D2 S8 ramblings

[rs32]

ok, so 500 miles or so into ownership, here's some thoughts about the car and the way it drives, plus some other stuff - forgive the random thoughts, just interested in other owners comparing to their experiences.

Just to give you an idea of some recent cars I've owned (recent first)

E39 530i & Golf V6 4Motion
E60 525d
E65 730d
E90 330d
Allroad 2.5 TDi
M3 CSL
M3
Golf R32 Mk5
Impreza WRX
Golf V6 4motion
Alfa 155 V6


Firstly the boring bits - economy etc. I'm averaging 21-22mpg on vPower, have started off babying it a bit to get used to the car and get it settled into being used again. Tonight was the first proper outing it's had with a 70 mile fast-ish run home. Clearly this car doesn't want babying, it wants driving 65mph on the motorway is fine for economy, but the car doesn't behave as smoothly or as confidently as at 85-ish. It's clearly happier when pushing on and when you grab hold of it.

Tyre pressures - mine were a bit low at the weekend, I set them to 35 all round on Sunday, hated it (terrible ride behaviour), then have gone to 33 and it's much better, suspect 32 or 32.5 psi will end up being the norm. I've never owned a car so damn sensitive to tyre pressure !

The wipers are crap. Very lethargic and the standard blades are rubbish on a pretty new screen, so I've ordered some Bosch Aerotwin replacements.

Xenons not bad but again have ordered replacement D2S bulbs to freshen things up.

Slow starting problem - this is being looked at next week, it;s annoying more than anything as you want a feeling from a car like this that it's stonrg form the word go.

Gearbox - it strains quite heavily against the brakes at junctions, lights etc and I find myself knocking it into neutral a lot whilst waiting to pull off. Also it doesn't always pick up quickly enough but the 5-speed ZF in my 2002 530i does the same.

Engine warming up - takes a long time to get to 90 degrees C. I'd say 5-10 miles more than all my previous cars. Anyone else noticed this ?

Nav - actually the RNS-D is not bad for the older nav technology but I'm looking into RNS-E + BT to freshen up the car properly.

There's no doubt more thoughts to come but apart from the niggly bits that need sorting (slow start, rear caliper and a few cosmetic bits) I can see why these beautifully made cars have such a following. It's special and I'm doing the "looking back at the car after locking it" thing so that's a very good sign !

Oh and I love the electric rear sunblind

[IT]

Originally Posted by rs32

ok, so 500 miles or so into ownership, here's some thoughts about the car and the way it drives, plus some other stuff - forgive the random thoughts, just interested in other owners comparing to their experiences.

Just to give you an idea of some recent cars I've owned (recent first)

E39 530i & Golf V6 4Motion
E60 525d
E65 730d
E90 330d
Allroad 2.5 TDi
M3 CSL
M3
Golf R32 Mk5
Impreza WRX
Golf V6 4motion
Alfa 155 V6


Firstly the boring bits - economy etc. I'm averaging 21-22mpg on vPower, have started off babying it a bit to get used to the car and get it settled into being used again. Tonight was the first proper outing it's had with a 70 mile fast-ish run home. Clearly this car doesn't want babying, it wants driving 65mph on the motorway is fine for economy, but the car doesn't behave as smoothly or as confidently as at 85-ish. It's clearly happier when pushing on and when you grab hold of it.

Tyre pressures - mine were a bit low at the weekend, I set them to 35 all round on Sunday, hated it (terrible ride behaviour), then have gone to 33 and it's much better, suspect 32 or 32.5 psi will end up being the norm. I've never owned a car so damn sensitive to tyre pressure !

The wipers are crap. Very lethargic and the standard blades are rubbish on a pretty new screen, so I've ordered some Bosch Aerotwin replacements.

Xenons not bad but again have ordered replacement D2S bulbs to freshen things up.

Slow starting problem - this is being looked at next week, it;s annoying more than anything as you want a feeling from a car like this that it's stonrg form the word go.

Gearbox - it strains quite heavily against the brakes at junctions, lights etc and I find myself knocking it into neutral a lot whilst waiting to pull off. Also it doesn't always pick up quickly enough but the 5-speed ZF in my 2002 530i does the same.

Engine warming up - takes a long time to get to 90 degrees C. I'd say 5-10 miles more than all my previous cars. Anyone else noticed this ?

Nav - actually the RNS-D is not bad for the older nav technology but I'm looking into RNS-E + BT to freshen up the car properly.

There's no doubt more thoughts to come but apart from the niggly bits that need sorting (slow start, rear caliper and a few cosmetic bits) I can see why these beautifully made cars have such a following. It's special and I'm doing the "looking back at the car after locking it" thing so that's a very good sign !

Oh and I love the electric rear sunblind

Glad you're injoying it

The 20's leave little room for flex, so I guess tyres pressures will make a difference. If you want it comfy, run 18's. If you want it sporty, run the 20's and enjoy it lol

Long time to warm up isnt great - the S8 is rev happy to say the least, would expect it to be up to temp before that..... new thermostat required perhaps ?

The D2 is pretty robust. As long as the gearbox is good, the rest is not a big concern.

Interesting to see you come from a long line of beemers - The D2 isnt noted for having some of the good characteristics that you find in a rear wheel drive motor, but at the same time, in England, it is useable all year round lol

I'm actually a big fan of the M3, but wouldnt actually want to own one as a daily...... Seems a bit compact, and weather dependent

Enjoy the S8, the addiction will set in soon, if it hasnt already

[The_Laird]

Originally Posted by IT

The 20's leave little room for flex, so I guess tyres pressures will make a difference. If you want it comfy, run 18's. If you want it sporty, run the 20's and enjoy it lol

Long time to warm up isnt great - the S8 is rev happy to say the least, would expect it to be up to temp before that..... new thermostat required perhaps ?

IIRC, this one's running on 19" wheels - best of both worlds?

And my S8 is warmed up within 3 or 4 miles at this time of year. Was the thermostat and water pump replaced with the belt?

[rs32]

water pump was replaced last October (not sure about temp sensor)

car going in for rear caliper(s) and brake fluid change next week so will see what my Indy wants to do with the slow start and engine temp points

[Dezzy]

My 8 is up to temp after about the same 4 - 5 miles since i changed the therostat. Can be done with the front end inplace too, but is a bit of a knuckle stuffer. Rear calipers are common. Slowstart could just be your battery coming to the end of it's life, put a battery booster or jusp leads on it see if it makes a difference.

[rs32]

battery is new in the last 2 months

the wheels mystery continues, the spare is audi 4D0 601 025 AE which is a 20" and from a google search suggests S8 fitment but the design is different to the FE !

suspect I'll end up trying to source a set of 18's all round

[ainarssems]

Tyre pressures - mine were a bit low at the weekend, I set them to 35 all round on Sunday, hated it (terrible ride behaviour), then have gone to 33 and it's much better, suspect 32 or 32.5 psi will end up being the norm. I've never owned a car so damn sensitive to tyre pressure !

I am running on 19" and I started off with 36 psi tyre pressure but tyres were wearing a lot on sides, it does not help that I am mostly using car on short local trips and around the town. In couple of months tyres had noticeably worn on the sides while the middle was like new. So I increased tyre pressure to 42 and this has evened out tyre wear.

[rs32]

Interesting to see you come from a long line of beemers - The D2 isnt noted for having some of the good characteristics that you find in a rear wheel drive motor, but at the same time, in England, it is useable all year round lol

didn't spot this when you replied before IT - I've hankered after a V8 something for a while now, this car would have been an E39 540i probably apart from the fact that the steering is awful on them and it felt dreary compared to the 530i. Plus I've kind of done the RWD thing now - maybe again in the future

regarding the useable all year round bit - the grippiest car I've ever owned (apart from my Mk5 R32) was in fact ....... the M3 CSL. Astonishing and more than comfortable keeping up with a well driven RS4 across 650 miles of Scottish roads driving a few years back. That CSL will stay with me for the rest of my life - incredible car. But if it snows ...... forget it

But onwards and upwards - I'm still smiling after pushing it a bit on the way home last night, haven't driven the car today but I have just fitted a new pair of 66240 Osram D2S (definitely fresher than the old ones and look like a better design) and the Aerotwin wipers (instant improvement and much smoother across the screen)

just had confirmation that rear calipers, fluid change, engine temp sensor & speed sensor are all being done next Wed at my trusted place (APS in Brackley)

[rs32]

well today I've asked the car to deliver a safe 320 miles round trip to North Wales and back ........ and it's been faultless.

Comfortable, fast when needed, economical for what it is and has been a real pleasure to drive.

A few things I'm starting to think need some tinkering with - definitely the tyres, that is in hand - but I'm looking at some Bilstein B6 to replace the OEM shocks and boy does this car need a Milltek cat-back !

I run the Bilsteins on my Golf and they are spot on with the OEM springs - hopefully this will also be the case on the S8.

However need sell my E39 first, then there is budget available to freshen the suspension and give the car a proper voice !

A quick question - would I be sensible to do front top-mounts if replacing the shocks all round ?

Also does anyone else get the drivers side plastic panel under the bonnet (closest to windscreen) rattling away ? Bloody annoying.

Oh and the wipers now actually work since fitting the aerotwin blades, but they are still terrible wonder if the motor is a bit tired but it's like the wipers are from another era

[notorious]

For wipers give yourself a favour and order Audi genuine SWF wipers. They are the best available. Audi part numbers: 4B0 955 425 and 4A0 955 425 B. Refresh wiper arms too if they are rusty, missing some elements or twisted. Wiper arms are still available from Audi. In future you can buy SWF rubbers which are very easy to change without any tools required. Rubbers are the same for right and left sides, part number 895 955 429 A.

>> Also does anyone else get the drivers side plastic panel under
>> the bonnet (closest to windscreen) rattling away

If you're talking about scuttle panel it should be normally very well attached. If you'll plan to replace wiper arms it will be easy to remove scuttle panel when wiper arms are out and inspect it. I personally never had a problem with it. Scuttle panel has rubber strip and should adjoin windscreen without gaps.