TMU's Glacier White B8.5 S4 - MRC Stage 2

I have sports diff and have the 034 rear. Was advised only the rear needed doing. I definitely notice a difference - everything feels more planted. I also have a Canyon Run CR15 strut brace on order (you'll need to buy one of these off Audizine).
 
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Right gents, going to send the below list to Awesome GTI for a quote and place the order end of this week for an expected delivery date of between 14-16 June.

To Order
1- ECS Rear Carbon Fibre Diffuser - Part No ES#3085916
2- 034 Motorsport Adjustable Solid Rear Anti Roll bar - Part Number / SKU 340179. Quickcode: 034-034-402-1005
3- Milltek Non-Resonated full catback with Polished GT100 Tailpipes (SSXAU366) - SKU MIL002. Quickcode: MILLTEK-S4B8.5
4- H&R 30 mm Spring Kit A4/S4 Lim./Sedan Quattro 11/07>Typ B8 (8K), 4WD, ab/from 1.101kg VA-Last/FA-weight

Need Help with

1- Spacers - I am completely lost with which one to go for as there are too many options (links below). would appreciate your help on this.
Options on the page if you follow the below link:

https://www.awesomegti.com/shop-by-...&sort=newest&category=1472&is_category_page=1


They have stopped doing the Eibachs due to customer's complaints about not getting the required drops. I am not sure about HR as I have heard they get the ride a bit too firm - any thoughts on that.

As always, any thoughts, comments, feedback or perhaps steer is welcome :)
 
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I've got H&R super sport springs, fitted at awesome as it happens. I've found the ride to be quite crashy and bouncy with the standard shocks although I now think that was partly down to my tyres. I've just put ps4's on and it's improved things a fair amount.

What wheels/tyres are you running?

I'm pretty sure awesome have the new ST cabinet so can take the guess work out of whether a certain size will work or not.
 
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I've got H&R super sport springs, fitted at awesome as it happens. I've found the ride to be quite crashy and bouncy with the standard shocks although I now think that was partly down to my tyres. I've just put ps4's on and it's improved things a fair amount.

What wheels/tyres are you running?

I'm pretty sure awesome have the new ST cabinet so can take the guess work out of whether a certain size will work or not.

Cheers RyanJonS4. It is 255/35/19 and not planning on changing them.

That's the kind of feedback I got and have read on different threads. I don't have sports diff and ride is already a bit firm TBH and I don't want it anymore bumpier than what it currently is.


White B8.5 S4 MRC Stage 2
Silver B7 A4
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Cheers RyanJonS4. It is 255/35/19 and not planning on changing them.

That's the kind of feedback I got and have read on different threads. I don't have sports diff and ride is already a bit firm TBH and I don't want it anymore bumpier than what it currently is.


White B8.5 S4 MRC Stage 2
Silver B7 A4
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I used to run 10mm spacers on the rear with the standard 19's and 255/35. With Dunlop so sport max I had some rubbing on big compressions yet on michelins I had a fair bit of clearance.
 
I used to run 10mm spacers on the rear with the standard 19's and 255/35. With Dunlop so sport max I had some rubbing on big compressions yet on michelins I had a fair bit of clearance.

Cheers mate. I recently changed all four to PS3s as well. Still have two tyres with 5.5mm tyre tread sat in my garage that I need to get rid of


White B8.5 S4 MRC Stage 2
Silver B7 A4
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@arad85, many thanks for your help with the exhaust options and the detailed messages you sent - much appreciated mate. Milltek Non-Res it is then


White B8.5 S4 MRC Stage 2
Silver B7 A4
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I've got H&R super sport springs, fitted at awesome as it happens. I've found the ride to be quite crashy and bouncy with the standard shocks although I now think that was partly down to my tyres. I've just put ps4's on and it's improved things a fair amount.

What wheels/tyres are you running?

I'm pretty sure awesome have the new ST cabinet so can take the guess work out of whether a certain size will work or not.

also H&R 40mm springs on standard shocks same as above quite harsh at times if the roads arent great, which they never are, i really dont mind it though but might not be for everyone
 
Cheers XP. Had a look and might order them tonight.


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Hate all this wait game, still 2 more weeks before I get all the parts. I could have fitted the ARB, springs and exhaust by now but I like doing things in in one go rather than in a phased approach.

So, to kill the time, I started with little aesthetic changes that I should've done ages ago but didn't as I wanted to do these nearing all the other mods.

V6T to Supercharged
The first and the most basic upgrade. Changed the V6T to Carbon Fibre Supercharged badges. Did try Amazon and ebay for these but wasn't sure about the quality and ended up asked Tom (creweaudi) for OEM ones. I know they are expensive but so is the car. Why put in cheap stuff :-D. Never thought I could use dental floss for my these badges - every day is a learning as they say. Downloaded the template from ECS' website (link here).

Before - cut the template using blade from kids' pencil sharpener. Helps with the perfect edges
IMG_2651_zpsqyhuatj7.jpg


2- Dental floss to remove the badges

IMG_2654_zpsmzypnkho.jpg


3- Used AG Tar remove to remove the adhesive from V6T badges and managed to get from this
IMG_2655_zps0q7xocvy.jpg

to this. Took me a good 10-15 minutes of gentle rubbing with a MF cloth.
IMG_2656_zpsiaox7w4o.jpg


Next step was to put the badges on. First 5 minutes were a bit of a nightmare as I could not for the life of me align the passenger side to my passenger side. And then I had the Apple hit the newton moment. I realised that ECS is a US company and their Driver sits on our passenger side - problem solved :)
I was a bit apprehensive whether or not CF badges would look good but they certainly do:
IMG_2661_zpsenivamgj.jpg
 
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So the above was done last week and then couple of days ago upgraded the front fog and rear reverse LEDs. @t8ups sent me the lights, spot on delivery. and although I am getting reverse light error code, I have decided to stick with them as these look a lot better than the stock ones. Trups also kindly sent me the VCDS coding to remove the error, which will be done in next couple of week. Live with the error for the time being.
Installation was quite easy for the reverse LEDs. Open the boot, unscrew the plugs, take out the lights and replace the reverse LEDs. I didn't take the before pics. Here is what the end result look like:

IMG 0082

IMG 0080


IMG 0167

Right in the below picture is stock and left is changed. I know the picture quality is not great but given it was taken by a 7 year old, I think he's done a good job :)


IMG 0078

Night Time view
IMG 0088
 
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Nice work, @Tashfeen. I need to order some new OEM supercharged badges to replace the eBay copies I put on two years ago. They're looking a bit tatty now.
 
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Nice work, @Tashfeen. I need to order some new OEM supercharged badges to replace the eBay copies I put on two years ago. They're looking a bit tatty now.
I did try Amazon and ebay but wasn't sure about the quality and ended up ordering OEM CF badges through Tom @creweaudiparts. Top bloke!
 
Also, was going through B9 forum earlier today and came across @Daggerit's post about Milltek exhaust that he either ordered or going to order through SHaprer UK (https://www.sharperuk.com/). I spoke to the guy who owns the business (Simon), he is a one-man band but appeared to be a genuine guy. The price he offered for Milltek Valvesonic is £400 cheaper than Awesome and £700 cheaper than AMD. I'll let you do the maths yourselves :)
His Non-Res was slightly expensive though. I am now seriously considering Valvesonic as his quote puts the exhaust within my price range.
In case anyone of you are looking for a Scorpion/Milltek, believe you should give him a call as well.
 
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Took me a good 10-15 minutes of gentle rubbing with a MF cloth.

First 5 minutes were a bit of a nightmare

Two reasons for me to leave my car with V6T badges :)
 
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Two reasons for me to leave my car with V6T badges :)

The rubbing could've been only 2 mins but took longer as I was being overly cautious. Didn't want to leave any permanent scars on her beautiful skin ;)

The first five minutes were a nightmare because of the template I was using, which was from ECS (US). Their near-side is our off-side and vice versa. Took me couple of minutes to figure it out - it was me being thick and nothing else :D :D :D
 
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Folks, can anyone help me with what is happening here - I am a bit lost. I had the interim service done back in Jan @18,500 miles.
fa0ebf9a040f9c6bede082f455b69e8a.jpg

98753b88bcc133cb804b0d16b5838b4b.jpg



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On the dash cluster it says Service in 6100 miles / 30 days whereas MMI says Oil Change due in 6100 miles / 215 days.


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Looks like I'll have to call my local Audi as they did the interim service.


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That is so odd. You'd think the two displays would say the same thing!
 
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is it not service due in 6100 miles and inspection due in 30 days as is on the main display, an inspection service doesn't have to have an oil change as part of it

that's how i would read it anyway, could be wrong

you can reset the oil service from the dash but i think the inspection service has to be VCDS
 
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Yet to call Oxford Audi, my only explanation to this is that I am due brake fluid change in a months time, which I assume the oil change is referring to.
Warranty finishes 21 July, which would be the inspection. This is the bits on MMI.
What I am not sure is the Service I'm 6100 miles in the instrument cluster.


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is it not service due in 6100 miles and inspection due in 30 days as is on the main display, an inspection service doesn't have to have an oil change as part of it

that's how i would read it anyway, could be wrong

you can reset the oil service from the dash but i think the inspection service has to be VCDS

Took the car to Audi today and the service team told me that as brake fluid is neither oil not an inspection and the fact they don't have a way of showing 'brake oil due' that this is how they show it.
She assured me all the counters will be reset to what they should be when brake fluid is be changed. Believe you can't argue with this kind of logic at least I get brain-freeze with these explanations.


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I have had discussions with Audi staff about the oddities with these service interval counters. They have been very helpful and clearly explained to me the concept of service schedules and the information on MMI/DIS displays and that left me with no doubts or confusion. I was perfectly confident in the conclusions I came to following my discussions with these trained and skilled members of the Audi customer support team. And or course that conclusion was that they haven't got a clue about it.

BTW the reason it shows 6100miles/30days is simply that it is using the two lowest figures from both the oil and inspection service counters.

Since you have a stage 2 my advice is to ignore the variable servicing advice and proceed on your own schedule, and in general that should be sooner than Audi advise based on the fact that your engine is more stressed that the one they refer to in their service schedule. As you know I have my used oil analysed. Because I do less than 5000 miles a year that's how often my oil is changed, but based on the TBN it clearly has more life in it. I'd go as far as stating that 10,000 mile oil changes are fine for even a stage 2 car as long as a quality oil is used. Inspection should be done at least once a year, and this should include you as well. As a minimum you should regularly inspect the supercharger belt for any signs of wear. I do this at ever wash - I raise the bonnet to dry/clear the inside edges and then take a look at the belt. Since I have a vdamper I also shine a light down to check that none of the screws have worked loose. And of course when I check my tyre pressures (usually weekly) I shine a light under the car so see if everything looks OK.

Then the rest of servicing is long-term - even spark plugs seem to last several years these days - but with a stage 2 car you ought to change sooner. In my case since I only do less than 5000 miles per year I shall stick to the time schedule as if I did average miles. So I shall have my s-tronic service at 3 years. I shall likely have the spark plugs and air filter changed at the same time.
 
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Cheers for the detailed reply @Dippy. I mentioned exactly the same to the service advisor that it is using the lowest values from the above but her reply was for me not to worry about it too much and that it will be reset after the fluid change. Now this coupled with my overall experience with Oxford Audi leaves me with little or no confidence in my dealership. I do not use this as an opportunity to moan and whinge about them but they are the same dealership, who before buying my S4 on 3 occasions convinced me to buy a Merc. And then when the Sales guy shows me an S4, he starts the car and revs the cold engine high just to show me how the car sounds, I'd expect them to know that.

Anyway and back to the servicing schedule. Whether I am doing average miles (10k) or more I have always opted for full annual service on all my cars as I think it keeps things fresh and the box up in my brain ticked :D. When I bought the car in July last year it was fully serviced on 11/11/2015 and then flexible service in January 17. When I go in this time, I am going to ask them change it to fixed service - after every 10k miles and an oil change every 5 (that I could do myself). I might ask them to throw in the S-Tronic service with the brake fluid change as although it says 39k, the car will be three year old on 17 July next month sol kind of makes sense. Once all done, will move to fixed annual service.

Re: the oil analysis, can I ask where do you get this done from as I never thought about it but would like to get it done before the car goes in.
 
@Tashfeen I hope you have better luck than me with the service counters. They keep putting my car back on variable from fixed. I've given up and just diarised the annual service date. :)
 
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@Tashfeen I hope you have better luck than me with the service counters. They keep putting my car back on variable from fixed. I've given up and just diarised the annual service date. :)

Is it Oxford @scotty76? I won't be picking up the car or even touching it unless I am 100% sure they have changed the service counter to what I want it to be. But cheers for the heads up though


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I've had both Reading and now Newbury set it to the wrong schedule. They just don't seem to get it. :)

Never heard a good word about Oxford and your experience seems to bear that out. :(
 
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I've had both Reading and now Newbury set it to the wrong schedule. They just don't seem to get it. :)

Never heard a good word about Oxford and your experience seems to bear that out. :(

So that's Reading and Newbury a No, No now as well. I might try MK, any reviews?

Re: Oxford, every time I would go in it was one sales guy that I didn't want to see that they'd put me in front of and it would end up in, "why don't you go and buy a BMW/Merc, it would give you everything you want in the car'. And I would be like, wtf! So much so that my brother-in-law actually went and spec'd an E250 rather than A5 he went to order.
They had an S4 out on the floor when I wanted to buy and ended up travelling all way up to Aberdeen to pick up mine. Tells you a lot about their service.


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TBH I'm only sticking with the dealers until warranty end. I don't enjoy the service from any of them and Reading are now on my life ban list. So if you need warranty cover just pick one. They are all awful. :(

Looking forward to getting back to indies. Ones I've used:

Jantech - Newbury: serviced my B7 and wife's VW Jetta for many years. Honest bloke, honest advice.

SJB Autotech - Basingstoke: had a couple of services here. Owner is ex Audi master tech. Good service but not cheap. Still cheaper than main dealer.

Places I'd like to try:

APS - Brackley. Might be handy for you? Good reputation.

VAG Autoworks - Reading. Good reputation.

Hope that helps.
 
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TBH I'm only sticking with the dealers until warranty end. I don't enjoy the service from any of them and Reading are now on my life ban list. So if you need warranty cover just pick one. They are all awful. :(

Looking forward to getting back to indies. Ones I've used:

Jantech - Newbury: serviced my B7 and wife's VW Jetta for many years. Honest bloke, honest advice.

SJB Autotech - Basingstoke: had a couple of services here. Owner is ex Audi master tech. Good service but not cheap. Still cheaper than main dealer.

Places I'd like to try:

APS - Brackley. Might be handy for you? Good reputation.

VAG Autoworks - Reading. Good reputation.

Hope that helps.

Cheers @scotty76. Very very useful and handy as the warranty finishes 21 July. I used to travel to B'ham before finding a local Indy however I am not sure about him working on my S4


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So that's Reading and Newbury a No, No now as well. I might try MK, any reviews?

Re: Oxford, every time I would go in it was one sales guy that I didn't want to see that they'd put me in front of and it would end up in, "why don't you go and buy a BMW/Merc, it would give you everything you want in the car'. And I would be like, wtf! So much so that my brother-in-law actually went and spec'd an E250 rather than A5 he went to order.
They had an S4 out on the floor when I wanted to buy and ended up travelling all way up to Aberdeen to pick up mine. Tells you a lot about their service.


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That is absolutely bizarre ?!? To actively recommend a competitors product and encourage you to buy it is just strange. Sometimes wonder if it's because they feel threatened by the fact that ( generally ) we are more knowledgeable on the product than 80% of the customer facing dealership staff ?
 
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I'm less bothered than you guys about what my car's service counters are. I have HEXNET and VCDS so I assume that I could change my own settings from variable to fixed but I can't be bothered. Besides it is still good to see what the car predicts for when a service is needed vs what I plan.

I am really happy now that having my car modded means I no longer care about dealer servicing. If something goes wrong with my car which should be covered by warranty I know that the fact it is modified will be a bigger hurdle for claiming than the fact that I no longer have a FASH. Also how many B8,5 owners have needed to make a warranty claim in the first 3 years? Possibly none? That's what happens once a platform is mature (unlike the B9). So I am very confident in using an indie again as I did for my B5. In case anyone wants the reference I use MDM Technik.
 
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That is absolutely bizarre ?!? To actively recommend a competitors product and encourage you to buy it is just strange. Sometimes wonder if it's because they feel threatened by the fact that ( generally ) we are more knowledgeable on the product than 80% of the customer facing dealership staff ?

Possibly. I think they also didn't like me telling them not to over-rev the cold engine when I went for a test drive. He started the car which had been pared on the floor for god knows how long and started revving it just to show me how se*y the engine sounded.

It happened between 2014 - 2016, where I wanted to buy a new car but couldn't because I was doing nearly 25k - 30k miles/year, I didn't see the point of buying a new car - too much depreciation. Like Dippy, I like to keep my cars as I don't see the point in paying the dealership over £21k and getting nothing in the end. So, I stuck with couple of B7s, would buy them with low mileage, clock-up miles and sell them. My brother-in-law after buying his E250 back in 2014 picked up his E220 last year and is now looking at the new E220 Coupe. So, they have lost one customer just because of this sales guy.
 
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Right folks, I have had couple of mods in the pipeline and the loooong wait is finally over. Before I post what I received in post yesterday, I wanted to thank @8BallAddict for helping me with few VCDS mods earlier in the week. We met near his workplace and he was kind enough to spare some time for the mods. The mods we did were:
1- Oil Temperature and Lap Timer activated - @8BallAddict recommended it and tbh I have found it very useful. I am not sure about the oil temp before of the mod but keeping an eye after the remap makes perfect sense. I was planing on buying the Torque Pro (which I will still do) however, having the temp right up there is of great help. It also confirms that I was right in waiting a little longer first thing in the morning (and therefore annoying my wife) before moving the car. I now have an evidence to prove why it needs to happen :-D
2- Enable Lock Beep (very handy, don't have to walk twice to make sure car was locked even if the mirrors were telling you it was ;))
3- Rear tail lights as DRLs
4- Enable fog lamp to come on for the same side as that turn signal
5- Enable Hidden Menu in MMI
6-
And most importantly, we enabled ADS
Will write a detailed review on ADS however, I am not sure if it makes or has made any difference to a mapped car. The only difference (little bit) I have felt is the steering being in comfort. Now whether it is psychological or not, we'll find out in few weeks.

So things that I received in post yesterday are:

1- Milltek Catback Non-Res with GT 100 Tips
IMG 0062


2- ECS Carbon Fibre Rear Diffuser
DA515FCE 3BE5 4F54 8AB4 D34A7E3EBA77 5283 00000419A15B8C48


3- 034 Rear Adjustable Sway Bar
IMG 0074


4- Eibach ProKit Lowering Springs
IMG 0063


And I must appreciate Damian @DPM for being extremely patient with all my queries and helpful in sorting out the Eibach ProKit for me. The delivery was superfast and arrived the next day.
And Al Brown @AwesomeGTI, simply superb. Kept me posted on my order throughout and as soon as I made the final payment on Wednesday afternoon, I had all the parts delivered to my the next day on Wednesday
IMG 0078


The car is now booked in with MRC on 28th for the parts to go as well as for map tweaks. Although I know it is going to be slightly difficult I am hoping to get some increase in my hp at least with the Milltek cat-back. Would be disappointed not to.

P.S. 500ps/hp is the target and I have a fair bit of idea how to get to this number, I am hopeful that one of the above would help me get closure to it.
 
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