My two weeks old '01 S8 is making very loud creaking sounds from all doors when driving over bumps or uneven pavement!?!? Actually the noise is almost constant now. Unfortunately I haven't notice this during the test drive before buying the car. It's so loud that it can be heard even over a high volume of the radio. I've experienced the same thing in my '90 V8 that I've owned for 8 years but only after it was about 6 years old. The problem was caused by body flex and the aging door weather stripping. I tried to lubricate it with different things but it never went away completely. It is much louder in the S8 though. My previous car - a '00 A4 Avant I bought new never had this problem during the five years of ownership and felt like a bank vault. I don't get the same solid feeling in the S8 and suspect that its body structure is not as rigid. I've also noticed that the driver's door is sagging by about two millimeters. :-( The car checked clean on carfax but I'm starting to have buyer's remorse ...
Also the trunk lid stays in the position where you leave it after opening. I was expecting the little shocks of the trunk hinges to push it to the highest opened position. How does it suppose to operate?
The good news is that the car has the factory warranty until early February of next year. As always your knowledgeable feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening.

 

This will tighten the doors up nice and tight.. no noises at all then.

Just loosen the 2 bolts on the striker plate on each door.. knock it in 1/8 inch and re tighten.

 

Cured all my creaking, although I'm still going to adjust the strikers because one door's got an air leak.

Doubtful the previous owner ever treated the door seals.

I just came from an A4 too, once you start looking the A/S8 has about 4x the amount of rubber around the doors as the B5 or B6 A4 does. I feel like the structure of my A8L is tons stiffer than my B6 A4.

 

Who needs dealers when there's AudiWorld.com!
Thank you, guys.
Can anyone comment on the trunk lid strut? Thank you.
OK, now I'm off to the Audi A8 Experience to test drive the new W12. Will report tonight.

 

On my A8 the trunk lid stays where you put it- it doesn't continue to open either.

 

Ditto with my '01 S8.

 

Where is the "striker plate"? I have some door creaking also....

 

Also know as the "latch plate". Open your door, can't miss it.