I had this exact same issue. I told Audi over and over about this. I took it in and the local Audi rep happened to be at the dealership and they replaced the fuel injectors. It worked just fine for about a month and then right back doing the same thing.

Now it did not start until I say I had about 6k miles on it. But has been with me ever since. It got to the point, were I felt like the car might not start. But since they put the 'new' fuel injectors' in, it has been less severe, but definitely still there.

Let me know if I can help with documentation...

 

I also get morning roughness on the first start, but not so severe that I am concerned. I notice much less roughness when I use 100LL.

There is a fuel additive that Audi approves and suggests for fuel related problems. See TSB 00 09 01 for more details.

I know you've seen these, but am including them for completeness.
www.r8talk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2386
www.r8talk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19052&postcount=21

 

There is a fuel additive that Audi approves and suggests for fuel related problems. See TSB 00 09 01 for more details.

Probably Techron in an Audi bottle...

 

When R84ME has to start his R8 some winter morning in Arizona he might need a bottle of that stuff !! Or he could let the sun shine on the car for a while to warm it up !!!

 

Assume this is not just the cold start opening of the valve in the exhaust that is programmed in by Audi? US gas is different to Euro petroleum, possibly causing the injector issues?

 

My buddies '06 Lambo Gallardo V10 springs to life on start up. NO stumbling. Are there any rough start ups with the R8 V10????????????

 

this is the first i've heard of it happening with the R8, not sure if its only V8's tho we'll need V10 owners to comment good to know the Gallardo is fine tho

 

Mine's always done it - burbled, coughed a tad, idled semi-roughly. Probably 3 out of 5 mornings.

Usually by the time I get down my driveway (about 800' of gravel - makes it a bitch to keep the car clean) and turn onto the street it's cleared up.

Sometimes it will still take a quick stab on the throttle pedal and a rev to about 4K to clear it up. I'm always hesitant about doing that to the engine when it's still cold, though.

As I saw posted on another board last summer:
"Turn the key and the monster comes to life. It yawns, burps, farts, scratches it's balls and then says 'Let's go!'"

 

Well ....that's about the best description of the issue that I have heard. It isn't going to bother me any more ... I will just think of it as a monster waking up. THANKS.

 

Antime I have a very cold start..(car not driven for a few days) the startup is very rough ..when I periodically drive the car to my office, 10 minute freeway drive followed by 5-6 hours baking in Fl heat, she starts up smoothly..
I spoke with Audi since 1000 miles (now 3K) and they have convinced me this is normal for this V8 & I should not be concerned...

 

The beast is just clearing it's throat....

 

It's got swine flu lol

 

I hope you guys don't move an inch untill the HIGH idle drops to normal on cold start-ups !!!!!! Requires a little patience. Plan ahead to let her warm up before riding her down the trail, then when gauge shows warm , make her sweat then let her cool a bit before putting her to rest. This is the EXACT same procedure we use for our horses.

 

Nah - stop being a girl

 

I had my 5K service performed just before Thanksgiving and did receive a couple TSBs - the 20P7 (fuel filler cap strap) and 24F3 (ECU flash). Started the car up yesterday and it did sputter and miss-fire for a few seconds - and - the idle remained high longer than I remember it. Hmm... colder weather? or the ECU update? I've had the car for a year now and did not experience this last winter.

I can confirm high performance engines dislike cold starts. My 95 E36 M3 made all kinds of noises on start up, sounded like it was going to tear itself apart. 10 min. later it was like nothing happened and ran like a bat out of hell.

 

Mine did the identical thing after I had taken it in for the first oil change and they said we also installed the latest ecu update. The very next cold start I noticed it. Only does it for 10-15 seconds. Before it was sooooo smooth on the start up, kinda frustrated me every time I start it now.

 

Before it was sooooo smooth on the start up, kinda frustrated me every time I start it now.

Yeah, me too. I'm going to be really pissed off if this is due to the update. I'll ask them for the old version back. This is exactly why I prefer independent shops for maintenance.

 

I just had to find out. It started up without the miss-firing this morning but was very rough. I'm calling Audi. Unacceptable!

 

Well mine was started up in 3 degrees cold yesterday after standing outside all night and was covered in ice. Smooth as a baby's bum.

And I had all the updates in August!

Go figure!

 

Any ethanol in your petrol in the UK?

 

Not that I am aware of.. Is this different to the usual fast-and-loud-idle-to-warm-the-cats-thing the R8 does by design?

 

Mine does the same...
Think about monster getting awake also

 

Had the fortunate experience?of comparing 2 engines in the same car with new cats fitted on the second.

Both exactly the same with high idle,splutter,coughing for about 1 minute then smooths right down and drops revs to normal.

I would suggest perfectly normal for this engine.

 

I had this with the V8 as well. I put it down to the rich mixture, and it settled down to baby's bum time after 30 secs or so. No bad smoke, so c'est la vie I suspect.

 

It's in the manual, if the car detects a cold start it enriches the mixture and fast idles for a while to get the cats quickly warmed - the upside is it sounds great too!

 

- the upside is it sounds great too!

Agreed..its the part I look forward to the most..the first turn of the key.

 

Your right..too warm here..never had a steamer..

 

"I'm not agressive to anyone. I have agressive speaking, yes." -I don't get it! You speak a different language to me.

 

Long time no talk. Hope everyone is well.

Mine has rough idle and "1970's exhaust" smell since day 1 (almost 2 years now).

Just my guess but isn't it possible that the lifters aren't as solid enough until the oil starts running through, then they solid out once the oil gets going? And since the warm up idle is around 1500 rpm, it's even rougher.

 

But my other engines with solid lifters don't sound as wicked at start up. Welcome back, hope all is well.

 

Folks, I stirred this thread up because prior to my first service, my startup was "babies bum smooth" too. I've had my car for a year now and have started it in temps as low as 20 degrees without ANY engine roughness at startup. Now, after the service and fuel management update/TSB, it's a rough startup every time. I don't have/never had have injector problems. This is a result of the update and have asked my service advisor and Audi Advocate to investigate removing the update to restore my startup. The scarey thing us that absolutely nobody at Audi knows what modification(s) were made as a result of the 24F3 update. I hate to say it but Techs these days (present company excluded , maybe) are like trained monkeys - run a querey, get a list of updates and install them. Don't ask for any specifics about what the updates contain, they don't have a clue. Still waiting for an answer/explanation.

 

So this is definitely because of the update? Which would mean mr knowitall is wrong? Not me btw the one ian doesnt understand lmao

 

Not sure why yours was always smooth. I don't remember how it was when I first got the car (almost a year now), but I've always had the cough, burp, fart, scratch balls when the car started in the morning. I usually let it set while I compose myself for the day, then head out.