Sooner or later most UrS4/UrS6 owners find that their rear view mirrors have started to delaminate. Why put up with decreased vision and an ugly mirror when a replacement heated mirror glass can be had for about $85 from your Audi dealer?
Removing and replacing this mirror is far from difficult but I figured it still wouldn’t hurt to put up a quick video FAQ on the subject.
Additional notes: On the later cars the outside mirrors were often a two piece design with a black plastic piece on the bottom that is held in with several screws. Many people find that removing this trim piece allows for easier access to the mounting tabs that hold the mirror glass in place. Naturally, this makes it less likely that you will break these tabs during the removal process. In my case, using the two tire levers and a small flat screwdriver made for quick removal without any damage but you may want to err on the side of caution if you tend to be heavy handed. 🙂
Let’s face it, if you own and drive an original S4 or S6 you’ve got an old car. These cars are special and in many cases they have been maintained to high standards thanks to enthusiastic owners. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case so some cars end up looking, well, a bit tired.
I’ve known the owner of this black S6 online for quite sometime but only recently had the opportunity to connect with him in person at the Glacier Lakes Quattro Club Spring Ice Out event. The owner (Tom) drives a nicely tuned black UrS6 that at the time of this posting is going on 260,000+ miles! Mechanically the car it doing well but the paint has certainly seen better days. At the Ice Out event I told Tom that we needed to get together and work on buffing his car back to life. That day finally came on Saturday, August 19th, 2012.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure I could save Tom’s finish using the limited buffing pads and compound that I had on hand. Since the oxidation on Tom’s car was pretty severe I would have liked to start with a more aggressive pad and compound but we sort of planned our get together at the last minute so I decided to run with what I had on hand… my Porter Cable buffer, two orange foam pads and 3M Finesse It II polishing compound. This combo isn’t terribly aggressive and is what I normally use on my own UrS4 each spring. I didn’t know if it would be enough to save Tom’s UrS6.
As with any detailing effort start with a very good car wash… and by that I mean do it by hand with soap. We used Turtle Wax T-79 Zip Wax Liquid Car Wash
but you can substitute your favorite here. Once the car is washed dry it VERY well and let it sit until all the water is done running out of the body seams (it helps to blow it out with compressed air too if available).
Next I will generally go over the car with the Mothers California Gold Clay Bar System to remove any remaining surface contaminates. This step helps your finished surface feel extra smooth to the touch.
Now the car is ready for buffing. For this step I’m a big fan of the Porter Cable buffers. In my own garage I use a slightly older version of this Porter Cable 5.5 x 7/8 Inch CCS Foam Pad Kit kit. On most cars I use an orange foam pad in conjunction with 3M Finesse-It II Glaze to achieve a very nice shine without being too aggressive. This is also what we used on Tom’s car even though we could have started out with a more aggressive pad and polish and done multiple stage buffing to achieve best results. Since I had only an orange pad and Finesse It II and one day to get it done we opted for the single pass attempt.
The car buffed back to life with amazing results. Granted, there are still some imperfections in the paint but for a simple single stage buffing the car looks night and day different. Had I done things the long way I think I could have brought the car back to 98% or so but it would literally take me 3 days or so to give it that sort of attention.
To finish things off, we gave the entire car a coat of Turtle Wax F21 Car Polish. I know this may seem somewhat crazy as F21 is an inexpensive non-wax based polish but I have honestly used dozens of products over the years on my own and other people’s cars and when it comes down to a product that gives me a nice even shine, ease of application and removal and a long lasting shield for cars that sit outside a lot this F21 is a great solution. It is virtually the only product I’ve used that doesn’t make me hate life while trying to get a nice deep and even shine on my Tornado Red UrS4. Naturally, feel free to use whatever you like the best.
To finish things off I use a little Mother’s Quick Detail spray (included in the clay bar kit mentioned above) and a white foam finishing pad to quickly go over the entire car for a nice uniform shine.
If you own an original Audi S4 or S6 model (1992-1997) you might like to know that Audi here in the U.S. has a special on the fuel tanks remaining in their stock. These normally run a whopping $903 but can be had at big discounts right now. I just ordered one for $173.67 out the door with tax here in MN.
If you live in rust prone areas don’t be surprised if you see your tank start leaking around the seams at some point. Granted, your fuel lines under the car will start leaking first more than likely but your tank won’t be too far behind.
The Bentley shows fewer parts than the above diagram and no Item 19 lock ring. It seems to show pulling the Item 6 cover and the Item 25 flange shaft. It shows the Item 22 round seal (O-ring?) but
does not show the Item 23 radial shaft seal.
Anybody with any BTDT experience on replacing the Item 23 radial shaft seal.
If your A/C system is working OK at highway speeds but seems to fizzle out when in traffic or at a stop light it might be your aux fan resistor. When this part fails there is not enough air flowing through the radiator to lower the refrigerant temps. The resistor is located on the drivers side of the radiator (you may need to remove the headlight to get to it). The part number is 4AO 959 493 and ETKA calls it a series resistor for vehicles with heavy-duty water cooling system and/or trailing towing – ETKA list price is $92.00.
A search of the NHTSA Recall Database returns these recalls for the “Audi S4”:
————————————————————————————-
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 96V017000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S4
Potential Number of Units Affected: 24000
Manufactured From: JAN 1994 To: DEC 1995
Recall Date: 02/01/96
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL; IGNITION; SWITCH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER oÂn AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
——————————————————————————–
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 97V172000
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS: PASSIVE RESTRAINT: AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S4
Potential Number of Units Affected: 54800
Manufactured From: SEP 1988 To: JUL 1993
Recall Date: 10/10/97
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles. Some air bag sensors do not comply with Audi’s durability standards over the lifetime of the vehicle.
In the event the sensor should malfunction, the air bag restraint system can inadvertently deploy. Deployment of the air bag restraint system without warning could cause a driver to lose vehicle control.
Dealers will replace the air bag sensor control module. Owner notification began October 13, 1997. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer oÂn an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834. Also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
——————————————————————————–
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 00V068000
Component: FUEL: FUEL LINES: HOSES: NON-METALLIC
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S4
Potential Number of Units Affected: 3000
Manufactured From: SEP 1991 To: AUG 1995
Recall Date: 03/13/00
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FUEL FEED LINE CONNECTING THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE CAN PREMATURELY AGE AND SHRINK THROUGH EXPOSURE TO HIGH UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURE CAUSED BY THE TURBOCHARGER.
Consequence Summary:
THIS CAN RESULT IN FUEL SEEPAGE AT THE CONNECTION.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL FEED LINE FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE WITH A FUEL LINE OF SHRINKAGE-PROOF MATERIAL.
——————————————————————————–
A search of the NHTSA Recall Database returns these recalls for the “Audi S6”:
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 96V017000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S6
Potential Number of Units Affected: 24000
Manufactured From: JAN 1994 To: DEC 1995
Recall Date: 02/01/96
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL; IGNITION; SWITCH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER oÂn AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
——————————————————————————–
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 00V068000
Component: FUEL: FUEL LINES: HOSES: NON-METALLIC
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S6
Potential Number of Units Affected: 3000
Manufactured From: SEP 1991 To: AUG 1995
Recall Date: 03/13/00
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FUEL FEED LINE CONNECTING THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE CAN PREMATURELY AGE AND SHRINK THROUGH EXPOSURE TO HIGH UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURE CAUSED BY THE TURBOCHARGER.
Consequence Summary:
THIS CAN RESULT IN FUEL SEEPAGE AT THE CONNECTION.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL FEED LINE FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE WITH A FUEL LINE OF SHRINKAGE-PROOF MATERIAL.
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to remove any remaining surface contaminates. This step helps your finished surface feel extra smooth to the touch.
kit. On most cars I use an orange foam pad in conjunction with 
to achieve a very nice shine without being too aggressive. This is also what we used on Tom’s car even though we could have started out with a more aggressive pad and polish and done multiple stage buffing to achieve best results. Since I had only an orange pad and Finesse It II and one day to get it done we opted for the single pass attempt.
. I know this may seem somewhat crazy as F21 is an inexpensive non-wax based polish but I have honestly used dozens of products over the years on my own and other people’s cars and when it comes down to a product that gives me a nice even shine, ease of application and removal and a long lasting shield for cars that sit outside a lot this F21 is a great solution. It is virtually the only product I’ve used that doesn’t make me hate life while trying to get a nice deep and even shine on my Tornado Red UrS4. Naturally, feel free to use whatever you like the best.
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