B4 80 2.0E Avant

Inexperienced Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 24

After selling my Cooper the other week, it was time to get a new daily. The big problem was what to buy, budget wasn't massive, but there was still loads of different routes I could have gone down. I started to lean towards another MX5 or even an E36, but some sole searching of what I needed over the next 12 months meant that a larger estate was what fitted the bill.

So the search was on, ended up being outbid last min on B5.5 Passat with LPG, and had a narrow escape on a B5 Passat 1.8t that had 50% more miles than it claimed.

Then came an offer from Hardcore "you could always buy my old red Audi...."

This was a car that I had hankered after the last 2 times it had come for sale, but timings wasn't right, but now everyting was falling into place.

Sadly, it no longer had the coilies or the alloys (Andy selfishly keeping those for his white TDi Razz

), so instead of looking like this

it now looks like this

but things are in hand to sort that Wink

A pair of KW front coilies come up for sale from PhilJ, and after much dithering a price was agreed and a plan to collect them on my way home hatched (I hate having stuff posted)

So this a few weeks ago was time to make the 3 1/2hr train ride to go and collect it. Andy duely picked me up from the station and (after a small detour to get the V5 Razz

) we were off to the autobarn Smile

were it turned out that Phil was also heading to to help lower a certain Fiat. So that saved a trip

So after a tour of the autobarn, funds were exchanged and paperwork filled on and I was on my way home Smile

and it was a very pleasant drive too Smile

Couple of niggles arose, the stereo isn't coming on(it had a working stereo in it before), the fuel gauge has stopped working (but it is starting to come back to life but seems a bit optimistic Razz

), the bonnets not latching down on the pass side and there is a splutter below 2k if you give it more than 1/2 throttle (i suspect a service is in order and sitting for 8 months hasn't helped it)

So plans,it will be returning to a nice low status (not quite as low as before sadly, but will have the capability to) and need to give these a lick of paint and get them fitted

and a dam good polish, it is a bit on the pink side at the mo Razz

Inexperienced Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 24

Well a couple of weeks in and there is some progress

The stereo is now working (needed to join the headunits loom perm and switched lives together), the low rev splutter seems to come and go (been sugested that its the digifant relay 30) and its had a quick coat of polish to make it red for the minute (needs a good cut and polish though).

And the wheels are finally on. A trip to Halfauds equipped me with some primer, ford panther black (same colour as teh wifes Ka so always useful to have some spare paint Rolling eyes

) and lacquer. Used a lot more black than I was expecting (had to go back go get 2 more cans) due to all the faces of the spokes, and its not the best job, but I'm happy enough with it.

And yesterday they went on. They show up the comedy ride height at the mo (not helped as its running TDi suspension Razz

) but that'll hopefully be sorted in the next week or so along with a full service and a cambelt

anyway, pic's Smile

I think some spacers on the rear could improve things a little

but overall I'm pretty happy with them

Inexperienced Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 24

Well, some progress (but not a lot Sad

)

I've repainted the grill (to banish the bits of chrome poking through were the paint had flaked off, so that looks a lot better and my rear shocks/ front springs have arrived Smile

Got a provisional slot booked with Bruce for Wednesday to start operation lows Smile

Tried to crack on with the service over the last few days (bad back and working on a drive in the rain is hindering progress), started on the air filter (which looked decididly manky) and a few holes may have appeared in the airbox whilst it was apart ;D ), went to swap over the new cap and rotor arm, the rotor is definatly different, and the cap wasn't seating well so have cleaned up the originals and refitted them (there was quite a bit of carbon dust and build up on the faces which I removed), but the cough is still there after it has warmed up a bit Sad

This morning the rain held off, so I could stick in a new set of plugs and leads.they were well over due replacing with a couple of the leads coming apart as I removed them. So hopefully that should help in the mission to make it run a bit smoother Smile

Audi finally came good with the new ECU relay this morning (what was thought to be the cause of the low rev cough), so I though I'd crack on and change it this afternoon, it'll only be a quick 5 min job Razz

After unbolting the lower section of dash, I eventually found the relay, swapped it over and tried the ignition.

All the lights come on, but nothing Sad

so an hour of sorting through wires under the dash, and I find that a wire had been cut and rejoined on the back of the ignition barrel Sad

So out with the soldering iron and that's repaired properly and back in action. Quick test drive after putting it all back together, and the mis has gone Smile

Inexperienced Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 24

A productive day yesterday thanks to the help of Bruce Smile

Sadly no pic's taken by me during the work Sad

The day didn't start too well, the aftermarket electric window switch on the drivers side stopped working (when fully up) but turned out it was trying to wind the window up for about the last 30 mins of my drive. When I got to A52 and popped the switch is was quite warm and the battery was pretty flat when I went to restart Sad

but it started and we moved the Audi inside.

Plan was hatched, do 1 side at a time as I wanted to swap the wheels front to back. Quick measurement and 3.5-4" was the desired drop Smile

1st job, remove the rear strut, strip it down, build it up on a new FK lowered damper and a stock spring - 2 coils and the bumpstop shortened. Then the front strut out, stripped and the KW coilover rebuilt and set fairly low (still had about 1" of threads and helper springs are still in there).

With it dropped back onto the ground, the rear was still too high, so apart it came again, an extra coil removed and the coil was the secured into the top mount. Refitted and perfect Smile

The other side tool much less time (as we knew what we were doing by then Razz

) and only had to do the rear shock once.

Back on all 4's, more than happy with the end results Smile

Quick road test, all good bar the tracking which is out (not surprising), so time to clean up, pack up and head home.

A very uneventful drive home, it rides really nice on the new suspension, and nothing seems to catch or rub, and it even goes onto my drive without any drama.

But I did get a few pic's when I got home

The wheels could do with about 20mm spacing either side on the rear, but I'm happy enough with them for the moment

some pic's of the 1/2 way stage

Half way through - it looks a lot tamer in the photo. In the flesh the difference was amazing....Gary from next door was looking for the jacks/axle stands because he couldn't believe the car was sat on all four wheels!

Stock ride height

Adjusted....but not settled yet (straight off the jack & axle stands) - I reckon it's come down another 20mm since this shot was taken.

There, all up to date Smile