Happy Birthday Blue Thunder

2.7 V6 30v biturbo - 251bhp
2.7 V6 30v biturbo - 261bhp
Blue_Thunder
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Happy Birthday Blue Thunder

Post by Blue_Thunder » 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.


:cry:

jb7_uk
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RE: Happy Birthday Blue Thunder

Post by jb7_uk » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:36 pm

Oh my, Blue that is truely shocking news. :(

Sorry to hear it mate, you've had a right mare of a time from what i've read. My condolences (should the worst be confirmed).
FOR SALE :cry: :
B5 S4 - 1999 (Pre-Facelift) - Ebony Black Pearl - 18" RS4 (B5) Reps - 710n's - replaced N75 - After-run Pump mod - APR Bipipe.
See Classifieds ad (HERE) for more details.

UKS4APR1
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Post by UKS4APR1 » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:54 pm

Sorry to hear the news.
Myself and Doug both warned you not to drive it (fast) until you'd sorted out the leak in the "internal Boost Leak" thread.
That's been the problem all along I suspect.
Unfortunately you've kept on modding without rectifying the problem first.

S4TAN
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Post by S4TAN » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:07 pm

Dude - shocking story - many condolences :cry:

.... can I have first dibs on your Y-pipe (plus the rubber hoses)?
Deus ex machina

Blue_Thunder
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Post by Blue_Thunder » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:11 pm

UKS4APR1, the N75 was disconnected when things went bang.

I've had no help with the original problem of the internal boost leaks and it's a mystery to everyone. It never appeared as a problem when I got my first remap back in February. What can you do when none of the garages have any idea what is causing it? I seem to be the only person lucky enough to have the problem.

Just absolutely gutted.

Blue_Thunder
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Post by Blue_Thunder » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:12 pm

Oh, and you can add an AWE DTS and APR Bipipe with hoses to the list above.

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TopBear
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Post by TopBear » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:31 pm

Well. hopefully to make you feel a bit better, I bought an RS4 to start with and counted up that I've spent over 7K on it (not counting insurance, MOT & petrol) since I got it last year!!!
:blackrs4: B5 RS4, MRC Remap, Milltek, RS6\B7 Brakes, Black\Carbon

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GrahamS4
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Post by GrahamS4 » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:33 pm

As said, shocking story. SO so much put in to this car and to end up in this state, unbelievable.

A great list of parts you have there and I can't deny I will be one of the vulchers circling when you put prices to those parts.

On the look out for some RS4 intercoolers and a bi-pipe at the right price. Wouldn't have the heart to bargain with you though, so probably not the right deal (for me) this time around!

Lets hope things take a distinct turn for the better somehow.
Last edited by GrahamS4 on Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Present: 2010 Ice silver B8 S4 s-tronic saloon (standard)
Past: 1998 Agate grey B5 S4 saloon (MRC tuned)
Hers: 2011 Volcano red 8P A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 170 sport quattro

S4TAN
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Post by S4TAN » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:35 pm

Is there no way you can leave it at MRC for a while and set Doug the challenge of getting to the bottom of this? Maybe diagnosing why it's just spat its innards out of it's arse will reveal the initial cause of the "internal boost leak" ?? - It's gotta be worth one last punt considering you've sunk so much into it....
Deus ex machina

Blue_Thunder
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Post by Blue_Thunder » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:53 pm

Have tried calling him a ridiculous number of times and left him a couple of PM's, but no joy. Guess it's too much of a challenge. <said in the style of someone calling Marty McFly "chicken!">

There is the possibility that the turbos weren't right when they were refurbed (we had other problems with them when they came back), so may be able to get them sorted by AET, but the fact is i probably won't know what's at fault until i've had yet another costly engine pull. It may be worth just biting the bullet and taking a lumphammer and angle grinder to it so as not to lose another grand on an engine pull if I do decide to sell.

Biggest concern is if I decide to get it fixed, pay another £x's, only to find that there's something else wrong. I really do seem to have the worst luck with this.

If anyone believes in karma, I must have been a proper c**t in a past life!

jb7_uk
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Post by jb7_uk » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:36 pm

without wanting to seem like an aforementioned vulture can i have first dibs on your milltek and possibly the DTS should you decide to split it all?

Again, my condolences dude :(
FOR SALE :cry: :
B5 S4 - 1999 (Pre-Facelift) - Ebony Black Pearl - 18" RS4 (B5) Reps - 710n's - replaced N75 - After-run Pump mod - APR Bipipe.
See Classifieds ad (HERE) for more details.

rolskii
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Post by rolskii » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:55 pm

Dude .... what sh1t luck ....... :x I thought mine was bad luck after replacing all the running gear(engine too) except - gearbox & back shafts.....!!

I have had mine about 2yrs - sunk about 6-7k into it .... my "new" k04's had 500miles on em at rebuild time(MRC400),
I doug had them checked before fitting and have been fine, its running nice now, but taking along time ... an I still got loads to do ...
Stick with it I say .... :thumbs: but if not can I have yr interior ..... :biggrin2:
happy dayz .... party ....

SLC Detailing
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Post by SLC Detailing » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:02 pm

Feel sorry for you mate, if u do decide to sell the bits give ma pm i would be interested in the RS4 bits turbos etc and the MTM wheels. If not mate i hope u get it back up and to full health!

DavidT
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Post by DavidT » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:23 pm

I reckon we can find you an engine somewhere if you can bear to stick with it mate ?

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SJS
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Post by SJS » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:24 pm

Sorry to hear that dude.....fingers crossed it isnt too costly to sort out.
Nogaro S4 Yr2000. MRC remap, K04s, Milltek

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