July 2016 / 034Motorsport Blog

Nick V's Atypical Silver B5 Audi S4

The Audi B5 chassis has proven to be a persistent and strong platform since it's birth in the mid-1990's. Furthermore, the B5 S4, equipped with the infamous 2.7T Biturbo engine escalated Audi to new performance levels for the time. A strong V6 motor, two turbochargers, and a legendary all-wheel drive system; what's not to love? It has since become a cult classic in the past 15 years of existence, and market prices now allow almost anyone the chance to own such a vehicle. Once you factor in the cost and complexity of maintenance and repairs, however, it becomes apparent that the brave and technically-inclined are best able to reap the spoils the 2.7T has to offer.

Nick Velasquez knows the joys the S4 has to offer full well. And like the B5 chassis, he is persistent and stands strong in his vision of what he wants from a car. He found the 2000 S4 you see here after an unfortunate turn of events in 2011, when his old car (another B5 S4) was significantly rear-ended and totaled. Yet as a phoenix rises from the ashes, another S4 reared its head up for sale that was even better than the last. This new car was pampered through life, and became the obvious choice for Nick's B5 redemption.

Every corner of this car looks as clean as the day it left the factory. The leather interior is supple, and retains its deep black hue. The paint is vibrant and buttery smooth. Pop the hood, and aside from the Carbon Fiber X34 Cold Air Intake, it appears original as the factory intended. Looks can be deceiving however. Should you choose to investigate further, you'll notice upgraded Bosch EV14 550cc Injectors, ceramic coated exhaust manifolds, water/meth injection, and RS6 turbos hiding in plain sight. A Bosch 044 Drop-In Fuel Pump Kit ensures the fueling requirements for the upgraded turbos are met with ease.

Nick's previous S4 was fitted with a coilover suspension to enable him to get the car sitting just how he wanted it. With his new car, he wanted the same adjustability in ride-height without sacrificing drivability over speedbumps and into driveways. Naturally, this led to an air suspension setup from Airlift. There will undoubtedly be skeptics out there regarding the suspension in regards to handling, but with the Solid Adjustable Rear Sway Bar, Rear Subframe Reinforcement Brackets, and Motorsport Rear End Links, this car can carve up the corners with the rest of them.

Stage 3 Audi B5 S4 lowered on BBS wheels

The coup de grâce for Nick's silver B5 was the choice to run a set of 18" BBS Super RS wheels, sourced and customized by MemoryFab. Over time, the B5 chassis has earned a timeless look, and nothing suits the body lines better than a timeless, mesh BBS wheel. As with any good wheel, it all comes down to the presentation on the car. In order to get the 18x9 and 18x9.5 wheels to sit to Nick's liking, he installed 034Motorsport Front Upper Adjustable Control Arms and 034Motorsport Rear Upper Adjustable Control Arms for ample adjustability.

The attention to detail, and level of thought that has gone into this car is what every B5 S4 deserves. No stone has been left unturned so-to-speak. Cosmetically, the car shines and stands apart from the rest, while its heart yearns to go fast at a moment's notice. Quality is the word that comes to mind when looking upon this particular S4, and it really shows. No corners were cut or expense spared along the way. In a market of cheap and molested B5 S4s, this car is a survivor. Kudos to you, Nick V.

Featured Products | Nick V's Stage 3 B5 Audi S4

This entry was posted in Featured Users and tagged S4, Airlift, Bagged, Air Suspension, BBS Super RS, BBS, Stage 3, Biturbo, 2.7T, Audi B5, Audi S4, B5 S4, Automotive Photography, Turbo, 034Motorsport, Audi, B5 Audi S4 on July 25, 2016 by Nick Caron.

Spherical Rear Sway Bar End Link Giveaway

We're pleased to announce a giveaway for a pair of our 034Motorsport Spherical Rear Sway Bar End Links!

Similar to our last giveaway, you can earn one entry by subscribing to the 034Motorsport Newsletter, one entry by tweeting about the giveaway, and up to 10 additional entries for referring friends (one entry per friend who enters, up to a limit of ten) to the giveaway.

Be sure to select which Volkswagen or Audi platform you drive when registering!

Rafflecopter giveaway

All of our spherical sway bar end links are drop-in replacements of the factory units, and feature Teflon-lined Aurora spherical bearings to eliminate deflection and ensure proper articulation of the sway bar. These end links allow for uncompromised transfer of suspension movement to the sway bar, increasing the effectiveness of the rear sway bar and improving handling feel.

Our current Rear Sway Bar End Link offerings include these applications:

This entry was posted in Website and tagged 8S, 8V, MkVII, MkV, 8P, 8J, C5. C7, B6, B5, B4, Spherical, End Link, B7, MkVI, B8, Motorsport, 034Motorsport, Volkswagen, Audi, MQB on July 14, 2016 by Nick Caron.

Trent's Quartz Grey Metallic B7 Audi A4

I first met Trent back in 2009 at a local Audi meet in Denver, Colorado. He arrived in his Quartz Grey Metallic A4, while at the time I too was driving a B7 Audi A4 2.0T. Keen on the B7 chassis, we naturally noticed each other's cars and had lots to talk about. This was Trent's first Audi, as he had just moved to Colorado and wanted something all-wheel drive that wasn't a sluggish SUV or truck. He had always loved Audis and saw this as the perfect opportunity to pick one up. After a quick trip to the first dealership, Trent stumbled across a clean 2006 A4 2.0T 6MT in Quartz Grey and instantly knew it was "the one." Maybe it was beginners luck, maybe it was destiny, but either way he left that day with his desired chassis/engine/transmission combination on the first try! If only we could all have such luck.

New to the Audi scene, Trent was more of an opportunist when it came to his first modification. He found a set of factory DTM side skirts for sale at an unbelievable price and jumped on the opportunity. He recalls, "If I had money at the time, I would have bought 10 sets." And as with any true car enthusiast, the first modification is all it takes to fall into a slippery slope of future upgrades. Those side skirts are to blame, (or thank), for Trent pursuing the full DTM look on his car with the front and rear bumpers you see now. Don't worry purists, he plans to get the proper rear carbon fiber spoiler in the future to complete the look as it came from the factory.

Throughout his ownership with this car, Trent has aimed to modify it in a way that dances on the line of an OEM+ appearance. The factory DTM bodywork speaks to this mindset, as do the hyper silver VMR 810 wheels. While Audi fans can pick out the changes this car has seen, it's easy to imagine that the average civilian would have trouble distinguishing which parts are original and which aren't. The massive 18Z Brembo calipers fitted to the front hubs required minor spacing to fit the wheels, so Trent opted for a 034Motorsport Stud Conversion Kit to achieve the needed clearance.

Not only does this car look good parked, but it handles to the same quality as it appears on the road. Koni coilover suspension was fitted to the car along with a factory B7 RS4 rear sway bar to keep it poised through the corners. In order to achieve the desired alignment at his lower ride height, Trent installed the 034Motorsport Density Line Adjustable Upper Control Arm Kit. Rounding out the tightened feeling of his B7 chassis, a pair of 034Motorsport Street Density Motor Mounts and a Street Density 6-Speed Transmission Mount were installed to remove any unwanted drivetrain movement.

Finally, the power adders! The 2.0T FSI is adequate in stock-form, but leaves much to be desired for true speed hunters. The longitudinal 4-cylinder now breathes a little better thanks to a 034Motorsport High Flow Cat and Stasis Catback exhaust. Under the hood, a High Flow Silicone Turbo Inlet Hose flows more air into the willing 2.0 liter engine, while an upgraded front mount intercooler ensures it stays cool.

No matter which modification Trent has chosen for his car, the thought put into each upgrade shows in the quality of his car today. His A4 is ten years-old and has covered 145,000 miles, yet it still looks and feels brand new. In today's car scene of bolt-on fenders and gaudy paint jobs for the sake of the attention, it's refreshing to see a well executed OEM+ car. One that stands out, yet inexplicably blends in too. As proven here, Trent nailed it.