Aussie Daytona Grey SQ5

**SSilentj** · 08-05-2016 03:56 AM

Hi all, with the impending arrival of some BBS CI-R's 20x10 + 25 in platinum silver, I felt justified in starting a build thread (everyone knows what a stock SQ5 looks like).

6 months ago I purchased a low kms Daytona Grey SQ5. This is my first Euro car after primarily owning Subaru's. SQ5's are out of reach for a lot of Aussies that are interested in modifying cars so the Australian forum is pretty quiet.

A few pics of my previous rides,

IMG_3437 by ben pijpers, on Flickr

IMG_5191 by ben pijpers, on Flickr

IMG_1705 by ben pijpers, on Flickr

First order of business was paint protection. As I plan on keeping this car for a while, I had a full paint restoration followed by a coating of Opticoat and then had Xpel applied to the front quarter of the car. Whilst having the Xpel fitted I also had the rear lights tinted.

20170226_084533_1 by ben pijpers, on Flickr

IMG_4837 by ben pijpers, on Flickr

20170910_143218 by ben pijpers, on Flickr

Ben.

**Mops@Nemesis** · 08-05-2016 06:40 AM

Welcome, Ben! I'm Ben as well

For the stone chips, if there is a concern, I would do the very lowest portion of the doors. That last panel that appears to be separate from the door, but is not. I'm running PSS that lift everything, and 285 on 10" ET22. The ground facing portion behind the rear tire is a super hot spot, but you'll never see that. On mine, that area is already trashed at 6,900 miles.

**SSilentj** · 08-05-2016 02:44 PM

Thanks for the reply Ben. Are you a vendor of sorts on this forum? Im after a BO grille and everywhere I've checked, the shipping is as much as the grille itself.

**rault18** · 08-06-2016 12:22 AM

I come from the subaru world as well. Welcome!

**Powderhound** · 08-06-2016 07:08 AM

I also came from Subaru and now about a year or so in with first owned Audi. Congrats on the purchase, hope you enjoy it as much as I do. And nice to see you are already thinking about mods!

**SSilentj** · 11-27-2016 05:55 PM

Impending arrival,

**Gravy Train** · 11-27-2016 06:19 PM

Congrats! You'll love the CI-R wheels, they've been good to me, fit like a glove and shed significant weight from the OEM 21" wheels. Mine are mounted with 285/40-20 Pirelli P-Zeros.

Where are you in AU? I'm about to spend a good year of work back and forth there, mostly to Sydney and Gold Coast.

**SSilentj** · 11-27-2016 06:31 PM

Thanks! I've been trying to decide between 275/40 and 285/40 are you happy with the choice? A lot of people are going 295/40 but too much meat for me.

I live in Canberra, however lived in Sydney for about 12 years. Only recently moved back.

**Mops@Nemesis** · 11-27-2016 06:34 PM

Excellent choice! Is there is a tire you like in 285, go with those for sure. Last I looked, the offerings were not great.

**freesole** · 11-27-2016 06:38 PM

Welcome! The car looks great already but will look even meaner with the BBS on. I lived in Melbourne for a while and spent about 3 weeks working in Canberra. Loved Australia.

**SQive** · 11-27-2016 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by SSilentj

too much meat for me.

TWSS!

**SSilentj** · 11-27-2016 07:27 PM

haha, knew someone would go there.

You're right MOPS, there's not a lot of 285 options. At this point I'm leaning towards 275/40 Michelin Lat 3

**Gravy Train** · 11-27-2016 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by SSilentj

Thanks! I've been trying to decide between 275/40 and 285/40 are you happy with the choice? A lot of people are going 295/40 but too much meat for me.

I'm very happy with the P-Zero in 285/40 and wouldn't change a thing about the setup. Problem is they're expensive and difficult to come by. They used to be a OEM front tire size for the E70 X5 M-Sport.

I'll consider the Michelin Latitude Sport 3 and Continental ContiSportContact 5 in 295/40 once these Pirellis are toast.

**SSilentj** · 11-27-2016 07:56 PM

Do you have any pics Gravy Train?

**Gravy Train** · 11-27-2016 08:20 PM

Pretty terrible pic at the office and I need to make up for it soon:

It's lowered on H&R -3 springs with Bilstein shocks/struts, so it might be just a tad lower than yours.

**turrifik** · 11-28-2016 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by Gravy Train

Pretty

It's lowered on H&R -3 springs with Bilstein shocks/struts, so it might be just a tad lower than yours.

nicely done. how are you liking the H&R -3's? I'm curious, is your estoril paint holding up well? I recall reading that our paint jobs were more easily damaged after they discontinued this colour, but no issues on my end.

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**Gravy Train** · 11-28-2016 07:58 PM

Thanks! The H&R -3s are decent-- about as low as I would want from a static setup and it offers plenty of travel. I installed them with Bilsteins and the 034 Rear Sway Bar; the ride is a bit more bouncy than stock but it feels great in the corners.

Estroil is a PITA to keep up. It's soft, scratches too easily and shows dust quickly. It looks amazing when clean but if I were to do it all over again, I'd go with one of the greys or Ibis.

**SSilentj** · 12-04-2016 03:34 AM

A quick phone pic of the BBS fitted.

Soooo happy I went with the 20x10 as I was very close to going with something less aggressive. Also very happy with how the platinum Silver ties in with the alu trim.

The only down side is that I was hoping to get away with the Euro Spec ride height however it's just screaming out for another half inch from the h&r springs.

**buggravy** · 12-04-2016 08:01 AM

Looks great. Good call on the 10" wheel. Did you end up going with a 275 tire?

**turrifik** · 12-04-2016 08:02 AM

I felt the same way initially about going that aggressive with 20x10, especially up front, but now I wish they were 20x10.5. Did your SQ come with Euro spec springs down under? Wish ours did.
H&R -1 will get you a bit lower and better handling, but if you want a more noticeable difference, you might want to check out H&R-3.

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**SSilentj** · 12-04-2016 12:19 PM

Yep, went with a 275. 285 would have been perfect in my eyes but happy enough with the 275.

Yeah, that ride height is standard for AUDM. Id actually bought springs before I purchased the car, I bought the ones specifically for the TDI. Can't recall whether it was the -1 or -3.

Ben.

**SSilentj** · 12-10-2016 03:20 AM

Found some time to give the rig a wash today. Armed with wifeys camera and a 2 minute crash course on how to use it I snapped some pics.

**freesole** · 12-10-2016 11:04 AM

Beautiful car. Loving the color scheme you have going on with the whole thing.

**jaboki** · 12-10-2016 12:03 PM

Looking great!

**SQive** · 12-10-2016 12:30 PM

Does Australia get e-codes, or did you swap them?

**SSilentj** · 12-10-2016 12:53 PM

Completely standard except for the rims and tinted tails.

**Mops@Nemesis** · 12-10-2016 07:14 PM

Looking nice and clean!

**SSilentj** · 09-09-2017 10:48 PM

RS grille installed. I've applied a matte alu wrap around the grille. At some point when I get bored of the look I'll black out the alu and respray the BBS in bronze.

20170910_143218 by ben pijpers, on Flickr