B5 S4, operation money pit. Forever evolving, never ending.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Hopefully get it back on Thursday. Will post results.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Vacation is going great. Got a call from the body shop yesterday, car is torn down and bill now totals around $2800. Adjuster will be out today to look and hopefully aprove. Which is fine, I want them to take their time so I don't get stuck with a bill for this rental.

So, $1300 estimate turns into $2800, and I am missing my car terribly.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Shit I hope not. When I was talking to the guy I told him I would usually say "Have fun with it." But since I was having AFR issues on the way in, I would rather it not be driven. He cut me off mid sentence, and told me the only time the cars are taken out is if there's suspension damage. Since it's not the case with mine, mileage is documented and the car won't be taken off the lot.

These guys deal with cars that make mine look like a civic, so it shouldn't be anything too exciting for them anyway. I mean, why risk your job over an S4 when you get to work on Ferarri's?

Flip through here and you'll get the drift.

http://www.dandvautobody.com/gallery/

ETA: I really can't wait to get into a house with a garage. I've always wanted to do a long term project, and this S4 will be it. Going to rip the driveline and suspension out and do a complete ovehaul. Might just have to go 12v VR6T, but again that's a few years out. I'm thinking 7-800AWHP should itch the scratch. /Dreaming(fornow)

[HennaE30]

With that said, I'm putting this car to the back of my mind while it's in the shop and I'm at the beach. Come Sunday I'll be drinking a beer fishing on the beach of OBX. I told the body shop its their problem for now, and please don't drive it due to fueling issues. I don't want any speed holes in the block unless I put them there.

Thoughts of the Yan/Vlad experience come to mind when I read this. Hopefully it all goes smoothly man. Enjoy the vacation with the family.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Yea I don't know why I was having such an issue with fitment. It was putting a kink in the hose and pressing on the grill.


So, yesterday I started getting high CF, and this morning noticed I was leaning out again to over 12:1 in the cooler weather. Thinking since I've maxed my map, maybe the cooler air was throwing things off. Added some fuel fixed it for a few pulls, but it started leaning out again. Then randomly it would go pig rich.

Hmmmm.... Time to get a fuel pressure gauge. I also think I'm going to say screw it to 50/50 methanol water mix, switch all fittings to brass compression fittings and go 100% methanol.


With that said, I'm putting this car to the back of my mind while it's in the shop and I'm at the beach. Come Sunday I'll be drinking a beer fishing on the beach of OBX. I told the body shop its their problem for now, and please don't drive it due to fueling issues. I don't want any speed holes in the block unless I put them there.

Meanwhile, Enterprise gave me a free upgrade. This should serve well for a vacation at the beach. I may just pick one up for the Mrs. After we buy a house. At the very least it's now in the running with a Tahoe/Suburban. This thing is a far cry from the older Japanese vehicles I've been in.



The only issue is we already have one, and another on the way, with an end goal of 4 kids.... So planning ahead, we may just have to go with a 3rd row option.

[325i]

i just installed my fmic a couple weeks ago and i routed the lower pipe under the ac lines without any issues.

untitled-6.jpg by Nathan Tello, on Flickr


it is possible to keep the grilles and foglights by bending your own tubing had been done by other az members in the past. just depends on how much work you want to do.

my goal was to have my piping exposed since i have polish trim, wheels and mirrors


also adding a cupra lip will help support and straighten the bumper now that 50% of it was cut away. (i have mine sitting in the garage, need to install after i get other things sorted out)

[Exodus_2pt0]

I didn't think I'd say this but its really growing on me with the pipes exposed.

Also, got my estimate yesterday. Drop it off and the shop on Thursday. The nationwide guy actually agreed that I made a good choice with the body shop. (He was at a different shop that Nationwide wanted me to go to for the estimate.) I cannot wait to get it back. Every time I look at it I want to throw up a little.

Will post results.

[AwakenNoMore]

Just paint the piping black

[HennaE30]

I've been thinking about how to do it. I could rig the stock inserts but then they will have empty fog light holes. It's a work in progress.

Make/find mesh similar to the hood grill? Would still flow well, you wouldn't see the IC/piping, and wouldn't look tacky.

[Exodus_2pt0]

I've been thinking about how to do it. I could rig the stock inserts but then they will have empty fog light holes. It's a work in progress.

[TheTacoMan]

any sort of grille or something to cover up those IC pipes? doesn't look bad, but it doesn't help the sleeper look

I think fabricating something would be needed, If im not mistaken the allroad's fog lights and cutting was needed to clear the piping.

[jalopi]

any sort of grille or something to cover up those IC pipes? doesn't look bad, but it doesn't help the sleeper look

[Exodus_2pt0]

Played with the piping, re-routed the bottom passenger side OVER the a/c lines. I think JHM changed the design but didn't update their video. Much, much better now.

[Exodus_2pt0]

So finally a video.

Took this on my way to work this AM. I'm still working on the tune, so bear with me. Best 60-90 so far is around 3.4 seconds. Working on getting that down to 3.0-3.1 and I'll be happy, that's considered about the safe limit for stock rods.



Number crunching aside, the car is an absolute blast to drive. Comfortable, relatively quiet, and will give you whiplash. I find myself laughing after just about every 1st-2nd gear pull.

Just quoting myself from earlier as a reference: (I'm saving my launches for the track with the new clutch)

Anybody want to sell me a GoPro?

[Exodus_2pt0]

New pump is in and bumper is mounted. Holding a solid 11.5:1 AFR, and running like a champ.

The bumper on the other hand, I am not happy with. It's going to take some work.