What have you done to your Audi A4 B7 today?

[B7Tourer]

I'm the same about glass. My windscreen really could do with a replacement; over the years the very fine mottling from road dust and stones sometimes makes it a bit less than clear in direct sun; but it's not bad enough to claim on, and it always passes the MOT. An insurance windscreen replacement guy came to do my neighbour's; we have a communal car park, being a former mansion house; now flats. I asked him to look at mine; he was really impressed that it was an original Audi windscreen; and urged me to keep it - maybe the new ones are not as good. The later Seat Exeo one, that fits the B7s, is acoustic though and I had thought about that.

The garage next to my work, has really cocked up the new driver's window regulator. It works now but the window runs out the channel at the top; and there is a gap at the top of the door card; I had to click the door pull out too to get it to lock properly. They have been excellent with mechanical; I had it serviced too at the same time; and they take videos of the work for proof. No matter; I'll give him another chance; to be fair he was rushing it for me to pick up right after work. I have new door clips arriving Monday so, he can use those. If not I'm going to do it properly myself, which I would have done then; but I've paid him and he has to try and sort it first. I bought a new speaker grill a while back; there's a slight crack in the old one (people kick the card - not me, previous owners, getting out - and I want to replace that anyway - they're plastic welded in BTW.

 

[Matt275]

My screen took a nasty chip on Friday night on the way home from work. What can you do....wrong place wrong time etc. I got told I could leave work early because of bad traffic, so went a different route....then got karma lol

It's a smallish / medium bullseye with 3 small cracks, I'm going to mark them from the inside and see if they spread.
It's on the top right passenger side, above sweep zone B so should be ok. I don't want water to get in it and for it to turn that grey murky colour. I may get a Rain X repair kit which was good on my B5.5 Passat during Covid - that was a small corner to corner crack.

My screen has auto wipers rain sensor, so I think a replacement would need the bracket. I wonder if the Exeo acoustic one has this? Mine isn't heated.
Is an acoustic screen simply a bit thicker?

 

[B7Tourer]

My screen has auto wipers rain sensor, so I think a replacement would need the bracket. I wonder if the Exeo acoustic one has this? Mine isn't heated.
Is an acoustic screen simply a bit thicker?

They're actually thinner, I believe; and yes, I believe they have the rain sensor and all too.

 

[northpole]

They're actually thinner, I believe; and yes, I believe they have the rain sensor and all too.

Thinner? Well no thank you I rather stick to the same thickness I got now.

 

[B7Tourer]

Got nothing to do with strength, nor nothing else; it's just the way they are - the acoustics - as I say, maybe wise, that's why the windscreen man said, stick hold of what I got.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Make a spot decision this morning to splash out on a 2nd pressure washer.
Its something that's been on my radar for some time just seemed to get overlooked until now.

So many to choose from as well, what to choose was the big question.
I used to have an electric KEW pressure many years ago that was excellent, it never failed me, and just gave up in the end due to wear and tear.

I just wanted a lightweight unit to wash the old bus, MTB , race bikes etc, nothing to powerful as I have a 10hp diesel pressure washer rated at 3400PSI which does the more difficult jobs.

quick interwebby snoop and Karcher seem to be ok for my requirements, not one of their top-end units, just a plain old Karcher K2 Power Control Car & Home Pressure Washer - 1400W for £100

The first impression out of the box, it is a bit rubbish if I'm brutally honest.
Build quality is very flimsy, the hose is just a pain being semi-rigid so just no flexibility with it , along with the quick lock fittings, all a bit naff.
But, all that said, it does work ok, enough pressure for the jobs intended, just let down by build quality.

I gave the old bus a wash with it this afternoon, and it worked ok and was much quicker to get going than my 10hp unit, and much quieter too..lol
Was it worth £100, probably yes on the scale of things and will serve its purpose for me, I'm not expecting it to last long but I'll see how things go.

So on a crappy day, I've acquired another tool for the garage and cleaned the old bus, now time for a cuppa and ginger nuts to dunk....

 

[northpole]

lol you still got a karsher and they are kinda oke even the lower budget ones... if you really wanted something cheap there are loads of options the last one i was considering was one of those battery operated ones that can run of a bucket of water... simply because it means you can just take it with you and have a jetwasher on demand... but still haven't bught one because i can't seem to find any decent reviews on those things.

 

[Matt275]

Kranzle K10 122 TS for the win!

 

[Charlie Farley]

Kranzle K10 122 TS for the win!

I've seen them advertised somewhere, look nice but a tad expensive just to wash the car and bikes.

 

[Matt275]

Clean and Shiny do them, got mine from Simpsons in Westbury in 2021, overkill really but very well built. Gerry and Helen there are great.
I upgraded the gun, hose, connections for stainless TEMA and lance from new.
Used it this afternoon...heavy old thing though....23 kg I think it is. Once placed on a foam mat that's it as I have the 15 meter hose.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Clean and Shiny do them, got mine from Simpsons in Westbury in 2021, overkill really but very well built. Gerry and Helen there are great.
I upgraded the gun, hose, connections for stainless TEMA and lance from new.
Used it this afternoon...heavy old thing though....23 kg I think it is. Once placed on a foam mat that's it as I have the 15 meter hose.

Sounds like a serious piece of kit.
I've had a few pressure washers over the years the Kew lasted a long time just gave up in the end .
I had 2 honda petrol engined ones stolen , then a 3rd electric one exploded...lol

now still have the diesel one on a trolley , really heavy duty piece of kit , does all the serious cleaning with ease but just a faff getting it all out to be honest.

 

[Matt275]

Took the car to National Windscreens today to see if they could repair the nasty chip / bullseye I sustained last week.
They could, and did the bullseye with cracks and another smaller chip for £60 + VAT.

I literally just turned up this afternoon to see if the bullseye was repairable, and the next thing it was in being done. Really nice helpful guys. I perhaps could've gone through insurance, but not worth the risk of losing my protected no claims etc....I just don't trust insurance companies. Any excuse and all that.

The damage has all but disappeared, very happy with the work and service received. I didn't think the price was a rip off either....stops the cracks spreading too.

They made me read a standard disclaimer that whilst attempting to repair that the screen could crack and be toast, so was a bit of a gamble, but nothing happened. Two very decent repairs to be honest.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Took the car to National Windscreens today to see if they could repair the nasty chip / bullseye I sustained last week.
They could, and did the bullseye with cracks and another smaller chip for £60 + VAT.

I literally just turned up this afternoon to see if the bullseye was repairable, and the next thing it was in being done. Really nice helpful guys. I perhaps could've gone through insurance, but not worth the risk of losing my protected no claims etc....I just don't trust insurance companies. Any excuse and all that.

The damage has all but disappeared, very happy with the work and service received. I didn't think the price was a rip off either....stops the cracks spreading too.

They made me read a standard disclaimer that whilst attempting to repair that the screen could crack and be toast, so was a bit of a gamble, but nothing happened. Two very decent repairs to be honest.

Glad you sorted it out now, and it is definitely a good move doing non-insurance.
I was caught out the same way, I made a claim for a chip as it was covered, £10 charge, only to find it had been marked as a claim on my policy, it didn't effect my no claims but they did whack up my premiums the following year by £150 for that fix.
I wasn't amused and would have paid out privately had I been aware of that sneaky move.

 

[Matt275]

Glad you sorted it out now, and it is definitely a good move doing non-insurance.
I was caught out the same way, I made a claim for a chip as it was covered, £10 charge, only to find it had been marked as a claim on my policy, it didn't effect my no claims but they did whack up my premiums the following year by £150 for that fix.
I wasn't amused and would have paid out privately had I been aware of that sneaky move.

Yep that was exactly my fear, I've never had it happen to me as I've always had any windscreen work done privately. Years ago I had two screens in the space of 3 months on the B5.5 Passat, but got the screens discounted through parts at work so wasn't so bad.

I'm hoping the work yesterday doesn't somehow get flagged and marked on my policy...it shouldn't do.

 

[northpole]

oww i'm saving up to replace the complete thing with an original audi one... why you ask? simply because I rather have the real thing on it it has held up since late 05 and has a few stone chips in it... they have been treated with the rainx stuff anyway so no chance of them getting worse. but i rather have a new one put up since it's that old. Paying for it myself too so it's going to be expensive.... but it's worth it.

I also noticed that there is 1 dent in that oem glass OS front topcorner... how it got there beats me but yeah that is the main reason i want to replace it.
note i said dent: just like when the bodywork has a dent it just curves weird in that corner. And no there is no structural damage under it i tripple checked!

 

[Matt275]

oww i'm saving up to replace the complete thing with an original audi one... why you ask? simply because I rather have the real thing on it it has held up since late 05 and has a few stone chips in it... they have been treated with the rainx stuff anyway so no chance of them getting worse. but i rather have a new one put up since it's that old. Paying for it myself too so it's going to be expensive.... but it's worth it.

I also noticed that there is 1 dent in that oem glass OS front topcorner... how it got there beats me but yeah that is the main reason i want to replace it.
note i said dent: just like when the bodywork has a dent it just curves weird in that corner. And no there is no structural damage under it i tripple checked!

That's strange, maybe some sort of factory defect? Unless it's been repaired there before?

 

[northpole]

No history of it ever being repaired other than the repairs I've done.

 

[Charlie Farley]

A dry day at last so a quick wash was in order, then, a bit of unpacking.

A new airtec IC and 4 new Coil packs, but still awaiting the Maxton bits, maybe Monday.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Today has been a mixed bag, fitted the APR coilpacks so that's done.
Then started to dry fit the airtec bits just to check everything was complete and fitted, started out well then its all gone tits up.
No instructions included, not an issue as they are downloadable but one would have thought something should have been included.
Then the next problem, one of the MAF fitting bolt threads on the intake tube is damaged or more to the point poorly tapped resulting in a useless fixing, i could just retap it but its brand new and should be 100% out of the box.
so that's put a stop to this going any further until I've had words with the Airtec or most likely the retailer I purchased it from.

It's not the best of starts to be honest, it does however give me time to workout a way of affixing the OEM bumper supports to the Airtec support bar.
I know people say it's fine without them, but the bumper alignment adjustment and a degree of support on the front end are lost without them. I will have a think, do some measurements, and see what I can fabricate to get them fitted.

always something.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Also decided to refit the LCR splitter, its just sitting here looking unloved and unwanted so its going back on along with some maxton bits.

 

[Matt275]

First wash in a while today. Whilst it was dry and mild did a good wash, vacuum and interior wipe down. Got the Rupes out with the very soft pad to apply Collinite 845 again, such a time saver applying it with the machine on speed 1.5 - 2.
It's not as quick as using a quick detailer of course, but did the whole car in around 50 minutes. Buffed off with soft microfibre.
Comes up so nice.

 

[Charlie Farley]

First wash in a while today. Whilst it was dry and mild did a good wash, vacuum and interior wipe down. Got the Rupes out with the very soft pad to apply Collinite 845 again, such a time saver applying it with the machine on speed 1.5 - 2.
It's not as quick as using a quick detailer of course, but did the whole car in around 50 minutes. Buffed off with soft microfibre.
Comes up so nice.

I think you need to come round and do mine Matt.

 

[B7Tourer]

Well, yesterday, got my car back, from the paint shop; for the lacquer correction on the front driver's wing; great job, but... what a day. Firstly, after booking the Uber, I dropped my phone in the loo! Kaput! I had to forget it, so went to wait for the taxi; collected the car and went to carefully wash off the the rest of it, apart from touching the wing... and then I noticed, right there on the front bumper; driver's side a large scrape, in line with the fog light, all the way down to the lip, which is gouged in somewhat; with flecks of green paint in it. I called up my paint guy, Rob; he said it was there when I dropped it off, and he wondered why I didn't want him to do that as well - he's a good guy and I trust him, but I wish he'd called me about it; but I can't understand why I didn't look the car over carefully enough before; so my fault really... it's got to be some old codger, in the village; it's happened before; and round near me some of them should not be driving at all; hell, they can hardly get out of their cars, some of them... Anyway he's going to fix, for 50 quid...

Then on top of that; I fortunately had an iPhone 14 pro max; so I had to get the sim and all the apps, up and working on that; and I'm not familiar with Apple stuff. The biggest problem, is I've lost Android Auto in the car; and Carplay doesn't work, as it stands.. so I've bought another wireless dongle (both AA/Carplay) and an Audi lightning to USB charging cable, for the armrest install... good price 58 quid for the both; but it's 108 quid, all in, I didn't want or expect to be spending; that's almost the cost of the new brake discs...

 

[B7Tourer]

 

[Charlie Farley]

A few more bits today.
Maxton goodies, nice to see you get the fittings.

I will be dropping these off along with my S4 blades for a nice new paint job after xmas.
Everything has to match in Brilliant black.
On the Airtec front, I received an email from them at 9.00 this morning apologizing for the defective part and will send out a replacement pipe on a next-day express delivery service.
All seems fair enough and quick to resolve the problem.
Happy days

 

[Charlie Farley]

Whilst I'm doing all these bits also replacing the tired xenon bulbs with something a bit brighter.
Just seems logical to do all these jobs when the engine is out , new bulbs/FMIC/exhaust /turbo kit/oil pump freewheeling sprocket/ inlet decoke/clutch DMF/.
That lot pretty well uses up my B7 piggy bank allocation for 12 months.....just enough left for a remap.
and the asethics of course, resprayed S4 blades and Maxton side skirts.

Bulbs

 

[Charlie Farley]

Airtec was good to their word and a replacement intake pipe arrived first thing this morning and with undamaged threads, sometimes it is nice to have a quick resolution to a problem, a lot of companies would do better if they provided the same service as Airtec did .

 

[northpole]

Airtec has a name to uphold so yeah I expected nothing less from them. They aren't cheap but this is one of the reasons, excelent aftersales support and their intercoolers are top notch. both in fitment and flow. (although there are some cheap alternatives that are as good flow wise, if they come with a defect 9 out of 10 times it means you'll have quite a long time with out a replacement if they do actually replace it)

 

[Charlie Farley]

Miltek arrived this morning , looks nice quality and should be for the price.
A quick check on outlet tube dia and its 50mm which throws a spanner in the works for the tips I was looking at.
I expect the solution will come to me later.

 

[Matt275]

Christmas has come early for you Rob!

 

[Charlie Farley]

Christmas has come early for you Rob!

Sort of Matt, its just bits I've been saving up for over the last 12 months, now if they were a free present that would be brillaint.

 

[norad97]

Sort of Matt, its just bits I've been saving up for over the last 12 months, now if they were a free present that would be brillaint.

Miltek arrived this morning , looks nice quality and should be for the price.
A quick check on outlet tube dia and its 50mm which throws a spanner in the works for the tips I was looking at.
I expect the solution will come to me later.
View attachment 279321View attachment 279322

What about the tips with the kit, what diameter are they? Do they slot into the back box.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Hi Richard , the kit came with 100mm Gt100 tips that fit straight on, that would be ok if i had the single outlet s-line valance fitted but i have the S4 dual outlet, so short of going back to the original valance, which i don't really want to do, i need to find a suitable means of attachment of either my existing quad 90mm tips or the miltek ones you found .
I do rather like those ones, they are also a better-staggered profile and 80mm outlets so a bit more valance-friendly.

 

[Charlie Farley]

It's just a case of how much wiggle room there is getting them onto outlets without forcing them on, the reducers will fit perfect onto the exhaust outlet, its just getting the tips onto the reducer.

 

[Charlie Farley]

I maybe getting out the TIG welder .

 

[norad97]

Hi Richard , the kit came with 100mm Gt100 tips that fit straight on, that would be ok if i had the single outlet s-line valance fitted but i have the S4 dual outlet, so short of going back to the original valance, which i don't really want to do, i need to find a suitable means of attachment of either my existing quad 90mm tips or the miltek ones you found .
I do rather like those ones, they are also a better-staggered profile and 80mm outlets so a bit more valance-friendly.

Yes, I know you have dual tips and twin valance, but would those dual tips I showd you not fit on your new exhaust, as they are Milltek.
Might be worth speaking to Milltek.

 

[Charlie Farley]

I did a bit of research last night Richard, those are mitlek tips but from a A5 Milltek system which uses a larger diameter pipe from the rear silencers hence why they are 2.25" ID fitting .
They will fit the B7 S4 valance perfectly, its just making a suitable joint and getting the poke right.
Anything that is plug and play for the B7 miltek needs to be 50.80mm ID (2")

Audi > A5 > B8 (2007 - 2016) > Sportback 2.0 TFSI 2WD and quattro Manual (2008 to 2012)
Audi > A5 > B8 (2007 - 2016) > Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI 2WD and quattro (manual only) (2008 to 2012)

 

[Charlie Farley]

The added complication with using a reducer is factoring in the added length of it.
So most are 100mm long so 50mm in each piece but its still going to be at least 50mm longer as it effectly an edge to edge fit.

 

[Charlie Farley]

I've asked the seller for dimensions of the tips so I can gauge wether they will actually fit in lengthwise, no point going anyfurther if they will be too long or involve cutting off too much.

 

[Charlie Farley]

They are quite long as they are, very nice though, would look great fitted to the old bus.