The Icarus thread
- Thread starter Icarus83
- Start date
I find that my car wanders a bit on uneven roads and can tramline a little too on some surfaces...
It also bangs and crashes quite a bit on potholes.
Its not terrible but it could feel tighter and sharper. My Missus B7 S-Line handles completely differently and is much sharper, although I realise that has a much stiffer setup.
I'm thinking the dampers are the way to go, and maybe the springs could do with being renewed too.
J
It also bangs and crashes quite a bit on potholes.
Its not terrible but it could feel tighter and sharper. My Missus B7 S-Line handles completely differently and is much sharper, although I realise that has a much stiffer setup.
I'm thinking the dampers are the way to go, and maybe the springs could do with being renewed too.
J
You have to remember that B6 is now over ten years old and unless the shocks and springs have been changed due to damage/failure then they will also be 10years + with most being well over 100K miles. On my B5 I changed the lot springs, shocks, arms, bushes, engine & gearbox mounts. This alone made a hell of a difference to the ride in the car as everything was just about worn out. I'm also going to do the same on my A6 as its coming up to 9years old and also in need of a refresh.
Well my A4 got some TLC this weekend. I repaired the drivers window regulator that had failed and gave her a good clean, topped off with some of my next door neighbors cherry glass polish, very shiny now!
Well the grille refresh is going well, last coat of lacquer just sprayed on and I will leave it till tomorrow evening to put it all together.
Finish isn't too bad for rattle cans, and I'm very happy with the quattro badge!
Finish isn't too bad for rattle cans, and I'm very happy with the quattro badge!
Well I fitted the grill and I love the way it has turned out, still have the option to go back to a chrome badge though as I'm still undecided about whether it suits the car with a "red nose". I don't like blacked out ones myself.
Have got some pics with and without the red wing mirrors fitted (OEM Misano Red I think...). Although I like the red theme, maybe to be complemented with an offset, double red vinyl pinstripe, down the length of the car, I need to give the grill etc a few weeks to grow on me first though.
Also I have a second set of centre-caps for the alloys so might do the Audi badges on those red too so it all matches up.
Thoughts...?
Have got some pics with and without the red wing mirrors fitted (OEM Misano Red I think...). Although I like the red theme, maybe to be complemented with an offset, double red vinyl pinstripe, down the length of the car, I need to give the grill etc a few weeks to grow on me first though.
Also I have a second set of centre-caps for the alloys so might do the Audi badges on those red too so it all matches up.
Thoughts...?
Lol, cheers! That's what I thought, like I said the second set of centre caps can be a donor for the Audi badges on them, then spray them the same colour as the front badge.
Although I did consider using some red vinyl on one spoke of each alloy but that might look crap......
I can't make my mind up on that.... I like it but I wouldn't do it, if that makes sense? Very individual and I like that.
I wouldn't pollute the wheels with red myself!
I wouldn't pollute the wheels with red myself!
Thanks for the comments guys!
I did consider a small red and silver R26R Megane checkered rear logo on the front bumper (had one on my old 172 Cup in yellow/silver), amongst other ideas , none of which may ever bear fruit in reality.......
I did consider a small red and silver R26R Megane checkered rear logo on the front bumper (had one on my old 172 Cup in yellow/silver), amongst other ideas , none of which may ever bear fruit in reality.......
deano1978
different gear
Looks good,i cant work out which one I prefere,but red wheels mgt b ott,but red calipers cld work better.
Not really an update but I gave her a good clean yesterday and took her out for a few photos as the weather was a bit strange with some nice colours...........and a tad rainy.
Looking good! Wasn't sure about the red but it seems to work and as deano said perhaps the calipers in red would look good.
Hmm, a consensus.....I agree. I have one S4 rattle clip (won it cheap on ebay) which would look really good on a red caliper I think.....just need another but not at £50 yet!!!
Haha, thanks Sumo. I was an art foundation/fine art student 'when I were a lad'....before i realised there was no money in it really or application to real world jobs. Included lots of photography work too which I really enjoyed (proper 35mm and some digital). I think I'm lucky that I have a natural eye for composition and balance of photos.
I use a Sony NEX-5, with a number of different lenses. Most of my shots are using an 18-200mm, and still gets a nice DOF when its wide open at f3.5. Got a little f1.7 50mm C-mount CCTV lens that has really nice bokeh and vignetting. The DOF on that is a really fine slither!!
I was really lucky and used to do lots or travelling with work so have about 40 Gigs of photos from cities round the world. I love photography TBH. Moved jobs though recently so I could spend all my time at home with the OH and my 2 year old daughter as I was missing out. Eight years of travelling was enough IMO.....
I'll dig out some of my photos for you and stick them in the discussion area. Will link you up if your interested?
Little side project:
Headlight build. Going to 'Joey mod' a second set of Depo headlights and transplant the OEM DRL off the A5 xenon lamp and upgrade the projector to the 3" bi-xenon from them too.
Bought the components yesterday. Won't be easy to make but that's part of the fun! Planning on building some basic control system so they behave correctly with the dipped DRL when indicator on etc.
These ones.
Headlight build. Going to 'Joey mod' a second set of Depo headlights and transplant the OEM DRL off the A5 xenon lamp and upgrade the projector to the 3" bi-xenon from them too.
Bought the components yesterday. Won't be easy to make but that's part of the fun! Planning on building some basic control system so they behave correctly with the dipped DRL when indicator on etc.
These ones.
Brennan
Former Audi Driver
Make sure you do a seperate thread on tha light conversion bud, sure it would make a good sticky
That's true, will definitely take plenty of pics.
I spent ages looking at all the different Audi models for suitable donor parts, and a full passenger cluster and the internals from a drivers were on the bay. £95 for both (separately) posted compared to the £800 some people wanted for a loaded pair. No thanks lol!
Might be a bit of a squeeze in the light unit but the DRL looks to be in 3 bits so might be able to shorten segments.......we shall see.
Well after a long time away from the forum it seems......family life, work and my 2 year old starting the terrible two's (obviously) and consuming all of my time. I seem to have 5 mins to update my thread.
I am currently in the process of a week off work, changing pretty much every serviceable part on the car.
The main instigator was my DMF that was making awful rattling noises. Hence I am also currently changing the clutch for a LUK one, a new LUK DMF, LUK clutch release bearing, new cambelt, waterpump, tensioner and idler, new fuel, oil and airbox filters, new fluids including PAS fluid as I needed to remove the PAS cooler pipe from the front of the car to remove the radiator rig, engine oil and coolant. I also have a decat to fit to see if it makes much difference to the car.
The 2.0 TDI driverside intercooler I bought will be fitted to the car but not hooked up as I will need to get creative with boost hoses to connect it all up, but should make it easy to do when I have the parts ready and measured up for what i need.
Pics of the work so far:
I am currently in the process of a week off work, changing pretty much every serviceable part on the car.
The main instigator was my DMF that was making awful rattling noises. Hence I am also currently changing the clutch for a LUK one, a new LUK DMF, LUK clutch release bearing, new cambelt, waterpump, tensioner and idler, new fuel, oil and airbox filters, new fluids including PAS fluid as I needed to remove the PAS cooler pipe from the front of the car to remove the radiator rig, engine oil and coolant. I also have a decat to fit to see if it makes much difference to the car.
The 2.0 TDI driverside intercooler I bought will be fitted to the car but not hooked up as I will need to get creative with boost hoses to connect it all up, but should make it easy to do when I have the parts ready and measured up for what i need.
Pics of the work so far:
I'm at the point now where I have the engine mated back onto the gearbox.
Cambelt to do but already set and locked to No1 TDC so shouldn't take long.
Bought some new A5 alloys for using as winter tyres:
Will fit them once the temp drops further! ET28 17" x 7.5j and have got some Vredistein Wintrac Winter tyres 225/45/17 on order to fit.
Cambelt to do but already set and locked to No1 TDC so shouldn't take long.
Bought some new A5 alloys for using as winter tyres:
Will fit them once the temp drops further! ET28 17" x 7.5j and have got some Vredistein Wintrac Winter tyres 225/45/17 on order to fit.
Generally good, fuel economy has stayed about the same, although its quicker now obviously. Many friends have commented on how quick it is, especially in 3rd coming out of a 30mph limit. Long runs see about 2-3 mpg improvement.
The map also sorted out loads of roughness and niggles with the OEM engine map and midrange torque is much improved for general town driving and pulling out from junctions etc.
I've been told the Revo map is quite aggressive, brings up boost quickly for an apparent punch of torque. I get on fine with it though. I had a PD 130 Mk4 golf with the same map, and with the lower weight it was something to behold, very quick little car (but did not handle well at all).
I think there are other options out there that I would conside, the blacksmoke one seems to get kudos, and if funds arnt a problem, a custom map is always the best option, in an ideal world........
Although I have a Revo technik authorised tuner practically behind my house, so was easy for me to drop off and collect.
Had a Mk4 Golf TDI Revo'd 10 years ago now and found it fine the torque.
On the A4 the Revo I can get for £200 as know the local dealer very well through a mate.........and a custom mapper I can get it for £175 who I know very well too and is thought to be the best GEMS ECU mapper there is but with a little travel time.......and then there is Shark at £250 with more travel time LOL
Looked at Blacksmoke maps and when on ECU tuning forums and the blacksmoke map is broken down it is a lot of % increase and the injectors are all out of calibration apparently so put off that for long term issues.
It gets really confusing as I investigate everything to death LOL.........still swaying towards Revo
On the A4 the Revo I can get for £200 as know the local dealer very well through a mate.........and a custom mapper I can get it for £175 who I know very well too and is thought to be the best GEMS ECU mapper there is but with a little travel time.......and then there is Shark at £250 with more travel time LOL
Looked at Blacksmoke maps and when on ECU tuning forums and the blacksmoke map is broken down it is a lot of % increase and the injectors are all out of calibration apparently so put off that for long term issues.
It gets really confusing as I investigate everything to death LOL.........still swaying towards Revo
That's really cheap for a Revo Map, my mate paid £295.
Never that about the Blacksmoke map though, as that's what I have, seems pull like a train with no problems, or to much smoke. My mates on a Revo is chucking it out.
I know mate and the other good thing is I trust them in particular my mate there who is the only person i let touch any of my cars for a long time.
I was very tempted by Blacksmoke until I looked into it a lot deeper in terms of the coding. On the specialised ECU tuning sites that I joined and asked a few questions on the injectors are not calibrated so out of sync.
I feel like I have hi jacked the thread so we can talk about this elsewhere if need be......sorry
I was very tempted by Blacksmoke until I looked into it a lot deeper in terms of the coding. On the specialised ECU tuning sites that I joined and asked a few questions on the injectors are not calibrated so out of sync.
I feel like I have hi jacked the thread so we can talk about this elsewhere if need be......sorry
i would be careful fitting that decat. Its now part of the MOT that if its missing it can fail even if it passes its emmisions test.
Other wise looks good and keep it coming.
Im interested too see how the headlights turn out!
Other wise looks good and keep it coming.
Im interested too see how the headlights turn out!
I paid £300 + 20% VAT for mine, so very cheap. Pulls like a train, but quite smokey.
I know someone who has just had his car mapped by a friend, so mate prices, but a proper map rather than a generic with a few tweeks. Once I have my intercooler plumbed in will consider it as he does VAGs too.
Cheers, I am aware of the new rules, but I'll fit my original Cat come MOT timeas the bolts are really easy to get to on mine. Take the EGR out and it gives me enough space to get it through.
Huh? You mean the grey surround that I painted? I like it the way it is tbh, and my wing mirrors are being swapped for some in the same Audi Quartz grey metallic as the grill along with the interior of my headlights when I do them.
F you have an under tray they can't fail it, as no parts can be removed on an mot! Plus my mate has just been on his refresher course and brought this up (he has a b6 saloon q) and was told the same thing
Well the new parts were fitted, the engine is back in, the cambelt tensioner was the wrong part so that's to be done once i've got everything, new intercooler fitted (more pics in this thread http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/twin-inter-cooler-set-up.230440/#post-2308504) and everything works!
Fitted the cupra splitter I've had for a while too and added some self tappers to hold the lower section of the bumper in place properly at each side. Fog lights removed but the bulbs bagged and relocated up into the bumper void (as the bulb out warning system on my car will throw a hissy fit otherwise). This will allow better and more direct airflow to both intercoolers.
New filters for everything and new fluids for each system too. Pic of emptying loads of diesel out of the old fuel filter into the new one.
Fitted the cupra splitter I've had for a while too and added some self tappers to hold the lower section of the bumper in place properly at each side. Fog lights removed but the bulbs bagged and relocated up into the bumper void (as the bulb out warning system on my car will throw a hissy fit otherwise). This will allow better and more direct airflow to both intercoolers.
New filters for everything and new fluids for each system too. Pic of emptying loads of diesel out of the old fuel filter into the new one.
Jimmy TDI
Pro Tinkerer
Nice work, and I wish I had a garage like that to work on my car in.
It's no fun lying on the floor this time of the year in a freezing cold puddle
It's no fun lying on the floor this time of the year in a freezing cold puddle
