1998 Audi S4

This fine example of the B5 S4 is a UK supplied and specified model and was first registered in January 1999. The car was supplied to its first lucky owner via Cameron Audi in Perth, Scotland. The car was retained by its first owner until December 2001. Between then and 2018 the S4 was used and enjoyed by a further 4 owners. The current owner acquired the car in 2018 by which point it had covered around 143,000 miles. The current owner has only added around a further 7,000 miles in his tenure.

It is clear that the car has been very well cared for during all periods of its history and, essentially, wanted for nothing. The extensive and high-value maintenance paperwork trail helps paint a picture of diligent maintenance and repair. In its current ownership the car has been professionally resprayed in its original Nogaro Blue which was an exclusive S4 colour.

Today, the S4 has only become available due to the current owner not having the space to store the car any longer.

The real beauty of the B5 S4 proved highly appealing back at launch in 1997 and remains equally so today. Despite the car’s impressive performance credentials, it remains a relatively normal looking A4. Even in the eye-catching Nogaro blue only those in the know will realise this is a 155mph super-saloon with class leading handling and traction. That is thought by many to be the key to this car’s enduring popularity.

This example looks amazing in its bright and highly lustrous Nogaro Blue paintwork. The car has enjoyed a full respray in its current ownership and it is clear that it has been applied very well indeed. The finish is appropriately thick and evenly applied. The special S4 colour, naturally, suits the car very well.

The bodywork is in an equally good order, overall. The doors all shut with an Audi appropriate “thunk” and the panel gaps are all tight and symmetrical. The only imperfections noted were a small area of flaking black paint on the B pillar and the bottom corners of the doors exhibiting a little internal corrosion.

The car sits squarely and purposefully on original S4, 7.5J x 17-inch Avus light alloy wheels. This are quality Ronal manufactured, six spoke items and present in a fine condition overall. The wheels are shod with a matching set of Boto Vantage H-7 tyres in the correct 225/45 configuration. These appear to be a recently fitted set with plenty of tread remaining evident.

The S4 wears a signature mesh effect front grill with discreet S4 badging. The wing mirrors are alloy backed which is another key S4 feature. The light lenses and cabin glass all appear to be original and in an excellent condition. The twin chromed tail pipes, again, are very subtle compared to the much more overt treatment found on later Audi S cars.

The interior of this S4 present in an excellent overall condition that is hard to fault. It certainly belies its age and mileage and looks entirely appropriate to a much younger car. The cabin is predominantly trimmed in Onyx Black leather which is soft and supple and wears just the right amount of character adding patina.

The front seats are deeply bolstered, and the centre panels are stitched into a series of deeply padded, horizontal box pleats. No imperfections were noted and even the, usually, vulnerable driver’s seat outer bolster looks to be in good order. The rear bench is in excellent order and a wide centre armrest is fitted for extra comfort and support.

The dashboard is finished in black and is in an equally good condition. The big white on black speedometer and tachometer dominate the hooded instrument binnacle. The later bears a subtle S4 red and silver logo. The tachometer features a built-in clock. Four smaller, supplemental gauges monitor oil temperature, water temperature, fuel level and battery condition. These sit behind a thick leather rimmed, three spoke Audi S4 steering wheel. In the centre console there are a number of switches, the original Audi Concert head unit and the controls for the climate control system. A thin accent of anthracite coloured carbon fibre runs across the width of the dashboard.

This accent continues into the door cards which are finished in Onyx leather and present in a very good condition indeed. The carpets are finished in a complementary dark grey and appear to be original and in fine fettle. The only minor imperfection noted is a small area of wear on the left wall of the driver’s footwell.

During our visit we were unable to open, inspect and photograph the boot of the car. The owner believes some adjustment is required to the lock barrel and that it should be an easy fix. No issues with the boot area were reported.

The B5 S4’s V6 twin turbo engine was widely praised at launch for its low down and consistent delivery of torque and its wide and accessible power band. One tester for Motortrend in the US summed it up thus. “From about 4500 rpm, when things start to get really interesting, all the way up to its 6800-rpm redline, you'll notice many so-called performance cars left in your wake. You'll find yourself muttering, "It seems too easy to be true-can I really be driving this car at this speed, around this bend?"

What is clear from the documentation accompanying this car is that is has been fastidiously maintained. It has clearly wanted for nothing, and during our visit it started faultlessly sounded great and idles smoothly and evenly. Everything felt surprisingly taut and tight considering its age and mileage.

The under-bonnet condition presents very positively. The inner wings and bulkhead all appear to be clean, solid and free from corrosion. The engine hardware and ancillaries all look to be in fine order and help underscore the car’s faultless maintenance history.

The underside of the car looks to be in keeping with the car’s age. A good level of underseal appears to be present. Some surface corrosion is noted as were some recently fitted components. Some areas of the underside could easily be improved with the diligent application of preserving treatments.

There is an extensive paperwork trail included with the S4. The V5 in the name of the owner is present. The current MoT is also on hand and shows validity until September 2023. There are lots of previous MoTs included in hard copy.

The original service book is present. This contains service stamps covering mileages from 10,789 miles in 1999 to 141,098 miles in 2016. Services have been undertaken at annual intervals between those two points. Additionally, a large number of invoices document this and other maintenance undertaken at all points of the car’s history.

The B5 Audi S4 delivered quite the package when it burst onto the scene in 1997. The combination of power, traction, luxury and equipment proved highly competitive and hard to beat. The fact that this was all wrapped in a package no less practical and useable than a standard Audi S4 was just the cherry on top of a very tasty cake. This all-weather performance potential and subtle Q-car looks has ensured the B5 S4 has remained a firm favourite for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.

This example is a great exponent of that wining S4 recipe. It looks great in its bright blue livery that was reserved for the S4s of this period. It oozes originality with no sign of gawdy, non-standard addons in evidence. The interior is in great order and proves to be a very nice place to spend time. Add to that the cars faultless maintenance record and you have an S4 to be desired and coveted. Examples in this unmolested and original looking condition are very hard to find so don’t miss out.

This vehicle is estimated to fetch between £7,000 - £11,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Leicester, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.