New S4 Owner – upcoming mods, lots of questions, and mini-review

[ahkim]

Updated 3/25/13 - I added a table of contents to keep track of my info/projects, hope it helps.

NAV-TV and Alpine Backup Cam: posts 13, 15, 60, 71, 72 (video), 120
LED Lights: posts 22, 30
Bel Radar Install and Mirror Mod: post 37
Detailing: Post 35, 64, 86
Avant Garde M310 Wheels and Super Sport Tires: posts 45, 54, 60, 64, 67
How to take the dash and glovebox apart: post 53, 55
How to remove plastic side kick panel: post 71
OSIR D-Trim Gauge Cluster Rings: post 70
Plastidip MMI Trim: post 72 (driver side), 87 (MMI side)
First Track Day: post 78, 85 (videos)
Glossifier for Plastidip: post 79, 81
iPhone 4s Bluetooth Toggle for Siri: post 81
LaminX Tail Light Tint: post 93
Other misc updates: 97
Plastidipped Grill: post 107
Vinyl Wrap Wheel Caps and Install Audi Rings: posts 108, 115
Samsung Galaxy S3 Connectivity: post 118
Camera for Car Seat: post 122
iPhone display on MMI screen via Apple TV: post 131
Proclip phone mount: post 134
Harry's Laptimer Video and GoPoint OBDII Sensor: post 139
Remote Start (Compustar Drone, EZGO, and 2 Way RF remote): post 145, 149-150 (main content)
Audi Ice Event: post 151



Upcoming or in-progress mods/work:

Finish radar detector install: mount GPS receiver in center speaker grill
Alu Kreuz Stabilizer (maybe)
ECU Tune (maybe)
Repair Curb Rash
Goshers Side Blind Spot Detection System

Original Post Below:

Hello everyone!

After a couple years of looking at the BMW 3 series and A4s, I pulled the trigger on a 2010 S4. I’ve driven an Acura TL for the past 8 years and it’s been solid. I was a little hesitant buying my first German car but decided that it was now or never. I was 90% ready to get the new 328i or a new A4 but I was able to find a good deal on a used S4. I flew out to California to test drive it and was floored by the performance. I hadn’t driven an S4 prior to that. The previous owners kept it in excellent condition. While a new A4 with chip would’ve kept me happy, the S4 acceleration off the line is unbelievable.


Pickup at the Mall.

Specs: The car has just about everything I wanted; Ibis White, DSG, Prestige, B&O, Sport Diff, Advanced Key, Nappa and stainless steel inlays. Previous owner had it tinted and put in the Stratsmosphere Intake, which I like. The only thing it doesn’t have is the backup camera. More on that later…

Driving Impressions: Since it was my first time driving an S4, I was surprised by the DSG, at the least the clunkyness of it. I’m used to it but the hesitation off the line is still annoying. I also had the brake squeal issue but thanks for the forum, I was able to get it resolved through the TSB. In fact, my initial reaction when I test drove it was that the brakes were too grabby, but I got used to that as well. The new brakes are less grabby but still good enough. As others have pointed out, the car shakes when turning the wheel all the way to one side, is there a fix for that?

Now for the good: even after nearly a month, I’m still amazed by the acceleration. I really have to be careful when merging on the freeway, I usually like to give it some gas but with this car it’s so easy to hit 70-75mph without blinking. As for handling, it’s also great. I can really feel that rear end come around on corners when the sport diff in in dynamic. One word, awesome. So glad I held out to find one with the sport diff. I’m looking forward to auto crossing this season, it’s really the only place I can safely push the car and find the limits. The ADS lite is also a nice touch, quite a difference in how the transmission and steering responds. As for ride comfort, the ride is definitely harder than my Acura but not bad considering it rides on 19” wheels. I don’t think I would want to lower or change out springs as it’s probably and the best balance for me. One side note, while test driving out in CA, it was funny how many people wanted to “race” during the test drive.

Around town, I'm getting about 16 mpg but that's having fun. I had one longer drive (25 miles) and was able to get 29 mpg, not bad! I'm hoping to get around 18 mpg average.

Other Impressions: The seats are comfy and the driving position is good. Great interior, of course. The Nav Traffic works pretty well, I’ve been surprised at how accurate it’s been. The advanced key is great, I love walking up and just getting in. The Nav system is good but I wish I had the revised system coming out on the refreshed A4/S4. Same with the climate control, the dial for the seat heater opr fan speed should be one step, not two. In this regard, some of the user interaction feels like a step back from the Acura. However, for someone like me into tech, it’s not an issue. It’s great that all of the controls are by the shifter, very nice.

So as soon as I got the car home, I started buying the usual car care products. I’ve used Zaino before but thought that it wasn’t necessary with a white car. I read good stuff about the NXT2 Tech Wax and will give it a try. I also got 303 for the interior, Tuf Shine for the tires, and a bunch or other stuff. For now, I’m going through a power wash at a gas station, it’s not touchless but I haven’t noticed any fine scratches from it yet. I’ll probably only do this during the winter. Anyone have issues with non-touchfree washes? I have the weathertech fitted floormats, I highly recommend them. I also bought the trunk liner but haven't received it yet.


UPCOMING MODS: So on to the fun stuff, like I said, I’m into my tech toys so my first mods are not performance related. My first mod was to install the license plate LEDs, I went with the Blesk brand from hidconcepts. Looks good and easy to do. No error codes so far. I’m going to replace the dome and puddle lights as well. Can the rear backup or front turn signals be changed to LED?


Backup Cam: I just bought the Alpine Hce-c300r backup camera.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/hce-c300r
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la_GowMdRE8


It’s pretty interesting, it uses the camera and will detect motion on the camera and give an audible beep/warning. Anyone have experience with this? I still need to buy the module that will interface with the LCD. It seems I have 3 choices, Nav-TV, tvandnav2go, or xcarlink. I think I’m going with Nav-TV since that’s what 3 of my local installers have recommended. I’ve read about issues with xcarlink so will probably avoid that. Anyone with Nav2Go experience and the B8 model? It’s half the price of the Nav-TV. I’ll post reviews when I’m done. I looked into getting a Gentex LCD rearview mirror but was told that the mirror is not compatible with our cars since it has the rain sensor. I got a quote from Best Buy to install this for $80. That’s really cheap. I know a lot of people aren’t fans of BB but I met with the installer and he said he’s done a lot of work on Audis. I showed him the manuals for the module and camera and he said he could do it. What do you think? Can I trust Best Buy? If I go somewhere else, the install will be closer to $250-300. One thing I haven't figured out is where and how to mount the camera. The license plate mount would block the trunk release.

Radar Detector: My next mod is an installed radar detector. I’ve used the V1 and Escort 9500xi but wanted to go with an installed unit since I hope to keep this car for 8+ years. After spending some time over at radardetector.net, I’ve decided to go with the Bel Sti-R Plus. It seems like everyone agrees it’s the best out there. I’m going to try the install myself. I’m also hoping to install the led display into the rearview mirror. I have a V1 and 9500xi for sale, please PM if interested. Photos below show the look I'm going for.




Photo from radar-mirror.com

Remote Start: The last tech mod I’m planning on installing is either a Viper Smartstart or Compustar Drone remote start system. Yes, I’ve heard a lot of people say how complex our cars are but I’ve talked with a couple installers that have done these on Audis and say they’ve had no issues. I figure the worst case is that I have to pay to have it removed if a more serious issue comes up and the dealer makes an issue. What do you guys think? Is this a bad idea? I don't want to risk my warranty. The installer told me that I’ll be able to start my car from my iphone, walk up to the car, get in and drive off (assuming the advanced key is in my pocket).

Wheels: I plan on getting the Avant Garde M310 wheels in Black. I looked at VMR vs AG, and it sounds like most people say the AG is better for the money. I just need to find some good summer tires. I’ll be using the OEM wheels with snow tires next season. Anyone know how the AG M310 compares to the OEM in terms of weight? Will it be suitable for auto crossing?


Other: Some other mods I’m considering are Lamin-X in light tint for the tails and the Alu Kreuz Drivetrain Stabilizer. I’ve read the posts about the Alu Kreuz, it always gets great review but do you guys think it’s worth it for everyday driving? I’ll Autocross only a couple times a year so I don’t think it’s worth it just for that.

One last question, which forum do you prefer? Audizine or Audiworld? Are most people members of both and check both?

Sorry for the long post, but I’m excited to be part of the Audi club. I’ll update this post as I complete my mods.

[AudiNoobCAN]

Congrats! look forward to seeing your mods

[Okan509]

welcome, keeps us posted on mods.

I like Audizine, I have a membership over at Audiworld, but never check it. I like the community here better, and the actual forum simplicity and organization here.

[dawei213]

Congrats on the car! Just a few responses/comments to your questions:

1) For some detailing stuff, you should look to detailersdomain.com. Phil, who is a member here on the forum, runs/owns the business and have a great selections of detailing stuff and tools. He has sales on some of the good stuff on a fairly regular basis too.

2) I'm looking at the AG M310's as well. The biggest difference between the AG and VMR is the AG is low pressure cast wheels while the VMR is gravity cast wheels. Low pressure cast wheels are better but I'm not sure how the M310's weight compared to OEM. I won't be surprised if they are lighter. I can't see why they won't be able to handle autocross work or even track work.

3) The Alu Kurez, yes, it's a wonderful piece of engineering. It's solid and does tighten up the steering response. However, in normal everyday driving, you can't/won't notice the effect much if any. Only when you push your car harder can you feel the effect. You mentioned you would like to autocross and for it's price, it's worth the price of admission. If you were only going to be daily driving it, then I would say it's not necessary nor will you get much benefit out of it.

4) I check out both here and Audiworld but I post here as it's more active here. Some people tend to cross post from here to the Audiworld to elicit more response.

G'luck with the rest of your decisions and welcome to the forum.

[ahkim]

Thanks for the welcome and tips. I got the Alpine camera today. After looking at the wires, I'm glad I decided to have a professional install it. I just need to order the NAV-TV/Nav2GO module. I'm going to add an iphone input as well.



Regarding the AG M310 wheels, what is the correct width for 19" and the OEM tire size? (255/35/19) I've received different answers from the online shops, is it 8.5 or 9.5?

One other question, anyone know what is located directly behind the plastic to the left of the nav screen? Is there space behind the plastic to mount a display? I'm thinking about doing a custom install of my radar display there. Please see photo below:

[svander]

Can the rear backup or front turn signals be changed to LED?

I'd like to know as well

[Okan509]

I'm not too sure what's behind there, but I've had that piece out 2 or 3 different times. It comes right out with the breaking of seal of some glue if you want to see if it will accommodate what you need for yourself. Just don't remove the passenger airbag cord, or if you do, don't turn the car on while you have it out, you'll have to vag an error off or wait for Audi to take care of it

[ahkim]

Thanks Okan, I decided to go with the display in the mirror. It'll be a cleaner install.

Svander - I haven't seen any working solutions yet for LED backup or front turn signals.

Just installed a LED puddle light, I lined the inside of the housing with metallic tape like the DIYs recommend. Here's a comparison shot of LED vs stock.



I also got my Weathertech trunk liner:

[ahkim]

We had a good amount of snow this morning with a layer of ice underneath and the Quattro was excellent. I'm running the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus and they did well considering how bad the roads were. The mall parking lot was empty at 4 AM so I had a little fun as well. So much more fun than my last car (FWD).

[helix139]

Congrats on the purchase! A few thoughts:

1) For detailing, either go Zaino or get something from Detailer's domain. Even on a white car, Zaino is worth it for the durability and protection, IMO. I'm also cringing to hear you took it through a brush wash. I'd never do that. Swirls will result, and I'd be surprised if I couldn't find some on yours already. I primarily use the Zaino line of products, but here are a few others I'm fond of:

Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner (A must on these cars)
Wolf's Trim Coat (For the rain gutters on each side of the windshield)
Wolf's glass sealant
Adam's Super VRT (tires)
Adam's All Purpose Cleaner (engine bay among other things)
Adam's In & Out (Engine Bay)
Collinite 850 (exhaust tips)
1Z Einszett Windscreen
1Z Einszett Cockpit premium
1Z Einszett Anti-Insekt
Uber Wash mitts and towels
Armor All Wheel Protectant (Yes, I was skeptical at first too)

2) Great choice on the STI-R Plus. I'm jealous. Consider adding a laser interceptor to go with your radar detector.

3) For summer tires, Michelin Pilot Super Sports are the best, IMO. Hankook Ventus V12 Evo K110 is also a great tire at a significantly cheaper price, but IMO it's worth paying the extra for the PSS's

4) Get the Alu Kreuz if you like to drive spiritedly at all. I've never tracked and never autocrossed my car, but the Alu Kreuz can be felt every time you take an off ramp or corner or otherwise put a torsional load on the car. It really tightens up the steering feel. It's the best mod you can get for the money outside of perhaps the JHM short shifter.

Other than that, just enjoy it. you're going to love your car!

[ahkim]

Helix - I've been avoiding going too often to the wash, I plan to check the paint carefully this spring. Hopefully there aren't any swirls. Thanks for the tire recommendations, I've focused on wheels but haven't done much reading on tires. Lastly, I'm glad to hear the recommendation on the Alu Kreuz, I'm looking for justification to move forward with it...

A question in general to anyone, should I be posting new questions here or starting separate threads?

For example, I just got a quote from the Audi dealer for an extended warranty to 100K miles for $2800 ($100 deductable). In most cases, I would rather put that money into saving and pay for any problems and hope that it would be less than the warranty cost. However, I understand that German cars are more costly to repair and tend to have more issues than average so I thought that it might be worth it. Thoughts?

[FITZ TITS]

Can you provide a little more detail on the back-up camera? Mine didn't come with it and I'd like to add it, if I can. Does the Alpine unit hook into our stock display? What all is involved in getting this to play nicely with our stock MMI sans oem back up cam?

[ahkim]

Can you provide a little more detail on the back-up camera? Mine didn't come with it and I'd like to add it, if I can. Does the Alpine unit hook into our stock display? What all is involved in getting this to play nicely with our stock MMI sans oem back up cam?

Sure. To answer your question, you cannot directly interface this camera into the display without a display module. I actually just got off the phone and ordered NAV-TV (display module). You need it to allow the camera to display on the nav screen. NAV-TV also allows you to hook up other video inputs, in my case, I will have an iPhone input and possibly a front camera in the future. I went with the Alpine camera since it offers motion detection and an audio alert. You can get a basic camera for half the price. Going this route, your equipment cost is about $700. You can expect labor to be around $150-$300. There is a competitor to NAV-TV called TVandNav2Go, which appears to be made by the same manufacturer but it's half the cost. I went with NAV-TV because my installer is familiar with it.
I started by getting a quote from the dealer to get all OEM parts and the cost was over $1500. However, someone else on the forum pointed out that you can get parts from Kufatec for $835. If you read the note on the website it says that the main unit MMI has to be sent to their office for programming.

http://www.kufatec.com/index.php?mai...5dutqlpe7e2vo3

I won't have my NAV-TV unit for a few days so it'll probably be a couple weeks before I post the results of the camera installation.

[FITZ TITS]

Sure. To answer your question, you cannot directly interface this camera into the display without a display module. I actually just got off the phone and ordered NAV-TV (display module). You need it to allow the camera to display on the nav screen. NAV-TV also allows you to hook up other video inputs, in my case, I will have an iPhone input and possibly a front camera in the future. I went with the Alpine camera since it offers motion detection and an audio alert. You can get a basic camera for half the price. Going this route, your equipment cost is about $700. You can expect labor to be around $150-$300. There is a competitor to NAV-TV called TVandNav2Go, which appears to be made by the same manufacturer but it's half the cost. I went with NAV-TV because my installer is familiar with it.
I started by getting a quote from the dealer to get all OEM parts and the cost was over $1500. However, someone else on the forum pointed out that you can get parts from Kufatec for $835. If you read the note on the website it says that the main unit MMI has to be sent to their office for programming.

http://www.kufatec.com/index.php?mai...5dutqlpe7e2vo3

I won't have my NAV-TV unit for a few days so it'll probably be a couple weeks before I post the results of the camera installation.

I'm assuming you'll have to tap into a reverse signal somewhere. Can you manually select what input is displayed on the MMI?

[ahkim]

Yes, you can manually select the input displayed via a toggle button. I plan to mount the button in the ashtray along with the radar detector controls. Nav2Go comes with an I/R remote and allows you to tap into the MODE button on the steering wheel to toggle the input. I prefer a simple toggle button. It will automatically display the camera when in reverse.

[ENV²]

Im interested in the 9500xi...

Also welcome and nice color choice.

It took me a year and a half and 2 winters to have some minor swirls but Im very anal about the protection on my car. In a couple of weeks Ill be polishing those slight blemishes off her and coating her with wax after a proper seal for the summer. The one blemish I have is a scratch from a pipe landing sideways in my garage and it put a 6inch scratch on my rear bumper and i just touched it up cause im sure ill repaint it and the front at some point through my 5-6 year ownership (hopefully)

[ptx415]

if you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for it and was it from a dealer?

i'm looking at used s4's right now..

[Deckdout2]

[FONT=Arial]So on to the fun stuff, like I said, I’m into my tech toys so my first mods are not performance related. My first mod was to install the license plate LEDs, I went with the Blesk brand from hidconcepts. Looks good and easy to do. No error codes so far. I’m going to replace the dome and puddle lights as well. Can the rear backup or front turn signals be changed to LED?

Nice pickup, and look forward to all your mods. Quick question, do you have a direct link or the exact leds you bought for this license plate lights from Hidconcepts.com? Thanks!

[ahkim]

Nice pickup, and look forward to all your mods. Quick question, do you have a direct link or the exact leds you bought for this license plate lights from Hidconcepts.com? Thanks!

Here's the link: http://hidconcept.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=66

[ahkim]

Crap- as I was pulling out of the driveway this morning, I found this sitting on snow. I didn't have time to plow and it froze overnight. There were some high spots from tire tracks and it must've caught. Anyone know what this is? It clearly broke off as you can see the plastic edge.

[helix139]

Crap- as I was pulling out of the driveway this morning, I found this sitting on snow. I didn't have time to plow and it froze overnight. There were some high spots from tire tracks and it must've caught. Anyone know what this is? It clearly broke off as you can see the plastic edge.

http://search.audiworld.com/showthread.php?p=23920443

[ahkim]

Nice find, thanks for the link.

I thought I'd post some photos and tips of my recent dome/trunk LED install. The dome lights are a big improvement. First, I turned the dome light switch to the OFF position to prevent shorting the fuse. In the other DIY guide I used as reference, (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...or-LED-install) they were able to install the dome light without removing the white plastic cover. I wasn’t able to install it without removing the cover. After punching out the cover from the top, I realized that I could’ve used a screwdriver to pop it out without removing the entire fixture. See photo.





As for the trunk light, the Blesk LEDs have +/- so these photos should help so you don't have to guess. This also applies to the puddle lights, it's the same fixture. I’m disappointed with the trunk light output so I’m ordering a couple others to try.



I'm hoping these will be significantly brighter. Anyone tried these? From superbrightleds.com


Domes and maps done. Still need to do the rear maps.

[Kandiru]

.....................

One other question, anyone know what is located directly behind the plastic to the left of the nav screen? Is there space behind the plastic to mount a display? I'm thinking about doing a custom install of my radar display there. Please see photo below:

I just did an Xcarlink (since then removed, POS) install and the space behing the area you point out is pretty much empty if memory serves me well.

Tip: panel removal is best done starting at speedometer end, just grab and pull.

This is the ultimate auto tool:



http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Fit-Intern...1056642&sr=8-1

[willyspub]

Nice introduction thread! I'm planning to do the Sti-R Plus in the short term as well (along with the LI combo the Helix mentioned). Keep us updated on your install so I can steal anything slick! If you haven't seen it yet, sor put together a pretty amazing DIY for the rearview install you mentioned (albeit for V1). I don't have the link handy, but it was on AZ.

Personally, I'd recommend Griot's Garage detailing products for just about every application (except for the Armor All wheel protectant, that stuff really is amazing), but you can't go wrong with the ones Helix listed either.

Like most people, I check both AZ and AW but spend more time here because it's more active and the format is far superior. That being said, some great contributors like primetime and sakimano are only available on AW because of admin- or self-imposed AZ bans, so keep an eye on AW.

[ahkim]

Thanks Kandiru, I just ordered it as well as a 6 piece dash removal kit, I’ll return it if it turns out not to be necessary. Sounds like I made the right call going with Nav-TV, I considered Xcarlink but read a few horror stories.

I ordered the Bel from Cliff at LI, he was great to work with. I’ve been told that the custom plate for the Bel control unit in the ashtray would be about $50-100.
Here’s the link for the V1 mirror install DIY: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...remote-display

Great DIY guide, probably the only reason why I’m going to try to try it myself.

[Kandiru]

Keep the kit too, the wide one is very good for door trim removal.
Since we are on the topic, i found this one to be extremely useful
for retaining tabs of all kinds:

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-35260-Pl...=pd_sim_misc_4

[Alex@TAG]

Congrats on your new car!

I think some performance mods are in order too! Give us a call for all your GIAC/AWE Needs :)

[JoeyZ]

Helix - I've been avoiding going too often to the wash, I plan to check the paint carefully this spring. Hopefully there aren't any swirls. Thanks for the tire recommendations, I've focused on wheels but haven't done much reading on tires. Lastly, I'm glad to hear the recommendation on the Alu Kreuz, I'm looking for justification to move forward with it...

A question in general to anyone, should I be posting new questions here or starting separate threads?

For example, I just got a quote from the Audi dealer for an extended warranty to 100K miles for $2800 ($100 deductable). In most cases, I would rather put that money into saving and pay for any problems and hope that it would be less than the warranty cost. However, I understand that German cars are more costly to repair and tend to have more issues than average so I thought that it might be worth it. Thoughts?

If you have taken to car wash once, you will have swirls and marring on paint.
If your looking for a great wax, just go Collinite 845. Done.

[ahkim]

If you have taken to car wash once, you will have swirls and marring on paint.
If your looking for a great wax, just go Collinite 845. Done.

Dang you guys, I keep spending more money! I just bought the Collinite 845 and metal wax combo, great reviews of it. Sounds like it lasts a lot longer than the Meg NXT2.

As for performance mods, I'll decide after this summer. I'm planning on a track day and some auto-x events so I'll see if I get the itch to chip. I must say that even in stock form, this car is impressive. I finally got the chance to drive outside of the cities and the acceleration from 70-80mph is effortless. Just a slight press of the pedal and 80 comes easy. I even got 24mpg on the drive. So much fun. I just wanted to keep driving!

[ahkim]

I got my LEDs from superbrightleds and finished my install today. I felt like the Blesk LEDs were higher quality, better construction, cleaner design overall.

TRUNK
First, I tried the HP13, an oversize bulb, thinking it would fit, but it doesn’t. That would’ve been very bright for the trunk. Instead, I used the HP15. It’s probably 20-30% brighter than the Blesk. Not the best fit, but it should be fine considering it’s not part of the trunk lid. It's more noticable than the photo below shows.



REAR MAP LIGHT
I’m using the HP15 in the rear dome. It is bright, about the right amount. As you can see from the photo, it has three LEDs that face down so it’s significantly brighter than the Blesk, at least 50%. The color is bluer than the Blesk but it’s close enough for me.

PUDDLE LIGHT
The HP15 didn’t fit in the puddle light very well, although it worked, I was afraid that impact of closing the door would eventually shake the bulb loose. I used the HP6 and it works fine. These do not have polarity so it doesn’t matter which side it up. I thought the Blesk was slightly whiter and brighter. I left the two Blesk the puddle lights that I put in last week.

MY RECOMMEDNATIONS:
Puddle Light: Blesk T-10 Special Pure White
Dome Light: Blesk 37mm Festoon
License Plate Light: Blesk 37mm Festoon
Trunk Light: Superbrightled HP 15
Front and Rear Maps Lights: Superbrightled HP15 (my front lights are Blesk since I already had them)





I got my Bel STi-R plus radar detector from Cliff at LI today. Thanks to Cliff for getting it out so quick. I'm going to start with the mirror install first, then consider doing the rest of the install if all goes well.

[Jesse/AWE]

Nice ride, ahkim. We have had the AWE Tuning B8 S4 since 2010, it's fantastic - and personally, love the color you chose, we just picked up an A4 in white as well - keep up the thread, great read.

[Psalm40]

Ahkim-
Looks great! I am just over the river in WI.
Helix and I usually agree on most S4 topics.
1.) BEL STiR- NICE! A little spendy, but nice. I kept the V1 and added the LI Dual front. Once again, Cliff from LI is easy to work with. I believe Laser Jammers are "illegal" in MN. I leave mine on while in MN, but am always ready to turn it off. I have never been hit with laser in MN, but the WI side of the river has quite a bit from the State guys.
2.) Brushed car wash? That will cause problems. I tend to use DetailedImage.Com and chemicalguys.com, but Phil from Detailer'sDomain is a member here and they also have great procucts as well. If you are a little new to the higher end detailing world, it is very easy to get caught up in the myriad of different products. Most of the higher end stuff functions similarly. White is easier to hide some of the swirls/spiderwebs, but they will be obvious to the discerning owner and will decrease the overall look.
My winter wash technique is a local touchless car wash followed by a OPT Rinseless wash. I also use the OPT quick detailer and OPT sealant in the winter.
My summer technique is a full spring correction with Megs MF system + Blackfire wet diamond + Dodo Juice Supernatural. Weekly wash with Chemical Guys Citrus - two bucket method, Dodo juice drying/quick detailer, wheels with Sonax full effect, Poorboys wheel sealant, and I love the Tuff Shine! The Tuff Shine won't last as long as advertised, but it is great none-the-less, especially the tire cleaner. I use two coats. EZ1 for the interior.

[Kandiru]

OP nice ride, high visibility day/night color makes for a safer ride.

Good tip, esp on the double buckets, here are some great items:

Rubbermaid Brute Double Pail Bucket:


Generic ebay janitor cart:


These will make for a painless walk around the car inside outside detailing supplies all in one place, sprayers hang on side.

Like he said, about the lowest i will go if absolutely necessary is drive through a laser touchless carwash AFTER i talk to the
service guy and make sure they don't recycle their water. Yep, one of the 3 in my town uses a "filter" system to allow the
silica to return to the sprayers for that dull beater look in 5 years:(

For the ultimate treatment and longevity of dash and plastics check out Formula 303 Aerospace Protectant, it is UV blocking and non-gloss.

[Kandiru]

Oh, and first mandatory mods:

1. Customcargrills.com DYI radiator upper/lower, intercooler (driver's side foglight housing),
or the repair is close to 3k and is not covered by Audi, considered road hazard damage.



2. Laminx headlight and foglight (thickest available there) covers, and edgeguard, don't forget
the bottom of trunklid, i just bumped mine into a concrete wall (parked too close, hit when i popped it).

[ahkim]

I moved all the radar related stuff to my post below. Detailing info updated 4/5/12.

I detailed for the first time since I've had the car. Thanks for all the product tips. Waxing is sooo much easier with the right products. Here’s my list:

Wax:
Collinite 845 Wax
Collinite 850 Metal Wax
Meg’s NXT 2
Mother’s Cleaner Wax

Interior:
1Z Einszett Cockpit Premium
1Z Einszett Plastic Deep Cleaner
303 Aerospace Protectant

Wheels and T:
Meg’s Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner
Armor All Wheel Protectant
Tuf Shine Tire Kit

Other Exterior:
Adam’s Car Wash Shampoo
Adam's All Purpose Cleaner
Adam’s Glass Sealant
Meg’s NXT Glass Cleaner
Meg’s Clay Bar
Finish Kare #425 Final Body Shine (used as lube for clay)
Griot’s Waterless Wash

Towels and Pads:
Meg’s Even Coat Microfiber Wax Application Pads
Cobra Miracle Towels
Mother’s Polishing Cloth
Meg’s Supreme Shine Polishing Cloth
Meg’s X2000 Water Magnet Drying Towel
Viking Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying Towel

I started with a wash and claybar. Adam's Car Wash, Meg's Clay Bar Mild, Meg's Wheel Cleaner. Dried with the blade and the Viking waffle towel.



I bought the Collinite 845 after someone posted it above so I decided to split the car since I already had Meg’s NXT 2. I waxed the driver's side with NXT2 and the other side with Collinite. They seemed about the same in ease of application, removal, shine, etc. I’ll post an update later as to longevity. I used the Cobra Miracle Towel to remove the wax and it worked well. Just one swipe and the wax was mostly gone.



Collinite 850 Metal Wax; worked pretty well.



I didn’t have time to apply the Tuf Shine for the tires but did apply the Armor All Wheel Protectant for the first time, after 4 days, the wheels still look clean.

[willyspub]

Outstanding work, ahkim! Any Sti-R specific pointers, or did you basically just follow the V1 concealed display DIY?

[ahkim]

I updated my wash/detail post #35 above.

It’s been a good week of car stuff, I got my Hoen Xenon Match fogs installed, completed the Bel Mirror Display, temporarily rigged the Bel Sti-r radar for testing, detailed the interior, clay bar and wax, got the backup camera and Nav-TV installed, and my Avant Garde M310 black wheels will arrive on Friday. I also ordered the Pilot Super Sports. Can’t wait to try those out.

I’ll start with the Bel Sti-R Plus radar. First, I’m happy to say that I’m blown away by the performance. I ran a few informal tests with the Bel and V1 and the Bel alerted anywhere from 3-5 sec sooner than the V1. Pretty impressive. For now, I’ve got most of it sitting in the glove box and the radar receiver on the dash.

As for the mirror mod, I’ve got to give credit to exhaustnote, Sor, and NateS5 for their DIY guides and answering a bunch of questions. If you read all three of their threads, you should be good to go. However, I have a few comments/recommendations. The hardest part for me was taking apart the mirror, I was afraid of scratching it when taking the front bezel off. I gave up after trying to 10 mins. In the end, I think it would be very difficult to leave no marks on the plastic so I suggest starting with the upper right corner where you can’t see the marks. I tried again the next day but used a hair dryer to warm up the plastic, I’m not sure if it helped but I was able to get the bezel off. I used small screwdriver and pushed into the mirror, not necessarily trying to pry it apart. I think that was key, by pushing down, I could see the bezel separate a bit and I was able to use another small trowel to separate the pieces. I broke 2 of the tabs at the top but it doesn’t seem to matter.





Once apart, I basically followed the directions in the other posts with a couple exceptions. First, I was able to cut apart the white plastic spacer and shave the black mirror housing using tin snips and box cutters. I did not use a dremel, it was broken. The result is not pretty but it really doesn’t matter since it’s all covered up.



I used 3M automotive double-sided sticky tape and secured the display.



I covered the display with blue painters tape and put some paint on the edges of the display.



I then put the mirror back together which allowed the paint to transfer to the back of the mirror. Now you’ve got a template of what you need to cut away.



Important, it is VERY possible to scratch the glass when using a blade, I used a ruler to cut and it had some grout on it, I must’ve dragged it with the blade and it made a very noticeable scratch in the glass.



However, I got lucky as I made my cuts larger than my template so the scratch is below the actual LEDs. I also cut out an extra area for the ambient light sensor; the one time I tested it, the display seems to auto adjust brightness correctly. For the final installation, I removed the red plastic cover over the display as I saw no need for it. As for the display cord, I struggled with this one. The hole to feed the wire is small and already has another cable in there. It’s a tight fit. I inserted the display cord into the hole and used a blunt screwdriver and a hammer to push it through. I was afraid that it might not for or damage the cable but it all worked out.



Exhaustnote said that he had to extend the cable to reach the control unit and I might have to do the same. I’m not sure how he did that. That’s it, put it back together! Last note, I probably spent 3-4 hours doing this but I was dinking around a lot while watching TV. I’m happy with the mod but haven’t driven with it much. My final suggestion is to get the Bel display as high up in the mirror as possible or it’ll be in your line of sight when looking back at cars.

Display OFF:


Display ON:


Matches the interior nicely.

[ahkim]

I’ll post details about my backup cam install later but was wondering if anyone can comment about how the camera is installed. I had a Best Buy do the install. My concern is that since it is screwed in, do I need to worry about rust? If yes, what should I do? My coworker suggested that I caulk the screws from the inside of the trunk to make sure that water doesn’t seep in. I’m not sure if Best Buy would’ve done that.



I have a scuff on my shifter knob, any tips for buffing it out? Shoe polish?

The scuff might be from when Best Buy installed the camera, I haven’t talked to them yet but should what do you think I should do? I’m 99% sure that they made the scuff mark since it’s pretty obvious and I noticed it right away when picking it up. I also have photos from before the install that doesn’t show the scuff. I know that the car is going to get wear and tear but this is the first one, and it wasn’t from me!





After picking up the car, the airbag and parking brake malfunction lights are on. Best Buy told me that it is no big deal and that I need to have the dealer reset the codes, they thought there would be no charge. However, the dealer said it’ll be $50. Should Best Buy be responsible for that cost? Also, is there any way of knowing if it really is just a matter of clearing codes or could BB have done some actual damage?

While detailing, I noticed some rust colored spots all over the trunk and side panels behind the wheels. I used a clay bar and cleaner wax but it didn’t go away. They are no larger than a pinhead and you can’t feel most of them with the exception of the larger spots. Any thoughts on what it might be?



Thanks!

[egalley]

I get the rust spots every winter. Last weekend I clay bar'd my whole car. It got ever rust spot off. Some of them you need to rub pretty hard. But the past 2 years the clay bar did the trick for me.

[Stereodude]

While detailing, I noticed some rust colored spots all over the trunk and side panels behind the wheels. I used a clay bar and cleaner wax but it didn’t go away. They are no larger than a pinhead and you can’t feel most of them with the exception of the larger spots. Any thoughts on what it might be?

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/s...8/DSC02512.jpg

Thanks!

Try something like AQuartz Iron Cut?