Dannydyn's Build (AKA screw it, I'm keeping the car so it's time to MOD!) thread...

[Dannydyn]

So I've had my S4 close to 2 and half years now. It's a lease that's about to end this coming December. Given that Audi has discontinued the 6MT option for 2017, I was left searching for my next manual car, but came up empty handed. There's just nothing in the S4 price range that comes in stick and AWD. I guess a 335xi would be a close second, but they are a dime a dozen around here.... just another bimmer. This made me realize that there's nothing really wrong with my car, so why not keep it? I mean I absolutely LOVE everything about. It is equipped exactly how I want it and has a stick. So.....

....LET THE MODDING GAMES BEGIN!!! Here she is in all her stock glory.... dirty and unattended to. I haven't had a chance yet to give her a thorough spring detailing session and some much deserved TLC. After all, we're about to spend the foreseeable future together, so that's about to change... First thing first though, I have to give a shout-out to both SilveR316 & BirdmanQ5 for the inspiration. Both of you guys have done some awesome things with your Estoril Blue S4s, and I hope you don't mind if I stole a couple of ideas







First thing first.... those ugly 18" rims have to go. I have roughly 25% thread left on them, so I'll just use them as her winter boots, and will swap the rubber with some Blizzaks when the time comes. Until then, I just surprised her with a set of Avant Garde M590 19x9.5 ET40 in Gunmetal finish, wrapped in Dunlop Sport Maxx 255x35x19. These pictures don't do them justice. That color is just perfect, different shades under different lighting conditions I just need to get a wrench and some wheel locks, and on they will go. Hoping to get them mounted at some point this week.





Eagerly waiting to try her new shoes on



Stay tuned, more to come

[Tod]

Subbed for the fun

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[MrFunk]

Good boy

[JWreck]

Alright! Starting to see a lot of Estoril's set up with aluminum accents. Interested to see what some gunmetal Estoril's look like.

But yours will look great, looking forward to updates.

[DannyDeez]

Looking forward to seeing the wheels on the car!

[whiped]

subbed!

[Dannydyn]

Good boy

My wife used to say that....

.... she no longer does...

[Dannydyn]

Well fellas, it's been a whole day, and the first mod has gone on. Wheels up!... How do you say 'it needs a drop' in German? LOL....

I thought for sure my next big mod will be exhaust, but that will have to wait, as the car needs to be dropped badly. I feel like I'm driving a monster truck.

Up next.... H&R springs and RS4 grille. Stay tuned....

[DannyDeez]

Lookin good I like how they sit at the fender. Are you running spacers, or is that just the way that 19x9.5 ET40 looks?

[MrFunk]

Looks great.
I would not say it needs a drop bad... but a drop would help. 19's look ok on oe height... 20's don't... If doing springs i highly recommend doing proper upgraded shocks as well.

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[Joker S4]

Looks great.
I would not say it needs a drop bad... but a drop would help. 19's look ok on oe height... 20's don't... If doing springs i highly recommend doing proper upgraded shocks as well.

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+1 for shocks while doing springs. Subbed.

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[NY_Quattro]

Looks great! I've had my eye on those wheels as well but unsure of what finish to use on Monsoon Grey

[Dannydyn]

Lookin good I like how they sit at the fender. Are you running spacers, or is that just the way that 19x9.5 ET40 looks?

No spacers, just ET40 effect

Looks great.
I would not say it needs a drop bad... but a drop would help. 19's look ok on oe height... 20's don't... If doing springs i highly recommend doing proper upgraded shocks as well.

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+1 for shocks while doing springs. Subbed.

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Thanks guys. I don't plan on doing any crazy driving or tracking the car. I would like to lower the car for pure aesthetics, nothing more. Can you please elaborate on why you think a full shock setup would be desired?

Looks great! I've had my eye on those wheels as well but unsure of what finish to use on Monsoon Grey

Thanks! I think this finish would look awesome on MG!

[14S4GWM]

I think it looks good for now. Forget the drop and go for the exhaust. I might go that size wheel and offset and leave it factory height.

[MrFunk]

Id do exhaust before drop also.
Reason you dont want to only do springs alone is that you will end up with a bouncy ride. Oem shocks also may fail prematurely...

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[14S4GWM]

Id do exhaust before drop also.
Reason you dont want to only do springs alone is that you will end up with a bouncy ride. Oem shocks also may fail prematurely...

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I agree with the suspension thing. Most people will learn once by only doing the springs. After that it's do it right the first time because it's cheaper and better.

[Swat413]

Who did you buy the wheels from?

[bmoreS4]

in for progress

[Dannydyn]

Who did you buy the wheels from?

Check your PM

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[mmm def]

Just dropped on oe and Bilstein shocks. Great combo for ride and handling

[XxSullyxX123]

I'm shocked how good those wheels look at stock height. You car almost looks a half inch lower or so than normal.

[Dannydyn]

I'm shocked how good those wheels look at stock height. You car almost looks a half inch lower or so than normal.

I can explain that.... had my 3 kids in the back seat...

[XxSullyxX123]

I can explain that.... had my 3 kids in the back seat...

Hahah , I should ride with my 3 kids in the back too then!

BTW any experience with Excelerate Performance in Branford? Thinking about having them do work for me. Obviously you're not tremendously closer to them than I am here in westchester, but figured I'd ask. They get a lot of accolades on the forum here.

[ajm0903]

Hahah , I should ride with my 3 kids in the back too then!

BTW any experience with Excelerate Performance in Branford? Thinking about having them do work for me. Obviously you're not tremendously closer to them than I am here in westchester, but figured I'd ask. They get a lot of accolades on the forum here.

Where in Westchester are you? You should go to Eurotech in Mahwah, NJ.

[Dannydyn]

Hahah , I should ride with my 3 kids in the back too then!

BTW any experience with Excelerate Performance in Branford? Thinking about having them do work for me. Obviously you're not tremendously closer to them than I am here in westchester, but figured I'd ask. They get a lot of accolades on the forum here.

Funny you ask. I'm planning on taking a trip up there and have them install springs and an AWE exhaust. I don't have any experience with them, but from what I understand, they're top notch. Maybe we should head up there together? ...Do a little cruise and mod day....

[doug97gxe]

did you dip the front grille?

[ajm0903]

I am curious about Excelerate. Even though all my work was done at Eurotech I just bought EPL stage 1 and will probably head up that way to have my pulley installed for stage 2


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[Dannydyn]

did you dip the front grille?

Sure did...

But that grille is about to go... I have an RS4 grille sitting in my garage, waiting for me to get my $hit together, and install it.

[BirdmanQ5]

Looking great Danny!

[Frinkferta]

Looks awesome!

[Dannydyn]

Looking great Danny!

Thanks Alex! What can I say... you've been an inspiration...LOL

Looks awesome!

Thanks pal!

[rulaxin12]

I agree with the suspension thing. Most people will learn once by only doing the springs. After that it's do it right the first time because it's cheaper and better.

So I am one of those people who did only HR OE springs and ran them for a while, then went with the bilstein b8 shocks to go with them. Here's a thread on the topic....
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...an-explanation

[XxSullyxX123]

Where in Westchester are you? You should go to Eurotech in Mahwah, NJ.

In Somers. Northern Westchester. Eurotech is definitely closer (barring tapzee traffic) but so far I've been talking with guys at XLR8 and they have been great in trying to work out a mod package for me. Rennsport in Bedford Hills is like 15 min from me, and I've read a few things on here promoting them, but they seem to be more Porsche skewed and more expensive as well.

[XxSullyxX123]

Funny you ask. I'm planning on taking a trip up there and have them install springs and an AWE exhaust. I don't have any experience with them, but from what I understand, they're top notch. Maybe we should head up there together? ...Do a little cruise and mod day....

Yea true! I'm working on a package with them now to do OE springs, awe track exhaust (I like loud) and M590 is satin silver. Same wheels lol, may not wanna drive next to me hahah. That being said, there is a fantastic cars and coffee a few towns over from me in Yorktown on Sunday mornings. Gets crazy packed. Need more audis. I've been the only B8 the last few times I've been with my son. He wants my car to get more looks than it does stock, so I blame him for the modding hahah

[Dannydyn]

Yea true! I'm working on a package with them now to do OE springs, awe track exhaust (I like loud) and M590 is satin silver. Same wheels lol, may not wanna drive next to me hahah. That being said, there is a fantastic cars and coffee a few towns over from me in Yorktown on Sunday mornings. Gets crazy packed. Need more audis. I've been the only B8 the last few times I've been with my son. He wants my car to get more looks than it does stock, so I blame him for the modding hahah

Oh snap! Now we REALLY should head there together! Yeah, I need OE springs, Bilstein B8 shocks, brake pads swapped (can't take that squealing anymore), and last but not least - AWE Touring (keeping the stock pipes).

I might just take you on the meet, too bad our cars not 'show ready' yet... LOL

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[Dannydyn]

In Somers. Northern Westchester. Eurotech is definitely closer (barring tapzee traffic) but so far I've been talking with guys at XLR8 and they have been great in trying to work out a mod package for me. Rennsport in Bedford Hills is like 15 min from me, and I've read a few things on here promoting them, but they seem to be more Porsche skewed and more expensive as well.

I don't mind a little road trip as long as the price is right and the job is done right. I'd rather drive farther once than 3 times to a nearby location because they fucked it up. Not saying the other places you mentioned are bad (I honestly have zero experience with any of them), but Exeler8 seems to be getting raved, so I might give them a shot. I just shot them an email with a few questions and a quote request, and I'm waiting to see what they can do.

BTW, what are you planning on doing with the stock exhaust after it's removed? I'm going to see if they can cut it, so I can haul it back home with me. Always good to keep if/when it's time to put it back into stock form.

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[XxSullyxX123]

I don't mind a little road trip as long as the price is right and the job is done right. I'd rather drive farther once than 3 times to a nearby location because they fucked it up. Not saying the other places you mentioned are bad (I honestly have zero experience with any of them), but Exeler8 seems to be getting raved, so I might give them a shot. I just shot them an email with a few questions and a quote request, and I'm waiting to see what they can do.

BTW, what are you planning on doing with the stock exhaust after it's removed? I'm going to see if they can cut it, so I can haul it back home with me. Always good to keep if/when it's time to put it back into stock form.

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I actually asked them what they suggest for the OEM exhaust. I say likely cut it. I always keep my stock parts, bc eventually I get bored and move on to another car and sell the aftermarket parts. I probably wont bother removing springs for a trade in eventually because it costs more than they do just for the work. Ive never paid a shop to do exhaust or suspension work, always did myself. but I feel weird taking a wrench to this car, and much better about sipping a coffee and reading the newspaper while its done right.

[Dannydyn]

I actually asked them what they suggest for the OEM exhaust. I say likely cut it. I always keep my stock parts, bc eventually I get bored and move on to another car and sell the aftermarket parts. I probably wont bother removing springs for a trade in eventually because it costs more than they do just for the work. Ive never paid a shop to do exhaust or suspension work, always did myself. but I feel weird taking a wrench to this car, and much better about sipping a coffee and reading the newspaper while its done right.

Agreed

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[Dannydyn]

Disclaimer: I really am not that reckless usually. I consider myself a pretty calculated individual…. But this car is just too good not give attention to….

So being the impatient clown I was yesterday, I decided to tackle the RS4 grille on a weeknight. This really is a weekend type of a project, but that grille just sat there staring at me, begging me to mount it…. LOL

Anger level 1: First, let me just say that removing our front bumper is a serious PITA, especially if you’ve never done it before, don’t have stands/ramps/lift (I used a floor jack but that was not ideal), and don’t have someone with you to help. By the time I managed to get the damn bumper off the car I was in serious distress and worried that I just won’t be able to put it back on the car. I’m sure if you’ve done it before, it’s probably not as big of a deal the second time around, but for a first-timer, this was quite the task… and the location of some of the bolts…. Ugh!!

Anger level 2: After finally getting the bumper off the car, I realized that for some goddamn reason, the bracket that holds the Audi rings onto the RS4 grille, won’t attach to (stay on) the grille. At this point I was fuming... I just spent an hour fighting with this bumper to get it off the car, just to hit a dead end. I sent a message to the guy who sold me this grille (eBay, yeah…. I know), but got crickets back (he was very prompt with another question I had earlier in the day). At this point I was sure that guy screwed me by sending me a defective grille. Given the fact it was 9pm at that point, and I needed the car this morning so I can get to work, I had no choice but to put the whole damn thing back together. I was beyond pissed.

Anger level 3: So it’s now close to 10pm, the bumper is finally back on the car, I get inside the house, hop on eBay and initiate a return request. (Reminder: I’m an impatient moron on a random Wednesday night) and without waiting for a response, I hop on ECSTuning.com and order their grille instead. I go to sleep…. Fast forward to 3:30AM…. I wake up to take a piss and on the way check my phone. There is a message from the seller telling me that the Audi rings have to be attached to the bracket first, before the bracket is attached to the grille. In other words, supposedly those rings hold the bracket in place, attached to the grille – ARE YOU FCKING KIDDING ME?!?!? You couldn’t have said it earlier when I messaged you in the middle of the day telling you that bracket appears to not hold on the grille?!?!? UGhhhhh!!!! So now I have to go back and try it again, which is in and of itself was a given because there’s no way I was going to stay with the stock grille, but to make matters worse, I now have a second grille inbound to me…. FML.

At least I got a chance to PlastiDip the front crash bar, so that’s out of the way….

Also in other news, I decided to listen to some of the smart people here, and will be adding Bilstein B8 shocks to pair up with the H&R OE Sport springs.

Stay tuned for updates….

[XxSullyxX123]

BTW, for what its worth, had a nice conversation with Danek over at Eurotech in Mahwah and I'm going to end up heading that route instead given proximity to where I live and the value he was able to provide.