The re-building process is done... guess again... (final status update +1)

[AvanTTix]

Well I didn't think I would end posting this, but it happened. All the back and forth arguing and negotiations w/ the insurance company paid off. They have finally accepted to repair the Avant thus avoiding a total loss... the title is still clean!!!

<--- no more "totaled" avatar!!!

So here's a recap of what has been going on until now if you haven't followed and want to catch up:
- I've always feared this day would happened... and well it did... (I'll concede that in term of "major" accidents this is at the bottom of the scale, actually it's just a "fender-bender" w/ only material and "emotional" consequences...)
- more evidences of the carnage...
- well it's official... it's a total loss...
- so how much would u be willing to pay to avoid a salvage title?

After increasing the cash value of the Avant by a little over a $1k and re-evaluating the cost of the repairs down from $14.5k to $12.5k for the whole car, i.e. front, interior and rear, the estimate ended up being below the 75% threshold for declaring the vehicle a total loss.

Freddie, my mechanic, is already at work inventorying and ordering all the parts needed. At my end, I've already secured a new set of bi-xenon headlights, and well these things have really come down in price since I ordered one of the first sets imported in NA a few years ago. I've also secured a passenger airbag for the dash, AC condenser, both fans and shroud (thanks Michel!). I've been bugging Greg cross-checking a lot of part numbers and asking for the numbers of some other parts that I intend on replacing too. I've also decided to forgo the Euro S4 rear bumper for a North American one, given the cost of importing the Euro one. Beside the difference btw Euro and NA is minimal if not null when it comes to the Avants. It does mean that I may have to also replace rebar and shock absorbers since these are for a Euro bumper. If that's the case the cost will then be the same as the Euro bumper.

Here are a few pics of the damages once the front bumper and radiator support were removed:

The hood had to be cut open to get to the release and be able to actually open it up:







With the radiator support removed it was good to see that nothing major was going on w/ the motor itself. Most of the impact appears to have been right around the driver side headlight, high enough that it didn't impact the intercooler on that side.





Visually the rail frame didn't seem bend at all, and we since got confirmation of that.





The alignments of the fender, the hood and the door seem fine as well, which was a good sign in term of lack of major damage to the frame. The bodyshop still wants to test fit the new hood and fender before proceeding w/ paining them to make sure everything will still line up right.





The same cannot be said of the front bumper. At least my foglight survived.







Surprisingly the damages to the rebar aren't as bad as I would have thought they would be. The headlight washer pump is still working.





The radiator support took most of the impact.







The headlight didn't fair well either, although all bulbs are still functioning.





Finally the rear bumper has a tear from the bike sliding under the Avant. But thankfully the muffler is okay. It will need to be re-aligned but that's much better than having to replace it.





On Monday the Avant went on the frame machine, or whatever the technical term for it is, to double check that nothing was bent. Thankfully the frame and the rails are still straight, which is good otherwise the engine would have needed to come out to straighten them.

Unfortunately due to the weather conditions out East, sourcing the parts may take a little while as some of them may be located in snowed-in warehouses. There is apparently already a backlog on some of the OEM parts. I guess we'll see.

At this point, I'm hoping that by mid-January or sometime around then, the Avant will be back on the road.

I do plan to do a couple of things while it's in the shop, but nothing major. I'll get my Sportec front bumper fixed up and I'd like to get a set of side skirts too, but these might be more difficult to get, although I do a lead on a set of Sportec...

We're going to work on a custom harness for the HID foglights to make it easier to switch the bumpers. I'm considering using OEM ballasts to power these up as I'm tired of having after-market ballasts blowing up on me.

With the dash coming out we're going to tidy up all the additional wires that have been put in for the Lidatek, the V1, the ADR V1 interface and the nav. There are so many of them that I'm sure Freddie will have a heart attack when he see how messy it is back there... I've also decided to go ahead and install a rear view camera. Finally I'm hoping we'll be able to complete the installation of the memory, tilting and folding capabilities of the exterior rear view mirrors. All these should actually pretty much complete the interior.

BTW here's a scan of the ECU following the accident:

Chassis Type: 8E - Audi A4 B6/B7
Scan: 01 02 03 08 09 0F 11 15 16 17 18 36 37 45 46 55 56 57 65 67
69 75 76 77

VIN: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mileage: 85910km/53381miles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: 06B-909-518-AMB.lbl
Part No SW: 8E0 909 518 AF HW: 8E0 909 018 A
Component: 1.8L R4/5VT G 0003
Coding: 0016701
Shop #: WSC 63351 000 00000

1 Fault Found:
16946 - System Voltage: Too Low
P0562 - 002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
Readiness: 0000 0000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 8E0-614-517.lbl
Part No: 8E0 614 517 H
Component: ABS/ESP allrad 2328
Coding: 04275
Shop #: WSC 00000

1 Fault Found:
01826 - Sensor for Steering Angle (G85); Supply Voltage Terminal 30
35-00 - -

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC Labels: 8E0-820-043.lbl
Part No: 8E0 820 043 L
Component: A4 Klimaautomat 1116
Coding: 00000
Shop #: WSC 63351

4 Faults Found:
01274 - Air Flow Flap Positioning Motor (V71)
41-10 - Blocked or No Voltage - Intermittent
01273 - Fresh Air Blower (V2)
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent
00819 - High Pressure Sensor (G65)
30-00 - Open or Short to Plus
00532 - Supply Voltage B+
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8E2.lbl
Part No: 8E0 907 279 E
Component: int. Lastmodul KAN 0305
Coding: 00014
Shop #: WSC 63351

2 Faults Found:
01312 - Powertrain Data Bus
79-10 - Please Check Fault Codes - Intermittent
00532 - Supply Voltage B+
52-10 - Supply Voltage Too High - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 15: Airbags Labels: 8E0-959-655-84.lbl
Part No: 8E0 959 655 C
Component: Airbag 8.4EP 2000
Coding: 0010607
Shop #: WSC 63351 000 00000

1 Fault Found:
00595 - Crash Data Stored
000 - - - Intermittent - MIL ON

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 16: Steering wheel Labels: 8E0-953-549.lbl
Part No: 8E0 953 549 R
Component: Lenksáulenmodul 0701
Coding: 03042
Shop #: WSC 26153

1 Fault Found:
00532 - Supply Voltage B+
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments Labels: 8E0-920-9xx-8E2.lbl
Part No: 8E0 920 931 X
Component: KOMBI+WEGFAHRS. RB4 D42
Coding: 03300
Shop #: WSC 91417
WAUVC68E63A235255 AUZ6Z0B0322846

2 Faults Found:
00668 - Supply Voltage Terminal 30
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent
01316 - ABS Control Module
49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 36: Seat Mem. Drvr Labels: 8E0-959-760.lbl
Part No: 8E0 959 760
Component: Sitzmemory R2 F 0305
Coding: 00003
Shop #: WSC 63251

5 Faults Found:
00668 - Supply Voltage Terminal 30
07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent
00668 - Supply Voltage Terminal 30
06-10 - Signal too High - Intermittent
01336 - Data Bus for Comfort System
80-10 - Single-Wire Operation - Intermittent
01330 - Central Control Module for Central Convenience (J393)
79-00 - Please Check Fault Codes
01794 - Control Module - Incorrect Chassis (VIN) Number
35-00 - -

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 46: Central Conv. Labels: 8E0-959-433-MAX.lbl
Part No: 8E0 959 433 BB
Component: Komfortgerát T7B 1311
Coding: 12104
Shop #: WSC 63351

Part No: 8E1959801E
Component: Tõrsteuer.FS BRM 0002

Part No: 8E1959802F
Component: Tõrsteuer.BF BRM 0002

Part No: 8E0959801D
Component: Tõrsteuer.HL BRM 0002

Part No: 8E0959802D
Component: Tõrsteuer.HR BRM 0002

7 Faults Found:
01330 - Central Control Module for Central Convenience (J393)
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent
01366 - Opened Due to Crash Signal
35-00 - -
00956 - Key 2
35-10 - - - Intermittent
01331 - Door Control Module; Driver Side (J386)
80-00 - Single-Wire Operation
01332 - Door Control Module; Passenger Side (J387)
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent
01333 - Door Control Module; Rear Left (J388)
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent
01334 - Door Control Module; Rear Right (J398)
53-10 - Supply Voltage Too Low - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 55: Xenon Range Labels: 4Z7-907-357.lbl
Part No: 4Z7 907 357
Component: dynamische LWR D09
Coding: 00060
Shop #: WSC 63351

2 Faults Found:
01534 - Control Circuit for Left Headlight Range Adjusting Motor (V48)
29-00 - Short to Ground
00532 - Supply Voltage B+
07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent

I removed all the faults related to the infotainment as all of them were due to the battery draining out following the accident. The good thing is that there are no codes related to a malfunction of the driver side airbag. The airbag system seems to have worked as expected. The safety mechanism of the driver seat belt tensioner fired off and kept me back in the seat. Since there was no passenger sitting in the passenger seat, the seat belt was not clicked, thus the airbag in the dash deployed as a safety precaution in case someone was in the seat w/o a seat belt. I plan on recycling the driver seat belt buckle to engage it on the passenger side when there is no passenger, this will prevent the airbag from deploying if I ever get in a similar accident again, since the cost of replacing the airbag and dash will probably be around $3.5-4k.

Here are a couple of pics of the airbag for reference:









I'll keep updating this thread as progresses are made on the repairs...

[RANT]
Oh and finally to whom negatively-repped me for being "Repetitive on this whole Avant issue."... really???
This particular forum is dedicated to cars, Audi in particular, and some of us have spent an awful long time, money and efforts modding our vehicles and while doing so we shared our experience, frustrations, successes and more w/ our fellow AZers. If the fact that I posted a whooping 4 threads, actually 5 w/ this one, seems to be too repetitive, then I think you don't quite understand the driving force/passion that some of us have to do what we do.
Actually let me just say one more thing, if through these 4/5 threads, I've made a fellow AZer review his/her insurance coverage, or realise that he/she should never accept an initial settlement offer from his/her insurance company on a total loss or even get them to work hard w/ their insurance to revert a total loss decision then these threads were all worth it IMO, and it's a shame you don't see it that way.
[/RANT]

[Audized]

Good to know that one of the sweetest avants will be back on the road soon!

[absolutegtr]

Its retarded how Audi designed the dash to be totally ruined when the passenger airbag deploys

[got boost.]

Nice job on the settlement. Maybe ill get to see the avant around the bay when its fully done.

[vinny.dtw]

Post his name, and we'll neg rep him back. Jk, glad its working out for you. And your interior although with the airbag popped out, still looks better then mine.

[Arclight]

Good luck w/ the rebuild and improvement to your ride. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

[a2gtinut]

other manufacturers do it too.
BTW. why driver's side bag did not deploy?

[kwik_shift]

slowly but surely the avant will be back 2 life

[Peoples-2]

Good luck man!

[kwik_shift]

other manufacturers do it too.
BTW. why driver's side bag did not deploy?

if i understand correctly because he was wearing his seatbelt

[AvanTTix]

other manufacturers do it too.
BTW. why driver's side bag did not deploy?

if i understand correctly because he was wearing his seatbelt

Correct.

...The airbag system seems to have worked as expected. The safety mechanism of the driver seat belt tensioner fired off and kept me back in the seat. Since there was no passenger sitting in the passenger seat, the seat belt was not clicked, thus the airbag in the dash deployed as a safety precaution in case someone was in the seat w/o a seat belt...

[AvanTTix]

Its retarded how Audi designed the dash to be totally ruined when the passenger airbag deploys

Well at least in the B7 there is a bladder in the seat that tells the ECU whether someone is occupying the seat or not. I do wish this had been implemented for the B6, that would have saved me a lot of money and thus troubles. Taking off $3.5-4k from the estimate for the interior and the insurance would have repaired the Avant no question asked. Oh well...

[vdubstreets]

I wish you lived closer those bumpers are def fixable. Looking good though

[NyteEscape]

hey. i'm glad you got everything worked out and one of the prettiest avants will live one. i mean no harm, but this is a ridiculously good looking picture. even with the obvious items that would generally negate a good picture.

[italian a4 1032]

are those s4 seats?

[AudiOso]

I'm glad it's all working out for you. I wiped my Avant out last December in a snow storm. I did very similar damage to my car except for the airbag not blowing. I had to have two fenders replaced. The hood was repairable and the core support had to be replaced. Other than that and the bumper assembly I was fine.

Did you upgrade your car to the twin FMIC setup or is it a grey market car that was brought into the US? If you did the upgrade can you provide me info on how to get the parts for the upgrade? I would love to do that to my car. Best of luck!

[AvanTTix]

are those s4 seats?

indeed... the whole interior has been pretty much all upgraded to what one would find in an S4, black headliner and pillars, Recaro seats w/ memory and colour cluster.

[mnkyA4]

Glad to see the Avant getting fixed soon. Can't wait to see it at a meet here in the Bay Area.

[AvanTTix]

i mean no harm, but this is a ridiculously good looking picture. even with the obvious items that would generally negate a good picture.

No harm done. For a hand held pic I'm quite happy w/ it too. Setting up a tripod would have resulted in better light all around, but I could be bothered.

[AvanTTix]

I'm glad it's all working out for you. I wiped my Avant out last December in a snow storm. I did very similar damage to my car except for the airbag not blowing. I had to have two fenders replaced. The hood was repairable and the core support had to be replaced. Other than that and the bumper assembly I was fine.

Did you upgrade your car to the twin FMIC setup or is it a grey market car that was brought into the US? If you did the upgrade can you provide me info on how to get the parts for the upgrade? I would love to do that to my car. Best of luck!

Good to hear your accident only involved material damages!

I upgraded to a DSMIC. That set-up was available in Europe from the factory. Another one of these mysteries as to why Audi didn't think NA would want that... There are a few companies out there that sell the complete kit. Do a search on DSMIC and you should be able to come up w/ a list of vendors and probably the numbers of the parts needed as well.

[A4 Moda]

very good news.
Tell your mechanic to take his time. Do it correctly the first time.
Aside from cosmetically pleasing, in the event that a serious accident should occur, you'd want the piece of mind that your car was put back together properly.

Im sure you've got that covered. but a friendly reminder never hurts.

[romell]

good luck!

[[email protected]]

You mention 'shroud' in your post... did you mean the intercooler shrouds?

I have a pair of them in my office if you needed a set.

[yoogene83]

Glad to hear the good news, Steph! It's always nice to keep a couple OG'ers around the b6 forum!

I'm still surprised that the drivers airbag didn't deploy. Even with the seatbelt tensioner firing, i thought the airbag was supposed to deploy regardless? I'm glad they both technically did their job, but definitely one of those things that makes you go "hm..."

[B6Lovin]

glad to hear you're getting to keep the car! hands down one of my favorite cars here (especially your interior) and it's good to see people "sticking it to the man". insurance companies are full of bastards and assholes who will ruin anything for anyone if it means not having to dish out as much cash.

also when it says crash data stored on the vagcom scan --- i wonder what exactly that means? do you think there's anything specific stored in the car? or is it just recorded that there was an impact incase anyone ever needs to know?

[Turbo1A4]

congrats on getting the car back from them and good luck on the repairs

[A4SoftWalker]

Nice job on the settlement. Maybe ill get to see the avant around the bay when its fully done.

^^^2nd glad ur getting back on the road... and with a vengeance too... haha. Think about it this way - since ur side mount intercoolers survived, that prevented an easily added 700-1500 to ur repair bill. Well that is hoping there are no boost leaks later. Congrats on ur tenacity for not caving in and a really nice whip

[Turbo_Whip]

Good to see your going to be able to repair the avant, its truly a one off ride.

Quick question, what type of steering wheel is that and are the buttons functional with the RNS-E?

[AvanTTix]

it's an MKII TT steering wheel, and all the buttons are functional w/ the RNS-E... I love it, I just wish there was a alu/silver accent circle around the rings like on the stock A4 steering wheel.

[AvanTTix]

You mention 'shroud' in your post... did you mean the intercooler shrouds?

I have a pair of them in my office if you needed a set.

thanks Winston, but it's the shroud of the fans. Michel set me up w/ that already.

[AvanTTix]

Glad to hear the good news, Steph! It's always nice to keep a couple OG'ers around the b6 forum!

Indeed, it would have been too weird to start on another one. Beside there aren't many of us left although I know some are still lurking around, but not many OG left posting...

I'm still surprised that the drivers airbag didn't deploy. Even with the seatbelt tensioner firing, i thought the airbag was supposed to deploy regardless? I'm glad they both technically did their job, but definitely one of those things that makes you go "hm..."

The airbags only deploy based on the intensity of the crash which is evaluated by the crash sensors, some of which are located on the radiator support. In this particular circumstance it seems that the signal/accident wasn't hard enough for the driver side airbag to deploy and I'm actually glad it didn't b/c I would have ended up w/ bruised arms and face.

[Matt Devo]

this is great news Steph! look forward to seeing her back together again.

have you given any thought to going with the USP front instead of the S4?

[AvanTTix]

I did, but decided against it. I actually like the S4 over the USP. I think it has to do w/ the one piece over 2 pieces, and I already have to deal w/ the molded Sportec, I don't really want to deal w/ another molded bumper. After all it's just a "winter" bumper.

[sandspeed]

It's great to see your car getting fixed man. When I first got my A4 nearly two years ago, yours was an inspiration to what I'm doing with it now. Eventually I'll get my custom trimmed interior done and a few other things. Oh, and if you need anything from Europe, give me a PM. I'm currently stationed in England with friends in Germany and I'm getting stationed at Beale AFB, outside Sacramento in March. It make take a while for my household goods to reach California, but if you need anything big from over here, like a Euro hatch, bumpers, etc., I can have it shipped for free with my furniture and all my car parts when I move. Just let me know.

[F16HTON]

Is it really necessary to make 4 threads about one accident?

[AudiA4Turbo22]

thanx for the suspension

[Turbo_Whip]

it's an MKII TT steering wheel, and all the buttons are functional w/ the RNS-E... I love it, I just wish there was a alu/silver accent circle around the rings like on the stock A4 steering wheel.

What was needed for the install, did you need any special adapters or something?

[KareemA4]

Where did you get the blue interior trim? and i have a Denim Blue too
lol

[derleicaman]

Hey Steph,

Glad things are working out for you! It would have been sad to see one of the iconic B6ers departing this forum.

Do you have the set memory working? If so, it's not too difficult to get the mirrors functioning as well. As you know I got my seat memory for the S4 Recaros and mirror memory working and did a DIY on it. I still have to get the auto-dimming to function on the side mirrors, though.

For everyone asking about the TT MKII wheel install, look at the write-up that HX_Guy did on this. You will need a new S/C ring, control module and adapter plug plus recoding with vagcom to get this to work.

[AvanTTix]

Where did you get the blue interior trim?

I had my OE one painted.