Ive had this written up for a while, but thought I'd leave it until I was closer to getting it back, its been away for quite a while
I never planned on buying an S4 in the 1st place, i was looking for an Elise or Exige at the time.
I wanted a small, fun 2-seater. I wasnt even particularly taken in by the pictures of this car when a work mate pointed out that he was selling it.
The car in question is a '98 preface-lift saloon in ming blue pearl, sitting on 18" B7 RS4 reps.
A small cog in the back of my head started turning. Surely a big, heavy saloon car would never attract attention... From ricers, racers or even to an extent, the police. And that was it; i had to at least have a look, with the money in my pocket...
It seemed to be in good condition and so I took it.
Ive lost interest in the mechanical side of things, got sick of fixing beetles. This car also offered the opportunity of something i could stick in a garage to get fixed.
A few of you on here will have heard that 1 of my turbos seized not long after i bought the car. (3 months, with no symptoms other than a boost leak which I traced to the tbb then fixed)
The sticking point, which I only really realised after the failure i didnt want (and no offense) apprentices in a dealer or normal garage working on this car. Or even full mechanics who have grown complacent. So I made use of the AA’s “relay” service to get it down to MRC in banbury, who after some research were said to be "the" specialist for the S & RS4s.
So I talked to Lucas, who talked me through the possibilities within my budget. Straight swap, k04’s or RS6, and various different options with intake, exhaust etc. So it was between k04s and RS6 really, k03s werent a true option.
Meanwhile the guys in the garage stripped the engine out to check it over:
Engine out
Oil behind cambelt
Again, looking suspiciously oily, and corroded
Oily hoses :/ not entirely sure of what they are
The engine was then completely stripped, cleaned, inspected, then rebuilt.
Sourced a set of relatively new but refurbed RS6 turbos, had them modified to fit the S4, and hot side housings swapped for RS4 units for a better spool up time.
MRC intake pipes and tubular exhaust manifolds.
Engine rebuilt with uprated rods, rings, bearings, honed bores, full new cambelt and water pump service.
Difference speaks for itself really doesnt it!
The engine will also be treated to:
All new seals and gaskets (obviously!)
3" catless downpipes, link pipes and true dual Milltek which tapers to 2.75 at some point and ill be using middle and back boxes,
MRC front mount intercooler,
New 2001.5 intake manifold,
RS4 airbox, y-pipe & induction kit,
APR Bi-pipe,
Low compression head gaskets,
630cc injectors with spray patterns matched,
10 bar fuel pump,
RS4 engine and gearbox mounts,
MRC stage 2 clutch kit,
Lightweight flywheel,
New oil cooler,
Afterrun pump mod (low level temp switch),
New 710n divertor valves,
Slim-line air con fans,
And finally a proper map.
While the cars there, ive got them to fit:
New rear calipers, pads and disks (rear calipers were a bit siezed, I’d already done the fronts),
New steering rack (power steering failed after a few weeks, ordered pump and rack and the pump sorted it. Seemed a waste to have a new rack going to waste)
Heavy duty anti roll bars, front and back,
ARB support brackets,
ESP drive train stabiliser,
Drop links.
This was round about the time that my work went really quiet, and the build had to be put on hold.
This is how the car looked when I got it home after buying and then valeted.
Ok some pics of the car how it sat when I went down and visited recently:
FMIC mounted up
FMIC Near side pipework
FMIC Offside pipework + oil cooler
Oil cooler in place of IC
OS intake
New Fanimold
APR Bi-pipe
Side on
NS intake
DTS
Welds on exhaust
Flexi back
Awkward photo to take
Relatively clean for a 10yr old car I think
Milltek
FMIC and pipework will be painted black and bumper regrilled, not sure with what yet though.
Job got postponed (then cancelled) so last minute decision led to me flying down today and picking the car up so will get a couple of videos up tomorrow.
Really awkward at first but once I adjusted the seat from the "Doug" driving position I got used to the clutch a bit better!
Took it relatively easy on the way up, didnt bother looking for any private roads just straight home.
Not very exciting but I cant afford my insurance to go up any more!
Got a set of the mirror housings sitting here, came with the car. Cheers though
TDI badge also here
unfortunatley it was a VW one so has the red I but what the hell.
Will be making a body coloured mould to fit over the rear S4 badge and attach it to that for when I want less attention (or to scare people more
)
How many people are going to notice the difference out there? Probably just the ones that can tell its not an A4 eitherJob got postponed (then cancelled) so last minute decision led to me flying down today and picking the car up so will get a couple of videos up tomorrow.
Really awkward at first but once I adjusted the seat from the "Doug" driving position I got used to the clutch a bit better!
Took it relatively easy on the way up, didnt bother looking for any private roads just straight home.
Not very exciting but I cant afford my insurance to go up any more!
Got a set of the mirror housings sitting here, came with the car. Cheers though
TDI badge also here
unfortunatley it was a VW one so has the red I but what the hell.
Will be making a body coloured mould to fit over the rear S4 badge and attach it to that for when I want less attention (or to scare people more
)
How many people are going to notice the difference out there? Probably just the ones that can tell its not an A4 either
All dry and maskers peeled off.
Lhs painted and back on.
Rhs
Bumper back on
Job got postponed (then cancelled) so last minute decision led to me flying down today and picking the car up so will get a couple of videos up tomorrow.
Really awkward at first but once I adjusted the seat from the "Doug" driving position I got used to the clutch a bit better!
Took it relatively easy on the way up, didnt bother looking for any private roads just straight home.
TDI badge also here unfortunatley it was a VW one so has the red I but what the hell.
Will be making a body coloured mould to fit over the rear S4 badge and attach it to that for when I want less attention (or to scare people more )
How many people are going to notice the difference out there? Probably just the ones that can tell its not an A4 either
