A8 Parts Forum  

Go Back   A8 Parts Forum > General Motoring > Spotless

Spotless For all your cleaning discussions....

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 3rd January 2010, 06:20 PM
Oli18's Avatar
Oli18 Oli18 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Posts: 1,066
Default Upgrading to an S8 backbox

Hi,

I've always been amazed that our (D2) cars never came with chrome exhaust tips aside from the S8 and have felt that the standard 'black' tips don't look all that exciting.

I saw that the guys at A8parts had a spare S8 exhaust that i thought i'd try and get my hands on as i really like keeping with the OEM look (Thanks Ian, Dave & Dave...it arrived super quick!)...it's been sat in my house for over a month as i haven't found the time to take a first stab at it but finally started it today...

I haven't finished it yet as it's been a bit harder to clean that i first thought but we're going in the right direction.

This is how it looked when it arrived:









As you can see...it needs a bit of TLC

I started with a basic kit of tools...



and after about 1 1/2 hrs of blood, sweet and tears I had the following (mediocre) result:







The results i'm aiming for is this:



I have now left it to soak up with some serious grime remover and have unconventionally used 'Oven Pride' which worked really well on all my kitchen wear...it's a little harsh but I think it may require another 2 hrs of scrubbing at this rate.



I'll hopefully show what the result is of it tomorrow but if anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to share them ...

-Oli
__________________


CURRENT: 2006 Audi A8 D3 4.2 Tdi QS - CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT THREAD: Audi Exclusive Azure Blue, Amaretto brown interior, facelift rear lights, S8 mirrors, B&O, ACC, Digital TV, glass sunroof, Fridge, Extended Leather Pack 2, wooden steering wheel & gearknob, keyless entry, keyless start, electric boot, softclose doors

SOLD : 2000 FL Silver D2 4.2 QS - Solar sunroof, Bose, Blinds, NavPlus, Playstation, DVD, wireless headphones, iPhone AV connection, RS6 steering wheel, chrome mirrors, phone prep, xenons, servotronic steering, Rear screen, TV-in-motion, NavPlus Alu rings, S8 exhaust, S8 bonnet grille, 385mm D3 S8 brakes, rubber winter mats, De-badged rear, US rear indicator clusters, 20" Final Edition diamond cut wheels, 15mm Eibach Pro spacers (front), 20mm H&R hubcentric spacers (rear).

Audi A8/S8 D2 Flickr Group

Last edited by Oli18; 3rd January 2010 at 06:37 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 6th January 2010, 12:52 PM
Oli18's Avatar
Oli18 Oli18 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Posts: 1,066
Default

Slowly getting there...the brilliant polish works really well!

There is still quite a bit of it on the inside area of the tips ... thinking of ordering a dremel to tackle this potentially but at least there is progress...

Testing Brilliant Polish on right tip:






Putting it in more 'oven pride ' to see if we can breakdown more of the dirt in the tips...


-Oli
__________________


CURRENT: 2006 Audi A8 D3 4.2 Tdi QS - CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT THREAD: Audi Exclusive Azure Blue, Amaretto brown interior, facelift rear lights, S8 mirrors, B&O, ACC, Digital TV, glass sunroof, Fridge, Extended Leather Pack 2, wooden steering wheel & gearknob, keyless entry, keyless start, electric boot, softclose doors

SOLD : 2000 FL Silver D2 4.2 QS - Solar sunroof, Bose, Blinds, NavPlus, Playstation, DVD, wireless headphones, iPhone AV connection, RS6 steering wheel, chrome mirrors, phone prep, xenons, servotronic steering, Rear screen, TV-in-motion, NavPlus Alu rings, S8 exhaust, S8 bonnet grille, 385mm D3 S8 brakes, rubber winter mats, De-badged rear, US rear indicator clusters, 20" Final Edition diamond cut wheels, 15mm Eibach Pro spacers (front), 20mm H&R hubcentric spacers (rear).

Audi A8/S8 D2 Flickr Group

Last edited by Oli18; 6th January 2010 at 12:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 8th January 2010, 01:53 PM
Architex_mA8tey's Avatar
Architex_mA8tey Architex_mA8tey is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London/Oxford/Swindon
Posts: 7,650
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oli18 View Post

Putting it in more 'oven pride ' to see if we can breakdown more of the dirt in the tips...

-Oli
LOL Your oven must be either spotless. . . or really bad as youve used all the oven pride on your exhaust! Excellent work Oli!
__________________

Confidence is the feeling you have before you know better . . . .
Audi A8 D2 3.7 Quattro Sport 1999 FL - Melange
2nd Place Winner - A8-Freunde Annual German Meet 2012 at Edersee
20" x 9" Bentley GTC Wheels with 385mm W12 Front Discs & Bentley Caliper Covers, Front Lowered on Coilovers, Xenons, Combined DRLs and LED Foglights to modified OEM front fog lamp position, Alcantara/Leather, Full Black Alcantara headlining + pillars and blind shelf, Bespoke Flat Bottomed Sports Steering Wheel, Dark Myrtle Wood, Autodim Mirrors, Bose, Blinds, Digital TV, Ski Hatch, Modified rear exhaust section for extra V8 Burble
Audi S8 D2 Final Edition 2002, Avus Silver with Red Leather Interior
Tiptronic with Sport mode button, Sony rear entertainment package, Bose sound system, Audi Navigation Plus, 20 inch Final Edition alloys, Full Cat Back Stainless Milltek exhaust, giving a great V8 burble
Audi A8L D2 4.2 Petrol with LPG - Ebony Black
Audi A8L D4 FL 4.0T Petrol twin turbo - Havana Black
Audi A2 1.6 FSi Sport - Dolphin Grey with Votex body kit and Red Leather Interior
and some other A8's A8L's and Mercs
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 9th January 2010, 04:50 PM
Oli18's Avatar
Oli18 Oli18 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Posts: 1,066
Default

haha...thanks Neil!

Well, as the gf wasn't around this weekend, i thought i'd persevere with this little project...

So i took some advice from the guys on detailingworld and also got myself some wire wool and autosol.

I must admit that despite a lot of effort, it only improved it marginally and the grime on the inner tips just wouldn't come off.

I also tried using 1000, 800 and 400 grit....It's really taken me by surprise how stuborn exhaust gunk can be when left untouched for years.

In the end, i bough a very light sandstone head to slowly grind away at the areas i wasn't able to clean. Even with this, it still took me 2 hrs to get the finish i have now and there are still some areas that I haven't been able to get off.



I just totalled the hrs that i've spent on this so far and it's looking like almost 6 hrs so I'm going to leave it there....i pretty pleased but was hoping the inner tips would come up a bit better. I may give it another go in the summer when it's not so frickin' cold!

All i gotta do now is fit it...if it would only stop snowing! lol!

-Oli

PS - apologies for out of focus pics...crummy iphone camera tends to focus on the background.







The bit i'm less pleased with...but I can live with

__________________


CURRENT: 2006 Audi A8 D3 4.2 Tdi QS - CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT THREAD: Audi Exclusive Azure Blue, Amaretto brown interior, facelift rear lights, S8 mirrors, B&O, ACC, Digital TV, glass sunroof, Fridge, Extended Leather Pack 2, wooden steering wheel & gearknob, keyless entry, keyless start, electric boot, softclose doors

SOLD : 2000 FL Silver D2 4.2 QS - Solar sunroof, Bose, Blinds, NavPlus, Playstation, DVD, wireless headphones, iPhone AV connection, RS6 steering wheel, chrome mirrors, phone prep, xenons, servotronic steering, Rear screen, TV-in-motion, NavPlus Alu rings, S8 exhaust, S8 bonnet grille, 385mm D3 S8 brakes, rubber winter mats, De-badged rear, US rear indicator clusters, 20" Final Edition diamond cut wheels, 15mm Eibach Pro spacers (front), 20mm H&R hubcentric spacers (rear).

Audi A8/S8 D2 Flickr Group

Last edited by Oli18; 25th February 2010 at 04:51 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 9th January 2010, 04:57 PM
thebluewhale's Avatar
thebluewhale thebluewhale is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Moved to Annoy Posh People :-)
Posts: 558
Default




Mate, that is a lot of commitment.

I think that puts you neck and neck with Mike in the 'Who's got the most OCD' competition.

Steve
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 9th January 2010, 05:45 PM
Conan_the_Librarian's Avatar
Conan_the_Librarian Conan_the_Librarian is offline
UberSeniorChiefLibrarian
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: In a library
Posts: 3,868
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thebluewhale View Post



Mate, that is a lot of commitment.

I think that puts you neck and neck with Mike in the 'Who's got the most OCD' competition.

Steve
WHAT!!!! Right I'm off to polish the inside of my rocker covers! :P

Oli,

I reckon what you are looking at on the inside of those tips is actually where the exhaust gases and liquid has corroded the steel. Get a flap wheel and give it a good bash then use a milder wheel and go on to polish it up.
__________________
Conan (the Librarian)

Watch it if you dare

Currently,
2000 S8, Merlin Purple, Leather Pack 1, Winter Pack 1, SPAX adjustable suspension, AP Racing 6 pot front caliper, 385mm fully floating disks, EBC Yellow Stuff Pads, Black Diamond grooved rear disks and predetor pads, D2 Doctors Brake Block.
1997 4.2 A8SQ - the Projekt. 12 years and ongoing!
1997 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. Restoration sat waiting; saved from the Scrapyard
2003 C5 Allroad 4.2Q - Cobolt Blue. Towing car. Laid up awaiting manual conversion.
2005 C5 Allroad 2.5TDi FE - Grey - Workhorse.
2015 Q3QS SLine - Daytona Grey. Lots of extras! Long Haired Admirals cutter.

Previously
2003 C5 A6 1.9TDI FWD - Loaner from D2 Doctor Lifex
1997 S8 - Ming Blue. Loaned out and written off. I loved that car. My first engine swap after cambelt failure.
1996 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. 178k on a cambelt! Trader's 8. Delivered to A8Parts at Lifex.
2003 2.8 A8SQ - powder blueish. Fill in for a while. Sold on.
1998 1.8T A4 Avant FWD. Ming Blue (there's a theme here), PEX for the 97 S8.
And a list of non VAG going back 40 years before I saw the light.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 9th January 2010, 10:50 PM
Oli18's Avatar
Oli18 Oli18 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Posts: 1,066
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Conan_the_Librarian View Post
WHAT!!!! Right I'm off to polish the inside of my rocker covers! :P

Oli,

I reckon what you are looking at on the inside of those tips is actually where the exhaust gases and liquid has corroded the steel. Get a flap wheel and give it a good bash then use a milder wheel and go on to polish it up.
Hey Mike!

what's a 'flap wheel'

Whatever it is...what a brilliant name!

-Oli
__________________


CURRENT: 2006 Audi A8 D3 4.2 Tdi QS - CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT THREAD: Audi Exclusive Azure Blue, Amaretto brown interior, facelift rear lights, S8 mirrors, B&O, ACC, Digital TV, glass sunroof, Fridge, Extended Leather Pack 2, wooden steering wheel & gearknob, keyless entry, keyless start, electric boot, softclose doors

SOLD : 2000 FL Silver D2 4.2 QS - Solar sunroof, Bose, Blinds, NavPlus, Playstation, DVD, wireless headphones, iPhone AV connection, RS6 steering wheel, chrome mirrors, phone prep, xenons, servotronic steering, Rear screen, TV-in-motion, NavPlus Alu rings, S8 exhaust, S8 bonnet grille, 385mm D3 S8 brakes, rubber winter mats, De-badged rear, US rear indicator clusters, 20" Final Edition diamond cut wheels, 15mm Eibach Pro spacers (front), 20mm H&R hubcentric spacers (rear).

Audi A8/S8 D2 Flickr Group
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10th January 2010, 09:09 AM
PsYcHe PsYcHe is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Blantyre, Scotland
Posts: 4,136
Default

Go to B&Q and look in the tool corral. It'll be under the drill accessories.

Imagine it like a pole with sandpaper flaps coming off it like spokes.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.js...&isSearch=true

Just like that one^^^.
__________________
2010 Jag XF 3.0D Portfolio S

I know.. I know..

Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10th January 2010, 10:18 AM
Conan_the_Librarian's Avatar
Conan_the_Librarian Conan_the_Librarian is offline
UberSeniorChiefLibrarian
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: In a library
Posts: 3,868
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oli18 View Post
Hey Mike!

what's a 'flap wheel'

Whatever it is...what a brilliant name!

-Oli
Crazy Dutch!
__________________
Conan (the Librarian)

Watch it if you dare

Currently,
2000 S8, Merlin Purple, Leather Pack 1, Winter Pack 1, SPAX adjustable suspension, AP Racing 6 pot front caliper, 385mm fully floating disks, EBC Yellow Stuff Pads, Black Diamond grooved rear disks and predetor pads, D2 Doctors Brake Block.
1997 4.2 A8SQ - the Projekt. 12 years and ongoing!
1997 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. Restoration sat waiting; saved from the Scrapyard
2003 C5 Allroad 4.2Q - Cobolt Blue. Towing car. Laid up awaiting manual conversion.
2005 C5 Allroad 2.5TDi FE - Grey - Workhorse.
2015 Q3QS SLine - Daytona Grey. Lots of extras! Long Haired Admirals cutter.

Previously
2003 C5 A6 1.9TDI FWD - Loaner from D2 Doctor Lifex
1997 S8 - Ming Blue. Loaned out and written off. I loved that car. My first engine swap after cambelt failure.
1996 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. 178k on a cambelt! Trader's 8. Delivered to A8Parts at Lifex.
2003 2.8 A8SQ - powder blueish. Fill in for a while. Sold on.
1998 1.8T A4 Avant FWD. Ming Blue (there's a theme here), PEX for the 97 S8.
And a list of non VAG going back 40 years before I saw the light.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10th January 2010, 10:29 AM
guinea
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

well done you..seems a lot of work though just for the end tips...when i was up at MIJ performance exhaust to have my back box replaced with a sport one they have a cabinet full of twin exhaust tips,,,£20-£25 and there are loads to choose from
Just a thought,,,,you must have spent that on the back box and the polishing kit,,,,,does look good though
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 04:30 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.