Bart A Lane

<center><img src="http://www.isomedia.com/homes/bartlane/bbs.jpg"></center><p>It has been tiresome. In reviews I have read of the A8 all have reported it to be an excellent car but with two complaints; tires and brakes. Of which both are rated as crappy. I also had a personal issue with both wheels offered, I didn't care for them. (I got the 17" 5 spoke but they look just too mundane for my tastes. This car needs some flash to wake it up visually because it is very beautiful, just not eye catching enough to get people to spend the time to notice its beauty.)

The wheels I really wanted, and the most beautiful set of wheels ever designed in my opinion, come from Audi of all places. That is the 6 spoke Avus S8 wheels. I called around to get a set and Vortrag said they could get me a set. I paid with a credit card right away. I was told that it would take 2-3 weeks to get them in their hands from Germany and another 2 days to me. Sounded great. 3 weeks passed, no word. I e-mailed and was told they were sitting customs. I was told they sat in customs for the next 3 weeks. Finally, he gets them in. I am phoning at this point because I want my wheels. Well, they tell me that one rim was bent in shipping and I can't have them!!! What a major let down, a terrible disappointment. So, I ordered some BBS wheels at 18x8" from the Tire Rack who earlier had delivered some tires to me very quickly. I expect them any day now. The wheels are BBS RX rims and were very reasonably priced for BBS wheels. I really like the Tire Rack so far, I have used them a number of occasions and the service has always been good, fast, and nicely priced. There is a photo of my new wheels within this post that I found on the Net attached to somebody's GTI. What do you think? Do you like them? If my calculations are correct my Audi stock center cap should pop right in place on the BBS wheels giving them a stock look.

Tires; I wanted three things in my tires. Long wear, low noise, and great in the rain. (I live in Seattle.) After much research only one tire really fit my needs, the <A HREF="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/dunlop/du_s9000.htm">Dunlup SP Sport 9000</A>. I had a set on a 2000 A6 4.2 which I owned briefly last year and they were really great tires all the way around. I got them in 245/45/18 which is A.) The stock S8 tire size so I know they fit under the flanks OK and B.) The same rolling height as the stock 225/55/17 tires on my car now so the speedo will not need to be recalibrated. I mean they are the <i>exact</i> same height. The tires come in a massive array of sizes too.

Brakes, this was the hard one. I have upgraded brakes on other cars I have owned so at least this was familiar territory. Usually I get some good pads, some braided steel brake hoses, and use Motul fluid. But the A8 was a special car and I wanted really world class brakes on it. Enter <A HREF="http://www.movit.de"><i>Movit</i></A>, a Denmark based company that converts Porsche 911 Turbo racing brakes to fit most any car you can think of. I contacted <A HREF="http://www.ultimategarage.com">Ultimate Garage</A>, the US distributor of Movit brake kits and talked to Steve. No kits had been done for the A8 in the US but it could be done. They got my VIN, and production date, etc and looked into it. Turns out they figured some stanard Audi kits already in stock could be put together and should fit my car. A kit was assembled and shipped to me. This is a kick *** brake set up; big, fat-***, drilled, two piece rotors with aluminum hats and <B>HUGE</B> four piston, red rotors with the Porsche name on one side and Brembo on the other. I really was quite taken with these brakes and could not wait to put them on. The kit also comes with four braided steel hoses for front and back. (Cost was $2800, he took off $300 for me if I agreed to take some photos and write up some installation notes since I was the first US A8 customer. As explained later on it could be more expensive.) The only problem is that the kit didn't fit. The rotors had S6/S8 stamped on the aluminum hat fit fine. The billet aluminum brackets that allow the Porsche calipers to bolt to various different size car mounting holes were too small for the A8 steering knuckle. My bolt holes are 12mm in diameter and ~135mm apart while the bracket they sent me, which was stamped A4/S4, had 10mm holes ~110mm apart. We are waiting now to see what they say in Denmark. A new kit might have to be made for me which will take some time. If the calipers need to be machined specifically for the A8 then the cost of the kit will go up. I think this will have to happen because when I hold the caliper up to the mounting holes on the A8 there is very little room to work with. I should find out more today and will post what I learn if anybody is interested.

So, two months ago I started a project. I still don't have the parts I need or even know if/when they are coming. At least I have the wheels/tires worked out, the wheels I like but don't love and the thinner spokes will really show off the smallish A8 brakes even more. It will come around.

Ali B

I haven't seen these wheels, and supposedly they are only available as an option on the LWB model. I do know that they are 18 x 8 and are mounted on 245 tires. Just wondering if you considered this possible OEM option through an Audi dealer?

Ali B

Oops! Make that 18" x 8"

Bart A. Lane

I have seen them, they look like the 16" base wheels only bigger. Lots of circular holes around the outer edge and solid in the center. They didn't really knock me off my feet either. I like every Audi wheel there is with the exception of the US A8 offerings. I love the A6 4.2 wheel, most of the A6 wheels actually, and the S4 wheels of course. They just seem to want the A8 wheels to be boring.

Fred Comstek

that someone may have on a honda or chevy malibu. I understand your point on most of audi's wheels, but I some of the wheels they offer on the A8, especially the 18"'ers on the lwb.

Good Luck though...

Let us all know if you go for the MTM supercharger kit...

me

But I know this is hard to ask of a west coaster.