Will13k7 - 2012 Brilliant Black B8 S4 (DSG)

[Campblett]

Yeah, takes more time to get it on a lift according to 034.

I've been thinking about just installing it myself, I've installed cat-back exhaust on my previous car before with just a jack and stands, but never liked hanging out under the car, and the S4 is about a thousand pounds heavier with jack stands I don't really trust. I wish I had a lift.

Interested in reading your thoughts on the transmission mount. I have the Apikol diff mount and it made a huge difference.

You should just grab some wheel ramps. I got them when I installed my Apikol mount. It made the install a 10 min job: http://www.amazon.com/RhinoGear-1190...HNFB3WWQXPC05G

[mact3333]

Nice car! Really like the mods you have done. I am very jealous of your pedals and gear shift knob! Wish someone local would do the install for that.

[will13k7]

Dropped the front more today, its 25 1/2" FTG in front, 25 7/8" FTG in rear. No more reverse rake look.

[Sciguy]

Looks gorgeous. I'm just embarking on my mod journey with my black b8 - thanks for the inspiration and information!

[will13k7]

I'm such a hooligan, lol! Turn your volume all the way up and use some nice headphones/speakers with bass TC was on in auto mode, forgot to change it up.

[will13k7]

[will13k7]

Got my tools ready, Apikol DIY and 034 Instructions for Torque Specs, and got my Race Ramps. Installing this tomorrow or Monday!



Finally!

[MikeBusby]

Awesome thread, car looks wicked

[AUDI A5]

Car looks GREAT!

You really need to get 20% tints on the thing though, will totally change the look of the car. Good luck.

[will13k7]

Finally got a few minutes (and some ramps!), install was easy and quick, just needed to get over being a little nervous under that 2 ton beast, lol. I haven't hung out under a car since I was younger and stupider, I'm in my 30's now. Transmission mount was the easiest, just unbolt the old, and bolt/torque the new (make sure you use NM instead of ft lbs on your torque wrench). The differential was a little trickier, mainly man handling that differential upwards so you can slip in the washer and bushing, but the rest was easy.

I'll give impressions later, but it did feel firmer off the line and when shifting up and down. If you try you can still make the ride a bit jerky though, but you need to try hard. I'll see the real difference in traffic when the transmission gets heated up. I'll post next week.

Race Ramps stored away for next time, they are so light.


Stock Pieces, bolt for Differential, bracket for Transmission.


For 034 Transmission Mount Install, front wheels on ramp. Wheel Chocks all around, and jack stands just in case.


Loosened stock transmission mount bracket.


Installed.



Rear wheels up for Apikol Differential Mount Install.



Stock


Installed, from front facing rear, still loose, only way to even see if its in the right place!


From Bottom, torqued.

[adbender]

Nice home install.

I think both mounts will tighten up those shifts just enough to make a difference.

[SteveYem]

Nice write-up and photos. I've installed both the Apikol and 034 mounts on my 2012 6MT and found that the Apikol mount didn't do much, but the 034 mount made a very noticeable difference in all up shifts. Definitely worthwhile, especially for $75!

[rooski39]

Great job, can't wait to hear the difference in the shift with the Apikol Mount installed. Please update when you get a chance to feel it out, thanks.

[stereojorge]

Superb looking car and i always believe black is the best color when cleaned but difficult to maintain

My thoughts exactly! It's the one thing that's making me not be infatuated with my month old 2012 S4, is the Brilliant Black color. Can't wait to wrap it Blue Metallic or paint it Sepang Blue :-D

Also, will13k7, beautiful car with great mods. I'm going to take an idea or two from you because I truly am a fan!

[plev72]

what's the downside to the larger swaybars, more ride harshness?

[will13k7]

what's the downside to the larger swaybars, more ride harshness?

I installed all my suspension parts at once on the S4, with the combo, there is more noise, vibration, and harness (NVH), but nothing excessive, it suits my tastes, and worth all the performance characteristics gained to me.

[will13k7]

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Spent about 2 hours driving in mixed-traffic today, more than usual, and I can tell these parts do make a difference. Not in a way that changes your life, reduces your quarter mile or lap times by tenths of a second, but in how it feels. Off the line, there is less throw back, it feels like it gets cut off sooner, and firms up. The sloppiness of the DSG is also cleaned up some. Instead of the DSG's clunkiness causing the car to jerk, its absorbed firmly. That rubber inside the DSG mount seems like its being forced to work more. I noticed a slight increase in drivetrain noise/whine. Mainly when engine braking around 2-3K rpm, but if you give it some gas, it quiets.

[will13k7]

Raised the front 1/8" to try and eliminate all rubbing, its working so far, I can't get any rubbing in places I could cause it to happen before (high speed turns on uneven roads)! Visually, you really can't notice 1/8", so I'm very happy with the outcome! I think this is the lowest I can get the car on this wheel+tire combo without rubbing and still have a tiny bit forward rake, it mostly looks level now though.

Old: 25 1/2" FTG in front, 25 7/8" FTG in rear
New: 25 5/8" FTG in front, 25 7/8" FTG in rear

[provenflipper]

Nice Thread! How do you like the sound of the APR intake? Some say its too quiet and others think its just enough. I'm looking for a little bit more sound from the SC, but I don't want it to be deafening when getting on it.

[mojangles69]

Cars looks fantastic. Well done, sir! Very clean and classy! Great mods!

[will13k7]

Nice Thread! How do you like the sound of the APR intake? Some say its too quiet and others think its just enough. I'm looking for a little bit more sound from the SC, but I don't want it to be deafening when getting on it.

Thanks! The APR intake has just the right touch of whine IMO with the stage2 pulley, you can hear it with 1/4-1/2 throttle. Before the pulley it wasn't very audible unless you floored it. I think its loud enough on the outside too, my wife said she can hear the whine from inside her car when she happened to pull beside me once when we both were going home from work and ended up lined up at a stop sign. Check out one of my videos to hear it at WOT, you'll need to turn up the volume since the mic I used sucked. Best heard with headphones

[will13k7]

Cars looks fantastic. Well done, sir! Very clean and classy! Great mods!

Thanks Man!

Up next is a red Brembo GT 380mm BBK with slotted rotors for the front, just pulled the trigger on this today

[JKrups06]

Absolutely beautiful !!! Fantastic write up as well. I wish I could put the new shifter on, I'm worried about the installation.

Question for you how much did you pay for the red ring engine start button? Is it more wear resistant than the oem one? Mine already has a couple letters missing

[will13k7]

Question for you how much did you pay for the red ring engine start button? Is it more wear resistant than the oem one? Mine already has a couple letters missing

Thanks! The start button was just under $70 from BKS-Tuning. It's made out of a different material that seems like it will not flake/peel like the original design did. If your under warranty, I heard that Audi will replace your button free of charge, not sure if you can get the red ring one though, but the replacement one is different/better material/design than the original as well.

[JKrups06]

Thanks! The start button was just under $70 from BKS-Tuning. It's made out of a different material that seems like it will not flake/peel like the original design did. If your under warranty, I heard that Audi will replace your button free of charge, not sure if you can get the red ring one though, but the replacement one is different/better material/design than the original as well.

Oh no way thought it be like 150 ish, but I'm defiantly going to see if they will swap the button out for me since I have a month left on the warranty ty for the advice!

[Mops@Nemesis]

Thanks Man!

Coming up next is a red Brembo GT 380mm BBK with slotted rotors for the front, just pulled the trigger on this today

Sexy time:)


Mops on the move

[will13k7]

Some brake porn.

These are ridiculously big lol!

Just cell-phone pics for now:

[Mops@Nemesis]

I told you, they are SUPER impressive/huge in person. They deserve there own thread

[Mops@Nemesis]

I must add some pics of mine :)








Mops on the move

[will13k7]

I told you, they are SUPER impressive/huge in person.

Even though you told me how huge they were going to be, still, my first impression was: "these are supposed to be lighter than OEM? Wow, it doesn't even seem like these would even fit!?". lol.

Nice brakes Mops, it was either Black or Red for me, but I couldn't resist the pop of the red even though I usually like the car to be more of a sleeper.

[srfrboy]

Great looking car. Was wondering how the PSS 10's ride? Thanks...

[drob23]

Even though you told me how huge they were going to be, still, my first impression was: "these are supposed to be lighter than OEM? Wow, it doesn't even seem like these would even fit!?". lol.

Nice brakes Mops, it was either Black or Red for me, but I couldn't resist the pop of the red even though I usually like the car to be more of a sleeper.

Wait till you box up your stock setup and see how heavy it is lol

2-piece rotors shed a lot of the weight...

[will13k7]

Great looking car. Was wondering how the PSS 10's ride? Thanks...

Thanks!

PSS10's are my favorite mod. They ride as smooth as you want them to. At setting '5', you get a tiny bit of initial lean, but the bumps are not rough, smooth as a 2012 MB C350 (The Wifey's ride). At '6', a little less lean than '5', but the bumps are a little rougher. '7' is firm, it wore on me after a few months. Almost no lean at all, but the suspension moves quick, and the medium bumps are rougher.

After riding on 7 for a few months, I went to 5, after lowering my front a little, I moved to 6 to prevent suspension travel and rubbing. 6 is pretty decent to me, even on 30 series tires.

[will13k7]

Wait till you box up your stock setup and see how heavy it is lol

lol for sure, I really didn't realize the weight of these OEM components was so much, I guess thats why our cars are 2 tons, adds up.

[Cherub]

Very nice looking car and interesting thread

[BaddS4]

Beautiful ride!!!

[will13k7]

^^^ Thanks Fellas!

For the rears:

JHM 2-Piece slotted rotors (great match for the front Brembos, looks and loss of weight wise)
Ferodo DS2500 (trying to get close to the front Brembo/Ferodo FM1000 compound) or OEM to avoid the chance of noise, haven't decided yet, have both sets.
ECS Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Motul 5.1 for a brake flush (2 year flush cycle, no track days planned).

[Deckdout2]

Nice build thread man!

[will13k7]

^^^ Thanks Man!

From oCarbon, beautiful match! I have the matching Instrument and MMI surrounds coming too. Maybe too much CF for some, but I think I'll like it!





Brakes are going on next Friday...

[dangerous_dave7]

Nice, can't wait to see the brakes! I love my PSS10's too, I have kept them @ 5 thus far but I've only had them on for a month or 2.