RS246.com Forum :: The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS Enthusiast Community

For 2 years I've been cheating on you all. I put my B5 S4 Avant in the garage in September 2008 and it's stayed there while I drive a company 335D M Sport. There you go - I've said it.

I realise this is a bl00dy heartless thing to do but the bonnet catch was stuck fast and about the best I could do when I woke up one day to discover I'd left the interior light on for a week was, was to push it in to the garage and get on with life. That coupled with the fact that the bimmer was bought for me by the company and it seemed churlish to refuse.

I'll write another post soon on how they compare - but believe me when I tell you that my ten year old S4 is the better car, and recently I've missed it - a lot - so it's time to fire her up.

This afternoon I took the grille off and managed to get the bonnet mechanism freed, cleaned and lubed. Now I've got to try and get some charge in the battery - or buy a new one.

In the tantalising hours while I wait for the electrics to come back online I'm going to ask you all what precautions I can be taking on awakening to ensure I don't do any damage. The car is elderly and doing 160k on it's first set of turbos so I don't hold out much hope, especially given it's been MRC stage 1'd

Obviously I have oil and water taken care of...but is there some procedure I should be thinking of to coax her into life.


Very nervous about turning that key!

Quick update:

Installed a new battery bought from www.carbatteryshop.co.uk. Same spec as the OEM which has been in there since new and had sulphated badly during storage so wouldn't accept a charge. 72Ah 680CCA for anyone who might need this info. £57 delivered.

Was great to hear the solenoids, valves and circuits waking up as I made the connection for the first time.

Climbed in turned the key to first position and waited for a reset of the throttle body valve ...(about 10 secs)

Hit the ignition and without even needing throttle it woke immediately into an even purr after a 2 year deep sleep. No smoke, coughing, hunting. Just the familiar sound of my stealthy twin turbo at idle.

Hit the kill switch after 5 mins and before any real warmth got into it. I'll repeat the procedure for the next few nights to give the oil a chance to penetrate. At the weekend we'll be Driving Miss Daisy.

Was great sitting in those hugging Recaros again and remembering 3 years of happiness together before I ran off with a younger Bimmer. Until my wife shattered my daydream by reminding me that I'd left the garage / utility door open and did I know the house now stank off petrol. Ohh How I love the smell of petrol.

It's going to be extremely difficult staying off the loud pedal while she regains strength.

I can add the S4 to the list of things that never stop being nice to own and never let me down. Like the 5 year old PowerBook I'm writing this post on:-)

Nice write up

That's good to here matey

In the last 2 years or so you will find some/most B5 owners have migrated over to here http://audisrs.com/

misternomer wrote:
my wife shattered my daydream by reminding me that I'd left the garage / utility door open and did I know the house now stank off petrol. Ohh How I love the smell of petrol.

It's going to be extremely difficult staying off the loud pedal while she regains strength.

after the open door incident and the petrol smell is this the wife or car recovering strength ??

I know what you mean though