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D2 - Body and Exterior Bumpers, bonnets, glass, trims - Everything outside

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  #11  
Old 20th March 2022, 12:30 PM
sarg sarg is offline
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The first thing I am looking at paint correction and wet sanding, but if that does not bring the paintwork up to my satisfaction, then it will be repainted.

3:30am posts - I'm just a night owl, nothing more to it

I don't agree at all that a top quality repaint will devalue the car, not that it makes any difference as I've no intention of selling. I will also look into wrapping, if necessary, but in my opinion that would devalue the car as you just don't know what then lurks beneath.

I assume nobody has a problem if the respray is OEM colour? Would it be sacrilege if I had a little more metallic fleck added?

I am also going to investigate whether or not the aluminium trims can be recreated, or refurbished somehow.

The gearbox rebuild was a while back now, 10/2016 at 115437 miles, so the warranty has expired. Mackies serviced it 10/2017 and 10/2018 (following a leak 08/2018 which needed recovery to a local transmission specialist and sump gasket replacement). No invoices for gearbox since, hence booking made at Mackies for June 2022.

Front & rear shocks, brakes, all front arms and bushes were done 03/2015

Biggest mechanical concern at the moment is the steering rack, as I still feel there's something not quite right, like a grinding feedback through the wheel sometimes, but if that is needed, that will get replaced too. PAS pipes (some at least) were replaced 04/2016, PAS pump was replaced 02/2018

Timing belt was 09/2016 at 115,118 miles (now at 136k) but maybe worth having this done again as it'll be 6 years this year, thoughts? I've just found anotehr invoice for a timing belt replacement 11/2017 at 119k - why would Mark have had this done again a 2nd time so soon?

Rear subframe and bushes was done 12/2018

The bonnet respray was done 08/2019, by the same garage Mark was using for maintenance, which might explain the poor quality paintwork

Front suspension arms & tracking 02/2019

Front brakes done again 11/2019 along with nsr caliper and paint all calipers

For clarity, the budget for the rest of the car's need is not impacted at all by anything I spend on sorting out the metalwork. I'd been saving for a 2nd weekend toy and have, probably, decided instead to use that money towards bringing this car up to close to 'concours' standard

Which will include some interior alterations too, sorry purists
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  #12  
Old 20th March 2022, 05:23 PM
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I'm smitten with Michaela's red - black interior combo. Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do and whatever you go with I'm sure it will turn out well and add to your enjoyment of the car.
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  #13  
Old 23rd March 2022, 03:49 PM
strummagnet strummagnet is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sarg View Post
The first thing I am looking at paint correction and wet sanding, but if that does not bring the paintwork up to my satisfaction, then it will be repainted.
Paint correction / wet sanding would be a first best bet to get the car to an acceptable standard. The transformation of the paintwork on the Barn Find MJ is currently working on looks to be stunning. Then throw the money at mechanicals and other interior toys you feel you need.

https://fiftyfivedetails.com/wet-sanding

Looking at the FE's that some of the chaps on the forum have they all had some modification, albeit mainly subtle internal enhancements. I would agree with MJ as there are specific items to the FE which make it an FE (Paint, Interior Colours/trim adaption, Alloys) but if you are going to keep and never sell, then that consideration is for you and you alone. If you do change the paintwork and maybe want to sell in the future you could state "used to be FE spec, but now enhanced" and see how that goes

Just remember the membership to the FE club may be revoked!

A good while back I had a 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 in signal green that I planned to change the colour as I hated it. I am glad I was talked out of it when selling though! Had to be original paint, original wheels, original engine all the way. I put a 5 speed box in from a Capri 280 and had to change it back to the std 4 speed to get what was then 'top dollar' for it!

I thought there was only one black for an FE? Ebony black?

I believe there is a record of FE's in the UK indicating specification and their current status. I wonder if the record also notes the enhancements made?

Then again, what do I know!
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Last edited by strummagnet; 23rd March 2022 at 03:55 PM.
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  #14  
Old 23rd March 2022, 04:04 PM
MikkiJayne MikkiJayne is offline
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I thought there was only one black for an FE? Ebony black?
Officially there is. Stephen's is a unicorn as far as I know.
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  #15  
Old 23rd March 2022, 04:20 PM
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Adrian E Adrian E is offline
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Neil has very comprehensive details of all identified FEs including current whereabouts in most cases.

'Mine' was probably the most modded in an 'OEM+' way, as it came to me with RNS-E and Audi bluetooth already fitted, along with the Milltek exhaust. I subsequently upgraded the TV reception to digital, added the radio clock module, changed the marked purple painted door trims for 'wood' that vaguely matches the centre console (although I never did manage to track down a matching lower handle trim for the driver's door)

I never received the original nav etc parts, but anything I did myself I kept all the original bits (carefully wrapped) and passed them to the new owner. Along with a complete kit for a solar sunroof retrofit that I never got around to doing. So basically a lot of it could be undone for a purist, if they wanted.

I was never at any point aware of just how rare FEs are, but in my case the OEM+ bits were part of the appeal when I saw the car so it never put me off and clearly the chap who bought it was similarly happy with the changes.
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  #16  
Old 24th March 2022, 12:19 AM
sarg sarg is offline
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I went to see my paint man yesterday and talked through the difficulties with unobtainable trims and clips, he was having similar issues with a similar aged RS4 in his workshop.

He wants to try the correction route first, is not keen on repainting at all, reckoned it would be 300 hours or so, which would amount to about £15k, not £10k. That is still a possibility but not until we've tried correction first and collected enough parts to replace. At this stage, if we do repaint, it'll be in the OEM black plus a little more metallic fleck mixed in as I what it to 'pop' a bit more.

I asked him about getting the aluminium trims remanufactured. It was a maybe, but it'd need to be at least 20 sets, which I said probably wouldn't be a problem, there'd be plenty of buyers for them from here But I suspect MJ is already investigating this. He did not think he could do anything do improve them with a polisher, indeed that it might make them worse - he doesn't want to touch the mirror caps either.

He will sort out a couple of marks and dings while it is with him.

He does a lot of work on Porsches, said he has no issues at all obtaining parts for them and suggested I should use the budget towards a 911 purchase

I'm also going to get the alloys refinished in the OEM colour. They are in perfect shape, just the wrong colour (and I'm not fond of it). They will be going to same place that did a fabulous job with my M4 wheels a year or two back, really really good re-diamond cut. I've mentioned that nobody has yet managed to reproduce the OEM finish exactly, he accepted the challenge.

MJ - I think you have been doing some research on FE wheel colour, are you able to share any of it?

Oh, the flipping diaphragm starting honking again, so will get a new one ordered
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Last edited by sarg; 24th March 2022 at 12:27 AM.
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  #17  
Old 24th March 2022, 08:42 AM
MikkiJayne MikkiJayne is offline
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If the aluminium trim is still smooth and shiny then it can usually be brought back to 80% with some heavy cut compound and a microfibre or wool pad, and then refined to 85-90% with your metal polish of choice. It takes a bunch of passes, and something like an iBrid Nano, or the Sealey mini polisher is perfect. Treating with wax further enhances the shine as it fills in the pores in the anodising, but obviously that needs more maintenance than ceramic. I haven't tried ceramic coating the trim yet - thats on my list, ideally before the barnfind goes in for coating.

If the trim is matt and rough to the touch it won't recover and needs replacing. In those cases, send them to me so I can blast and powdercoat them gloss black

It turns out quite a lot of the trim is still available on Tradition, although not quite all of it. I haven't checked prices though.

The same applies to the mirrors by the way - you can go hard on them with any kind of compound you like. Just don't go near them with any kind of sandpaper as that will permanently change the finish and won't be recoverable. The mirror base which attaches to the door responds well to plastic polish and sealant.

Re the wheels, your wheel guy will regret accepting that challenge about halfway through the first wheel The factory finish is painted barrels and inner spokes, raw blasted details between the spokes, and a semi-polish on the front face (*not diamond cut). It must have been a crazy complicated process, and the only way we can think of to replicate it is to 3d print some inserts to go between the spokes to mask off the sandblasted detail while painting the barrels, then machine polish the front of the spokes, then lacquer the whole thing. We think the factory must have had some sort of moulded insert to fillin the spokes, hence printing new versions, because masking all that detail by hand is practically impossible. Even with moulded inserts its going to be quite a labour-intensive process.

One thing to be aware of is that many of these wheels have been diamond cut several times and now don't have enough metal left to do it again without losing the detail. Add the damage from any corrosion and it may not even be possible to recover them to original since the base wheel isn't up to it. Problem is, you won't find that until you strip them. I have a few in that state.

The original colour is Avus Silver Z17 - not available in powdercoat, so I generally have wheels wet painted in Avus and then powder lacquer. On an FE wheel that actually doesn't matter since its only the edges of the spokes and the inners which are painted, so any fairly flat silver will do. You'll never be able to tell if its not quite Avus.
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  #18  
Old 5th April 2022, 11:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikkiJayne View Post
There were two blacks used on the FE - Ebony Black Pearl which is what yours is I think, and then a solid black (Brilliant Black?) which is what Stephen's is.
I totally missed this...Very curious.. .. Out of interest, how do know Stephens is Brilliant black ? Audi confirmed, or is it actually on the build sticker for once ?
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The Daily Town Car - 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance. Black with Black. Giant ipad screen, huge sunroof, 4 wheel drive, Tow bar, lots of ooomph and made in China, so actually built properly unlike the Californian ones.

The Family Wagon - 2018 Tesla Model X. Black, 7 Seats, Towbar, Homelink, Enhanced Auto pilot with Summon and self park, Heated front seats, CCS Charger upgrade, MCU2 Upgrade, Falconwing Doors, Self opening / closing doors, Netflix, Spotify, toys, Air suspension, alcantara roof + lots of other stuff......

The 17 year old Driver Wagon 2015 Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo. Alloys, Power steering, Aircon, Leccy windows, Sat Nav, bluetooth, central locking, cup holders, 59 whole bhp. Million times better than my first car. Well jealous.....

The First 20 Audis:

2001 D2 4.2 QS Silver, 1997 D2 S8 Silver, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2002 D2 S8 Dolphin Grey,
2003 C5 RS6 Blue, 1998 D2 S8 Black, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue, 2003 D3 4.2 Ming Blue,
2005 B7 S4 Blue, 2006 D3 3.0 Tdi Black, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2003 D3 4.2 LPG Crystal Blue,
2000 D2 S8 Silver, 2007 3.0 Tdi Q7 Black, 2009 B8 S4 Black, 1998 D2 S8 Agate Grey,
2006 D3 4.2 Tdi Blue, 2006 D3 S8, 2007 Q7 3.0 Tdi, 2006 C6 S6,

The Second 20 Audis:

2011 A7 Sline, 2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2002 A2 1.4 Tdi Silver, 2006 A8 4.2 Tdi Blue,
2007 4.2 Tdi Q7, 2006 S4 Cab Silver, 2010 RS6 Saloon Black , 2007 TT Roadster,
2010 A8 D4 4.2 Silver, 2006 C6 A6 2.7 Tdi Quattro, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue (again), 2008 Q7 4.2 Black,
2009 C6 RS6 Saloon Daytona Grey, 2001 Fully Loaded A2 Tdi, 2006 Avant S6 Black, 2007 VW Caravelle Exec Black (almost an Audi)
2009 TT Roadster Daytona, 2015 Q7 4.2 tdi lava grey, 2002 GmbH D2 demonstrator, 2006 D3 A8 LWB 4.2 Tdi Black

Most Recent Audis:

2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2007 4.2 FSi Q7 ABT Blue, 2016 S5 Coupe Launch model, 2004 S4 B6 Cabriolet, 2016 Q7 Sline White, 2006 Q7 4.2 FSi Black, 2012 Q7 Sline+ 4.2Tdi White, 2008 Blue Audi S8

Everything Else

1989 Subaru Justy, 1986 Vauxhall Cartlton 2.0 GL, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton 2.2 CDi, 1987 Ford Sierra XR4x4, 1983 Vauxhall Senator, 1985 Vauxhall Senator 3.0i, 1997 Polo Saloon, 1997 Peugeot 306 1.9 TDi, Ford Sierra Sapphire 2000E, 1990 Subaru Justy, 2000 Subaru Impreza, 2000 Subaru Impreza RB5, 1993 Range Rover LSE, 2005 VW Bora, 2003 Skoda Superb, 2003 VW Passat V6 4 Motion, 1996 Peugeot 106, 2000 Range Rover 4.0, 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance
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  #19  
Old 5th April 2022, 11:48 AM
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oh.

p.s. I agree on leaving the paint original colour, and preferably original too
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For parts enquiries and Forum User Administration please contact customer services directly, not me - enquiry@a8parts.co.uk, www.a8parts.co.uk, or call 01642 783537

The Daily Town Car - 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance. Black with Black. Giant ipad screen, huge sunroof, 4 wheel drive, Tow bar, lots of ooomph and made in China, so actually built properly unlike the Californian ones.

The Family Wagon - 2018 Tesla Model X. Black, 7 Seats, Towbar, Homelink, Enhanced Auto pilot with Summon and self park, Heated front seats, CCS Charger upgrade, MCU2 Upgrade, Falconwing Doors, Self opening / closing doors, Netflix, Spotify, toys, Air suspension, alcantara roof + lots of other stuff......

The 17 year old Driver Wagon 2015 Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo. Alloys, Power steering, Aircon, Leccy windows, Sat Nav, bluetooth, central locking, cup holders, 59 whole bhp. Million times better than my first car. Well jealous.....

The First 20 Audis:

2001 D2 4.2 QS Silver, 1997 D2 S8 Silver, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2002 D2 S8 Dolphin Grey,
2003 C5 RS6 Blue, 1998 D2 S8 Black, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue, 2003 D3 4.2 Ming Blue,
2005 B7 S4 Blue, 2006 D3 3.0 Tdi Black, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2003 D3 4.2 LPG Crystal Blue,
2000 D2 S8 Silver, 2007 3.0 Tdi Q7 Black, 2009 B8 S4 Black, 1998 D2 S8 Agate Grey,
2006 D3 4.2 Tdi Blue, 2006 D3 S8, 2007 Q7 3.0 Tdi, 2006 C6 S6,

The Second 20 Audis:

2011 A7 Sline, 2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2002 A2 1.4 Tdi Silver, 2006 A8 4.2 Tdi Blue,
2007 4.2 Tdi Q7, 2006 S4 Cab Silver, 2010 RS6 Saloon Black , 2007 TT Roadster,
2010 A8 D4 4.2 Silver, 2006 C6 A6 2.7 Tdi Quattro, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue (again), 2008 Q7 4.2 Black,
2009 C6 RS6 Saloon Daytona Grey, 2001 Fully Loaded A2 Tdi, 2006 Avant S6 Black, 2007 VW Caravelle Exec Black (almost an Audi)
2009 TT Roadster Daytona, 2015 Q7 4.2 tdi lava grey, 2002 GmbH D2 demonstrator, 2006 D3 A8 LWB 4.2 Tdi Black

Most Recent Audis:

2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2007 4.2 FSi Q7 ABT Blue, 2016 S5 Coupe Launch model, 2004 S4 B6 Cabriolet, 2016 Q7 Sline White, 2006 Q7 4.2 FSi Black, 2012 Q7 Sline+ 4.2Tdi White, 2008 Blue Audi S8

Everything Else

1989 Subaru Justy, 1986 Vauxhall Cartlton 2.0 GL, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton 2.2 CDi, 1987 Ford Sierra XR4x4, 1983 Vauxhall Senator, 1985 Vauxhall Senator 3.0i, 1997 Polo Saloon, 1997 Peugeot 306 1.9 TDi, Ford Sierra Sapphire 2000E, 1990 Subaru Justy, 2000 Subaru Impreza, 2000 Subaru Impreza RB5, 1993 Range Rover LSE, 2005 VW Bora, 2003 Skoda Superb, 2003 VW Passat V6 4 Motion, 1996 Peugeot 106, 2000 Range Rover 4.0, 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance
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  #20  
Old 5th April 2022, 12:34 PM
MikkiJayne MikkiJayne is offline
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I totally missed this...Very curious.. .. Out of interest, how do know Stephens is Brilliant black ? Audi confirmed, or is it actually on the build sticker for once ?
Confirmed by TPS after an enquiry to the factory. I spotted it when I had Jim's & Stephen's next to each other at the workshop, and then had to look it up.

Subsequently when Neil was doing the research in to all the known FEs we realised that Stephen's is in fact the only known example in Brilliant Black, with all the others Ebony Pearl.
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