Photo Credit to RichQ aka bimmerchop here.
One of the better pictures of my car from a few years ago. It's unchanged since then.
The original owner purchased off the lot in 2002, drove it 142k miles, and sold it in 2009. Second owner had it for about six months as a second car but had to part with it because of a divorce. I purchased the car from him in March 2010 with approximately 143k miles on the clock and went full stage 3 at about 156k. At 175k, low compression led me to replace the motor with a younger one with 120k on it. (We can do some math here to discover that the motor has 55k fewer miles than the chassis!) At this time, the transmission was also rebuilt. Since then, I've just been driving it and occasionally throwing money at it to keep it happy. Recently, a few nagging issues have piled up and between home ownership and an upcoming wedding, it's time to move on to something a little more care-free for the time being.
Basics:
2001.5 6spd sedan
Casablanca White, Black interior
227,xxx miles on chassis
172,xxx miles on engine
Asking $6,750.
Here's the fun part! Mod list:
Engine/Drivetrain:
Frankenturbo F4H
OEM RS4 Inlets
Vast 90mm MAF
62lb EV14 Injectors
5bar FPR
Walbro 255lph Fuel Pump
Devil’s Own water meth kit with #7 nozzles
AAN lines from pump to nozzles
Aluminum Bi-Pipes
AWE SMICs
VAST/Spal EFK
FSI Coilpack Conversion
Black Powdercoated Valve Covers
Updated Vented Oil Cap
Samco TBB
710N Diverter Valves
Hallman MBC
Techtonics 2.5” catless downpipes
Vibrant 3” exhaust
Vast poly snub
Stern Soft Engine Mounts
Stern Transmission Mounts
Vast Stage 3 Clutch
RS4 Pressure Plate
Stratmosphere short shifter
Suspension/Wheels:
H-Sport Front and Rear Sways
Bilstein PSS9 Coils
18x8 Bremmerkraft BR05
Hankook Ventus V12 evo 2 tires 225/40/18 (tires have two summers on them, not used in winter)
Exterior:
OEM RS4 Front Bumper
OEM RS4 Grille
Depo D2S Headlights w/ 6000k 55w HID low beam and 4700k halogen high beams(I also have a set of OEM Valeo E-codes with a couple of broken tabs and a broken adjuster which I could swap in place)
OEM RS4 Foglights w/ 4700k 35w HID
Independent fog mod
Black Vinyl Roof Panel
35% Tint on sides windows, 20% on rear windshield
LED license plate bulbs
Euro Aero wiper/arms blades
Interior:
Black Leather Interior in very good condition considering miles
White suede wrapped beltline trim
Plasti Dipped shifter and hazard surrounds
Shift Style leather shift boot with white stitching
OEM RS4 air leather shift knob
Podi steering column boost gauge mount
VEI digital boost gauge w/ peak recall
Innovate LC-1 Wideband on A-pillar
B6 rearview mirror w/ compass
New center LCD display (all pixels working!!)
Now the more mundane stuff, maintenance:
The car has been to VAST, EPL, ICS, C-tek, my driveway, friends' driveways, and probably more shops. I've fixed/replaced a lot of stuff during my ownership - plugs (obvi!), O2 sensors, coolant sensors, coolant expansion tank, timing belt (last done 175K), brake lines (stainless braided), steering rack, alternator (new OEM), rear differential, crank position sensor, pads, rotors, rear calipers, and plenty of other joyless items.
In the past 20k, it's gotten:
Full front control arms
Spider hose, 4-way check valve, green check valves
Battery
Coolant temp sensors (bottom passenger radiator hose, and low temp sensor behind block under expansion tank)
New coolant hose under crank pulley
For oil, I've been using Shell Rotella T6 forever, and plugs were replaced over the summer during my last oil change. It is due for another oil change right about now.
The good and the bad:
Before I delve into the current issues with the car, I must note that it has been very reliable for me over the years in terms of not stranding me or being a total shit bag. It's still a B5 S4 as seen in the maintenance section above. I'd like to think it has been fairly kind to me because I've taken good care of it and done plenty of preventative maintenance. Recently, it's thrown a few curve balls at me all at once, which is why I've finally decided to step away. I'm still daily driving it. It starts up every time, doesn't leak oil, idles fine, and never sputters or hickups, even at WOT. I just took it on a 500 mile road trip last month and drove it to Home Depot today.
Current issues:
Vacuum/boost - the frankenturbos used to hit 22-24psi as requested. Now they hit 18-20psi and she runs a bit rich. Vacuum also only settles down to -10hg. Signs point to a vacuum leak (duh) and a wastegate control issue. The turbos themselves are just as quiet as when new. I can pop the IC hoses off and run my borescope to the compressor wheels to check they are in good shape. CEL is off, but occasionally pops with some multiple/random misfires. Nothing you can feel, and no other codes ever!
Coolant leak - there's coolant dripping from the front of the motor. Cool. I noticed a puddle under the front of the car maybe 2 months ago and it apparently just kind of took care of itself, but started again this week. Timing belt has about 50k on it over 4 years, so that should probably all be addressed at once. I've been topping it off regularly so it doesn't get low.
Front driver axle - thinking I might part this car out myself, I opted to replaced my clicking OEM axle with an aftermarket brand this summer. That axle makes a weird groaning nose every once in a while. Good news - I still have the busted OEM axle so the new owner can send it off to Raxles and get it rebuilt.
Water/sunroof drain? - I left my car outside in the rain last month and I noticed some water in the back seat floor. I dried it up and everything is fine (read: no electrical issues, no odor). I garage the car at home and at work so it hasn't been an issue since, but this is me being up front so you can take a hose the car on your own terms and identify a source.
Brakes - Needs pads, maybe rotors all round. Passenger ebrake cable seized, so only drivers side works.
Exhaust leak - both downpipe flex joints are stripped of their braided coverings. The drivers side is fine, but the passenger side has a pitter-patter leak.
Overall condition:
Again, no secrets here.
Interior is in really good shape considering miles. Like 8/10. Back seats are wonderful. First owner apparently didn't have kids or a wife as the driver seat was the only one with any real wear when I purchased the car. No droopy headliner. I fixed the notorious rear deck speaker rattle long ago and it has been perfect since. Two of the radio preset buttons are a bit loose. CUPHOLDER WORKS!
Exterior. Okay. Maybe 6.5/10. It's casablanca and it looks money from 15 feet away. The first owner hit a deer. No problem. He also put mud flaps on it. I took them off and the paint is worn where they were. I vinyl wrapped the roof 5 years ago. It's starting to crack and peel in the little gullies on the edge of the roof panel. Salvageable if you redo that part or just remove the vinyl from the gullies. Or just remove the vinyl altogether. Whatever, your car. Also, somebody hit the front driver fender and wheel with a fork lift. The wheel just looks like it has bad curbage. The body shop did a great job and the RS4 bumper fits perfectly on that side. Better than the original body shop that did the RS4 bumper.
Other paint/body. 1) Some douche lord keyed the drivers side a few years ago. I don't really notice it but it's there. They got both doors, but not the fenders. 2) Rust. Lowers have some rust spots poping up here and there. 3) Marks and blemishes. Nothing major. There's a dime sized spot of black paint on the hood (seriously, wtf) which I'm sure can be wet sanded off. A few little scrapes and rock chips here and there as to be expected. NO DENTS. Miraculous for a daily driver of this age, but I park smart.
To reiterate, none of the dozen people a month that throw me a thumbs up or compliment on the car notice any of this shit. If you're shopping for a show queen, you should have stopped reading when I said first owner drove it one hundred and forty-two thousand miles.
Bottom line:
Clean title in hand. Sold as-is. Cash or cashiers/certified check only, no trades, no joyrides, no tire kickers, no lowballers. Located in Stamford, CT. PM me your cell number and an offer if interested and we can arrange a meet up. I think this car is a good partout candidate because of the treasure trove of aftermarket and upgraded parts, though it would be a shame to see a running stage 3 casablanca driven off (quickly, if desired) to the chopping block. If the buyer wants to rejuvenate it, I'd be happy to be available down the road to answer any questions about it. I also have a boat load of miscellaneous parts which can be included as well (engine covers, stock intercoolers, sway bars).
I will also have my winter wheel setup for sale separately, but can work a deal if the buyer is interested in those as well.
VMR 708 plasti dipped anthracite 18x8.5 wrapped in 225 width Blizzak LM-32s with two short seasons on them. Asking $750.
A note for any potential CT buyers: the car is not due for emissions again until 2018 and will pass with flying colors in it's current setup.
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