Happy Birthday Blue Thunder
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:14 pm
Well, just realised it's been a year to the day since I bought The Blue Thunder (aka The Big Blunder).
I'd like to be able to say this is a time for celebration, but as I look back on the last year, it has to have been one of the worst. I paid £7500 for her back then with 78k on the clock and to all intents and purposes, she looked like a lovely clean example.
Ok, it was 8 years old and didn't have some of the creature comforts such as leather interior, sat nav, etc. But she was a lovely example.
Within weeks it was due it's first service. The cambelt had been sorted out, although the owner didn't have the receipt, which was odd as he had all the others. The Audi dealership (where it had been religiously serviced it's whole life) was able to provide me with the receipt showing the cambelt had been done, although it also had a warning of a leaking rocker cover gasket. They told me this had subsequently been fixed by themselves.
The service itself was quite pricey, but they identified £700 of work needing done. Sorted that and got new DV's, hoses, etc. The expense had begun.
To cut the potentially epic story short, i've now spent more than twice what I bought it for getting various bits and pieces sorted and making one or two mods, although it's not actually been on the road without problems long enough for me to enjoy them (5/12 months).
Well, when the K03's blew back in February, I decided to go the K04 route. I had a warranty out, and they were due to pay the labour and part of the replacement units cost, so I thought why not fork out for a few extras, etc. etc.
Now, on poor Blue's birthday, she obviously got upset that I hadn't bought any candles, but she decided to try and blow something else out instead... her insides out of her arse!
The local residents round here must think i'm James Bond, because i've just dumped the biggest smokescreen going down the road.
I'm now well and truly skint and not really that keen on putting more money into the money pit, so looks like she may be getting stripped of her pride. I'll see what the doctor says first. But, incase I do have to go down that very unattractive route, I will have lost in the region of £18-19k in a year and will have no car to show for it. Bastard!
So, incase the news is bad, keep your eyes peeled on the Classifieds over the coming weeks...
Tasty bits include:
Refurbed K04's with only about 100 miles(!!!!!) on them(although god knows if they are still in one piece)
ECU with custom MRC 400 map
RS6 front brakes
RS4 rear brakes
RS4 Intercoolers
RS4 Injectors
RS4 Airbox (w.unused filter), brand new MAF, Y-pipe
Milltek single catback
De-catted stock DP's
Full RS4 Recaro Interior
MTM Bimoto reps
Brand new H&R arbs
Brand new unused N75
BMW E46 Compact Spoiler (much nicer than the standard lip spoilers)
Concert Stereo (no volume issues)
"S4" Private Plate
Shirt off my back
...and everything else that's salvageable.
I'd like to be able to say this is a time for celebration, but as I look back on the last year, it has to have been one of the worst. I paid £7500 for her back then with 78k on the clock and to all intents and purposes, she looked like a lovely clean example.
Ok, it was 8 years old and didn't have some of the creature comforts such as leather interior, sat nav, etc. But she was a lovely example.
Within weeks it was due it's first service. The cambelt had been sorted out, although the owner didn't have the receipt, which was odd as he had all the others. The Audi dealership (where it had been religiously serviced it's whole life) was able to provide me with the receipt showing the cambelt had been done, although it also had a warning of a leaking rocker cover gasket. They told me this had subsequently been fixed by themselves.
The service itself was quite pricey, but they identified £700 of work needing done. Sorted that and got new DV's, hoses, etc. The expense had begun.
To cut the potentially epic story short, i've now spent more than twice what I bought it for getting various bits and pieces sorted and making one or two mods, although it's not actually been on the road without problems long enough for me to enjoy them (5/12 months).
Well, when the K03's blew back in February, I decided to go the K04 route. I had a warranty out, and they were due to pay the labour and part of the replacement units cost, so I thought why not fork out for a few extras, etc. etc.
Now, on poor Blue's birthday, she obviously got upset that I hadn't bought any candles, but she decided to try and blow something else out instead... her insides out of her arse!
The local residents round here must think i'm James Bond, because i've just dumped the biggest smokescreen going down the road.
I'm now well and truly skint and not really that keen on putting more money into the money pit, so looks like she may be getting stripped of her pride. I'll see what the doctor says first. But, incase I do have to go down that very unattractive route, I will have lost in the region of £18-19k in a year and will have no car to show for it. Bastard!
So, incase the news is bad, keep your eyes peeled on the Classifieds over the coming weeks...
Tasty bits include:
Refurbed K04's with only about 100 miles(!!!!!) on them(although god knows if they are still in one piece)
ECU with custom MRC 400 map
RS6 front brakes
RS4 rear brakes
RS4 Intercoolers
RS4 Injectors
RS4 Airbox (w.unused filter), brand new MAF, Y-pipe
Milltek single catback
De-catted stock DP's
Full RS4 Recaro Interior
MTM Bimoto reps
Brand new H&R arbs
Brand new unused N75
BMW E46 Compact Spoiler (much nicer than the standard lip spoilers)
Concert Stereo (no volume issues)
"S4" Private Plate
Shirt off my back
...and everything else that's salvageable.
I thought mine was bad luck after replacing all the running gear(engine too) except - gearbox & back shafts.....!! 
but if not can I have yr interior ..... 