Nick's B8 S4 Widebody Project

[Technick]

Well, this project started off with an immaculate, very low mileage B8 S4 in 2012.
The original owner had a passion for wide arches, so it began there:

[Technick]

How it looked when I took it on last year:

[s4play]

Nice a lot of work if you ask me!

[Pilfer]

Looks god, any pics of the RS6? I've never heard of that color.

[Technick]

Although an excellent job had been done and I really liked the overall look of the car, there were a few areas I wanted to change to make it my own and also improve it even further.

First off, I wasn't keen on the original wheels being retained (albeit with 100mm spacers across each of the front and rear axles) - both because of the size of the spacers (and the subsequent effect on the suspension/handling) and because I felt larger wheels with a deeper dish offset would complement the arches better.

Therein lay the problem - the build of the car was already in line with my own tastes (i.e. OEM-plus, rather than too over the top).
As such, I felt that the only way forward (to keep it looking OEM) was to use OEM wheels... and the biggest/deepest ones would therefore be 20 inch rotors...

I wasn't keen on the diamond-cut edges to the usual two-tone ones, so I got hold of a silver set, with a view to re-colour the inners.

Initial test fit (with all spacers removed):



This confirmed the calculations that I'd still need spacers (although could reduce them down to just 40mm across each axle).
That, along with the slightly wider wheels/tyres, should improve the handling further...

[Technick]

Nice a lot of work if you ask me!

Thanks. Absolutely, and still a fair bit to come!

Looks god, any pics of the RS6? I've never heard of that color.

Thanks. Perhaps I should start another thread! It's an Audi "exclusive" colour. I've owned it for over 5 years and have yet to come across another like it on any of the forums!

[Technick]

Wheels back from the shop, prior to fitting:

[MrFunk]

Post pics with the new wheels.
Looks like a quality job... a bit odd looking to me because I'm so used to the regular fenders... but could grow on me...

[Blurspeed]

Looks really good. I like it :)

[Technick]

Before and after shots for the new wheels/spacers.


Before:




After:

[Technick]

Next up:

1. Retro-fitted cruise control (as it had originally been spec'd up without it)
2. Swapped over the front and rear ARBs/sway bars for uprated ones:

[Technick]

Post pics with the new wheels.

Done!

Looks really good. I like it :)

Thanks!

[Tasho3]

LOVE IT!

[Technick]

As it looks now (for the time-being)...

[DGVR6]

Before and after shots for the new wheels/spacers.


Before:




After:

Whoa

[Technick]

A subtle upgrade to be fitted soon (after I've changed the badge):

[blackfunk]

The beauty of this is in its apparent simplicity. Sex on wheels.

[MrFunk]

Yeah - much better with those other wheels... feel it could have a wider spacer on the rear still... Needs exhaust now - those OE tips look puny with that wide stance.

[Kemiksiz]

Very nice Job, congrats :)
My .002 cents; its a little bit too wide.. But its just me .. REEEEEESPECT to the efforts, great job! :)

[Serpent]

The wheels make the car! wow.

[will13k7]

these wheels set this car off

[A4 Centaur]

Very nice work!

[SuperMex]

Mad respect! Looks great.

[bpang1]

God those fenders look so awesome.

[ryan780]

wish the S4 came like this from factory!! looks so good!

[93T]

What figures was the car doing on the rollers ?

[Technick]

Thanks for all the feedback/comments!

What figures was the car doing on the rollers ?

Was a bit down on where it should be - only made 445 bhp on that day (was 483 bhp & 612 Nm on the last run during the summer). Hoping to track down and resolve the problem this week.

[93T]

what mods have you done to the engine ? im running out off ideas to do more to mine till stage 3 comes out

[SForePlayin']

I love the stance. Very unique!

[Technick]

what mods have you done to the engine ? im running out off ideas to do more to mine till stage 3 comes out

MRC Stage 2 (+ DSG remap)

[93T]

mine goes on the rollers this week be interesting to see my numbers against MRC taking in to consideration iv had a lot more done

[Technick]

Fingers crossed you'll see some way north of 500bhp

[BMWBig6]

So much win! I like the custom and personalized approach.

[KRS Aaron]

This is so cool. Are you able to post a parts list you used for the conversion? Obviously we have the other side of the coin where the guy bought RS4 body parts but I assume this isn't as involved as that was.

[Technick]

This is so cool. Are you able to post a parts list you used for the conversion? Obviously we have the other side of the coin where the guy bought RS4 body parts but I assume this isn't as involved as that was.

Virtually all of the work was carried out by custom bodywork specialists. They fabricated the bodywork using sheet metal and fiberglass (see the images at the beginning of this thread). As such, it's all hand-crafted and bespoke. Even the rear diffuser/valence is bespoke, fabricated from the original!
The work was carried out in 2012, shortly before the RS4 was released, so using RS4 parts wasn't really even an option at that time.
Debatable which method is more involved - personally, I'd say they both involved a great deal of skilled work and were both major achievements!

[chaos2984]

looks good man great job. But I'm wondering how long those wheel bearings will hold up with that kind of spacer on them.

[BlackedoutB8]

this is beautiful. needs air ride and deeeeeeeeeep dish 3 pc. wheels

[Frinkferta]

Looks awesome! I like...you could go so deeeeeep with aftermarket wheels...and FAT tires.

[Usa]

Really impressive work.

[Technick]

looks good man great job. But I'm wondering how long those wheel bearings will hold up with that kind of spacer on them.

Thanks. That was one of the reasons I wanted to reduce their size. Would be nice to get rid of the need for them altogether, with the right size/offset wheels, but from 100mm down to 40mm feels like a decent start... literally... as it handles better for it.