Timmus Audi A2 Upgrades, Retrofits and Repairs

Greetings to all A2 owners,

For over a decade, I have been upgrading and repairing A2s. Having dedicated myself to just one model of car, I have intimate, specialised knowledge of the vehicle we all love. Countless reviews and recommendations are scattered across the pages of this forum. My hope is that, with incremental revisions, this thread will give A2 owners a clear and condensed overview of the services that I provide and how I deliver them.

Timmus was originally a childhood nickname, born from my sister's early attempts to say 'Thomas'. Upon joining A2OC, back when A2s were first starting to appear on the second-hand market, my nickname seemed a suitable choice of username. Even when I was building models as a young boy, I showed an enthusiastic desire to improve and innovate. Studying physics and engineering at university honed my understanding and developed in me the skills necessary to innovate and improve in line with established principles and with a due respect for correctness, caution and consideration.
I soon found that my understanding of the A2's electrics was an asset to the club. My lifelong and apparently innate fixation on detail and desire for the very highest standards of neatness, efficiency and safety has meant that I have acquired a reputation in the club for factory-standard perfectionism. I am known not just for my meticulousness and painstaking care for the work that I do, but also for my honesty, flexibility, cooperativeness and integrity with the people for whom I work.

Below is an overview of the range of services that I offer for the Audi A2.

Retrofitting of Optional Extras

With the exception of OpenSky and climate control, I can retrofit all of the original factory options, plus many others. If you've seen it in an A2, I can add it to yours. It'll be just like your A2 left the factory with that option...
  • Cruise Control
  • Instrument Cluster Upgrades...
    • Mini DIS
    • DIS
    • Colour DIS
    • Customised Clusters
    • Bulb Check System Deactivation
  • Audio System Upgrades...
    • Bose Premium Sound System
    • Rear Speakers
    • Bluetooth Wireless Music Streaming
    • Audi Music Interface (AMI)
    • Stereo Head Unit Upgrades
    • Later Generation Audi Stereos
    • CD Changer
  • Seat Upgrades...
  • Steering Wheel Upgrades...
    • Multifunction Steering Wheel (Many Different Designs)
    • Non-Multifunction Steering Wheels
  • Fog Lights...
    • Front Fog Lights
    • Twin Rear Fog Lights
  • Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
    • Front Fog Lights as DRLs
  • Rear Electric Windows
  • Double-DIN Dashboard
  • RNS-E Integrated SatNav
  • Komfortblinker Indicators
  • Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror (3 Different Designs)
  • Bluetooth Phone Integration
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Optical Parking System
  • Heated Mirrors
  • Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
  • Headlight Washers
  • SideGuard Curtain Airbags
  • Speech Dialogue System (Voice Control)
  • Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
  • False Floor Boot
  • Twin Interior Boot Lights
  • Pop-Out 12V Boot Socket
  • Additional Keys
  • 12V and USB Charging Sockets
  • Anti-Hijack Locking
  • Beep-on-Lock Full Closure Confirmation
  • Aftermarket Dashcams
  • HID Headlight Conversions
  • Custom Requests
As time passes, more and more of the options listed above will link to further details. If you have any questions, please send me a private message or post in this thread.

Electrical Diagnostics, Services and Repairs

I have a complete understanding of the A2's electrical systems and have great experience of diagnosing and repairing most electrical problems.
TDI Engine Upgrades
Accessing My Services

I'm based near Lancaster, just off M6 J34. My workshop is where a majority of my work is performed, and everyone is welcome to visit me by appointment. I'm sometimes to be found at 'satellite stations' in the Midlands and the South East. I also perform work on A2s at A2OC social events, where suitable/appropriate.
Very occasionally, I also do 'retrofitting tours', where I travel between multiple A2 owners to deliver upgrade and repair requests at owners' homes or places of work. Please note that I do not drive for individual jobs; it’s much easier to bring your A2 to my workshop than to bring my workshop to your A2.
For Central European owners, I'm happy to travel/fly. I also have a base in The Hague, which serves A2 owners in the BeNeLux region.

Please be aware that I am my own secretary and that I can struggle to reply to private messages promptly when work is busy. Rest assured, no message goes unanswered and I will get back to you. Thanks for your patience.

My list of services is always increasing, and I will continue to update and expand this thread as needed.

Warm regards to all,

Tom
 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
22VAG said:
Greetings Tom
Owner of a newly acquired A2 1.4 SE - sent a pm to you as would really like to do a few upgrades that some of the members have had done by yourself. 👍
Click to expand...
Message received; thank you. :)

I’m working long hours outside A2 World for the next week or so, but will sit down and catch up with my inbox as soon as possible.

Best wishes,

Tom
 
timmus said:
Greetings to all A2 owners,

For over a decade, I have been upgrading and repairing A2s. Having dedicated myself to just one model of car, I have intimate, specialised knowledge of the vehicle we all love. Countless reviews and recommendations are scattered across the pages of this forum. My hope is that, with incremental revisions, this thread will give A2 owners a clear and condensed overview of the services that I provide and how I deliver them.

Timmus was originally a childhood nickname, born from my sister's early attempts to say 'Thomas'. Upon joining A2OC, back when A2s were first starting to appear on the second-hand market, my nickname seemed a suitable choice of username. Even when I was building models as a young boy, I showed an enthusiastic desire to improve and innovate. Studying physics and engineering at university honed my understanding and developed in me the skills necessary to innovate and improve in line with established principles and with a due respect for correctness, caution and consideration.
I soon found that my understanding of the A2's electronics was an asset to the club. My lifelong and apparently innate fixation on detail and desire for the very highest standards of neatness, efficiency and safety has meant that I have acquired a reputation in the club for factory-standard perfectionism. I am known not just for my meticulousness and painstaking care for the work that I do, but also for my honesty, flexibility, cooperativeness and integrity with the people for whom I work.

Below is an overview of the range of services that I offer for the Audi A2.

Retrofitting of Optional Extras

With the exception of OpenSky and climate control, I can retrofit all of the original factory options, plus many others. If you've seen it in an A2, I can add it to yours. It'll be just like your A2 left the factory with that option...
  • Cruise Control
  • Instrument Cluster Upgrades...
  • Audio System Upgrades...
    • Bose Premium Sound System
    • Rear Speakers
    • Bluetooth Wireless Music Streaming
    • Audi Music Interface (AMI)
    • Stereo Head Unit Upgrades
    • Later Generation Audi Stereos
    • CD Changer
  • Seat Upgrades...
  • Steering Wheel Upgrades...
    • Multifunction Steering Wheel (Many Different Designs)
    • Non-Multifunction Steering Wheels
  • Fog Lights...
    • Front Fog Lights
    • Twin Rear Fog Lights
  • Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
    • Front Fog Lights as DRLs
  • Rear Electric Windows
  • Double-DIN Dashboard
  • RNS-E Integrated SatNav
  • Komfortblinker Indicators
  • Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror (3 Different Designs)
  • Bluetooth Phone Integration
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Optical Parking System
  • Heated Mirrors
  • Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
  • Headlight Washers
  • SideGuard Curtain Airbags
  • Speech Dialogue System (Voice Control)
  • Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
  • False Floor Boot
  • Twin Interior Boot Lights
  • Pop-Out 12V Boot Socket
  • Additional Keys
  • 12V and USB Charging Sockets
  • Anti-Hijack Locking
  • Beep-on-Lock Full Closure Confirmation
  • Aftermarket Dashcams
  • HID Headlight Conversions
  • Custom Requests
As time passes, more and more of the options listed above will link to further details. If you have any questions, please send me a private message or post in this thread.

Electrical Diagnostics, Services and Repairs

I have a complete understanding of the A2's electrical systems and have great experience of diagnosing and repairing most electrical problems.
TDI Engine Upgrades
Accessing My Services

I'm based in Lancaster, just off M6 J34, and always appreciate it when A2s come to me. I'm sometimes to be found at 'satellite stations' in the Midlands and the South East. Occasionally, I also do 'retrofitting tours', where I travel between A2 owners to deliver upgrade and repair requests at owners' homes or places of work.
For Central European owners, I'm happy to travel. I also have a base in The Hague, which serves A2 owners in the BeNeLux region.

Please be aware that I am my own secretary and that I can struggle to reply to private messages promptly when work is busy. Rest assured, no message goes unanswered and I will get back to you. Thanks for your patience.

My list of services is always increasing, and I will continue to update and expand this thread as needed.

Warm regards to all,

Tom
Click to expand...
 
timmus said:
Greetings to all A2 owners,

For over a decade, I have been upgrading and repairing A2s. Having dedicated myself to just one model of car, I have intimate, specialised knowledge of the vehicle we all love. Countless reviews and recommendations are scattered across the pages of this forum. My hope is that, with incremental revisions, this thread will give A2 owners a clear and condensed overview of the services that I provide and how I deliver them.

Timmus was originally a childhood nickname, born from my sister's early attempts to say 'Thomas'. Upon joining A2OC, back when A2s were first starting to appear on the second-hand market, my nickname seemed a suitable choice of username. Even when I was building models as a young boy, I showed an enthusiastic desire to improve and innovate. Studying physics and engineering at university honed my understanding and developed in me the skills necessary to innovate and improve in line with established principles and with a due respect for correctness, caution and consideration.
I soon found that my understanding of the A2's electronics was an asset to the club. My lifelong and apparently innate fixation on detail and desire for the very highest standards of neatness, efficiency and safety has meant that I have acquired a reputation in the club for factory-standard perfectionism. I am known not just for my meticulousness and painstaking care for the work that I do, but also for my honesty, flexibility, cooperativeness and integrity with the people for whom I work.

Below is an overview of the range of services that I offer for the Audi A2.

Retrofitting of Optional Extras

With the exception of OpenSky and climate control, I can retrofit all of the original factory options, plus many others. If you've seen it in an A2, I can add it to yours. It'll be just like your A2 left the factory with that option...
  • Cruise Control
  • Instrument Cluster Upgrades...
  • Audio System Upgrades...
    • Bose Premium Sound System
    • Rear Speakers
    • Bluetooth Wireless Music Streaming
    • Audi Music Interface (AMI)
    • Stereo Head Unit Upgrades
    • Later Generation Audi Stereos
    • CD Changer
  • Seat Upgrades...
  • Steering Wheel Upgrades...
    • Multifunction Steering Wheel (Many Different Designs)
    • Non-Multifunction Steering Wheels
  • Fog Lights...
    • Front Fog Lights
    • Twin Rear Fog Lights
  • Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
    • Front Fog Lights as DRLs
  • Rear Electric Windows
  • Double-DIN Dashboard
  • RNS-E Integrated SatNav
  • Komfortblinker Indicators
  • Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror (3 Different Designs)
  • Bluetooth Phone Integration
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Optical Parking System
  • Heated Mirrors
  • Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
  • Headlight Washers
  • SideGuard Curtain Airbags
  • Speech Dialogue System (Voice Control)
  • Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
  • False Floor Boot
  • Twin Interior Boot Lights
  • Pop-Out 12V Boot Socket
  • Additional Keys
  • 12V and USB Charging Sockets
  • Anti-Hijack Locking
  • Beep-on-Lock Full Closure Confirmation
  • Aftermarket Dashcams
  • HID Headlight Conversions
  • Custom Requests
As time passes, more and more of the options listed above will link to further details. If you have any questions, please send me a private message or post in this thread.

Electrical Diagnostics, Services and Repairs

I have a complete understanding of the A2's electrical systems and have great experience of diagnosing and repairing most electrical problems.
TDI Engine Upgrades
Accessing My Services

I'm based in Lancaster, just off M6 J34, and always appreciate it when A2s come to me. I'm sometimes to be found at 'satellite stations' in the Midlands and the South East. Occasionally, I also do 'retrofitting tours', where I travel between A2 owners to deliver upgrade and repair requests at owners' homes or places of work.
For Central European owners, I'm happy to travel. I also have a base in The Hague, which serves A2 owners in the BeNeLux region.

Please be aware that I am my own secretary and that I can struggle to reply to private messages promptly when work is busy. Rest assured, no message goes unanswered and I will get back to you. Thanks for your patience.

My list of services is always increasing, and I will continue to update and expand this thread as needed.

Warm regards to all,

Tom
Click to expand...
Hi Tom I am a new member Blueboy. My name is Norman, I am in need of your skills, I live in Bury.
 
Welcome David,

Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences with your new aquisition. You are very much heading in the right direction in contacting Tom.

Kind regards,

Simon
 
Hello - can you please quote me a pair of silicone hoses - I intend to use those on BHC engine in lhd car - thanks.


1678865076991.png
 
Could you please quote on your top 5 upgrades
Click to expand...
For everyone's benefit...
It's very difficult for me to recommend upgrades to others when I don't know their priorities, or how they use the car.
If you were to put a gun to my head and tell me that I could only keep a single optional extra on my A2, I'd keep cruise control. I love driving on cruise control. I do a lot of motorway miles, and I find it so much more comfortable not having to keep my right foot rigid on the accelerator for hour after hour. I also use it in 30, 40 and 50mph speed limits in order to ensure that my speed doesn't creep over the limit. However, when driving the rural lanes of the Lake District, it's utterly useless.
If you were to increase my allowance to 3 optional extras, I'd have cruise control, Bose and Sport seats. I love listening to music, and the Bose premium sound system is excellent for a car stereo. I find Sport seats, with their wider bolsters and electric lumbar adjustment much more comfortable than the standard seats. However, if I only ever listened to talk radio and only used the car for driving short distances in my locality, then Bose and Sport seats may be wasted.

I can't tell anyone what they need for their car; I am guided by the desires and needs of owners.

Best wishes,

Tom
 
Bordos said:
Hello - can you please quote me a pair of silicone hoses - I intend to use those on BHC engine in lhd car - thanks.
Click to expand...
Hi Bordos,

At the time of writing (March 2023), the complete kit of silicone boost hoses for the TDI is only compatible with right-hand-drive A2s. However, of the 4 hoses, 2 of them are compatible with LHD BHC cars. The two boost hoses from the turbo to the bottom of the intercooler are the same on RHD and LHD A2s. These are the hoses that have the hardest life and are most likely to develop leaks. The hoses that go from the top of the intercooler to the engine's inlet manifold are different depending on whether the car is LHD or RHD.
If you'd like to proceed with a 2-hose kit, please send me a PM.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Cr
timmus said:
For everyone's benefit...
It's very difficult for me to recommend upgrades to others when I don't know their priorities, or how they use the car.
If you were to put a gun to my head and tell me that I could only keep a single optional extra on my A2, I'd keep cruise control. I love driving on cruise control. I do a lot of motorway miles, and I find it so much more comfortable not having to keep my right foot rigid on the accelerator for hour after hour. I also use it in 30, 40 and 50mph speed limits in order to ensure that my speed doesn't creep over the limit. However, when driving the rural lanes of the Lake District, it's utterly useless.
If you were to increase my allowance to 3 optional extras, I'd have cruise control, Bose and Sport seats. I love listening to music, and the Bose premium sound system is excellent for a car stereo. I find Sport seats, with their wider bolsters and electric lumbar adjustment much more comfortable than the standard seats. However, if I only ever listened to talk radio and only used the car for driving short distances in my locality, then Bose and Sport seats may be wasted.

I can't tell anyone what they need for their car; I am guided by the desires and needs of owners.

Best wishes,

Tom
Click to expand...
Just to stir it up, my choice would be
Map
EGR delete
Cruise
Phone prep
Bilstein B4 or Munro equivalent
Timmus intercooler and silicon hoses and Depronman adapter if AML or BHC
Depronman wiper
Depronman fuel filter drain
Heated seats
 
timmus said:
Greetings to all A2 owners,

For over a decade, I have been upgrading and repairing A2s. Having dedicated myself to just one model of car, I have intimate, specialised knowledge of the vehicle we all love. Countless reviews and recommendations are scattered across the pages of this forum. My hope is that, with incremental revisions, this thread will give A2 owners a clear and condensed overview of the services that I provide and how I deliver them.

Timmus was originally a childhood nickname, born from my sister's early attempts to say 'Thomas'. Upon joining A2OC, back when A2s were first starting to appear on the second-hand market, my nickname seemed a suitable choice of username. Even when I was building models as a young boy, I showed an enthusiastic desire to improve and innovate. Studying physics and engineering at university honed my understanding and developed in me the skills necessary to innovate and improve in line with established principles and with a due respect for correctness, caution and consideration.
I soon found that my understanding of the A2's electronics was an asset to the club. My lifelong and apparently innate fixation on detail and desire for the very highest standards of neatness, efficiency and safety has meant that I have acquired a reputation in the club for factory-standard perfectionism. I am known not just for my meticulousness and painstaking care for the work that I do, but also for my honesty, flexibility, cooperativeness and integrity with the people for whom I work.

Below is an overview of the range of services that I offer for the Audi A2.

Retrofitting of Optional Extras

With the exception of OpenSky and climate control, I can retrofit all of the original factory options, plus many others. If you've seen it in an A2, I can add it to yours. It'll be just like your A2 left the factory with that option...
  • Cruise Control
  • Instrument Cluster Upgrades...
  • Audio System Upgrades...
    • Bose Premium Sound System
    • Rear Speakers
    • Bluetooth Wireless Music Streaming
    • Audi Music Interface (AMI)
    • Stereo Head Unit Upgrades
    • Later Generation Audi Stereos
    • CD Changer
  • Seat Upgrades...
  • Steering Wheel Upgrades...
    • Multifunction Steering Wheel (Many Different Designs)
    • Non-Multifunction Steering Wheels
  • Fog Lights...
    • Front Fog Lights
    • Twin Rear Fog Lights
  • Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
    • Front Fog Lights as DRLs
  • Rear Electric Windows
  • Double-DIN Dashboard
  • RNS-E Integrated SatNav
  • Komfortblinker Indicators
  • Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror (3 Different Designs)
  • Bluetooth Phone Integration
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Optical Parking System
  • Heated Mirrors
  • Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
  • Headlight Washers
  • SideGuard Curtain Airbags
  • Speech Dialogue System (Voice Control)
  • Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
  • False Floor Boot
  • Twin Interior Boot Lights
  • Pop-Out 12V Boot Socket
  • Additional Keys
  • 12V and USB Charging Sockets
  • Anti-Hijack Locking
  • Beep-on-Lock Full Closure Confirmation
  • Aftermarket Dashcams
  • HID Headlight Conversions
  • Custom Requests
As time passes, more and more of the options listed above will link to further details. If you have any questions, please send me a private message or post in this thread.

Electrical Diagnostics, Services and Repairs

I have a complete understanding of the A2's electrical systems and have great experience of diagnosing and repairing most electrical problems.
TDI Engine Upgrades
Accessing My Services

I'm based near Lancaster, just off M6 J34. My workshop is where a majority of my work is performed, and everyone is welcome to visit me by appointment. I'm sometimes to be found at 'satellite stations' in the Midlands and the South East. I also perform work on A2s at A2OC social events, where suitable/appropriate.
Very occasionally, I also do 'retrofitting tours', where I travel between multiple A2 owners to deliver upgrade and repair requests at owners' homes or places of work. Please note that I do not drive for individual jobs; it’s much easier to bring your A2 to my workshop than to bring my workshop to your A2.
For Central European owners, I'm happy to travel/fly. I also have a base in The Hague, which serves A2 owners in the BeNeLux region.

Please be aware that I am my own secretary and that I can struggle to reply to private messages promptly when work is busy. Rest assured, no message goes unanswered and I will get back to you. Thanks for your patience.

My list of services is always increasing, and I will continue to update and expand this thread as needed.

Warm regards to all,

Tom
Click to expand...
Hi Tom

Can you please confirm you are still coming to CM235QP on the 14th April?
I'm having challenges contacting you by other means.

Many thanks / Mark
 
Hi Tom, enjoy your trip in the Alps, I was there on vacation a fortnight ago, I advise you to do the col de lizeran and on the Italian side the grand paradisio national park, you can also wander in the vanoise park, I'm French so I know quite well
 
Just wanted to say thanks to Timmus for helping me with my A2 last week.

You've fixed my Webasto by diagnosing the problem from memory after seeing my car once 6 months ago! (Remap) That's truly impressive!

Not only do you clearly love A2's, but judging by your enthusiasm and the fair prices you charge, you love helping the people who own them too...which is a different prospect entirely and gets my highest respect!

Your service is appreciated.
 
Tchouki85 said:
Hi Tom, enjoy your trip in the Alps, I was there on vacation a fortnight ago, I advise you to do the col de lizeran and on the Italian side the grand paradisio national park, you can also wander in the vanoise park, I'm French so I know quite well
Click to expand...
Thank you! I climbed Gran Paradiso in 2020, but am not especially familiar with its surrounding national park. I also have not been over the Col de l'Iseran, so shall have to add these places to my list. :)

The photo below shows the view from the summit of Gran Paradiso towards Grivola. Most of the other 4000m+ peaks of the Alps line the horizon, including Mont Blanc, the Grandes Jorasses, the Grand Combin, the Weisshorn, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa.

index.php
 
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Good afternoon, folks.

The magnetic resonance image below shows my left knee from the side. The pink arrow is pointing at a small fragment of bone that has broken away from the back of my kneecap, leaving behind an obvious crater in the back of the kneecap.

1709223896647.png


The fragment of bone is still attached at the top by a hinge of soft tissue, allowing it to flip backwards and forward. When the fragment is sitting inside the crater, the knee joint works perfectly. However, when the fragment flips upwards, it drags within the femoral groove and catches on other structures, which is extremely painful.
Although it may seem that this was caused by a violent knock to my knee, it is actually caused during growth, hence why the symptoms started when I was in my late childhood. This condition is known as patellar osteochondrosis dissecans (POCD). I have lived with this issue for a long time, but its rarity means that I have only now (finally!) received a diagnosis.

Tomorrow, I am going to see a friend in the Netherlands for a week. Upon my return, I'm undergoing surgery to remove the loose fragment of bone and deal with the crater that has been left behind.

I am posting this here such that members are aware that my ability to work on A2s will be much reduced in the coming weeks. Some of my services will still be available, but I'll be unable to work on the cars themselves for some weeks post surgery.

Best wishes to all,

Tom
 
timmus said:
Good afternoon, folks.

The magnetic resonance image below shows my left knee from the side. The pink arrow is pointing at a small fragment of bone that has broken away from the back of my kneecap, leaving behind an obvious crater in the back of the kneecap.

View attachment 119993

The fragment of bone is still attached at the top by a hinge of soft tissue, allowing it to flip backwards and forward. When the fragment is sitting inside the crater, the knee joint works perfectly. However, when the fragment flips upwards, it drags within the femoral groove and catches on other structures, which is extremely painful.
Although it may seem that this was caused by a violent knock to my knee, it is actually caused during growth, hence why the symptoms started when I was in my late childhood. This condition is known as patellar osteochondrosis dissecans (POCD). I have lived with this issue for a long time, but its rarity means that I have only now (finally!) received a diagnosis.

Tomorrow, I am going to see a friend in the Netherlands for a week. Upon my return, I'm undergoing surgery to remove the loose fragment of bone and deal with the crater that has been left behind.

I am posting this here such that members are aware that my ability to work on A2s will be much reduced in the coming weeks. Some of my services will still be available, but I'll be unable to work on the cars themselves for some weeks post surgery.

Best wishes to all,

Tom
Click to expand...
Best wishes Tom , hope all goes well with the Op and take care in meantime .
 
@timmus Ouch! I hope you can heal soon for your sake. Thats quite a blow. I have a friend who has just purchased a 2001 TDI with OSS, and he is interested in a Leighton Buzzarder. I know this isn't perhaps exactly the most appropriate time to ask, but are there any 2024 plans afoot (or aknee- sorry couldn't resist). I myself am working up to cruise, and, if I manage to get an extra contract paid, Bose.
 
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