Boston Driver

So I went to the body shop this morning to get a closer look at the damage before they start replacing damaged items. As you can see, the car needs new hood, right fender, bumper, hradlight (driver's side intact and secure), airbox, radiator, a/c compressor. I found out yesterday that the intercooler you can see is damaged. No frame damage, hooray!!! Damage not quite as severe as Winortega in CT (few posts below)..I think his car should be totalled. Still, total repair cost for mine is around $8200...thank goodness for insurance!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/69482/body_shop_visit_3.jpg">

With the car opened up, this was a great opportunity to take a close look at the clearance between the tire (215/55/16) and the strut assembly. For those who had followed my earlier posts about offset, my new wheels (due soon) come with 235/40/18 tires mounted on 18x8 wheels with ET43 offset. As such, the tire's midpoint will be 2mm outward, but the increased width (10mm closer inside and 10mm further outside) results in the tires inner wall 8mm closer to the strut assembly. Here is a pic of the clearance. The small paper clip I am holding is exactly 8mm wide, and I am holding it at the closest point against the rear part of the suspension part. <img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/69482/tire_clearance.jpg">
As you can see, there is only about 3mm of extra clearance. Yikes, very close! I will probably buy 5mm spacers just in case the new wheels/tires rub, but I will make sure that I can return them if they are not needed. Maybe my next trip to IRA, I will seek out a 2004 S-Line and take a pic of the inside if I can get the camera in there.

Car is scheduled to be done by next Friday.

02a62.7t6spd_madman

maybe good time to upgrade I/Cs?

Boston Driver

Nah, gonna keep everything stock to avoid voiding CPO warranty

carbonLORD

Ive heard stories.

02a62.7t6spd_madman

what will AUDi w/ heavy damaged car's CPO like mine&amp;urs?

sleeperA6

I have alot of those stock parts, what to make a deal?

Boston Driver

so the accident should not affect warranty. That is one of the major reasons why I took my car to the dealer (they have an in-house body shop operation as well). Audi qualified technicians doing the mechanical repairs.

CL mentioned that the wheel mod might void the warranty, but I have consulted with my dealer, and they said that it would only void if the specs were significantly changed. 2mm change in wheel track (et45 to et43) should not have any impact. Everything else would be the same (tire diameter). Not sure what else a wheel and tire combo would impact.

If the track of the car changed (if I had to go with spacers or significantly different offset) I could see Audi voiding warranty if those changes had impact on Quattro, axle, or suspension. But I cannot image they would.

wagonmaster

The 43 offset is going to move your wheel IN, as this is a negative number.

Boston Driver

as well as a diagram that I did based on the info (comparing to 225 tire that was on there before I stuck the snows on for the body shop work)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/69482/offset_diagram.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR4&amp;url=%2Fwheels%2Ftech%2Foffset.htm" >http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/offset.htm</a></li></ul>

wagonmaster

Exactlly, your diagram uses positive offset, although if going from 45 to 43 shouldn't matter.