Crash1121's Thread—2009 Audi A4 Avant

[crash1121]

R.I.P. — 4/20/2015


Hey guys,
I finally decided to create a thread for my car and its journey throughout the past few years. I feel as though a few of my mods are somewhat unique so it's worthy of its own thread, but I'll let you folks be the judges of that.

The posts below are ordered in an oldest-to-newest sequence, and pics are displayed accordingly.
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2009 Audi A4 Avant—Prestige (Ibis white/Cardamom beige)


Up-to-date modifications:

Engine/Drivetrain
-APR stage 2+ tune
-Eurocode turbo inlet hose
-aFe Pro Dry S air filter
-CTS Turbo Intercooler w/ hoses
-SPM downpipe w/ HFC
-GFB DV+
-R8 coil pack
-Apikol rear diff mount
-034 Motorsport Transmission Mount Insert
-Soon to come!...LOBA Motorsport LO400 Turbo
-Soon to come!...LOBA Motorsport High-pressure fuel pump
-Soon to come!...Bosch high-impedance fuel injectors
-Soon to come!...Eurodyne Maestro tune

Suspension/Wheels/Brakes
-H&R Street Performance coilovers
-SPC adjustable upper control arms
-Hartmann (HTT-256-GS) “Rotor” design wheels—19x8.5’’; ET38
-StopTech Sport Brake Kit (drilled/slotted) w/ stainless steel brake lines

Aesthetics/Body
-Black Optics grille
-S-line rear bumper
-S-line side blades
-Black, S-line front & rear seats
-Black, flat-bottom TTS steering wheel
-Black, perforated “facelift” gear shifter
-Painted brake calipers w/ quattro decals
-5mm wheel spacers (rear)
-Various VCDS settings
-ECS Tuning Aluminum Street Shield

[crash1121]

I bought it (sight unseen) in December of 2011, and had 29k miles with the CPO extended 6yr/100k mile warranty.






I then found Audizine and was struck with the mod bug:
-Window tint (~30% transparency)
-Eurocode turbo inlet hose
-APR Stage 1 tune
-Plasti-dipped front grille
-aFe Pro Dry S air filter

[crash1121]

By mid 2013:
-Painted brake calipers with quattro decals
-Plastidipped stock 18'' wheels (now winter setup)
-RAI test pipe
-StopTech Sport Brake Kit (drilled/slotted) with stainless steel brake lines
-19'' Hartmann (HTT-256-GS) "Rotor" design wheels
-H&R Street Performance coilovers
-R8 coil pack
-GFB DV+
-CTS Turbo Intercooler w/ hoses

[crash1121]

Stance specs/pics

Suspension: H&R Street Performance coilovers
Ground-to-fender height:
Front - 25.5''
Rear - 25.75''

Wheels: 19x8.5'' Hartmann HTT-256-GS on 255/35/R19 tires
Front - ET38
Rear - ET33

[crash1121]

By mid 2014:
-S-line rear bumper
-S-line side blades
-SPM downpipe w/ HFC
-Black S-line seats
-Flat-bottom TTS steering wheel w/ paddles
-Black, perforated "facelift" gear knob
-SPC adjustable upper control arms
-APR stage 2+ tune

[crash1121]

My car behind its former self :

[crash1121]

Some sexy shots:

[crash1121]

Notable repairs/calamities:

-Camshaft (RVU)
-Transmission replacement due to bad leak @ 50k miles
-Rear ended in a parking lot (replaced bumper w/ S-line bumper)
-Stage 1 & 2 oil consumption repairs @ 76k miles
-2 fuel injectors failed (replaced all 4) @ 77k miles
-Engine replaced @ 84k miles due to balance shaft failure

[crash1121]

Yesterday I was driving up an incline and the engine shut off. I tried to restart it and got a few cranks but didn't start. So I had to call a tow truck and get it over to Audi Boulder.

Today I popped by the dealer to grab some things out of the car when my SA told me that the engine likely seized up. They aren't 100% sure, but should give me an update tomorrow after they tear the engine down further. If that is the case, the car will need a brand new engine.

Resting spot before the tow truck:

[AKO]

Great looking car! I love those wheels. Seems like you're really having some bad luck with it though?

[crash1121]

Thanks!

Yeah, unfortunately so. It used to be relatively reliable but has changed for the worse recently.

[Suat]

why what happen with this nice car

[Noah K]

How many miles when engine seized?

[Project Quattro]

Your car looks awesome! A white car in Colorado is brave though... I took a trip out to Steamboat Springs this summer and rented a white Suburban. When I gave it back to the rental place it was definitely tan and spattered with mud and bugs. Lol.


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[biserker1]

Can you post some more pics of the interior? Interested in how the black seats look in the beige interior. Thanks!


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[catch]

car looks great!

sucks about the engine, but if its still under warranty and covered then its a blessing really!

[crash1121]

How many miles when engine seized?

I had just cracked 84k miles, which is only 8k miles after the piston replacement.

Your car looks awesome! A white car in Colorado is brave though... I took a trip out to Steamboat Springs this summer and rented a white Suburban. When I gave it back to the rental place it was definitely tan and spattered with mud and bugs. Lol.

Thank you! Yeeeeeah, CO isn't too kind to white cars but they look sweet in the snow—especially when clean.

[crash1121]

Can you post some more pics of the interior? Interested in how the black seats look in the beige interior. Thanks!

Absolutely. I'll take some more pics when I eventually get the car back.

car looks great!

sucks about the engine, but if its still under warranty and covered then its a blessing really!

Thanks! Audi has to review my car in order to make a decision on whether they'll cover it or not, and I should hear back on Monday.

[Mr. Mister]

love the rotors on white. looks good. like the interior too.

[TheHeiko]

I love the before and after shot with the pre and post cars in the same shot. Nicely done!. You did a great job on very tastefully modding.

I wonder with the oil consumption, transmission, and injector issues you've had you got a bit of a bum car. Maybe not but that seems like quite a bit of stuff going wrong. My fingers are crossed for you that your current issue is taken care of. Your APR tune concerns me though. I'm only at about 45K miles on my '09 Avant. I had my pistons and rings replaced under warranty too and have been fine since that was done over 16K miles ago. I've been contemplating an APR State 1 tune with their new program soon to be release but the possibility of future oil consumption or other engine issues scares me. Even though I'm out of warranty, I have been told that AoA is good about providing good will repairs on oil consumption issues and if I get a tune I would likely be SOL.

Please keep us posted on how this progresses.

[bluetori]

I love the before and after shot with the pre and post cars in the same shot. Nicely done!. You did a great job on very tastefully modding.

I wonder with the oil consumption, transmission, and injector issues you've had you got a bit of a bum car. Maybe not but that seems like quite a bit of stuff going wrong. My fingers are crossed for you that your current issue is taken care of. Your APR tune concerns me though. I'm only at about 45K miles on my '09 Avant. I had my pistons and rings replaced under warranty too and have been fine since that was done over 16K miles ago. I've been contemplating an APR State 1 tune with their new program soon to be release but the possibility of future oil consumption or other engine issues scares me. Even though I'm out of warranty, I have been told that AoA is good about providing good will repairs on oil consumption issues and if I get a tune I would likely be SOL.

Please keep us posted on how this progresses.

I have an 09 Avant too and I have near 95k on it had oil consumption done about 15-20k ago I believe, been great ever since. Not sure if your issues were tune related or not crash. Of all of us I think Thomas has been good with a tune, and he's running the more aggressive Revo tune. I want a tune but not sure what to expect.

Crash hope all goes well never a good day when an Avant gets hauled away on a flatbed.

[crash1121]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

I had to have the APR tune removed in order for the dealer to perform the stage 1 oil consumption test, and I haven't reinstalled the tune since then. I am very glad that I didn't reinstall the tune as I know for a fact the dealer would've instantly denied coverage of my current issue. So that being said, I know for a fact that the tune has nothing to do with the engine seizing. My SA said that he'd provide me with the technician's synopsis as to what caused the failure, and I will keep you all posted. I should hear back from them on Monday.


TD1 flagging story:
I took it to Audi Boulder for its 75k service, told my SA that I had to top my oil off before I came in, and he advised that they perform the stage 1 consumption test. Before I signed the paperwork, it was obvious that I lowered and modified the car, so he asked if I had a tune because they were going to swipe the ECU clean. I told him that I didn't (thinking that their software would overwrite the APR tune without any issue) and went on my merry way. Then I get a phone call saying that the stage 1 test couldn't be performed because they found a tune on the car and that it was flagged TD1. When I picked the car up, my SA told me to remove the tune and they would proceed with the 1st consumption test under warranty, so I did. I had to go through AoA in order for the stage 2 repair to be approved.

I'm pretty sure if I had admitted that the car was tuned, my SA would've given me a chance to remove it and not flag my car TD1.

[crash1121]

No update yet from Audi about my car, but earlier today I went to go and drive the Porsche Macan S for the second time.

White and silver looks best on this car, IMO. I was—once again—impressed by the 7-speed PDK, the PTV (Power Torque Vectoring) Plus, and the second-to-none level of quality in the interior. I was hoping to find an S with the Sport Chrono package but the dealer didn't have one. The problem I have with this car is the rear headroom and I'm not completely satisfied with the rear cargo space.

(I didn't take pics of the S because it had the carbon fiber interior & exterior packages, which I am not at all a fan of. The Turbo is much sexier anyway.)

[bluetori]

Price?

[crash1121]

That Turbo was listed for $92k. I built an S to my specifications with the sales rep and it came to $68.5k. I could've easily gone over $75k had I been less conservative.

[TCHUN003]

Hoping for the best with your avant...and I REALLY want a Macan, but it's still out of my price range :(

[crash1121]

Thanks buddy. I really want one too, and hopefully the day you and I can get one comes fairly soon!



Engine replacement update:
I got a call from the dealer today with an answer as to what caused the engine to seize. Apparently the balance shaft failed which locked the timing chain and all other internal components. They cannot say what caused the balance shaft to fail, so they are still in limbo with AoA's response as to whether they'll cover it or not. I asked my SA why they wouldn't cover it since the engine was rebuilt less than 8k miles ago, and he said that piston and ring replacement has nothing to do with the balance shaft... Meh.

I should expect an official answer within the next few days, so please keep your fingers crossed for me!

[Shimmy]

I would most certainly hope AoA would cover this... if not, and if it were me, they would lose an enthusiast. I wouldn't be buying another audi.

[A4 Centaur]

Please don't get the caramel interior on the Porsche.

Also, do not mod the Porsche they will give you Zuffenhausen's or Wolfsburg's version of a TD1.

Sorry to hear about your issues and I love what you have done thus far to your Avant! I hope either dealer in your location can take care of you.

Guess it is too early to get a CPO'd Porsche you want? Friggen tons of the Cayenne cars out there.

[alwiB8]

Crash I see your car in the Euclid parking garage all the time, bummer to hear its out of commission

[crash1121]

I would most certainly hope AoA would cover this... if not, and if it were me, they would lose an enthusiast. I wouldn't be buying another audi.

Likewise. My dealer is very aware that the car's reliability has been WAY below acceptable and that I'm an extremely frustrated customer, so it seems they're doing all they can to get this taken care of.

Please don't get the caramel interior on the Porsche.

Also, do not mod the Porsche they will give you Zuffenhausen's or Wolfsburg's version of a TD1.

Sorry to hear about your issues and I love what you have done thus far to your Avant! I hope either dealer in your location can take care of you.

Guess it is too early to get a CPO'd Porsche you want? Friggen tons of the Cayenne cars out there.

Thanks a lot! Haha, I understand you for disliking that interior color. Pretty much everyone in my family has had cars with tan interior, so I guess I'm slightly partial... IMO, Porsche's hue of tan is gorgeous and rich as opposed to Audi's bland, dull Cardamom... But I doubt I'd get one with it, regardless.

We'll see, we'll see. I'm going to try and remain optimistic that the car will be repaired and not replaced.

Crash I see your car in the Euclid parking garage all the time, bummer to hear its out of commission

Haha, cool! Hopefully you'll see it back in there sometime soon... Just checked your profile and saw that you drive a Tornado grey A4 with black VMR wheels—I'll keep an eye out!

[crash1121]

Final engine replacement update:
Audi has officially decided to cover the new engine, so my Avant shall live on! I asked them about the replacement engine (with my concern being potential oil consumption issues in the future) and it is going to be an updated version with newer components, which calls for zero concern. It'd be a nice bonus if the turbo was also replaced due to its faulty wastegate actuator, but I'm not counting on it.

Thanks for the kind words and good vibes, folks!
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Loaner:
2015 A3 2.0T quattro—sport package, B&O, MMI nav +

It's a pretty quick and comfortable little car, and much better than my previous 1.8T (non-quattro) A3 loaner. Not at all a fan of transverse setups because it feels like a FWD car (even with quattro), but still enjoyable and fun. My absolute favorite part about it is the B&O system. This thing is essentially a 220hp/258ft-lb mobile boombox that's sound system has unbelievably clear, powerful, and robust acoustics with a bass that is anything but lacking. I have B&O in my A4, but it's more of an experience in the A3 due to the volume of the interior.

[TCHUN003]

Glad to hear! It always feels great getting back into your car after a long hiatus.

[Shimmy]

That is awesome!!! I'd check in this thread everyday for an update and I'm excited for you!

[TheHeiko]

That's awesome news! It gives hope and faith that AoA would back you up. Enjoy the nice loaner.

[Dasaudi mtl]

super news that makes me feel like AoA stand behind their product enjoy your loaner!

[AKO]

Glad AOA is stepping up and getting you a new engine!

[treginginco]

This was quite the read. Glad Audi is getting you dialed in.

Great looking car!!! (I'm a little biased about white avants 😃)

[A4 Centaur]

Great news!!

Hope to hear and see the new engine at a GTG soon.

[bluetori]

We're they considering buying the Avant back? I'm glad another one will live on and that the dealer seems to be a very respectable one too. My only regret on my Avant is I wish I had B&O in it.