Log - '01 Nogaro/Nogaro 6MT Avant

[coolgraymemo]

After owning several B5/A4s and C4/urS-cars, I made the leap into B5/S4 ownership. Despite owning it for three months, I have only put 100 miles on it. About 75 of those miles were driving it home from where it was purchased.

It was purchased without any aftermarket parts. I immediately swapped some parts from my B5/A4 in preparation to sell it. These include the OEM RS4 grill, Valeo E-Codes, and SSR Competition wheels.

Day 0:


I don't have any major plans for it. I mostly only want to catch up on the maintenance that is due. This includes: front control arms, valve cover gaskets, and engine/transmission mounts. After that, I'll do suspension (Eibach Pro-Street S, Vogtland GT3, or Bilstein PSS9), BBK, exhaust, and a simple tune/flash.

Day ~10 - current:


I finally sold my B5/A4 Avant and RS2'd urS4 this weekend. I'll likely start working on it this next weekend.

[S4 John]

Nice pick up! Can't wait to see what you have planned for it.

[y3ti]

The paint looks amazing. Congrats 👍

[Zba]

Sweet find👍

[fR3ZNO]

It'll look nice parked next to your Prius

[Turbavanttro]

Looks super clean!

[coolgraymemo]

It'll look nice parked next to your Prius

I'll make sure to send you a picture when they're together.

[coolgraymemo]

The paint looks amazing. Congrats 👍

Looks super clean!

The paint pictures better than it actually is. There are some small defects that become noticeable from <3'. I believe the majority can be removed with a thorough detail, but that is beyond my scope detailing skill.

[CJ_]

Nice pickup! E-codes really cleaned up the front end!

[avant1987]

Beautiful find.


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[coolgraymemo]

First time driving it since the week it was purchased. While my mechanic and I were working on it, he kept making comments about the poor choice I made in purchasing it.

We ended up replacing the valve cover gaskets. I was planning on replacing the engine mounts while I was at it (034M SD mounts in hand), but decided that I was in over my head. Those will have to wait until the next major service. The mounts need to be replaced soon since the bottom of them has started cracking/caving.

I also noticed that I will need to replace all the front control arms. It doesn't really surprise me since there was some clunking, but I didn't expect nearly all of the bushings to be cracked/detached.


Despite how expensive these next few months will be, I really enjoy how it drives. A tune and some suspension work will really make it shine.

[derek2079]

I know it's not right to be jealous of the avant status but if I'm being honest I am. Not even considering the fact that I don't think there is anything left to do to my car maintenience wise or upgrade. BUt cool. Respek.

***EDIT***

Still can't get over how cool this nog b5 avant is being that they are pretty hard to find at a decent price now days. Takes lot's of time and energy to find what you are looking for.

[coolgraymemo]

Thanks.


Here's a picture I took on Saturday.

[coolgraymemo]

A few updates:
• I had to re-replace the passenger side valve cover gasket due to improper install. It was pluming smoke during a short drive.
• 034 motor mounts and snub mount/bracket are in hand ready to be replaced (currently missing stock snub bracket).
• 034 transmission mounts need to be ordered
• Coilovers need to be ordered.
• FCP Euro control arms should arrive this week.

[jaychen]

A few updates:
• I had to re-replace the passenger side valve cover gasket due to improper install. It was pluming smoke during a short drive.
• 034 motor mounts and snub mount/bracket are in hand ready to be replaced (currently missing stock snub bracket).
• 034 transmission mounts need to be ordered
• Coilovers need to be ordered.
• FCP Euro control arms should arrive this week.

Did you just opt for the FCP branded control arms?

[vavJETTAw36]

First time driving it since the week it was purchased. While my mechanic and I were working on it, he kept making comments about the poor choice I made in

lol I can think of much worse financial decisions. Toys are just that. Plus is much better than most drugs and it keeps giving. Treat her good she'll treat you good.

Nice find. Good luck with it.


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[AllroadCorbin]

lol I can think of much worse financial decisions. Toys are just that. Plus is much better than most drugs and it keeps giving. Treat her good she'll treat you good.

Nice find. Good luck with it.


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"Much better than most drugs"

What a great justification


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[coolgraymemo]

Did you just opt for the FCP branded control arms?

Yes, I've had them before and they worked well. I debated other brands, but decided to stick with what I've had good experiences on.

lol I can think of much worse financial decisions. Toys are just that. Plus is much better than most drugs and it keeps giving. Treat her good she'll treat you good.

Nice find. Good luck with it.


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I knew what I was getting myself into so I'm not too concerned. I don't mind dumping some money into it since it's what I like. I DD a boring car (Prius) so that I can splurge on my Avant.

[AllroadCorbin]

Prius? wow thats a diverse line up. beautiful wagon. 6MT i hope?

[coolgraymemo]

Yea, 140 mile commute per day is brutal.

Yes the Avant is oem 6MT.

[AllroadCorbin]

Yea, 140 mile commute per day is brutal.

Yes the Avant is oem 6MT.

Maybe we can convince you to grab a TDI Jetta instead haha

My dad had a 2009 TDI Jetta for 3 years and I drove it around a ton. I was able to break 50mpg highway sometimes


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[coolgraymemo]

Placed B5/S4 on ramps. Removed belly pan to see if engine mounts were still broken. Yep, they're still fucked.

Replacement doesn't look fun at all. I miss my B5/A4.


Also, pretty dope.

There were 847 MY 2001 Audi S4 4-Door Avant 6-SPD quattro sold in the U.S.
There were 67 MY 2001 Audi S4 4-Door Avant 6-SPD quattro with Nogaro Blue Pearl Effect sold in the U.S.
There were 15 MY 2001 Audi S4 4-Door Avant 6-SPD quattro with Nogaro Blue Pearl Effect and Onyx interiors sold in the U.S.

Cheers!

[chaos2984]

Placed B5/S4 on ramps. Removed belly pan to see if engine mounts were still broken. Yep, they're still fucked.

Replacement doesn't look fun at all. I miss my B5/A4.


Also, pretty dope.

The mounts are pretty easy actually. Just remove the sway bar, then put a jack with piece of wood on the oil pan. Remove lower engine mount bracket. Then remove upper mount nut and remove the mount. It not anything crazy. Just a little timely.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

The mounts are pretty easy actually. Just remove the sway bar, then put a jack with piece of wood on the oil pan. Remove lower engine mount bracket. Then remove upper mount nut and remove the mount. It not anything crazy. Just a little timely.

Wait, wait, that's it? I thought there was way more to it, like removing core support and hoisting the engine, etc. The way this works is you use the jack to raise the engine once the lower engine mount nuts are out and you actually loosen the entire engine mount BRACKET to access the nuts on top? No need to loosen tranny mounts or anything else?

[coolgraymemo]

The mounts are pretty easy actually. Just remove the sway bar, then put a jack with piece of wood on the oil pan. Remove lower engine mount bracket. Then remove upper mount nut and remove the mount. It not anything crazy. Just a little timely.

Reaching the top nut is not as easy as it sounds.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Reaching the top nut is not as easy as it sounds.

Yeah that's what I heard too. Justin Ballou even made a video on it and had to make a special wrench.. haha

[Cgoon009]

Reaching the top nut is not as easy as it sounds.

First, AWESOME FIND! Congrats man.

Second you are correct, but you can do it, I did with a 1/4 drive ratchet and some cursing. The tq on them is not that much, just enough to hold it firmly.

Glad to see you have got yourself another avant, with the way you take care of cars, this one is gonna be perfect.

[zatch_303]

Jeesh has the car ever even been driven?! Looks to be extremely mint! Congrats! The front bumper seems to have zero rock chips even.

[coolgraymemo]

I ordered some 034M transmission mounts and an AWE drivetrain stabilizer. I'm waiting on them for arrive before I really start cracking down.

Yeah that's what I heard too. Justin Ballou even made a video on it and had to make a special wrench.. haha

I had no idea of that video. It's incredibly helpful. Thanks for the suggestion and thank Mr. Ballou for the video.

First, AWESOME FIND! Congrats man.

Second you are correct, but you can do it, I did with a 1/4 drive ratchet and some cursing. The tq on them is not that much, just enough to hold it firmly.

Glad to see you have got yourself another avant, with the way you take care of cars, this one is gonna be perfect.

Hopefully. I feel like it will be a long process. I really hope I don't end up selling it.

Jeesh has the car ever even been driven?! Looks to be extremely mint! Congrats! The front bumper seems to have zero rock chips even.

I'm pretty sure the front was repainted at some point. The rock chips are very limited, but they're there.

[coolgraymemo]

18Zs purchased today.

[landfill]

No stage 3 memo?

- - - Updated - - -

Great ride too btw.

[coolgraymemo]

I don't have any plans for stage three. I doubt I'll even do a tune.


Thanks!

[coolgraymemo]

I have now filled up the hatch of the Avant in parts.

I'm only missing the bolts/hardware for the 18Z/BBK.

[AudiSport12]

In for pics of it by Prius

[coolgraymemo]

You can hate on the Prius all you want, but it's hella comfortable and easy to drive.

I sometimes question myself because I keep buying parts for a car that I've driven 150 miles and has spent the majority of its life covered in my garage.

[AllroadCorbin]

Comfortable and easy to drive? What could possibly be hard about driving? The Prius is scrap. I'm also surprised nobody has filed a class action suit against Toyota for the Prius. Yes as an enthusiast I have a natural distaste for cars that ruin everything good about driving, but I can appreciate new technology. The issue is that Toyota Prius technology kinda sucks at its job. In real world driving it does worse on mileage than a far cheaper TDI Jetta... not to mention the terrible environmental impact Prius production has on the environment. I'm all for progress but what's the point of a hybrid that looks like shit, drives like shit, gives mediocre mpg unless you drive it so slowly that you almost cause accidents, and has a seriously negative impact on the environment. I see the Prius as more of an ideological statement. It doesn't help that most people I know that drive them, are seriously arrogant assholes


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[coolgraymemo]

Ok.

[coolgraymemo]

I finally jumped into catching up on maintenance. I started with the easiest: transmission mounts.

The mounts I removed were still the originals (manufactured in 2000; vehicle has 161,000 miles). The replacement 034SD mounts should be a upgrade.

The AWE DTS will be up next.

[coolgraymemo]

I hate this car.

[jaychen]

I hate this car.

welcome to the real world.