Oli18 Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 Hi, I just wanted to do a little write-up of some relatively major mods that my beloved 3.7QS FL has undergone recently. I got my 8 in May-07 and I fell in love with the colour and the interior combo. I had upgraded from a Mondeo 1.8TD so the 3.7 V8 felt plenty powerful. At the time, I hadn’t realised how many options were available and I (foolishly in hindsight) though I’d done pretty well on the gadget front. Having been on the forum for the last 18 months and having met some of you, it became clear quite quickly how wrong I was… I had a list in mind of all the things I really wanted to have that I didn’t and they included Bose, Satnav, Sun blinds, TV and a way of playing video from external sources for things like media players, video cameras and possibly a reverse camera. And so off I went to Ian and Dave from A8 parts as I knew that they had done a number of upgrades for 8 owners and I really felt that they had the expertise I was looking for. After a number of discussions around specs and what the best options were, I took 2 days off work to drive the car up to their premises ‘ooop norf’ to have the above installed. Here are some pictures of the process… While the guys from A8parts went to work, I managed to do some work using their wireless connection and cleaned all my seats with liquid leather cleaner and conditioner. I also had a proper nosy around looking at all the parts they have available and boring them silly with countless questions. Honestly, it’s like an 8 owner’s dream playground being there…so much cool stuff and it makes it obvious why they are as knowledgeable as they are having (I believe) had around 40 A8/S8 go through their hands in the last year. While the entire interior was out, we installed a set of A/V cables that runs from the TV tuner in the boot to under the armrests by the gear stick, allowing for easy plugging in of other media/video devices inside the cabin. So as well as watch TV, I am now able to view other media. I skydive and film a lot of my jumps and I can now plug in the DV camera and watch some of the jumps I did earlier that day if I want :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 And while the whole interior was out anyway, i just thought i’d add the sunblind option as well. I now have an extra button to press on the dash :D Although it was not intentionally added, the wiring kit to install the NavPlus just so happen to come with a switch to turn off the gala feed so that the TV and other media can be viewed on the move without the screen turning off…nicely hidden behind the blank button. …and the Bose – my favourite upgrade of all! We did encounter 1 glitch and it was to do with the sat-nav which (and I hope I’m right when saying this) works on speed pulses gotten from the ABS controller. There are 2 inputs and my 8 only had 1 apparently. A8Parts were really good at persisting with the troubleshooting and whilst I was on holiday for 2 weeks, they fixed the SatNav as well as a rear drop-link that had been knocking about and had the transmission seal replaced at their local gearbox specialist who has done a number of these for A8Parts. They drove the car down to London after my holiday and I can’t tell you how good it was driving it with all the gadgets. It’s hands down the best car I’ve ever owned and the new toys have only made it better! Who doesn’t love getting into this every day?!... All-in-all, an absolutely top job by A8Parts and I’m mega happy. Would highly recommend them not just for the spares but also for upgrades like mine. Thanks again Ian and the 2 Daves! -Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 (edited) Nice one Oli, but I'm not too impressed with your TV in motion mod. Replace the blank button with a rear head rest button and then link it to a set of relays that opens and closes the gala by pressing the rear heard rest button, the beauty of this is that it looks stealth and also when you turn the car off it reverts to gala mode. I think I have a spare head rest button in my workshop and I have the relays diagram as well. Costs around £25 in parts including the switch, but it looks great as you can illuminate it as well to match the rest of the switches. Here's my old S8 dash with a headrest switch in the middle of the right hand bank of switches. Edited November 11, 2008 by craigyb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoneman Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 nice work good to see people spending money on there a8s its the little touches that really make the car the gala wire mod was one of my first and a good one for keeping passengers occupied Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 Very nice Oli, it scared the living day lights when I saw the first interior pic, enjoy mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 Nice Oli... Need to save up and buy some more toys for mine, beginning to feel like it's the lowest specced 4.2 on the forum :'( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) Replace the blank button with a rear head rest button and then link it to a set of relays that opens and closes the gala by pressing the rear heard rest button, the beauty of this is that it looks stealth and also when you turn the car off it reverts to gala mode.I think I have a spare head rest button in my workshop and I have the relays diagram as well. Costs around £25 in parts including the switch, but it looks great as you can illuminate it as well to match the rest of the switches. Oooh that is neat. Don't suppose you might be able to share your wiring diagram with us? If i can add another button, i'm all ears! good to see people spending money on there a8sits the little touches that really make the car the gala wire mod was one of my first and a good one for keeping passengers occupied Couldn't agree with you more! I finally got the car up to a point where i was happy with its mechanical condition having done the cambelt, fanbelt, tyres all-round, service and gearbox and have been dying to finally get some fun things added Hopefully some more things to come over the coming months...:D Very nice Oli, it scared the living day lights when I saw the first interior pic, enjoy mate. Ditto - it was good to see it all put back together! Nice Oli... Need to save up and buy some more toys for mine, beginning to feel like it's the lowest specced 4.2 on the forum :'( Ah but surely every time you put your foot down, it brings a smile! And just to let you know yours is by far not the lowest specced 4.2 on the forum...If you need something to make you feel better, take a look at Botang and Toby's 'track' A8 - i think they've now stripped it down to just an engine, wheels and a bucket seat! -Oli Edited November 12, 2008 by Oli18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) The head rest switch is 4D0 959 768 B B98 and is a round £15 The relays were around £1.50 each from maplins. 12v car relays Use this circuit of 4 relays to drive the contacts of the 5 th relay. Edited November 12, 2008 by craigyb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gninnam Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Well done on the upgrades and it does add to the feeling of driving something special so well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david1 Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Superb. You really can't go wrong with A8 Parts. Very Nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
las247 Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 That's really impressive. The Nav plus is one of the upgrades I would like for mine, it's on the list, somewhere around 5th place I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 Thought I'd give the NavPlus some bling treatment with a set of polished aluminum rings for the volume and navigation buttons. It quite nicely matches the aluminum gear stick button and gear surround :D -Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffy3074 Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 The rings are very smart, where did you acquire them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoneman Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 The rings are very smart, where did you acquire them? x2 ive seen them for other models i want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) They are made by a german company called Aluringe24.de You won't need the adhesive, they slide on without any need for it and stay on very tightly. They were £19 + P&P but it did take about 10 days to come through the post. Edited November 18, 2008 by Oli18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoneman Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 did they send to the uk ok? and i cant understand a bloody thing on the site, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 They are also based on ebay - check it out here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoneman Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 cheers dude ordered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hi, I picked up my alloys yesterday after i had them refurbished Mine were in a complete state when i bought the car last year and i've been meaning to get them done for ages but only got around to them now. I had looked at just getting them filled and painted by a man in a van but thought i'd do it properly and highly recommend going down the full refurbishment route where they take it down to the bare alloy before rebuilding them Here is what some of them looked like before...you might want to have a seat... This is what they looked like when i picked them up: Would recommend the company that did them - BJV Engineering - Alloy Wheel Refurbishing The price was amasing considering that i paid less than i have been quoted for the 'touch up' companies that so many people use after they have kerbed their wheel. PM me for the price as it was less than on the site Now to make sure i don't kerb them -Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 They look great Oli+++, will be giving those guys a call soon. May have to nick your wheels before though;) What is the finish? Audi silver or something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoneman Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 wow nice difference your really ploughing some money into it now, whats next on the list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 They look great Oli+++, will be giving those guys a call soon. May have to nick your wheels before though;)What is the finish? Audi silver or something else? Hey Ska - yes, it's audi silver so they match the centre caps (which i didn't have done as i purchased new ones last year and they were still as new). YOu're more than welcome to borrow my spare set mate - give me a shout when you're thinking about getting yours done! wow nice differenceyour really ploughing some money into it now, whats next on the list? Hey James - Not sure - ideally, i'd like to get the bonnet and front bumper resprayed as there are loads of stone chips, 1 big scratch on the bumper from when someone clipped it coming out of a parking space and 2 scratches that i haven't managed to get out detailing...but not sure about getting it done yet. I've been quoted £450 to get done so we'll see in the new year maybe... ...i also keep thinking whether i should start a slush fund for when the gearbox eventually packs up...as most seem to do so. I have had zero problems so far but at almost 170k, am i tempting fate by spending it on other stuff?! :confused: That's not to say I'm not looking at other stuff though. Am thinking of adding some small features to the ICE but hopefully i'll update on soon It's addictive, that's for sure!... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpersimon Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Where are you Oli - love to have a look see over your car for ideas and stuff. Looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted November 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Hey harpersimon! I'm in SW london but sometimes frequent swindon on the weekends. If you're ever around, give me a shout any time mate! I also just took receipt of my new portable HDD Media Player today. It was £19 from china, is about the size of a laptop hard-drive, and comes with a car charger, remote and can play almost any media file type and has an SD card reader also. It plays MPEG4, MP4, WMA, WAVE, AAC, DVD, VCD, AVI, DIVX, MP3, CD, JPG and a heap load more...! ...it even has a built-in karaoke function!!! The reason i got it is because i can use it as a portable hard-drive but plugs it into the car and works as a media player for passengers to view movies on. It plugs straight into the AV inputs that i have running from my boot to under the arm-rest. It's literally plug and play and once you connect it, you just browse the menu and select your video. Not sure what anyone else had looked at doing to get audio and video entertainment in the car but thought for the money this would be a practicle alternative... I'm off to to holland for a long weekend this thursday and will be taking the 8 over so will hopefully get some good use out of this gadget. I am stumbling across a problem now though and that is that there are too many cables for my liking... How can i minimise the amount of things i plug into the cigarette lighter (i.e. phone, tomtom, media player) and keep cables out of sight :confused: All ideas welcome!! :D THanks, Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 £19!!! Where the Feck from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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