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life is a struggle.... and i just needed to step back from it and reset. The last year or so i just lost all my mojo for anything car and bike related.
I sold my previous S5 (although regretted it immediately but needs of my sanity for were far more important)
For those that remember this was my old S5
Slow Burn | Audi A5 Forum & Audi S5 Forum (a5oc.com)
I sold my motorbike and i just parked the A8 on the drive and forgot about it (still got the poor thing)... and all i did was focus on health and mental wellbeing and my family....
But as any self respecting petrolhead knows, there's still an itch, that desire to build and own a project....

So what have i gone and done....

gone and bought another S5....

she's a 2008, miles aren't bad at 120k and condition wise i'd describe her as honest....
Manual, 2G high, no heated seats (strange) and no cruise control
clutch and flywheel were done about 20k ago, no other idea on service history.
she's getting delivered next Wednesday and i feel a mojo coming back...

Things that are immediately apparent as a must be done...

1. get rid of the rear window tints, i'm not a drug dealer....
2. replace the black Audi rings front and back to the original chrome and put the front rings in the correct location as i think Stevie Wonder fitted this one.
3. remove the window trims (job for summer tbh) as these have been painted without being removed and can see the paint is flaking in a couple of spots.
4. keep my fingers crossed that the mirror caps are a wrapped and are still pristine underneath
5. sand the painted tint off the rear lights and polish them back to an OE level of red (i don't think they are aftermarket???)
6. sit and ponder why the centre console trim is black and doesn't match the trim on the doors.....!!!
7. find out what else is wrong with her....

the list will most certainly grow and no doubt i'll want to get her to a similar level of my previous S5.

and well we all like pics

she'll be pressed into service as a fun car for me and my daughter to go to meets and shows...

 

[Dippy]

Looks great. My windows were tinted at the factory (maybe part of "black edition"?) and I'm not a drug dealer.
(or am I?)

 

[restricted]

Looks great. My windows were tinted at the factory (maybe part of "black edition"?) and I'm not a drug dealer.
(or am I?)

thank you. i don't think the Black Edition was a spec available for the early S5's from the factory??? Although i hadn't considered that the window tint may be factory, i'll have to decipher the PR codes...

who's to say if you are a DD? do you stand on street corners late at night? or would that be a pimp? haha

 

[restricted]

nope the tints are not factory...

E0A: No special edition
7D3: CD changer
4UF: Driver and front passenger airbag with front passenger airbag deactivation
6XD: Exterior mirrors, power-adjustable/ heated
5SJ: Left exterior mirror, convex
6TS: Right exterior mirror, aspherical, large viewing field
1KE: Disk brakes in rear
J0Z: Battery 520 A (110 Ah)
1LJ: Disk brakes in front
1AS: Electronic stability control (ESC)
1BD: Suspension/shock absorption for special sports design
3FA: Without roof insert (standard roof)
5MZ: Decorative inserts, stainless steel - fabric
7X1: Park distance control
F0A: No special purpose vehicle, standard equipment
8GV: Alternator 180 A
0G1: Gearshift lever
0YG: Weight range 7 installation control only, no requirement forecast
0JG: Weight category front axle weight range 7
T8T: 8-cylinder SI engine 4.2 l unit 079.A (aluminum)
3KA: Unsplit rear seat bench unsplit, split folding backrest
8BP: Bi-functional headlamp with gas discharge lamp
U1B: Instrument cluster with mph speedometer, clock, tachometer, and trip odometer
X2B: Equipment options subset for Great Britain
1N3: Speed-related variable steering assist (Servotronic)
2PD: Leather-wrapped multifunction sports steering wheel with "S" badge
8Q3: Automatic headlight range adjustment dynamic (self-adjusting while driving)
9Q4: Multi-function display/on-board computerwith check control
8Z5: Not hot country
D0A: 8-cylinder SI engine 4.2 l/260 kW V8 32VFSI, homogeneous base engine is T8T
7Q2: Navigation system with color screen
CZ3: Alloy wheels 8.5J x 19
7K0: Without direct tire pressure monitoring system
4X3: Side airbag in front, with curtain airbag
2K3: Reinforced bumpers
3L5: Power seat adjustment for both front seats
4KC: Side and rear windows in heat-insulatingglass
3Y0: Without roll-up sunshade
4K2: Radio remote controlled central locking "SZV"
5D7: Carrier frequency 868 MHz without panic button
1SA: Without additional front underbody guard
0GG: Emission standard EU4
Q4Q: Sports seats in front
4GQ: Windshield in heat-insulating glass

 

[Dippy]

I checked my list - I have:
VW1 = Side windows tinted green, from B-pillar to rear window gray tinted safety glass
But they don't look green to me!

 

[restricted]

hold a piece of plain white A4 paper behind it then look from the other side.

 

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Every day forward is a good day..... talking of good days.... something black and sinister turned up today (my fault it was a day later)

is it greedy having 2 V8's now in today's climate? of course SWMBO is chewing my ear that we don't need 3 cars, my suggestion she walk and i get rid of her car met with an unhappy face......

quick VCDS scan revealed absolutely no issues, quick recoding of various modules to change things to how i like and then have a look around.
The day is that miserable wet small rain where everything feels manky and bleaugh so no going underneath.

Interior needs a proper going over

if any one remembers my last S5 i made that look new, i expect the same with this.

and then the best part

it's a petrol V8... missing the main cover sadly but no obvious issues, or faults. No idea what's happening in the coolant but i want a new bottle and fresh coolant in there asap...

can i order some sunshine please?

 

[Leskimo]

Definitely gotta get rid of the blacked out Audi rings on the grill. Not a bad car if the price is right.

 

[restricted]

Definitely gotta get rid of the blacked out Audi rings on the grill. Not a bad car if the price is right.

it’s personal preference, some people like them but I cannot stand blacked out rings or badges. To my you’re removing the identity of the Brand. But if other people want to do it then I’m ok with it.
As a basis to improve and restore and enjoy she was extremely good value…. many smiles per mile to come.

 

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the black rings were bugging me so much that i've taken them off, i don't like the badgeless look either but it's preferred to the black rings lol.

apparently under all the dirt my S5 is black....

both badges had been stuck up with B&Qs finest bathroom sealant and were barely stuck on, so neither put up much resistance to coming off, why do people bodge things???
I'll order a rear badge from Audi, i have a chrome front grill in the parts stash somewhere but the aftermarket grill doesn't have the provision for attaching it.
Curious to know what others have done which doesn't involve black bathroom sealant???

 

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So what have we learned today? the wheels are off balance, no biggie.
It was a nice surprise to see the wheels had been freshly refinished (poorly), the inside of the barrels haven't had any of the old weight glue removed and has just been blown over.... the outer faces look presentable but i'll redo them properly when i fit new (decent) tyres, currently got a mismatched set of ditchfinders....
This made me chuckle as the expert balancing stood out and probably accounts for the wobble, never ever seen double stack weights in over 30 years of vehicle ownership hahaha

the wipers wipe awfully.... this probably explains why? surely this is basic maintenance?

both are the same

and i even washed the S5 and the A4, despite it raining today.... was quite therapeutic washing them in the rain hahaha

i have to admit that 3 Audi's is too greedy, i need help... but in my defence only 2 are quattro...

 

[SimonRoma]

Haha welcome back to the lovely (if neglected) S5 mate!!!

 

[restricted]

Haha welcome back to the lovely (if neglected) S5 mate!!!

thanks bud.... neglected is very apt for her lol

 

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so onto today... the new v5 arrived and immediately transferred the nonsensical private plate off and got rid of.
Insurance updated etc.
Original registration reapplied which of could only mean one thing, time to buy some new number plates.
Any new car (new to me) i have bought i have always put brand new plates on, the car isn't mine until i have done this ritual...
It serves a number of functions
1, gets rid of old rubbish dealer plates (i'm doing free advertising for no one lol)
2, allows me to clean the years of laziness and abuse always found under any number plate
3, ensures the plates are fitted straight, how people get them on the wonk is beyond me...!!!

I'm neither bling or a chav and just prefer a standard script, stock background, standard font number plate.
To me it looks far cleaner. My only rebellious streak is i refuse to have the postcode and BS script on the plates... i know, i know i'm going straight to jail.....!!!!

Plates ordered and hopefully arrive in time for the weekend.

Evan had a comment from the OH that it looks far sleeker than the old S5, apparently she prefers them black... (i raised my eyebrows)

 

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always a firm believer in singing the praises of good service.
I ordered my new number plates yesterday at just after noon and they arrived today at 0930, order on just a normal Royal Mail 2nd class service.

i have used the site before but they have always taken a couple of days (which is fine).

I got them from A1 Show Plates (no affiliation etc). Ordered with the sticky pads and all in less than £30 delivered.

 

[cadguy77]

always a firm believer in singing the praises of good service.
I ordered my new number plates yesterday at just after noon and they arrived today at 0930, order on just a normal Royal Mail 2nd class service.

i have used the site before but they have always taken a couple of days (which is fine).

I got them from A1 Show Plates (no affiliation etc). Ordered with the sticky pads and all in less than £30 delivered.

I love praising good service too.

Check out these plate holders as an alternative to sticky velco if you're inclined to remove your plates from time to time

Number plate holders/clips,push&lock,front or rear, for vehicle, caravan,trailer | eBay

 

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in the grand scheme of things putting a new set of wiper blades on isn't exactly up there with fitting a new exhaust or supercharger (give me time haha) but the fact of putting something new on the S5 gives me a warm fuzzy feeling, which is what this car is all about for me.

old and crusty of the right and a set of new Bosch aeros in their place.
Weather has been bloody awful today, sporadic showers and hail. Thankfully i have a garage, which whilst not big enough to actually fit a car in, is a decent place for a man cave (the garage was perfect for the bike).
I kept looking at the rear lights and kept thinking that it's got to be a spray tint, so whipped one off and saw they were actually genuine Audi lamps, so time to hit them with a mop....

back to how they should be and no ricer tint...!!!
Once the A8 has gone then i can mess about with the S5 in her rightful place in front of the garage and can actually get the new plates on, weather has been too wet today to be crawling on the floor....

 

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Finally a spare day and (semi)decent weather....
rip the old crappy number plates off to see what horrors lurked beneath. The front grill must have been relatively new as there wasn't much stickiness, a quick wipe with Acetone and all sorted.

the rear though, absolute pet peeve of mine is why does no one ever clean the old glue off? i counted 4 different lots....

10 minutes with a hairdryer and some Acetone and sorted...

new plates are all stuck on and straight...

i even found an old set of chrome Audi rings in my boxes of parts, so as there isn't a neat solution to mechanically fix them on (as it's an aftermarket grill) i've applied a structural plastic adhesive and fingers crossed after 24 hours they should be a permanent fixture (the cable ties are to hold in place, def not permanent haha).

I ordered over the weekend a new set of HelPerformance brake lines, as i don't like to trust flexi lines of an unknown age, so rather than put stock on i like to upgrade them. It also means i know the age of the brake fluid.
Titanium bleed nipples have also been ordered, why? because i have issues...!!!

i also scored a cracking deal on a set of LED rear lights as the crazing on these ones was bugging me.... hopefully they are as perfect as described.

 

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todays a high and low sort of day....

the high, the first delivery of parts ordered over the weekend, not ground breaking or that thrilling being just a set of new brake nipple covers, but still yay.... parts...!!!

then the low, i again went to cheer myself up by getting some cleaning stuff from my local Halfrauds (i know, i know...). One bit being some Autosol, the last tube lasting 20odd years and always brought a decent shine to exhaust tips.
Mine being particularly unloved for the last decade...

the other side being equally bad.
Got set up and opened the new tube and firstly couldn't believe how watery it was, not paste like at all and secondly it was absolute garbage at doing what i remembered the product to work like. So it's been thrown back on the shelf and i went old school with wire wool, scotch pads and some Brasso for now... i will happily take recommendations to what's better on the market these days as i won't be using Autosol again...

and then it rained.....!!!

Seems very quiet on this forum these days, where did everyone go?

 

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more parts and yes because i'm sad and have issues i don't like crusty nipples and upgrade them to Titanium....