This is a long term build, hopefully to go into the build forum where I do not have permission to post yet? If not, mods feel free to move this wherever you feel it fits. I'm hoping to hear advice, suggestions, opinions (even if I disagree), and happy to answer any questions about what and how I did, do, or will do things.
Short term goal, 3-16 months: Sharp looking 12V B5 (for low bucks)
Long term goal, 3-5 years: Sleeper, bland looking fast, great handling car (after finishing Law School and have $ to play)
History:
I've always loved the look and feel of B5s. So Feb/March of 2009 I bought a 1996 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro with 112k miles that had been in storage for 4 years. It had not been licensed or on the road for all 4 years. On a test drive I loved it. But a list of faults include that I knew the transmission might need work, but it run and pulled and shifted fine. A/C didn't seem to work, heater did, but the display couldn't be read out. It ticked like mad in 1st gear but didn't slip or pull lumpy. The factory stereo was yanked. CEL was on. The dash matting was pealing back some. Gear shift know was a pink golf ball. Rims looked like they did battle with a lot of curbs. The speedo didn't work at all. It was missing all of the front lower grill inserts, and one of the headlight washer covers:
I had to assume from the pink shift knob and curb rash, coupled with the neighborhood I bought it in, the factory window sticker in the glove box, this was a car someone bought for their trophy wife? And I although I didn't know the original owner, the 2nd owner (who I was buying it from) was a 14 year old boy who bought it out of storage, put it back in storage, and his parents were forcing him to sell it because it was "to hot" for a "first car" (yea, whatever, it's a 12 valve).
The seller was asking $2800 with 4 year old expired plates. I offered $1,800 cash, and drove off with the title in hand.
Day I got it:
Couple days later, another angle.
I'm hoping this car gets me through 3 years of school, doesn't cost a fortune unless it's for pure joy and fun.
First thing was to get current registration and get it on the road. VAG-COM'ed it, and codes said speed sensor. Replaced it, and still didn't work. Cost, like $35? Took it to the dealership, they said it was last in for service 4 years before, and up to that point they had full records of perfect service. I paid $100 for a diagnosis, which could have been instrument panel, sensor bad installation, anything.
I had a loaner A3 for like 4 days, $100 wouldn't have even covered the rental. When I picked it up, they said everything was fine, but the little magnetic ring in the tranny that sends the signal to the speedo was either cracked or slipped off, which was what was making the ticking in 1st gear. They quoted $2100 for a new tranny install. I said F it, I have a GPS, and I'm not going to speed that much, and I have 2 years to fix it before MVD wants to see the CEL off and speed indication to renew the registration, who cares.
So, even with that wavier, it took a $15 gas cap and AZ license waiver agreeing to fix the impulse wheel in the transmission before November of 2010. (2 year reg minus the renew date in Nov.)
Next, the tires were dry rotting off the stock 16" wheels. I picked up Hand-Me-Down Factory Audi 17" B6 wheels with tires $350 March 21st on AZAudi.org
I have a good friend who's a retired mechanic, and rents his shop out to some guys. But on weekends and nights I can use the lift, tools, including an exhaust bender and spare parts around the shop, so I started to fit a custom 3" exhaust. Not that it would help the 12v preform, but I figured it could be made to sound nice at least. So, I custom crunch bent a streight 3" pipe from the cats back.
Custom exhaust is clearly not for the faint of heart. WOW, did that day involve a lot more work than I planed. Anyway, I replaced this:
With this:
That is a single piece of 3" pipe that runs pretty much from the cats back. Some of the angles were a pain to bend, but I tried to keep them as shallow as possible to help flow. Still, it needed a lot of bends. First we pulled the pipes off at the split clamps past the cats:
That left an opening from the back of the cat pipe at just about 2" coming from each cat:
So, where the pipes come together before was 2" to the rest of the factory exhaust diameter of 2 3/8" the rest of the way back:
That simply wasn't going to do. Had to bring it up in size! So, we sliped 2 1/4" over the pipes comming off the cats, and flaired it up from there to match a 2 1/2" Y fitting we conveniently made out of some old ricer exhaust parts:
Yes, I know that's a sharper angle of Y than factory, but, it is bigger diameter, and I'm not complaining because the price was right ;) Then from the back of the Y, it was now coming off as 2 5/8":
At no point did I want to step down or create more restriction, so as it went back, it had to go bigger.From there, we just flaired it and flanged on 3" pipe the rest of the way back:
So, the exhaust is on. I didn't get completely finished tonight, got a bit to tired. I want to redo one of the clamps, I didn't think it was tight enough, might leak. And it is about a foot short of where it's suppose to come out at the bumper, so I might do some big ass silly chrome exhaust tip or something... But... Exhaust 85% done.
The exhaust was done on Sun Jun 07, 2009, and I have to say, it sounds like a yodeler trying to play the tuba. Right off the cats, it sounded great, but loud. With this 3" pipe, it turned into a horn, and got louder, ear bleeding loud, and "honks" rather than rumbles at anything over 2000 rpm. It sounds like a tuba player honking out a horrible off pitch note through loud speakers. It SUCKS. So, I on the 16th of January, 2010 I'm putting this on the back for $29 off EBay:
It's a 3" in, two 3" out, perforated tubes inside, with packing.
And I'm going to put either a glass pack, or a 1 or 2 chamber resonator up in front, in the places the stock exhaust mufflers were. No performance gain really expected, just looking for a nice sound, and not ear bleeding tuba player.
I wanted a nice brushed aluminum shifter knob, but for now I just spray painted the golf ball flat black.
This week (first week of January, 2010) I finally got around to fixing the fact I couldn't read the climate control. Fix found here on this forum in http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127439. It cost under $10, mostly shipping, was 2 ea bulbs for $1.08 each I think. Looks fine now. I'll deal with the A/C in summer.
End of January, or Early February, 2010 I'm going to finally put in a stereo, probably an Alpine iDA-X305 that I have found online for $210 now, or the new Alpine iDA-X305S if the S model isn't outrageously expensive and comes out in the next couple weeks (just announced this week at CES). Display switches from blue to red to match Audi interior lighting.
Next, I'll completely debadge it other than the Audi logo on the grill and trunk lid (yes, that nice Eurospec 1996 trunk lid!). And black out all the trim with PlastiDip. I might go with black chrome "dope" 4 ring badges instead of the stock Audi badges if that un-named AZ member ever gets back to my PM to him. Also this month I plan to remove the stupid old mobile phone antenna on the rear window. And I'm probably going to replace the AZEuro's decals on the side back windows with AudiZine stickers, I like you guys more then them right now.
I want a "clean" look, so although everyone says put an RS4 front bumper on, I'm probably going to go another way. I'll probably eliminate the headlight washers and put on a cheap (but clean and nice looking in my opinion) AIT AV front bumper.
I do NOT like the RS4 bumper because of the side vents, they look ricer to me... (says the guy willing to do ricer headlights).
Since I'll probably just change the front bumper and repaint the side and rear lowers to match the car for a clean look, I don't know if I want to do a "sport" or "race" set of springs to lower it. I want a daily driver that can handle driveways and speed bumps. I was going to just put on cheap ($210) "sport" springs for a 1.25" drop. But since there will be no body kit, I wonder if 2" "race" springs might be ok and give me daily driver clearance? Opinions?
But that's not probably going to happen until fall of 2010.
This summer I plan on recovering the seats and re matting the dash, and replacing the wood inlays with brushed aluminum inlays (which should look better than wood or carbon fiber with the Audi Titanum and Blue interior). Anyone that wants fabric seats, let me know, I'd rather go leather if you want to swap!
Then over the next two years I want to do some Basic Performance Mods. Nothing overboard, I don't expect a lot out of a 12V.
1. Bored MAF;
2. Intake silicone tube mods.
3. ported/shaped/polished throttle body;
4. XTB
5. ported intake manifold
6. reprogrammed ECU
Any thoughts? It's still going to be a 12V dog, no need in throwing money down the drain.
More immediately, the next cosmetic stage, maybe before the performance mods might be LED tail lights, ricer LED headlights with the brow hood (although I hate the carbon fiber look, might do a cheap plastic brow and bondo blend it smooth to the hood for the same look):
Fall 2010: Total transmission rebuild to make it bullet proof and get my registration renewed.
Maybe a rear sway bar, mount, and bushing upgrade for handling also this year.
So, I want it to look nice, drive nice but it's a short term, daily driver, for the next 2 years.
Then, after 2 years and graduation, I'm thinking of leasing an S5 or S6 for a daily driver. Then I can do a cool Audi 4.2 V8 and Corvette LS2 engines swap like I see being developed here in the builds section for B5s. Hopefully, I'll have the money by then, and they will have it perfected.
Last edited by badlandz; 02-11-2010 at 06:17 PM.
Reason: Update details in intro...
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
I wouldn't say "stoled" a 13 year old car from a 14 year old boy. When I drove it, and rattled off the problems it had (that I mentioned above) that needed to be fixed, I think it was was a fair price for something with so many unknown issues.
He did turn down my first offer of $1500, which I thought it was worth. Maybe I should have walked away knowing it was worth that, but DaNg my love of B5's blinded me.
Originally Posted by andyrew
I wouldnt have gone 3" on a 2.8. BUT... Nice thread so far!
Yea, it doesn't need a 3" at stock 174HP, but when you are in a shop full of free spare parts and there is a big 3" tube staring you in the face, what's a guy to do? I'll take that one sir, and and thank you... Another 6-pack to fit it, be right back!
Sounded like a good idea at the time... Sounds like a brass section on acid now, must muffle that noise!
Originally Posted by speedydragon
that car belongs to Kiet@Vex here on AZ.
Like to see it in person. Grey and carbon fiber works. Love the look. And a car to aspire to.
But carbon fiber on my off-white car... no. Headlight brow and headlights might work ok, but not the carbon fiber for me (ask me again later if I do an engine swap).
Like I said, AudiZine has great cars I've learned from, and I've been lucky enough to get advice, go on a drive, and meet a few people here in Arizona. That car, wow, no comparison to mine. Both B5, but that's the only thing they have in common. Hope to meet him and see it some day :-) He's in Cali, right?
Last edited by badlandz; 01-15-2010 at 01:21 AM.
Reason: Added Responce.
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
Yea, it doesn't need a 3" at stock 174HP, but when you are in a shop full of free spare parts and there is a big 3" tube staring you in the face, what's a guy to do? I'll take that one sir, and and thank you... Another 6-pack to fit it, be right back!
Sounded like a good idea at the time... Sounds like a brass section on acid now, must muffle that noise!
With a 3" exhaust, you need 2 glasspacks to get it down to where you need to be for the street.
The muffler you picked out is pretty cheap, I would be leary of the quality of that thing... That being said its worth a try.
In reality you should have gone with a quality muffler like a borla or magnaflow for the end muffler, then use a glasspack for a pre muffler.
I suggest you either go and pick up a 3" x 24" glasspack @ your local auto parts store or performance shop or pick one up on ebay and put it in while you put in the muffler.
The muffler you picked out is pretty cheap, I would be leary of the quality of that thing... That being said its worth a try.
Really cheap. Made in china, steel, the company is Ractive. I really didn't plan on spending anything on the exhaust, and I kind of got carried away. Now I'm trying to finish it as cheap as I can, and hopefully it will last a couple years.
I do like the idea of how it might look, flat black and about the right size coming out of the cutout in the rear bumper. But I'm aware it could end up looking and sounding as cheap as it actually is.
Originally Posted by andyrew
In reality you should have gone with a quality muffler like a borla or magnaflow for the end muffler, then use a glasspack for a pre muffler.
I suggest you either go and pick up a 3" x 24" glasspack @ your local auto parts store or performance shop or pick one up on ebay and put it in while you put in the muffler.
I do appreciate quality exhaust. But I'm still being a cheap bastard on the other one, I don't see putting money into it when the car needs so much else right now, and it's not a real performance mod at this point. That may mean I redo it later, we'll see.
I have my eye on a Dynomax Ultra-Flow 3" offset in, 3" center out that someone I know has new in the box they have no plan on using. If I can get it for $10-$20 cash, I might try that. If not, I could end up doing another cheap Chinese muffler up front.
I'd really like to just get it done, and move on to cleaning up the interior, the stereo, and a set of headlights. One of my corner markers and one headlight have a crack now. And not having a stereo is a real pain.
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
those ultra flow mufflers are nice. i have one on my car. love it, although its a bit loud..
my ride: 2001 A4qtm... 2871r, 440cc, 3 bar, turbo xs dv, custom 3" exhaust, test pipe, Cm fx400 billet LWFW...
90 CQ.. 2bennett... work in progress
2004 AR... bone stock
Timing belts, clutches, and all done in the North Bay. Pm me.
whoa.. i didn't know there was a azaudi! sweet.. doesn't look like anyone posts in there.. but maybe I can snag some parts. score.
AEB B5 A4, QUATTRO MANUAL SPORT-H&R,FORGE,1BAR,5BAR,BOOM
xbox live: Cr0tchf4i
["im in the computer lab and some dude with about 8" just sat down next to me -S4Jet"
Like to see it in person. Grey and carbon fiber works. Love the look. And a car to aspire to.
But carbon fiber on my off-white car... no. Headlight brow and headlights might work ok, but not the carbon fiber for me (ask me again later if I do an engine swap).
Like I said, AudiZine has great cars I've learned from, and I've been lucky enough to get advice, go on a drive, and meet a few people here in Arizona. That car, wow, no comparison to mine. Both B5, but that's the only thing they have in common. Hope to meet him and see it some day :-) He's in Cali, right?
yes, im located in cali. so happy that someone likes what i did . woo hoo. thats means i didnt waste money, as long as one person likes it. oh hey that is my car . thanks. yeh i only did the carbon boser hood and LED lights, cause i know hella people hate both of those things and i wanted to be different so i tried out this new look. great job with what u have so far cant wait to see what u have at the end of your project.
I put that Chinese black muffler on tonight, and a Magnaflow straight through up front. Sounds awesome. But now it's so quiet I can't believe it's a 3" exhaust! But that makes me happy.
I'll try to post photos and maybe video tomorrow. I've been in the shop working on it since 3:30pm, and it's 11:30pm, time for a beer.
Oh, and I totally scored on the Magnaflow, I think it's like $90-110 new? All it cost me was a pizza and some sweat.
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
The MagnaFlow Straight Through that we put on up front (cost, PIZZA):
The Chinese black thing we put on the back (cost $29):
A couple photos during installation:
The installation went really well, other than getting the bends just right (which took a couple tries, and wasted a lot of 3" tubing). It's on fairly solid. It's tucked up under there very well, but not even close to touching anything.
I'm not happy with how far it sticks out though, it looks a little rice. But, we had to set it back that far to make room for the intermediate pipe between the two mufflers. :-( It's way out there, but looking straight down, it doesn't extend past the bumper.
(and yes, it's been windy and rainy here, so my car is VERY dirty right now)
The sound results (sorry for the crappy iPhone video quality on sound)
Note on the after video. I'll be honest, she burns a little bit of oil, not a lot. But don't all 12Vs? What you see isn't oil, it's a combination of it getting cold out, and probably us being a careless, I think there was some water in the exhaust after cooling off the last few late night welds.
So, now I have this, and it sounds great, charges my iPod, and was a great deal:
:-) And I can play Pandora and Scanner911 through the head unit! So, my own custom radio stations, and what local cops are up to (just curious, I don't do anything to worry about it).
I've started messing with with replacing some bulbs with LEDs too. For now the licence plate lights are all that I've been happy with. I went with 3610-x4 LED Festoon bulb Natural White (2ea @ $2.84ea) from Super Bright LEDs. I know the x6 larger bulbs fit too, but I didn't want it THAT bright. Here's the difference it made, stock bulb on left, new LED on right:
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
..where did you pick up that china special flat black muffler?
Thanks, it's defiantly all low budget mods, but hopefully it won't turn out to hideous.
Muffler was on eBay, cheapest 3" in with outputs that fit the bumper cutout I could find. Seller was "hdcautosports"
I'm thinking headlights next, because they are cracked and really trashed. But so far my budget has me looking at stuff I'm not sure I like. ~$120 will get black LED Halo's, but they look... Hmm... Better than my cracked stock 2 piece I guess. Helix 1 Piece Black eCode Projector Headlights would be nice, but I can't find them for under $230, and it's a "need" more than a want, and I don't really want to spend the $. Maybe a smoked lens cover on the cheap black halo LEDs will hide the rice factor in the day time a little?
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
As for headlights, you can find some good shape oem one piece projectors for under 150. I've looked and looked and looked some more..there really aren't any aftermarket headlights that look as good as the oem. Clear cornered oem..everyone says this. Pretty much right though!
As for headlights, you can find some good shape oem one piece projectors for under 150. I've looked and looked and looked some more..there really aren't any aftermarket headlights that look as good as the oem. Clear cornered oem..everyone says this. Pretty much right though!
x2
And personally, I would have waited on the stereo and gone with the headlights first, seeing as how I hardly ever use my radio (like the sound of my car/road noise better haha), I don't think I would mind it if I literally didn't have one for a while.
2001 b5s4, Unitronic Stage II, Piggies/Straight Pipe, Bailey's DVs
Yea, the headlight thing has me thinking about how to solve the problem cheaper. I went out and looked at mine, and it's only the drivers side corner marker that's trashed.
What if I just pick up a driver side corner marker. Then try to get them as bright as I can, try one of those "restore" kits to clean the lenses up? Then put the best bulbs I can in them (HIDs would melt, right? What's best for stock lights? Halogen, LED, what?) And then a smoke film over them to get them to look how I want?
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
What kind of housings do you have? Are they 1 piece projectors or two piece nonprojectors?
Two Piece Non-Projectors. :-( If they were 1 piece projectors... I'd be happy :-)
Gimme 2 min, I'll edit this and stick in a picture.
K:
Hit something flying on the road, probably a shred of a retread tire, they are all over in Arizona... If I could fix it cheap, and make them look decent in the process, that'd be good. To many other things need $ right now...
Last edited by badlandz; 02-04-2010 at 08:04 PM.
Reason: added picture.
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
Yea, stay away from HIDs then. Nonprojectors throw the light everywhere and you blind people to death haha. So steer clear of HIDs until you get projectors.
And I'm big on not wasting money, so I wouldn't see a purpose to fix up the one corner, and get halogens or something, if you're only going to upgrade to 1 piece projectors and HIDs later. I would either upgrade now, or try and suffer through it until you can upgrade.
Someone else said, you can find some OEM projectors on here for fairly cheap if you don't mind used parts.
2001 b5s4, Unitronic Stage II, Piggies/Straight Pipe, Bailey's DVs
Hmm, you could maybe get a corner piece for real cheap, and clean up the lenses. That might be acceptable for a quick fix. I saw a DIY for washing/sanding/brushing lenses somewhere around here. It was on a Jetta I believe.
2001 b5s4, Unitronic Stage II, Piggies/Straight Pipe, Bailey's DVs
That's a sweet deal! And only slightly more than just the corner markers I've seen. One of those at a time... just have to start calling my car "winky" or something until I found a matching one for the other side.
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
Yea I have to say that's what I was thinking when I first clicked on it too. I was a bit surprised once I started reading. I was hoping for a very interesting headlight washer cap project.
SOLD! (yea, I bought it)... OMG, I've not stopped laughing for about 20 minutes now. Call my B5 "winky" for a while...
Worlds most lopsided B5 build... Next thing I know, it'll be NASCAR and I'll only be able to turn one way.
(seriously hope I can find a matching passenger one!)
Originally Posted by MCFLYYY
I dunno. maybe he's planning on heavy off-roading, and would need EXTRA STRENGTH headlight washers? Haha
You have no idea... local meets, they still call me "All Road" because I'm the only non-dropped Audi. For example, this group shot, they put me WAY in back. But I was the only one that FLEW up this semi-private blocked off road, over the speed bumps, not fearing the potholes, and LOVED the tight twisty little route up to the mine with loose gravel and all... I love rally... Maybe I won't drop it and put on some mud or dirt tread tires! LOL
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
Ha that's not the back!! Poor Bimmer...stuck behind the Allroad....hahahha
Between the R32 and the Bimmer, Part of it was who could get up the hill to park there... matttl16's (from here on AZ) A4 had some issues with speed bumps, and I don't think he wanted to go any farther than he had to.
1998 B5 2.8 30v Quattro and 1996 B5 2.8 12v Quattro
Oh whatever, Bimmer's and their excuse parades haha. Btw, to get sort of semi-back on track...what sort of performance mods are you looking at? I feel like were sort of on the same track, graduating college in a bit as well before getting into the serious modding. I'm just a little ahead of you in that iNsaNiA only needs a bumper (someone curbed it, cracking tabs on the bumper so it sags about a 1/4 of an inch, and pulling so hard that they yanked the tabs off the passenger headlight too, resulting in me opting for the clear cornered upgrades so quickly).
I'm still in the process of deciding exactly what I want out of him. I know he's going to be a daily driver, so deciding on the turbo upgrade is my first goal. Then I can plan around that.
2001 b5s4, Unitronic Stage II, Piggies/Straight Pipe, Bailey's DVs
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Originally Posted by badlandz
. woo hoo. thats means i didnt waste money, as long as one person likes it. oh hey that is my car 
. great job with what u have so far 
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