Car back from local Audi dealer with new problems!
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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Car back from local Audi dealer with new problems!
Sorry, I have a couple threads on here about the issues as to why my car went into the shop originally, but since I've gotten her back she has a few new issues that I need help with.
08 S8. Went in for upper control arm bushings and brake flush at 45k miles.
When I got the car back I immediately noticed that the front was riding high in Dynamic mode. Originally I thought maybe the new bushings would take a min to "settle" down.
What I realize now is that the car will not move from Dynamic to Comfort or Automatic. It WILL move up to Lift mode, but there is no difference between Dynamic, Comfort, Auto. However the rear looks to be normal.
They reassured me that the links were tightened properly...
Furthermore, the day I got the car back, the pass side headlight went out. It could be coincidental, but I was wondering if there could have been some sort of "trauma" to something up there the interfered with both the headlight and the height sensor which I believe are near the upper control arm.
I also have a "clanking" sound on my front brakes every once in a while. It's usually when the brakes are cold. It sounds like two blocks of steel slapping together.
Thoughts?
08 S8. Went in for upper control arm bushings and brake flush at 45k miles.
When I got the car back I immediately noticed that the front was riding high in Dynamic mode. Originally I thought maybe the new bushings would take a min to "settle" down.
What I realize now is that the car will not move from Dynamic to Comfort or Automatic. It WILL move up to Lift mode, but there is no difference between Dynamic, Comfort, Auto. However the rear looks to be normal.
They reassured me that the links were tightened properly...
Furthermore, the day I got the car back, the pass side headlight went out. It could be coincidental, but I was wondering if there could have been some sort of "trauma" to something up there the interfered with both the headlight and the height sensor which I believe are near the upper control arm.
I also have a "clanking" sound on my front brakes every once in a while. It's usually when the brakes are cold. It sounds like two blocks of steel slapping together.
Thoughts?
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Colorado
Ride height sensor is connected to the frame and lower control arm. They could possibly have jacked with that wile replacing the upper control arms, that could explain the headlight issue as well.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Bellingham, WA
I thought S8 only had 2 settings, not the 3 you list that are on the A8 and A8L?
Even if they didn't use Lift mode, the car settles back down to the selected setting after a period of time. (I know, I've made this mistake a couple of times) I'm assuming the car has been driven a bit. You say you noticed it immediately. Was that when you were taking delivery, or after driving it home?
I'm not aware of anything that would tie a failing xenon lamp to any suspension work. Even a "bump" wouldn't cause an issue that I know of. I think that may just be bad timing.
I'm not sure about the "clanking" noise. Is there any more detail you can offer up on that?
Carry on...
Even if they didn't use Lift mode, the car settles back down to the selected setting after a period of time. (I know, I've made this mistake a couple of times) I'm assuming the car has been driven a bit. You say you noticed it immediately. Was that when you were taking delivery, or after driving it home?
I'm not aware of anything that would tie a failing xenon lamp to any suspension work. Even a "bump" wouldn't cause an issue that I know of. I think that may just be bad timing.
I'm not sure about the "clanking" noise. Is there any more detail you can offer up on that?
Carry on...
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
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Ok...heard back from local Audi this afternoon. Little upset with their response. They said that bc I have the Sports Package, there is no difference in ride height between Dynamic mode and Comfort mode. I know for a fact that Dynamic mode before ii sent it in was much lower then Comfort. They say that must be bc the new control arm bushings make it sit higher...but everything I read on here contradicts that.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 187
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Ok...heard back from local Audi this afternoon. Little upset with their response. They said that bc I have the Sports Package, there is no difference in ride height between Dynamic mode and Comfort mode. I know for a fact that Dynamic mode before ii sent it in was much lower then Comfort. They say that must be bc the new control arm bushings make it sit higher...but everything I read on here contradicts that.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 187
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From: North Carolina
Well I'm glad I don't have a sport package. I thought I wanted it, but the car I bought didn't have it. I actually keep it in Comfort mode because I hate the lower settings... too hard of a ride for my liking.
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AudiWorld Member
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From: Northern California, USA
Ok...heard back from local Audi this afternoon. Little upset with their response. They said that bc I have the Sports Package, there is no difference in ride height between Dynamic mode and Comfort mode. I know for a fact that Dynamic mode before ii sent it in was much lower then Comfort. They say that must be bc the new control arm bushings make it sit higher...but everything I read on here contradicts that.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Search for one of my old posts and it is also in your car manual:
For A8 sport package and S8, there is no ride height difference between dynamic, automatic, and comfort. You still get the 70mph+ speed based drop but unlike the non sport A8 and W12, your comfort and automatic modes ride at same height as dynamic.
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AudiWorld Member
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From: Northern California, USA
just saw mishar beat me to it.
Perhaps the previous owner lowered the "default" ride height using VCDS and Audi had inadvertently reset it when they had your car.
In case OP does not know, using VCDS you can software lower any sport or non-sport by up to 25mm front or back independently though it sometimes it will not stick past 20mm. This default ride height adjustment applies to all four modes equally.
And minor correction to my previous post, comfort mode doesn't lower based on extended high speed like dynamic and automatic.
Perhaps the previous owner lowered the "default" ride height using VCDS and Audi had inadvertently reset it when they had your car.
In case OP does not know, using VCDS you can software lower any sport or non-sport by up to 25mm front or back independently though it sometimes it will not stick past 20mm. This default ride height adjustment applies to all four modes equally.
And minor correction to my previous post, comfort mode doesn't lower based on extended high speed like dynamic and automatic.
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
+/- agreed
sport package only has a 5mm adjustment range vs. 25mm w/ non-sport, putting lift mode stuff aside. VAG COM tweak kind of rejiggered the scales here and made the non sport flavor the more versatile one for playing with ride heights, as long as you don't want a both a more firmed up ride in general (from the stiffer air unit control and bars) as well as always less ride height.
Within reason by the way you could drop it a bit via VAG COM (10mm or less perhaps) but still ride around in Comfort mode. Won't affect the ride much for modest changes form my experience, though I found it becomes more noticeable as you adjust it more aggressively than that.
Within reason by the way you could drop it a bit via VAG COM (10mm or less perhaps) but still ride around in Comfort mode. Won't affect the ride much for modest changes form my experience, though I found it becomes more noticeable as you adjust it more aggressively than that.