Rookie wrencher replaces the front pads and rotors using only 1.5 hands, well, sort of
To bring you the latest write-up we answered the call of a damsel in distress. Yes, we just did the brakes on the allroad about a month ago and yes, we should have taken pics then, but we were too tired and had too much stuff going on at the time. So, when a female forum member put out an SOS about her A4′s brake wear indicator, we felt obligated to help her out and finally get this write-up done for you folks. The catch — I recently got my hand caught in an attic fan and have two broken, splinted and stitched fingers on my right (yes I’m a righty) hand. Hmmm, this should be interesting…
Oil analysis reveals that my eight year old motor with 64,000 miles is in perfect operating condition! Oil analysis is a fantastic, inexpensive tool and well worth the $25 to alert you to any underlying issues before they become catastrophic. It also underscores the importance of changing your oil frequently to prolong the motor’s life and increase reliability.
Check out the actual report I received from Blackstone Laboratories:
To learn more about it, check out these two links:
Thou Shall Not Fear the Pinch Bolt
So your allroad has the dreaded death knell and is bowing to the air spring gods. No need to worry, as this is one of the easiest DIY’s to do on this car. And if you’ve done any suspension work at all, I assure you this repair is 10 times easier.
To celebrate the Memorial Day weekend, the Tri-State Chapter of the QuattroWorld.com Audi forum gathered for their second annual BBQ. People showed up from all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania with their families to enjoy some good times and good food on a nice Saturday afternoon. We tagged along to dine on the delicious food and catch up with each other.
Why a $60 piece of polyurethane is so important
Untie your shoes and loosen them up a bit. Ahhh, that’s a bit more comfortable now, isn’t it? Ok, good. Now try sprinting to the other side of the room. How’d that go? I’m guessing you eventually got going, but maybe we should snug up those laces and try this little exercise again. I’ll bet you got going much more quickly this time.
Engine mounts, transmission mounts and the snub mount are much like your sneakers. Untied they are comfy, but when it comes to getting up and going, it’s best to have them on nice and snug. OEM mounts are designed for comfort, soft and spongy. Yes, they keep the motor in the engine bay, but still allow plenty of power train movement so you and your passengers don’t feel the vibrations of the motor. The trade off of course is that it detracts from throttle response. This is why Drive Train Stabilizer (DTS) bars and engine mounts are often upgraded. However, the snub mount is often overlooked.
So easy, a 4-year-old can do it!
$120 for a oil change? You have to be kidding me, especially if you do it every 5,000 miles with synthetic oil. Now, I know Audi says you can go 10,000 miles, but that dates back to the time when Audi had to pay for maintenance, and most agree synthetic oil is on its last legs after 5,000 miles, especially in a twin turbo motor. For about 50% cheaper and 30 minutes, you can change your oil by yourself, or train your kid to do for a box of animal crackers.
Nothing lasts forever…
As the C5 platform ages, the Tiptronic transmissions can become troublesome. Audi claims the transmission is filled with “lifetime” fluid and does not recommend service of any type. That being said, the term “lifetime” is subjective and it’s naive to think that the fluid can maintain its lubrication properties indefinitely. If you have over 60,000 miles on your car, you may want to consider doing this service. Additionally, if you are experiencing hard shifts or hesitation, you should also consider this service. This can be done solo, but there are several steps where an extra set of hands will come in handy.
Unleash the hidden power and make your presence known
We just finished installing the STaSIS exhaust and 034Motorsport high-flow catalytic converter in our A4 B7 2.0T Manual Avant and are VERY pleased with the results. In fact, we strongly believe this exhaust/HFC combo is the best one currently available for the Audi A4 B7 2.0T cars. It produces a deep (not obnoxious) tone and the quality on both pieces is second to none. Additionally, the we are happy to report strong gains across the entire power band. The car already had the STaSIS ECU upgrade and installing this combo felt like the car got chipped again. Here is the quick and dirty DIY with photos. It’s totally doable as a DIY but you have to be brave 
Enjoy!
Need to hook up an iPod to your Audi?
I’ll be the first to admit: Car stereo is way out of my league. Yes, I can install a new headunit (or in my case, my RNS-E navigation system), but when it comes to adding auxiliary cables or Bluetooth kits, I’m lost. Thankfully, Enfig Car Stereo, a company in New Jersey, has put together a truly amazing guide listing all iPod solutions for your A3, A4, A6, A8, R8, as well as many other Audi and Volkswagen models. Check out all the information and installation videos on their blog.
Why Choosing Correct Oil Is Important
Audi’s engines tend to defy the conventional logic: small displacement but big potential for power; temperamental yet reliable. While many of us are accustomed to the general care and maintenance “rules” that were based off of 1950′s Oldsmobile’s and Chevy’s, maintenance on your Audi is much different. Perhaps the issue that new Audi owners struggle with the most is the concept of an oil change. Most likely, your parents or grandparents always advocated for performing an oil change every 3000 miles or 3 months with conventional motor oil, which was cheap and effective. While this has worked for many for decades, most modern auto manufacturers are building engines with higher tolerances and more performance, and are using synthetic motor oil to help extend oil change intervals. While the Audi manuals and dealerships seem to suggest that an oil change every 10,000 miles is ok, many enthusiasts feel that it is not. In this article, we’ll go through some of the basics about oil and why certain oil is correct for your car.
A4YOU on 
Jim Capp on