TDIMeister's German-imported 1998 Audi A4 Avant TDI quattro

[wersuss]

Congrats with Audi!

 

[PeeWee]

Nice Audi, good to know that this can actually be done as they have many more vehicles available in Europe that you just can't get here. Well done!

 

[TDIMeister]

Had been sitting parked for almost about 3.5 weeks while on vacation. Was under a huge pile of snow this morning. Was not optimistic that there was enough juice in the battery after this long with some very cold periods in between time but it started right up! I missed her after all this time. It brought a smile to my face and I had to make several double takes to look at her again.

Very happy.

 

[blujett2.0]

Hi TDIMeister! Just read through your post. I'm interested in importing myself but for the time being can you post MORE PICS of that awesome looking TDI Quattro?

 

[TDIMeister]

Oil change today @ ~219100 km. Shell Rotella T5 0W-40 and dealer-sourced OEM oil filter.

MFA was indicating 4.2 L/100 km fuel consumption during a lazy 50km drive home (@~90 km/h) from the Vermont border last Sunday. With about 450 km on the current tank, MFA is indicating 5.2 L/100km (with a drive to/from Montreal at more normal freeway speeds plus some city driving).

More pics to come later in a spring after a tune-up, summer wheels/tires mounted and complete detailing.

 

[TDIMeister]

Not much new to report. I just got back from 12 days in Germany. The car had sat parked and it's in desperate need of a loving wash.

The car is just shy of 229k km now, meaning that I've put about 16.5k, of which 2k was in Germany in my hands. It also means that it's soon due for an oil change, rather sooner than expected. It will get Redline 0W-40 sometime between 10-12k km OCI along with a gear/differential oil flush.

I'll also replace the fuel filter (thanks, JFettig), timing belt, coolant pump and serpentines. Turbo Johan has sent me an ECU with his AFN tune and cruise control enabled. I have the CC stalk and a 3-spoke sport steering wheel; both will be installed along with fixing the MFA display. All this will be done by TDIFest. The car is also presently wearing 8Jx17" TSW Nürburgring wheels on 225/45-17 rubber. Pics to follow.

 

[TDIMeister]

Oil change on 06/29 @230350 (11250 km interval) with Redline 0W40. I also replaced the fuel filter from a not-stocked-in-North-America OEM part to a CAT filter using a Lubrication Specialists filter head kit with thermo-T purchased from JFettig. I wanted to change the differential and gearbox oils, but was not able to this time.

Lots of small upgrades are in the pipeline - spare ECU with Van Vught Tuning map from Turbo Johan in Holland; cruise control retrofit; 3-spoke steering wheel; repaired gauge cluster (common FIS/MFA defect); LED interior/exterior lighting sets; HID headlights; timing belt/coolant pump replacement.

With near constant A/C use and 225-wide tires I'm still getting 5.7L/100km as at last fill-up.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Mmmm Redline 0w40

 

[Windex]

Not a premium - shipping and importation - apples to oranges.

It would be a $4000 premium if that vehicle is available for purchase here, and the market price for the vehicle without importation was similar. But that's not the case - these cars are relatively cheap in Germany and the UK because they're common there. a car worth $8-10k here because of the rarity is worth $3k there because they're more common.

As TDI Quattro wagons are non-existant in North America, and we have more docile importation rules up here that allow us to import these unique vehicles, he paid (including the car and shipping prices) close to or under the market price for that vehicle in this market.

If he's $8k all in, then that car minus the premium you describe should only cost $4k. If he tried to sell it for $4k tomorrow he'd have a riot on his hands for all the people fighting to buy it.

 

[RC]

Just found this thread. Nice wagon, David. You know how envious I am.

 

[pleopard]

Great stuff. More photos would be much appreciated. $1200 for shipping is a bargain when you consider it cost me $1053 just to ship a car by rail from Toronto to Calgary...

 

[Dankemp]

bloody hell , almost 3k gbp for a 98 quattro ???

i bet i could find you one and import it to you for 2k gbp .

 

[TDIMeister]

RHD no longer possible to register where I live.

Edit: Also, to be clear, there are no shortages of 15 year old Audis costling <2.5k Euros, even (especially) 2.5 V6 TDI ones - imagine how attractive that sounds at first glance. However, all of these are usually have very high mileage and are in rough shape with other issues.

 

[TDIMeister]

Timing belt replaced this weekend @242,985 km (previously done at 166,xxx by previous owner in Germany - didn't want to take chances waiting until spring and it was done now because the injection pump was leaking quite badly). It was a b!tch of a job between having to move the front-end forward into service position and stripping some bolts. I already had a 12mm pump from several years ago for my former Passat TDI so in it went! It took a lot of trial-and-error to get the timing right and in the end it needed to be advanced one tooth from what was normal, but now it's at the top of the graph per VCDS and IQ at idle is around 5.6. The clutch slips if I mat it.

Other stuff: 3-spoke sport steering wheel and cruise control stalk are in. Wiring is not there as I was hoping, so once I can get a wiring diagram for the car I'll finish finally having cruise. Also installed new glow plugs and Bosch 94R battery (seemed undersized in the battery tray, now I'm wondering if I should have gone with a larger Group 49). Oil/filter/gear lube change @ 243,021 km (12,671 km OCI) with Castrol Edge 0W30/Mahle/G060 A2. Finally, I had the car undercoated and swapped-on snow tires.

I am extremely grateful to DIESEL DAZZLER for all he has done. It was a very expensive weekend but now I'm ready to hunker down for a long winter.

Edit: Add fuel economy to date.

 

[TDIMeister]

The last 3 fuel-ups, covering over 3,200 km, have been dead stable all three times at 5.5 L/100 km (42.8 MPG US).

 

[Bob_Fout]

The last 3 fuel-ups, covering over 3,200 km, have been dead stable all three times at 5.5 L/100 km (42.8 MPG US).

How does this compare to the previous 3 fill-ups?

 

[TDIMeister]

With the exception of one outlier fill-up (5.9 L/100 km, probably due in parts to more city driving and also a noticeable leakage of fuel from the pump which was replaced at the next fill-up), very consistent - 5.4-5.6 L/100km dating back to July.

 

[glitdi]

Impressive fuel economy numbers for an all wheel drive v6 tdi. Do you have any concerns about sourcing parts? At first I thought you might have an issue selling it down the road however 1) I doubt that will happen any time soon 2) with all the guys following your thread I am sure there will be at least a half dozen people waiting in line for it.
Why the 12mm pump? Is there a bigger turbo on the car that i missed or is that a stock item?

 

[Dankemp]

Impressive fuel economy numbers for an all wheel drive v6 tdi. Do you have any concerns about sourcing parts? At first I thought you might have an issue selling it down the road however 1) I doubt that will happen any time soon 2) with all the guys following your thread I am sure there will be at least a half dozen people waiting in line for it.
Why the 12mm pump? Is there a bigger turbo on the car that i missed or is that a stock item?

Dude its a 1.9 Afn 110bhp.

 

[otty]

Very cool car TDImeister! I may well go that rout next time instead of the swap. I am now pretty well hooked on AWD TDI!

I am curious about why you are getting much better mileage than me. How much does that car weigh? I guess I am doing a lot more city driving and my engine is about 130hp so maybe that explains it...

 

[TDIMeister]

Interesting, but I don't think the power output alone explains it . Mine is chipped and with a bigger pump. I'd conservatively estimate 140 HP (some chiptuners claim 140+ on an AFN alone with no other mods). Homologated weight is 1485 kg. I wish I had your 6-speed, but if it's the same unit as was in the W8, that's probably your answer right there. Driving habits and conditions are very important as well. My area is very flat compared to yours and I drive mostly for economy and put about 85% of my km on the highway.

 

[otty]

The tranny came with the AVF engine. My W8 was originally an automatic. I am not sure what the tranny code is on the 6 speed.

The W8 Passat is somewhere between 1660 and 1825KG although I am not sure how the engine and tranny swap may have effected this. This may partially explain it.

Also my engine being a PD may have something to do with it? It seems that PDs aren't as efficient as the older type engines.

 

[TDIMeister]

I just uploaded vids recorded a week before Christmas where I start my TDI at -30°C/-22°F. These are REAL temps, not wind chill, the latter of which is irrelevant as far as starting a car is concerned. Before the attempt, the car sat and had not been started for a full 2 days and there are no auxiliary aids like a block heater or anything. Having seen other videos, even of much newer cars and at somewhat milder temperatures, I'm all the more amazed at the result!

Part 1: Weather report
Part 2: The Start
Edit: Made a merged video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJkJpP_Ksgo

Screenshot taken from my iPhone for a different temperature report between recording both videos (Dec. 17, 2013, 9:13 a.m.):

Recipe: 2 month old battery and glow plugs, Castrol Edge 0W-30 oil, 8 oz Power Service white bottle per full tank and double glow.
Result: Started like a boss!

 

[alberg]

When I lived in Labrador I used to have a battery heated protection thingy, never once the battery failed on the Scirocco

 

[BlankThis]

Just read this. I know the pain of dealing with the Quebecker DMV and having very little grasp of the french language. I got the feeling that they make it intentionally difficult for us.

 

[TDIMeister]

Oil/oil filter/air filter change @ 255,006 km (11,985 km OCI) with Castrol Edge 0W40/Mahle/Mahle.
Interior LED lights also installed. After months of very cold weather, lots of city driving and infrequent fill-ups, fuel economy back to summer norms.

 

[Windex]

After having the honour of driving her at this weekend's GTG, nice ride.

Such an excellent compromise of power, traction, utility and fuel economy.

Truly a unique car.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Meister, you might see a slight bump in MPG with the Castrol 0w40 vs. the Redline 0w40. 3.6 vs. 4.0 cP HTHS and about 1.5 cSt thinner at 100C.

 

[j29]

Clearing Canada customs

I need help clearing Canada customs, along with a bill of sale did you need any of these documents, and was the vehicle registered in your name before leaving Germany.

The easiest method is simply to ask if the seller has the original Fahrzeugbrief. All vehicles in Germany are required to have this and it is handed over from owner to owner. (This is not to be confused with the vehicle registration, which is called a Fahrzeugschein.)
If a vehicle is still financed, the Fahrzeugbrief is physically kept by the bank or the lending institution holding the loan; it is not given to the owner of the vehicle until the loan is paid off. Thus, if the vehicle is owned free and clear, the seller will have the original Fahrzeugbrief. This document will have the ownership information as well as official stamps from the various municipalities in which the vehicle was registered.

Here is my story I have found a 2.5L TDI T4 multivan here in Canada. It is still german registered and the owners are here on a visitors visa. According to the internet customs site it can not be sold. Talking to the border customs agent he said the Germans can not import the vehicle but with a bill of sale and the ownership papers as a Canadian I can. But I must own the vehicle to import it.
So a bill of sale is easily created but which brief or schein do I need and does the vehicle need to come out of Germany in my name or can that be done out of country.
Oh yeh the T4 is a 1998 and is not subject to Transport Canada being over 15 years old. After that B.C. Inspection and Air Care .

Thanks for any help.

 

[TDIMeister]

Yes, my car's ownership was completely changed over to my name in Germany, so I had the Fahrzeugbrief and Fahrzeugschein. I had both, plus the bill of sale on hand plus certified professional translations of them into English presented at the CBSA. In and out in 15 minutes.

The rules are clear: A non-resident visitor cannot sell his imported car here. You'd have to get the title transferred to your name before/upon entry and presentation to the CBSA. The only way I can think of that you can get around this is to give power of attorney (Vollmacht) to a party in Germany and have him go to the department of transport there (Strassenverkehrsamt) to do the ownership transfer to your name. Once you have the 3 documents - bill of sale, Fahrzeugbrief and Fahrzeugschein - along with certified translations thereof, you can go to Canada Customs.

However, the fact that the vehicle is already in Canada, has cleared CBSA as being a temporary import with a visitor and he is driving it around (correct?), may be problematic for you based on my own interpretation of the rules:
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/safevehicles-importation-other-than-faq-1283.htm

I will be visiting Canada with my vehicle. Do I have to formally declare it for importation at the Canadian border?

No. Section 7(1)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA), allows a visitor to temporarily enter Canada with a motor vehicle without complying with the MVSA if the vehicle is used only by a visitor to Canada or a person passing through Canada en route to another country.

Notes:

You alone may use the vehicle.
Any change in your status, such as receiving permanent residency in Canada, may make your vehicle inadmissible and you will be required to export or destroy it.
You may not sell or gift the vehicle while in Canada.
The vehicle cannot remain in Canada longer than the time limits allowed under your temporary entry.

I don't have direct experience with your specific scenario, but IMO, the rules seem to leave some leeway for the agent - in your favour or otherwise. Evidently you spoke to someone with a liberal interpretation of the rules and as long as you deal with that same person when you go with the right paperwork, you should be fine. Another agent may not be as accommodating. The only sure bet is research, preparation, more research and more preparation. If you want to save yourself headaches and not risk being forced to ship the vehicle back to Germany on your dime or have it crushed, I'd look elsewhere.