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Ti Kan: Audi - My 2001.5 S4 2.7 biturbo quattro

Celebrating 24 years of passion and performance
"A hammer wrapped in velvet...
Beautifully refined automobile that is silken in its demeanor
yet sneaky fast when called for.
With quattro, it provides the ultimate in mobility."

Click on any photo thumbnail to see a larger version. Since the modifications and upgrades were done over the course of many years (and ongoing), not all photos reflect the current state.

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Original Specifications and Features

The following is my S4's original specifications and features as delivered from Audi in November 2000.

  • 2.7L (2671cc) 90° V6 engine, DOHC 5-valves/cylinder, 9.3:1 compression ratio, twin turbochargers, twin charge-air intercoolers
  • Variable geometry composite intake manifold, variable valve timing
  • Bosch Motronic ME7.0 engine management, direct ignition, dual knock sensors
  • Quad catalysts, quad heated oxygen sensors
  • 250hp @ 5800 rpm, 258 lb-ft torque from 1850-3600 rpm, maximum engine speed 6800 rpm
  • quattro permanent all wheel drive with TorSEN center differential, electronic differential lock (EDL), and electronic stability program (ESP)
  • 6-speed manual transmission
    • 1st: 3.50:1
    • 2nd: 1.89:1
    • 3rd: 1.23:1
    • 4th: 0.97:1
    • 5th: 0.81:1
    • 6th: 0.68:1
    • Final drive: 4.11:1
  • Sport front suspension: four-link independent with virtual steering axis, gas-charged shock absorbers, coil springs, anti-roll bar
  • Sport rear suspension: double wishbones, gas-charged shock absorbers, coil springs, anti-roll bar
  • High performance diagonally-split dual system braking with ABS 5.3 and electronic brake force distribution
  • Front vented 320mm (12.6") disc brakes with HP2, dual piston 4-pad calipers
  • Rear vented 256mm (10.1") disc brakes
  • Quick-ratio (16.2:1) power assisted rack and pinion steering, tilt-and-telescope adjustable steering column
  • 7.5Jx17 Avus design alloy wheels, including spare
  • 225/45ZR17 ultra high-performance radial tires
  • Dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, dual side-curtain "Sideguard" head airbags, central locking auto-unlock and interior light auto-illumination on airbag deployment
  • Xenon HID high-intensity discharge headlights with automatic self-leveling.
  • Front fog lights, rear fog light
  • Anti-theft alarm system with interior motion sensors
  • High pressure headlight washer system
  • Grey polished birds-eye maple wood inlays on dash, center console and doors
  • Silver Silk Nappa leather upholstery on seats, door panel and armrest
  • Leather wrapped 3-spoke sport steering wheel, shift boot and hand brake lever
  • Electronic climate control with pollen filter and sun sensor
  • Drive-by-wire electronic throttle, cruise control system with coast, acceleration and resume
  • 10-way power front seats with power lumbar adjustment, front center fold-down armrest with storage bin
  • 60/40 folding rear seat, first-aid kit in rear armrest bin
  • Remote keyless locking with controls in folding key, central locking system with selective unlock
  • 170mph speedometer, digital odometer with trip odometer, 8000rpm tachometer, fuel gauge, coolant temperature gauge, oil temperature gauge, voltmeter, digital clock with date
  • Multi-function driver information display (DIS) in instrument cluster for auto-check system, radio status display, trip computer (miles to fuel empty / instantaneous MPG / driving time / avg MPG / avg speed), user-programmable speed warning system, service interval reminder, and navigation system
  • Auto-dimming instrument cluster/console lighting, red illumination with white instrument pointers, fade-in/fade-out interior lights, footwell lights, red LED ambient lighting system for center console and safety light on each door
  • Heated driver's door lock, heated windshield washer nozzles, heated side mirrors
  • Power windows with one-touch down on all windows, one-touch up on front windows, and pinch protection on all windows.
  • Retained accessory power after key is removed from ignition
  • Convenience close feature for all windows and the sunroof, and convenience open feature for all windows using the key
  • 4 tie-down eyelets in trunk, cargo net
  • Premium package: tilt-slide power glass sunroof with preset control and pinch protection, HomeLink® transmitter, auto-dimming rear view and side mirrors
  • Cold weather package: heated front seats with individual temperature adjustment, expandable ski/storage sack
  • Audi/Bose premium sound system with Symphony radio (1-CD player, cassette, AM/FM stereo) and 8 speakers
  • Audi 6 disc CD changer, installed in trunk
  • Diverisity radio antenna system with signal booster, automatically selects best reception between multiple antennas on rear windshield
  • Audi BNS GPS navigation system with graphical information display in instrument cluster and voice directives
  • Light silver clearcoat metallic paintwork

Modifications/Upgrades

  • Modification, not molestation: My upgrades are all done with the philosophy that they are tasteful, never to detract from Audi's inherent understated beauty, elegance and refinement.
  • So far I've left the engine stock, with just a "stage 1" ECU software upgrade and diverter valves upgrade. Most of the other changes are in brakes, suspension, lighting, electronics and appearance. Since this car already came fully equipped (all options except the factory wired phone and automatic transmission), a limited number of upgrades were done.
  • Read about my ColorMFA upgrade for the instrument cluster.
  • I received the "Best Audi" award at the 034motorsport 2018 WinterFest Car Show.
The table below lists items on this car that have been modified from its original stock configuration. It generally does not list hardware (i.e., bolts, washers, nuts or hose clamps).

Engine
ECU software upgrade APR EMCS Stage 1 with 4 programs (stock, 91, 93 and 100 AKI octane),
valet mode, security lockout, anti-theft and fault-code erase,
selectable from the cruise control stalk switches
93 octane program: 318hp @ 6500rpm, 382 ft-lb @ 2400rpm
[horsepower/torque graph]
Diverter valves Audi 06A 145 710 N (Kayser 3.023.348)
After-run auxiliary coolant pump thermoswitch Audi 021 919 369, (93°C/88°C)
See this Audiworld tech article for details
Coolant thermostat housing Audi 078 121 121 J, all-aluminum with stainless steel inserts
Vacuum "spider" hose with check valve Audi 078 103 235 R, new improved version
Motor oil Mobil-1 0W-40 European car formula synthetic
Center engine cover Audi 078 103 127 AE
C5 Allroad 2.7T version with sculpted 4-ring emblem and "biturbo" painted red
Engine cover over ABS unit and hydraulic fluid reservoir European V5 Passat 3B0 119 487 C
Modified to fit the S4
Brake System
Disc brakes Front brake discs: ECS Tuning GEOMET 320mm vented and slotted
Front brake pads: Mintex red box MDB2120D
Rear brake discs: Stop-Tech 256mm vented and slotted
Rear brake pads: EBC Red Stuff ceramic
Painted brake calipers (red) with "S" emblems
Wheels/Suspension/Chassis
Wheels Audi 8Jx18 ET45 5x112mm "Avus" from B6 S4, 8E0 601 025 L
Wheel spacers Hubcentric 57.1mm bore, 5x112mm
Front: 10mm
Rear: 15mm
Used with matching longer wheel bolts
Tires Continental ExtremeContact Sport 235/40ZR18 95Y XL
Springs and dampers Solo-Werks S1 adjustable coilovers, front and rear, S1AU004
Rear anti-roll bar 034motorsport solid rear bar 034-402-1001
Rear subframe reinforcement 034motorsport billet aluminum rear subframe reinforcement kit 034-402-7002
Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning
Heater core Passat all-metal, 8D1 819 031 C
Interior/Instrumentation
Steering wheel Custom made flat-bottom, thick-rimmed sport steering wheel with smooth and perforated leather sections, red stripe and stitching and "S4" emblem
Steering wheel airbag Audi 8N0 880 201 (from 2000 Audi TT with "alu-optik" trim)
Inflater replaced Nov 16, 2021 (Audi recall campaign 69CJ, 8D0 898 201 A)
Interior door handles RS4-look: exchanged stock chrome handles with matt-black power-coated version from Robert Pleasanton
Rear view mirror Audi 8E0 857 511 A 01C auto-dimming mirror with digital compass and on/off switch
Instrument cluster Driver Information System (DIS) display replaced with ColorMFA,
firmware can be updated via USB port
Tire pressure monitoring system Displays each tire's pressure and temperature, plus battery voltage,
Selectable metric or imperial units
Color LCD display unit plugs into cigarette lighter port on center console,
Audible warning if readings go outside of preset limits,
Pressure/temperature sensors located at each wheel, as special tire valve stem caps
Courtesy puddle lights Retrofit at the bottom of each door panel,
LED powered light modules that cast a "S4" logo halo on the ground when the door is open
Wire connector: 893 971 632
Interior lighting upgrade Overhead interior lights: 42mm festoon-style white LED bulbs
Map lights, front and rear: BA9s white LED bulbs
Footwell lights: 194 wedge-style white LED bulbs
Glove box light: 36mm festoon-style white LED bulb
Vanity mirror lights: 36mm festoon-style white LED bulbs
Luggage compartment lights: 36mm festoon-style white LED bulbs
Exterior
Front grille Audi RS4 "honeycomb" grille with matte aluminum trim, 8D0 853 651 T
Affixed with "S4" emblem
Side mirror housings Audi sport package aluminum mirror housings
Left: 8D1 858 499 A 2ZZ
Right: 8D1 858 500 A 2ZZ
Electrical system
Headlights Audi/Valeo European-specification HID headlight housings
Left: 8D0 941 029 AN
Right: 8D0 941 030 AN
Low beam bulbs: D2S Osram Xenarc 66240CBI HID
High beam bulbs: H7 high power white LED bulbs with braided copper heat sinks (6500K, 16000 lumens)
City light bulbs: White 13-LED BA9s
Turn signal/parking lights: 3157 switchback amber/white dual LED bulbs
Load resistors
Front fog lights H7 white LED bulbs
Daylight running lights White LED array modules mounted to bumper grilles,
Each module has 6 LEDs (3 narrow beam, 3 wide beam),
Electronic control unit to turn on DRLs automatically when the engine is running
Side marker lights 194 wedge-style amber LED bulbs
Tail lights EPP AZAL02 LED tail light housings, modified:
Brake/tail lights: built-in red LED array
Backup light: High intensity 1156 white LED bulb
Fog light: High intensity 1156 red LED bulb
Turn signal: built-in red LED array
Load resistors
Center-mount brake lights High intensity 194 wedge-style red LEDs, 4 pieces
Licence plate lights Ziza T10W37KT-14 36mm festoon-style white LED
Fog light control relay Audi 8D0 907 701 A
Modified to allow fog lights to be turned on independent of headlights
Battery DieHard Gold 94RH7 800CCA
Audio/Navigation/Phone/Rear View Camera
Head unit Audi "Navigation plus" RNS-E mk2 with color LED display, 8P0 035 193 F
Audi A3 8P unit, retrofitted into the S4 8D
Custom front faceplate for perfect fit
2x screen resolution and faster processor than RNS-E mk1
Multimedia Interface (MMI) style controls
FM/AM radio
CD player
SD card MP3 player (2 slots, SDHC/SDxC* compatible)
Name directory
GPS navigation with map and voice guidance
DVD or SDHC/SDxC card* based maps
Supplementary audio and navigation information shown on the instrument cluster's DIS (ColorMFA) screen
TMC (Traffic Messaging Channel) receiver for info and navigation
External CD changer or Phatnoise Phatbox support (Phatbox installed)
Bluetooth hands-free telephone support, with external module
Satellite radio (Sirius/XM) support, with external module (not installed)
AUX audio and video input, on rear panel connector (Bluetooth audio receiver module installed)
Rear view camera support, when in reverse gear
Interface to the in-car infotainment CAN bus
Custom startup splash screen*
SD card playback album cover art*
SD card playback scrolling track name on DIS*
many other features*
Currently running North America firmware version 0310 "Fir" from rnse.pcbbc.co.uk
(* asterisk items are provided by the pcbbc firmware update and optional Feature Pack)
Wiring adapters Kufatec 33405-8 Quadlock main adapter (modified)
Kufatec 33403 diversity radio antenna adapter
GPS antenna Kufatec 33820 active antenna
mounted inside dashboard, above glove box
V-Signal/RFSL CAN bus module Arduino®-based controller with CAN bus shield
Converts V-Signal (vehicle speed) and RFSL (reverse gear selected) signals from the car into CAN messages
Needed for newer production RNS-E mk2 units for proper navigation and rear view camera functionality
Phatnoise Phatbox Digital audio player installed in lieu of a CD changer in the luggage compartment, controlled via RNS-E with voice guidance.
Phatbox was hacked to allow the use of "non-approved" disk drives
DMS hard drive cartridge, modified with 500GB SSD for music storage
Music library managed on a PC with special software
Bluetooth audio receiver Small module that plugs into the RNS-E rear panel AUX input port
Allows streaming music from mobile phone, tablet or laptop
Bluetooth telephone module Bluetooth phone module: 8P0 862 335 R
Plug-in antenna: 8P0 035 503 E
Enables hands-free mobile phone functionality on the RNS-E
Mounted in luggage compartment, below CD changer slot, with Audi 4D0 919 892 enclosure and custom Audi logo front panel
Custom wired to the car's telephone pre-wiring, diagnostic K-line and the infotainment CAN bus
Power amplifier Bose amplifier upgrade
Audi D2 A8/S8 200W amplifier, 4D0 035 225
installed in place of the stock 80W unit See this Audizine post for details
Diversity radio antenna switcher/booster Audi 4D0 035 530 E (update from 4D0 035 530 C)
Rear View Camera (RVC) system Displays rear view on RNS-E screen when in reverse gear
Kufatec 36492-1 (including 36461 interface module and 35542 wiring harness)
Rear view camera with guide lines (mounted on trunklid)
Composite video transmitter and receiver
Custom wiring
Miscellaneous
Key Audi B7-style remote control folding key fob

That turned out to be quite a list!