My Well Groomed A4
- Thread starter A4A4
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Which trickle charger you have bought @A4A4. S4 was parked up in the garage a day before Lockdown_V_3.0 and took it out Saturday night last weekend for ‘essentials run’. The battery was fine though but the tyres were kind of stuck to the floor. Also, it was after about 3-5 hard stops that my confidence in the brakes was restored as the docs were rusty
. Although parked outside, it was pretty much the same on the A3 so, took it out for a run on Sunday.
Decided to not leave either of the cars again for that long. Going to get two chargers for both the cars so, would appreciate some suggestions / recommendations.
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Decided to go for the Maypole MP7423 smart charger. (amazon is your friend) Bought this last April and had no problems with it. Cracking little charger for the money.
https://www.maypoleltd.com/product/mp7423-4a-6-12v-electronic-smart-charger/
A lot do go for the CTEK chargers which are a bit more expensive for the same job.
@V6_Man - I have 2 Ctek MXS 5.0 'sWhich trickle charger you have bought @A4A4. S4 was parked up in the garage a day before Lockdown_V_3.0 and took it out Saturday night last weekend for ‘essentials run’. The battery was fine though but the tyres were kind of stuck to the floor. Also, it was after about 3-5 hard stops that my confidence in the brakes was restored as the docs were rusty.
Although parked outside, it was pretty much the same on the A3 so, took it out for a run on Sunday.
Decided to not leave either of the cars again for that long. Going to get two chargers for both the cars so, would appreciate some suggestions / recommendations.
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One is permanently attached to the X3 at the mo as its SORN'ed & the other is looking after the caravan battery which I've just brought home
If you go down the Ctek route I would use Tayna batteries - great to deal with
https://www.tayna.co.uk/battery-chargers/ctek/mxs5-0/
If you want 2 I'm sure they would do you a deal buddy
Agree with the CTEK, as Bristle Hound said - I have just one CTEK but bought for the pricey sum of £5.99 a spare connector to charge a second car.
The below connection, on my wife's A1 and my A6 which have Stop Start Batteries ( you need the correct charger for Start Start ) - red goes to battery terminal and black to earth on any body fixing or body post ( not battery ).
Just connect charger to cable fitted and done. A must if battery is in the boot as on A6.
I just alternate the charger between both cars after leaving on for 2 days - previously A6 was parked for 6 months with no movement and battery was fine.
The below connection, on my wife's A1 and my A6 which have Stop Start Batteries ( you need the correct charger for Start Start ) - red goes to battery terminal and black to earth on any body fixing or body post ( not battery ).
Just connect charger to cable fitted and done. A must if battery is in the boot as on A6.
I just alternate the charger between both cars after leaving on for 2 days - previously A6 was parked for 6 months with no movement and battery was fine.
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Again a bit of topic, due to the current year most of us have had. The tyres have lasted alot longer than usual.
What are your opinions on swapping the rears to the fronts?
Rears have 5.5m tread left and the fronts both 3.5m tread on them.
I tend to buy all 4 new tyres at the same time. Bought these 4 Goodyear eagle F1's in September 2018 and have done so far 16,000 miles on them. Really pleased on how long these have lasted and been the best for wear.
How best to maximise the tryes?
Just wondering what you guys do.
If your car is FWD there's no harm in swapping, it will squeeze a bit more life from the tyres.
You are indeed the most dedicated detailer on here and your car is thee example we all have to follow
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Been a bit dormant on the detailing front, been in some sort of detailing hibernation. Because still not got around to polishing the car this year! It's the longest I have left the car without a good decent polish.
Looking at current state the finish is not looking too bad and seem to be getting away without polishing it. In all honesty not sure its going to be done this year.
Here it is after a wash and detail spray. Love the colour and shine it gives off in the summer sun.
But the dust! We all know it doesn't last long but get the right angle the shine still comes out through the dusty layer.
Bought 6 of these 465gsm edgeless cloths a while back, ready for when I do the ziano zfx polish. Thought I would add an bosch air filter in the mix.
I've never changed air filter before and can't even remember when the last one was done on a service if any.
Glad I bought one, I will now be changing the filters myself in the future. Mine was filthy and shot, also had loads of leaves and bits gathered in the filter housing. Vacuumed all that out then fitted the new filter, finally finished off by cleaning the engine bay area. Job done.
Looking at current state the finish is not looking too bad and seem to be getting away without polishing it. In all honesty not sure its going to be done this year.
Here it is after a wash and detail spray. Love the colour and shine it gives off in the summer sun.
But the dust! We all know it doesn't last long but get the right angle the shine still comes out through the dusty layer.
Bought 6 of these 465gsm edgeless cloths a while back, ready for when I do the ziano zfx polish. Thought I would add an bosch air filter in the mix.
I've never changed air filter before and can't even remember when the last one was done on a service if any.
Glad I bought one, I will now be changing the filters myself in the future. Mine was filthy and shot, also had loads of leaves and bits gathered in the filter housing. Vacuumed all that out then fitted the new filter, finally finished off by cleaning the engine bay area. Job done.
Hello everyone!
I hope you are well.
I have an Audi A3 8v from 2013 and I have some weird spots/marks on my MMI screen. They seems to be underneath.. I really don't know. I'll attach some pics. Is there any way to get rid of those marks from my screen?
thank you for your time!
I hope you are well.
I have an Audi A3 8v from 2013 and I have some weird spots/marks on my MMI screen. They seems to be underneath.. I really don't know. I'll attach some pics. Is there any way to get rid of those marks from my screen?
thank you for your time!
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Stunning example of an exceptionally well kept car @A4A4. The depth and the gloss is epic!
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Thanks @V6_Man, nice to hear it coming from you, yours are just as well looked after! How's your mega garage going? Feel more garage envy coming on when that's done.
Yeah, I was pleased with how it turned out after its wax. But not missed doing it. Its ruddy hard going.
Looking back on this thread, It just shows how long its lasted since it was last fully detailed.
Cut right down on it all this year and been a bit dormant, especially with the polishing. Not going to happen this year. As long as its gets a regular wash and spray it should suffice until spring next year when it will be be definitely ready for a ziano polish and finish.
Thinking about it a bit more, I will have to come out of detailing hibernation again, Like to get one more coat of wax on before winter for extra protection and to celebrate its 7th birthday, lol.
The car is 7 years old now and flown through its MOT, it's passed all its MOT's with no issues. Feel l can get at least another 3 years out of it.
Also feel the same as last year, still nothing floating my boat at the moment, coupled with the high prices for anything decent. More importantly happy with the cost free motoring. No monthlies/zero payments! . Etc. Since it was a cash buy all those years ago. So it's going to be even harder for me to part with some cash, just for something newer, never been one for keeping up with the Joneses anyway.
Love to get 10 years ownership. Still looks and feels new to me. I guess l get too attached to my cars, been good to me, so it's a keeper!
I'll stop waffling now.
@A4A4 sorry to revisit your work with Plast-RX and MMI screen (or not sorry because it's great work you did!), but I recently got an A4 Avant with the Virtual Cockpit and it's got scratches in the anti-glare all over the right side. There is no way on this earth that I'm taking the time/effort to remove the VC so will need to do it in situ. Did you apply the Plast-RX with cotton pads and buds and then wipe off with microfibre towels? Or did you use towels to apply?
I'm thinking I'll mask off the outer plastic and then go at the anti-glare from there.
I'm thinking I'll mask off the outer plastic and then go at the anti-glare from there.
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Correct, I applied the larger areas with cotton pads and used the cotton buds for the edging and the corners. Left it for 5 mins and then, just buffed off with a MF/cloth.
If you going to use Plast-RX on a VC screen. If I was you, I would try a tiny bit in a discreet area first with a cotton bud, not seen it been applied to such a large area on the newer VC displays. It may be different than mine. Good luck with it.
Thanks for the reply! I've got a B9 A4 Avant and I don't know if they've used a new anti-glare coating but it took ****** ages to get it off with Plast-RX! I couldn't get right into the edges either no matter how hard I tried, so will just have to live with a tiny border around the screen now (almost impossible to see when the screen is on of course). It definitely looks better in terms of no obvious scratches there in the AG coating now and it's naturally brighter because of there being no coating too.
I will say for anyone who's looking to do it please mask off the area if you're not fully taking the screen out of the housing. Luckily there was only one small area that I missed masking off and it's obscure but if you don't then the plastic housing gets buffed up and looks very different to the rest of it.
This is such an informative thread on how to maintain a car. I usually wash and polish it once a month and then have it checked by an auto service shop every 6-months.
Car Polish | Halfords UK
Get your car shining again with a car polish from Halfords. Shop our selection of the best car polishes, waxes, and sprays from leading brands.
www.halfords.com
just buy this and clean your screen with it I can guarantee you will post back here thanking with the impressive result your screen will look newer than the factory
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Last month was new tyres time -
Gone for another set of 4 Goodyear Eagle F1's again. My others lasted over 3 years (kept the old 2 rears still had average 5 mm left on them, to sell on) these were really good wearing tyres and handled superbly, so went for the asymmetric 5.
Set of 4 fitted for £341.56 from Costco which was a bargain price and made the decision to choose these tyres more easier.
After selling my used rear 2 tyres it ended working out £70 a corner for the New Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5's.
Hoping last and perform as well as the last ones, time will tell.
The 4 tyres were dressed while still brand new and clean. Couple coats of AG tyre gel then finished off with back to black.
Liking the rim protection on these tyres bit better than the asymmetric 3's.
Gone for another set of 4 Goodyear Eagle F1's again. My others lasted over 3 years (kept the old 2 rears still had average 5 mm left on them, to sell on) these were really good wearing tyres and handled superbly, so went for the asymmetric 5.
Set of 4 fitted for £341.56 from Costco which was a bargain price and made the decision to choose these tyres more easier.
After selling my used rear 2 tyres it ended working out £70 a corner for the New Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5's.
Hoping last and perform as well as the last ones, time will tell.
The 4 tyres were dressed while still brand new and clean. Couple coats of AG tyre gel then finished off with back to black.
Liking the rim protection on these tyres bit better than the asymmetric 3's.
Long time no hear mate hope you and the family are fan dabby hopefully I'll try and resurrect this section when l get my new car in spring and get the semi pro @NevMan back on board as well lol
. All well @jassyo06 - thanks. Good to hear from you and @NevMan too - it has been actually a very long time. Hope you both and families are keeping well too. Not really sure where the last 24 months have gone, it has been busy on pretty much every front.
Looking forward to your thread mate.
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Stunning as always mate
Saluti, cin cin! Wow, lovely to hear from you all.
It has been quiet on the detailing section from you three. Dormant in general from all, I would say..
Looks like a flurry of rs3 will be hitting this section in spring 22. Can't wait to see them.
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A fair comment, been slack on posting in detailing section, but do have a thread for my new wheels, and did do a new car detail and ceramic
Nev's Mini JCW Countryman Detail & Build
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It is time, the bodywork not had a polish for nearly 2 years! (Looking back it was July 2020)
l left ziano ZFX mix too long and it's gone off so that was binned.
Plan for today.
These two ziano products picked for the job and a stool for back up, to park my **** if l not feeling to bendy.
Going to apply the polish by hand
l left ziano ZFX mix too long and it's gone off so that was binned.
Plan for today.
These two ziano products picked for the job and a stool for back up, to park my **** if l not feeling to bendy.
Going to apply the polish by hand
