Motomaniac77

Ok so I have owned my first Audi bout 15 months now, and have learned a lot of lessons about owning foreign cars. I have done a ton of skimming through forums and you guys have helped on a few key issues which I greatly appreciate. I am to the point I just want to get the car to "like new" condition again. So far I have only needed to perform what i would call minor repairs so I dont regret buying the car at all, but I am one who HATES wasting money and I just learned a very expensive lesson on wheels and tires. I love the car and plan to keep it for many years to come. I want it to hit 300,000+ miles. So far here is my shopping list and the questions I have to follow.

The car has 170k miles on it now so some of this isnt a shock.
1. Drivers information LED screen pixels are out (unreadable)
2. Both passenger side window regulators are out
3. Motor mounts are both bad
4. Driver seat bottom is ripped
5. Carpet could be in better condition (would like to replace)
6. Oil leak on back side of valve cover gasket (cam seals?)
7. Thermostat is stuck open.

If some of these questions sound a bit noobish I apologize but I just havent found all the answers I need.

1. When I send in the guages for repair will the car run? I
dont have an immobilizer
2. Since the regulators are a consistent problem for us B5
owners is there anyone that makes a better replacement
than stock?? Saw a post the other day where a guy replaced
3 of them in 2 months!?!
3. Ordering 034 Motorsport street density mounts, any other
mounts besides the snub mount that would be good to replace
at that same time?
4. I got the dealer down to $375 for a new leatherette
seat bottom, anyone find a new replacement elsewhere cheaper?
5. I would like to replace the carpet with a darker color grey
than what came stock in my A4 (light grey) Has anyone done
this and found a good OEM supplier for it?
6. I will tie 6 and 7 together since they could possibly be done
at the same time. I have seen soo many different
recommendations for Timing belt replacement intervals. Mine
was done at 110k miles from the previous owner. I was going
to wait until I hit 200k miles since many people said
replace every 90k miles, but with winter not too long off
and a bad thermostat I may push that up a bit, or just
go another winter with "not so hot" heat. I dont have the
tensioner tool to replace both seals. I did see several kits
being sold for this issue, I just dont know which direction
to go. what do you guys think? Also what is the best
thermostat option out there? I dont want to have this no
heat issue again pre-TB service again...

Thanks so much for your input guys, I will keep trying to contribute where I can!

GTA_Driver

You can drive without te instrument cluster.

OEM carpet is expensive. Not sure about A4, but A6 was ~ $900, and that's from a good supplier, not dealer.

Motomaniac77

Thanks, I figured the carpet would be very expensive. The rest of the car miuns the drivers seat looks almost like new, but why car makers insist on putting light colored carpet in cars is beyond me.

M3Armand

1. Where are you sending the gauge to and how much? I need to do the same. I'm surprised that the car can run without the gauges as per the previous poster.
2. I'm still running the original window regulators at 281k miles...
3. I would wait to install the snub mount since they will not be able to access it separately when they do the engine mounts. I suggest waiting to install the snub mount for when you do the timing belt. ALSO, make sure they grease it liberally. Otherwise, it will increase your steering wheel vibrations at idle. Ask me how I know. I have the APR snub mount. It's great now, but not when new due to the vibrations.
4. I don't know how you "got them down" to $375 when the list price is $360. This was for part #8D0-881-405-BL-GYP for the black leatherette. I got mine at 15% discount = $306.
5. This will probably be way too much money.... But I see where you are coming from.
6. I would inspect the belts very carefully if you intend to go 90k miles.

Motomaniac77

I am fixing the LCD screen with Modulemasters.com. Cost is about $150 plus shipping I assume

I am really having trouble finding an application specific snub mount write up for my car. I have found all kinds of B6 and up DIY's, just not the b5's. The B6 looks MUCH easier to change.

Believe it or not the first timing belt change wasnt dont on this car until 110k miles with the previous owner, but I am not going to wait that long. Planned on changing it at 200k unless i find conflicting reports saying I shouldnt wait that long.

Motomaniac77

I am pretty much going to burn my entire tax refund on this car and just do everything at once. Anyone have and pro's and cons as to which motor/transmission mounts are best? I was looking at 034 motorsports motor mounts for sure. Greedspeed snub mounts due to finding mixed reviews on the APR mount, but I am open to suggestions.

Motomaniac77

Ok kind of an update here. Someone hit my car so it will be in the shop for a few weeks and I am going to take advantage of this and replace everything i can afford to get my hands on. So far here is whats on the way: 034 motorsports street density motor mounts and snub mount (waiting on the tranny mounts) crank speed sensor various external trim pieces, coolant hoses, thermostat, sending in drivers info LCD, etc etc. My direct dilemma is the window regulators.. I havent really got a good answer on replacing them. I have THREE that are messed up. Drivers side and both passenger sides. Before I order OEM replacements...please are there any aftermarket suppliers that have a better, more reliable version out for the B5 A4. According to my records this will be a total of 7 regulators replaced now...this is just getting rediculous