by "Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
Published 01/24/2017 at 10:33
by "Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
Published 01/24/2017 at 10:33
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STARS: 8
Gave it a nice wash after sitting in its own filth and dust for months. Cleans up pretty nice, doesn’t it? Still some things to sort out functionally and cosmetically, so for now it’s being relegated to DD/mall crawler status until I sort out the tire rub situation and some skid plates.
Need to buff out those horribly sandblasted headlights, replace some worn interior trim, fix the ridiculous turn signal noise (ordered a new turn stalk and hazard light switch/relay), and I think I might need a new power steering pump.
Also, the previous owner said he had done the 402 air suspension mod (a readjustment to the leveling software in VCDS), but from what I’m reading it doesn’t seem like he did, since the front seems to sit a bit lower than the rear with the IPP sensor arms. I’ll have to play around with that a bit, but a legit VCDS is kind of expensive. I’ve got a friend with one that will let me borrow it, but that’s not a long term solution.
The good news is that the engine is running awesome, the transmission shifts beautifully (linkage might need a little adjustment for reverse), and it’s not throwing any unexpected codes.
You know what my lady said when she first rode in it this weekend?
“Wow, I’m surprised it works...”
Thanks for the confidence, babe...
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
01/24/2017 at 10:39, STARS: 4
Sir, you are an inspiration to B5/C5 AWD wagon drivers everywhere. Mind if I ask how you got the camber/alignment to work with so much lift? And you actually had to use the real VCDS to make that work, or just a VAG-Com (eg Ross Tech)?
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
01/24/2017 at 10:44, STARS: 0
You should run some rallycrosses with it. You would be perfectly fine to run even without a plate as I don’t think you can even bottom the chassis with it lifted like that (even if you could you are probably going to rip fenders off with the tires before you get the oil pan on the ground). Are you planning on keeping the air suspension or are you going to move over to a traditional coil setup?
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
01/24/2017 at 10:59, STARS: 2
Thor skid plate, license plate lamp mount from eBay and a couple of Hella lights would do that beast justice. Maybe later some brand of aero box. A roof cargo basket would work otherwise JMO.
"Discerning" (discerning2003c5z)
01/24/2017 at 11:02, STARS: 1
Do these have any articulation off road? Looks like it would struggle through anything more serious than a fire road. Are the tires just for muddy situations on mild trails?
"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
01/24/2017 at 11:13, STARS: 1
This is awesome. Love the lifted Allroad.
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 11:34, STARS: 0
It does need an alignment right now (its slightly off after changing the axles), but the camber stays relatively straight through all four levels of suspension, as it was designed to do, though I’m pushing those tolerances at level 4 (which it automatically goes down to level 3 over 20mph).
The VCDS is to set the expected height that the ride height sensors see. It was adjusted before, but I need to play around with it some more.
Thanks man!
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 11:37, STARS: 0
Noooo, not doing anything without a skidplate for the oil pan. It would literally be the first thing to touch down on hard suspension compression and these are known for being pretty weak. Also it goes down to suspension level 3 over 20mph (pictures are at max height level 4), and down to level 2 over 50mph.
I plan on keeping the air suspension for now to see how it does offroad. If it just isn’t viable, I’ll put in some coils and set the height as high as possible while retaining some semblance of CV travel.
Rallycross would be fucking awesome though. Maybe with smaller tires. I do still have the stock wheels...
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 11:38, STARS: 0
Picking up the Thor skidplate from a guy on Audizine.com, and yes, I definitely want to add some lights and a roof rack. Possibly a lightbar in the lower grille.
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 11:38, STARS: 0
Thanks man!
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
01/24/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 1
Look at the Bull bar brackets on ebay. I’m considering one to mount Hella 500 lamps on the A3. They are only about $25 and have a smallish push bar look to them. Nothing functional as push bar but should protect lamps well enough and are sturdy.
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 0
Yeah, I’ve seen those! I’m definitely going to check those out. They’re so cheap, why not?
Edit: I wonder what one of these would look like on my Z hahaha
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 13:29, STARS: 0
Just ordered one, haha!
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
01/24/2017 at 13:45, STARS: 0
Very Nice! When I end up ordering mine the plan is to get our work bodyshop to hit it with some more paint. Whats the plan for yours on lights ? Smallish LED bar , rounds or rectangles? Whatever, its all good.
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 14:42, STARS: 0
I think I might rock it old school (and cheap) and throw on some Hella 500s: http://www.autoanything.com/lights/65A1325A0A0.aspx
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
01/24/2017 at 14:59, STARS: 0
I already bought my 500 set , old school ones with the earlier style covers. The set I got still has a mix of German, Mexican and varied euro pieces.
Back in the 70's I had a set of 6.75" Hella euro pattern lights with a combined bowtie/spot pattern. I so wish I still had them.
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 0
Oh nice, is that old school style still available anywhere that you know of?
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
01/24/2017 at 16:18, STARS: 1
Once and a while you’ll see them om ebay. Hella started the switch over to 500FF about 4-5 yrs ago.
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0
This won’t ever be a rock crawler, but it can handle more than most would expect. Articulation isn’t brilliant, but due to the long range of travel provided by the air suspension, there are options.
The main advantage right now is ground clearance, so it will definitely handle more than just a fire road.
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
01/24/2017 at 21:29, STARS: 1
Man, that looks awesome!
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
01/24/2017 at 23:21, STARS: 0
Thanks man!