Page 24, in an add by GPR (German Parts & Restoration) under New Products, $78 each. Anyone know what these are?

Sorry to say I'm very fmiliar with it. Twice in the last year, including this past week. I had about a 2 cm star that was injected and looks much better. The resin makes it less noticable, but every case is different. Check with your insurance company; many pay for the repair and waive your deductible.

makes it far less noticable. Your insurance company will pay for the repair rather than replace the entire windshield.

some repairs looked good, and were not very noticable, some didn't improve in looks at all. All stopped the break from spreading though.

First off, congratulations, the Santorin is a great color, did you get sports package and sunroof?

1. Chips range in price from about $200-$600. Best chip...HAH! That's one of the most debated topics on this forum. Best bet is to search the archives and then ask specific questions. Also, get active in a local A4 group and talk to folks who have chipped and ride in their cars. If you have a tuner near you, that's also a factor. Check out some of the discussions on the Performance Forum.

2. It shouldn't, ask your service manager. I have a Panasonic CDP801 8 disc changer that works with the factory head unit and have not had a problem. Other options are the 6 disc Panasonic, and the factory changer from Clair parts (about $250 I think). Or you could go with one of the radio frequency ones, but I really don't see the point in that.

3. Follow the advice of the manual (vary engine speeds throughout and avoid running at a constant engine speed for prolonged periods of time, only use the first 2/3 of the tach for the first 600 miles, then gradually build up til 1,000 miles and you're done). Don't baby it, but don't thrash it right away. The engine and tranny DEFINITELY break in...kept improving for the first 10,000 miles.

Enjoy!

Regards,
Rodney

'99 A4 1.8tqms

Search the Archives for "Ben Slosser's" and you'll find an excellent article on breaking in a new engine.

Archives are full of chip info---they all seem to be good and the tuners are doing a hell of a job for us. We get by for $200-$600 while it costs at least twice that to chip a BMW or Mazda.

Hope this helps!

Answering your questions

1. How expensive are chips and where can I get more info? What are the advantages
of one brand over the other(s)?

Chips range from about $175 - $700 depending upon who you get them from. I have
friends that work at all the tuners, so I will not recommend one over the other...they
all have merits. I would venture to guess that most people have either Wetterauer
or Neuspeed chips...for totally different reasons. Your gonna have to check the
archives to hear peoples impressions of chips. I have personally driven cars with
the following chips: Wett 1.0 bar, TAP Stage 1 and 2, AMS/ABT Stage 2, Garret,
Neuspeed. I would like to try an APR, Hoppen, and AutoThority chip. Some chips
give more power than others, some give better gas mileage, and most of them
provide power in different parts of the power curve. That is all I am gonna say, so
I don't piss off any of the vendors.... :-)

2. Will getting an aftermarket CD changer (other than factory model) affect my
warranty? Any suggestions as to a good make and model to look at?

I would suggest getting the Panasonic CD Changer from Clair Parts Express for
about $275...it will save you $$$ and it will be full integrated with your head unit.
Also, it will be covered most likely under your Audi warranty. Yes, you can integrate
other ones...but then it will be most likely be broadcasted on an FM channel.

3. Manual be damned! (Although I haven't read it yet) What's the best way to break in
my new Audi here in the Los Angeles area?

Angeles Crest highway? Just joking...Take a nice gaunt up PCH...to Ventura and
back. I don't understand the reference to the manual...whats up with dat?


Hope I helped.

Steve S.
97 2.8QM
00 S4 (jan?)

Yesterday, the SoCal Quattro Club published a listing of events coming up this month and next.

In the meantime try Mulholland Blvd., Topanga Cyn between SnFernando and the beach, PCH, Sunset Blvd., Newport Beach

But my favorite...Las Vegas

There are at least three now, all 2n Glenns! You can do better in the aftermarket than the factory Bose. Stay under 4.3K rpm for first 1K miles. Plenty of chips available. Mine is Autothority and it is great.

1.8qms Melange/AutoThority .8bar

Too cool! I'm headed to Las Vegas tomorrow evening. I fly straight to Baltimor right after so my roommate will get a chance to drive the car back to LA.

Thanks for the tips. I'll give Topanga a try tonight after I pick the car up. mwu-hahahaha!!

That is some incredible response in an incredibly short amount of time!

Damn I'm impressed. To answer back to a few of the follow ups,

1. Yes, I got the sports package and the sunroof.

2. Two votes for teh Panasonic system. I'll check with the dealer. I would still like to get the Bose but I worry about the added cost.

3. I'll check the performance forum on the Chip arguments. I had not realized there were so many to choose from and so many different things they can possibly do for the car. I would like a little extra power at the low end of the power curve along with a bit of improved mileage.

Thanks again everyone!

One last thing, can anyone give me the website address for teh local Southern California A4 club? Sounds like a good idea.

Glenn #3

Make it four, unless you were counting me in the first place.

Glenn Powers
99.5 2.8QMS/Hibiscus Red