D2 was rear ended at car wash. what's next?

[MikkiJayne]

Highly likely the mirror glass was swapped for standard since the auto-dimming glass is NLA.

If yours has good auto glass then we can swap it back.

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by notorious

>> this has been painted at some point:

Sh*t, really? 35000 miles car...

Yeah that's not factory orange peel. Compare the finish on the panels to the plastic rubbing strips or the roof. I'd need to see it in person to be 100% sure, but I'm 99.99% from that pic. Likely it had a scrape down the driver's side at some point. It might be possible to wet-sand it flat and re-polish, but that would be entirely dependent on paint depth.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Highly likely the mirror glass was swapped for standard since the auto-dimming glass is NLA.

Idiots. Still lots on eBay.

[MikkiJayne]

Doesn't matter if we're going to swap all your good stuff on to it

[Spanker]

Just for information, this is about the third time that I've seen this car for sale in the last year or so. I guess the high price has prevented a sale until now.
Not that that means anything of course but I thought I'd just mention it. It may help in forming a decision on the car or even debating prices if it is of interest to you.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Spanker

Just for information, this is about the third time that I've seen this car for sale in the last year or so. I guess the high price has prevented a sale until now.
Not that that means anything of course but I thought I'd just mention it. It may help in forming a decision on the car or even debating prices if it is of interest to you.

Cheers Spanker. That's great to know!
No rush from my side until it's clear with insurance situation.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Yeah that's not factory orange peel. Compare the finish on the panels to the plastic rubbing strips or the roof. I'd need to see it in person to be 100% sure, but I'm 99.99% from that pic.

Mikki, would please you take a look at eBay advert one more time https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223514465998

In description section there's many outdoor pictures of the car.
I wonder if you can detect the difference in orange peel on driver's door on those pictures.

[Adrian E]

I have a feeling, but can't recall where I've heard this, that you could spec a self-dimming interior mirror with or without self-dimming exteriors. It is certainly the case on our S5 where dimming exteriors were part of a package of options.

You're unlikely to ever find a 3.7 (or any D2 for that matter) that's so mint that nothing is required to correct past activity to 'maintain' it, but to find one with genuine low mileage, half-decent spec and that appears to have been regularly (if not particularly frequently) serviced is going to be such a small pool of possibilities.....

If some minor paintwork on the doors is all that's wrong with it, it wouldn't put me off.

Presume your bi-xenons survived OK Sergey, so can be retro-fitted?

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by notorious

Mikki, would please you take a look at eBay advert one more time https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223514465998

In description section there's many outdoor pictures of the car.
I wonder if you can detect the difference in orange peel on driver's door on those pictures.

You can see it again here:



compared to the clarity of the reflections on this side:



As Adrian says though, chances of finding a D2 with immaculate factory paint these days are approaching zero. All of mine have been painted somewhere, as have pretty much all of the ones I've worked on. I think the only exception may be Neil's 3.7, but I haven't been looking for paintwork so I can't be sure.

It looks from the pictures that this black one has had its driver's door painted and been blended in to the wing and passenger door, but I'd have to see it in person to be 100%. The colour match looks fine in the photos so if there is enough paint depth then the orange peel can definitely be improved I agree with Adrian that if the rest of the car is right, that paintwork wouldn't put me off.

[notorious]

Hi Adrian, -- thanks for this. Very interesting.

Yes, bi-xenons survived.

Can I ask you if you ever plan returning to the world of D2 back again?
Or are you not 'looking back' any more...?
Apologies if the question is too personal, but I'm very interested to have a point of view of those who left these cars for new Audi models.

Here's what I'm thinking about scenario with this D2 car:
1. Two cars (This new car and and my 'write off' car for parts) will completely occupy my double garage for the whole period of ownership. Key parts are discontinued!!
2. That car is yes, in great condition (subject to proper viewing), with non-milky surround trims around windows, which I simply can’t allow to be used in winter months conditions on British salty roads.
3. In this scenario I need just another ‘winter beater’. A 3rd car

Should I simply get myself, say 2017 A6 with ACC or slightly used Porsche Cayenne for example? In 'black edition' with no aluminium external trim to worry about in winters... Good family Grand Tourer that will be easy to sell without much heartache?

I'm too attached to D2 and maybe need to visit some Buddha therapist to explain me that material things are not as important in life.

My wife has got 2017 A3 with ACC (there was a post here about it) and car drives tip top and we love it, but we will equally sell it with no problems since there is not as much soul in it.

If you know what I mean...