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Hello!

So I had planned to buy a C5 RS6, but decided when I saw this B6 S4 that it looked like the one to go for really. I picked it up on Saturday, drove it back to France where I live the same day. None of this crappy LHD stuff.

I've had a plethora of cars in my time really. All of which I've no issues with taking apart and doing stuff to, big or small, but at the moment I don't know the tricks or the things to do on this beast so I'm ready to learn and tart the bits up that I think are worth doing to make it my car.

Pic here:



Standard at the moment. Manual, sunroof, half leather & alcantara which I really like, more than the full leather.

Things I would like to do are:

1. couple of nexus 7 tablets mounted in the rear headrests for the kids on long journeys. Anything to keep them quiet. Likewise I'm going to be replacing the headunit with one as well when I have the time, as the radio is sack here anyway, I can use the Torque app for all engine info, remote storage for music etc and the sat nav by google is awesome. I do need some front leather headrests if anyone knows of any going?

2. I'd like to change the wood trim for carbon trim... is this possible? Full doorcard change job, if so?

3. Aerowipers would be nice, easy touch. Any info on those?

4. Filter. There is a changed one in there, but would like to make sure I have the best one there. So any recommendations on it? I read that the panels are the best, over the full aftermarket job.

5. Exhaust. Naturally, I would like to add a little more grunt to the V8. Milltek still the choice of preference? Manifolds as well (headers if you will), who makes the best and also, I'd imagine I'll give these to someone else to fit as doesn't look like a lot of room!

6. Suspension. Anything that is advisable really. I've obviously rear about the ARB fitment makes a difference. What are the differences in makes? Easy to DIY fit? Should think so.
Same with coilovers. Are these worthy? Do I compromise any drive comfort? I know it's sporty anyway but the Mrs would give me abuse if I made it too hard. I'd love to wind it right down, but will be used in the mountains for skiing and the snow, so not really up for plough like activities. Although winter gives me the chance to get snow tires on these wheels and get some new ones I have been looking at some Rotiform 3 pieces. Need coilovers then, though too.

7. Brakes. What are good upgrades? Read in a thread about Cayenne ones? What sizes and what can be bolt on, which doesn't then mean 9 grand for replacement discs!

Power! I will obviously then want a remap, who is the best for them? What are the levels and power gains? Is 400bhp fairly easy? What other modifications need to be done for this?


Sorry for all the questions, you can tell me to stfu all you want

Nice to meet you, I'm Ross by the way.

2. Trim change is straightforward. Pop out and pop in.
3. The complete wiper arm needs changing in order to install aero wipers.
4. I have a K&N installed. No MAF issues. Need to be careful not to over oil when cleaning.
5. Freeing up the exhaust is a good idea. Headers are another option. JHM is the states manufacturer some nice looking jobbies.
6. Down to particular taste. Some owners are happy just replacing the springs. Mine is stock.
7. Stock brakes are actually good. DOT5 fluid should be used though. New pads either EBC of Ferodo DS. Upgrading your brakes and suspension is really dependent upon how you intend on using the car.
8. Change the oil yearly at the very least. Forget the long life crap. It is not good.
9. Happy driving.

Power? Only consider a remap if you intend on upgrading your exhaust. That and a map may yield 30-40bhp max. There are no real cheap big gain from NA engines. Big gains = Big monies. If your looking at 400bhp. Buy another car or fit a supercharger..

Hey Ross Glad you enjoying it Bud ,Was just checking in and noticed your post.
I do have some Black soul door and dash trims that i never got round to fitting as didnt have ashtrays or gear lever surround (sorry should have mentioned that) , You dont need to do anything with the wipers as they are already aero style with new arms fitted last year.
Any more upgrades that i never got round to i think will only make it better
The guys on here who have already done mods will im sure be able to tell you more
Happy Driving

2. It's fairly easy to do but is very expensive to buy the OEM parts. There's a company that post on Audizine who exchange your wood trim for theirs but it's for aluminium or piano black - they take the wood set and retrim it in carbon fibre. You might be able to get them to do yours: oCarbon.

4. The OEM one is fine. Forget induction kits; the engine bay's too hot.

5. There's plenty of choice in the US but pretty much just Milltek in the UK. The Americans on Audizine seem to rate Fast Intentions the best. Whichever you go for, you'll only see noticeable power gains if you upgrade the downpipes, gut the pre-cats or whatever. A cat-back will just make it sound real nice. But so nice though!

As stated by others, you'll not get massive gains but you can make it just as quick as a standard B7 RS4 (or quicker than a coked-up one) - in the straights at least. For anything more you would need the RS6.

A couple of other mods - RS4 or Hotchkis RARB (rear anti-roll bar): they sort out most of the understeer. The OEM RS4 one costs about £80, the Hotchkis about £400 (but it's better).

Check that mod hasn't been done already though.

To sort out the dodgy gear changes I fitted a JHM short shifter, Apikol snub mount and changed the transmission fluid. Still not perfect but there's a few other thing you can do to stop the play in the drivetrain.

Hey Jez, sorry it's taken so long to reply! Mad at work. The car is running great, it's really straight, very little dents or anything all around.

I've been told that changing the wood for carbon isn't a priority. Women don't seem to understand, I don't think!

I've ordered the Bluetooth OBD connector so I can run my nexus with Torque app, hopefully that should be here soon. I am currently looking for the best place to get an exhaust for it, being over here is a bit of a pain for that. I'll find somewhere.

One thing, it does seem to sometimes not work from the key (remote central locking etc.) so I have to unlock with the key and start the ignition to stop the alarm. I would guess battery issue on the fobs? Although it is intermittent...? Anyone had this? If it is the batteries, can you just swap for new ones without issue?

I've also been thinking about a short shift for it, as I think it would make the changes a bit more defined. Any recommendations for the best one?

Thanks for all the suggestions! might take me a while to sell the Mrs on me buying car bits. I'll have to do it on the sly

Just seen in the post above about short shift, I'm on it!

Sooooo


X pipe, H pipe. Differences in the real world, what's the recommended for getting the best out of the v8?

I found this:

Anyway... the only really significant difference IS sound. The H is a bit deeper and has a cleaner rumble at the low end while the X is more raspy and choppy at the low end.

An H pretty much maintains it's tone throughout the power band but gets louder (of course) while an X-pipe comes alive under power.

For me, it's a trade-off. H pipes sound better down low and X pipes sound better up high.

HP differences between the two are negligable so long as everything else stays the same.

Not all H pipes and X pipes are created equal. Power wise, some are slightly better than others.

So is it all in sound? If so I think the X would be my preference, but if there is genuine performance differences I'd be interested.

randomshenans wrote:Just seen in the post above about short shift, I'm on it!

Here's a bit more:

Thread - "Short Shifters?"

randomshenans wrote:X pipe, H pipe. Differences in the real world, what's the recommended for getting the best out of the v8?

From what I've read, X-pipes are the way to go for better performance too - but the difference would be undetectable if all you're doing is adding a cat-back.

People seem to prefer the V8 burble of H-pipes.

Thanks man, that's great!

I think I'll make an order with JHM. I was so close to hitting the buy button on the x pipe cat back system on there, the fast intentions one, but I was going to go for the 2.5" connection to downpipe, as I would like to get the downpipes and headers next, but not all at once. So, would I be able to fit the system, or would I have to wait until I got the 2.5" downpipes and headers too? (Don't know what it looks like, or if it's changeable). I wouldn't like to buy and then realise I have to wait to fit it.

Speak to Keaton in Sales (keaton@jhmotorsports.com> or sales@jhmotorsports.com).

He'll answer all your questions.

JHM make a lot of products for the B6 and B7 S4 so have done a lot of R&D - you know their information is solid.

Yea, figured as much. I've dropped them an email so sure they'll let me know the details.

So since I'm waiting for answers and have itchy fingers to buy stuff (or avoiding work) I'm looking at this build: http://www.mp3car.com/worklogs/152658-n ... -s4-3.html

As it's similar to what I would like. So I'm ordering a bezel at the moment, and a dock for the nexus and will see what fibreglass I have in the garage still and have a play. I like a project and means I can hide down in the basement!

Good cars the B6 S6. Friend of mine had one. Exhaust is definitely too quiet though.

Where in France are you?

I'm down near Basel, just over from Switzerland, not as far up as Mulhouse but about 20mins away in the S4! It is too quiet, it needs more high rev rasp and grunt. Tunnels need to be more fun, it's a V8 dammit!

Not far from Germany then; How about some BN Pipes?

This:

http://youtu.be/w1xTlykAbZk

http://www.bn-pipes.de/en/shop_audi_s4_ ... e-ha1.html