My B7 3.0tdi Quattro thread

[crazy88]

Hi all,

I thought i'd create a thread for my latest car. I've been an Audi owner for the last 7 years, with a B6, and then 3 years ago I bought a 1.8TQS, also, as my toy car. Typically I prefer older cars, and I was never a fan of the B7 shape, although it's growing on me I must admit!

The B6 was a great car, but it was just starting to cost too much. At 207k miles, I felt it had served me well though, but it was time to move on.

Here's a few pics of my other cars, and then some of my latest. I don't have many plans for the B7, apart from keep it relatively standard, so don't expect this to be a mega build thread. My B5 is where my plans lie, and modding 2 cars is just too much work and money.

The car is a 3.0TDI quattro, with a marmite exhaust. It's been ABT tuned, and has the ABT exhaust/ valance. Some days I like it, generally it's not my cup of tea at all, but I didn't buy it for the exhaust so it may change at some point. Regardless of that, it's fast and great fun.

It was bought with a few issues. It is going into limp mode so I need to sort that (more details in another post later on the findings/ progress but it's obviously turbo related/ either wiring or blocked) and the exhaust was hanging low and has since been re-welded back onto its hanging bracket (£20-bargain). It's one owner from new, and been very well maintained.

Anyway, here's a few pics and i'll update when I do stuff! Any questions, do ask!

Cheers

 

[crazy88]

Today (yesterday now, as I started this last night and fell asleep) I sorted out the rear caliper slider bolt that had seized and was giving me some nasty brake squeal/ whistle.

Was a right pain to free up; heat and a hammer were needed. I cleaned it all up with a drill bit and wire wool, regreased and let's see how long it lasts. :s

I think I'll look at getting them refurbed at some point, but it's a pain having the car off the road.

Oh, and the piston boot is a bit skew whiff due to the tie-wrap. It's seen better days, but it didn't seem to have ripped or anything, so it'll live a few more months.

 

[crazy88]

Hi,

Small update, but no pics unfortunately. As with all things, you buy a car and things go wrong

Been noticing a drone from the rear, so I suspected it was the wheel bearing. Took it to the garage and I was correct; O/S/R. Had that replaced, and while it was in I got him to fit the glow plugs as family life is rather busy at the moment. I'm glad he did, as he said they were in extremely tight and were a bit bum squeaky, even for a mechanic. Pleased to say it starts much better on in the cold mornings now. It's also quiet as a mouse now too. Nice.


While there he showed me the underneath of the car on the ramp. Obviously I looked around it when buying it, but a proper ramp reveals a world of pain...or rust. The entire back end is on its way out, subframe, uprights etc etc. The plan is to accumulate parts over the next month or two and replace the lot in one go. I plan on keeping the car for many years, so it would be good to do it right. I know, here is where I should have taken pics, but I was a little sad that my new car is proving to be costly and didn't think to take snaps. Instead, have a picture of my courtesy car, compared to a Corsa. I'm 6'3, so it makes for fun driving!


Question time...this will be a mix of new parts (springs, dampers, bushes etc, and then sourcing some replacement parts such as subframes so I can prep/ sandblast/ bush them before fitting etc.

On ebay I found this; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A4-R...780584?hash=item1c6ae9a228:g:ua0AAOSwdWBXPcG5

Part number is 8E0 505 235 BT (read from the photo), mine should end with BP. From what I can tell, this part is for the RS4. Does the RS4 and 3.0tdi share the same rear subframe? (obviously not share, but does the RS4 fit?) I am guessing no, and just been hopeful really!

If worst comes to worst I can remove parts and refurb them, unless the rust demons have got them too bad, but that's more time for the car off the road.

Thanks

 

[jord9412]

They must have got that courtesy car as some kind of sick joke? No one should have to drive around in a inbetweeners car!

 

[crazy88]

Well, we spent the last few months out of the country so the car hasn't even been touched. Decided to shoe horn the car in the garage while we were away to try minimalise winter nastiness. All went well getting it in, only I had to climb out of the boot, then finish by pushing it in so I could close the garage door.

Came back, charged the battery and all was well. However, as always something still breaks within the first week. Luckily it was a cheap fix. £10.63, but the car was off the road for a few days while I waited for it. It was also dead easy to fix, apart from the snapped T-Piece was a pain to get out the pipe.

Now to spend this year giving the car some much needed TLC. I'm currently making a list of parts I need. Exciting, but expensive! Oh, and I NEED to remove that silly AS4 badge.

 

[crazy88]

Had a productive weekend on the car, in between other family stuff. Managed to service it for the first time since I bought it. It was 20k miles since the last service and 2 years, which just doesn't sit well with me, so i've changed it to fixed life servicing and will do it each year at 5/6k miles. Oil, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter.

As you can see, the air intake was a little...restricted. My B6 didn't have one of the little mesh things in it so didn't even realise it was there. Luckily i dropped the pipe and the little mesh piece fell out exposing the nastiness so I could give it a clean.

I also plastidipped the rear valance. As much as I love the car, i'm not a fan of the rear end, particularly the exhaust (which I know is hanging low, it'll get sorted when I do the suspension), valance and silly badges. I figured making it black may make it blend in more?! It'll stay for now, I prefer it over what it was anyway. Never used plastidip before, so was quite fun.

I removed the AS4 badge, which always really annoyed me, and the 3.0 badge also. For now the TDI and Quattro badges have stayed, but not sure they'll last either.

I also have begun acquiring parts for the rear end rebuild. I have more still to come, but here are the first bits. Will be getting sand blasted when they've all arrived, and repainted ready for rebushing etc.

 

[Dani_B19]

Should have removed the internal airbox cage and foam, I did and the car sounded better for it.

 

[crazy88]

I did wonder about that cage, but didn't consider the foam. I worry that by removing it all it'll cause problems haha!

I'll probably end up doing it though next time, or if I get a free 10 minutes. It is fair to say it was rather restricted as it was. Since it's new to me I have no idea how quick that little cage gets clogged up?!

 

[Dani_B19]

Mine was worse than that, for me it reduces noise, and the internal volume of the airbox, by removing it, it frees up more volume and takes away the noise restriction. Win win.

 

[Mat196]

Crazy 88 where did you get that T piece ? MINE has broken and the local Tps says it comes with a complete top hose at £110!