Few comments after a few days of owning my A4

[Blown01NJ]

First off I love the car. I do have some concerns though. My avg mpg seems to stay in the 16-18 range, and this is driving totally normally. Does this sound right? I rarely get into it and this seems terribly low.

Another thing is when I go over bumps at night, it looks to me that my headlights rattle around or something, because it seems like the beam is shaking. Anyone else experience this?

Also if I turn the radio volume down really low, when I get back in the car its up again. Kinda annoying.

Other than these small things Im really enjoying the car so far. [up]

[Auditude2.0T]

I have testpipe, carbonio and exhaust, drive aggressively and get 29mpg.

[provenflipper]

I can't comment on the A4, as I don't have mine yet, but on my last new car my gas mileage went up significantly after being broken in and then up again after about 10K miles.

Maybe the A4 just needs to be worn in slightly?

[Buttafuoco]

^^^yep, just give it a little time if your car is new.

i've got a 3.2 and i average ~23/24mpg now.

[Jmaak]

First off I love the car. I do have some concerns though. My avg mpg seems to stay in the 16-18 range, and this is driving totally normally. Does this sound right? I rarely get into it and this seems terribly low.

Another thing is when I go over bumps at night, it looks to me that my headlights rattle around or something, because it seems like the beam is shaking. Anyone else experience this?

Also if I turn the radio volume down really low, when I get back in the car its up again. Kinda annoying.

Other than these small things Im really enjoying the car so far. [up]

If you only drive in the city then ya, thats about what to expect. However when ever i am doing a highway commute it shoots up to about 35.
The headlight thing is pretty normal. You might eventually get the "dipped" headlight. I think there is a TSB for the headlights, not sure which years it applies to though.
The radio problem can be easily fixed. Just turn on the radio and hold the menu and fm button. from there you can adjust the SVC and the default volume when radio is turned on. Normally its supposed to be pretty low, I can't imagine why anyone would want to default that to a high volume.

[GordoN]

the beam shakes because the headlights move left and right as you turn to give you a better view of the road while making turns etc

not sure if this is an option that you have to get though, i know i have it

[80sGuy]

the beam shakes because the headlights move left and right as you turn to give you a better view of the road while making turns etc...I don't think so, the only car that's capable of doing this was a Tucker - those were loooong gone and was mfg in the late 1940s.

[Blown01NJ]

the beam shakes because the headlights move left and right as you turn to give you a better view of the road while making turns etc

not sure if this is an option that you have to get though, i know i have it

Yea I have adaptive headlights, but seems to me they should still be able to stay in place when I hit bumps.
Im not talking about the lateral movement when I turn the wheel.

[barkerd427]

80sGuy- you may wanna refresh your knowledge of vehicle headlights. A lot of cars have this option now. Some cars can even park themselves.

op- they also adjust vertically to ensure they stay level and so they don't blind people. There may be a problem with yours or maybe I don't notice mine doing it too. If your dealer is good then maybe they can figure it out without just saying it's normal.

[PutTogether]

The gas mileage is normal. You should notice it getting significantly better after about 3K miles. I've heard multiple explanations as to why - not sure which is correct but it certainly is true.

I work at an Audi Dealer, and most of our customers confirm it. For whatever it's worth, my old three series was the same way - and my brand new B7 is getting the same kind of mileage.

Headlight thing I'm not sure, they may be readjusting themselves after feeling off from the angle of the bump, but my car doesn't do that and I have the adaptive xenons too.

[Blown01NJ]

The gas mileage is normal. You should notice it getting significantly better after about 3K miles. I've heard multiple explanations as to why - not sure which is correct but it certainly is true.

I work at an Audi Dealer, and most of our customers confirm it. For whatever it's worth, my old three series was the same way - and my brand new B7 is getting the same kind of mileage.

Headlight thing I'm not sure, they may be readjusting themselves after feeling off from the angle of the bump, but my car doesn't do that and I have the adaptive xenons too.

Well it doesnt look like they are re-adjusting, it looks like they are bouncing around in there.

[dave405nyc]

Well it doesnt look like they are re-adjusting, it looks like they are bouncing around in there.

When I go over bumps, mine bounce around vertically as well, sort of like they're vibrating. I just thought it was normal and it doesnt really bother me. However, my left headlight seems to be pointed lower to the ground than the right. Is that normal or are they both supposed to be leveled together?

[Tiesto]

When I go over bumps, mine bounce around vertically as well, sort of like they're vibrating. I just thought it was normal and it doesnt really bother me. However, my left headlight seems to be pointed lower to the ground than the right. Is that normal or are they both supposed to be leveled together?

Mine is slightly lower as well. I think we have the infamous dip but it's such a small difference on my car I don't care so long as it doesn't get worse.

[AudiWxGuy]

There is a setting on the radio that controls how loud the music is when you turn the car on. Play around with the settings, and read the stereo manual and you'll figure out how to fix that.

[Tiesto]

There is a setting on the radio that controls how loud the music is when you turn the car on. Play around with the settings, and read the stereo manual and you'll figure out how to fix that.

Somebody already posted exactly how to do it a few posts up. Thanks for nothing. [up]

[AudiWxGuy]

Somebody already posted exactly how to do it a few posts up. Thanks for nothing. [up]

My pleasure, dick. [up]

[step02]

Well it doesnt look like they are re-adjusting, it looks like they are bouncing around in there.

The cutoff on xenon lights is pretty intense compared to old halogen style bulbs. If this is the first car you've had with xenon, you might just be noticing the cutoff since there is such a sharp distinction in what is illuminated. The halogen lights probably did the same thing but you didn't notice as it floods light out whereas xenons have a distinct section they're lighting.

[step02]

However, my left headlight seems to be pointed lower to the ground than the right. Is that normal or are they both supposed to be leveled together?

The left one should be a little lower since we drive on the right side. If they were higher, it would blind oncoming traffic worse than it already does.

[Tiesto]

My pleasure, dick. [up]

Smartass... [rolleyes]

[AudiWxGuy]

Lol

[Phrost]

Wait until you get through a full tank of gas to see what kind of mpg you get. Mine always seems to suck right after I fill up, then it levels out after half a tank is gone.

[80sGuy]

80sGuy- you may wanna refresh your knowledge of vehicle headlights. A lot of cars have this option now. Some cars can even park themselves.

op- they also adjust vertically to ensure they stay level and so they don't blind people. There may be a problem with yours or maybe I don't notice mine doing it too. If your dealer is good then maybe they can figure it out without just saying it's normal.I don't recall any Audi (or even my A4) that can adjust its headlights laterally while the car's making a right or left turn. But I do know that they are 'self-leveling'.

[muffinman]

I don't recall any Audi (or even my A4) that can adjust its headlights laterally while the car's making a right or left turn. But I do know that they are 'self-leveling'.

What barker is saying is true - they are called adaptive xenons (many cars offer them as an option, it's quite commonplace amongst luxury cars nowadays). Note that this differs from "self-leveling", adaptive xenon headlights swivel left and right based on how which way you're turning your steering wheel.

[Blown01NJ]

I don't recall any Audi (or even my A4) that can adjust its headlights laterally while the car's making a right or left turn. But I do know that they are 'self-leveling'.

Mine has it, and your probably does too.

[PutTogether]

Some controversy in the headlight discussion - good luck with that.

The MPG thing: don't worry about it, it will get better.

[Tiesto]

I don't recall any Audi (or even my A4) that can adjust its headlights laterally while the car's making a right or left turn. But I do know that they are 'self-leveling'.

LOL the Adaptive Xenons weren't a cheap option, you don't even know what you droped all that money on? [:D]

Try driving towards a wall at 10+ mph and steer to the right or left quickly and you will notice your headlights moving much faster than the car.

[Phrost]

^It's really noticable in foggy conditions, just swerve left and right quickly and you will see your HIDs twisting left to right.

[80sGuy]

Wow, honestly didn't know about this - at least I didn't noticed much about the lights swiveling left/right (like as much as the old Tuckers did).
I pay for them because I like its natural brightness not because of how much they costs and why I should or shouldn't pay for it.

Gas mileage wise on my 2.0 Front Track CVT, I get about 22-25 city and up to about 27-28 gallons for highway.

[pyrobecks]

Another thing is when I go over bumps at night, it looks to me that my headlights rattle around or something, because it seems like the beam is shaking. Anyone else experience this?
[up]

Thought for sure by the time I reached the bottom someone would have pointed him to one of the other threads on this issue.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160564

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178364

Anyway search for Flicker... there can be numerous causes for this. Bad bulb, ballast, bad connection, etc. Your dealer may install some rubber wedges to reduce some extra place inside the headlight which would stop the vibration (in some cases).

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173746&highlight=rubber

[AlexK]

I have a similar problem and I dont think he is referring to an actual flicker, more of a vibration.

I noticed it clearly last night when i was stopped behind a car in traffic. When i rev the engine at all from idle my right headlight kind of vibrates with the engine while my left headlight stays stationary. Its not a flicker as described in the threads you linked to, Pyrobecks. The headlight is staying on but the beam is vibrating.

[dave405nyc]

The left one should be a little lower since we drive on the right side. If they were higher, it would blind oncoming traffic worse than it already does.

thanks! just wanted to see if a lower left headlight was normal, guess it is

[AlexK]

Yep, mine is like this too.

[4-tified]

I have a similar problem and I dont think he is referring to an actual flicker, more of a vibration.

I noticed it clearly last night when i was stopped behind a car in traffic. When i rev the engine at all from idle my right headlight kind of vibrates with the engine while my left headlight stays stationary. Its not a flicker as described in the threads you linked to, Pyrobecks. The headlight is staying on but the beam is vibrating.

It shouldn't "shake/vibrate" as you describe. I would have the checked out.

They do however "seem" to shake over bigger bumps at speed due to the leveling adjust. The headlights adjust up and down based on the motion of the car. Notice on hard acceleration that your front end raises a bit, but the headlights actually adjust to level. IOW, the headlights don't go high and point up towards oncoming traffic, the headlights actually adjust for the front end rise on accel. Also, the adjust upward during hard braking when the front dips down. You'll notice that the headlights do adjust upward.

At first I found the motion of the lights a bit odd and I didn't like it, but now I find them to do their job pretty well, especially the leveling on accel and decel, impressive.

I agree that if you actually see vibration or actual shaking, where the oscillation is more than just 1 round, then have the lights checked out as something is odd.

As far as the "dipped headlight" my left light adjust went out and when it did the lateral adaptation and leveling stopped working. Soon after I got a dash light and the dealer fixed the headlights.

I'm surprised that some of you that have these headlights haven't noticed the little adjustment "dance" the lights do when you first fire them up.
The lights up, down, left, right and then center themselves. It's VERY obvious when it does this. If you lights don't do that then something is wrong. If you don't see your lights moving left to right on turns, then either you don't pay much attention, or you don't have adaptive lights, or they are broken. You'll have to determine which is the correct answer. [:D]