Hi, It was suggested to me by some stateside guys that you might be able to help me. Im in the uk and have a 2000 S8. Im looking for a copy of either the Bentley official repair CD or something similar and perhaps more relevant to the UK spec cars. Do you know where I can buy this or the similar UK product in the UK or do I have to order from the states and if so how relevant will it be to my UK spec car? The dealers here, (and I dealt with quite a few over 10 years), are ok for service, but wont let you have tech support, microfiche and have limited knowledge on parts, preferring to change parts for new than even try repairs. Also they dont like akward request, such as can you upgrade the 3110 phone kit. I ve seen some very blank faces with that one! Oh and dont even mention VAG tool to them, they get very defensive.

 

I asked my dealer to find out what the speaker coding of the Nav+ unit was in my car and they tried the blank look as if I was speaking Chinese or something. I mentioned the VAG tool and their eyes nearly popped out of their heads. They must hate me because I don't just walk in and say "Car needs a service" and pick it up with no complaints when they've 'finished'...

As far as service manuals go, very hard to find for the A8/S8 in the UK, in fact almost impossible to get any information at all.

The Bentley manuals shouldn't be too different from the reality of a UK car, the main differences between the US and Euro models seems to be what options become standard fit, although there is a possibility that gearing ratios (possibly just final drive) were changed in the US S8.

You may not be able to rely on part numbers though, as many A8s in the US are the long-wheelbase variety and part numbers for rear drivetrain componets will be different as will headlight and bumpers (to think of 2 off the top of my head). Most other stuff in the US should be fairly similar to any Euro LHD car, so the usual part number caveats apply there too for a RHD UK car.

You could try <a href="http://www.carlounge.com/cgi/cars/frameset.php/pageid/books_makes_audi_manuals/useframes/Y">here</a> for a supplier of hard to find Audi service manuals, but I don't know that they sell A8 specific stuff, or if it even exists.

I'm surprised at how little information leaks out of dealer techs, although I know somebody released a self-study guide on the 4.2 V8 engine as a PDF a while ago.

Finally, you could also try some UK Audi forums if you haven't already, although the A/S8 forums are usually pretty dead! Try tyresmoke.net, rs246.com, and audi-sport.net for finding more UK Audi petrol-heads. If you don't read it already, you might find that Audi Driver magazine is useful too, see <a href="http://www.autometrix.co.uk/">here</a> for info.

Good luck, let me know how you get on. You can usually find me on here or over on either tyresmoke or rs246. If you register for one of those two, you can PM me if I don't show up for a while. :-)

 

Thanks a lot Chris I'll give that lot a try, if all else fails ill order Bentley's from the states and see what thats like. Speak soon

Ta

Steve