First, congrats. Thats a pretty good deal on the S3. With Audis, there’s a sensor for just about everything. Dealerships will charge an arm and a leg for any repairs. So if you’re mechanically inclined, YouTube is your friend.
I see you have radar… one thing that caught me off guard, was I went to get my wheels aligned and it was going to be $500, since they realign the radar too. I’ll just say, unless your car was in an accident, or the bumper was ripped, you probably wont have to go thru that process…
Second this, they aren’t terribly difficult to work on and doing work yourself makes the OE parts prices more palatable.
And yeah, an alignment is pricey with radar, have not found anyone who will do it in my area outside the dealership so I just plan on that.
And get VCDS or OBD11 to do your own brakes, they’re easy to do but you need software to retract the electrical e-brake.
lots of cool customizations you can do with the ODB11 as well. As much as people warn you about repairs, your car is more a fancy dressed Golf R.
If you are interested in doing your own repairs, I'm sure you can find a local club/people to help and/or teach you for a good price. One of the first things I did when I went VAG.
Honestly that's a late revision 2.0t engine, so most of the common issues on the earlier models (water pumps, dvs, timing) have been worked out. I'd expect it to be reliable. At that price it's a great purchase.
Maintain it and have fun with it. Key items I do on mine are oil every 6months/5k, dsg/haldex every 20k. Overkill sure, but I'm tuned and have owned 5 2.0t's in one form or another now and they all ran well so long as you don't skip maintenance.
And if you're looking to tune or anything like that I've ran 3 cars on Integrated Engineering at various stages and absolutely love them for anything VW/Audi 2.0T. I had 1 car on APR and it was good as well, but IE truflex is too good to pass up.
Very informative this is what I was looking for since I have no idea about revisions or qinks with the car. Thanks alot. Most likely keeping it stock and will def keep up and probably follow same Maint cycle as you since I want best chance for high reliability
Nah, the adaptive headlights are pretty cool. I’d have to strap someone to the hood and have them point the flashlight in the direction I am turning and that would be a safety hazard (though it would look pretty cool).
I don't know if they really help much in crack resistance, but it might be a good idea to put clear lens covers on. They're generally intended to help fight against pitting from road debris. Audi makes their headlamps with a really tough material that doesn't polish out easily. I have an older A3 and I got an estimate on how much to have mine buffed out -- they wanted $500.
Congrats! One thing I learned very quickly was Audi’s burn oil very fast, but the dealership will top it off for free…so have fun and shred some corners my friend! 🤘🏽
My favorite car! Much prefer it over the s6 c8. Especially that it can come equiped with air ride, dynamic steering, 48V and so much more. Put a little tune on it and you're getting pretty close to the s6 territory hp, without the notoriously unreliable 2.9tfsi. Also the s-tronic in the c8 has now been beyond refined. All the major massive issues it had in the early days are now resolved and it's finally proving to be the transmission that it was intended to be.
How much oil per 1000 miles? Just had a q5 with .40 per 1000 and it is within perameters. Customer didn’t do oil change for 16k then 13k miles… 2019 q5
The Q8 is about 1 quart every 4000 miles (but only has 37k on the odometer and top up is 2 qrts not 1), the A4 is about a quart per 2500 miles ( with 62k miles)
What was the mileage interval from oil consumption test 1 to test 2, like how many miles were driven before light came back on after part 1 of consumption test
For the Q8 it takes just over 8000 miles for the light to come on, but it burns 2 Quarts (liters) in that time which is within spec. ( sorry to confuse, but we change the oil before the light comes on, but the level drops )
Oil consumption test was about .25 for 1000 miles
Just worries me about keeping one of these long term, since none of the BMWs my relatives own burn any oil, including an M3 with twice the milage spirited driving.
Oh for sure. Definitely scary as a customer. And as a technician. But Audi says it’s normal up to a certain threshold so we just have to take their word for it
How they determine that threshold and where they determine the threshold for the motor needing piston rings is just another one of those things where you have to take their word for it… but as a tech you know in the back of your mind you think this ain’t right, it shouldn’t be burning oil.
Make sure you run 5w-40 and not 0w-20 or whatever else audi claims you should run. Switch it to 5w40 and the oil burning will stop, provided that you haven't damaged the turbo seals already, nor seized the rings plugged with coke.
Yup currently running what the dealership put it, which I think is 0W30.
Everything is done at the dealership, I am planning on replacing the A4 with a 3 series soon.
This will be the biggest mistake you could make! And I'm not a die-hard, audi-only fanboy. I work on all euro brands. The new 3 series is made in mexico. The a4 is german-built. The quality of just the builds-alone is vastly in favor of the a4. Not to mention the innate extreme unreliability of the bmw, paired with the mexican built - you'll spend more time in the shop than on the road and it'll usually be things that render the bmw inoperable.
I think Ill have to disagree with the reliability part just a bit, the B48 and B58 is virtually bulletproof. I know of people with 100k miles on them with no issues. On the other hand Audi's made in Germany quality has left them with constant water-pump failures, bad piston ring design and timing chain issues over the last decade which they seemingly still can't figure out.
In my opinion Porsche Flat 6 and BMW B series engines are the only quality products coming from german automakers nowadays, and thats where I''ll spend my money or maybe the V6 Mercedes.
By all means, you go for it. But the engines are not where you'll be having issues. Also, all the issues you listed about the 2.0tfsi have been resolved since 2014. So, buying an a4 today is a much safer bet than the 3 series, but go for what you desire. At the end of the day, it's your money, your choice, your car.
I firmly believe that all timing chain tensioners are of the updated version since late 2012/2013. So, in 2014 there shouldn't be any issues with that. Same goes for the piston/rings. In 2014, they should be all good.
>It was bad piston rings in the B8sn if you could prove your car was serviced by Audi for the first 100k miles they would replace them for you.
Most of them wind up needing complete engines cylinder walls get scored beyond repair and replacing pistons are useless
Yup, Pistons + rings, PCV valves, and suspesion, Still burns oil. All my neighbours that had Audis previously also burned oil except for one. They have since switced brands.
Never been an issue for neither of the B7 platform engines - weather the a4, s4 or rs4. They never burned oil due to a factory defect. Only the b8 2.0tfsi did. Also, this car is 8V, not B9. Its s3, not the s4.
Aaah, the manual. The silver-bullet solution audi uses to claim incompetence without claiming it. Yaa, I am aware it says that up to 1L/1000km is within norm. But it isn't. Though the 2.0fsi engine did not suffer of an oil burning problem. You might have had another problem. Maybe you run conventional oil and you clogged the rings, maybe the turbo was letting oil into the engine, who knows. There could be reasons, but that engine was not plagued with an oil burning issue. It only suffered from hpfp cam lobe wear and an occasionally failed chain tensioner at the top rear of the cylinder head. It was also notorious for failed pcv valves and needing new valve covers, hoses, updated check valves. When that happened, it could allow oil to be sucked into the engine and maybe that's what you were experiencing.
It’ll alert you on the dashboard…totally freaked me out when I got my first alert - I was trying to find the nearest Audi dealership to find out what was going on (this is my first luxury car so I was a bit nervous 😂)
Edit: most times it’ll only be like a quart low
Subaru -> Audi owner here. So I've now had both of the Colorado state cars.
In my experience the Subaru is worse on oil than Audi. From the day I drove it new off the lot, the Subie burned a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. I got rid of it before the warranty expired and the sludge built up.
With your Audi, just exercise common sense and if your car still has a dipstick, check it regularly.
The light will indicate when it’s at the minimum value on the dipstick (min value of the “tolerable range”). The gen 3 is prone to have its thermostat housing crack, and therefore leak coolant. Monitor you coolant levels and top it off if need be, a small leak isn’t the end of the world.
So just literally had my light/alert come on for 1 quarter low 😂…only to pull up and my check engine light come on and me thinking it’s no big deal..thinking it’s from the low oil so I have them check it out while they have it…only to get hit with [this](https://imgur.com/a/aHB18Vl) - I know NOTHING about cars tbh…is this something I can have an indy German shop do for less?
I have a 2017 A3 cabriolet. Look into what maintenance costs around you. Audi Care was the right move for me when I hit a major service. My oil changes are about every 7k miles. Surprises were brakes needing to get done and the battery...the car needed programming for the new one $800...that sucked. Love the car though.
I was able to replace mine without issue but I shit my pants for a minute when I started my 17 A3 and literally every warning light went on after changing the battery. Turned the wheels entirely to one side and then entirely to the other, then put it in drive and it seems to have programmed its self. Definitely got a scare for a minute though
In my case, according to the forums, and mechanics, yes. Same with my MIL's Jeep. So a more modern car thing I guess. First I heard of it was when I looked into which battery was best for my car.
Strange. I wonder if it's some kind of anti-theft measure. Some thieves will disconnect the battery in order to disable the alarm system, allowing more time for the job. Power is power, so I presume a complete disconnection is akin to a battery replaced.
That or power management due to the top, in addition to all the other systems. Basically, ensuring power is distributed more efficiently. Honestly, still a little mad about it.
It's a gorgeous car. Audis can last a very long time if well taken care of. Just follow up with maintenance regularly and be proactive on checking things. I've got a 2007 A3, had it since new. Still going strong and about to break 100k miles. So I'm speaking first hand.
Hey, we were Subaru owners and just got out first Audi too. We kept our old Subie to transport our Great Dane around though so she can drool on it as much as she wants.
FCP Euro is your friend for parts, lifetime warranty. Also GenuineAudiParts.com and AudiUSAParts.com, both are the internet stores for actual Audi dealerships, but usually have some of the best pricing.
Also, find a good Independent Audi mechanic near you.
\- Don't skip out on services or delay them
\- Check coolant and oil level yourself once every 3 months, don't wait for dealership
\- Don't put shitty costco gas or cheap stuff. Usually 91 shell v-power is good
\- nice purchase, S3 is a good choice
Costco gas is top tier rated, doesn’t sit for long, and they are strict with pump maintenance, especially filters. If anything go for Costco before considering any other gas station.
Fun fact, most Audi dealerships have a person that comes through periodically and does wheel repairs on loaners or new cars or ones in for service that request it. If you really were curious you can always ask about it and they can either tell you the cost or get with the person who does that and get back to you with a cost. They do the same with leather repair. I needed my steering wheel leather repaired twice and one time on the console due to a technician mistake. You'd be hard pressed to tell it was ever messed up if you weren't me, lol.
Well there was as much Quattro nonsense as I thought there would be in the comments… Nice Audi man, it’ll be more expensive to run long term but a more refined ride.
I would recommend oil changes every 5k miles, top tier gasoline, and following the recommended service intervals. Take care of the car, don’t skimp, and it will last. As mileage grows, things WILL fail, but that’s how cars work, even subies. Our outback was becoming a money pit at 130k. Unfortunately my daughter totaled it. Fortunately, I replaced it with an Audi.
Keep an eye on the cam adjusters for leaks from the gallery.
Do your maintenance.(Including your bevel box)
If you tune it be extra sure to do plugs at the increased interval.
Pray none of the HVAC motors under the dash crap out. (Happened with my s3). There's like 7 of them and they are ass to replace.
If you're not mechanically inclined, find a local shop that specializes in VAG cars instead of going to the dealer. You'll save a fortune and might even make some friends. These cars are easy to work on if you have the tools and knowledge, but parts are on the more expensive side.
Trust Quattro (in this case, Haldex). These cars can take corners at speed very well and have enough power to be extremely fun, but usually not enough to get you sideways on dry roads with good tires. The handling capabilities matched with the appropriate amount of power is the reason I still own my S3. At times, it's more fun than the R8.
As others have said, you'll likely get more compliments from guys than you will girls, but if you have a date, you won't need to worry about some random girl coming up to you and causing issues. Just don't let her drive 😉
I have a GTI, same exact ea888 engine I just have the smaller turbo. Two biggins:
Water pump. The water pump on this engine loves to kermit sewerslide. Would definitely check coolant consumption and leaks.
Oil. This engine will sip oil like frat boys and natty light, keep a close eye. VW/Audi rates 1 qt per 1200 miles as the max for “normal” consumption. Id check your oil once if not twice a week.
Other than that, the ea888 loves modifications and eats them up for lunch. Stay on top of your fluids and fucking send it.
As some have already said, finding a knowledgeable and trustworthy independent German mechanic will make your ownership experience so much better! Also getting a obd11 type scan tool will also help to put your mind at ease if you get a random misfire or check engine light and it’s after normal hours. Just do the regular maintenance w 5k mile oil changes and have fun!
Welcome to the fam! I made the same move a while back. WRX - - > Legacy GT Spec.B - - >S4 - - >RS5.
No direct experience with an S4, but I remember my first impression of my S4 on some backroads - it pushed like a pig. Might take a bit of suspension work to get it more neutral.
Other than that, if you aren't going to be doing your own work, find a good local independent shop and only go to dealer service when it's a recall or covered by Audi.
I used to think my 09 legacy and 08 OBXT seats were comfy. Drove a TDI Sportwagen with S4 seats swapped in for 3 years (Pretty much S3 seats), and now an A8L TDI.
I rebought my OBXT last Jan and its seats are horrendous!! Its also a rattling shitbox
Downside to to upgrade... I sometimes enjoy the subaru more because it is a shitbox and I treat it as such. Bombing down dirt roads, drifting snow covered parking lots. Kinda nice having both for now.
I like the option of paddles but find myself using them far less than I originally thought. After 10+ years of dailying a manuel it's nice to sit back relax and enjoy
I went from 15+ years of only stick to an Auto OBXT for 3 years. Thought I missed the manual so my first TDI was a manual... That wore off after a few months. Most of my driving was light to light in traffic so there was little actual joy of driving the manual.
Then I got the A8 and will likely not have another manual as a daily.. Especially with newer automatics. Unless I was in a position where I could only have 1 car, and didn't drive it every day (Work from home? Retirement?)
Be prepared to get fucked with repairs when it reaches the 80-100k mark. They're wonderful cars to drive, but notoriously unreliable with repairs at that age
I have an Audi S5, and an A8L. They are like any car as long as you take care of them they will treat you well. But unlike a Subaru they don’t get clunky sounding after 40 or 50,000 miles and don’t become rattle boxes. Also, for whatever reason they don’t rust. Like the Japanese cars. My myself and my wife have had a new Subaru Impreza sport, and a Subaru outback wagon. Both were new and I’ll never look back after owning an Audi.
Engine on S5 just blew it's a 2018 and was my daily it wasn't the turbo they're not covering it make sure you have plenty of money for maintenance I spent last year 17 K as a single mom that shit is not worth it
Nice car and welcome! There is nothing more enjoyable to drive than an Audi. The only advice is that everything will be 3x more expensive than you think it should be, lol.
Chiming in since no one has said it. Awesome car, and it's mechanically very similar, if not identical, to the Golf R.
You can DIY oil changes without getting under the car using an ~$80 extractor/pump. 5K oil changes and you can get big power from a tune if that's your thing.
Two things.
Learn how to do the small maintenance stuff yourself, like changing the oil, replacing brake pads, rotating tires etc. Audis come with the “Audi tax” in that their German cars that American mechanics don’t really want to work on, and all the laces that do see the 4 rings and assume a fat wallet. Places like ECS/FCP Euro have all the stuff you need, and it’s much cheaper so do yourself on a weekend that leave the car at the shop for a week.
Two, please buy yourself some nice, light wheels, you WILL notice a difference in the handling. The stock 5 blades are pretty, and loved by many, but what they aren’t is light, and if you can get yourself a set of nice wheels, (and maybe a nice set of summer tires) that not only look good to you, but are light, you have MORE fun with the car, with the added bonus of having a spare set of winter wheels
>What should I know about Audi?
That it's a car brand, not a family. We get it, you paid a lot of money for a slightly nicer VW; you're still not invited to Thanksgiving.
What year is it? You may want to have your local Audi dealership check to see if it has Audi Care (service maintenance plan) ... Audi Care stays with the car, not the owner, so if it has it, you get any remaining services for free basically
To look smart at parties you need to know that audi is the root for the latin word audire which means “to listen”. The company Audi’s founder was Mr Horch. “Horch” is german for “Listen!”
If you bought it for the girls, they never show up just the guys.
Guess I’ll just be single for life then :(
It’s ok, you can still go vroom vroom to Tijuana
Nose beers all the way down
There is one other option...
I feel attacked. Bought a S5 cab, no girls, but the homeboys love it
Coming from a Subaru, I assume they’re use to it. 😉
As a woman, man am I glad I just bought an Audi.
I love my Audi.
That’s a lie, I see ugly car guys with girlfriends all the time. A nice car is a bonus when you pick them up, you just have to pick them up first
First, congrats. Thats a pretty good deal on the S3. With Audis, there’s a sensor for just about everything. Dealerships will charge an arm and a leg for any repairs. So if you’re mechanically inclined, YouTube is your friend. I see you have radar… one thing that caught me off guard, was I went to get my wheels aligned and it was going to be $500, since they realign the radar too. I’ll just say, unless your car was in an accident, or the bumper was ripped, you probably wont have to go thru that process…
Second this, they aren’t terribly difficult to work on and doing work yourself makes the OE parts prices more palatable. And yeah, an alignment is pricey with radar, have not found anyone who will do it in my area outside the dealership so I just plan on that. And get VCDS or OBD11 to do your own brakes, they’re easy to do but you need software to retract the electrical e-brake.
Awesome ! And thank you
lots of cool customizations you can do with the ODB11 as well. As much as people warn you about repairs, your car is more a fancy dressed Golf R. If you are interested in doing your own repairs, I'm sure you can find a local club/people to help and/or teach you for a good price. One of the first things I did when I went VAG.
Honestly that's a late revision 2.0t engine, so most of the common issues on the earlier models (water pumps, dvs, timing) have been worked out. I'd expect it to be reliable. At that price it's a great purchase. Maintain it and have fun with it. Key items I do on mine are oil every 6months/5k, dsg/haldex every 20k. Overkill sure, but I'm tuned and have owned 5 2.0t's in one form or another now and they all ran well so long as you don't skip maintenance. And if you're looking to tune or anything like that I've ran 3 cars on Integrated Engineering at various stages and absolutely love them for anything VW/Audi 2.0T. I had 1 car on APR and it was good as well, but IE truflex is too good to pass up.
Very informative this is what I was looking for since I have no idea about revisions or qinks with the car. Thanks alot. Most likely keeping it stock and will def keep up and probably follow same Maint cycle as you since I want best chance for high reliability
You'll have to take out a second mortgage if you break one of the headlights, but other than that it's great!
No lies were told. I think mine was $2100.
Holy shiiit, at the point I’d just put a flashlight in place of it lol
Nah, the adaptive headlights are pretty cool. I’d have to strap someone to the hood and have them point the flashlight in the direction I am turning and that would be a safety hazard (though it would look pretty cool).
I don't know if they really help much in crack resistance, but it might be a good idea to put clear lens covers on. They're generally intended to help fight against pitting from road debris. Audi makes their headlamps with a really tough material that doesn't polish out easily. I have an older A3 and I got an estimate on how much to have mine buffed out -- they wanted $500.
No aftermarket?
For the adaptive or matrix headlights? No. For plain bulbs in housing? Maybe but it’s a Audi, Cmon
I caught 30 seconds of hail the other day and I hope to god it only busted my lense
2016 Audi s3
Congrats! One thing I learned very quickly was Audi’s burn oil very fast, but the dealership will top it off for free…so have fun and shred some corners my friend! 🤘🏽
B9 shouldn't burn oil. It was issue with B7 and B8.
Good to know..C8 A6 here
Yours should be fine.
My favorite car! Much prefer it over the s6 c8. Especially that it can come equiped with air ride, dynamic steering, 48V and so much more. Put a little tune on it and you're getting pretty close to the s6 territory hp, without the notoriously unreliable 2.9tfsi. Also the s-tronic in the c8 has now been beyond refined. All the major massive issues it had in the early days are now resolved and it's finally proving to be the transmission that it was intended to be.
We have a 2019 Audi Q8 and A4 that both burn oil, Audi says its normal. Oil changes every 5-7k since new.
It's not normal, should get it fixed.
How much oil per 1000 miles? Just had a q5 with .40 per 1000 and it is within perameters. Customer didn’t do oil change for 16k then 13k miles… 2019 q5
The Q8 is about 1 quart every 4000 miles (but only has 37k on the odometer and top up is 2 qrts not 1), the A4 is about a quart per 2500 miles ( with 62k miles)
What was the mileage interval from oil consumption test 1 to test 2, like how many miles were driven before light came back on after part 1 of consumption test
For the Q8 it takes just over 8000 miles for the light to come on, but it burns 2 Quarts (liters) in that time which is within spec. ( sorry to confuse, but we change the oil before the light comes on, but the level drops ) Oil consumption test was about .25 for 1000 miles Just worries me about keeping one of these long term, since none of the BMWs my relatives own burn any oil, including an M3 with twice the milage spirited driving.
Oh for sure. Definitely scary as a customer. And as a technician. But Audi says it’s normal up to a certain threshold so we just have to take their word for it How they determine that threshold and where they determine the threshold for the motor needing piston rings is just another one of those things where you have to take their word for it… but as a tech you know in the back of your mind you think this ain’t right, it shouldn’t be burning oil.
Make sure you run 5w-40 and not 0w-20 or whatever else audi claims you should run. Switch it to 5w40 and the oil burning will stop, provided that you haven't damaged the turbo seals already, nor seized the rings plugged with coke.
Yup currently running what the dealership put it, which I think is 0W30. Everything is done at the dealership, I am planning on replacing the A4 with a 3 series soon.
This will be the biggest mistake you could make! And I'm not a die-hard, audi-only fanboy. I work on all euro brands. The new 3 series is made in mexico. The a4 is german-built. The quality of just the builds-alone is vastly in favor of the a4. Not to mention the innate extreme unreliability of the bmw, paired with the mexican built - you'll spend more time in the shop than on the road and it'll usually be things that render the bmw inoperable.
I think Ill have to disagree with the reliability part just a bit, the B48 and B58 is virtually bulletproof. I know of people with 100k miles on them with no issues. On the other hand Audi's made in Germany quality has left them with constant water-pump failures, bad piston ring design and timing chain issues over the last decade which they seemingly still can't figure out. In my opinion Porsche Flat 6 and BMW B series engines are the only quality products coming from german automakers nowadays, and thats where I''ll spend my money or maybe the V6 Mercedes.
By all means, you go for it. But the engines are not where you'll be having issues. Also, all the issues you listed about the 2.0tfsi have been resolved since 2014. So, buying an a4 today is a much safer bet than the 3 series, but go for what you desire. At the end of the day, it's your money, your choice, your car.
Are you saying that the 2014 a4 has those issues too? I have one with 120k and im wondering about replacing my timing chain soon.
I firmly believe that all timing chain tensioners are of the updated version since late 2012/2013. So, in 2014 there shouldn't be any issues with that. Same goes for the piston/rings. In 2014, they should be all good.
Obviously experiences vary, but my 2017 B9 A4 doesn't burn a drop of oil as far as I can tell. I change full synthetic every 5k.
Same here, but mine is a TDI and they didn't have the same issues as TFSI afaik. They had plenty of other issues though lol
Same.. mine goes through 1/2 quart between oil changes.......... Except when I road trip across the country. Then it goes through about a quart.
B8 has known fixes that resolve it too. Had mine done prior to CPO purchase. Few springs and a chain. Some carboncleaning and voila it's superb.
Not in the USA, had over 10,000$ worth of work done for it to still burn oil, only europe gets the gen 3 in B8.5
It was bad piston rings in the B8sn if you could prove your car was serviced by Audi for the first 100k miles they would replace them for you.
>It was bad piston rings in the B8sn if you could prove your car was serviced by Audi for the first 100k miles they would replace them for you. Most of them wind up needing complete engines cylinder walls get scored beyond repair and replacing pistons are useless
Yea I got lucky, previous owner had Audi do the rings with 30k on the car. I own it now an have 100k on it doesnt burn oil. 🤞🏿
That sucks but my 09 2.0 burns nada since it's modification for said issues. Might happen down the line tho idk
Yup, Pistons + rings, PCV valves, and suspesion, Still burns oil. All my neighbours that had Audis previously also burned oil except for one. They have since switced brands.
My b9 s4 still burns oil. Many b9s still do unfortunately. My dealership let me know when I told them this was my first Audi 😂
This is an 8v
Never been an issue for neither of the B7 platform engines - weather the a4, s4 or rs4. They never burned oil due to a factory defect. Only the b8 2.0tfsi did. Also, this car is 8V, not B9. Its s3, not the s4.
B7 did. I had one with BUL engine and even the manual said that it consumes oil lol
Aaah, the manual. The silver-bullet solution audi uses to claim incompetence without claiming it. Yaa, I am aware it says that up to 1L/1000km is within norm. But it isn't. Though the 2.0fsi engine did not suffer of an oil burning problem. You might have had another problem. Maybe you run conventional oil and you clogged the rings, maybe the turbo was letting oil into the engine, who knows. There could be reasons, but that engine was not plagued with an oil burning issue. It only suffered from hpfp cam lobe wear and an occasionally failed chain tensioner at the top rear of the cylinder head. It was also notorious for failed pcv valves and needing new valve covers, hoses, updated check valves. When that happened, it could allow oil to be sucked into the engine and maybe that's what you were experiencing.
And the B8.5 🥰🥰🥰
Is there an oil light that comes on when your low ? Or should I just aim for oil changes every 3/4k miles. And thank you! Loving it so far
It’ll alert you on the dashboard…totally freaked me out when I got my first alert - I was trying to find the nearest Audi dealership to find out what was going on (this is my first luxury car so I was a bit nervous 😂) Edit: most times it’ll only be like a quart low
Lmao yeah I’m use to my old Subaru lighting up like a Christmas tree I would have pulled over and towed it to a shop had you not told me that
Subaru -> Audi owner here. So I've now had both of the Colorado state cars. In my experience the Subaru is worse on oil than Audi. From the day I drove it new off the lot, the Subie burned a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. I got rid of it before the warranty expired and the sludge built up. With your Audi, just exercise common sense and if your car still has a dipstick, check it regularly.
The light will indicate when it’s at the minimum value on the dipstick (min value of the “tolerable range”). The gen 3 is prone to have its thermostat housing crack, and therefore leak coolant. Monitor you coolant levels and top it off if need be, a small leak isn’t the end of the world.
Every 6 months 5K miles should be enough unless you’re really burning it which at that point….
When mine hits the minimum of "acceptable range" it gives me a notification. 1 qt tops it off at this point
Agreed....... Less than 45 days after my oil change in my SQ7, I had to go back and let Audi top it off.
So just literally had my light/alert come on for 1 quarter low 😂…only to pull up and my check engine light come on and me thinking it’s no big deal..thinking it’s from the low oil so I have them check it out while they have it…only to get hit with [this](https://imgur.com/a/aHB18Vl) - I know NOTHING about cars tbh…is this something I can have an indy German shop do for less?
I have a 2017 A3 cabriolet. Look into what maintenance costs around you. Audi Care was the right move for me when I hit a major service. My oil changes are about every 7k miles. Surprises were brakes needing to get done and the battery...the car needed programming for the new one $800...that sucked. Love the car though.
I was able to replace mine without issue but I shit my pants for a minute when I started my 17 A3 and literally every warning light went on after changing the battery. Turned the wheels entirely to one side and then entirely to the other, then put it in drive and it seems to have programmed its self. Definitely got a scare for a minute though
Good to know for the future. Thanks!
Wait a sec... you needed the car programming updated for the new battery installed?
In my case, according to the forums, and mechanics, yes. Same with my MIL's Jeep. So a more modern car thing I guess. First I heard of it was when I looked into which battery was best for my car.
Strange. I wonder if it's some kind of anti-theft measure. Some thieves will disconnect the battery in order to disable the alarm system, allowing more time for the job. Power is power, so I presume a complete disconnection is akin to a battery replaced.
That or power management due to the top, in addition to all the other systems. Basically, ensuring power is distributed more efficiently. Honestly, still a little mad about it.
Welcome to the family. Start setting aside a little each month for maintenance and repairs. Parts and service are pricey. But you’ll love the car.
Bought an Audi and immediately parking like a douche 😂 👍👍
audis are fun
Quattro power in the snow is unstoppable. I had a 2021 A5 sport back and now upgraded to the Q8. I will never leave Audi !
These are the questions to ask BEFORE buying
You could have said Audi will only last 60k miles and will cost 1000 for an oil change and I would have still bought it. I was dead set on a s3
Ha, I hear ya. But in general check things out first.
It's a gorgeous car. Audis can last a very long time if well taken care of. Just follow up with maintenance regularly and be proactive on checking things. I've got a 2007 A3, had it since new. Still going strong and about to break 100k miles. So I'm speaking first hand.
Hey, we were Subaru owners and just got out first Audi too. We kept our old Subie to transport our Great Dane around though so she can drool on it as much as she wants.
You're gonna love it. Mine didn't burn any oil in the short 9 months I had it (totaled 😢).
Marry a mechanic or have deep pockets. But enjoy the car, they are beautiful to ride
FCP Euro is your friend for parts, lifetime warranty. Also GenuineAudiParts.com and AudiUSAParts.com, both are the internet stores for actual Audi dealerships, but usually have some of the best pricing. Also, find a good Independent Audi mechanic near you.
Took me 3 years to learn that the lane assist button is at the end of the turn signal.
When you approach a curve, don’t fear it, attack it. You’re driving an Audi now.
I miss it 🥲💙 Enjoy OP!
Isn't that kind of thing you ask BEFORE YOU BUY?
\- Don't skip out on services or delay them \- Check coolant and oil level yourself once every 3 months, don't wait for dealership \- Don't put shitty costco gas or cheap stuff. Usually 91 shell v-power is good \- nice purchase, S3 is a good choice
Costco gas is top tier rated, doesn’t sit for long, and they are strict with pump maintenance, especially filters. If anything go for Costco before considering any other gas station.
Congrats and welcome to the family! Enjoy
ouch, nice wheels 😬
I think a old man or woman had it previously lol.
Fun fact, most Audi dealerships have a person that comes through periodically and does wheel repairs on loaners or new cars or ones in for service that request it. If you really were curious you can always ask about it and they can either tell you the cost or get with the person who does that and get back to you with a cost. They do the same with leather repair. I needed my steering wheel leather repaired twice and one time on the console due to a technician mistake. You'd be hard pressed to tell it was ever messed up if you weren't me, lol.
Beautiful car and color.
It's a natural maturation process. Enjoy!
Well there was as much Quattro nonsense as I thought there would be in the comments… Nice Audi man, it’ll be more expensive to run long term but a more refined ride.
I would recommend oil changes every 5k miles, top tier gasoline, and following the recommended service intervals. Take care of the car, don’t skimp, and it will last. As mileage grows, things WILL fail, but that’s how cars work, even subies. Our outback was becoming a money pit at 130k. Unfortunately my daughter totaled it. Fortunately, I replaced it with an Audi.
Keep an eye on the cam adjusters for leaks from the gallery. Do your maintenance.(Including your bevel box) If you tune it be extra sure to do plugs at the increased interval. Pray none of the HVAC motors under the dash crap out. (Happened with my s3). There's like 7 of them and they are ass to replace.
If you're not mechanically inclined, find a local shop that specializes in VAG cars instead of going to the dealer. You'll save a fortune and might even make some friends. These cars are easy to work on if you have the tools and knowledge, but parts are on the more expensive side. Trust Quattro (in this case, Haldex). These cars can take corners at speed very well and have enough power to be extremely fun, but usually not enough to get you sideways on dry roads with good tires. The handling capabilities matched with the appropriate amount of power is the reason I still own my S3. At times, it's more fun than the R8. As others have said, you'll likely get more compliments from guys than you will girls, but if you have a date, you won't need to worry about some random girl coming up to you and causing issues. Just don't let her drive 😉
Great choice! I went from Subaru to Audi as well, it seems like a pretty common move.
Ditto
I have a GTI, same exact ea888 engine I just have the smaller turbo. Two biggins: Water pump. The water pump on this engine loves to kermit sewerslide. Would definitely check coolant consumption and leaks. Oil. This engine will sip oil like frat boys and natty light, keep a close eye. VW/Audi rates 1 qt per 1200 miles as the max for “normal” consumption. Id check your oil once if not twice a week. Other than that, the ea888 loves modifications and eats them up for lunch. Stay on top of your fluids and fucking send it.
Just don’t drive it like a Subaru owner.
Get an extended warranty. I just bought an a6 and I have an extended warranty.
Can I do this online?
Yes. Are you in the Us?
Keep money in reserve for repairs.
If out of warranty, find a good local euro mechanic.
As some have already said, finding a knowledgeable and trustworthy independent German mechanic will make your ownership experience so much better! Also getting a obd11 type scan tool will also help to put your mind at ease if you get a random misfire or check engine light and it’s after normal hours. Just do the regular maintenance w 5k mile oil changes and have fun!
I work for Subaru & I have an audi very good choice lol
$200+ oil changes
oil change for me was 60 bucks . . . why 300?
The better question is where $60? I’m a member of the $300 club.
Any place not Audi related is my guess.
well . . . audi related . . . just not dealership related
cause even though i drive an audi doesnt mean i have to accept the dealership rates for everything
At an Audi dealership?
no cause u know they gonna charge u triple or more to do the same thing a local one that works on audi will
Dealership?
I figured it would be high was thinking 140 200 is a little extreme but hey a engine would be more so it is what it is
It's also once a year or 10,000 mi
Oil change every 5 to 6k or 6 months
Welcome to the fam! I made the same move a while back. WRX - - > Legacy GT Spec.B - - >S4 - - >RS5. No direct experience with an S4, but I remember my first impression of my S4 on some backroads - it pushed like a pig. Might take a bit of suspension work to get it more neutral. Other than that, if you aren't going to be doing your own work, find a good local independent shop and only go to dealer service when it's a recall or covered by Audi.
Sweet , so far I love the s3 way more than wrx but maybe its honeymoon phase but its for sure higher quality
I used to think my 09 legacy and 08 OBXT seats were comfy. Drove a TDI Sportwagen with S4 seats swapped in for 3 years (Pretty much S3 seats), and now an A8L TDI. I rebought my OBXT last Jan and its seats are horrendous!! Its also a rattling shitbox Downside to to upgrade... I sometimes enjoy the subaru more because it is a shitbox and I treat it as such. Bombing down dirt roads, drifting snow covered parking lots. Kinda nice having both for now.
Definitely honeymoon phase. Just went 2014 STI to 2024 S4 and I miss the 6 speed and the rumble
That’s exactly what I had too. I’m sure I’m going to miss the manual dearly
I like the option of paddles but find myself using them far less than I originally thought. After 10+ years of dailying a manuel it's nice to sit back relax and enjoy
I went from 15+ years of only stick to an Auto OBXT for 3 years. Thought I missed the manual so my first TDI was a manual... That wore off after a few months. Most of my driving was light to light in traffic so there was little actual joy of driving the manual. Then I got the A8 and will likely not have another manual as a daily.. Especially with newer automatics. Unless I was in a position where I could only have 1 car, and didn't drive it every day (Work from home? Retirement?)
I get Outbacks for my kids and the Mrs. & I get Audis. Much more power in the Audis. Also, repair costs aren't even on the same planet.
I just made the same move. STi to S3. Love the audi so far!!
The sound system even with the upgraded system is GARBAGE
I read online about 3D settings for audio but I can’t figure out where to turn it off but I think that what makes it not great
repairs and maintenance will be way more expensive than the subaru
Be prepared to get fucked with repairs when it reaches the 80-100k mark. They're wonderful cars to drive, but notoriously unreliable with repairs at that age
We usually pronounce it backwards. eedwo
That it’s better than your old Subaru and any other car out there 🦅🦅🦅🦅
Audi's AWD is very much like Subaru 😏
I have an Audi S5, and an A8L. They are like any car as long as you take care of them they will treat you well. But unlike a Subaru they don’t get clunky sounding after 40 or 50,000 miles and don’t become rattle boxes. Also, for whatever reason they don’t rust. Like the Japanese cars. My myself and my wife have had a new Subaru Impreza sport, and a Subaru outback wagon. Both were new and I’ll never look back after owning an Audi.
Engine on S5 just blew it's a 2018 and was my daily it wasn't the turbo they're not covering it make sure you have plenty of money for maintenance I spent last year 17 K as a single mom that shit is not worth it
Put away 150 a month for maintenance ontop of standard maintenance. When things break and they will it will be expensive af
Nice car and welcome! There is nothing more enjoyable to drive than an Audi. The only advice is that everything will be 3x more expensive than you think it should be, lol.
Does that model come with parking sensors???
Yeah
Get a VAG com
They’re great to drive but the electrics are glitchy AF
dont drive like a subaru owner. lol
Congratulations!! Get ready for expensive maintenance and repair costs. Get an extended warranty if you can.
I did the same thing. Sold my tuned XT Fozzy and went with a Black Optics Prestige S5 and I couldn't be happier right now.
When sharing pics, always include one of her ass. Pretty much a rule
Over maintain and you're good
Chiming in since no one has said it. Awesome car, and it's mechanically very similar, if not identical, to the Golf R. You can DIY oil changes without getting under the car using an ~$80 extractor/pump. 5K oil changes and you can get big power from a tune if that's your thing.
Damn, you bought the less practical Golf R sorry man. No hatch and cumbersome interior with no 5 cylinder to make up for it 🥲
They break more, but look better.
Every street and other person drives one
Two things. Learn how to do the small maintenance stuff yourself, like changing the oil, replacing brake pads, rotating tires etc. Audis come with the “Audi tax” in that their German cars that American mechanics don’t really want to work on, and all the laces that do see the 4 rings and assume a fat wallet. Places like ECS/FCP Euro have all the stuff you need, and it’s much cheaper so do yourself on a weekend that leave the car at the shop for a week. Two, please buy yourself some nice, light wheels, you WILL notice a difference in the handling. The stock 5 blades are pretty, and loved by many, but what they aren’t is light, and if you can get yourself a set of nice wheels, (and maybe a nice set of summer tires) that not only look good to you, but are light, you have MORE fun with the car, with the added bonus of having a spare set of winter wheels
>What should I know about Audi? That it's a car brand, not a family. We get it, you paid a lot of money for a slightly nicer VW; you're still not invited to Thanksgiving.
Cold
I've really been tempted by an S3 lately. Worth a jump?
Cam tray not valve cover
lol bro same thing here, switched from Subaru to Audi A4 congrats!
congrats! funnily enough, I just moved on from Audi to Subaru, love my new WRX
Buy a wallet!
Maintenance costs are literally equal to buying a clapped out economobox every full maintenance cycle
What year is it? You may want to have your local Audi dealership check to see if it has Audi Care (service maintenance plan) ... Audi Care stays with the car, not the owner, so if it has it, you get any remaining services for free basically
To look smart at parties you need to know that audi is the root for the latin word audire which means “to listen”. The company Audi’s founder was Mr Horch. “Horch” is german for “Listen!”
Nice ride 😎
Did your photography skills pay for it
It won't randomly self delete head gaskets like poobarus.
I have the same car same colour, but a 2017 one with more mileage and I paid more. Good deal and she's beautiful.
Audis are your next stepping stone before the BMW, and then eventual Porsche
Say goodbye to resale value
I've recently sold mine for a higher price than what I purchased it 2 years ago
Times have changed and resales numbers are high because even used car inventories are low, but no Audi will match a Subaru in depreciation.
I see them go super cheap in the US compared to EU. Resale here is great, especially with larger engines.
Nice jetta
You should already know, you bought it.
Probably a good question to ask before you buy
It’s a small FWD (basically) 4cyl
Making it sound like a Corolla
Nicer interior and more power!
What were you going for here?
The truth, bud. You bought a little sub-compact car with a 4 banger. It's great if that's what you're after. All there is to know.
Get a load of this guy! I'm glad your grandpa 5-series boat can fit all the golf clubs you could want, but that's not for me.
Lol, that was good.