[s-cars] New 6-spd owner. Redline MT-90 & S6 steering wheel upgrade?

[Nathan Belo]

I just got my CGR (May 95.5 S2 Avant donor w/50K miles last build date)
finally installed.  I supplied the tranny shop with Redline MT-90, but
they didn't put it in.  They told me that Redline leaks, but if I want
they will put it in for free.  "Drive it for a week and let us know if you
want it put in."  It drives great and "seems" faster, but then again I've
been driving for almost a year without 3rd gear.  Should I put the Redline
in?  It shifts fine, but I haven't gone skiing to test the cold
conditions.

My 3rd gear went out at Quattrofest @ PIR last November. Started out as a
ticking sound in 2nd at around 105K then at 112K began "tacking" really
loud in 3rd.  I drove until 128K skipping 3rd gear, then I let a valet
driver & friend (owns an A4) drive it & forgot to tell them to skip 3rd
gear.  Afterwards, tranny would lock up at a stop, even in neutral, which
would require rocking the car back and forth to get going again.
Sometimes I couldn't put it in reverse and when I could it would stop
violently, due to the broken tooth lying in there.  I had to get the thing
fixed fast.

In 6th gear, it cruises at 80mph at 3Krpm.  I'm going to get in trouble
with this thing. It keeps the boost up and I'm having too much fun driving
the car.  Who's going to Laguna Seca, because I may go? Next thing,
brakes.  It's hard trying to find "Porker" monoblocs at the boneyard.

I found a '96 S6 steering wheel with airbag overseas for $400.  Is this a
good price? I heard there is a problem shipping an airbag overseas? Should
it go by slow boat vs. air since it has an airbag? What do I need to buy
with the wheel for the upgrade? BTDT?

Dean Transmissions in Seattle did the install. $65/hr 206.448.2510 2120
4th Ave, next to the Cinerama.  Talk to Jon Schweyan.  They've been in
business over 30 years and work a double shift 6 days a week
(7am-midnight).  Most of the "stealerships" Phil Smart MB, BMW, Europa,
etc. use them.  They've done some A4 automatics.  I dropped the car off at
6pm Friday night and got it back on Tuesday afternoon. It took a little
more than 3 hours of bench time to swap the Pro-con 10 seatbelt stuff &
swap the rear.  Most shops I talked to would take the tranny out then send
it to a rebuilder, like Dean Transmission, and then re-install it.  I'd
rather let a shop that does it 17hrs/day do it. They have a builder that
specializes only in automatics and one for standards/manuals.  It's either
one or the other, but not both.  I heard some negative things about German
Transaxle from some another shop I didn't use about their rebuilds & I
wasn't going to try & drive down there anyway.

This is what the invoice said:

R&R Rear Main (cust supplied clutch & 6-spd) $617.50
Convert 6-spd trans to fit & reseal input & axel seals $195
Grease/Oil $20
Hazardous Waste $7.50
total w/tax:  $913.92
Cash price:  $812 I always ask for the cash price with independent shops
Warranty 90 days or 4K miles

The $812 for a new clutch & tranny installation was worth it, rather than
sweating about doing the whole thing myself. Plus I had a hard time
finding help & my tranny was locking up.

It cast me about $2,400 for the used transmission (I got a good deal & it
has the wide & hardened 1st gear $1,100 w/shipping), parts (includes new
clutch) & labor.

Thank you Charlie for that wonderful website on the 01E tranny!

'92 S4 late CGR 6-spd, IA III+
Nathan Belo
ASSOCIATE BROKER
Skyline Properties, Inc.
9709 3rd Ave. N.E.  Suite 500
Seattle, WA  98115
Residential/Commercial/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (Restaurants, Night Clubs,
Gas Stations, Franchises, etc.)
Office: 206.522.3400 ext.333 Fax: 206.522.6890 Pager: 206.559.2356

"To see a thing uncolored by one's own personal preferences and desires is
to see it in its own pristine simplicity."  Bruce Lee--Tao of Jeet Kune Do