My Bi-turbo Cactus Green Audi S4 B5

[JJ.]

That's exactly how B5 S4's get their reputation for being money pits... they require mindful caretakers and most are/were neglected for years. Glad to see this one being treated right! And Cactus too! Not many Cactus cars in the US. The Cactus/bronze combo looks awesome!

Im glad I pulled the motor right after I bought it, never had a problem with it, always starts and runs good.
Last July I've seen my first other cactus b5 s4, quite rare over here as well.
Thanks man!

To be fair, if the B5 S4 was taken care of, they're not too bad.

Just gotta do the job properly once with the Turbos and all, adn you're usually pretty good to go.

True, but sometimes I think luck as a lot to do with it as well.

Oh wow, cool B5. I'd love to pick one up as a project. But then again, all my cars are beginning to be projects so none of them would ever get done.

The seats are a nice touch. Ever think of going RS4 turbos?

Thanks! Haha I know what you mean, I'd love to have some other cars as well as project. But can only do so much at once.
Of course, but it's not on my high priority list, If they fail I'll upgrade. Not done with the exterior/interior yet.

Love it all except the rust, keep it up!

Thanks! Seems like a well know point of b5's to rust, never noticed but since I know it gets my attention when I see a b5 without fenders haha.


And it's time for an update I think, been a bit sloppy with that.

[electricalbox]

Love it all except the rust, keep it up!

[Clun9]

Oh wow, cool B5. I'd love to pick one up as a project. But then again, all my cars are beginning to be projects so none of them would ever get done.

The seats are a nice touch. Ever think of going RS4 turbos?

[becausephilchow]

To be fair, if the B5 S4 was taken care of, they're not too bad.

Just gotta do the job properly once with the Turbos and all, adn you're usually pretty good to go.

[toddzilla]

Cheers! The only way of doing it I think. A nice car is worthless if it sits broken down all the time right

That's exactly how B5 S4's get their reputation for being money pits... they require mindful caretakers and most are/were neglected for years. Glad to see this one being treated right! And Cactus too! Not many Cactus cars in the US. The Cactus/bronze combo looks awesome!

[JJ.]

I love how you tackled all the maintenance first before modding the car, love seeing people do a proper build!

Cheers! The only way of doing it I think. A nice car is worthless if it sits broken down all the time right

[becausephilchow]

I love how you tackled all the maintenance first before modding the car, love seeing people do a proper build!

[JJ.]

I'm doing way to much things at the same time without finishing the previous job. But that's oke[]

Started with the ''new'' front fenders, the current ones look like shit.

Last year I decided to roll the fenders, not knowing that they had some bodywork done to them by the PO.
During the rolling the filler broke, and it all got a lot worse, since it needed new paint anyway I decided to get some replacements and make those perfect for a wide fitment.

On the new ones I cut away the lip that normally gets rolled upwards, I figured by doing this I got even more free space and it looks cleaner. I think I'll slightly pull the fenders as well.

State of th current fenders..:









And it's unbelievable to see how much things are stuffed back in there haha.



''New'' ones..:








And my car has rust on the body welds beneath the fenders, near the window...

[JJ.]

Hi Andy,

Cheers bro, have been a while now but not very active.

[vwhatton]

good work jj didnt know you were on here
andy df

[JJ.]

Maintenance

In preparation for the new season there were still some technical issues to be dealt with.

• CV boot front
• front wheel bearing, passenger side

I choose to refresh both axles with all new boots and also replace both front wheel bearings.







Carbon

I've also been busy with carbon fiber, I wanted more of that nice stuff.
But it's quite expensive to get done, so I figured I have a go at it myself, I like to do everything myself anyway haha.

I never knew better than there being just one type of carbon, well I was wrong. After comparing lots of photo's of the different weaves I choose the ''plain weave''
I did buy a starters kit which had the ''twill weave'' included so in the next two photo's you can see the difference between them.

• Twill weave rear ashtray cover
  
  
  
• Plain weave rear ashtray cover
  
  

I'll be keeping the plain weave cover

A small impression of the work that is involved with the making of some simple parts.

Scuff up original parts, clean, degrease and cut carbon fiber to ''size''.


Apply basecoat, stick on carbon fiber, drape it carefully around the part.


Apply first coats of epoxy resin, till thickk enough to sand flat.


Trim of excess carbon and sand flat to grit 1500 and apply clear coat.


Sand clearcoat to grit 3000 and polish.


Result of above process is as seen on the ashtray cover.

Still have a lot of parts to finish, but as you can see it takes quite some time.
I have a much better understanding of the carbon prices now haha.


Seats

Last January I bought a complete Audi TT mk2 interior, with the plan to put the front seats in the S4.
The colour is a great match for something with production dates that far apart. I might redo the rear seats to match the pattern in the seats.



These seats won't fit without a bit of fabrication, I've made some brackets to mount the seats without making changes to the seats or car.

The only thing left to do it to make an adapter loom for the airbags of the seats.
Only problem is I can't find any TT or S4 B5 wiring loom diagrams.

[JJ.]

super rad man, do you dig the fishbowl look? no plans on tints? feel like it would bring the green out alot more.

So many plans, tint is one of them haha.
Thanks

[ihate0sc]

super rad man, do you dig the fishbowl look? no plans on tints? feel like it would bring the green out alot more.

[JJ.]

Thanks man

[Laef]

usually not a fan of these audi's gen but have to admit this looks spot on man!