Models · Audi
Audi S4 B8 buying guide
The B8 S4 was sold from 2009 to 2016 as a saloon and Avant, with a supercharged 3.0 TFSI V6 and quattro four-wheel drive. It was facelifted in 2012, and most of the early-car issues have been dealt with by now.
The versions
- 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6, 333PS
- 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic or 6-speed manual
- Permanent quattro four-wheel drive with a Torsen centre differential, sending 60 per cent of drive to the rear in normal driving
- Saloon and Avant bodies
- Facelift from 2012 with a new front end, an updated interior and electromechanical steering
What to check on a B8 S4
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Coolant level and the water pump
What to look for: With the engine cold, check the coolant expansion tank is between its marks, and look for crusty pink deposits around the front of the engine. Watch the temperature gauge on the drive. Look in the history for a water pump replacement or a recall notice.
Why it matters: Early cars, mainly 2009 to 2010, had a water pump with a plastic housing that could fail and lose coolant quickly, and recall work replaced it with a metal-housed pump. Thermostats can also stick closed. Slow coolant loss that's hard to trace can come from the engine oil cooler. A car with the cooling work done is a sign it's been looked after.
Oil use
What to look for: Ask how much oil the car uses between services and check the dipstick or the oil level on the dashboard. Look in the history for a crankcase breather (PCV) valve replacement.
Why it matters: Some engines use up to a pint every 800 miles. Engines from mid-2012 got a revised, lower-pressure breather valve to help. Heavy or rising consumption is worth investigating before you buy.
S tronic gearbox behaviour and servicing
What to look for: From cold, pull away gently several times, reverse, and creep in traffic. Changes should be smooth and prompt, with no clunks, jerks or hesitation, and no hard downshifts as you slow. Look in the history for an S tronic oil service every 35,000 to 40,000 miles.
Why it matters: The 7-speed S tronic is controlled by a mechatronic unit, which is the usual source of jerky or delayed changes, clunks and hard downshifts. Fluid levels can be found around a litre low. A car with on-time gearbox services is the one to look for.
Also in the full guide
- Engine mounts
- Steering on facelift cars
- Rough idle and misfires
- Crankshaft pulley wobble
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the B8 S4
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Audi.