Get General maintenance -> Care of exterior Guide for Audi S5 4 Door Fourth Generation (2017-2024)

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Care of vehicle and cleaning

do to the paintwork. High temperatures (for instance in strong

sunlight) further intensify the corrosive effect.

General notes

Regular care helps to maintain the value of the vehicle.

After the period when salt is put on the roads it is important to have

the underside of the vehicle washed thoroughly.

Regular and careful care helps to maintain the value of the vehicle.

This may also be one of the requirements for upholding any

warranty claims in the event of corrosion or paint defects.

Automatic car washes

Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau-

tions such as closing the windows and sunroof. If the vehicle has

special accessories such as spoilers or a roof carrier or two-way

radio aerial, etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash operator.

Audi dealers and specialist retailers carry stocks of suitable car care

products. Please follow the instructions for use on the packaging.

WARNING

It is best to use a car wash without revolving bristles if possible.

• Cleaning products and other materials used for car care can

Washing your car with a high-pressure cleaner

damage health if misused.

When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, always

follow the operating instructions for the equipment. This applies

particularly to the operating pressure and the spraying distance. Do

not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft materials, such as rubber

hoses or seals.

• Car care materials can contain toxic substances and must

always be kept in a safe place out of reach of children.

For the sake of the environment

Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out in a direct stream or

one that has a rotating jet for forcing off dirt.

• When purchasing car care products, try to select ones which are

not harmful to the environment.

• Surplus cleaning materials should not be disposed of together

Washing the car by hand

with ordinary household waste.

When washing the car by hand, use plenty of water to soften the dirt

first, and rinse off as well as possible.

Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, glove or brush, using only

slight pressure. You should start on the roof and work down. Special

car shampoo should only be used for very persistent dirt.

Care of exterior

Washing the vehicle

Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and often.

The longer substances like insects, bird droppings, resinous tree

sap, road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other

aggressive materials remain on the vehicle, the more damage they

Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned last. Use a second

sponge for this.

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Care of vehicle and cleaning

211

Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the car wash, it is advis-

able to protect the paint with a coat of wax at least twice a year.

WARNING

• Do not wash the vehicle with the ignition switched on – risk of

In the summer, you will find it is much easier to remove dead insects

(which accumulate on the bumper and the front of the bonnet) if the

car has been waxed recently.

accident.

• Do not clean the underside of the car or inside the wheel arches

without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on

sharp metal parts.

Polishing

Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the

gloss cannot be brought back by putting on wax.

• Take care when washing the car during the winter: moisture

and ice on the brakes may affect braking efficiency – this could

cause an accident.

The car must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not

contain wax compounds to seal the paint.

Caution

• Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight – otherwise the paint

Matt painted and plastic parts must not be treated with wax or

polish.

can be damaged.

• Do not use insect sponges, or abrasive household sponges, etc.

– they can damage the surfaces.

• The headlights should only be washed with water – do not wipe

Ornamental trim and mouldings

them with a dry cloth or sponge. It is best to use soapy water.

• Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the water out in a direct

stream. This could damage the tyres – even if the spray is kept at a

distance and only used for a very short time.

The metal brightwork on the body is made of aluminium rather than

chrome (for environmental reasons).

Dirt or marks on the trim mouldings should be removed with an

acid-free cleaning agent (do not use a chrome cleaner). Body polish

is also unsuitable for use on trim mouldings. The intensive cleaning

fluids often used before the car goes into a car wash may contain

alkaline substances, which can cause dull or milky patches when

they dry out.

For the sake of the environment

The car should only be washed in special wash bays. This prevents

oily water from getting into the public drains. In some districts,

washing vehicles anywhere else may be prohibited.

Audi dealers carry stocks of cleaning products which have been

tested for use on your vehicle and are not harmful to the

environment.

Waxing and polishing

Waxing

Waxing protects the paintwork. It is time to apply a good coat of wax

when water no longer forms droplets and rolls off the clean paint-

work.

Controls

Safety

Driving tips

General maintenance

Self-help

Technical data

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Care of vehicle and cleaning

Plastic parts

WARNING

Plastic parts will come clean with regular washing. If this is not suffi-

cient, plastic parts should only be treated with a special solvent-free

plastic cleaning agent. Do not use paint cleaners, polishes or wax on

plastic parts.

Do not use water-repellent coatings on the windscreen. In bad visi-

bility conditions such as light rain, low sun or when driving at

night these coatings can cause increased dazzle, which is a

serious safety hazard. Such coatings can also cause the wiper

blades to judder.

Paint damage

Caution

Minor damage to the paint, such as scratches or stone chips, should

be touched up without delay before the metal starts to corrode. Suit-

able touch-up brushes or sprays for your car can be obtained from

an Audi dealer.

• Remove snow and ice from windows and mirrors with a plastic

scraper only. To avoid scratches caused by dirt on the glass, the

scraper should only be pushed in one direction and not moved to

and fro.

• The heating element for the rear window is located on the inner

side of the window. To avoid damaging the heating element, do not

put stickers on the inner side of the window.

The number of the original paint finish on the vehicle is given on the

data sticker ⇒ page 279.

If corrosion is already visible it must be thoroughly removed by a

qualified workshop.

• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from

windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!

Windows

Rubber seals (weatherstrips)

Clear vision is an essential safety factor.

The weatherstrips will remain pliable and last longer if they are

occasionally treated with a suitable care product (for example sili-

cone spray). This will also prevent premature ageing and leaks. The

doors will be easier to open as well. If they are kept pliable, the door

seals will be less likely to freeze up in the winter.

The windscreen must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax,

otherwise the windscreen wipers will not function properly

(juddering).

Traces of rubber, oil, grease or silicone can be removed with a

window cleaning solution or a silicone remover. Wax residue can

only be removed with a special cleaner. Your Audi dealer will be able

to provide you with more detailed information.

Wheels

The windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular inter-

vals.

The wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance.

It is important to remove road salt and brake dust by washing the

wheels at regular intervals, otherwise the finish will be impaired.

Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the windows. Cloths used for

waxing and polishing contain residues that will cause smears on the

glass.

General maintenance -> Care of exterior for Your Audi S5 4 Door Fourth Generation (2017-2024)

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