[Jeremy B]

Hello, fellow Audi R8 owners and enthusiasts! My name is Jeremy and I live in central Illinois. I just (Thanksgiving 2022) purchased a salt-water flooded Audi R8, from Copart, after Hurricane Ian. My goal is to restore it slowly and keep it for many years. I am starting this post to network with you “regular” R8 owners, and perhaps a few other ambitious folks who bought one of these, for there were/are several available.
I hope to log here with words and pictures as much as I am able, so bear with me.

Specs: 2008, V8, gated manual with less than 30,000 miles (maybe less than 25k).

Major Damage:

• Salt! (Yes, into the manifold intake boots of the engine, at least!)
• Flooded to the roof
• Interior components, electrical
• Windshield cracked
• Minor cosmetic external and undercarriage damage (see video)
• Broken off water pump
• Hole in sump cover (the “oil pan”)

Minor Damage:

• Too much blinker fluid
• Smell (mostly under control)
• External bodywork, rear right taillight cover broken

Accomplished so far:

• Seats out with no battery power (that was tedious, to say the least… I might detail in a later post)
• Some interior pulled

Future Concerns:

• Electrical components (I already purchased a nice used wiring harness, but…I’m color-blind!)
• Engine (long list of things, more on that as we dig in)
• “Burn-out” by an overwhelming list of tasks

Assets

• Frame, drive train, wheels, etc. are straight
• Brakes work (after a little pumping)
• Doors, engine bay, and frunk open and close VERY cleanly! Well… the frunk release… well, anyway, as good as can be expected.
• Ahhh, did I mention… it is a manual! (I don’t know how guys get flood-cars off trailers when they are automatics locked in park, but would love to hear if/how you can.)
• Ebay, R8talk for parts
• A great network of folks on R8talk!

My qualifications:

• Mechanically inclined (sometimes reclined )
• General working knowledge of basic components
• Not afraid to work, or get my hands dirty
• Not in a hurry!
• Rebuilt a few motorcycles (race and street)
• Have some tools, small heated garage
• I have an excited wife concerning the project (she likes seeing the R8 in our garage )

My crazy goals:

• Making the R8 as analog as possible (I hope to remove many “bells and whistles”, if possible.)
• Starting a video series to tie in vehicle restoration with the Gospel of Jesus’ redemption of mankind.

Advice given me thus far:

• “I would advise against it.” (direct words of the Copart broker!)
• “Don’t do it, it will grenade in six months.” (friend who knows the business of cars)
• “I have Audi-tech friends that have the garage, tools and experience, and even THEY wouldn’t attempt such a feat!” (motorcycle racer friend)
• “Wow, that’s a big project, if anyone can do it, you can…”
• “The two best days of your life, the day you bought the boat, and the day you sold the boat.”
• “If you have the time, you’ll get it done…”
• “If you can dream it, you can build it.” Requote I heard from Burt Rutan.

Jeremy
Christian, husband, father, Gospel preacher, machinist, author… and now Audi R8 owner… and restorer

 

[James88]

I've never been one to deter anyone from their goal to obtain an object or objective they desire as long as it brings no harm to others and I'm not going to start now. The R8 is a treasure (in your case a sunken treasure 😉, sorry couldn't resist) and if your successful it will bring cherished moments of joy and in this scenario a massive sense of accomplishment.

You seem to have a few essential elements those being: A sense of humor (based on you post) a level of mechanical aptitude that will be needed, and hopefully the necessary dedication to see this project through.

Most of us on this forum will tell you it's a car worth the effort IF it's done right and the money expended doesn't exceed (by too much) the money the car will be valued at once completed. Of course you could be that rare person with unlimited money where spending large amounts of money will not affect you or others around you and which WILL BE needed to bring the car to a solid roadworthy level.

R8 STUFF will be a hugely valued resource so get to know Osman and his team to find hard to source parts. He's the master "treasure hunter."

Good luck Jeremy in saving a great car.

I'll be looking forward to your updates.

 

[434]

Your trailor isn't big enough!

 

[Trev450]

I wish you the very best of luck with this project, but I have to say you're a braver man than me.

 

[DaveL]

Best of luck with this project.

 

[ezmaass]

Best of luck, Jeremy - never an easy thing to undertake, but others have indeed completed complex restorations. As @James88 said, you seem to have many of the prerequisites!

I'll look forward to the updates! Welcome to the forum, as well!

 

[nitrorocket]

We’re located in Milwaukee, specialize in food vehicle restoration.

you need to determine rightaway if the fuel system was contaminated. Alsodrain and flick diffs and trans until clean.

also need to install a new starter asap and Jump it to start flushing engine with fresh oil while spark plugs are out with intake manifold removed.

 

[JuddS]

Nothing is more motivating than being told you can't do something. Git er done! I'd imagine like a lot of things the journey will be more valuable than even the finished product. Enjoy the work and keep us up to date.

 

[cmonbmw]

I wish you the best in your endeavor! Congratulations on the purchase and I hope to see your project coming along!

 

[Izzio277]

Gonna be bad ass mate !!🤝keep us posted

 

[Dimitri]

Good luck friend.
I would power wash the car down get rid of the salt .
i would open oil drain plugs on engine and see if u have clean oil still.
And proceed from there.

 

[skar829]

Clearly this is the most ambitious project I’ve seen on this forum! Good luck and please document your journey here!

 

[JuddS]

What did you pay for the car? What is budget to get this thing running and on the road?

 

[Logic]

Excited to see your journey restoring the car. Good luck!

 

[P3DAL]

Is this your car at the end of the video?

Supercar Fails on Instagram: "More Supercars Destroyed by Hurricane Ian 😢 Cars can be replaced but human lives cannot. 🙏 #SupercarFails"

17K Likes, 157 Comments - Supercar Fails (@supercar.fails) on Instagram: "More Supercars Destroyed by Hurricane Ian 😢 Cars can be replaced but human lives cannot. 🙏 ..."

www.instagram.com

 

[ThunderDent]

Best of luck to you.

I hope you got the car on the super cheap side of cheap. Because it's going to be a lot to fix it. And just to get an R-title out of it. Which won't matter as long as you plan to keep it.
As stated above. Get to know Osman at R8 Stuff. He'll get you sorted with OEM parts cheaper than anyone.

 

[2old4this]

View attachment 282571


Hello, fellow Audi R8 owners and enthusiasts! My name is Jeremy and I live in central Illinois. I just (Thanksgiving 2022) purchased a salt-water flooded Audi R8, from Copart, after Hurricane Ian. My goal is to restore it slowly and keep it for many years. I am starting this post to network with you “regular” R8 owners, and perhaps a few other ambitious folks who bought one of these, for there were/are several available.
I hope to log here with words and pictures as much as I am able, so bear with me.

Specs: 2008, V8, gated manual with less than 30,000 miles (maybe less than 25k).

Major Damage:

• Salt! (Yes, into the manifold intake boots of the engine, at least!)
• Flooded to the roof
• Interior components, electrical
• Windshield cracked
• Minor cosmetic external and undercarriage damage (see video)
• Broken off water pump
• Hole in sump cover (the “oil pan”)

Minor Damage:

• Too much blinker fluid
• Smell (mostly under control)
• External bodywork, rear right taillight cover broken

Accomplished so far:

• Seats out with no battery power (that was tedious, to say the least… I might detail in a later post)
• Some interior pulled

Future Concerns:

• Electrical components (I already purchased a nice used wiring harness, but…I’m color-blind!)
• Engine (long list of things, more on that as we dig in)
• “Burn-out” by an overwhelming list of tasks

Assets

• Frame, drive train, wheels, etc. are straight
• Brakes work (after a little pumping)
• Doors, engine bay, and frunk open and close VERY cleanly! Well… the frunk release… well, anyway, as good as can be expected.
• Ahhh, did I mention… it is a manual! (I don’t know how guys get flood-cars off trailers when they are automatics locked in park, but would love to hear if/how you can.)
• Ebay, R8talk for parts
• A great network of folks on R8talk!

My qualifications:

• Mechanically inclined (sometimes reclined )
• General working knowledge of basic components
• Not afraid to work, or get my hands dirty
• Not in a hurry!
• Rebuilt a few motorcycles (race and street)
• Have some tools, small heated garage
• I have an excited wife concerning the project (she likes seeing the R8 in our garage )

My crazy goals:

• Making the R8 as analog as possible (I hope to remove many “bells and whistles”, if possible.)
• Starting a video series to tie in vehicle restoration with the Gospel of Jesus’ redemption of mankind.

Advice given me thus far:

• “I would advise against it.” (direct words of the Copart broker!)
• “Don’t do it, it will grenade in six months.” (friend who knows the business of cars)
• “I have Audi-tech friends that have the garage, tools and experience, and even THEY wouldn’t attempt such a feat!” (motorcycle racer friend)
• “Wow, that’s a big project, if anyone can do it, you can…”
• “The two best days of your life, the day you bought the boat, and the day you sold the boat.”
• “If you have the time, you’ll get it done…”
• “If you can dream it, you can build it.” Requote I heard from Burt Rutan.

Jeremy
Christian, husband, father, Gospel preacher, machinist, author… and now Audi R8 owner… and restorer

Most of the people who fail a project like this fail because they don’t realize how much it takes to restore a car like this. You, OTOH, seem to understand it well.

Just do yourself a favor and replace all electronics, including the wire harnesses. You can never clean all the salt, which will corrode your electronics/wires, sooner or later. The rest will be all about replacing interior trims, taking a part every single part, cleaning and putting it back together.

With enough time, and patience, it is a good project.

 

[dinkman]

salt water flood to the roofline has got to be one of the most audacious restoration attempts i've heard of. i just cant imagine how any of the electronics, upholstery, sheet metal, frame, mechanical components can survive that, depending on how long it was submerged i guess.
wish you all the best of luck, brave man

 

[trayack]

Like others have said, I don't want to deter you from your goal but you need to understand that this is a FINANCIAL RUINING PROJECT with your current intentions.

With that level of salt water intrusion you have a PARTS CAR, not a project car. Even in "perfect" running condition that particular car will never be worth more that what you just paid for it from Copart. Whatever time and money you dump into it from this point on will be as if you'd simple set $100 bills on fire in the backyard. The only way this could be anything at all is if you already had a larger Youtube channel active and this project could recoup its cost in add revenue.

If you NEED to get into an R8 in this manor you should find another totaled car and use the salt car for parts to repair that other totaled car. Then sell the leftover hard parts to recoup the initial cost output.

I love your sense of adventure but in all honesty this could be a life ruining event for you, I'm very very serious about that.

- Travis

 

[nitrorocket]

Also, definitely by a programming tool to perform the coding of all the modules yourself, that will save you thousands. Not to mention many dealers are not as good as you think doing this stuff