URGENT A4 B6 Cabriolet 2.5 TDI - Mid Facelift - NOT GOING TO PLAN :-(

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jamin128

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I am desperately hoping someone can help me ....... PLEASE!!!!

I have an A4 B6 Cabriolet 2.5 TDI and have decided to replace the front end from a donor A4 B7 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI.

I have bought the following:
Bonnet
Front Wings
Headlights
Front Bumper
Spot Lights
Slam Panel

I have stripped the front end completely, and started fitting the various bits to the slam panel. Offered up the slam panel, and it is a different shape at the bottom, and the radiator doesn't fit.

The only option I can see at the moment is to cut both in half and join them together with brackets and/or fibreglass.


Anyone else have ideas?

Am I right in thinking that the slam panel is only to hold things in place, and is not structural?

Also, the slam panel doesn't want to go all the way back at the top, as the B7 light housing seems to get in the way.
Should I cut the slam panel or inner wing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I really need the car back on the road tomorrow.


Sorry, one final question, I have lost all the coolant, and was wondering if there is a technique to replacing and bleeding ... sorry I have never done this before!!!


Cheers
Ben
 
Hi Ben,

Sorry to hear you are having troubles. Im planning on doing the same in the future and researched it was supposed to be a lot easier than what you have been doing. Im hoping im not wrong.

Rearding the front end..Not sure about the TDI cab Set up, but I was under the presumption you simply swap the slam panel from the B7 Cab to the B6 Cab, as long as the engine size is the same. Not the radiator.

Everything that attaches to the Slam Panel should be direct screw/bolt on like the headlights.

But cant think of anything else that needs to be swapped over?! (not talking about the wings,bonnets etc)
 
You will need a b7 slam panel that will take the 2.5tdi and from what you said on the other thread there is no b7 2.5 tdi so you are going to have issues.

I suspect like the saloons it has the intercooler integrated pipe won't be there for the piggery engine slam panels which is what you're going to need. An rs4 unit would be setup for something larger plus the rs4 has 3 rads so may take the 2.5 tdi intercooler rads and radiator.
 
Not on a cabriolet they did not ! He might try the 3.0 Tdi slam panel if it will accommodate the v6 tdi radiator...
 
I haven't seen any 05 B7s cabs 2.5tdi neither and yeah you could possibly try 3.0tdi slam panel as adamss24 has advised.
 
Thank you everyone :)

In the end I decided to cut and shut the 2 panels.
Cut them across the metal part where the bumper support bolts to the car.

Next Problem:
I can't seem to get the bonnet to line up at the back by the windscreen.
The bonnet seems rather low as if it needs some spacers under the hinge to line up with the wings.
 
What the car looked like yesterday:
 

Attachments

  • A4 Cab - No front end.jpg
    A4 Cab - No front end.jpg
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Anyone know where I can get G12 coolant.
The stuff that came out was a rusty colour!
 
Top up and run engine, leave cap off until you see the fluid drop then top up again put cap on let it run and if it needs topping up wait for car to cool then top up as needed.
 
While also having the heating on the hottest setting and fan on the highest speed
 
Thanks guys :)

Got car up to 90°, then checked top and bottom radiator hoses, but the bottom one was still cold!

Any other ideas?

Oh why oh why did i think it was a good idea to do a facelift :-(

Nothing is lining up or going to plan, and i can even sort out the ****** radiator!!!!!
 
You must still have some air in the system, run it with the expansion bottle cap off until the water circulates around the system.
 
This is what it looks like now:
20150308 221130
 
  • Like
Reactions: rjm180 and DrStrange
Congratulations Jamin128! Your ride is now a B7 cabriolet! :icon thumright:

Definitely going to come to you if I need some pointers when I get around to following suit.

Great job. Is it all complete then?
 
DrStrange said:
Congratulations Jamin128! Your ride is now a B7 cabriolet! :icon thumright:

Definitely going to come to you if I need some pointers when I get around to following suit.

Great job. Is it all complete then?
Click to expand...

Whatever you do, don't slam the boot, all them panels will fall off lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrStrange and jamin128
DrStrange said:
Congratulations Jamin128! Your ride is now a B7 cabriolet! :icon thumright:

Definitely going to come to you if I need some pointers when I get around to following suit.

Great job. Is it all complete then?
Click to expand...

Hi Dr Strange,

Its not far off now, but it was a bit more involved than I though it would be.
I will try and do a write up when all is complete.

Cheers
Ben
 
ANYONE NEED ANY B6 PARTS - ALL IN GOOD STRAIGHT ORDER - JUST NEED A RESPRAY :)
 
So what's your plans now then. Paint the front end red, or the back end grey?
 
Jimmy TDI said:
So what's your plans now then. Paint the front end red, or the back end grey?
Click to expand...

Now that's the question!!!!!!

I got the car slightly cheaper as it has the classic red paint issue - laquer peeling and paint fading!!!

Now I liked the red, but I also like the grey. The panels I got are in fairly good condition, so it would be a lot cheaper just to get the rear quarters done rather than the whole car.

Anyone know of any cheap sprayers!!!
 
Nice one Jamin. It looks fantastic, great job mate. It has totally transformed the car and made it look so much newer. I'm gonna have to get this done one day. Looking forward to more pics and and a panel by panel write up please.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrStrange
rjm180 said:
Nice one Jamin. It looks fantastic, great job mate. It has totally transformed the car and made it look so much newer. I'm gonna have to get this done one day. Looking forward to more pics and and a panel by panel write up please.
Click to expand...
Cheers, will do my best on a write up once everything is complete :)
 
jamin128 said:
Hi Dr Strange,

Its not far off now, but it was a bit more involved than I though it would be.
I will try and do a write up when all is complete.

Cheers
Ben
Click to expand...

Great Job though thus far! These things never seem to be as easy as it 'looks' Its going to scare me slightly when I do the same. You need a medal of bravery!

A write up would be great:icon thumright:

Dan.
 
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