Retrimmed inside and wearing new Michelins. Looks great on that rear ride height, but back coil springs were badly corroded…

Closing in on 100,000 miles, significant updates to report. In this ninth instalment of this series, Jeremy Walton updates us with the 2024 suspension, cockpit trim and tyre replacements, now completed on his 19 year old Audi TT quattro sport.

Maintenance-modest, individually stylish and at least depreciation-proof, following 5 years 6 months ownership, this run out 2006 edition of Audi’s TT quattro sport has proved a rewarding buy.  Bought with over 85,000 miles registered and now closing fast on 100,000 miles, it has been exceptionally reliable. Since our last instalment, published July 2024, my 240bhp TT quattro sport has gathered a total 99,600 miles.  

A mixed replacement result, apparent after a most expensive (£683.64) and significant uprate after our last instalment, was purely self-inflicted. I had earlier refreshed the front suspension with Bilstein struts and replacement Eibach springs: the results were rewarding, both ride quality above 30 mph and control over bumps notably improved. At the time no need was seen to work on the rear suspension, but I grew uneasy with the number of coil spring failures I saw reported on older TTs. By October 2024 I had saved enough to buy the key components; a brace of Bilstein rears cost me £343.64 and a smidge under £100 got me a pair of Sachs-branded coil springs.

I spent hours online even to get new TT coil springs, never mind those for quattro sport derivative, which are meant to complement a slightly lower production ride height. Bilstein actually listed a shorter set for non-standard suspension, but I wanted to remain as per production, particularly as sleeping policemen scrape their way into daily use.

I could not get Eibach again, a Sachs dealer had the most detail on their site, listing shorter for lowered suspensions and long for a standard TT qs. I selected the longer set, but the minute Mr Jenkins and I witnessed the hard-won (labour intensive) finished result, sharp intakes of breath. It was jacked up 63.5mm/2.5 inches at the rear, tyre-top-to-wing vertical point.  ‘Mind the Gap’ Measurements that any former saloon car racer like me abhor. Mind you, the front is not in the low rider category either.

However, there were balancing factors that meant I have left the longer springs on for several months. First there was money and reluctance to ask Peter to go through refits on shorter springs, as rust clearance had hindered progress severely, making the job a tough one.  Secondly, something Peter could not see at the time, but which I discovered when I unboxed the saved 99,475-mile original rear springs. My suspicions were justified: not only were they obviously rust-pitted, but a small section of end coil dropped off in my hand!

The third and final factor is that, despite my reservations, the TT drives with no noticeable quirks on the road: on 50-60 mph bad bumps, dodging pot holes, it is actually improved. At some lower speeds (under 40-45 mph) over poorly surfaced country tarmac, it can get uncomfortable, jiggling like a politician faced with unavoidable facts.

The bittersweet thing was that the other strut-related uprate I thought bound to fail has succeeded way beyond expectations. I risked £10.71, yes that much, on the quaintly named ANG RONG (Armstrong copy?) branded pair of support struts for the rear hatch.  These hydraulics had taken to head butting me forcefully in cold weather, or whenever saggy struts fancied a warmer weather laugh. As months went by, I became wearied of this enough to take an online punt on said ANG RONG. To my astonishment and that of the patient genius that is Pete Jenkins of Auto Services, my go-to automotive and lawn mower maintenance man, the online ‘Wrong Uns’ worked fabulously and continue to at this winter writing.

Nearly as expensive as the suspension was to trim the remaining worn Alcantara leathers for £600. I had the original steering wheel trimmed over a year ago and was delighted with the ‘New Car’ feel it gave. I went back to Piper Trimmers at Vantage Park, now an embryonic classic car site outside Yeovil. The car was there a couple of days and came back with the expected immaculate inserts to the leather Recaro race-style seats, plus replacement swathes around the gear lever and handbrake. Owing to estimate misunderstandings the driver’s side carpet (worn through at the heal position) was not replaced and a planned estimate for one damaged back panel (I backed into the tow bar on the wife’s Nissan!) was not forthcoming either.

A more mundane fitment to many (not me) was sourcing and replacing tyres. The Pirelli P Zeroes I had on were a mixed bunch, some predating my original purchase five years ago and I had done plenty of Nerd-status research on the subject, having motorcycle and production car racing experience. Enough to know that those black bits of rubber and clever compounds/construction reinforcements do a bit more than hold fancy wheels off the tarmac.

I settled on a quartet of Michelin Pilot Sport 5s in the production 235/40/18 sizing for a balance between performance and wet weather capabilities. This TT is slightly odd in that is runs 8 inch width fronts and 8.5 inch rears, but the tyre size is the same front and back, even though Ingolstadt’s quattro GmbH engineering and assembly went to the legalised trouble of adding slight rear wing extension pieces. The tyres cost £474 from Black Circles and were delivered rapidly from their Scottish base to a local delivery company. I’m told you can get slightly cheaper prices at Costco, but to me this was already an exceptional price with Michelin online and compulsory listed fitting centre as a tempting alternative. In the fitting event I went to my usual local Checkpoint as they have always treated me exceptionally fairly. True this time as well, but the bill was substantial at £177. To offset that larger bill than expected, I swiftly sold the old set of Pirellis for £100, using Facebook Marketplace.

Reason? After exhaustive—and free—pre-fitting tests had failed to find the cause of a minor, but persistent vibration in the previous Pirelli setup, this time an equally persistent fitter uncovered a slightly buckled wheel. Fortunately that one is a replica, so that has become the spare, wrapped within a worn Pirelli. We also found that an 8.5 inch rim had crept into the front installation, so some worthwhile discoveries were made and the new setup worked effectively from the start.

One annual cost I hate: road tax charges of £710 or the £372.75p I pay half yearly, which totals £745.50. Fuel consumption is  some compensation: using Esso’s E5 99 Octane returns 31-33 mpg over 200-mile days, short runs recently offered  28.7 mpg.  The insurance rates obtained through a broker in July 2023 were unchanged changed at a £350 annual premium, despite a £100 fine in Summer 2024, penalty for 35 mph in a 30 mph limit.

Despite the rear spring doubts, the TT has become a better resolved motor car. For me, the 5- year pleasures of useful performance, now augmented with braking, chassis and interior replacements. Resale values are not as strong as they have been, but my TT will have completed a sixth year with me by the time you read our next instalment.  

Jeremy Walton

To read from Part 1 of JW’s Audi story click HERE

USEFUL CONTACTS:

Bilstein supplies in UK, exceptionally helpful: www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk

Sachs dampers online: www.autoparts24_uk.co.uk via eBay as I could not find supply anywhere else, but a search 6 months later failed to raise them on the web, except via eBay.

Those powerful hatchback struts branded ANG RONG came from eBay via auto.toy. They now cost about £2 more at £12.82.

I remain pleased with the electronic dashboard work of: Cartronix, Waterlooville, Hants. Find them at: www.cartronix.co.uk  

My regular garage—who also looked after four earlier BMWs—is Auto Services, Carsons Yard, Warminster: Tel. 01985 215749.

Specialist Audi TT quattro sport Facebook FORUM: Audi TT MK1 quattro Sport Owners Club I use the  FB link= https://www.facebook.com/groups/475741152624329/

PiperTrimmers, Vantage Park, Sparkford: pipertrimmers.co.uk

99,600 MILES AND COUNTING..

99,600 MILES AND COUNTING..