Audi›Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4›2005›Overview/audi/cabriolet-a4-s4-rs4/2005/base/

2005 Audi Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2005 Audi Cabriolet, offered in A4, S4, and RS4 passenger-car variants, shares a uniform oil service specification of 4.3 quarts at 5W-30 or 5W-40 API viscosity — a baseline that defines the mechanical envelope common across the entire line. Against that backdrop, the model's reliability record for this year is anchored by 262 owner complaints, with exterior lighting emerging as the most prominent problem area and four recalls filed against the vehicle. For researchers, the 2005 model year therefore stands as a clearly documented reference point within the Cabriolet's broader reliability history, illuminating where the line was most exposed and what prospective owners or investigators should prioritize when weighing condition or service history.

Model year2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 640 CCA battery, OE oil filter 079198405A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 640 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnTURNOEM · verified

Tire size215-55R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7, 7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	079198405A alt 079115111A
Engine air filter	079133843A
Fuel filter	8E0201511J alt 4F0201511D
Spark plug	101905616 alt 101905615A
Battery	000915089J alt 000915105AG
Front wiper blades	8E0955425A alt 8E1955425A
Serpentine belt	06D903137E alt 078903137BJ
Thermostat	079121119 alt 079121113F
Cabin air filter	4B0819439C alt 8E0819439

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	179.9 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	54.7 in
Wheelbase	104.3 in
Curb weight	4012 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	59/41

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.3 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, USE AUDI PART NO. G052190A2 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Audi part number G060162A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	8.5-11.0
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	5 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	USE AUDI PART NO. G052190A2
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	5 Pints
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 5W-40 · API

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	Long bolts
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	30.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-3-6-2-5
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.4-0.6 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	9000-14,000 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.3-0.5 ohms

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Standard BCI Group Number	94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	640 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	49
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	760 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	640 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	49

Service checks

Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F
Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F
Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-23 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs / 22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	55 ft-lbs / 140 ft-lbs / 147 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.394; Rear: 0.276 front
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.315 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	29.5 ft. lbs.	29.5 ft. lbs
2	180 degrees	180 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	29.5 ft. lbs.	29.5 ft. lbs
2	180 degrees	180 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	29.5 ft. lbs.	29.5 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90 degrees	90 degrees

Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180

44 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45

44 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

48 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

48 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 55,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect) · Windshield Washer System (inspect) · Windshield Wiper Linkage (lubricate)
Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 10,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect) · Windshield Washer System (inspect) · Windshield Wiper Linkage (lubricate)
At 15,000 mi	Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 20,000 mi	Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Driveshaft (inspect)
At 35,000 mi	Power Steering System (inspect fluid level) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 40,000 mi	Air Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 55,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2005 Audi Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4 dominate in one area — the exterior lighting, 113 of 262 reports (43%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 9 of the reports describe a crash and 3 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the exterior lighting pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

348

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

262

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 262 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting113

Air Bags48

Electrical System,Exterior Lighting15

Power Train13

Fuel System, Gasoline9

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Vehicle Speed Control6

Electrical System5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 348 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
A0023742052680_4	2023-10-04	Equipment	This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety…
DC_AudiRingsV12	2023-04-28	Equipment	Inside the Rings \| Volume 12, Spring 2023
TRMDMV_NM_Audi	2023-03-13	Air Bags	In conjunction with the New Mexico DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall…
TRMDMV_MA_Audi	2023-03-13	Air Bags	In conjunction with the Massachusetts DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall…
TRMDMV_CO_Audi	2023-02-13	Air Bags	In conjunction with the Colorado DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 94R battery Vehicles taking 4.3 qt Engine oil filter 079198405A Engine air filter 079133843A Fuel filter 8E0201511J Spark plug 101905616

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2005 Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4 take?

4.3 qt of 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, per the factory manual.

Does the 2005 Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

2005 Audi Cabriolet A4, S4, RS4

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Full specifications

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Lubricants & capacities

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Ignition

Battery & A/C

Service checks

Brakes

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Vehicles with shared specs

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked