New S5 Owner- A couple questions...

[BrianG]

I just picked up a 2009 S5 and traded in my 2005 S4... The S5 is a great car, but I had a couple questions from those of you with S5's. The car's previous owner was in NY and so the car has the front filler plate with the mounting surface for the front license plate. In PA, where I live, we have no front license plate and so I want to swap out this plastic filler piece for one without the license plate mount. Does anyone know where I could get one or someone that I could swap with that needs the piece with the license plate holder? My car is dark gray (not sure if the color is Dolphin Gray or if its a slightly different color with a different name- I'm not familiar with all the colors on that model year) so I need the platinum gray one that goes with the dark gray body. Obviously I can go to my deal and order one, but I figured I try here first. Second, I notice a hesitation around 2500 RPM in the rev range that is often somewhat severe, almost feeling like the engine has a dead spot until the revs get past 3000 RPM. After that the car feels strong. Is this something that is common to this engine? Any comments appreciated. Thanks!!!

[AcuraToAudi]

Congratulations on your S5!

I have a 2012 (mine's an automatic trans) and I experience a similar "hesitation" issue around 2000 to 2500 RPM. For me, it seems to happen when the transmission shifts. It starts to rev, then the revs dip for a second and then it picks back up. If I shift manually, I don't notice it as much. I traded a 2010 TL SH AWD for my S5. It had a 305hp V6 and, to me, it felt like it had more low end pull than my S5. The S5 is way better to look at, though.

On the subject of the front filler plate, I removed the US filler plate on mine to expose the Euro-plate indentation. I filled the spot with a custom German plate.

Here's a link to the original discussion about what's behind the filler plate...

http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2816174

(not sure if that's a direction you would want to go, but thought I would suggest it)


Matt

[blitzboy76]

Originally Posted by BrianG

I notice a hesitation around 2500 RPM in the rev range that is often somewhat severe, almost feeling like the engine has a dead spot until the revs get past 3000 RPM. After that the car feels strong. Is this something that is common to this engine?

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks!!!

I have had this happen several times. It seems to be a problem with the "D" gear management program. You probably will never notice it in either "S", or (obviously) in manual mode. It could potentially be a concern if, for instance, you had to turn across oncoming traffic or something. You will want to consider changing to either sport or manual, in those instances. Think of "D" as fuel-saver gear, so it doesn't wind the gears out very far, at all.

[JGA5Cab]

is there programming that the dealer can do? I had a Toyota that shifted terribly until they updated the software. It may be worth asking.

[ChipB]

Regarding the license plate filler - you have two options:

1. Remove the US plate version, and as noted you expose the European style filler plate. You can get a fake European-style plate if you want, but personally I prefer the next option.

2. Buy a "blank" filler plate to replace the US style one. It mounts over the European filler and gives a clean look. I got mine from MadAudi.com. Be careful to get one specifically for the S5 - there are similar looking ones that are for the A5, but the grill of the A5 is different and filler plates made for it don't fit the S5 properly (note the 7 slotes on the S5 version).

[AcuraToAudi]

Originally Posted by blitzboy76

I have had this happen several times. It seems to be a problem with the "D" gear management program. You probably will never notice it in either "S", or (obviously) in manual mode. It could potentially be a concern if, for instance, you had to turn across oncoming traffic or something. You will want to consider changing to either sport or manual, in those instances. Think of "D" as fuel-saver gear, so it doesn't wind the gears out very far, at all.

Wow, I can't believe I've had my S5 for almost 6 months and never knew it had a sport mode (S) on the gear selector. How did I miss that "S" all this time? Sport mode makes quite a difference - much smoother acceleration. Thanks for pointing it out! You might think I'm just being sarcastic, but I'm not. I really didn't notice that S below the D on the gear lever. Guess my sales rep should have pointed it out, but he didn't.

(gonna go read the owner's manual now - obviously, I need to learn more about my car)

Matt

[AcuraToAudi]

Originally Posted by ChipB

Regarding the license plate filler

...but personally I prefer the next option.

I think I went the German plate route because I spent the 6 months waiting for my S5 looking at pictures online. Most were from Europe so they had the euro plate on the front. Got used to it I guess and decided mine needed the same thing.

I'm hanging on to my US filler plate though (it's the blank one without the US plate frame) in case I get tired of the German plate. It will just snap right over the plate and cover it up.

Matt

[zairegp]

Originally Posted by JGA5Cab

is there programming that the dealer can do? I had a Toyota that shifted terribly until they updated the software. It may be worth asking.

I have a manual 2009 S5 and saw the same issue. Turning traction control off fixes it for me, so my guess is that at that rpm range the torque is high enough to get the traction control to kick in, making it feel like you lost power (which you did!)..

[leetjon00]

First time poster...

If the state your car is registered in requires you to have license plates attached and displayed on the front and back of your car is there any work around? Essentially, I would like to preserve the look of the front of the s5 as much as possible while still being in compliance with the law. I don't think putting the license plate in your front windshield will work in my state...

Thanks for any ideas/suggestions.

[KarlFEvans]

Originally Posted by leetjon00

First time poster...

If the state your car is registered in requires you to have license plates attached and displayed on the front and back of your car is there any work around? Essentially, I would like to preserve the look of the front of the s5 as much as possible while still being in compliance with the law. I don't think putting the license plate in your front windshield will work in my state...

Thanks for any ideas/suggestions.

I live in a state that has front and rear license plates. My Miata looks better without the front plate. So I removed the plate and the mounting bracket. I see others in my state who do the same with their cars.