Tec80

Hi, new here and interested in the S8. Looking through Cargurus.com, I'm finding a bunch of S8s with 4-spoke steering wheels and/or wood trim, which I thought were not available on the S8. The brakes also look smaller. Are these cars actually A8 4.0Ts with S8 badges on them? Here are some examples:

https://cargur.us/gZ0wS

https://cargur.us/gZ0yp

https://cargur.us/gZ0zW

https://cargur.us/hhxkZ

https://cargur.us/hs6Xp

Jack88

Not impostors, those were available options. Don't buy a car from Offlease, by the way. They are not off leases, often they are accident cars with clean titles.

Tec80

Awesome, thanks! Yes, Offlease very often sells cars with an accident history.

Is there a VIN code letter that designates the S8?

the_duke

I'm sure there is but I don't know what it would be. But you can input the vin# into Audi's online recall checker and it will tell you if the car is an S8.

Audi Recall Services by Vehicle Identification Number

Jack88

Well, there are a lot of other cues. The red ring on the start button, the gauge cluster, gray exterior trim, different exhaust, different front and rear bumpers, and grill all mark it as an S8. True, parts can be swapped, but it would highly irregular for someone to swap all of those things.

gk1

The engine photo is all you really need to tell it is an S8. Only the S8 has the dual filter design one on each side.
A8 4.0t has one filter on the passenger's side like the S6/7 and RS7. Plus the red engine cover

S8



A8 4.0T

audisession

S8's have 4 spoke steering wheels when equipped with the optional lane assist function. AFAIK the lane assist with the steering wheel vibration alert isn't available for the 3 spoke wheels.

Also, customers have swapped out the standard silver / carbon fiber trim for wood.

Ultimately you have to do a VIN check to be sure.

absent

They would have to replace the seats, engine cover and exhaust, not realistic or worth it.
All examples are real S8s

gk1

Yep the 4-spoke without S8 badges came with the lane assist package. I think you are right the wheel vibration must be built into the 4-spoke S8 wheel since the power steering on the S8 is hydraulic, not electric like the S6 which handles lane assist vibration via the electric steering rack so they can use the 3-spoke wheel.

the_duke

Electric vs. hydraulic power steering depends on the year.