Hi everybody.

New here but not my first Audi.  You can have a guess at my age since my first was a 4 year old 1978 100 L5S and now I've just taken on a 2004 A4 Cabriolet 3 litre Quattro Sport.

It needs a bit of cosmetic TLC - but so do I these days.  It has done 110K, a full service history, cambelt at 66K, drives really well.  The engine and transmission (5 speed auto) are good, very smooth as is the hood, bodywork and underside.  The picky detail is in the interior. 110K has got the driver's seat bolster and the interior plastic door sill trim, along with a couple of the elastic tensioning straps for the hood liner.  There also appears to be a problem with the glovebox hinge.

Any hints and tips most gratefully received, pointers in the right direction most welcome.  I've been mending and cherishing older cars for well over 50 years but you'll never be accused trying to teach this 'Granny to suck eggs'. No one knows it all - ever.   😃

Will

Welcome to the forum you'll find the members on here are a friendly and helpful bunch 🙂 

Sounds a good project. My grandad had a 1970s 100ls too, his was red. 

A 350 mile run across country and back to see how it behaved.  Nice to drive, smooth and quiet given it's a ragtop.  However

!.  The gearbox is smooth but once well warmed up it hunts about a bit between 4th and 5th and the revs fluctuate up and down by perhaps 200 RPM on light throttle openings, around 2K RPM in 5th.

Can anyone tell me if these (5 Speed Auto) boxes are sensitive to trans oil cleanliness?  I'll change it anyway, given the symptoms - but is it best to change the box filter as well?

2.  The sunroof rear window is falling out!  It was only in there by about 20% of the original adhesive by the time we got home, so that will be a fun repair job.

Any suggestions regarding adhesive that really works and pointers to methods of clamping the parts as the goo sets - that really work?

 

ps  arrived so far:  Glove box repair kit.  2 New key fobs

Edited November 27, 2025Nov 27 by Willum
update

Sunroof problems are common on audis. Might be worth speaking to an auto glazing specialist. As I'm not sure if tiger seal or sikaflex etc would be suitable for a sunroof. 

I'd definitely recommend a gearbox oil change if there's no proof and the car being on 66k. You could also get a diagnostic check to see if any fault codes flag up 

Hi Steve.  Thanks.  It will hopefully now get an oil change and filter clean/change next week - part of the deal when I bought it covered engine and transmission problem resolving, so I have now got an agreement to get it sorted.  It's not serious but it won't get any better for being ignored.

I was sure I had seen something on here ref fixing droopy rear windows in soft tops - but can't find it now.  I maybe doing something wrong but the Search facility doesn't seem to bring up anything

Hello Will,

When using the search facility, select ‘Everywhere’ from the drop down menu.

Regards,

Gareth. 

Got it, ta.

Autobox oil and filter changed and it's taken care of the slight 'hunting' around 60mph on a light throttle.  The oil was quoted as being 'disgusting and almost black'.

This from a service schedule that says it's supposed to be filled for life.🤔

He also did a pretty fair job of gluing the rear window back in and it will get more attention as I put this thing back to pristine over the nest months.

Will

Edited February 4Feb 4 by Willum

Glad to read it Willum.

Incidently which Great Eastern Flatlands do you inhabit? I can think of a few.

Lincolnshire.  😀