Silver's Build Thread

**SilveR316** · 11-16-2013 09:23 PM

I picked up my 2014 S4 in August this year, and since messing around with cars is something I love doing I thought I would document the progress.

I'm currently debating what to do about tuning as I really don't want to TD1 this car right off the bat. I might wait a while for a tune + pulley.

Here she is next to my old VW on the day I picked her up. The VW was a 2000 Golf with almost 440,000 km on the clock. Engine was still going strong, but the body was really starting to get rough. Time for an upgrade.

Current look...

The day I picked her up...

**SilveR316** · 11-16-2013 09:26 PM

Two days later I got the window tint installed. 35% on the sides and rear. I had 20% on my VW but it was too dark at night, especially on unlit city streets.

**Mops@Nemesis** · 11-16-2013 09:30 PM

Congrats! She is beautiful.

**SilveR316** · 11-16-2013 09:33 PM

I left my car with Kevin and Marco at GTA In Detail for a new car prep + opti coat + Ventureshield paint protection film. Kevin and Marco did an amazing job and you cannot see the film on any panels that were covered.

I had the entire hood, front bumper, both fenders, A pillars, rear wheel arches, and the bumper under the trunk covered. It was expensive, but completely worth it. My VW didn't have any film installed and all that highway driving I did definitely showed in the paint. Marco also removed the V6T badges and installed the Supercharged badges after covering the fenders in the film. +10 hp for those badges.

I also installed my Blackvue dr500gw-hd dash cam around this time. I've seen so much crap happen on the road that it seems like a good investment.

**SilveR316** · 11-16-2013 09:40 PM

AWE Exhaust with 102mm tips arrived a few weeks later. I opted to keep the OEM downpipes and now that the exhaust is broken in, I'm happy with the choice. There is a very minimal amount of drone at highway speeds, but it's acceptable. I may still end up getting the resonated downpipes if I start a highway commute, but it's not necessary right now.

The tips aren't quite lined up correctly in these images, but I have since corrected this. I did the install myself in my driveway on ramps in about 4 hours.

You can read more details about the install here: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Tips-Installed

**SilveR316** · 11-16-2013 09:48 PM

I ordered a set of 19x10 Vorsteiner V-FF 101s in textured gunmetal a few weeks ago. The finish on these wheels is absolutely gorgeous and I'm very happy with them. The arrived at the shop this week, and I had Ilker from SportsCarBoutique install the original summer tires (255/35/19) on them for me. Ilker has been awesome, and very vocal about what was happening with my order from start to finish. He went out of his way to install the tires on his day off, not to mention making sure that I was absolutely happy with the finish of the wheels before I ordered them.

Not too crazy about the stretched look of 255s on 19x10 rims, but these tires only have ~5000km so I'll deal with it for now. I probably would have gone with 20x10 if I didn't already have the rubber.

I didn't get a chance to weigh the wheels without rubber, but the entire rim+tire weighed in at 48.6 lbs. Tire Rack says these tires weigh ~24 lbs, so the other 24.6 lbs would be the rim weight.

I had Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds put on my OEM TI rims a few weeks ago when it started getting cold. I'm also very happy with these. There is no difference in road noise, and handling is only slightly affected.

I also ordered a set of KW HAS which will be getting put on the car in the next little while. I have a feeling these new wheels will look weird without some low.

Sadly, they're going to sit in my garage until warmer weather arrives.

**mmmkam** · 11-17-2013 04:53 AM

Looks great so far and great color choice!

Subscribed!

**SilveR316** · 11-18-2013 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Mops

Congrats! She is beautiful.

Thanks Mops!

Originally Posted by mmmkam

Looks great so far and great color choice!

Subscribed!

Thanks! I'm really loving the estoril blue. Sometimes I wish it was a bit brighter, but this color looks very classy.

**Jimminez** · 11-18-2013 10:40 AM

Looking good. That textured finish looks great.

Last spring when I bough some SNAs in 19x10", I wasn't a fan of the stretch on the Continentals so ordered Michelin PSS instead. Never ended up running the SNAs. I found that Michelins work well with minimizing the stretched look.

**UltraS4John** · 11-18-2013 10:43 AM

looks nice!

**Mops@Nemesis** · 11-18-2013 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Jimminez

Looking good. That textured finish looks great.
Last spring when I bough some SNAs in 19x10", I wasn't a fan of the stretch on the Continentals so ordered Michelin PSS instead. Never ended up running the SNAs. I found that Michelins work well with minimizing the stretched look.

It really does. Similar to my old CH-R and current BC's, but more texture. Keeps the sheen to a minimum, and they are so easy to care for. These type finishes will never show swirls, and wheels are the hardest part of the car to keep swirl free.

Yep, the PSS are nice and bulky, making the stretch less apparent.

**SilveR316** · 02-06-2014 09:13 PM

Just a pic from the recent snow storm. I installed the whispbar roof rack since I last posted as well.

I think the suspension has settled a bit since I first got the car. Now that I look back at the original pics and compare it with this one, it seems like the car is sitting a bit lower.

**AuditsaF** · 02-07-2014 05:08 AM

Very Nice Car

**ballinb5** · 02-07-2014 05:19 AM

Dat rack looks very nice. Any plans to lower? I would love to see it dropped with the new wheels and rack

**BirdmanQ5** · 02-07-2014 07:08 AM

Car's looking great, but it sounds even better ;) looking forward to having my plain one sit next to it in the spring!

**SilveR316** · 02-07-2014 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by AuditsaF

Very Nice Car

Thanks!

Originally Posted by ballinb5

Dat rack looks very nice. Any plans to lower? I would love to see it dropped with the new wheels and rack

I have ADS, so my options are limited. I have a KW HAS kit coming soon, but I don't plan on slamming it. I'm only going to do a mild drop so it looks good with the new wheels.

Originally Posted by BirdmanQ5

Car's looking great, but it sounds even better ;) looking forward to having my plain one sit next to it in the spring!

Haha, thanks!

**LakeShow** · 02-07-2014 11:45 AM

Ride looks great! How did you get the Ti wheels without the black optics package? They didn't have that option when I was purchasing, just the peelers.

**SilveR316** · 02-07-2014 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by LakeShow

Ride looks great! How did you get the Ti wheels without the black optics package? They didn't have that option when I was purchasing, just the peelers.

It was a $500 option in Canada when 2014 models were first released. I just checked in the builder on the Audi Canada website, and it seems to get the TI wheels you must get the black optics package now for $1300.

**SilveR316** · 03-25-2014 06:40 PM

So a few weeks ago I installed the Whispbar roof rack. I took it off after about 2 weeks and noticed some faint marring in the paint where it touched the roof, so I wanted to find a way to prevent that.

I roughly measured out the foot print of the rack mounts, and designed some stencils in Photoshop that I then printed out on sticker paper. I cut out the stencils, mounted them on the roof, and sprayed a a few thin layers of clear plastidip to create a protective barrier between the rack and the paint. The plastidip peels easily so I can just remove it when I decide to take the roof rack off. The size of the stenciled area is slightly bigger than the rubber rack mount feet, but the plastidip isn't noticable unless you go up to the car and start inspecting it.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with this solution (despite the amount of work required).

**SilveR316** · 03-25-2014 06:53 PM

My KW H.A.S kit finally arrived, and I had a local shop do the install. Normally this is something I'd do myself, but it was -20 degrees outside at the time, and I didn't really feel like spending a Saturday sitting on my cold garage floor.

Original ground to fender height before I had the kit installed was 27" in the front, and 27.25" in the rear. I measured the ride height yesterday after giving the springs 3 weeks to settle, and ride height is now 25.8" all around. This is about as low as I could go while still keeping alignment within spec. I'll probably end up getting the adjustable control arms and go a bit lower when I finally put on my summer wheels in a few weeks time.

This kit rides extremely smooth, and is a very noticeable improvement over stock. I chose to go with this kit instead of coilovers because I wanted to retain my ADS functionality. Interestingly, this kit comes with rubber silencers to install over the coils.

Original ride height for reference...

Front

Rear

**SilveR316** · 03-25-2014 06:57 PM

Got a new camera the other day, so I figured I'd wash all the dirt and salt off the car today and go take some pics. The KW H.A.S kit has settled at this point, so this is my new ride height for now. It's approximately 1.2" lower than stock, but by no means slammed. Most people outside of Audi enthusiasts have no idea that it's lowered at all.

Once I put on my summer wheels, I'll probably lower it a bit more.

Color on the photos has been enhanced slightly as it was a pretty dark and dreary day today.

**SilveR316** · 03-25-2014 06:59 PM

Any thought on what would be a good combination of spacers for my winter setup? Wheels are OEM TI Rotors 19x8.5 et 43.

**Jango3434** · 03-25-2014 07:09 PM

Looks awesome!!! Great choice on the Ti wheels with the Estoril can't wait to see what it looks like with the new rims.

**BirdmanQ5** · 03-25-2014 09:18 PM

Sweet Jesus. I better make some moves on some parts or I'll have to just live vicariously through you!

Looks awesome! Let's meet up next week I'm curious to see the ride height difference on stock rims in person

**raudiace4** · 03-25-2014 09:39 PM

GOD DAMN I want 102mm tips!! Looks so badass! Sweet car!

**suban** · 03-26-2014 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by SilveR316

Any thought on what would be a good combination of spacers for my winter setup? Wheels are OEM TI Rotors 19x8.5 et 43.

8mm/f
12.5mm/r

**catch** · 03-26-2014 06:39 AM

looks great!

those tips look HUGE!

**SilveR316** · 03-26-2014 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Jango3434

Looks awesome!!! Great choice on the Ti wheels with the Estoril can't wait to see what it looks like with the new rims.

Thanks! Hopefully only a few more weeks. I'll post more pics once they're on.

Originally Posted by BirdmanQ5

Sweet Jesus. I better make some moves on some parts or I'll have to just live vicariously through you!

Looks awesome! Let's meet up next week I'm curious to see the ride height difference on stock rims in person

Haha, thanks Alex. I'm in Atlanta next week on business, but I can do any time before or after that.

Originally Posted by raudiace4

GOD DAMN I want 102mm tips!! Looks so badass! Sweet car!

Thank you! They completely transform the rear end. Worth every penny.

Originally Posted by suban

8mm/f
12.5mm/r

I'll have to look in to that. I'm hesitant to go with anything less than 10mm as I've had vibration problems on past cars.

Originally Posted by catch

looks great!

those tips look HUGE!

Thank you.

**SilveR316** · 03-27-2014 10:53 PM

Messed around with a bit HDR post-processing tonight. Seems to have really brought out some details that were missing from the original photo.

**SilveR316** · 03-27-2014 11:16 PM

One more...

**GREYTRACK** · 03-28-2014 09:27 PM

Looks great!!

**SilveR316** · 03-29-2014 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by GREYTRACK

Looks great!!

Thank you! I've got a few more pics from yesterday coming.

**SilveR316** · 03-29-2014 01:50 PM

I went out with BirdmanQ5 the other day for some rainy day photos. They turned out pretty well. First location was a bit muddy, but we cleaned up afterwards and took some more pics at a nearby parking garage and park.

**SilveR316** · 04-05-2014 09:13 PM

Put on the Vorsteiner V-FF 101s yesterday that I picked up last fall. Quick pic of a dirty car.

I need to drop the car a bit more to make these look good, but I'm waiting on the adjustable control arms to stay with spec. Going to wash the car, get those installed, and drop the car another 3/4" or so and then take some more pics.

**dbX79** · 04-06-2014 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by SilveR316

Put on the Vorsteiner V-FF 101s yesterday that I picked up last fall. Quick pic of a dirty car.

I need to drop the car a bit more to make these look good, but I'm waiting on the adjustable control arms to stay with spec. Going to wash the car, get those installed, and drop the car another 3/4" or so and then take some more pics.

Your car looks great with both wheels. Honestly these wheels look good on Estoril Blue. If BirdmanQ5 is rocking peelers they look good on Estoril too. I think this is my second favorite color on the S4.

**cfritos** · 04-06-2014 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by SilveR316

Put on the Vorsteiner V-FF 101s yesterday that I picked up last fall. Quick pic of a dirty car.

I need to drop the car a bit more to make these look good, but I'm waiting on the adjustable control arms to stay with spec. Going to wash the car, get those installed, and drop the car another 3/4" or so and then take some more pics.

can we get some more pics of the new wheels?

**BirdmanQ5** · 04-06-2014 06:30 AM

Those look great! I think I like BMW's version of Estoril Blue better though since it's sitting next to it. (blasphemy)

Originally Posted by dbX79

Your car looks great with both wheels. Honestly these wheels look good on Estoril Blue. If BirdmanQ5 is rocking peelers they look good on Estoril too. I think this is my second favorite color on the S4.

Yeah I've still got the peelers, although I'm pretty jealous about those rims! I would get a brushed aluminum look as I am keeping with a blue/aluminum theme. There are a lot of things I'll do before I lose the peelers I think, unless I'm turning them into a dedicated winter set.

**dbX79** · 04-06-2014 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by BirdmanQ5

Those look great! I think I like BMW's version of Estoril Blue better though since it's sitting next to it. (blasphemy)

Yeah I've still got the peelers, although I'm pretty jealous about those rims! I would get a brushed aluminum look as I am keeping with a blue/aluminum theme. There are a lot of things I'll do before I lose the peelers I think, unless I'm turning them into a dedicated winter set.

I'm going to get mine redone they're scraped up in areas. I'm not looking to change my wheels because later I might change cars and trade it in. Who knows. I don't want to spend 3K on wheels when I might change cars later. I could sell them but don't want the hassle.