I would agree with the above posts that the S4 is certainly a much easier DD than the E90 M3. Just leave the auto in D or S and not to worry with so much low end torque. I have to shift the heck out of my M3 just to drive around town. It's simply a matter of what's important to you. A nice AWD cruiser with a great interior design and quality, but lacking in driving engagement, or a higher strung sports sedan that is more work to drive and no good in the snow.

I had a RS3 before the M3.... went to a BMW driving event and ended up trading for a M3. That track time is addictive but I never have the time to take it out there and really run it the way it wants to be run. I'd love to have something similar but as a weekender car, but right now is not the time to have both. Maybe someday. ;)

[bwattstl]

Thanks for the opinions everyone.. I'm going to test drive an '18 this weekend. I may pull the trigger especially because Vroom/Carvana are offering me $2K more for my M3 than I paid for it.

[Recks81]

I have had a 2018 S4 Prestige for about six months and love it. It is the non-sport diff version and while I have not driven one with a sport diff, I can tell you that I rip this thing through corners with no issue. I debated the sport-diff model but when I found this '18 Prestige, I decided I liked the birds eye camera view (front, side and back cameras), virtual cockpit and other features more than I cared about red brake calipers. I debated an M2 Comp for a long while (my brother has one and I have driven it plenty) and while the Audi is not as crazy fast as the BMW, the finishes, ride quality and interior feel is MUCH nicer than the BMWs I considered. Don't get me wrong, I have done a couple of "M Track Days" with BMWs and they are awesome. I just think the S4 is a much better "all around" car.

[Recks81]

One other thing to consider - the '18 still has the control knob for the MMI screen while I think they changed to the touch screen in 2020. I tested both and really preferred the knob as opposed to the touch screen. The knob is right where your right hand naturally rests and mine is "touch sensitive" or something, so I can trace letters on it for navigation, music, etc.

[TheBigFish]

One other thing to consider - the '18 still has the control knob for the MMI screen while I think they changed to the touch screen in 2020. I tested both and really preferred the knob as opposed to the touch screen. The knob is right where your right hand naturally rests and mine is "touch sensitive" or something, so I can trace letters on it for navigation, music, etc.

Same here. I have an '18 S4 and I really like the tech level of these cars over the all touch screen stuff of the newer vehicles.