What's in the workshop this weekend? . . . General VOD

[RICKY D]

I just have completely missed the update on that thread. I rember there was done work going in but never knew it was finished.

Ok, so that’s 1 of them. The 2nd I know of is the gentleman on here with a green D2 (apologies his username escapes me), and the 3rd one is a guy up in Birmingham who I found on Instagram who used to work for the Spyker racing team who converted his one a few years back.

So will that be 4 very soon then?

One might say they’re getting common now

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by RICKY D

and the 3rd one is a guy up in Birmingham who I found on Instagram who used to work for the Spyker racing team who converted his one a few years back.

Interesting - I never knew there was another. Any pics of the conversion?

[RICKY D]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Interesting - I never knew there was another. Any pics of the conversion?

None unfortunately. He’s not huge into social media or forums, but uses Instagram from time to time.

To be honest when he first told me he had a manual S8 and he was in the UK I didn’t believe him. But then I saw a few videos of it driving and the engine tone on gear changes sounded nothing like the ZF equipped cars and that’s when I thought “ok, this guy is the real deal”.

He did the conversion about 4 years ago apparently using a LHD Audi S6 from continental Europe as the donor car. I’m not sure how much fabrication had to go into. We keep saying we want to meet up but we’ve been in lockdown for a while now. Once the weather warms up and the restrictions lift I might take a trip up to see him and try and get some pictures.

[MikkiJayne]

No progress on Vod yesterday because we can't get the Bilstein suspension kit. There are none in the UK, and Bilstein head office doesn't appear to be interested in getting any here (like many German companies I used to deal with, the UK has ceased to exist, #toohard). Even if they were, there would be weeks of them stuck in customs, and the import duty would make the kit >£1000

Instead I spent the evening measuring springs to see if I had anything which would work as an upgrade on mostly stock components, but in the end we decided to put the stock springs and dampers back on with S8 ARBs and see what that does. Longer term I'll keep an eye out for some stock 3.7 sport suspension and fit that at another time.

So, all the stuff I took off can go back on tonight.

[RICKY D]

I noticed there were a few B12 kits showing up in Poland that are offering free shipping to the uk on EBay the other day.

They were around the £800 mark but I’m not sure what the lead times would be to get here.

[MikkiJayne]

I will have a look thanks. They may be legacy listings from the before-time though. The last thing I bought from Poland had to come via Dean as they also wouldn't ship to the UK.

Edit - nothing now Just some kits from Germany for £950, and Larkspeed's listing is still active even though they can't get it.

[RICKY D]

True. I’ve yet to try and buy anything from EBay outside of the UK since the brexit saga.

A lot of companies will have rolling adverts until the product sells so that could be from yonks ago like you say.

[27litres]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

No progress on Vod yesterday because we can't get the Bilstein suspension kit. There are none in the UK, and Bilstein head office doesn't appear to be interested in getting any here (like many German companies I used to deal with, the UK has ceased to exist, #toohard).

I took a look at FCPEuro and ECS tuning after reading the problems with this.
FCP have it on pandemic back order with no estimated date, but ECS are showing an estimated availability date of March 31st...
Price with shipping £825:
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-D2_A8...Kits/Checkout/

Similar price from FCP, but no freight quote, as I can't add it to the cart:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/aud...ttro-46-193834

[MikkiJayne]

Spent this morning on the exhaust - the modifications to it have been tig welded





This is the 2x90mm version (same as Vera's) which needs the bumper cutting, whereas my S8 has the 2x70 which doesn't need any modifications



There's about 4 hours work to get to this point The hangers were miles off so needed considerable modification in order to get it to sit straight



Looks good though, and sounds lovely



The missing rear caliper arrived at 14:30 and by 15:30 the brakes were finished off and bled, so on to the front pad wear sensor connectors. Start by cutting off the old connector



New boot on as the new connector is much smaller



Terminals crimped on



Assembled



Since we're aiming to improve the handling, the D2 tie rod ends (top) with rubber insers were replaced with RS4 solid versions. This job is usually a day's work on most D2s, spent dealing with seized bolts and then having to replace the inner tie rod as the inner and outers are stuck together. Ten minutes a side on General Vod



The dehumidifier has taken 2.5 litres out of the interior this week so I think the drains might be clogged, so thats the next job tomorrow morning, then road test

[ainarssems]

Since we're aiming to improve the handling, the D2 tie rod ends (top) with rubber insers were replaced with RS4 solid versions. This job is usually a day's work on most D2s, spent dealing with seized bolts and then having to replace the inner tie rod as the inner and outers are stuck together. Ten minutes a side on General Vod

My D2 never needed new TREs but on A6 when I replaced bushed to solid aftermarket versions they were introducing a lot more noise and knocks especially going over potholes or uneven surface while turning so they where switched to OEM ones with rubber bush and felt a lot better without changing anything else. I did not notice any difference in handling but A6 is running 17" summer and 16" winter so with a high sidewall there is more give in tyre anyway which softens handling so a bush in TRE may not have the same difference as running 20".

This reminds me I have a spare pair of old unused stock OEM TREs, not sure I will need them for A6 before it's retired so they may be up for sale.