Audi 80 Saved from the scrapheap...
Discussion
Usget said:
drewwa said:
The only weird thing about this was that the Audi doesn't appear to have a switched live feed, so there's no way to turn the stereo on and off with the ignition.
I believe I'm right in saying that all this era of VAG cars had stereos switched on/off by CANBUS rather than by a simple switched live. I think you'll need a CANBUS adaptor (or a bodge!)I remember something being odd with the stereo in ours, but can't remember exactly how I got round it (if at all).
drewwa said:
Love the idea of an RS2 saloon. A proper sleeper! Beautiful car - are those headlamps from the Cabrio/S2? Are they an easy swap?
I wouldn't say no to foglamps either, but that either looks like a bumper change or removing and changing some of the trim on the front. Not sure.
The larger alloys look great on your car. I'll admit that's the only bit of the visuals of the 80 that look a bit out of place to me. 15" alloys on such a big car look distinctly undernourished. The tyres will need a change before too long, so I'll have to decide then.
I rather fancied a set of the Cabriolet 17" Boleros but it would probably be cheaper to buy a cabriolet whole rather than source a second hand set of the right fitment!
I've encountered a bit of the orange goo in the door cards already when I swapped out the dead OE speakers. Nasty stuff, not going there again if I can help it. Fortunately the headlining appears to be sound, at least for now. I'll leave it undisturbed!
I'll check into the ignition barrel, would be good for peace of mind, don't fancy the electrics cutting out on a cold winters night!
The headlights are pretty easy to swap,it's easier on a V6 as they already have the indicators in the bumper. All I had to do was swap one pin in the headlight plug to a different slot, I think it's the main beam one. You would need to add fog lights and indicators in the bumper as well, it's really not too difficult, you just swap the trims rather than the whole bumper, the mounting points are already there. You would have to do some wiring, and I'm not quite sure whether you would find the fog light wiring was already there. There are a lot of cabriolets being broken so it would be easy to at least get the plugs. Those headlights were fitted to S2s from 93 model year onwards, all RS2s and later cabriolets, they are all the same.I wouldn't say no to foglamps either, but that either looks like a bumper change or removing and changing some of the trim on the front. Not sure.
The larger alloys look great on your car. I'll admit that's the only bit of the visuals of the 80 that look a bit out of place to me. 15" alloys on such a big car look distinctly undernourished. The tyres will need a change before too long, so I'll have to decide then.
I rather fancied a set of the Cabriolet 17" Boleros but it would probably be cheaper to buy a cabriolet whole rather than source a second hand set of the right fitment!
I've encountered a bit of the orange goo in the door cards already when I swapped out the dead OE speakers. Nasty stuff, not going there again if I can help it. Fortunately the headlining appears to be sound, at least for now. I'll leave it undisturbed!
I'll check into the ignition barrel, would be good for peace of mind, don't fancy the electrics cutting out on a cold winters night!
I don't especially like the wheels on my car, they were on it when I bought it. I have RS2 Porsche Cup 1s and a set of 18" Cup 3s I just haven't fitted the Porsche hubs yet. I used to run 15" speedlines like yours with winter tyres, they definitely give a more comfortable ride, but the understeer is worse. Boleros do look good and are the only factory 17" option in 4x108. Be careful if you are looking at buying a set, as they buckle really easily. The 16" wheels that were fitted to the competition are probably my favourite.
The radio does only have one power feed, if you want to add a switched live then any blue wire with a black tracer is what you want, I can't think what the best circuit to tap into would be, but there are plenty of options. It definitely does not have canbus, even when every other Audi on sale did in the late 90s, the cabriolet used a unique version of the factory head unit that did not need canbus.
I love these kinda threads finding something from a scrapyard and finding it's pretty much serviceable and with some basic maintenance brings a car back to life.
I was actually wanted one of these back when i started learning to drive but the insurance was astronomical at the time (£2k TPFT)
I was actually wanted one of these back when i started learning to drive but the insurance was astronomical at the time (£2k TPFT)
Very impressive cars which I had want for after being chauffeured a few times in one in Germany when they were current - excellent on the autobahnen.
Eventually found a 2.3E (5 pot) via a mountain bike forum - great way to buy a car - like an automatic character reference for the seller.
As others have said really well built and while not outright fast it was a pleasure to rev the 5 cylinder out.
Well equipped too - a/c and sun roof.
Soggy on the corners IIRC but I didn't put much effort into correcting this.
Sorry to part with mine and very pleased to see this one back from the brink.
Eventually found a 2.3E (5 pot) via a mountain bike forum - great way to buy a car - like an automatic character reference for the seller.
As others have said really well built and while not outright fast it was a pleasure to rev the 5 cylinder out.
Well equipped too - a/c and sun roof.
Soggy on the corners IIRC but I didn't put much effort into correcting this.
Sorry to part with mine and very pleased to see this one back from the brink.
Also, regarding a headlamp swap, it’s very easy to convert it to HID because they are projector headlamps. This means the beam pattern isn’t distorted and scattered blinding evEryone like HID conversion done on lamps with patterned lens.
I changed both of mine and it made a huge difference, plus it’s pretty much plug and play
I changed both of mine and it made a huge difference, plus it’s pretty much plug and play
Good work reviving this one.
From a period in time when Audi were still earning their prestige status and before everybody got obsessed with stupid big wheels with awful ride. Discrete quality for discrete people.
I don't know if more modern Audis have dropped in quality but the looks are getting fussier with each generation. I think things peaked around 2000 in terms of styling: TT, A4 B5, A6 all simple, elegant designs that just haven't dated.
From a period in time when Audi were still earning their prestige status and before everybody got obsessed with stupid big wheels with awful ride. Discrete quality for discrete people.
I don't know if more modern Audis have dropped in quality but the looks are getting fussier with each generation. I think things peaked around 2000 in terms of styling: TT, A4 B5, A6 all simple, elegant designs that just haven't dated.
C350 said:
Also, regarding a headlamp swap, it’s very easy to convert it to HID because they are projector headlamps. This means the beam pattern isn’t distorted and scattered blinding evEryone like HID conversion done on lamps with patterned lens.
I changed both of mine and it made a huge difference, plus it’s pretty much plug and play
Only if you get hold of some S2/RS2/Facelift lights which I believe are fairly expensive to get hold of?I changed both of mine and it made a huge difference, plus it’s pretty much plug and play
Today's quick update. Booked into the garage on Thursday to diagnose odd noise from offside front. Difficult to tell what it is at the moment.
Slight whirring under moderate braking and occasionally when backing off the throttle, goes away completely under throttle.
Thermostat will be done at the same time as that is definitely busted. Car won't go above 70 degrees on the dial.
Engine is beginning to perk up now it's being used again. Have driven 70 miles already! It's quite a torquey little beast for what it is. Pulls hard between 3 and 4.5k rpms, but it's all over after 5. Redline is just over 6, but not going there until the cambelt is done.
A few other gremlins noted, electric driver's side mirror isn't working right, the motor is buzzing when you adjust, but the mirror isn't moving and it's floppy as if it's come off a mounting somewhere - to be investigated. That mirror has taken a hard knock at some point based on the condition of the plastic trim.
Other than that it seems very solid. Waiting for a bit of time and nice weather to have a look at the paint and exterior trim!
Cheers,
Drew.
Slight whirring under moderate braking and occasionally when backing off the throttle, goes away completely under throttle.
Thermostat will be done at the same time as that is definitely busted. Car won't go above 70 degrees on the dial.
Engine is beginning to perk up now it's being used again. Have driven 70 miles already! It's quite a torquey little beast for what it is. Pulls hard between 3 and 4.5k rpms, but it's all over after 5. Redline is just over 6, but not going there until the cambelt is done.
A few other gremlins noted, electric driver's side mirror isn't working right, the motor is buzzing when you adjust, but the mirror isn't moving and it's floppy as if it's come off a mounting somewhere - to be investigated. That mirror has taken a hard knock at some point based on the condition of the plastic trim.
Other than that it seems very solid. Waiting for a bit of time and nice weather to have a look at the paint and exterior trim!
Cheers,
Drew.
What a great find. I wish I had done something similar with a good car, rather than a Renault Clio that I reconditioned and sold one a few years ago.. no joy driving that LOL
A mate had one of these as his second car back when we were about 19/20, he had pranged his insurance-friendly Ford KA (or had it crashed into...) and got a reasonable sum, and then found an Audi 80 for £150 because it "wasn't running right" and all it needed was new spark plugs. Job done for £20. He then regretted selling it a year later for a new A4 which just wasn't as good
A mate had one of these as his second car back when we were about 19/20, he had pranged his insurance-friendly Ford KA (or had it crashed into...) and got a reasonable sum, and then found an Audi 80 for £150 because it "wasn't running right" and all it needed was new spark plugs. Job done for £20. He then regretted selling it a year later for a new A4 which just wasn't as good
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff