The A2 That Was Always Destined To Become A Project Whether I Liked It Or Not....
- Thread starter J3FVW
- Start date
J3FVW
Member
Nothing much to report this week on "the project" other than last night me and my A2 partner in crime (Special Edition Dave) removed the rear seats in readiness of making a start on the CD changer conversion this week. The poor car is looking sorry for itself minus it's bonnet now for over two weeks and my spare bedroom looks like a breakers yard with all the A2 parts in it!
I am finding that the further I'm getting into the project the bigger the job is going to become to get the car to the standard that I want. I think we'll be talking years rather than months if I want to do it justice.
Jeff
I am finding that the further I'm getting into the project the bigger the job is going to become to get the car to the standard that I want. I think we'll be talking years rather than months if I want to do it justice.
Jeff
J3FVW
Member
So today I decided to make a start on retrofitting the boot mounted CD changer option. This was the starting point first thing:
First job was strip out the original rear sill trims on both sides, plastic boot trim and then remove the off side boot carpet panel as this will be replaced by the CD changer specific panel that I sourced from putyermittenson on a couple of months ago (thanks again!):
Next step was to give the boot carpet a good clean with shampoo and then a thorough vacuuming was done, a bonus was found!:
Then I encountered my first hurdle - the holes in the shell needed some fixings to accept the mounting bracket bolts that I didn't have. A quick look on oemepc didn't return any part numbers so I had a root through what I had in my garage and and found exactly what I needed:
These screwed nicely into the A2 and accepted the mounting bolts just like they had been made specifically for the job. The mounting bracket was duly bolted into place and then the brand new CD changer that I sourced from Audi Tradition for the bargain price of €47 was put in place:
First job was strip out the original rear sill trims on both sides, plastic boot trim and then remove the off side boot carpet panel as this will be replaced by the CD changer specific panel that I sourced from putyermittenson on a couple of months ago (thanks again!):
Next step was to give the boot carpet a good clean with shampoo and then a thorough vacuuming was done, a bonus was found!:
Then I encountered my first hurdle - the holes in the shell needed some fixings to accept the mounting bracket bolts that I didn't have. A quick look on oemepc didn't return any part numbers so I had a root through what I had in my garage and and found exactly what I needed:
These screwed nicely into the A2 and accepted the mounting bolts just like they had been made specifically for the job. The mounting bracket was duly bolted into place and then the brand new CD changer that I sourced from Audi Tradition for the bargain price of €47 was put in place:
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J3FVW
Member
Next step was to route the changer cable that was kindly sold to me by Spike. As a precaution I cloth taped it before running it into place (to prevent any rattles) and then passed the cable through the various loom securing points up and over the rear arch to the changer:
Then it was a case of fitting the changer specific boot panel. To prevent any damage to the front of the changer I masked it up until the panel was in place:
All that remained was to fit the trim piece that tidies up around the changer and the rear cluster access panel. Both of these were purchased new, again from Audi Tradition as these parts are discontinued through the UK dealer network. It might seem a bit OTT but if I'm going to do this project I want to get it right:
Finally I touched up any slight marks on the unused space saver spare wheel and dressed the tyre plus the plastic panel it sits on and the securing knob. Here are pictures of the finished job. It wasn't overly difficult but very satisfying:
The eagle eyed amongst you might have spotted that the changer cable is coiled up in the off side rear passenger footwell and the sill trims and boot trim aren't fitted. Stage two of the conversion will follow when I have time. I need to route the cable to the front of the car and up through the dashboard to the headunit and get everything connected. When that's all done I will be fitting new sill trims on both sides that (guess what?) were sourced from Audi Tradition and tomorrow I will be ordering a new boot trim and screw hole covers from the dealers to finish the boot area off to a standard I am happy with. Also the false floor needs a shampoo and vac and the bespoke boot mat that I have needs modifying to suit the reduced boot floor space that results from doing the changer conversion. More to follow soon.
Jeff
Then it was a case of fitting the changer specific boot panel. To prevent any damage to the front of the changer I masked it up until the panel was in place:
All that remained was to fit the trim piece that tidies up around the changer and the rear cluster access panel. Both of these were purchased new, again from Audi Tradition as these parts are discontinued through the UK dealer network. It might seem a bit OTT but if I'm going to do this project I want to get it right:
Finally I touched up any slight marks on the unused space saver spare wheel and dressed the tyre plus the plastic panel it sits on and the securing knob. Here are pictures of the finished job. It wasn't overly difficult but very satisfying:
The eagle eyed amongst you might have spotted that the changer cable is coiled up in the off side rear passenger footwell and the sill trims and boot trim aren't fitted. Stage two of the conversion will follow when I have time. I need to route the cable to the front of the car and up through the dashboard to the headunit and get everything connected. When that's all done I will be fitting new sill trims on both sides that (guess what?) were sourced from Audi Tradition and tomorrow I will be ordering a new boot trim and screw hole covers from the dealers to finish the boot area off to a standard I am happy with. Also the false floor needs a shampoo and vac and the bespoke boot mat that I have needs modifying to suit the reduced boot floor space that results from doing the changer conversion. More to follow soon.
Jeff
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J3FVW
Member
Another little job ticked off tonight. Fitting the CD changer specific boot panel meant modifications were needed to my bespoke boot mat. The protruding piece that fills the area between the wheel arch and under the light cluster has to go:
I unpicked the binding stitches around the area to removed, carefully cut off the protruding piece with a sharp blade against a steel rule, then trimmed off the excess length of leather binding before stitching the shortened binding piece back onto the carpet.....by hand!
Here is the finished job which I am more than happy with and which looks pretty much "factory":
The false floor carpet needs a good shampoo and vac next. Also today I ordered the new boot trim piece and cover caps from the dealers. Special order from Germany sadly so it will be a week or two before the load area is finished.
I unpicked the binding stitches around the area to removed, carefully cut off the protruding piece with a sharp blade against a steel rule, then trimmed off the excess length of leather binding before stitching the shortened binding piece back onto the carpet.....by hand!
Here is the finished job which I am more than happy with and which looks pretty much "factory":
The false floor carpet needs a good shampoo and vac next. Also today I ordered the new boot trim piece and cover caps from the dealers. Special order from Germany sadly so it will be a week or two before the load area is finished.
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Vorsprung durch Technik
A2OC Donor
A small update today - I have taken delivery of a set of front sports seats purchased from a member. They have lots of wear etc. but were purchased with a view to replacing the majority of the foam, plastics etc. and getting them retrimmed at a later date.
Jeff
I like the sound of replacing some of the foams and want to do the same on mine.
J3FVW
Member
Still not much to report as I've not had much free time to work on the car and I've been waiting on parts arriving at the dealer.
I'm on the look out for a mint left boot panel (see my wanted listing) so without that I can't finish the boot area off. Today the weather has been pretty awful which curtailed my cycling plans. Fortunately wife and child were out of the house so while I've been watching Indy 500 practice I gave the load area cover a thorough clean using Autosmart G101 (APC), a toothbrush to get into texture of the material, and then dressed with Autosmart Finish:
It's like a new one now:
It didn't take long to do but has been worth it and should add to the overall finish.
There are a set of 16 SE wheels on their way to me so the next job is researching which company to entrust with refurbishing them. I will be fitting new tyres and centre caps all round so want the job to be absolutely spot on. I'll update this thread with progress on that front although they won't be fitted to the car for a long time. I want them to be the final finishing touch to conclude the project.
Jeff
I'm on the look out for a mint left boot panel (see my wanted listing) so without that I can't finish the boot area off. Today the weather has been pretty awful which curtailed my cycling plans. Fortunately wife and child were out of the house so while I've been watching Indy 500 practice I gave the load area cover a thorough clean using Autosmart G101 (APC), a toothbrush to get into texture of the material, and then dressed with Autosmart Finish:
It's like a new one now:
It didn't take long to do but has been worth it and should add to the overall finish.
There are a set of 16 SE wheels on their way to me so the next job is researching which company to entrust with refurbishing them. I will be fitting new tyres and centre caps all round so want the job to be absolutely spot on. I'll update this thread with progress on that front although they won't be fitted to the car for a long time. I want them to be the final finishing touch to conclude the project.
Jeff
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J3FVW
Member
Another day, another trip to the dealers
I've also had some electric window variant rear door cards delivered to my work courtesy of Jeffers66 (huge thanks!!) in readiness for some future Timmus retro fitting. Monday is Audi Tradition day for some dealer obsolete goodies.
The project is a little bit slow at the moment as all I seem to be doing is amassing parts for future use with no progress as such with the actual car. It will all come together eventually though
I've also had some electric window variant rear door cards delivered to my work courtesy of Jeffers66 (huge thanks!!) in readiness for some future Timmus retro fitting. Monday is Audi Tradition day for some dealer obsolete goodies.
The project is a little bit slow at the moment as all I seem to be doing is amassing parts for future use with no progress as such with the actual car. It will all come together eventually though
J3FVW
Member
Raining tonight so instead of putting miles in on my bike I gave one half of the rear door cards (electric window variant) freshly received from Jeffers66 a clean. They were in superb condition to start with so this one didn't need much elbow grease to get it up to scratch:
Plastics and vinyl were cleaned with diluted Autosmart G101 and agitated with a firm toothbrush. Then wiped down with baby wipes before being dried with a micro fibre cloth and then dressed with neat Autosmart Finish. The fabric covering was given a light clean with Autoglym Interior Shampoo. It is drying off now so on inspection in the morning I might decide to dress the plastics and vinyl again.
I also ordered some more interior trim from Audi Tradition as they are discontinued at the dealers.
Jeff
Plastics and vinyl were cleaned with diluted Autosmart G101 and agitated with a firm toothbrush. Then wiped down with baby wipes before being dried with a micro fibre cloth and then dressed with neat Autosmart Finish. The fabric covering was given a light clean with Autoglym Interior Shampoo. It is drying off now so on inspection in the morning I might decide to dress the plastics and vinyl again.
I also ordered some more interior trim from Audi Tradition as they are discontinued at the dealers.
Jeff
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J3FVW
Member
I need a little bit of help from a fellow 1.4 petrol owner. I had a quick peak in the engine bay earlier and I noticed a pipe clip that isn't holding anything in place:
Could someone look under their bonnet and see what should be clipped into it. My suspicion is that it's the scuttle panel flexi drain hose (mine is currently cable tied to the air intake pipe work) but I want to be sure so that everything in the bay looks factory.
Thanks in advance
Jeff
Could someone look under their bonnet and see what should be clipped into it. My suspicion is that it's the scuttle panel flexi drain hose (mine is currently cable tied to the air intake pipe work) but I want to be sure so that everything in the bay looks factory.
Thanks in advance
Jeff
ajsellors
A2OC Donor
I need a little bit of help from a fellow 1.4 petrol owner. I had a quick peak in the engine bay earlier and I noticed a pipe clip that isn't holding anything in place:
Could someone look under their bonnet and see what should be clipped into it. My suspicion is that it's the scuttle panel flexi drain hose (mine is currently cable tied to the air intake pipe work) but I want to be sure so that everything in the bay looks factory.
Thanks in advance
Jeff
Hi,
I have had a look on my 1.4 petrol (2001 AUA) and I don't have a clip there. My drain hose is also tied to the air intake pipe work, probably like yours.
Nothing to see:
I do however have a clip attached to the left side of the air hose (as seen from the front). This holds a pipe that runs from above the wheel arch and goes behind the engine. The clip is large as it holds something which might be an in-line filter. You can seem my drain hose running above the air hose in the picture.
If you look through the gap from the right you can see the other side of that hose but no clip or anything which might hold one.
regards
Andrew
J3FVW
Member
Thanks for all your help Andrew - I've sorted it. The pipe you highlight that goes behind the engine is the same pipe the clip was attached to.
It turns out there is a bigger hose behind it that two smaller hoses (one of which is our pipe) pass over. The clips are on both smaller hoses to "stand them off" of the larger diameter hose and keeping them both the same distance from it. I'm sure my car has had an air con component changed up inside the dash at some point and my guess is whoever did it I clipped the thin hose and didn't bother to clip it back in again.
Happy again now - I hate unresolved little niggles like that
It turns out there is a bigger hose behind it that two smaller hoses (one of which is our pipe) pass over. The clips are on both smaller hoses to "stand them off" of the larger diameter hose and keeping them both the same distance from it. I'm sure my car has had an air con component changed up inside the dash at some point and my guess is whoever did it I clipped the thin hose and didn't bother to clip it back in again.
Happy again now - I hate unresolved little niggles like that
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J3FVW
Member
Not much to report recently. There has been a lot of wheeling and dealing obtaining parts for the project and I have just got the drivers side rear door card back from a local smart repairer who has sorted out a minuscule defect. I gave it a thorough clean and dressing tonight and it's looking like new:
Next on the agenda is trying to get a discontinued piece of lower pillar trim looking like new to compliment the rest of the panels that are new. I think problems sourcing high quality used parts that are up to scratch is going to be the biggest challenge the further on in the project that I get.
Next on the agenda is trying to get a discontinued piece of lower pillar trim looking like new to compliment the rest of the panels that are new. I think problems sourcing high quality used parts that are up to scratch is going to be the biggest challenge the further on in the project that I get.
J3FVW
Member
Yesterday I received the soul black mat set that A2 Steve supplied and I set about giving the rears a good clean. They are going to get another thorough clean tonight but the results are very good. I have a new set of fronts on order so the discontinued rears should compliment them well (on the left is cleaned, the right side is untouched):
Over the weekend I also had a play around restoring a quite tidy drivers side lower b pillar trim that I picked up cheap from somebody on ebay breaking a car. I spent a good hour first cleaning it with G101 then wafting a heat gun over it to make minor scratches disappear before dressing it with Finish. The results are quite good (I'd put it at 95% mint) so if I don't end up using it on my car it will certainly improve somebody's interior from years of seat belt buckle abuse:
Sorry there's nothing much else to report at the moment!
Jeff
Over the weekend I also had a play around restoring a quite tidy drivers side lower b pillar trim that I picked up cheap from somebody on ebay breaking a car. I spent a good hour first cleaning it with G101 then wafting a heat gun over it to make minor scratches disappear before dressing it with Finish. The results are quite good (I'd put it at 95% mint) so if I don't end up using it on my car it will certainly improve somebody's interior from years of seat belt buckle abuse:
Sorry there's nothing much else to report at the moment!
Jeff
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