lorryz
Registered User
Hey Guys,
I'm pretty new to the forum, but I tend to spend many hours reading builds and searching for ideas. So I figured id start a 'build' or progress thread.
Hopefully this thread will help someone new like myself. But I'm mainly doing it, to stop myself from posting this stuff on my facebook and boring everyone I know.
To start out, I bought a 2003 Dolphin Grey S3 8l with barely 100kms on the clock. It was mint and 100% stock.
Its my first VAG (and Euro) car and coming from a modded Subaru. I wasn't sure if I wanted to mod it or not, since it was very clean, refined and 'Stock'. Plus, parts are about 3x more expensive.
About 3 weeks later I came home with these. A complete Brembo kit including pads and near new rotors.
It was an absolute steal and I couldn't resist.
The paint needed a bit of attention and against better judgement, I went for Boy-racer Red over Stealth Black.
After I bolted them to the car, I was very impressed.
Huge improvement in feel and at the end of the day, they looked amazing.
Next, I decided to address a boost leek/ ruff idle/ hesitation issue I had.
I replaced the stock plastic DV with a Forge 008p DV.
First things first, Its a great product. I would recommend to anyone and it sorted the boost leek.
Even if you don't have a faulty DV, its worth upgrading. Just saying.
However, I still had a few hesitation.
I didn't pay much attention to them as I didn't have the time to fiddle with the car.
Eventually cylinder 1 died about 30k's from home when I was on my way to uni.
After a quick Google search at the side of the road. I narrowed it down to 3 things. MAF, Coil pack or some sort of catastrophic failure
.
After unplugging MAF and finding no change, I moved onto the Coils. I noticed that cylinder 2 had been changed recently.
I unplugged cylinder 1 and found not change in the ruff running /shaking off the car.
I limped the car home, got the coils changed over the weekend. Sorted.
No more ruff idle or hesitations.
Next I turned my attention to the Dogbone Mount.
I went for a Yellow Powerflex Poly Bush for the Audi a3/S3 8L 4wd, Golf mk4 awd, TT etc
It's one of the easiest mods I've done to a car, and it had such a positive effect.
Plus its only like $30 on ebay, no excuse really not to do it.
When I took the dogbone apart, the OEM rubber fell apart in my hand. It was very over due for a change.
A lot of people buy the Red Poly bush for the Diesels a3, because its a softer bush and they believe it results in less vibration.
However, if you use the correct torque settings (like I did), you shouldn't have any real issues with vibration.
What did it do?: It made the gear changes more positive and tighter. Again for very little money, its a good mod.
Next Mod, I changed my old 6 speed Gear knob over to the newer S3 8p Knob.
Visually I think it looks great, I kept my stock gator on as this required no modification, but you could fit the newer one in 5 minutes.
Physically, the gear knob is slightly shorter and fatter. Really good to grip onto.
Really, the only bad thing about this mod is the cost. Its expensive for a gear knob.
Next mod to come is a Stack Boost Gauge and pillar mount.
Ive bought just about everything needed for the install, including a spare pillar trim piece to hack up.
The only thing i haven't decided on is weather to wrap it in OEM headliner to match the pillar trim. Or to paint it Piano gloss black, to match the center console and door handle inserts.
I'm also considering a the mk4 twin column pod, as I think they look good.
Anyway, here it is so far.
The most recent mod is my new Milltek non resonated Catback, with the special Tips.
I do have to thank Sam, for doing all the legwork in finding the best deal (In Aus) and posting the information in his thread.
If your interested, you should speak to Dave @ ATPG (He's based in NZ). It was a good deal IMO.
My first impression of the exhaust, "Very quiet".
For some reason I expected the same noise I got from my 5" fart cannon off my Subaru. I had to stop and check that they didn't fit a resonated one by mistake.
The Milltek has stated to grow on me, yes its quiet, but you can definitely hear it when you put your foot down. More importantly, its changed the sound for the exhaust to a nice deep note.
Overall, money well spent.
It needs a good clean and the weather hasn't been kind. But these pic's should do for now.
And just some more pictures, till I buy something else.
I'm pretty new to the forum, but I tend to spend many hours reading builds and searching for ideas. So I figured id start a 'build' or progress thread.
Hopefully this thread will help someone new like myself. But I'm mainly doing it, to stop myself from posting this stuff on my facebook and boring everyone I know.
To start out, I bought a 2003 Dolphin Grey S3 8l with barely 100kms on the clock. It was mint and 100% stock.
Its my first VAG (and Euro) car and coming from a modded Subaru. I wasn't sure if I wanted to mod it or not, since it was very clean, refined and 'Stock'. Plus, parts are about 3x more expensive.
About 3 weeks later I came home with these. A complete Brembo kit including pads and near new rotors.
It was an absolute steal and I couldn't resist.
The paint needed a bit of attention and against better judgement, I went for Boy-racer Red over Stealth Black.
After I bolted them to the car, I was very impressed.
Huge improvement in feel and at the end of the day, they looked amazing.
Next, I decided to address a boost leek/ ruff idle/ hesitation issue I had.
I replaced the stock plastic DV with a Forge 008p DV.
First things first, Its a great product. I would recommend to anyone and it sorted the boost leek.
Even if you don't have a faulty DV, its worth upgrading. Just saying.
However, I still had a few hesitation.
I didn't pay much attention to them as I didn't have the time to fiddle with the car.
Eventually cylinder 1 died about 30k's from home when I was on my way to uni.
After a quick Google search at the side of the road. I narrowed it down to 3 things. MAF, Coil pack or some sort of catastrophic failure
After unplugging MAF and finding no change, I moved onto the Coils. I noticed that cylinder 2 had been changed recently.
I unplugged cylinder 1 and found not change in the ruff running /shaking off the car.
I limped the car home, got the coils changed over the weekend. Sorted.
No more ruff idle or hesitations.
Next I turned my attention to the Dogbone Mount.
I went for a Yellow Powerflex Poly Bush for the Audi a3/S3 8L 4wd, Golf mk4 awd, TT etc
It's one of the easiest mods I've done to a car, and it had such a positive effect.
Plus its only like $30 on ebay, no excuse really not to do it.
When I took the dogbone apart, the OEM rubber fell apart in my hand. It was very over due for a change.
A lot of people buy the Red Poly bush for the Diesels a3, because its a softer bush and they believe it results in less vibration.
However, if you use the correct torque settings (like I did), you shouldn't have any real issues with vibration.
What did it do?: It made the gear changes more positive and tighter. Again for very little money, its a good mod.
Next Mod, I changed my old 6 speed Gear knob over to the newer S3 8p Knob.
Visually I think it looks great, I kept my stock gator on as this required no modification, but you could fit the newer one in 5 minutes.
Physically, the gear knob is slightly shorter and fatter. Really good to grip onto.
Really, the only bad thing about this mod is the cost. Its expensive for a gear knob.
Next mod to come is a Stack Boost Gauge and pillar mount.
Ive bought just about everything needed for the install, including a spare pillar trim piece to hack up.
The only thing i haven't decided on is weather to wrap it in OEM headliner to match the pillar trim. Or to paint it Piano gloss black, to match the center console and door handle inserts.
I'm also considering a the mk4 twin column pod, as I think they look good.
Anyway, here it is so far.
The most recent mod is my new Milltek non resonated Catback, with the special Tips.
I do have to thank Sam, for doing all the legwork in finding the best deal (In Aus) and posting the information in his thread.
If your interested, you should speak to Dave @ ATPG (He's based in NZ). It was a good deal IMO.
My first impression of the exhaust, "Very quiet".
For some reason I expected the same noise I got from my 5" fart cannon off my Subaru. I had to stop and check that they didn't fit a resonated one by mistake.
The Milltek has stated to grow on me, yes its quiet, but you can definitely hear it when you put your foot down. More importantly, its changed the sound for the exhaust to a nice deep note.
Overall, money well spent.
It needs a good clean and the weather hasn't been kind. But these pic's should do for now.
And just some more pictures, till I buy something else.
). 
