Back in an Avant: B8 A4 Avant Build Thread

[dropshadow]

No worries. I take the report from Audi with a grain of salt. You know what they say about statistics: "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damn lies, and statistics."

It's not a huge deal either way, I just think it's kind of cool (if true). I know that whoever originally ordered my car ticked every box on the option sheet, and for that, I'm thankful. Then he probably realized that he could have gotten an S4 for the money he spent on an A4, and then traded it in.

Hell, it might just be the front plate option that makes mine "unique."

[tankdeer]

Hell, it might just be the front plate option that makes mine "unique."

I was wondering that too. Little things like the destination charge which differs might make a difference too.

[audirings4]

It's not a huge deal either way, I just think it's kind of cool (if true). I know that whoever originally ordered my car ticked every box on the option sheet, and for that, I'm thankful. Then he probably realized that he could have

I don't see ADS on that list?

[dropshadow]

You couldn't get ADS on the A4 Avant in 2011.

[NoR32]

Yeah, other than the year and trans (you have the 8 speed i think) out cars are prtty much identicle.

Today I asked them to send me am email with what options make my car a 1 off. He said most likely that because it a prestige with parking assist and I also have the rear shades.

[dropshadow]

Actually, I don't have front parking assist, so I guess I don't have every option. Might have to retrofit that.

[NoR32]

US doesn't have front parking only rear I guess I should have specified.


The End...

[SilverThing]

You couldn't get ADS on the A4 Avant in 2011.

I don't think that's quite right - my understanding is that ADS was an available option on the 2011 B8 Avant - I looked long and hard at the one you bought from that BMW dlr (you're right the price they had it listed for made me do a serious double take), ultimately decided to pass on it as it didn't have ADS (which is a must-have for me). Looks real sharp tho, glad you're enjoying it.

Any interior pics?

[dropshadow]

I played around with VAG-COM today and enabled the hidden MMI menu:


Thanks to DavidB8 and his walkthrough, I enabled Audi Drive Select, effectively giving my car "ADS Lite."

[SoCalS4Avant]

Only thing ill caution you with, Sean is the fact that service "may" wipe your VAG mods from time to time. Just happened to me. Kinda bugged me!

Let me know how you like the ADS work around. I may do that next.

[dropshadow]

Yeah, I had my mods wiped on the B7 at least once due to a service update. That's one reason I bought my own VAG-COM cable, so I could play around with it whenever I wanted.

I went out for a drive, and the dynamic steering setting is just like I remember in my S4. It's a heavier feel, more connected to the road.

[NoR32]

So I have the dynamic steering as a permanent thing and maybe the engine response too but I don't have it in my mmi. Dd you get any error codes or light in the cluster?

[dropshadow]

No codes. If you follow David's walkthrough it's very simple. It took maybe 15 minutes to go through all the steps. It works as if the car came with it from the factory. And just so it looks a little more OE, I bought a set of ADS switches from an S4.

[NoR32]

I guess I'll have to redo it, as I don't have those on my MMI thanks


The End...

[dropshadow]

[JVDMN]

Hey Dropshadow,

Thanks for sharing your story. That makes my story how I meet my A4 Avant seem lame, I only flew to Chicago.
I'm pumped to see there's another cool Avant in the TwinCities, looks like yours has all the bells and whistles.
I have a ton of questions for you; but first one is 'how do you like your APR tune? Looking to get mine done.

Thanks,
Jonas

[dropshadow]

Hey Jonas. Where in the TC are you? Be sure to sign up at MNAudi.com, we have a pretty active Audi community here.

I like my APR tune a lot. It's one of those things that feels like the car should have come that way from the factory. I had it done on the 5th day that I had the car. Definitely worth it, especially if you wait until the next APR sale, which probably isn't too far off.

[JVDMN]

Hey...

I'm up in Ham Lake so just north of the cities... Where are you in the the cities?
Thanks for referring the MNaudi website, I'll make sure to sign up.

Yeah the APR tune sounds like a must, especially with my warranty just expiring at 50K. Now is the time. I bought my 2010 Avant in the fall but its been badly neglected over the winter so I can't wait for the Spring (if it ever decides to show up).

[dropshadow]

I'm up in Ham Lake so just north of the cities... Where are you in the the cities?
Thanks for referring the MNaudi website, I'll make sure to sign up.

Yeah the APR tune sounds like a must, especially with my warranty just expiring at 50K. Now is the time. I bought my 2010 Avant in the fall but its been badly neglected over the winter so I can't wait for the Spring (if it ever decides to show up).

I'm just outside Minneapolis. Cars & Coffee starts back up on the first Saturday in April, you should make the trip if you're able. The Audis always have a pretty good showing: http://www.mncandc.com

[Bezlar]

How you like the h r coils? Was your avant sport suspension from factory? If it was what difference you feel in the two set ups.
Thanks

[csluyuan]

Looking good fo sho !

[dropshadow]

How you like the h r coils? Was your avant sport suspension from factory? If it was what difference you feel in the two set ups.
Thanks

I ended up trading the Avant in for a new S4, so I never got around to putting the coilovers on it and put them on the S4 instead.

[Bezlar]

I ended up trading the Avant in for a new S4, so I never got around to putting the coilovers on it and put them on the S4 instead.

Well how do they compare to the s4 stock suspension. More harsh softer? I want to lower avant but don't want to make it more bouncy or harsher. Just trying to gather info on about four different brands before I purchase.

Thanks

[dropshadow]

It's bouncier than stock, but probably because I went pretty low.

[Schattin1215]

Have you found a solution to mount the box lower? Closer to the roof?

[dropshadow]

Have you found a solution to mount the box lower? Closer to the roof?

No, didn't bother. It sat about as low as it would probably go on the Whispbars. I also got rid of the car.

[mikecurrey]

"got an APR tune on the same day."



I recently got a 2012 B8 Avant S Line Titanium Edition. How do you like the APR tune?

[dropshadow]

"got an APR tune on the same day."

I recently got a 2012 B8 Avant S Line Titanium Edition. How do you like the APR tune?

It helped a little bit, but it wasn't enough. That car still felt like it was too big for its engine, so I traded it on an S4. I'd still recommend a tune for your car though. It helps wake the engine up a bit.

[lowerdtrek]

Mid-winter update:

• LED interior kit installed. I bought this kit from KRAutoparts for my S4 but pulled it out before I traded that car in. It uses all the same bulbs for the B8 Avant, except the Avant needs two more 194 wedge LEDs than the sedan. I ordered two more from Emil @ KRAuto and he sent them along with a few random spares since he's a nice guy. If you're looking for LEDs, I highly recommend KRAuto. His prices are much cheaper than what you'll find elsewhere, and he has kits put together for most VW/Audi vehicles.

• 2013 shifter installed. I hated the old shifter. It always felt like something out of a mid-90s GM rental car. The new ones are much nicer. Thanks to Europrice for the recent group buy on these. Old on the left vs. new on the right Also: lol slushbox autotragic sliptronic.


• Coilovers: I was originally going to go with springs, but after reading a few posts by Avant owners, a lot of them had complained about a harsh ride. Disappointing because the H&R OE springs I had in my S4 had excellent ride quality and height, so I was hoping their Avant springs would be similar. I started searching for coilovers and was ready to shell out for KW V1s, but read a few posts about V1 owners experiencing sagging issues over time. I looked at Vogtlands and almost bought a set but just as I was about to, I did one last check and found H&R coilovers on sale at AWE, so I ordered a set on the spot.

• Wheels: I wasn't actually looking for a new set of wheels since I already have two sets of 19s for this car as well as the 18" winter wheels. I knew that at some point I wanted to do 20s but wanted to make sure to get something strong enough to handle MN roads. I came across a set of 20s that I've always liked here on AZ, so I made another impulse purchase. They arrived last week and I'm very happy with them. They need a little bit of love before they go on the car but I've got plenty of time to do that before spring.

Other than that, I'm still loving the car every day. It's getting tinted on Friday morning, which I should have done as soon as I got it. There are some other mods from the S4 left over that will find their way onto the car in due time, like the RS4 grille, sway bars and Alu Kreuz. I took a brief road trip last weekend and averaged ~28mpg at 80mph. Not too shabby.

Do you have the part number for the new shifter knob????

[dropshadow]

Do you have the part number for the new shifter knob????

No, sorry. PM Alex@europrice and he can hook you up.

[mikecurrey]

I like my APR tune a lot. It's one of those things that feels like the car should have come that way from the factory.

How was the gas mileage after the tune?

[dropshadow]

How was the gas mileage after the tune?

It increased. Lots of other info here about APR's 2.0T tune.

[ducati]

Wondering where is the DIY for changing the shift knob.

[dropshadow]

Wondering where is the DIY for changing the shift knob.

Here's a good one: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...uto-Shift-Knob

If you're switching to an S-tronic style shifter with the button on the front instead of the side, use this one: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...onic-Knob-swap