Seems I took an unplanned excursion into the desert at Turn 9 at Willow Springs.

Soon after coming to a stop, facing the wrong way, memories of another Imola with it's interior covered in Mother Earth's finest flashed into my brain...

Do you have any pointers/tips on how to make the knobs and buttons not "crunch" when turning/pushing, and to get the inside inhabitable again?

BTW, I think the car's OK, thank god.<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=3559"><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/jyoteen_sig3.gif" border="0"></a>

<p>Bryce
'00 1.8T Avant-Tip...APR

Sharon's car, after many cleanings, still makes those funny noises due to fine dust and sand residing in all the cracks. The sunroof is especially noisy.

Just a couple weeks ago, while installing her boost gauge, I found a bunch of dust and sand behind the A-Pillar trim and around the fuse box. Ha!<p>Corey S
00 Nogaro S4

<img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/CSNogaroSig.jpg">

Are you planning to write up an FAQ? I just recieved mine last week, and I haven't gotten around to it yet but if you have any shortcuts or recommendations, that'll be greatly appreciated.<p>Andrew Lee
Photos: http://briefcase.yahoo.com/hwaandrewlee
<a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=1061">Registry

I'll start working on it probably tonight. I have pics, too. :-)<p>Corey S
00 Nogaro S4

<img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/CSNogaroSig.jpg">

<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=2007"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/RLets-Signature.jpg"></a>

If all you have to complain about is the dirt and debris, count yourself lucky. I don't want to have to turn this into a FAQ.

As for post-off-track-sand-collection clean up, use lots of water on the exterior. Before you start with soap just let water rush down the front and rear windows so that it will carry out lots of that sand. Then have one of those all-day car bonding experiences where you wash (using extra water when rinsing), clean the paint, clay bar, polish and wax. Sleep soundy when you are done.

On the interior, supply yourself with a vacuum cleaner, lots of rags, q-tips, paper towels. Vacuum everything...the headliner, the sunroof rails, the inside of the armrest. After vacuuming, wipe everything down with a damp rag that you rinse frequently, or swap out for another damp rag. Use moistened Q-tips in the vents and other crannies.

Stop.

Drive around for several days, discover all the sand that has suddenly reappeared. Vacuum and wipe down again. Repeat as necessary.

Now, I had A LOT of sand in my car (poor John Stahmann is probably still finding it in his clothes). It took a couple weeks before sand stopped reappearing in any volume. Once you're confident that the sand is going to stop falling out of your headliner, then go through the interior can use your favorite car cleaning stuff on the vinyl and leather.

After all that, the car will look good and most people won't know anything, though you will still occaissionally find deposits of sand in interesting crevices in the car (like when the boost gauge gets installed, per Corey's msg below). Two spots I still have sand in: the ash tray and the sunroof rails (the grease in the rails holds that sand nicely, and is very difficult to get out).

Good Luck!<p>Sharon
'00 S4
<a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=4559"><br>
<img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ImolaKinesisSMALL.jpg"<br>

<p>Sharon
'00 S4
<a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=4559"><br>
<img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ImolaKinesisSMALL.jpg"<br>