1989 Audi UR MB Quattro Turbo

In 1989, Audi and VW dealer Scotts of Sloane Square supplied this car new to its first owner.

Nothing surprising or unusual about that, we can hear you murmuring.

Quite so…until you learn that Scotts were also agents for performance tuning experts Oettinger of Germany, which was at the time the only firm offering performance upgrades to the 1989 Audi Ur MB Quattro Turbo 10-valve.

This car was fitted with the Oettinger performance pack from new, which must have made an already very expensive car almost prohibitively so.

We’re pretty certain it’s the only one in the UK, and Oettinger themselves have said that they don’t think there’s another in Germany or possibly anywhere else in Europe.

The Oettinger tuning package consisted of having the engine block bored out from 2,226cc to 2,526cc.

The block was then honed and the intake and exhaust passages widened and polished.

A chrome molybdenum crankshaft with forged counterweights and super-fine balanced 94.5mm stroke was fitted, together with forged 82.5mm pistons.

The result of all this engine whispering and mechanical sorcery was an increase in power to 250bhp at 6,000 rpm, a hike in torque to 298N.m at 4,600 rpm, and a new compression ratio of 10.0:1.

All of which enabled this hugely capable car to reach 60mph in 5.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 148mph.

Those were figures that made this 10-valve car considerably quicker and more powerful than the 20-valve factory iteration that followed later in 1989.

We have driven this fabulous car and can attest to the fact that the engine tune demands a slightly different approach to getting it into the optimal state for spirited driving.

When you first fire up the Quattro (sorry) your initial reaction is that it sounds a little lumpy.

But don’t be fooled.

The Oettinger upgrades take it from being the ‘stock’ factory Quattro 10-valve and move it several notches nearer to its fire-breathing, gravel-scattering, rip-snorting rally-bred cousin.

Consequently, it doesn’t like to sit and idle quietly or meekly.

It likes to be revved at idle between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm for a few minutes until all fluids and gases are mobile and warm.

Only then is it ready, able and willing for what the vendor has described as an ‘Italian tune’, which means driving it with plenty of gusto, verve and vim.

Follow those simple rules and you will be rewarding with a deeply visceral, analogue driving experience; one that reveals the car’s rallying DNA in sharp relief and will have the hairs on the back of your neck bristling before you’ve clipped your first apex.

It’s a wonderful thing.

It’s also in absolutely extraordinary condition – inside, outside, underneath, mechanically, dynamically and aesthetically.

In addition to the decidedly non-standard Oettinger performance upgrade, the car comes with the following factory equipment and options.

ABS, permanent four-wheel drive, locking centre differential, sunroof, electronic digital dashboard display with dimmable illumination function, front and rear fog-lights, trip computer, heated rear window, rear wiper, headlight power wash, heated front seats, electric windows, cigarette lighter/ socket, voltmeter, oil and temperature gauges, electric aerial, electrically adjustable door mirrors, anti-dazzle rear-view mirror, adjustable head restraints, steering lock, parking light function, illuminated vanity mirror, spare wheel, jack and wheel brace, concealed battery conditioner point, stainless steel exhaust, and a 5-speed manual gearbox.

This car looks as good as it sounds, and it sounds wonderful.

The muscular silhouette of this iteration of the Ur Quattro is shown-off to optimum effect by the Panther Black paintwork, the livery with which it left the factory.

The blacker-than-black aesthetic extends beyond the shiny and lustrous paintwork to the smoked rear light clusters and the black ‘Audi’, ‘Coupe’ and ‘quattro’ badging.

The only deviations from black are the rare ‘quattro’ logo mudflaps and the ‘Oettinger’ badging at the rear.

The bodywork is entirely straight and there are no dinks, dents, folds, ripples or creases anywhere that we can see.

The 15” inch Ronal alloys are finished in Zermatt Silver (LY7Y). They present very well and seem to be blissfully unacquainted with kerbs or other roadside obstacles.

The matching Pirelli P700-Z tyres have covered no more than 2,000 miles and are, consequently, full of life and tread.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are consistent, even and everything you would want and expect of a vehicle of this quality.

There are one or two stone chips and light scratches on the bonnet, the roof, the front valance and around the ‘nose’ of the car but, in general, they are more noticeable for their absence than their presence, given the age of the car.

There are a couple of patches of micro-blistering on the wrap-around side sections of the front bumper and we spotted a small flap of some sort of undertray hanging down slightly under the front valance.

The passenger-side wing mirror has the odd scuff and scrape on its housing and the ‘C’ shaped return in the lower corner of the n/s/r window looks a little scruffy if you look closely.

There’s a small scuff to the paint above the n/s/r wheel, a paint chip on the boot lid, and a spot of paint lifting away from the nearside ‘C’ pillar just up from the aerial.

The lights, lenses, badging and all other exterior fixtures and fittings are pretty much beyond reproach, as far as we can tell.

The interior, if anything, is even better than the extraordinarily good exterior.

In fact, it’s hard not to imagine that this car keeps a portrait of a more decrepit version of itself tucked away in an attic somewhere, à la Dorian Gray.

It really is in time-warp condition and you’d be forgiven for thinking that it left the production line at Ingolstadt last week, not 35 years ago.

Obviously, though, it’s our job to point out any faults with the interior.

Ready?

Ok – make yourself comfortable.

One end of the passenger door storage bin has come loose and a section of carpeted trim in the boot has warped and parted company from its moorings.

That’s it.

Everything else is squeaky clean, minty fresh and virtually as good as new.

Even things that you’d swear wouldn’t work – like the very of-the-1980s digital dashboard – are alive and kicking and doing what they were designed to do.

The fabric upholstery, which is a rather classy muted tartan consisting of subtle black, grey and red hues, is seeming untroubled either by time or use.

The carpets and mats are excellent, as are the door cards and the headlining.

The plastics on, above and around the dashboard have stoically resisted the usual temptations to fade, crack, or otherwise deviate from excellence.

Even the leather gear knob, steering wheel and handbrake gaiter are free of any signs of wear.

The following is printed at the top of the driver’s door card - ‘Einfahrvorschrift beachten! Bei jedem Tankstop Ölstand kontrollieren’ - which apparently translates to something along the lines of, ‘Check the oil level every time you stop to refuel.’

The boot, aside from the aforementioned bit of trim, is in fine fettle.

All dials, knobs, instruments, levers, switches and controls look good to us and, as far as we’re aware, everything works.

Lift up the bonnet and you’ll see nothing but clean, dry, orderly mechanicals, with everything in its right and proper place.

You’ll also see various plates affixed to the underside of the bonnet attesting to its status as an Oettinger-fettled creation.

The undersides of the car, you won’t be surprised to hear, look solid, sound and possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

This car comes with more history than the Bodleian library.

It was briefly registered to its first owner, a dealer, on 12/04/89.

Its next two owners were both financial services institutions in the City of London.

The second of these, incidentally, was Refco Overseas Ltd, a business whose infamous UK-born, Cambridge-educated CEO would go on to serve 16 years in prison for his leading role in a $1.5 billion fraud.

The fourth registered keeper acquired the car on 02/09/94 and kept it (very carefully, diligently and well) until 13/10/23, when it was sold to the current vendor – a man who has evidently upheld the high standards of curation set by his predecessor,

The car’s service history and maintenance record is both comprehensive and exemplary.

Servicing has been carried out at the following mileage intervals: 4,004; 6,770; 11,550; 16,138; 36,102; 41,160; 49,005; 58,015; 67,431; 78,298.

It was serviced in July 2022 at 78,380 miles and in January 2024 at 79,264 miles.

Each of these services is documented either in the car’s service book or on bills, invoices and receipts in the car’s history file.

The below service information covers additional work from the last 2.5 years.

19/04/22 - 78,300 miles.
• Clutch slave hose
• Thermostat BEHR
• Clutch master cylinder MB + RR
• Cambelt MB gates 5245
• Water Pump Late Type MB Meyle 006
• Cambelt cover top hat nuts
• Idler INA MB late type

16/07/22 - 78,380 miles
• Water and Cam belt
• New Vacuum hose
• Throttle linkage rubbers

10/10/22 - 78,391 miles
• Ignition leads, cap & rotor arm


28/03/23 - 78,593 miles
• New front brake discs & pads
• New rear brake discs & pads
• Front & rear brake callipers reconditioned
• Front brake flexi hoses (pair)
• Oil filter
• Spark plugs
• Crankcase breather hose
• Carried out investigation into poor running and misfires when cold. Traced fault to sticking warm-up regulator and adjusted fuel mixture to cylinder 2 to correct misfire.


18/12/23 – 79,250 miles
Fuel Tank
On investigation the fuel tank was found to have rust and corrosion inside. The tank was cut open, blasted back to bare metal and coating with Renu inside and out. The work was carried out by the Hartlepool Radiator Company and includes a 3-year warranty.


20/12/23 – 79,250 miles
The power steering pump was sent to Quattro Corner for refurbishment and repair. It works perfectly and within normal parameters.


01/01/24 – 79,264 miles
Main Service
• Cam belt, water pump and idler replaced
• Oil change (Mobil 200010W40)
• Oil filter
• Spark plugs NGKBP6ET
• Coolant
• Power steering fluid


February 2024
The car had a complete fuel system flush, 5 new injectors, a warm-up regulator Banjo Bolt filter and a new main fuel filter.

The car comes with all handbooks and owners’ wallets, along with a large amount of paperwork for previous invoices and MoTs.

There are two keys and the car is HPI clear.

The car’s MoT certificate, with no advisories, is valid until 13th October 2025.

The seller tells us that he is selling the car because of his partners ill health, and he wishes the funds to go towards a holiday lodge they can enjoy together. He says "I would not be selling if not for this reason”

We really haven’t had many Audi Quattros through the doors at our Oxfordshire HQ.

They are increasingly rare and elusive beasts.

We’ve seen a few 20-valves and the odd 10-valve, but we’ve never seen an Oettinger iteration before and we’re 99.9% certain that we never will again.

Even in the vanishingly unlikely event of another one turning up (if indeed, another one even exists), the chances of it being in better condition than this are about the same as the odds of bumping into Lord Lucan riding Shergar on his way to meet Elvis.

This car is very, very special indeed.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £50,000 - £60,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.