D3 S8 buying advice
 

Now my Boxster has gone to its new carer, I am starting to shortlist my next car, at the moment it's a not a very short list but the D3 S8 is certainly on it, as well as C6 S6.

So, having not owned a D3 before, what should I be looking for?

Rear brake calipers
Suspension troubles
Electrical gremlins

Any other common gripes?

There are a couple of S8s I quite like. One is a 2007/07 basic spec with 60k miles at £17k, the other a 2008/58 facelift car with ACC and ceramics with 51k miles at £23k. Also a 2006 S6 Avant standard spec with 70k miles at £14k. Others in the running are an E60 M5, E90 335i/335d or a RRS/Touareg/Q7/X5

I know the cosmetic differences for facelift, but what else was 'improved'?

The sat nav changes to HDD based I know, but is this a dealer only option for updating, as opposed to the 'back-up' DVD updates available.

If I do buy another Audi, VCDS or similar will be an essential purchase, which is the best one to get and what else do I need to be able to read and translate codes? Anyone tried one of the Bluetooth transmitters that plugs in the port and sends the info live to your smartphone?

Ceramic brakes: I know they can be removed, sold on and replaced with standard brakes, but what is required? Is it simply reaplcement discs and pads, or do other components also need changing, such as calipers, hubs, etc?

Can't find any S8s with B&O currently (excluding the silly season priced one with Oscar Goldman - 28k) so is the Bose good enough without waiting for a B&O car?

Any suggestions for who to use for a PPI? Cras in question are in Cardiff, High Wycombe and Oxford - anyone in those areas with VCDS that could help?

Lastly, one of the negatives against another Audi is the lack of a decent local specialist - I used to use RSD in Daventry but was never overely confident in them, nor were their prices especially cheap, Revo are also in Daventry but only do performance tuning I think (?) so anyone got any other ideas in the Midlands - Ranj, Amar, Ainarss?

The best Audi specialist around is 30 mins from you.

http://www.mrctuning.com/

Good job too, as unlike the local BMW dealers here, the Audi ones have been terrible every chance I've given them.

Unit 20 do PPI inspections and will travel.

You can get a brand new M5 at 0% with massive deposit contribution from BMW at the moment. That's what I'd do if I didn't love my RS6 so much. Look into a new M5.

MRC are pretty close, thanks for that Amar, have heard before they are very good, didn't realise where they are. Do they do routine maintenance and servicing as well as tuning though?

F10 M5 ain't gonna happen, it's a big jump from spending 20k to 65k mate, interest free or not!

Consider Ian's B8 S4, after MRC have tuned them it'll do 0-60 in 3.38 secs and 11.7 1/4 mile, that was on their development car too, the final product is much quicker. It's only about £1.5kish too, so nothing crazy. Watch it destroy the Revo one here:

http://youtu.be/ZAYFcSPQnCc

If you do go for a D3 S8, Milltek it up! I don't know much more about them apart from a standard one floored it near me recently and it sounded sublime.

yup, the B8 S4 should also be on the not so shortlist, must be an auto though for SWMBO, the better mpg has its attractions, not so sure of the sound from that clip though. I do quite fancy another 8, above all else I love this forum, my favourite place to spend coffee breaks, especially compared to boxa.net which seems to be getting frequented by chavs a lot now that the prices have brought them into reach, even if they can't actually afford to run them as well as buy them :)

The two things I disliked most about the Boxster:

1. 6 cylinders engines sound great, but they're not V8s (okay, nor is the S8/M5 but you get my point)

2. It needed revs to make the most of it, I want something much much torquier

Hdd nav can be updated without dealer input but does require vcds to get the mmi into service mode iirc. Its then a case of a firmware update which the car assumes is a software handshake with Audi Germany. Doddle to do with the right kit - easier than RNS-e anyway!

S8 D3 buying advice
 

Hi Sarg,

I have run my S8 D3 for 30k miles in 11 months now. My service costs for normal consumables/labour have been £500 for 60k service and £250 for intermediate longlife service (after 17k miles) with my local indie and genuine Audi parts to protect my warranty. I paid £700 for new Audi steel brake discs and pads all round, also indie fitted. Tyres last 12k to 15k and cost £250 to £300 per corner for Bridgestone (OE) or Yokahama. 4 wheel laser alignment is critical, failure to keep it straight wipes out tyres in less than 1000 miles (outside edges).

I have had problems fixed under warranty (Warrantywise best available) with power steering pump/hoses, rear electric brake caliper motors, suspension compressor, relay and level sensors. Good warranty highly recommended because these parts and labour are not cheap. I used Slough Audi for warranty work but be aware that labour rates are £120/hour plus VAT, so choose right warranty labour level.

I get 22mpg for 85 mph cruise on motorway 150 miles per day using super unleaded. Even driving like a nun at 70 mph only gets me up to 23 mpg, so don't expect much more. Looning/town driving can get below 15 mpg with ease. It does not like ordinary unleaded, low speed low throttle misfire sometimes.

I have a genuine VCDS and would not cope without it. I paid just uner £300 for it from UK importer. You get a cable with dongle built in. Software comes on disc, but latest version can be downloaded from VCDS site (Ross-Tech).

I have B&O stereo and have loved it. I fitted DAB radio and already had ipod connectivity with Dension 500 system, so music choice is excellent. It is a sublime place to listen for my regular 2 hour commute daily. I also value the quiet exhaust (standard not Milltek) so I can hear the sound stage/separation of teh B&O. Unbelievable for inside a car and better than my home music system!

The 2G MMI is easily updated with the correct discs. I did it in around 3 hours including bluetooth messing around. The standard phone reception is affected by double glazing I think. Signal strength is not as food as my BMW 740 was using same phone. I lose signal regularly along the M4 at Swindon and Newbury. I am looking into an Rsap adaptor which uses the external car aerial and "hijacks" the SIM card. Also looking for better phone sound quality. In car phone cradle makes no difference to signal strength or sound quality, basically a charger platform, since it uses bluetooth to talk to MMI.

The silver paint quality is excellent in my case. I spent £1000 sorting out some cosmetics/refurbing wheels and detailing in my first 3 months. My detailer said it was as hard as nails when he detailed it last year. Comes up very shiny when it is washed at weekends. The interior is a nice place to be. I have the 2 tone trim with silver/grey panels inset into black leather with leather on most panels up to windscreen height, then alcantara from windows upwards.

If you are interested in trying my car or discussing my experiences, drop me a PM. I live in Bracknell and work in Chippenham. Happy to help, they are great cars if you can afford the running costs (fuel, tyres) and have a warranty company to support the unexpected.

Good luck in your search

Richardracer

If you can see corrosion or delamination of the black surround of the rear window (visible from outside) the rear heated screen may be broken.
Audi Stafford replaced mine under warranty with me contributing £350.
It appears to be a common problem

Excellent & detailed reply Richard +++

Nope - HDD 3G Sat Nav came in 2009 across Audi range - Not at all related to 2008 D3 facelift, which gave things like revised mirrors with indicators, square fog lights, lipped boot lid, chrome starter button, chrome trims on door pockets and things like advanced key/dab/xenons/DRL as standard. To be honest, unless you're looking at poverty spec motors, the facelift isnt worth paying a big premium for imo.

Yes, Bose is absolutely fine. Until you hear B&O in action, and then you suddenly feel like you've short changed yourself. I was mulling (and still am) the C6 S6 - Prices have fallen, and good spec ones can be found, but B&O isnt even an option - in which case Bose is the best you can hope for, and it will be fine. In an S8 though, I'd (personally) hang out for B&O unless the car was otherwise irresistebly cheap/well specced.

B8 S4 is only 6 cylinders, but the supercharger whine is a beautiful note - and brings in the power from tickover. Its one hell of an engine, dont confuse it with anything normally aspirated.....

I took a desposit on mine today, guy test drove it, grinned a lot and said he had to have it.... +++

I want to agree here, their products and documentation looked excellent with Quentin Wilsons smiley face and promises of absolute satifaction all over the glossy brochures. The only thing that really grated me, and caused me ultimately not to extend the 3 months dealer-supplied freebie that I got was that they flatly refused to send me any sort of prices in writing and instead wanted to bibble over the phone at me endlessly.... Thats just not how I mull financial things personally....

So, I believe they are very good, but never actually signed up.. +++

Not only annoying, but also illegal - they are selling an insurance product which will be covered by the FSA regulations, which not means they must provide you with written information about the product as well an 'initial disclosure document', all of which must be sent to you within 7 days of first contact

Furthermore, Distance Selling regulations would also apply meaning that a cool-off period, probably 14 days, is mandatory

Saying all of that, I'm not a fan of warranties, preferring to self-insure - the warranty companies aren't in it to provide, they're in it to make a profit.

Other than that, thanks for the replies so far, all very helpful.

This is one of the cars I'm thinking about:

2008 S8 with ceramics and ACC

Ian, are you saying this won't have HDD nav, which would be my main reason to look for a facelift car?

I hear what you're saying about waiting for a B&O car, but I currently have no car - whilst I can borrow (or rent) a car the couple of days a week I need one, I can't go on waiting forever, will need to buy something by the end of this month, unless I look for a £250 ebay bargain with an MOT while I wait

These are the other currently shortlisted:

2007 'poverty spec'

2006 S6 Avant

just spotted this cheap S6 saloon

2005 M5

Correct, that looks like regular 2G to me... Why so desperate for the 3G anyway? It seems quite slow and clunky from what I've seen....

The povert spec S8 is just that. :p

The S6 avant is ok, but you seen to be targetting lower mileage cars and paying a hefty premium. They dont magically implode at 100k miles you know, and you get way more for your money +++

The 'cheap' S6 saloon you refer to has been on and off Ebay for over a year. I dont know what hes messing around at. I very, very nearly bought it about 8 weeks ago and he pulled the Ebay listing with 3 minutes to run. He never answered any Ebay messages I sent him before or after and scores a fat 10.0 on my what-a-****-ometer. Not a bad looking car though, annoyingly, but the photos are at least a year old as hes always used the same ones.

Cant speak about beemers without choking.... ;)

I'd rather have something south of 50k miles to be honest, reason is that, without doubt, they feel tighter, interiors tend to look nicer/less worn, suspension components generally okay, etc

My PF D3 had 36k when I bought it and the interior wasn't in as good condition as my FL with 80k. As we all know, '8s will run and run (mostly), and D3s with 200k aren't that uncommon now.

Just reading that the ceramic brakes need different calipers, master cylinder and have a different ABS system, meaning it seems to be rather a PITA to swap to steel discs, anyone got any definitive info on this?

I'd heard that ref R8s so makes sense - perfectly do-able although a donor car with steel brakes where you can get all the bits would make life easier/cheaper.

Not sure the ABS controller needs changing - might just need reprogramming?

Speak to specialists/dealers for info - there's kits available from Audi to swap TO ceramics, so that ought to explain what you would need to swap back to steels.

The Audi dealer I saw this morning had less clue than I have about swapping the brakes, but nonetheless, have decided against an S8, have tested another brand's V8 which did make me grin from ear to ear.

Nothing bought yet, going for a 2nd look tomorrow with SWMBO as not sure about the colour, so might look for another colour of this particular car...