Audi DL501 Transmission Service DIY (RS5/S5, RS4/S4)

At this rate the 2013 Audi RS 5 will be ready for anything. At just 28,000 miles it is not easy to understand why I would be replacing the transmission fluid. Well it turns out that the DL501 transmission had a few issues 2013 and prior. The internal PCB in the transmission would fail through contamination and heat. Improvements were made but early on Audi were replacing entire transmissions. Now you can get a PCB kit but with a regular trans flush we should be able to put that off for a while.

I still need to change the MTF side of the transmission and to a complete fluid change on the rear differential. More on that another time.

In the video I will show you how to drain the fluid, replace the internal and external filters as well as the proper method to fill the transmission and do a final level check. Spoiler you will need a tool to read the transmission temperature. I used OBDEleven which I picked up when working on the GTi. Ross-Tech VCDS will also work. I do have one but I am ashamed to say I actually haven’t used it yet!

Video link 

E60 Rear Upper Control Arm Replacement DIY

If you have been following for a while, you will know that this is the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to getting the suspension on this fantastic V10 M5 sorted. The upper rear arms had failing ball joints and needed to be replaced. In the channel update video last week I went through the difference between the 06 arms and later models (you always need to check yours). 

As it turned out, the repair was not as straight forward as expected! The car has spent some time in the “salt belt”, causing some of the threads to be badly corroded. After trying several methods, I finally settled on using a big pair of vice grips to complete the job.

Video link 

Steps (always check with your workshop manual to confirm the information for your year and model):

1. Parts needed
   • Control arms (fit a vast range of E60s but always check your particular vehicle)
     • Upper control arm left   33322347991
     • Upper control arm right 33322347990
     • Upper control arm bolt  33306760391
     • Upper control arm nut   33326760374
   • M5 Specific guide arms (check your production date and also the size of the fastener)
     • Guide arms left and right (upto 09/2006 but check yours!) 33322348887 
     • Guide arm left (from 8/25/2006) 33322283772
     • Guide arm right (from 8/25/2006) 33322283771
   • Eccentric bolt 33306760591
   • Eccentric washer 33306760592
   • Eccentric nut 33326768900
2. Remove rear wheels
   • OEM lug nuts are 17mm (protective socket)
3. Mark the eccentric bolt 
4. Remove front guide arm (trick for salt belt cars)
5. Install new front guide arm (loosely) 
6. Remove rear control arm
7. Install new rear control arm
8. Eye ball the alignment
9. Troque specs
   • Guide Arm: 65 Nm (48 ft-lbs)
   • Control arm bolt inner 100 Nm (74 ft-lbs)
   • Control arm bolt outer 165 Nm (122 ft-lbs)
10. Reinstall the wheel
11. Check/correct alignment

 

2013 Audi B8 RS5 Oil and Coolant Change

After 10 years there are a preventative maintenance jobs that need to be taken care of (coolant for one!) but there is also those 10 year old tires that have to be replaced. The video goes through details of how to change the coolant (most of it anyway!), an oil change as it has been 18 months and the experience working with a mobile tire service. 

For the performance this car has to be one of the easiest I have worked on. OK so I have not had to do anything too complicated but so far I am enjoying it. I have also been amazed at how relatively inexpensive many of the parts/fluids are for the car. Must have something to do with sharing a parent company with VW!

Video link