Restoration and reliability for the 60k miles

[ZappBrannigan]

Yeah so, I just picked up a 2001.5 s4 avant stick shift with 59k miles. I have been poking around the forums and Google looking at making this car reliable for the next 60k miles

Thus far I have noted quite a few uhh interesting engineering decisions. The spider hose, the wild broken plastic clips in the window regulators, the bat shit crazy vacuum hoses, the horrendous soft touch plastic etc etc etc.


What have you guys done to increase reliability?


Here is what I have done so far....

I ordered a timing kit with all the relevant seals, water pump, gaskets etc. I ordered an aluminum housing for the thermostat. New spider hose and silicone turbo hoses and throttle body boot. I'm having the sagging headliner replaced, I've got 4 new tires on it. I replaced the plastic clips in the window regulators and re wound the cable in one of them. I ordered replacement plastic cowls under the wipers with the cabin air filter. I had the gauge cluster repaired by module masters. I ordered a new cruise control switch. I'm working on restoring the "aged" leather.

I'm considering ordering new front shocks as it feels like it wallows a bit. Im considering ording all the associated control arms with bushings and a set of motor mounts.

What else can I do to "bullet proof" this thing for 60k miles or 4 years.

I'm having a bitch of a time finding those wild crazy curved vacuum hoses that are all over the engine bay. I can see some of the smaller 90 degree guys on top of the manifold are about done so I'm sure some of the others are toast as well. What's the solution to these? Dealer wants 30-50 a pop for those little bastard.


Anyhow, thanks for the help!

[ZappBrannigan]

Sigh... The title should have read "for the NEXT 60k miles"

[vavJETTAw36]

Lol the leather looks fine. That's what leather does. And if you buy any used seats here on AZ from the b5, you'll likely not find anything better.

The 90* bends for vac lines can be replaced with brass Barbed 90 bends. Same thing for the Tees in the vac and coolant system.

Make sure you replace with oem waterpump. I know it has plastic impeller but it's known to be better than aftermarket. Get new thermostat and coolant temp sensor. Probably should get new oxygen sensors. The Bosch universals are fine and cheap ($45) and they splice in solderlessly (recommended by Bosch). How are those axle boots?

But you know what they say, "if it's not broken don't fix it". If I were you I'd simply replace the timing related stuff, waterpump, valve cover gaskets, cam gaskets/plugs and other broken things and then I would call it a day. Then just keep an eye on things every oil change.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bordom]

Definitely get the metal waterpump

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

[ZappBrannigan]

I had ordered the metal pump and from my reading on here. From what I read the bearing is better in the OEM but the impeller is better on the aftermarket. I'll pickup some o2's. The car was driven right around a thousand miles over the last 5 years. I only know this because I have the service records. It sat and sat and sat. The leather was hard as a rock as is a LOT of the rubber.It's now more like leather after a few gallons of conditioner and a lot of time, but I wouldn't call it supple or anything. The drivers bolster is ripped so I'm debating about having the seat recovered vs just that panel replaced. The inner CV's are hard and definitely need to be done sooner than later. The outer CV's look to be replacements. From what I can tell the car spent more time in the shop getting rubber and fluids replaced than it did on the road. The last owner had every fluid flushed and replaced and a bunch of small hoses and things. Tons of little issues that seem to have added up and he just gave up. Thanks for the replys.

What's the best way to add Bluetooth (iPhone pandora) and keep the stock stereo?

Also, is it recommended to swap out the ICM and put in one of the cool pack conversion kits?

[CtS4Driver]

As stated before, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Worry about the maintenance items. Fresh 02 sensors will get you a much better return on your investment than a bunch of vacuum hoses. Simply replacing the primary O2's on my last stage 2+ car yielded a 5 miles per gallon increase overall.

As for ignition components, Just replace the icms and keep the old ones as spares in the glovebox along with a spare coil.

Everybody throws money at the coil pack updates and conversion harnesses when in reality there's really nothing wrong with the existing system. If you replace all the components if they fail, or around every hundred thousand miles, they work just fine.

Check out Dension for an iPod solution.

[melomandn]

Where did you find this thing??

[vavJETTAw36]

GROM Audio makes iPod and Bluetooth integration for the factory symphony radio. Have one in one of my Audis


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ZappBrannigan]

Where did you find this thing??

I work for an Auto Auction. We see all kinds of interesting things.

[ZappBrannigan]

GROM Audio makes iPod and Bluetooth integration for the factory symphony radio. Have one in one of my Audis


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! Just ordered the Grom

[vavJETTAw36]

Darn you shouldnt have wasted money on that DVD. You can get the same information from an Ebay disc for $15. Or All data for 2 bucks a month.


Are you using a Iphone or android for your GROM?

[ZappBrannigan]

Darn you shouldnt have wasted money on that DVD. You can get the same information from an Ebay disc for $15. Or All data for 2 bucks a month.


Are you using a Iphone or android for your GROM?

Oh well, live and learn :( . I'm going to be using an iPhone.

[ZappBrannigan]

Installed the Grom today. This thing is fantastic. Thanks!

[ZappBrannigan]

More goodies in the mail today!



Any tips on doing the Timing?

[y3ti]

download the ecs tuning timing belt walk-thru. all the info you need in one file.

[ZappBrannigan]

download the ecs tuning timing belt walk-thru. all the info you need in one file.

Got it. Thanks!

[gmdiluca]

download the ecs tuning timing belt walk-thru. all the info you need in one file.

Just watch Justin Ballou's TB DIY on youtube, can also be found in the chatterbox section

[ZappBrannigan]

Alrighty... That was one hell of a long day. Timing belt, tensioner, idler pullies, tensioner lever, tensioner pulley, water pump, serpantine belt, crank seal, passenger cam seals and valve cover gasket, thermostat, new metal thermostat housing, filled with g12 and distilled water, and replaced the air filter.

Plastic thermostat housing was leaking, water pump was leaking, idler bearings and tensioner didn't look so hot.

This is right after having the gauge cluster repaired for missing lines, and replacing the broken plastic clips in the regulators as well as new tires and replacing all the cowl plastic under the wipers.



These things really put the hurt in ya.

What should I look forward to on the next adventure in repairs?

[jaychen]

All mounts, all bushings, control arms, all shocks, all 4 wheel bearings, new pinch bolts, cv boots etc.