If you're brave enough to purchase a project car that someone else has already started on, like Joe Guglielmo did with this 2006 Audi A4 sedan, then you probably know a thing or two about the platform. Otherwise, you could be in for an interesting ride, as you can never be too sure about the level of work that was performed before you took over the work in progress.

For Joe, this Audi didn't have a long list of changes to contend with when he took ownership back in 2015. Most of the updates were applied to the car's aesthetic, including the custom Crimson Red Metallic paint laid over widened quarter panels. Joe adds, "The rest of the body was stock as far as bumpers, side skirts, etc. The A4's 2.0T motor was also bone stock and I decided this would be a good base for my build."

Feeling good about the handful of custom additions that had already been applied, Joe spent the following year adding his own personal touches. "I totally transformed the exterior with DTM S4 front and rear bumpers paired with a lot of carbon fiber accessories," he states. Peek at the spec list and the number of carbon touches is remarkable but view the car as a whole and realize that none of the intricate, fibrous weave is ever thrown in your face and remains relatively subtle.

Later that year, Joe started noticing some signs of struggle from the original turbo inline-four and decided to look at swap options. The 2.7T from the B5 S4 seemed like a natural upgrade; the twin-turbo V-6 offers 250 hp and nearly 250 lb-ft. of torque right out of the box—more than enough to scoot Joe's A4 around, even though he had no plans of leaving it stock in the long run.

Having prepared for the new engine both financially and with supporting parts, Joe reached out to his friend Agron Coma to make the swap a reality in 2017. A year after the successful transplant, the Audi's interior was entirely reworked by NW Crafted Interiors. A unique black alcantara and custom stitched silver treatment covers the front and rear seat surfaces, door panels, and floor mats, and the headliner and pillars were given a soft touch.

The use of carbon fiber on the exterior carries into the cabin and helps designate a divide between the upper and lower portion of the dash and door cards and makes its way around the shifter and portions of the steering wheel. The result is an almost futuristic take on Audi's comfy interior layout.

Just a few years ago, Joe performed another overhaul on the car after an accident necessitated some body work. Using the bad experience as an opportunity to make a few changes, he added an RS4 trunk, mirrors, and side skirts, and even incorporated quarter panel vents before the car was completely resprayed in that same Crimson Red Metallic. A Seibon carbon fiber hood was brought in and even that panel was painted, though he left about 10% of its original texture exposed. Though it looks to be always in show quality condition, make no mistake, this car stacks on the mileage. Joe tells us he averages about 8,000-10,000 miles annually, making his way from Connecticut to regions as far as Georgia and Vermont on the regular.

As you might expect, the ground-hugging stance that sets the widened A4 body just over 18x10 front/11 rear Rotiform IND-T wheels comes courtesy of adjustable suspension. In this case, an Airlift Performance setup backed by Bilstein shocks. Catch the car at a standstill and up front, six-piston Brembo Cayenne calipers can be spotted wrapped around 345-mm Adams rotors.

Along the way, that initial 2.7T swap has been pulled and reinstalled on 3 different occasions, each time introducing more modifications. The original turbos were replaced with Borg Warner RS5 versions, regulated by Mamba wastegates. An RS4 Y-pipe was installed, as was a ProjectB5 ported intake manifold, while fueling is handled by a Walbro 450lph to feed 1,000-cc Bosch EV14 injectors.

Knowing the factory clutch would never put up a fight with the additional grunt, a Ringer Racing Stage 4 clutch and 034 Motorsports lightweight flywheel are tasked with holding the newfound power. Another round of engine removal and installation is planned for the winter as Joe reports that he's showing low compression on cylinder 4. Once again using the downtime as an opportunity to improve, he noted that a built block will be a big part of the car's next phase.

Picking up someone's project doesn't always end up being a complete nightmare, though you've probably heard your fair share of horror stories. In Joe Guglielmo's case, the foundation of his purchase was solid, and he had no problem completely transforming it into his own vision. From the outside, it might look like just another "paint and wheels" affair but take a moment to dig in and you find a slew of gems sprinkled throughout - from the subtle carbon fiber touches to the well sorted engine set up, and one-off interior treatment, this A4 is packed with surprises.

Engine 2.7t swap; RS4 throttle body; Borg Warner RS6 turbos; Mamba wastegates; B5 RS4 Y-pipe, ET Spec tune; 034 Motorsport 85mm MAF, intake manifold transition spacers, throttle body boot, Spider Hose, FSI coil pack conversion, solid aluminum engine mounts, poly snub mount, metal Bi-pipes, silicone hoses, carbon fiber intake heat shield; Forge 007 diverter valves; ProjectB5 big belly ported intake manifold; Evolution Raceworks side-mount intercoolers; 3-in. custom down-pipes; JHM non-res 2.75-in. cat-back RS4 exhaust; Fluidampr crank pulley; ECS lightweight alternator pulley, power steering pulley; Walbro 450lph fuel pump; 1000cc Bosch EV14 injectors; Zealous MFG beauty hardware; carbon fiber B5 RS4 OEM engine covers; carbon fiber side engine cover; R8 oil cap, coolant cap, power steering cap; ECS washer cap, brake cap; powder coated charge piping

Drivetrain Ringer Racing Stage 4 clutch; 034 Motorsports lightweight flywheel, Density Line transmission mount

Suspension Airlift Performance front and rear bags, 3P management, dual 444c compressors; Bilstein shocks; Hotchkiss 35mm front sway bar, 29mm rear sway bar

Braking 18Z Brembo 6-piston front, 4-piston rear Cayenne calipers, stainless lines; 345mm Adams rotors; Hawk HPS brake pads; Vosh Mods bracket; Wilwood parking caliper

Wheels & Tires Rotiform IND-T 3-pc. 18x10 +20 front, 18x11 +12 rear; Hankook Ventus V-12 Evo2 245/35 front, 255/35 rear

Exterior Widened quarter panels; custom DTM-inspired vents, bumper DRL; Crimson Red Metallic paint; DTM front bumper, carbon fiber vents, extended upper body line; RS6 modded grill; carbon fiber grill trim, Audi badges, DTM/RS4 modded fog grills; carbon fiber OEM DTM front lip; RS4 side skirts, carbon fiber mirrors; carbon fiber DenJam side skirts; Balogh Body Worx carbon fiber rear bumper spats; carbon fiber B-pillars, rear window triangle, rear bumper trim, diffuser overlay; Seibon carbon fiber hood w/paint fade; Aerocatch hood pins; Euro RS4 trunk; 25th anniversary DTM rear bumper w/extended body lines; JOM LED taillights

Interior NW Crafted reupholstered seats, door cards, etc., black suede wrapped headliner; ProSport Evo boost gauge, air/fuel gauge; Sport shifter kit; carbon fiber steering wheel, dash end caps, front/rear door inserts, RS4 trim, pillar handles; sunroof grab handle, RS4 pedals; LED interior lights; Pioneer MVH-1400 NEX head unit