I’ve recently bought an Audi s4 b7 avant and it had this on the dash, looked all over online and in handbooks etc but had no look.

>E<

Hi Nathan, I pasted the image into ChatGPT. The AI reckons you need to change up gears to be more efficient! 😆

Here’s the explanation:

That >E< symbol on the DIS (Driver Information System) of your Audi S4 B7 Avant is the efficiency / gear shift indicator.

What it means

• It’s prompting you to shift up to a higher gear for better fuel economy.
• The “E” = Efficiency.
• The arrows > < indicate a recommendation rather than a fault.
• Typically appears when:
  • You’re accelerating lightly
  • The engine is at higher RPM than needed
  • The ECU calculates a more economical gear is available
• When you’ll see it
• Most common on manual gearboxes.
• Can appear in Tiptronic / manual mode on automatics.
• More noticeable in steady cruising or gentle acceleration.

Is it a problem?

No — completely normal.

It’s just Audi’s early eco-driving aid (pre-“Drive Select efficiency modes” era).

If you ignore it, nothing happens — it doesn’t affect performance or reliability.

If you want, I can show:

• How to disable it (cluster coding via VCDS/OBDeleven)
• Other common B7 DIS symbols and hidden warnings

 

I hope that helps buddy. 👍🏻

Hopefully ChatGPT is correct 😂

Thanks Sean for helping Nathan out. 

Just took the car out and chatGPT was wrong, it’s a tiny compass 🤦‍♂️

🤣😆 it does state that ChatGPT may be wrong at the bottom of its page.

I’m glad you found the solution. Have you had the car long?

Apparently, some B7 models have the compass feature in the rear view mirror! According to User Manual.

Had the car a few weeks now. First drive was today. Yeah I read that about the rear view mirror but can’t seem to get that feature to work just the compass on the dash

Yeah, I tried on mine too. I think it may have been an optional extra.

Got a few jobs to sort on it, both rear cv boots, passenger side under tray is damaged, drivers mirror glass is loose, has a slight vibration whilst driving so maybe that’s wheels balancing, it has an iPhone cable plugged in yet no aux etc shows on screen, tbh I wasn’t really after an s4 as I already have an s2 avant but I won it at an auction so had to pay 😂

Hey, seeing as you may be buying parts, here’s a class website to help you find parts or, at the very least, the exact part numbers:

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/home

Also, I found a couple of cheap places to buy parts on eBay (coming from Slovenia and Lithuania):

https://ebay.us/m/bPA84s
 

https://ebay.us/m/XWYJvN
 

I hope these help. 👍🏻

Edited February 19Feb 19 by silverdagger

Thanks Sean, but a quick forum search would have shown that LLL Parts has had numerous prior mentions on here. 
 

Buying parts from Lithuania etc. ??? Um! 

1 hour ago, Magnet said:

Thanks Sean, but a quick forum search would have shown that LLL Parts has had numerous prior mentions on here. 
 

Buying parts from Lithuania etc. ??? Um! 

Yup! Genuine OEM, which I have done. They’re Audi stamped and in Audi packaging and they fit. The real deal.