STW Audi/BMW choices

As a long time member of STW, Five rider and current BMW driver, I feel I’m among kindred spirits here.

I have an old E46 320d touring which is great but getting a little long in the tooth. My milage is creeping down from last years 35k to a sensible 15k this year.
I’ve got the option of a B7 Audi S4 Avant (4.2L) for a very good price. This, coupled with my Five on top would perpetuate my STW-er image… It would also maintain the large amount of (friendly?) hand gestures I receive from fellow drivers I”m sure…..

However, what about an E91 330i or even a 335i touring? Anyone got one? Anyone have experiences of an S4 or both? I don’t fancy another TDi for now as the mileage I’m looking at will mean I”m better off sticking with what I’ve got.

I know the Audi will drink fuel (22mpg) but it’s cheaper that the ‘equivalent’ Beemer by quite some margin, of over a 4 year period, the costs are similar. It isn’t as involving as a Beemer to drive but it has a sure-footedness that is pretty cool. I can justify it by its handling in the upcoming winter…..

Any thoughts?

Cotic/Transition and A6 Quattro Avant (recently ex owner) here.

I think the S4/6 are quite cheap used as people are afraid of the potential for big bills. I personally prefer the Audi’s for technology and build quality over the Merc/BMW. I put bad weather handing/use high on my priority list so that’s why I went Quattro. Audi’s build very good cars but I strongly suggest if you go that route you find a good dealer/independent for servicing. Unless you really want the (outstanding) performance of the S I would look at something a bit more “sensible”

jamba

There is a decent good value specialist nearby. It’s FSH and 1 owner from new (someone I know). 66k miles and in good nick. I’m firmly in mid-life crisis bracket and as a result performance is required!! I’ll prob only keep it for 12-24 months until I get it out of my system or my licence is revoked, whichever comes first!!

Anyway off on my road bike to pick up my trusty old E46 from a service….

Well my other car (non Audi) is pretty fast and so is an S4, I suggest you drive it with the windows open so you realise how fast you are going so as to keep your licence ! Non specialist saved us 1,000’s in unnecessary work recommended by main dealer (we had been warned). Our A6 was fnatastic in the snow (we lived on steep un-adopted road so never cleared and it was taken regularly to Alps in winter and driven on snow there a lot all with stock road tyres)

Interesting to know – I got an A6 Quattro last year but not had it out in any snow yet – I’m hoping for a better winter this time around…

If you go into it with eyes open, why not get the S version Audi.

Check out forums (I use RS246 and there is a section for S variants).

I take my RS 6 to independent places for servicing. Find I get increases skill and knowledge while enjoying decreased labour rates (check out MRC in Banbury or Unit 20 near Liverpool).

Servicing isn’t too bad cost-wise unless it is due a cam belt (which for my RS 6 is an engine-out job almost, so £££ in labour). Consumables cost more as they are bigger (think tyres, brake pads and discs etc) and might not last as long if you drive it like a loon.

My commuting is by bike so I can deal with the 19mpg average on weekends!

A4 B7 (not S line) TDi estate. Plenty fast enough and enough boot space for a couple of bikes. Nearly 60 mpg recently (59.8 IIRC) on A9 but that was at around 60 mph, at more normal cruising speeds still in the 50’s. Like the handling but last car was a Honda CR-V, so pretty much anything would be an improvement.
Mechanically been sound but a couple of electrical gripes which seem to be fairly common
– moving the drivers seat back can disconnect a wire causing the airbag warning light to come on, MoT failure, easy fix but involves taking the drivers seat out
– water feed for rear washer goes through the motor, grit sticking in the feed can cause it to leak into the motor which then starts randomly switching itself on and off
– rear windscreen heater is part of the aerial, a break in the element can cause interference on the radio if the heater is on.
I think these are common across the A4 range

I had a choice of an (B6) S4 or an E91 330i M-Sport earlier in the year. Went with the BMW in the end as its a fair bit more economical whilst being just as quick (less than a second in it).

Personally, I liked the styling of the BMW better – the cabin etc is a nicer place to be but you don’t get the Recaros etc as in the S4.

Luckily you still get the hand gestures and people being afraid to let you pull out of junctions etc so theres little in it. Both excellent cars…

I wonder how expensive would it be with older model Audi… as we have had 2 in-warranty B8’s and every time the cars have been at dealer they have had at least mfgr’s “additional service / upgrade” done. It’s nice to know that the car is taken care of but surely these should have been fixed at factory as the B8 model is already 8 years old?

B8 came out in 2009 didn’t it? 5 years old…

No, production has started in 2007.

mikertroid
I’ve got the option of a B7 Audi S4 Avant (4.2L) for a very good price.

Just curious but have you seen the size of the boot on those A4 Avants? I was really surprised how small it was. Not a big issue of you’re putting the bike on the roof, but if you’re riding solo and want to chuck it in the back it’ll be a wheels off job.

Just curious but have you seen the size of the boot on those A4 Avants? I was really surprised how small it was. Not a big issue of you’re putting the bike on the roof, but if you’re riding solo and want to chuck it in the back it’ll be a wheels off job.

Got to agree with that, it’s a pretty small boot considering the size of the car.
With rear seats folded down it’ll fit a bike with the front wheel off but no chance with both wheels still attached.

Have a go in both of them see what you think. I’ve got an E90 325i and love it – it’s a little down on power compared to what you’re looking at but the driving dynamics are fantastic – really well setup chassis and I often forget I’m driving a 4 door saloon.

One thing to look out for with the 330i E9X is whether it is pre or post facelift. 09ish for the facelift or LCI (life cycle impulse) as BMW calls it.. After this point the 330i gets direct injection which has gains in power (up to 272bhp) and better economy.

However.. the drawback is a noisier/rougher sounding idle/low revs(think part way between a petrol and a diesel). They still sing at higher revs mind but you also have high pressure fuel pumps to support the DI which have been known to fail. I think the HPFP failure is more of a problem on the 335i’s though.

I test drove a newer S4 (V6 turbo) and although it was mighty quick nothing else about it was better than the E90.

But having said all of that – the 4.2 is a V8 and with winter just around the corner it will sound immense on a cold start! 😈

I’m going to hold out for an E91 330i Touring or preferably a 335i for a variety of reasons.

My current Beemer which is in overall great cond, needs a little spending on it whether I keep or sell on, and that makes the purchase more costly now. Should the turbo go it’s not too much to sort.

If I can exercise patience, I’ll get my return from the outlay and I’ll have a few more £ to go for a Beemer. Plus the Audi was very ‘climical’ to drive and although I’ll miss the sound of the V8, the 6cyl Beemer will be easier on the wallet at the pumps.

Anyone got an opinion on the Jag XF Sportbrake?
Currently looking at that or a 520d.
The major fallback for the Jag is that my wife thinks it’s an ‘old man’s car’. Is it?