Re: 4ksq tail light lens

[Robert W Obrien <rwo@u.arizona.edu>]

On Thu, 14 May 1998, Dave Fain wrote:

> Just noticed that my '85 4000S Quattro has a left tail light
> lens that doesn't match the rest of the lenses.  It looks the
> same from a distance but has a horizontal groove about 1/2"
> deep between the red and amber parts.  Other than that, it
> fits perfectly.  Anybody know what sort of Audi this belongs
> on?  Is this a rare and hard to find part that somebody would
> like to trade me a correct lens for?  Probably nobody but me
> will notice it, but now it annoys the H*** out of me.
> Dave
> 
I think (IMHO) that you have a 5000 sedan light on the left and a 5000
Avant/4000 (they're the same) light on the right... as it should be (the
right side that is) Now, since it seems that '84-'91 type 44 sedans are
likely more numerous than type 44 wagons/'85-'87 4k's, you have, instead
of a rare part, a common part *substituted* for a rare part...

At least, this is my recollection after staring at the tails of far too
many Audis- I was once such a spotter, even my (then) girlfriend got
indoctrinated: She exclaimed, "Look, a V8!" on the freeway at about 50
yards (red cluster)-- but I could see that although the lights were V8
spec, the "5000s quattro" badges told a different story- contradicted by
the beam axle, 4-lug 5ks rims... and DOT Turbo headlights?? And, it was
*green*. Anybody else see this example of partsbin engineering? AZ tags,
spotted about three years back...

And you thought *you* got the wrong taillights...
Rob