Suitable Modifications

[charlesdash]

Hello all,

I have recently come back to the RS4 B7 ownership, having owned one of the first ones back in 2006. I have also owned 2 modified B5 RS4's. (I was one of the original RS4.org members but have lost my old login details to RS246) back when a bunch of us including Bushey, Phil T, Phil D, Tanoga, John R et al first started playing with mods and having some track fun with the results.

I am interested in re-opening what is probably an old debate for many of you, which is what mods are going to provide the best bang for the buck, and who I should consider as appropriate to carry out this type of work?

Thanks for any guidance

[sonny]

Welcome back to RS4 ownership and RS246.

What model and spec is your car?

I think Suitable mods are
Milltek cat back system (either valved or non valved but non-res) £800-£1800 depending on if you have the valves or not.
High flow filter such as a BMC or ITG foam filter. £45-£50
Stage 2 custom remap (not generic) £500-£600

This set up will make the most out of your car at a basic level. Remember its a NA engine so gains or not massive.

MRC are used here more due to there B7 RS4 development over the past 2-3 years. (Unit20 and APS are other popular choices)

I would look into the brakes too, a set of Goodridge hoses and racing fluid (RBF600) is a good move. Depending if you track the car I would advise getting some better pads (DS2500 for example).

Uprated ARBs will transform the handling and also the ride quality (harsher) too. Hotchkis and H&R seems to be the popular choice on here.

I would say that's a good summary, as you know you can take this further, and in doing so will cost you more. Examples are, coilovers, ported and de-vained inlet manifold and de-cat and bigger brakes discs etc.

Not teaching you to suck eggs, but these cars really benefit from regular services, try every 5k miles (not long life).

Sonny

[charlesdash]

Many thanks Sonny, that is perfect to get me started!

in answer to your questions B7 Avant 06 56 Sprint Blue with black Buckets, Tech pack, DRL, Sunroof, flat bottom wheel, 5Bose, 6K 2 owners, think that's it. Oh and I had a bluetooth kit added to the factory setup, so I can use the factory phone setup and stream MP3 from my iphone to the standard stereo which is quite smart.

[sonny]

Your welcome

Sounds a great spec and low mileage too. Any pictures?

[edge]

Many thanks Sonny, that is perfect to get me started!

in answer to your questions B7 Avant 06 56 Sprint Blue with black Buckets, Tech pack, DRL, Sunroof, flat bottom wheel, 5Bose, 6K 2 owners, think that's it. Oh and I had a bluetooth kit added to the factory setup, so I can use the factory phone setup and stream MP3 from my iphone to the standard stereo which is quite smart.

Great spec, which bluetooth kit is that? expensive?

[Ice_Coffee]

Great spec, which bluetooth kit is that? expensive?

He is talking about the Kufatec fiscon/parrot kit, I will be ordering and fitting mine at the end of the month, it is missing SDS but is otherwise better than OEM IMO .

The one downside is due to limitations of the RNS e (not the Kufatec kit) it is only mono audio not stereo, but I am going to attempt to overcome this by also using my AUX in on the RNS which is stereo, this means that for normal (phone related) stuff the Fiscon will cut in as normal in mono but if I want to hear my music in stereo instead of mono, I will select the AUX option.

It's all theory at the moment but I will try it when I get it.

oh and it is €340 delivered from Kufatec including a mic that goes in the factory position. It is plug and play, the hardest bit being wiring the Mic neatly to the interior lighting panel above your head.

[charlesdash]

Apologies the mileage should be 56K! I did have a look at some ultra low mileage cars, but they were not in as good condition as some of the higher mileage cars including this one.

Yes as Ice Coffee says it's the Kafutec kit which seems to work just like the factory phone kit (without hands free) but as he says, the bluetooth streaming isn't all that great. I was very particular about getting the mic in the factory position, and that works great, which was the priority, the music streaming was secondary since I have set up a syn folder for the SD cards which is working well. By the way I can't seem to get the SD card reader to accept anything larger than a 1GB card is this a limitation of the system? Oh and where is the Aux input on the system?

[Steve_C]

By the way I can't seem to get the SD card reader to accept anything larger than a 1GB card is this a limitation of the system? Oh and where is the Aux input on the system?

It should accept any SD cards (not SDHC) which can be upto 4gb.

[Adam]

I use 4gn SD cards fine, the limtations are on total no of files or subdirectories and the length of directory path+filename plus it doesn't seem to like files with symbols or accents etc

I just had Audi BT, digital TV and AUX cable fitted by hazzydayz, have some conerns over the TV reception but the AUX cable plays my ipod fine and is is housed in the armrest with no cables showing.
The cable was cheap to fit also.

[neckarsulm]

I was going Kufatec but fitted one to an Octi VRS and it wasn't very good.
Even the importer described it as "sounding like you were on a handsfree" which he put down to it not having an active mic.
I spoke to a friend of the Octi owner who rings him frequently and he confirms it has that annoying echo effect which even after playing with the settings is still there.
So as for it performing like OE, IMHO I have to disagree, pay the extra.

[charlesdash]

Not sure when you had the Kufatec kit, but the one I had fitted is the new 1 with the bluetooth streaming which had some good reviews, and has been 1st class for all calls (as I say not great for music!).
As for OEM, I run the OEM in my wifes Allroad and often experience interferience when connecting which makes it very tricky to use at times, so my experience of OEM is not positive.
Incidentally one of the installers mentioned that the only problems he had with Kufatec were sometimes caused by the placement of the mic which can get shrouded in the lighting panel due to the tightness of space?

Adam, what is the cable you mention and who are hazzydayz?

[Ice_Coffee]

I have also heard good things about the Fiscon/Parrot kit Neckarsulm, I will post up about it when I have fitted it.


@ Charles you asked about the Aux in, you need one of these from kufatec if you want easy access to your AUX in

http://www.kufatec.de/shop/product_info ... action_div

I already have a Kufatec IMA and the Kufatec DVB T tuner with Aux in so I will use that.

[Adam]

charlesdash - hazzydayz can be found here:

http://www.vwcruise.com/2.html

and the cable is described here

http://www.vwcruise.com/39.html

its a cheap ipod solution for £65, ie no control through RNS-E or charging on the move but that costs £400+ which was not worth the cost to me. I just want to plug in my ipod, select an album or playlist and drive off - and wanted the ipod hidden away in the armrest. I also did not want to lose the CD changer or TV.

when you select source I now get the usual CD, SD card, TV options but AUX is added to the menu

[Ice_Coffee]

charlesdash - hazzydayz can be found here:

http://www.vwcruise.com/2.html

and the cable is described here

http://www.vwcruise.com/39.html

its a cheap ipod solution for £65, ie no control through RNS-E or charging on the move but that costs £400+ which was not worth the cost to me. I just want to plug in my ipod, select an album or playlist and drive off - and wanted the ipod hidden away in the armrest. I also did not want to lose the CD changer or TV.

when you select source I now get the usual CD, SD card, TV options but AUX is added to the menu

If he has OEM TV, all he needs is this £13 add on to get the basic functionality you describe

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Group-AV-Input ... 2101wt_905

and maybe this £2.29 lead to extend the headphones connector to his ipod.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5m-3-5mm-Jack-2-R ... 2233wt_905

of course he will still need to borrow someones vagcom to enable the AUX menu on his RNS

[charlesdash]

Thanks guys this is superb stuff!

Now of course this is going to have to be considered in the light of my desire to also upgrade performance!