What design features do you wish the A/S8 had?

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by RICKY D

Auto folding wing mirrors when locking the car. Why isn't this a thing

That's a very good point! My Dad's Merc has that and its really handy. They fold when you lock it and unfold when you open a door. I keep meaning to look at the D2 diagrams to see if I can figure out how to do it, and now I'm reminded when I'm not sitting in a Merc I shall do so...

Edit: So, its actually a dedicated control unit, obviously. It has a single input telling it to fold the mirrors, which should be simple enough to subvert The challenge is going to be powering that unit with the ignition off, since its run from the X contact (switched ignition via a relay). It will need to be powered up independently of the rest of the car in order to fold the mirrors while locking, and the fold signal will have to remain energised until the control unit is powered down.

That I'm thinking is to feed it via a diode and have a relay connected to the 'lock' signal from the central locking. The relay would both feed the unit and also give it the fold signal. When the car locks the mirrors fold. When the ignition is switched on, the unit powers up without the fold signal so it unfolds them. It might be possible to use the close-windows signal to do this, so you'd hold the lock button on the remote to fold the mirrors

2nd edit: Yes, definitely possible to hook up the convenience closing function to the mirror folding, so you hold the lock button and the mirrors fold They unfold as soon as you turn on the ignition. It'll need a diode and a pair of relays, one with a slight delay. I reckon it could actually be done inside the driver's door, since both the wires we need run through there

[Audidothat]

I forgot one as well..... boot close on the key fob as well as boot open.

Oh and better access to the power steering fluid!

[27litres]

Although the 4 mode intermittent wiper timer delay switch (D2) is a nice enough feature in and of itself, a more variable delay period controller on the intermittent wipers is a feature I would have expected on the S8.
My 1994 Holden Berlina had a variable control wheel on the wiper switch, and so does the XC90.
Still it's a step up from the fixed interval on the A4!

Folding rear seats is a feature of the A4 I miss too - when I sold that car, I packed two boxes of spare parts plus 5 spare 17" wheels (no tyres from memory though) into the back of that thing - do that with the S8!

I like the auto folding mirrors idea.
One feature I also miss from my A4 is the range of the remote, and how the total closure feature operated. The A4 had an aftermarket remote entry module installed on it. On a double press of the lock button on the remote, the module energised the close circuit for 15 seconds - thus closing the doors and windows without having to keep the button depressed.
With the S8, I have tinted windows. I get intermittent operation of the total closure feature and have to be standing right next to the car with the key just about touching the drivers window to get it to close everything... It is just about easier to jump in the car and turn the ignition on!

[Dezzy]

Originally Posted by 27litres

Although the 4 mode intermittent wiper timer delay switch (D2) is a nice enough feature in and of itself, a more variable delay period controller on the intermittent wipers is a feature I would have expected on the S8.
My 1994 Holden Berlina had a variable control wheel on the wiper switch, and so does the XC90.
Still it's a step up from the fixed interval on the A4!

I fitted a programmable timer relay from a Golf, so allows you to have between 1.5 - 22 seconds if memory serves me right, switch on and allow to wipe once then turn off till you want it to wipe again and it remembers that time delay. Much better than the 7 seconds take it or leave it.

I'd have liked selectable 4x4 on the transfer box, and maybe a low ratio.
Central tyre inflation system
Rear camera in the bumper looking at the tow hitch.
Glove box able to take cold air from the AC.
Reactalight windscreen (switchable)
Lap tray (foldable) that disappeared into the arm rest area, similar to that on a plane.
Auto Jacking made instead of the widow maker.

[homer simpson]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

That's a very good point! My Dad's Merc has that and its really handy. They fold when you lock it and unfold when you open a door. I keep meaning to look at the D2 diagrams to see if I can figure out how to do it, and now I'm reminded when I'm not sitting in a Merc I shall do so...

Edit: So, its actually a dedicated control unit, obviously. It has a single input telling it to fold the mirrors, which should be simple enough to subvert The challenge is going to be powering that unit with the ignition off, since its run from the X contact (switched ignition via a relay). It will need to be powered up independently of the rest of the car in order to fold the mirrors while locking, and the fold signal will have to remain energised until the control unit is powered down.

That I'm thinking is to feed it via a diode and have a relay connected to the 'lock' signal from the central locking. The relay would both feed the unit and also give it the fold signal. When the car locks the mirrors fold. When the ignition is switched on, the unit powers up without the fold signal so it unfolds them. It might be possible to use the close-windows signal to do this, so you'd hold the lock button on the remote to fold the mirrors

2nd edit: Yes, definitely possible to hook up the convenience closing function to the mirror folding, so you hold the lock button and the mirrors fold They unfold as soon as you turn on the ignition. It'll need a diode and a pair of relays, one with a slight delay. I reckon it could actually be done inside the driver's door, since both the wires we need run through there

This has been queried a lot on MK1 Seat Leons with elec folding mirrors. I briefly looked into this and there was a company doing a module to allow this feature, I'll see if I can find it.

EDIT: Scroll down to reflex model. Being a VAG could work on a D2.

http://autowindow.tripod.com/products.html

[27litres]

Originally Posted by homer simpson

there was a company doing a module to allow this feature, I'll see if I can find it.

EDIT: Scroll down to reflex model. Being a VAG could work on a D2.

http://autowindow.tripod.com/products.html

Was is the optimum word here - I just emailed the bloke and he replied to say he's no longer making the modules...
Real shame that, as the feature list was excellent!

[B@fink]

Folding seats and a rear wiper please. And front drains about an inch across so I don't have to unblock the cursed things.......

[moltuae]

I'd like an OK button to cancel warning nags, even if it's just until the next ignition power cycle.

I hate it when a fault light comes on at the beginning of a journey, or even just the windscreen washer level warning, and I'm forced to look at it for the entire journey. Why is it more important to tell me (continuously) that my windscreen washer fluid is getting low than it is to display things like outside temperature and ice warnings?

Originally Posted by Audidothat

BMW has an electronic dip stick

My Citroen XMs had an oil level/pressure gauge. From memory, ignition-on would display oil level, which switched to pressure once the engine was running. I miss that feature. I preferred the petrol gauge on the XM too, which was graduated in gallons (0 to 17).

A couple more things I miss about my XMs that I wish my 8s had: A foot operated parking brake (which operated on a ratchet and was released by a lever on the dashboard) and Hydractive Hydropneumatic suspension, the best incarnation being 'Activa', which was fitted to some Xantias. An S8 with Activa suspension would've been perfect; luxury 'floaty' suspension while you're cruising along, combined with almost zero body roll when cornering. Being able to jack the car's ride height up at the flick of a switch is handy too, as is being able to drop it onto its belly while parked (which had the added bonus of making it impossible to get most conventional wheel clamps on).

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

It might be possible to use the close-windows signal to do this, so you'd hold the lock button on the remote to fold the mirrors

I love that idea.

I wouldn't want auto-fold mirrors, for some of the reasons already mentioned, but I think a semi-auto option like that would be a great idea.

[Architex_mA8tey]

If you reckon the warning beeps on a D2 are bad - wait until you experience a D3 set of beeps, they take it to a new level and are slowly driving me crazy

[homer simpson]

Originally Posted by 27litres

Was is the optimum word here - I just emailed the bloke and he replied to say he's no longer making the modules...
Real shame that, as the feature list was excellent!

Damn! There must be someone out there doing them...will have to do some digging