Timmus Audi A2 Upgrades, Retrofits and Repairs

Greetings to all A2 owners,

For over a decade, I have been upgrading and repairing A2s. Having dedicated myself to just one model of car, I have intimate, specialised knowledge of the vehicle we all love. Countless reviews and recommendations are scattered across the pages of this forum. My hope is that, with incremental revisions, this thread will give A2 owners a clear and condensed overview of the services that I provide and how I deliver them.

Timmus was originally a childhood nickname, born from my sister's early attempts to say 'Thomas'. Upon joining A2OC, back when A2s were first starting to appear on the second-hand market, my nickname seemed a suitable choice of username. Even when I was building models as a young boy, I showed an enthusiastic desire to improve and innovate. Studying physics and engineering at university honed my understanding and developed in me the skills necessary to innovate and improve in line with established principles and with a due respect for correctness, caution and consideration.
I soon found that my understanding of the A2's electrics was an asset to the club. My lifelong and apparently innate fixation on detail and desire for the very highest standards of neatness, efficiency and safety has meant that I have acquired a reputation in the club for factory-standard perfectionism. I am known not just for my meticulousness and painstaking care for the work that I do, but also for my honesty, flexibility, cooperativeness and integrity with the people for whom I work.

Below is an overview of the range of services that I offer for the Audi A2.

Retrofitting of Optional Extras

With the exception of OpenSky and climate control, I can retrofit all of the original factory options, plus many others. If you've seen it in an A2, I can add it to yours. It'll be just like your A2 left the factory with that option...

• Cruise Control
• Instrument Cluster Upgrades...
  • Mini DIS
  • DIS
  • Colour DIS
  • Customised Clusters
  • Bulb Check System Deactivation
• Audio System Upgrades...
  • Bose Premium Sound System
  • Rear Speakers
  • Bluetooth Wireless Music Streaming
  • Audi Music Interface (AMI)
  • Stereo Head Unit Upgrades
  • Later Generation Audi Stereos
  • CD Changer
• Seat Upgrades...
  • Sport Seats
  • Electrically Adjustable Lumbar Support
  • Heated Seats
• Steering Wheel Upgrades...
  • Multifunction Steering Wheel (Many Different Designs)
  • Non-Multifunction Steering Wheels
• Fog Lights...
  • Front Fog Lights
  • Twin Rear Fog Lights
• Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
  • Front Fog Lights as DRLs
• Rear Electric Windows
• Double-DIN Dashboard
• RNS-E Integrated SatNav
• Komfortblinker Indicators
• Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror (3 Different Designs)
• Bluetooth Phone Integration
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Optical Parking System
• Heated Mirrors
• Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
• Headlight Washers
• SideGuard Curtain Airbags
• Speech Dialogue System (Voice Control)
• Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
• False Floor Boot
• Twin Interior Boot Lights
• Pop-Out 12V Boot Socket
• Additional Keys
• 12V and USB Charging Sockets
• Anti-Hijack Locking
• Beep-on-Lock Full Closure Confirmation
• Aftermarket Dashcams
• HID Headlight Conversions
• Custom Requests

As time passes, more and more of the options listed above will link to further details. If you have any questions, please send me a private message or post in this thread.

Electrical Diagnostics, Services and Repairs

I have a complete understanding of the A2's electrical systems and have great experience of diagnosing and repairing most electrical problems.

• Central Locking Faults
• Door Lock Faults / Microswitches
• Central Convenience Unit Replacement
• Immobiliser Faults
• Instrument Cluster Repairs
• Engine Management Unit Services
• Additional Keys
• Climate Control Faults
• Bulb Check System Deactivation
• CAN Bus Upgrades
• Wiring Loom Replacement / Repairs
• Electrically Detachable Tailgate

TDI Engine Upgrades

• All-Alloy Intercoolers
• Silicone Boost Hoses

Accessing My Services

I'm based near Lancaster, just off M6 J34. My workshop is where a majority of my work is performed, and everyone is welcome to visit me by appointment. I'm sometimes to be found at 'satellite stations' in the Midlands and the South East. I also perform work on A2s at A2OC social events, where suitable/appropriate.
Very occasionally, I also do 'retrofitting tours', where I travel between multiple A2 owners to deliver upgrade and repair requests at owners' homes or places of work. Please note that I do not drive for individual jobs; it’s much easier to bring your A2 to my workshop than to bring my workshop to your A2.
For Central European owners, I'm happy to travel/fly. I also have a base in The Hague, which serves A2 owners in the BeNeLux region.

Please be aware that I am my own secretary and that I can struggle to reply to private messages promptly when work is busy. Rest assured, no message goes unanswered and I will get back to you. Thanks for your patience.

My list of services is always increasing, and I will continue to update and expand this thread as needed.

Warm regards to all,

Tom

 

[Neilf]

Visited Tom yesterday to have a new key/remote supplied and programmed for my A2 that I'd recently purchased . Fantastic service and over half the price of any quotes that I'd had from various companies. His knowledge of these cars is amazing. Would highly recommend him to any a2 owner. Thanks Tim and was great chatting to you. Your enthusiasm for these cars is awesome . Might be tempted in the future for some of the other mods you offer !

 

[Jeff Sutcliffe]

Visited Tim yesterday to have a new key/remote supplied and programmed for my A2 that I'd recently purchased . Fantastic service and over half the price of any quotes that I'd had from various companies. His knowledge of these cars is amazing. Would highly recommend him to any a2 owner. Thanks Tim and was great chatting to you. Your enthusiasm for these cars is awesome . Might be tempted in the future for some of the other mods you offer !

Timmus is Tom, not Tim?. I can see how people might assume otherwise.

 

[Mka306]

Timmus is Tom, not Tim?. I can see how people might assume otherwise.

Probably pushed for the i and hit the o, easily done.

 

[Neilf]

Probably pushed for the i and hit the o, easily done.

Yup hadn't realised it had auto corrected to Tim! Will edit it now .

 

[Neilf]

Timmus is Tom, not Tim?. I can see how people might assume otherwise.

Blame auto correct whilst typing and then not checking before I posted . Edited post so it's correct now ?

 

[EdinA2]

Hi All. Just back from a 340 mile round trip to Tom's to get a list of faults fixed and upgrades on my FSi. What a brillant 4 hours with Tom and well worth the time to get to him. Everything on the list fixed and even a few things that were not on the list sorted. I cannot speak highly enough of the talents of Tom, great service and fantastic attention to detail. 6 star service. Thanks Tom.

 

[A2on18's]

Thread folllwed! When I have the right car I definitely want to commit to spec it up too a great standard ??

 

[Mka306]

Thread folllwed! When I have the right car I definitely want to commit to spec it up too a great standard ??

You can't really go wrong with Tom, very experienced with the A2 and he can fit a lot of goodies to your car. I'm having cruise control, DIS and twin rear fogs done next week.

 

[drewroberts]

Twin rear fog lights I think are an inappropriate modification. As it makes a car appear to be braking all the time. Especially if careless owners leave them on in fine weather by mistake.

 

[Mka306]

Twin rear fog lights I think are an inappropriate modification. As it makes a car appear to be breaking all the time. Especially if careless owners leave them on in fine weather by mistake.

Many cars are made with twin fogs so I'd say it's not really an issue, it's legal and you are far more visible in fog. If you use them when appropriate it's not an issue. If you don't like the thought of having them then I'm guessing you won't but I think they are a good mod. Each to their own I suppose.

 

[Phil FSI]

Added built in redundancy?

 

[maxufeiss]

twin rear fogs

I used upper fog lights as combined rear DRL/fog light with some Osram dual "filament" LED bulbs, but i left fog light only on one side as before.

It is a instant clear sign of fog light, does not require rear driver to figure out if they are bright rear lights or someone is braking, both guesses being wrong. And dual fogs make it harder to see if someone steps on brakes, since both sides are already brightly lit in fog...

But i personally hate it when cars are not illuminated at rear, so i added rear DRL-s into both sides using lower wattage portion of LED bulbs. Uses less power than original rears and automatic switchover to original lower bulbs when DRL-s are switched over to main beams via relay.

 

[Nyakempanyo]

I can´t think of anybody better than Tom to handle the electrics and not just the electrics of the car. Wondering what to request for the next!

 

[Phil FSI]

I can´t think of anybody better than Tom to handle the electrics and not just the electrics of the car. Wondering what to request for the next!

Bluetooth!

 

[H-M3]

New member but WOW WOW and WOW! Hats off to Tom for the works. Tom can I kindly ask for price on rear pdc fitting, a flat steering wheel and Bose upgrade please. Thanks

 

[timmus]

New member but WOW WOW and WOW! Hats off to Tom for the works. Tom can I kindly ask for price on rear pdc fitting, a flat steering wheel and Bose upgrade please. Thanks

Hello,

Many thanks for your message and the enthusiastic response to this thread. Please accept my apologies for the delayed reply. As you may have seen, I've been extremely busy over the last month, working on a seemingly endless cavalcade of A2s in the South East...

Timmus in the South East - Summer 2021

Hello good people of A2OC, The easing of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions means that, once again, I am able to travel to provide A2 services. I'd like to thank everyone who has brought their A2 to me over the last months and supported me during these challenging and uncertain times. It is...

www.a2oc.net

If you're still potentially interested in having me work on your car, shall we start a private conversation to discuss the details?

Kind regards,

Tom

 

[Mightyleader]

Just wanted to say, though I am sure everyone knows already, what an amazing and professional service that @timmus provides. I've had front fogs, cruise control, DIS and a full dashboard swap performed by him and they've all been perfect.
If you're thinking of adding features to your A2 he's the man to speak with.

 

[timmus]

Electrically Detachable Tailgate

All four of the A2's doors are designed to be detachable. To remove any of the A2's doors, the hinges and check strap need to be unbolted, and the electrical connectors needs to be separated. All very straightforward. The photo below shows the area around the A2's door hinges.

Unfortunately, the same is not true of the tailgate. Although the tailgate can easily be separated from the main chassis of the A2 by unbolting its hinges, it remains attached to the car by the wiring. Unlike the A2's doors, the A2's tailgate is not electrically detachable; the main wiring looms on the inside of the car simply travel into the tailgate, thus tying the tailgate to the chassis. By default, in order to change the tailgate, all of the wiring loom within the tailgate needs to be removed and threaded through an impossibly small rubber conduit.

The wiring to the tailgate also passes through the black plastic gutters to either side of the boot opening, as shown in the photo below. Consequently, these gutters cannot easily be changed.

The solution is to modify the car's main interior wiring loom such that the tailgate is electrically detachable, just like the doors. The photo below shows that two additional genuine Audi connectors have been inserted by the D-pillars, highlighted by the white circles. This enables comparatively easy replacement of the whole tailgate or replacement of the gutters.

@Darren C's A2 has been the first to receive this modification. Consequently, the gutters were changed with ease. Should a whole tailgate ever need to be replaced, this modification to both recipient and donor A2 would make the process comparatively straightforward.

It is worth noting that there is a heating element within the rear tailgate to demist the glass. The connectors and their pinouts have been carefully chosen so as not to introduce a potential fire risk. Anyone who wishes to replicate this modification must do so with due consideration and diligence.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Darren C]

Testament to Tom's skills and painstaking diligence, the detachable tailgate modification went without a hitch. It went from concept, during a brief discussion and a cursory look at the wiring (visit 1), to a factory installation in visit 2. Ever the professional, there wasn't a wire cut until we had looked at the wiring diagram, identified and traced the wires, and made absolutely certain the correct connectors were chosen to ensure safety.

This modification might not be as sexy as Tom's colour DIS, but it is better than the factory design and every bit as innovative whilst remaining true to the marque in fit and finish. Tom is a very clever young man and we are very lucky that he chose to lavish his skills on Audi's finest. It is definitely worth having this done if you are replacing the headlining, as I am currently, or having curtain airbags fitted for example. As Tom says, the benefits hope to seldom be realised, but like an insurance policy, it is there waiting to be called upon.

Thanks Tom, a legend in many ways, not least as our electrical God and as a fine human being.

 

[H-M3]

Hello,

Many thanks for your message and the enthusiastic response to this thread. Please accept my apologies for the delayed reply. As you may have seen, I've been extremely busy over the last month, working on a seemingly endless cavalcade of A2s in the South East...

Timmus in the South East - Summer 2021

Hello good people of A2OC, The easing of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions means that, once again, I am able to travel to provide A2 services. I'd like to thank everyone who has brought their A2 to me over the last months and supported me during these challenging and uncertain times. It is...

www.a2oc.net

If you're still potentially interested in having me work on your car, shall we start a private conversation to discuss the details?

Kind regards,

Tom

Yeah that would be cool so I can take it from there.