Hello! grey FSI in Surrey

[richardbe]

Well, it's time for an overdue update on A2 ownership! As mentioned before, I popped down to see Ami to collect some bits and pieces and had a really successful time. Very grateful for his help, advice, experience and suggestions on how to sort out some of my issues. Nothing was too much trouble, he went way above and beyond to help me out and I can’t recommend him highly enough to A2 owners. The other bonus was I got to have my first decent length drive down to Horsham, half motorway and half winding B roads. I quite enjoyed it!

I got replacement lower grill bits which Ami kindly fitted for me, and what an instant transformation they make to how tidy it looks!

I got a new set of black floor mats that make the interior look even smarter, along with the missing studs that fit into the passenger footwell carpet for the mats to clip onto.

I replaced the missing cigarette lighter...

I replaced the missing battery +ve terminate cover that was pointed out as missing earlier in the thread when I first posted photos of the car.Hopefully this will make whoever it was that pointed it out happy!

I also got a proper first aid kit and warning triangle to fit in the slot in the left corner of the boot.

 

[richardbe]

I picked up a space saver spare for under the false floor, since we had a long journey planned over Easter.

The boot struts were deemed to be as expected so I didn’t replace them.

After a bit of a discussion with Ami about my tatty paint ruined rear spoiler I got a replacement one that will give me options for how to fix/replace the tatty one that's on the car at the moment.

I also got, (but haven't fitted just yet) a replacement ignition barrel, door lock and blank keys so I can get the car back to having the same key for both, and a spare.

All these little bits and pieces are really making a difference to how nice and complete it looks. It's no longer a tatty example, it's starting to look like quite a nice example.

I managed to get in another decent length drive as I had tickets to a mid week gig in Bexhill on Sea.

The run to Bexhill and then another decent length trip out gave 336miles from a tank and brim to brim economy of about 40mpg. The tank before that was all local trips through rural lanes & hills along with commutes to London during train strikes which gave about 30mpg.

 

[richardbe]

I got the alloys refurbished, and while the bloke was doing them I took the centre caps into work and had a go at removing the nasty water damaged chrome rings to see what could be done as I didn't fancy paying the asking price for a new set.

Pushed the Audi badge through from the back to remove

Used a screwdriver to bend the edge of the metal ring back

The grey plastic behind was very dirty but all four cleaned up really nicely.

I decided to put the Audi badge back on and re fit them without the chrome. I think they look great!

 

[richardbe]

The oil level sensor warning light came on...

I had a look underneath, and gave the sensor connector a clean up. It seems to have worked so far as it's not come back.

The A2 continuing to provide sterling family car service.

We decided on a longer trip...

 

[richardbe]

We went to Normandy for Easter to visit the D Day landing beaches. We did about 750 miles in a week, lots of French motorway miles 3 up with the boot and a back seat full of luggage. We managed to bring back more wine and cheese in it than expected. Under seat wine bottle storage capacity is excellent!

A2 was no trouble at all, averaged just under 40mpg so 320-340 miles per tank, with 3 passengers and luggage. Sat easily at 70-80, just bothered a bit by side winds so I had to keep a firm grip on the wheel with both hands at times. Plenty of power to maintain a steady speed on the dramatic ups and downs of French motorways. Despite not having the capacity of our previous Volvo V70, it’s an easy car for holidays and longer journeys. I haven’t fallen in love with it, but I do appreciate the ease of living with it.


We went to the Download Festival in it more recently, which was great but the journey back (170 miles) took 6 hours thanks to motorway closures, roadworks and accidents, and all in really hot weather. Fortunately the A2 proved to be a nice sensible camping car that took it all in it’s stride and we got home trouble free but a bit tired and clammy.

 

[birtyA2]

The oil level sensor warning light came on...

View attachment 110133

View attachment 110134
I had a look underneath, and gave the sensor connector a clean up. It seems to have worked so far as it's not come back.

The A2 continuing to provide sterling family car service.

View attachment 110136

We decided on a longer trip...

Wow sounds like you cleaned Ami out! As you say a top geezer, we are lucky to have him!

Your A2 is coming along nicely

Best wishes

J

 

[richardbe]

It was all going well, maybe too well!

Then a couple of weeks ago it broke down. My wife was driving it home from work in a recent Friday evening and it conked out at the end of our road, about 100m from home. It got pushed onto the drive by some friendly neighbours, and my (hot) weekend was spent trying to diagnose then fix it.

A2 won't start. Starter motor?

It was cranking really slowly, hardly at all. Finally got it started with a jump from neighbours car. Ran for a while, battery charging so wasn’t alternator. Tried a new battery but no difference. EPC light also came on. Funny burning/hot solder smell suggested starter motor, so got a replacement and fitted that.

While I was in there I checked out the earth cable from starter to chase and seems to be in good condition. Horrible job, so much in the way and so little room to move. Started first turn of the key and has been fine since. I put the the 'old' battery back in, it's showing 12.4v with the car off and 14.5v running so battery seems to be in good health.

Hurrah!

 

[richardbe]

I decided as the weather was good, and I found some of Screwfix’s finest paint stripper in the shed, that I would have a go at sorting out the spoiler. Here's a reminder of what it looked like when I bought it:

Took several goes on the stripper and plenty of scraping, and lots of sanding with the palm sander, but eventually about 4-5 layers came off and left the bare white plastic spoiler.

Was tempted to leave it white plastic but decided to paint it satin black, with a few coats of filler primer first.

 

[richardbe]

Couple of coats of primer:

First thin coat of satin black

Another coat of black:

One last coat

Once dry took all the masking off to see what it looks like

I’m very happy with how it came out, especially for rattle cans, it doesn’t look 100% but most importantly is now isn’t the first thing that grabs your attention when looking at the back of the car.I'll clean up the edges, wash the car and get some better photos.

 

[Proghound]

I’m very happy with how it came out, especially for rattle cans, it doesn’t look 100% but most importantly is now isn’t the first thing that grabs your attention when looking at the back of the car.I'll clean up the edges, wash the car and get some better photos.

That's encouraging. I must do likewise on one of mine, although it isn't as bad as yours was - just UV damage I think. I was wondering what sort of result I could hope for. I also don't really have any spraying experience except for a set of PDC sensors, just this week But it looks like, if I'm careful and prepare well, I might hopefully get away without making a complete dog's dinner of it!

 

[richardbe]

I think I’m going to see you tomorrow morning for the Timmus residency? I’m far from an expert but happy to chat technique then, Spend lots of time prepping what you’re going to paint and pick a dry, still day.

 

[Proghound]

I think I’m going to see you tomorrow morning for the Timmus residency? I’m far from an expert but happy to chat technique then, Spend lots of time prepping what you’re going to paint and pick a dry, still day.

That would be wonderful, yes please Richard, I'd be happy to show, listen and learn

 

[simon martyn]

I am very impressed at the way you've handled your "rescue". Stirling job, what would we do without this wonderful club?

 

[Ami]

We went to Normandy for Easter to visit the D Day landing beaches. We did about 750 miles in a week, lots of French motorway miles 3 up with the boot and a back seat full of luggage. We managed to bring back more wine and cheese in it than expected. Under seat wine bottle storage capacity is excellent!


View attachment 110137
View attachment 110138
View attachment 110139

A2 was no trouble at all, averaged just under 40mpg so 320-340 miles per tank, with 3 passengers and luggage. Sat easily at 70-80, just bothered a bit by side winds so I had to keep a firm grip on the wheel with both hands at times. Plenty of power to maintain a steady speed on the dramatic ups and downs of French motorways. Despite not having the capacity of our previous Volvo V70, it’s an easy car for holidays and longer journeys. I haven’t fallen in love with it, but I do appreciate the ease of living with it.


We went to the Download Festival in it more recently, which was great but the journey back (170 miles) took 6 hours thanks to motorway closures, roadworks and accidents, and all in really hot weather. Fortunately the A2 proved to be a nice sensible camping car that took it all in it’s stride and we got home trouble free but a bit tired and clammy.

A lovely picture and it was good meeting you.

 

[richardbe]

On Saturday I had the pleasure of taking part in the Timmus Southern Residency, held at Proghound’s place in Leighton Buzzword. Got there just in time for the rain, but fortunately the weatherproof gazebo kept Timmus dry, and the rain sort of made my resprayed spoiler look more impressive, which was a bonus!

I’d booked in with Timmus to fit and programme the locks I got from Ami to put the car back to having the same key for locking/unlocking and for ignition, and a duplicate key too. I can’t describe how awesome Timmus, Proghound and the whole set up was.

 

[richardbe]

3wheeler was having some work done in parallel and we discovered a mutual interest in unusual and interesting automotive design, overlooked and unsuccessful cars, and glass reinforced plastic cars and bikes, amongst other things.

As well as getting the locks sorted out, having a good old nosey over Three-wheelers stripped out A2, fab conversation and complimentary chock biscuits, I also discovered a couple of jobs I didn’t realise needed doing. Ian (Proghound) offered to fix my failing door check strap and I now realise I had been ignoring the creaking door because it’s silent in use now.

The next job I did myself, it took about 3 minutes and is one of the most satisfying jobs I’ve done to the A2 so far. I was moaning about how inconvenient wind up rear windows are because the winders get knocked and the window cracks open and the first we knows the rain coming in, or the wind noise behind on the motorway when it’s inconvenient to stop and wind them up that last tiny bit.

Well, it turns out my winders had been fitted so they are in the wrong position when the windows are closed, so I slid the caps off , undid the bolt and moved it around a few splines to reposition them to the factory accurate 45degrees down and towards the seat.

Now if they get knocked they are pushing the window up and not down. So satisfying!

 

[richardbe]

Next job is to try to sort out the saggy rear headlining without taking the whole thing out or going to the time/expense of a complete new headlining. Other than that I've pretty much got this A2 as good as I can get it I think.

 

[3wheeler]

Awesome pictures, and yes, I am bit of an automotive pervert I suppose too. Mind you, plastic bikes are something really interesting as well! I wonder, would you be able to email me the pictures you took of my car being done, as they look great and are part of its 'story' (jees, I just said that...) but it now has a complete interior from the waistrail down and its fully cleaned with a Vax Spotwash and everything, so looks very good! Timmus and Proghound were amazing, I agree, and my car will be so much better with the headliner back in, and all sorted! Great to meet you too!

 

[richardbe]

All the photos I took on Saturday are in the last 2 or 3 posts above.
Here's my 1980's plastic bike:

 

[3wheeler]

That bike is superb, I can save-as you pics, thanks- for some reason I couldn't do it earlier, possibly because I am inept.
I have started a Google rabbit-hole on your bike. Really fascinating!