"B6A4, Maybe its time to start some mods?" or "Hi! I'm Brandon"

[FPBBrandon]

Hey all,

I purchased a B6 A4 back last september, but never really looked around for communities until now.

My car is a stock Dolphin Grey 04 USP, put around 12k on the clock since I bought it, now I'm right up around 70k.





Anyways,

Its finally stopped breaking down at least for awhile, and I'd like to start maybe doing some mods to the car. I'd like to start really very light, and maybe move on from there, so heres what I've been considering...

-Magnaflow exhaust: A muffler shop down the street deals pretty specifically in magnaflow, and they say they can do the mid-muffler removal and add magnaflow mufflers and pipes for around 350. Seems like a decent deal assuming its all legit.

-VMR V708 wheels: I'd like to get 18" gunmetal RS4 reps from VMR, but wheels seem pretty expensive. This is prob the mod I want the most, but I'm not sure I can conjure the stones to do it.

-RNS-E: I have a local shop that will sell the RNS-E installed for $800. I think I'd quite like this assuming it has all the MMI functionalities enabled.

-DTM Karbon Boser hood: I think these look really good, but everyone else says it screams rice. That and I'm concerned about longterm durability.

-LED tails: I read about the poor fitment and the resistor issues, but I think I still want the LED tails with smoked reverse lights, but I cant find them anywhere.

But really, I know very little, so I'd love some suggestions on what to actually do with my car!

[Shak]

First, welcome to AZ. You'll love this place.

Gotta say that $800 for the complete RNS-E is a GREAT deal. RS4 reps are nice and safe set, but you have a lot of choices (and check the for sale forums).

Have you thought about clearing the corners?

[TurboQuattroPwr]

Welcome to AZ, the forum which will soon make you broke 24/7 from all the modding your about to do....lol.

The best bang for you buck for performance will be a chip. Check out GIAC, APR, Revo, Unitronics, etc.

Also read the threads here:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=104

GL

[clcsocal]

Welcome to the money pit. I grew up in Erie then Arvada. Nice to have another Bronco fan(I assume), on the AZ. What on the hood until you get a better idea of looks good on your car. Any mod you can think of can be found on this site. Get comfortable with the search function, and you can find anything you can think of. Wheels are always a good place to start cosmetically. ECU flash(chip) is the best starting performance mod. Have fun

[AudiA4Turbo22]

Welcome to the one stop shop to Bankruptcy lol!

I got a full downpipe back custom magnaflow exhaust with a resonator for $400 so scrap the idea of just the mufflers!

wheels go for 19s or u'll regret it! and first thing i'd do is get a drop!

[natalia]

Hey. We have the same car and color. I would look into APR if you are looking to start out small you could even c/c the lights which will make a big difference.

[A4natomical]

WELCOME. very nice car to start with. in my opinion, you obviously dont need to touch the body of the car. maybe clear corner and black out. a drop would look sexy, but im just telling you to do what i did. so go do what you want.
my car looked like yours, now its thisvvvvvvvvv

[FPBBrandon]

Kyle- Nice, did you pull your headlights and black them out too, or is that just smoking film? I really would like to black out my front end I think (including my badges with flat black!), but I'd like to do the clear corners first. Was that a a difficult mod, and any chance anyone has a link off hand? I checked the B6 DIY section (PURE GOLD btw!), but didn't see it.

As to the guy who suggested a drop, I have a question on that. I know you can get and install simple lowering springs that drop the car about an inch, which I'd love, and its only about 200 quid! But the reading I've done suggests that this is just begging to blow out your shocks since they're riding everywhere compressed an inch lower than normal. Is there any truth to that?

Also, to the guy who suggested 19"s, I've thought about it, but I'd have to buy new tires, and I'd be a bit worried about fender rub, especially if done in conjunction with the drop you suggested. Further, I always read about 'offset' in wheels when I'm looking into these RS4s, but I have no idea what that refers to. What is offset, and which offset would I need?

I also know that theres a ton of schools of thought on chipping the car. I had taken it recently in to my favorite Audi shop thats helped me out every time something new broke, and they quoted about $750 for the APR stage 1chip with selectable modes, or $500 for the APR stage 1 chip that just ups your performance and doesnt have selectable modes. How much should I be looking at to actually do this, are their prices reasonable?

Another thing I had forgotten to mention is I was wanting to shorten the throw length on my shifter (I have a 6MT), but I like the height of the shift knob where it is now. Are there any short throw kits that keep the stock knob height?

And clcsocal- I looked for a house in Erie this summer, nice town!

Thanks for all the replies guys, sorry for all the questions. I came up from a 1990 Toyota Camry, so I'm pretty much absolutely new to the scene of cars that are worth time, effort and money. Thanks for all the positive help!

[LampyB]

welcome to AZ man! i'm located in Denver btw. i have the same car as you (in moro blue) and i'm at just under 50K miles right now. what problems were you having with the car?

go to 3zero3 motorsports (.com) and get the REVO Stage 1 software onto your car for $500. Best bang for your buck, it'll feel like a completely new car. Or you can go with GIAC from Autobahn Premier Service. Both shops are highly reputable and will answer any questions you have.

The magnaflows will sound tight, and around $350 doesn't sound like a bad price. Also, do the Clear Corners mod on your headlights before anything else...it doesn't really cost anything and makes an enormous difference on the look of your car.

good luck! if you need any help with DIY (do it yourself) installs let me know, I love working on the 1.8 engine!


ps. Clear Corner DIY: Clicky Click
that website has a ton of other mod DIY's...check it out. you'll also probably want to black out your front grilles.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

u wont rub with 19s, the key is to maintain the same diameter as the stock wheels! do it once and do it right or do it twice and waste cash!

[Maverick]

welcome

you'll never stop!

[FPBBrandon]

Maverick-

Hey, I saw your threads on RNS-E stuff, if I want to try and install it myself when I get it, would you mind e-helping out? I quite do want the RNS in my car, but it looks somewhat confusing for a first timer.

[Groove1797]

Here is the site among sites from RNS-E

http://www.navplus.us/forums/

And DIY instructions have been partially deleted but here is the link anyway

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...&highlight=RNS

[Groove1797]

In the nav plus site go to Nav > Audi > Knowledge base > 1/2 way down PROXUS will have a install video

[FPBBrandon]

also, when I get the nav system, will I need to seek the glovebox DVD thing for it seperate, or does it generally come with?

[Maverick]

separate. you have to get more things for it to work

[onceover]

the glovebox cd changer is an addition as far as i know, thats what kept me from getting an RNS-E, lack of a CD changer.

[Maverick]

did you know that RNS-e read Sandisk memory card and it is capable of playing MP3 format music files?
it's better than CD because it saves some weight lol.

[FPBBrandon]

So... just the head unit without the dvd player is how it generally comes? and I take it the dvds are a must for the nav to work?

[Maverick]

no. the DVD is not a must for the NAV to work. however, you will need the DVD NAV disc for the nav to work because the disc provides maps and such.
the DVD player is just a nice to have thing where you can watch DVD while you are driving, i don't recomment it because you will have a higher chance of getting into an accident.

[HeHateMe]

Dude, you are already half way there, you have a USP

As stated above, welcome to the money pit.

[A4natomical]

Kyle- Nice, did you pull your headlights and black them out too, or is that just smoking film? I really would like to black out my front end I think (including my badges with flat black!), but I'd like to do the clear corners first. Was that a a difficult mod, and any chance anyone has a link off hand? I checked the B6 DIY section (PURE GOLD btw!), but didn't see it.

the 2005s came with dark housings. its not film or painted.

you will like this place as well.vvvvv
http://a4mods.com/index.php?page=web...earcorner.html

[pyro]

welcome...always good to see another USP on here. ;)

[FPBBrandon]

I'm going to check out that 800 Quid RNS-E after work now! Thanks guys!

[HeHateMe]

WELCOME. very nice car to start with. in my opinion, you obviously dont need to touch the body of the car. maybe clear corner and black out. a drop would look sexy, but im just telling you to do what i did. so go do what you want.
my car looked like yours, now its thisvvvvvvvvv

I love this car. So damn clean.

[B6Lovin]

welcome!

to start with -- (if you're looking for suggestions) i vote that SUSPENSION is the best bang for your buck... get a good set of coilovers (vogtlands are pretty good and relatively cheap) and a rs4 rear sway (150 bucks shipped at most).

after that, if you're not looking to go BT a DV and a chip should be next on your list. the k03 can't do much, but it'll help. (if you are considering going BT down the line - i would go ahead and do first... it'll save you a LOT of money if you go ahead and do it now)

personally i'd say to save your money and not get the boser or RNS-E right now (even though 800 is a steal on RNS-E installed..) and i'd go ahead and get the wheels. people on here say rs4 reps are played out, i say they're losers and just see lots of them on here. i've NEVER seen another b6 with rs4 reps on it... ever. anywhere (in person).

point is they're probably not played out in your area, they look clean, they come at a good price, and they're just a classic wheel design.. audi nailed it with that one - why not take advantage of that?

also, if you get a drop on just springs - yes it will wear out your shocks faster. how fast depends on your roads, current mileage, and driving habits. you shouldn't rub even on 19's - and two of your fenders come rolled from the factory (front i think) rears aren't a big deal.. if you drop enough the car will camber itself out hahahaha.

feel free to PM me if you have any questions - same goes for most (if not all) people on this site. its a community, and we're here to help!

[oregonaudi]

For perfect LED tails (that are similar in style to the poor-fitment group buy ones, but sans fitment issues) PM A4Moda. I got my tails a couple weeks ago and they fit perfect and look amazing IMO. I had a hard time finding good LED tails as well, he was the answer