Prompted by Ash, I'm going to put together a little history of my RS4 like I have for my RS2.
I bought it in November 2007 from CCS with 47,222km (according to carjam records).
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Jan 2008
Getting it dusty on a drive to Tauranga:
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May 2008
Old Te Aroha Rd:
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Oct 2008
After owning a rather special B5 1.8TQ for a number of years, I loved the RS4's engine, but was underwhelmed by the chassis. So, after some research, I purchased a set of Hotchkis uprated sway bars from the US.
I have to say it made a massive difference to the roll control and general sharpness of the steering and handling.
Around this time I had the car remapped for the first time. This made it rather more rapid, more due to torque rather than max power.
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Dec 2008
Car on the dyno at the Torque Performance VASK dyno day that I organised:
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TP were concerned it wasn't going rich at full power. Unknown to them, the factory ECU uses closed loop fuelling at lambda = 1 until modelled EGT exceeds 750 degrees, when component protection kicks in (enrichment). Dual EGT sensors also trigger more fuel when exhaust temp hits 980 degrees, with the aim to keep EGT below 1000 degrees.
Jan 2009
Gordon from final touch did a great job making it shiny:
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Jon, do you still have the B5 Le Mans?
Quote from: RS ZWEI on March 21, 2016, 08:59:14 PMJon, do you still have the B5 Le Mans?
Yes indeed, still going strong and about to click over 170km. It's our family car these days.
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Quote from: le mans on March 22, 2016, 12:05:24 PM
Yes indeed, still going strong and about to click over 170km. It's our family car these days.
(https://www.vask.org.nz/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw257%2Fjon_henderson%2FAudi%2FIMG_3851.jpg&hash=aa09a52b1df27690bb411017873d5288fcbda3e9) (http://s178.photobucket.com/user/jon_henderson/media/Audi/IMG_3851.jpg.html)
Cool. Like the new carport.
Mar 2009
Installed Fidanza single mass flywheel, along with brand new factory RS4 clutch.
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Pluses: Engine more free revving, able to blip the throttle on down shifts, direct torque feedback from the powertrain, easier to achieve smooth gear shifts.
Minuses: lose some rotational inertia at low engine speeds (not really an issue with the V6), lack of vibration damping at low engine speeds when under load.
Jun 2009
Torque Performance offered me a free run on their dyno. This is still with the previously remapped ECU. You can see how the fuelling stays close to lambda=1 throughout the run. I stress this is exactly what the factory tune does as well, but many tuners prefer to go open loop and run richer at WOT to keep things cooler. More on this later. I think it's OK for stage 1, but probably not ideal. Depends who you talk to I guess.
(https://www.vask.org.nz/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw257%2Fjon_henderson%2FAudi%2FRS4dynodi.gif%7Eoriginal&hash=258e75ed1a932c4e345811002410bdf73454fd2b) (http://s178.photobucket.com/user/jon_henderson/media/Audi/RS4dynodi.gif.html)
Here is a quote from page 45 of the 2.7TT Self Study Guide:
QuoteThe Motronic controls the exhaust gas temperature to 980 C by enriching the air/fuel mixture .
It is therefore possible to largely dispense with the prophylactic enrichment process that has been standard practice until now.
The mixture is only enriched...
... when necessary and
... to the extent necessary.
This means that engine operation with lambda = 1 is possible up to high load and engine speed ranges.
Advantage:
Improved efficiency and reduction of fuel consumption as well as exhaust emissions
So basically it's an efficiency/emissions driven ideology. You can read the full study guide here if you want to: http://www.ibiblio.org/tkan/audi/2.7Biturbo-SelfStudy.pdf (http://www.ibiblio.org/tkan/audi/2.7Biturbo-SelfStudy.pdf)
Oct 2009
Purchased and installed a JHM SS kit:
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I've since returned to the stock shifter, as I find it smoother.
Moody photo at the Tank Farm (now know as Wynyard Quarter):
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Jan 2010
Further looking to enhance the chassis, I purchased Bilstein B16 PSS9 suspension. This was fitted by my mechanic at the time. The suspension is height adjustable and each damper has 9 damping adjustments.
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The ride is quite firm but the stability you gain, especially at higher speeds, is well worth it.
Nice Jon, this reads as a wish list for any B5 Rs4 owner!
Dec 2010
Cat-back Supersprint exhaust from Italy. A bit $$$!
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35548107040_0889bc5042_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WagkKf)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4286/35766412382_ebce46e69f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Wuydjs)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/35766399992_88aa0f4e4e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Wuy9CQ)
Jan 2011
Purchased a RaceDiagnostics Liquid Multi-Gauge. It offers great peace of mind being able to monitor various engine parameters, such as requested and actual boost pressure. I use it every time I drive the car. It is no longer available for purchase - it appears the company no longer exists.
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After I got it installed I did a little review:
https://youtu.be/y3KC8jUIO68 (https://youtu.be/y3KC8jUIO68)
Mar 2016
Just maintenance and occasional driving since then, not daily these days.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4232/35929866865_59612c003e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WJZXDc)
Found a concours pic from 2014
(https://www.vask.org.nz/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi53.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg75%2FAshvw%2FConcours%25202014%2FDSC_9849.jpg&hash=179256c6f0bbac2eeea7cf3091ca679d89c89954) (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/Ashvw/media/Concours%202014/DSC_9849.jpg.html)
Somewhat envious, sure i have seen this around in AKL many times. Nice work.
Thanks, it's been very much a work in progress. As you can see, the changes were made incrementally and over quite a long period of time. I like to ponder things a bit and have the money in the bank before I spend it. I certainly made mistakes along the way but you learn from those and TBH it won't be to everyones liking either way. Like many of us car people I tend to look after my cars better than myself!
Nice post/thread! I think I have followed you a few times over the bridge!
Been keen to hear a bit more on your experiences/thoughts/opinions on the remaps vs standard.
Overall I am quite happy with standard. I did take a chipped one for a drive when looking to buy and it was a bit all or nothing which I did not like much.
thanks for the thread....
My first remap was like that - full boost at 50% throttle. Bit silly. The one I have now is progressive. With my car it's a bit hard to do an apples with apples comparison because the lighter flywheel I have changes the way the car picks up too.
But seriously I reckon there are more bad remap files out there than good ones so if you are happy with standard I would stick with that. Rich who mapped my car seems to have been snowed under for a couple of years now. Was doing lots of work it Europe but haven't heard much about him for a while.
Feb 2018. New shoes: RS5 10-spokes (19x9ET24)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4670/39340149184_6dbdc50337_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22WmxLd)
(https://flic.kr/p/22WmxLd)
That looks fantastic! OEM+ done right.
Nice, have been running the same wheels on my RS4 for 2 years now, they really bring the car up to date
Quote from: Filx on February 03, 2018, 04:06:55 PM
That looks fantastic! OEM+ done right.
Thanks mate!
Quote from: tandy on February 03, 2018, 04:43:08 PM
Nice, have been running the same wheels on my RS4 for 2 years now, they really bring the car up to date
Oh cool. Are you running 255s or something wider? I went with 255s (Dunlop sportMaxx RT2) and have about 10mm clearance to the rear arm. Probably could have gotten away with 265s but some tyre brands are wider than others so it's a gamble.
That looks ace. Very tidy.
Quote from: le mans on February 04, 2018, 11:01:02 AM
Oh cool. Are you running 255s or something wider? I went with 255s (Dunlop sportMaxx RT) and have about 10mm clearance to the rear arm. Probably could have gotten away with 265s but some tyre brands are wider than others so it's a gamble.
265/30 with about 8mm clearance to the rear arm
Quote from: tandy on February 04, 2018, 06:01:49 PM
265/30 with about 8mm clearance to the rear arm
Good to know, cheers. I'm running 255/30.
Quote from: le mans on February 03, 2018, 03:43:27 PM
Feb 2018. New shoes: RS5 10-spokes (19x9ET24)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4670/39340149184_6dbdc50337_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22WmxLd)
(https://flic.kr/p/22WmxLd)
:-* :-* :-*
She had her 20th birthday on 3 Jan 8)
Beautiful car and such a nice list of modifications
A true classic !
Best looking RS4 imho
;)
Thanks guys :)
Latest little update. New door card trims (the alloy is prone to getting dings from seatbelt buckles). I could only source 3/4 but not a bad effort. The RS4 trim was actually in pretty good nick, but these are going in the RS4 and as my A4 Le Mans has the exact same trim the old RS4 trim has been moved to the A4. Removing the trim requires the door cards to be removed so that the trim clips can be released from the back (5 on each front door, 4 on each rear door). It?s a bit finicky but after doing 5 doors I was getting the hang of it! There is a ?how to? on Audizine, however just a caution that you will also need to release the Bowden cable off the door latch to get to all of the clips. I also referred to the factory assembly manual.
(https://i.imgur.com/7ScYaLh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BAp2Z4O.jpg)
You can see the Bowden cable here:
(https://i.imgur.com/MZULT7n.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NURfxd9.jpg)
Install complete on left rear door:
(https://i.imgur.com/9fUKCmr.jpg)
Drivers door:
(https://i.imgur.com/nBFI9Y5.jpg)
You were not tempted to go carbon fiber ?
Have always been tempted by CF but RHD CF trim is like rocking horse poo these days. Audi Tradition don?t seem to have it (or any RHD trim for that matter). The CF trim they do have is $$$. Could possibly source used from UK but a fair bit of risk involved. Fortunately I can get my CF fix in the RS2.
(https://i.imgur.com/75RRHeY.jpg)
good to know that the carbon fibre trim is worth something
20+ year old PPF on driver?s side door sill had seen much better days - cracked and yelowed. I?ve been removing it in stages over the past few weeks. Finally got on with it today and finished the job. I used a steam gun and plastic scraper to get the PPF off. For the glue I used Glitz goo and stain remover. Not very fun to do but satisfying none the less.
During:
(https://i.imgur.com/wsPBdh3.jpg)
After:
(https://i.imgur.com/4kS0goi.jpg)
Beautiful car you have there sir, well taken care of. 8)
Thanks :) It?s nice that it looks and goes so well as it gets older, unlike myself!
Lovely car mate! Not far away from 20 years of ownership
Thanks, 16 years this year, so definitely had it a while now.
I popped the factory wheels back on today. They had a refurb a year or so back.
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Looks very smart
So nice! Its like automotive art.
Leather TLC....
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Monday drive...
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