Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

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ally_m
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by ally_m » Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:24 pm

That’s wild, stunning work!

fazily
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by fazily » Wed Feb 08, 2023 5:40 pm

WOW!! Could eat your dinner off that! :shock:

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stuartbarriskell
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by stuartbarriskell » Sat Feb 11, 2023 11:40 pm

I'd be tempted to stick a set of wheels on the roof and runabout on that upside down..

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coffey555
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by coffey555 » Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:21 pm

I do have a spare set of wheels :wink:
Misano Red RS4 B7 Avant

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stuartbarriskell
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by stuartbarriskell » Wed Feb 15, 2023 10:00 am

I'd definitely get that undersealed, the Bronze and Clear options are a good combo..

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Current stable: B8 RS4.
13 BMW HP4 Track/Road
21 BMW S1000RR Sold
04 ZX 10R Sold
MV Agusta Reparto Corse Sold
GoneB7 RS4
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Gone 1.8 T
Gone A3

coffey555
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by coffey555 » Wed Feb 15, 2023 10:00 pm

It definitely on the list once everything underneath has been done.
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coffey555
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by coffey555 » Thu Feb 23, 2023 10:49 am

Front end work well underway now.

All the front is stripped, rust treated, epoxy primed and painted.
The original cat pipes are at metal fabricators having the flexi bits put in (they were very frayed). Hubs and other bits are being blasted and zinc coated. The front drive shafts have been sent away to be reconditioned by Driveshaft UK who did an excellent job on the rears.

The exhaust was going to be ceramic coated but this can wait until the engine gets pulled next year. That way the manifolds, new Zinram cats pipes and original cat back sections can be done at the same time.

Same goes for the clutch and flywheel, no point replacing them now, will rebleed the clutch line for the time being.
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Misano Red RS4 B7 Avant

coffey555
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by coffey555 » Thu Feb 23, 2023 10:56 am

Had a very close call with the engine though.....

The Forge oil cooler lines had been bodged in place with cable ties either by the original installer or during subsequent maintenance work.

The outer coating was almost completely chaffed through!!!

If they had failed it would have killed the engine in a matter of seconds 😬

New hoses on order and Jim is going to run them properly this time.
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coffey555
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by coffey555 » Sun Mar 19, 2023 3:01 pm

Front end parts lined up and ready to be fitted.

The old bits have been cleaned up and refinished so they can be re-used (where possible) Even the brand new parts have been painted so they all colour match once assembled.

SS+ springs and dampers.
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Misano Red RS4 B7 Avant

coffey555
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by coffey555 » Sun Mar 19, 2023 4:03 pm

Front end is really starting to come along now. Some of the front suspension parts have been fitted along with a new sump due to the old one being corroded.

The stuff in the engine bay is letting the side down now but that can wait until the engine is removed in a year or so.

Power steering pipes not looking too great though...

Really looking forward to getting the car back and putting some more miles on it!
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JamesBaby
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by JamesBaby » Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:55 am

As always Martin, seeing this work is breath taking. Hats off to you. Fantastic build.

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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by DavidRS4 » Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:36 am

Serious attention to detail! 😎😎😎
B7 RS4 Saloon, Phantom Black, Forge Oil Cooler Kit, 20 x 10.5j Vossens, Carbon Front Splitter, KW V3 Coilovers, Adjustable Front Arms, 20mm Spacers, Revolution Carbon Air Box, Rear 4 Pot Porsche Brake Conversion, Stud & Nut Kit, Milltek Non Res Non Valved Exhaust, RS6 Gloss Black Grill, Slightly Tinted Windows, JH Motorsports Stage 3R Clutch & Lightweight Flywheel, Robnic Braided Clutch Line. JH Motorsports Lightweight Grooved F & R Rotors with Braided Hoses and Hawk Pads

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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by coffey555 » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:02 pm

Front end finally finished with all the little snagging tasks completed. One of the brand new SS+ dampers decided to start leaking once the system was charged but luckily it was picked up before I collected the car !!! :audibash:

New one was sourced and fitted with no issues the second time around. So finally collected the car in June after a long 2 year restoration plan.

It's still early days and I was not able to put a huge amount of miles on the car but what I can say is (in my hands) the DRC SS+ setup is the quicker and more composed setup for road use. That slight shimmy from the rear of the car that was there with the 034 ARB is gone. The car now feels completely planted at speed, absorbing rutted and roughly repaired sections of road with ease. In this regard its is honestly brilliant! It just gets on with it to the point you don't really notice it working away.

There is almost zero body roll and less brake dive. Same goes for squatting at the rear under acceleration.

It's not perfect though, the ride is still a bit crashy around town at lower speeds but probably on par with the KW/034 setup. I put it down to the small sidewalls and 19" wheels.

Because of the relative lack of body roll (it feels flat no matter how hard you corner) I did find it more difficult to read the car. Its hopefully something I will adapt to with a bit more time behind the wheel.

And the front still sits too high but I can just about live with it like that!

Overall there is not a huge amount of difference between the two setups. I would be more than happy to run either setup and may well return to KW V3's in the future when the DRC inevitably starts leaking!

Massive thank you to Jim at Liberty Autoworks and Greg at Southam Bodies for all the hard work they have put into restoring the car.

Next..... onto the engine but that can wait a year or two!
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Misano Red RS4 B7 Avant

JamesBaby
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Re: Martin's RS4 B7 Avant Build

Post by JamesBaby » Tue Sep 19, 2023 4:29 pm

The work this car has had is nothing short of incredible and monumental. Hats off to you.

I concur regarding the DRC suspension. What I have done is reduced the pressure in the system slightly. This had a big affect on the comfort for certain poor roads at slower speeds. I actually pressurised it to around 17bar at first, which is more than the 16bar standard. But it was too floaty at high speed. So then I progressively allowed tiny bursts of fluid out of the system until I found a good level. A bit Heath Robinson, and I don't know my final pressure setting but it worked. Note that mine is on KW springs and slightly lower. :)

There is a post on here that talks about reducing the pressure from 16 to 15 to 14 depending on system age.

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