Triple White Coupe GTs and correct digital dash

[Tony Lum]

At 08:11 AM 10/16/2005, Ed Kellock wrote:
>Correct.  The red-leather CGT's were 1986 models.  The Commemorative
>Editions were Graphite Metallic or White with red leather and digital
>dashes, and body color outside rear view mirrors.  I believe the color
>of the digital dash illumination was different than on the digital
>dashes in the 1987 models. The "special build" models were the late
>1987 models which had the 2.3 litre NG engine, rear disk brakes, and
>body color side window surrounds.  In between the CE and "special
>build" models, the digital dash became an option, but red leather was
>not offered AFAIK apart from the CEs.  I have no idea about the triple
>white models as far as what sort of option package or program they
>were.  They were apart from the CEs and excusive to the "special
>build" (NG, disk brakes, etc.) models.  I think I can bear witness to
>at least about 6 that Iv'e seen in person or online over the years.
>
>Ed

Hi guys,

I'm a little late on this thread, but I've got one of these jewels as 
well.  I bought it from a tailor for $950.  He said to me, "I can fix 
clothes, but I cannot fix Audis!".  This was my first experience with the 
130HP NG motor.  I drove it for only 2 blocks and instantly knew I had to 
have this car.  It wasn't in the greatest physical condition, for example, 
the drivers side door panel had been folded in 2 (!) and thrown in the 
trunk :(  The drivers side window regulator was broken and the left side 
tie rod was held on by a wire coat hanger!.  The white leather seats took 
some getting used to and she wouldn't start when the engine was cold.  I 
gave the guy cash and had him drive it straight to my mechanic where I had 
the front end suspension redone.  I also put an Eibach proKit for a '90 90 
FWD car on.  Because the coupe weighs so much less than a 90, the drop was 
only 3/4 of an inch.

I replaced the door liners front and rear with the grey cloth style from an 
'86 coupe along with a working regulator from Pick-n-Pull.  The cold engine 
start problem I fixed with a new dual temp sensor (both sides were open) 
and I replaced the front bumper when I found out that it had been in an 
accident and was held together with a 100 or so sheet metal screws.  The 
accident hadn't damaged the fenders or anything, but it was enough to cause 
an insurance company to put a salvage title on her which I found out when I 
went to register her at the DMV.

I also found out later that the digital dash was the wrong kind.  '86 C.E. 
coupes and the early '87 coupes with the KX engine used a RED digital 
display.  In these displays, the trip computer is integrated into the fuel 
system (CIS-E).  In the NG equipped 87.5 special build coupes, the display 
should be ORANGE.  This display requires no connection to the fuel system 
other than the gas tank sensor estimating MPG and range strictly on speed 
and fuel level alone (pretty accurately too).  The red display that was in 
the car when I got it displayed a constant 15.6 MPG which always resulted 
in a premature low fuel warning.  A replacement from Chris Semple (thanks 
Chris!) fixed that problem.  Because of the minimum interface required with 
the fuel system, this orange display was also used in the latter urquattros 
as a replacement for the early florescent green digital displays.  There 
are several additional components added to the display, probably to adjust 
the MPG values as I know an urq cannot ever get the 28-32 MPG my '87.5 
coupe gets.  Steve Eiche has the info on those parts as that was standard 
equipment on the RR 20V urquattros which he will finish one of these days ;^D

My coupe is down at the moment because she failed smog with a high NOx 
reading on the dyno test.  When I checked the DPR current I found it was 
set at 12-15 mA probably in an attempt to make it start easier.  It should 
have been set to 0 mA for the CIS-E III system.   I 'm sure this  ruined 
the CAT.  I've got a replacement ready along with a new O2 sensor and a new 
set of injectors which should fix the problem.

Next to my urquattro, this is my favorite go to car to get around in.

Regards,

Tony
'83 urq #302
'87.5 coupe GT Special Build and Triple White