Retrofit madness!

chrisash32

chrisash32

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Happy New Year Guys!!

ok, after doing cruise and DIS... I have got a bit of a bug....
I want to know how much can actually be retrofitted to the A4??

I know about the usual ones like RNS-E etc etc... but now i am thinking about all the little stuff like washer fluid warning etc etc...

I wondered if there were a few relatively cheap ones that i could do quite easily...

Ideas?

Cheers
Chris
 
washer fluid warning is the worst time & effort one... I believe it takes about 1-2hrs... the wiring in only about £15, but it's apparently a compelte ball-ache... I think HazzyDayz charge about £80 to do that on top of the DIS fitting.

Look at their site for ideas: www.vwcruise.com on top of the obvious (DIS and Sat Nav), they also do Auto-dimming mirror, auto lights, rain sensing wipers, LEDs (not really a retro-fit, I know), 12V boot/glove box sockets, Xenons, TV Tuner, parking sensors, MFSW's, voice control.... pretty much anything electrical that goes in a B6 / B7, he can get the parts for and fit it to the car...
 
Aero wipers, arm rest, (auto locking doors when vehicle in motion, bleep on alarm activation - free if you have vag com)
 
if / when you get all the vagcom stuff done for MFSW's, RNS-E, etc... just have a list of the things you want enabled via VagCom - they should be able to do all that for free:

bleep on alarm set (I don't like this, but some do)
doors lock @ >5mph
dual stage unlock (drivers door, then all the doors on 2nd press)
universal open / close (when you hold the lock / unlock button)
keep rear doors locked on all speeds over Xmph (I assume for kids, rather than kidnapping!)
a few other featurees: as listed on the RossTech site

It seems some / all of these are enabled depending on the dealer or if the original owner requested it (or asked for it to be switched off!).

In terms of mechanical - the cheapest (best value for money) is the RS4 RARB (rear sway bar): if yours is the FWD 1.9TDI, it'll make a big difference as the lighter cars have narrower RARB's, so there's a bigger stup up to the 22mm RS4 RARB... about £75 for the parts and probably <£50 to get it fitted (about 1 hour's labour).

And you can also get it remapped to 170-190bhp (2.5TDI quattro territory) ;)

edit: And as per jisumfish's comment: just wait until you need to do the wiper blades, then swap the arms for the Aero ones... the Aero ones are significantly better, especially at speed... and apparently they last longer and/or you can get third party blades (not that I can vouch for either of those myself: only had mine for a year and got all OEM parts).
 
Last edited:
lostbok said:
if / when you get all the vagcom stuff done for MFSW's, RNS-E, etc... just have a list of the things you want enabled via VagCom - they should be able to do all that for free:

bleep on alarm set (I don't like this, but some do)
doors lock @ >5mph
dual stage unlock (drivers door, then all the doors on 2nd press)
universal open / close (when you hold the lock / unlock button)

It seems some / all of these are enabled depending on the dealer or if the original owner requested it (or asked for it to be switched off!).

In terms of mechanical - the cheapest (best value for money) is the RS4 RARB (rear sway bar): if yours is the FWD 1.9TDI, it'll make a big difference as the lighter cars have narrower RARB's, so there's a bigger stup up to the 22mm RS4 RARB... about £75 for the parts and probably <£50 to get it fitted (about 1 hour's labour).

And you can also get it remapped to 170-190bhp (2.5TDI quattro territory) ;)

edit: And as per jisumfish's comment: just wait until you need to do the wiper blades, then swap the arms for the Aero ones... the Aero ones are significantly better, especially at speed... and apparently they last longer and/or you can get third party blades (not that I can vouch for either of those myself: only had mine for a year and got all OEM parts).
Click to expand...

Well it looks like i am out of options for free and cheap stuff..
Already done all the VAG-COM stuff, (within a week of getting the car).
The car already has Aero blades... so thats that one out...

I really want the RS4 RARB! Does anyone know the part numbers for all the gear needed?
Yes, i suppose i could get a remap. Its only going to cost me £100 as i have a Chipped UK ST3 unit.. Although i am not entirely convinced by their maps.....

Thinking about getting the rear windows tinted slightly too. Just not sure that % yet.

Cheers
Chris
 
Talk to PJMspeedy about the parts: I think it's about £80 inc delivery via him (quicker and easier than having to go into the local audi dealers to order and pay.... and then again to collect).

you can fish around on eBay and probably get it for £75, but at least with PJMspeedy you know you're getting the real stuff... not sure what the dealer-price is.
 
lostbok said:
the lighter cars have narrower RARB's, so there's a bigger stup up to the 22mm RS4 RARB
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, re Rear ARB's

SE = 16mm
Sport / S Line = 18mm
S4 = 20mm
RS4 = 22mm

This applies to the full range of B6 and B7, 8E A4's. :icon_thumright:

Re Tints, mine are 35% and the day this picture was taken it was a little dull. In summer you can see right through them, I'd have 20%'s next time, so a little darker.

c25e1341.jpg
 
Last edited:
Marc1 said:
Just to clarify, re Rear ARB's
SE = 16mm
Sport / S Line = 18mm
S4 = 20mm
RS4 = 22mm

This applies to the full range of B6 and B7, 8E A4's. :icon_thumright:
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that one up: I thought there was an element of inline 4 vs V6 about it too (i.e. the weight of the car), but hten I'll freely admit that I was just guessing... :thumbsup:
 
Lol, no worries. I know you like your Audi facts, so thought I'd confirm that for you :)
 
Marc1 said:
Re Tints, mine are 35% and the day this picture was taken it was a little dull. In summer you can see right through them, I'd have 20%'s next time, so a little darker.

c25e1341.jpg
Click to expand...

How was it reversing etc at night with these tints on mate? I'm considering some on mine, but a bit scared of the wife's reversing skills without having parking sensors.

I do like the car though!!!
 
Love them tints Marc!
Where did you get your rear valance for the exhausts??

Cheers
Chris
 
crazy88 said:
How was it reversing etc at night with these tints on mate? I'm considering some on mine, but a bit scared of the wife's reversing skills without having parking sensors.

I do like the car though!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks mate. Tints are fine with reversing, obviously much lighter looking out. I think you'd only really have a problem at night with 5% Limo tints. It's more difficult to see out with the rear blind up as well as the tint though, but I suspect not many Avant owners really use the rear blind anyway.


chrisash32 said:
Love them tints Marc!
Where did you get your rear valance for the exhausts??

Cheers
Chris
Click to expand...

Cheers Chris. Watch this space mate. As mentioned in another thread, I may well sell the B6 sometime sooon and possibly sell as standard (will test the water modded first) and therefore the rear valance and black optic exhaust will be up for grabs. Yours is Mauritius blue too isn't it? So you wouldn't need to get it sprayed either ;)
 
quattrojames said:
I keep mine up all the time, it stops a lot of the dazzling from following vehicles.
Click to expand...
Me too for exactly the same reason , stops having to mess about with the mirror all the time ,
what annoys me is my VW bora has a auto dipping rear view mirror and its older than the Avant what that all about ?
 
paul20v said:
what annoys me is my VW bora has a auto dipping rear view mirror and its older than the Avant what that all about ?
Click to expand...

In Keeping with the subject... Do i hear a possible retrofit here?? :)


quattrojames said:
I keep mine up all the time, it stops a lot of the dazzling from following vehicles.
Click to expand...

Thats not a bad idea... the only thing i have used mine for so far is separating the front and the rear of the car when the back seats are flat and in bed / camping mode... (Was only trying it out as a possible replacement to our caravan which was written off in August!



Marc1 said:
Cheers Chris. Watch this space mate. As mentioned in another thread, I may well sell the B6 sometime sooon and possibly sell as standard (will test the water modded first) and therefore the rear valance and black optic exhaust will be up for grabs. Yours is Mauritius blue too isn't it? So you wouldn't need to get it sprayed either ;)
Click to expand...

Yep, mine is Mauritius Blue, so if you ever decide to sell, please PLEASE let me know :) This is very high on my mod list!

Cheers!
Chris
 
hi guys i have an a4 b6 tdi sprot just reading your posts is there a way i can get more info where i have the out side temp and how far i can go id like to no the mpg and stuff. like that and i see in the fuse box i have a blank where you can have heated wiper jets id like that too any ideas
 
simon2004 said:
hi guys i have an a4 b6 tdi sprot just reading your posts is there a way i can get more info where i have the out side temp and how far i can go id like to no the mpg and stuff. like that and i see in the fuse box i have a blank where you can have heated wiper jets id like that too any ideas
Click to expand...

What you are after is a simple DIS Retrofit.
see: http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=85767

If you don't want cruise control, should should be a fairly simple mod costing Less than £100... (Even much less if you can get the correct stalk from ebay!)


You do a raise a good point that i wanted to raise today...
Heated washer jet and channels... possible mod??

My rear wiper water pipe has been frozen solid for over a week... anyway at all i could swap this for a heated one?
Same for the front washers and pipes...
 
hmmmm another option mine has that I didn't know about?!? I thought all the front washers were heated.... pretty much certain the headlight washers are, so I just assumed they windscreen are too - they were working within 5 mins of pulling out the drive and the temp was still -3... but then they are full of fairly concentrated screen-clean stuff...

As a point of reference: auto-dimming mirror is £265 for parts and fitting inc 2 year guarantee at HazzyDayz.

And £595 for the auto dimming mirror, automatic lights AND rain sensing wipers! Again, all new OEM parts, plus fitting and the 2 yr guarantee.
 
chrisash32 said:
loose all the fun of doing it yourself though :(
Click to expand...

well they come to your house and do it: they'd probably let you assist...

I just like the idea that if I wanted to fit an auto-dipping mirror, it would get done properly: e.g. it wouldn't skip a CD track everytime somebody used their high-beams near me ;)
 
i no years ago you could buy a kit to make the washers heated
You could always just make the main washer jet feed hose longer & coil it around
one of your rad hose if i rember right not sure if there is any problems doing this
 
lostbok said:
well they come to your house and do it: they'd probably let you assist...

I just like the idea that if I wanted to fit an auto-dipping mirror, it would get done properly: e.g. it wouldn't skip a CD track everytime somebody used their high-beams near me ;)
Click to expand...


Just seems quite expensive when the parts look quite cheap...
 
paul20v said:
Definately something i have thought about as theres plenty of Boras about with auto dipping rear view ,
Mmmmm.
Click to expand...


Can it really be that hard? Surly the mirror just needs power? The sensors etc etc are just built in?
 
chrisash32 said:
Can it really be that hard? Surly the mirror just needs power? The sensors etc etc are just built in?
Click to expand...

I looked into this awhile ago, HERE but didn't bother in the end. Its easier just to leave the rear blind up to prevent dazzle!

The OEM ones have the wire bonded into the glass, for a retrofit you would need to run a wire from the roof lining down to the rear of the mirror. Or fit a new screen ......
 
quattrojames said:
I keep mine up all the time, it stops a lot of the dazzling from following vehicles.
Click to expand...

paul20v said:
Me too for exactly the same reason , stops having to mess about with the mirror all the time ,
what annoys me is my VW bora has a auto dipping rear view mirror and its older than the Avant what that all about ?
Click to expand...

Damn it I knew I'd get flamed as I was writing it, lol.

chrisash32 said:
Yep, mine is Mauritius Blue, so if you ever decide to sell, please PLEASE let me know :) This is very high on my mod list!

Cheers!
Chris
Click to expand...

Drop me a PM Chris and I'll give you a shout when I split it.
 
The autodimming mirror is easy - you need the mirror and power. The autodimming mirrors have a 'gulley' from the mirror base into the headlining so wiring is hidden - the sensor that is in the glass is the rain sensing bit - for hazydayz to retrofit you have to have a new windscreen put in that is compatible with the sensor. THis is not included in teh £595...

Chas
 
How much would the replacement windscreen cost to enable the light and rain + auto dimming mirror to be fitted???
 
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