If you're not getting the tactile feedback of the button clicking, perhaps it's a simple mechanical issue with the button itself. Unfortunately, I have little info to share in terms of how to troubleshoot it other than taking it to the dealer... which is what I'd do, personally. Others here are much more mechanically inclined and adventurous, and I'm sure you could find a quick guide to help you take apart the center console to get to the mechanism and inspect it.

 

I would first try depressing and holding the button for a second or two followed by a quick on/off jab. If that fails, I would check for a blown fuse and if it that fails, I would have to give you the standard…”take it to a dealer” answer.

Good luck,

Jim

 

Did you get to the bottom of this? What was the fix ? The car I'm buying and dealer is prepared to replace the button but not anything additional due to prep costs so far pre delivery

 

I also have a "sport" button question. I have a 2010 V10 /6m and when I push the sport button, it seems to do everything it's supposed to do by lighting up the switch and indicating it's turned on in the dash display. The problem, I feel no dramatic change in the ride or handling. No leaks in the shocks. Not sure if the system is fused after the indicators. Seems like a blown fuse would result in no indicators working as well. Most YouTube reviews I've watched make it sound that the change is instantaneous and very obvious. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

I ended up having my sport button replaced by my dealer. They mentioned that that chip inside the button had failed probably due to a spill. It was a few hundred bucks for the whole job. I asked for the old button back and now have a neat desk toy. Here's what the inside looks like:

 

Thanks mate, hopefully that will do the trick for me also, as the symptoms are the exact same.

 

Had mine done yesterday. Same symptoms. When my tech pulled the switch out it just fell apart. All good now with a new switch

 

Simple button replacement seems to have worked on mine also today.

 

I'm running into the same problem. Dead button. I can't for the life of me find it for sale online anywhere or even find a part number. Anyone know the part number for the 2008 R8 Sport Button?

 

The sport button doesn’t change the ride or handling...the button with the shock absorber symbol is the one that does that.

 

If Audi gave you the option of saving the Sport button state (such as "on by default"), it would probably spare many buttons this fate. I suspect most, as I do, get in the car and immediately put the car into sport mode. Pushing this button every time the car goes out is undoubtedly going to wear on it.

 

Is the sport button provided on MT vehicles?
My 15' V8 manual only has the suspension button

 

No, the manual cars don't have the Sport button. On the R and S-Tronic gearboxes, it sits right below the shift lever. When pressed, it makes the shifts more aggressive (quicker), turns on rev-matching down-shifting, and also opens the exhaust.

On a manual, your hand/foot speed, along with heel-and-toe skills, are all you get. But it does raise an interesting question about the exhaust, though - do manual cars not have valved exhausts? How do you manually open/close them?

 

^^^ Manual Transmissions do have valved exhausts. My limited understanding is the valves are open upon start up and then close once emissions cycle is complete. Then open at 4k RPMs or at WOT for that deeper sound.

This past weekend I discovered the thread about disconnecting and plugging the main vacuum line attached to a solenoid in the engine bay which keeps the valves open all the time. Sounds great below 4k RPMs now.

 

Valves are open on cold start because there's no vacuum to close them. They stay closed until about 3500 rpm to avoid drone and also provide some back pressure for slightly quicker cat warm up. No override control (sport button) on the manuals lead many to believe the R8 is too quiet, but the stock exhaust is plenty loud enough (IMO) at high rpm - not tuned for overrun pops and gurgles like the gen 2 however. Autos rev match on downshifts with sport on or off. In most cars it also increases throttle response (less travel required) but I really haven't noticed that in the R8, which is an ironic feature for manuals anyway since the touchier throttle is usually more difficult to properly rev match.

 

On my S-Tronic, the transmission will only blip the throttle when downshifting in sport mode - not non-sport mode.