better than sex and almost as good as eating watermelon
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better than sex and almost as good as eating watermelon
That's what they say in the South when something is really, really good. And that's what I say about my new (to me) A8 -- 1999, melange/ecru (I feel a little gender-conflicted saying that...), 17" wheels, 64K, new iPod adapter courtesy of PaulW's excellent audipages (anybody know how to get that engine whine out on low volume settings?), and massive, massive fun doing big fast figure eights in a high school parking lot during a huge sloppy snowstorm tonight in Boulder. I've wanted one of those cars for eight years! And tonight (never mind that ABS light that came on leaving the restaurant -- or wait, was that an "abs" light telling me I ate too much? geez these cars are smart) -- tonight I feel like a genius for buying this magnificent beast for what someone else just paid for a used Jetta. There IS a God, and he comes from Ingolstadt.
Brian
Brian
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Re: better than sex and almost as good as eating watermelon
I've owned a '99 A-8 Quattro from new.
The ABS light is not a good sign, and you may be in for a costly repair.
I can tell you some of the other glitches and recalls I've had with this car, which I still love.
Of the many Audi's I've owned, my favorite was the '88 5000 FWD/Standard which I was forced to sell in 2002 due to the death of the mechanic who kept it going for me. The interior was spotless and the only thing it needed was replacement of a few superfluous parts in the engine that had surface rust from being parked near the ocean for many summers.
As far as the title of this thread, as much as I love to eat, watermelon is fattening so I'll take driving the Quattro instead.
:-)
The ABS light is not a good sign, and you may be in for a costly repair.
I can tell you some of the other glitches and recalls I've had with this car, which I still love.
Of the many Audi's I've owned, my favorite was the '88 5000 FWD/Standard which I was forced to sell in 2002 due to the death of the mechanic who kept it going for me. The interior was spotless and the only thing it needed was replacement of a few superfluous parts in the engine that had surface rust from being parked near the ocean for many summers.
As far as the title of this thread, as much as I love to eat, watermelon is fattening so I'll take driving the Quattro instead.
:-)
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From: Wilbur by the Sea
iPod install
Congrats!
If you don't have vag-com (the ross-tech software and cable) yet....this is a must.
When you get the engine whinning at low volumes.....is the power supply plugged in? If so, does it go away when the power supply is unplugged?
I found that when I plugged my power supply in to the cigarette lighter before I hardwired it, got a lot of whinning.
Then I hard wired it to below the armrest using the phone power from my V60 install.....it went away.
Sometimes it comes back.....when that happens, I just run it off the battery.
If it whines when on the iPod battery....then you have a bad connection somewhere....
If you don't have vag-com (the ross-tech software and cable) yet....this is a must.
When you get the engine whinning at low volumes.....is the power supply plugged in? If so, does it go away when the power supply is unplugged?
I found that when I plugged my power supply in to the cigarette lighter before I hardwired it, got a lot of whinning.
Then I hard wired it to below the armrest using the phone power from my V60 install.....it went away.
Sometimes it comes back.....when that happens, I just run it off the battery.
If it whines when on the iPod battery....then you have a bad connection somewhere....
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Re: iPod install
Hmm, there is a problem with the iPod adapter? Being that I am also a MacGoddess, I was going to buy myself an iPod for Christmas and now I am wondering how it would work in theA-8
What does using the adapter involve? How do I work it into the BOSE with the 10 speakers?
What does using the adapter involve? How do I work it into the BOSE with the 10 speakers?
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From: Wilbur by the Sea
Two different ways to do it
You can either hack into your wiring on your car like I did <a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/electrical_equipment/ipodinstall.html" target="_blank">here</a>......
Or you can buy a Blitzsafe adaptor and you won't have the CD changer anymore.....which I did after I did the Nav Plus......<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/76656.phtml">here are the details, also added XM</a>
Or you can buy an adaptor from Jeff Bipes that will allow you to hook up your iPod and keep your CD changer....I think $150...<a href="http://jbipes.home.comcast.net/ttr/index.html target=_blank">visit his website for a lot of info on electronics</a>.
That's where I got the idea for my first iPod mod....did one more on a 2000, but then just got the Blitzsafe for the Nav Plus.
Or you can buy a Blitzsafe adaptor and you won't have the CD changer anymore.....which I did after I did the Nav Plus......<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/76656.phtml">here are the details, also added XM</a>
Or you can buy an adaptor from Jeff Bipes that will allow you to hook up your iPod and keep your CD changer....I think $150...<a href="http://jbipes.home.comcast.net/ttr/index.html target=_blank">visit his website for a lot of info on electronics</a>.
That's where I got the idea for my first iPod mod....did one more on a 2000, but then just got the Blitzsafe for the Nav Plus.
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Re: Two different ways to do it
I have been perusing your pages and did not realize what hacking in involved and was thinking more of the adapter method.
I am also seeing that although my '99 with barely 50K miles on it is in mint condition, I have done most of the repairs you mention on the used shopping pages.
I had a 'minor' accident ($3700) which involved the bumper and one fender but it did not affect the engine at all and was fixed to perfection at the authorized dealer.
My only dissastisfaction, after owning an '88 5000 among 5 others, is the suspension which I feel is soft and mushy.
I have already replaced stock brakes with more high performance types.
I am also seeing that although my '99 with barely 50K miles on it is in mint condition, I have done most of the repairs you mention on the used shopping pages.
I had a 'minor' accident ($3700) which involved the bumper and one fender but it did not affect the engine at all and was fixed to perfection at the authorized dealer.
My only dissastisfaction, after owning an '88 5000 among 5 others, is the suspension which I feel is soft and mushy.
I have already replaced stock brakes with more high performance types.
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From: Wilbur by the Sea
Suspension Rebuild will make it tight again
A control arm kit with tie rod ends is about $550 or so.....then about $500 for the install....it will be perfect again!
You can find kits on ebay....but the ones for an A4 and A6 do not have the same upper control arms, all other arms are the same.
You can find kits on ebay....but the ones for an A4 and A6 do not have the same upper control arms, all other arms are the same.
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Re: Suspension Rebuild will make it tight again
I know this but I am at a disadvantage, seeing as the mechanic is no longer with me. :-(
But I agree that without these modifications, I dream about the ride that the 5000 gave, and the way it forged through 2 ft of unplowed snow here with not so much as a slip, in the boonies of NH when I was forced to drive home at night through a blizzard. Not one skid in 13 years.
This is opposed to the A-8 that has spun out on me several times and scared the hell out of me. I guess I am still not used to the sloppyness of it and will have to do some 'lot practice' this winter!
But I agree that without these modifications, I dream about the ride that the 5000 gave, and the way it forged through 2 ft of unplowed snow here with not so much as a slip, in the boonies of NH when I was forced to drive home at night through a blizzard. Not one skid in 13 years.
This is opposed to the A-8 that has spun out on me several times and scared the hell out of me. I guess I am still not used to the sloppyness of it and will have to do some 'lot practice' this winter!
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Re: iPod install
It's whining on the battery, I haven't done a power install yet. How'd you do that, Paul? Where'd you get the piece that plugs into the south end of the iPod? How come the power tutorial hasn't made it to your mod pages yet?! (BTW, thanks for your excellent instructions - my stereo guy printed them to do the iPod install yesterday - you oughta get a royalty...)