Sweet, I already have a nice shift ****: anodized aluminum with an engraved rotor .
Maybe I'll skip the steering wheel and seats.
<copies and pastes Sideways7's post into personal notes>

 

To clarify, I meant that the gauges wont fit electrically, but they look the same so there is no point in swapping them. I just went back and read that and realized it was a little confusing.

 

The funny thing about the automatic belts is it's only the shoulder restraint. You still have to put the lap belt on, and people usually skip that step because they think the shoulder belt is all they need. (When in reality it's the lap belt that does most of the work.)

Power seat belts suck!

On topic, the only thing S5's really have going for them is the lightened rotating assembley, the VDI intake, better turbo / WG.

Aside from that, S4 FTW!

 

S4 Ftw!!!!

 

Icemark, check PM please

 

Thought I'd talk about the weight issue once again as most feel the S5 is a bit overweight.

Factory wgt in the showroom catalog:

'88 S4 TII 2850 lbs
'91 S5 TII 2987 lbs

Difference of 137 lbs, BUT, the S5 TII wgt includes the addition of power steering and the ABS system as they became standard in '89. The S4 TII wgt is WITHOUT these two items as they were an option. So if one were to add the wgt of the PS unit and ABS unit to the S4 TII, which most were equipped with, I guess the wgt difference could be less than 75 lbs.

'88 S4 Manual 2720 lbs
'91 S5 Coupe 2787 lbs

Difference of 67 lbs, BUT the S5 came with A/C as standard equipment and the S4 didn't, but as it was ordered on most S4's, I would guess once again, it would narrow the difference to 30/40 lbs.

Here's a good one-The convertible

'88 S4 3003 lbs
'89 S5 3045 lbs
'91 S5 3071 lbs-A/C was standard equipment

As you can see, the actual weight difference is very minimal depending on the equipment of a specific model.

 

but the s5 can be dieted and after all that i want to do to it it will still be fast

 

Your figures seem to be a little off.

For example

86 manual tranny non turbo coupe: 2625
89 GTU manual tranny coupe: 2800

That would be a 175lbs difference. And despite your claims that air conditioning (a whole 25 lbs option) became standard in the S5, there is not a S4 sold in the USA that didn't have air conditioning from the factory.

Lets look at the Turbos:

87 Turbo: 2850
89 Turbo: 2987

A 137 lbs difference...

and lets face it despite your claim, power steering does not add 137 lbs... in fact I would surprised if power steering and ABS added 35 lbs.

Simular for the vert, with the weight of the 88 P package vert being listed (additional audio, leather CPU, and other options). but even so, lets compare the indentical 89 vert... it gains 40 lbs even though the car is identical to the 88 P package (other than cosmentic changes and gas tank). In fact the S5 vert kept the uberlichet German made jack and alloy spare tire (unlike other S5 models). Of course if you really wanted to compare, then look at the 88 non P package vert which was 2890 lbs according to car and driver. Looking at that, the convertible gained 181 lbs during its run (yes again with adding standard features that were optional in earlier models- but that is the point... weight gain is weight gain... regardless of if my *** is sitting on cloth or leather.

The S5 models all added extra weight. I don't get why S5 owners have a problem with this.

 

As I have all the sales brochures from '87/'91, all the weights stated came from the numbers specified within. I'm not trying to dispute the fact that the S5 isn't heavier than a S4, but most of the forum members feel that they are 200/300 lbs heavier, and could never see the weight of a S4, to which I disagree. Just trying to show that even if, as you say the ABS (ABS pump alone is 17 lbs) and power steering is only 35 lbs total, that would make the S5 TII only 100 lbs heavier. Really getting close.

I don't get why S4 owners constantly say the S5 is so much heavier. I guess they must have a problem with the slightly redesigned body and interior. Oh, wait a minute, somebody will bring up once again the balljoints or stabilizer links, etc. Never had to replace mine in 187,000 miles.

 

how much does the s4 motor weigh and how much does the s5 motot weigh ??

 

My friends 87 t2 came very basic. no power toys, he didnt have either ps or ac, i forget which, no ABS, etc etc.

My 87 t2 came fully loaded. Power mirrors, power windows, no spoiler, alum hood, ps, ac, abs.
I removed 22lbs by removing the ABS, and I still have the ABS computer stuck in my car somehwere.

Booooooooooooo ABS!

 

all US s4's came standard w/ AC? Did not know that.
All my 87s had it, just never dawned on me that they all had it.
what about sportos?

 

The s4 and s5 motors are nearly identical in weight.

 

ok, instead of creating a new thread, ill just go slightly off topic for a second...
this is mainly a question of opinion.

Im rebuilding an S5 engine in the next few months out of a wrecked S5... the original plans were to stuff it into my S4 GXL, but the driveline and the suspension needs a little work and im not too confident in the electronics etherl. although the body is Rustless, it has other minor flaws that only get on my nerves lol.

HOWEVER, Ive found an absolutly gourgous S5 that I can get for a song, and all its missing is an engine... but hearing all this, and knowing that ill have to use the Eletronic MOP from the S5, and Id probably want to install a Clutch Type LSD from the S4, Im wondering if id be worth it to use this gourgous shell. as far as I know everything should be in good working order. I mean, are the S5s no good for performance? How are the stock suspensions?(not that ill be keeping mine for too long, but curious) and what of the Viscous LSD? I feel that this car might be better for DDing, and looks great. but little worried that itll be a downgrade from the s4 in terms of performance

Im still undecided about that, but it poped into my head to find an S4 SE(4lug base) to use, because I could get the most performance out of it and I could still use the mechanical MOP. the problem I ran into is that if I found an SE. to get it the way I want it, id have to do a 5lug swap, LSD, and a better suspension(ive never seen an old SE without a tired stock suspension) not to mention the wiring and the fact I wont be using an S5 ECM with the S5block and Intake, so no 8kRPM too much work imo but would possiably produce the best outcome.

I duno, just batting it around in my head, trying to figure whats going to be the cheapest, cost effective, and most performing out of the three without redoing the entire car to begin with. The engine Im using, will be modded, so much, im hoping to have to use a TII Driveline(I know what your going to say, im shooting for 200-250NA without bridgeporting. Putting on flame suit now.)

Are the drawbacks to the S5 really all that bad? A friend made it out to be that the S5 was the S4s weaker, frail brother. and that the US spec anyway, was too"User Friendly" to have that sporty feel and performance. Like I said, just opinion, not trying to start world war 3.
Thanks.

 

i dont know about that a/c issue i had to put it in my 87 n/a. took it off a parts car

 

If you found a clean s5 chassis for cheap and have an s5 engine, then jump on it. There is nothing particularly bad about the electrical omp, except it fails occasionally, but that is a cheap (less than 100 bucks) and easy fix with used parts from the classifieds section, and it really doesn't happen that often. The reason it was a problem for using the s5 engine in an s4 is that it is controlled by the s5 ECU, which the s4 doesn't have. To get the s5 ecu to work in an s4, you have to change over all electronics, basically, with is a pita.
The s5 is still a good performance car. It might weight slightly more than an s4, but its not really that much, as stated. Plus most of it can be offset in various ways.
The say I see it, go with the best chassis you find, as everything else can be swapped.

 

If the shell's really nice then get it. The S4 and S5 shells weigh about the same, the difference is in the options. Since it's a project car anyways, swap all the good parts (ie better design) from the S4 into the S5, things like the diff, the control arms, and whatever else. The S5 does just fine as a performance car, a few pounds doesn't stop it from being a sports car. I doubt if either diff is still working as a limited slip, the clutches wear out and the fluid in the viscous breaks down. Use the clutch type and rebuild it with more than stock prelad when you're swapping it.

It's easier to swap parts over to the shell than it is to properly fix any rust that may be in your current car (of there is any), and the car will be better in the end.