Hate my S3!!!!(I LOVE it really)

[ianysm]

Because you have to buy those for every car so it doesn't count as a reason to 'hate' the S3 (as the OP said!).

Battery and wheel refurb doesn't count either!!!

New alloy? Hmm not sure if i'm allowing that either...What was the reason for it?

 

[mk1chopper]

Well discovered after removing the centre cap which lost its sticker from the middle?!! that it wasnt an Audi/ronal alloy and when compared properly was slightly different, plus the offset was different to the other wheels, and I wasnt happy having an odd wheel on my car so sourced a spare one from ebay. There was no fault with the wheel apart from the offset and the fact it was a fake!

 

[fran-s3]

Update: Went back to pick up my spare key today from my mechanic and he to wants to get to the bottom of it and it's bothering him as well. He wants the car again for another hunt around and also wants to try removing the drop links to see if that effects it all i.e if the sound is any worse to diagnose if it's them for free which is something. I asked about my shock and he said he had a proper look at it and checked the bearings in it and insists it's perfectly fine, but we'll see who knows. So it's going back Tueday. Will be another thing to strike off the list if it's not that, I'm not holding my breath!

 

[goodwoodgreens3]

Hi mate, had a knocking on my car that was bugging me, went and had 2 new tyres fitted this morn and turns out it was only a worn track rod end, the guy that owned the car before me looks to have fitted 2 new mich pilot primacy's and did'nt have the tracking checked, i only noticed the outside of both fronts totally worn yesterday, £250, 1 week after buying it!

 

[fran-s3]

Well my mech disconnected my drop links yesterday which made another noise so have cancelled that out! So next stop is shocks when I can afford them. Best price I can get OEM shocks are £62.50 each brand new and obv I'm gonna need 2!

 

[Westy]

Thats a good price, I thought they'd be well over £100.

 

[JS1500]

I got my front drop links replaced for 35 quid and it made no difference at all.. Reading above, might get my mate to have a look at the inner cv joint. Failing that, im just gonna tell him to tear the suspension apart until he finds the problem. Or might stick it to Bavaria Autowerks here in Aberdeen, they are pretty handy with Audi's..

Bavaria Auto Werk are expensive though, as I found out when I took my old A4 for cambelt and all that jazz... total bill was over £1,600 - did need suspension and brake work though.

The following year I took it to AW Autotech (Bosch certified) and they were great. Much cheaper labour rates than BAW. Service and suspension work came to £700.

I think i'm just going to take the S3 to AW Autotech for servicing/repairs, they seem to know what they're doing and they gave me a Ford Ka for a couple of days, haha! I'm going to try Motorwerks on Forest Avenue Lane for diagnostics and Custom Code remap first though...

5ean, what colour is your S3 - i'll look out for ya.

 

[Sandip]

As i've mentioned already fran, weitec dampers are £150(pair), little more than oem but i'd say it's worth it, have them on mine, can't fault them

 

[fran-s3]

As i've mentioned already fran, weitec dampers are £150(pair), little more than oem but i'd say it's worth it, have them on mine, can't fault them

Ok cool thanks mate, but could I run them with standard springs and just buy the front pair? Prob not a good idea is it to match them with oem dampers on the rear? It's a good price but I can't afford to do both pairs....

 

[fran-s3]

Wish me luck guys, got some front OEM shocks my mate (vw tech) is fitting for me this weekend... Really hoping it's going to solve the issue!

 

[Sandip]

Good luck!

 

[Welly]

Good luck bud, fingers crossed.....

 

[fran-s3]

cheers!!!!

 

[Alex C]

I hear that mate. Since buying my S3 (cheap all be it) I've had the following to replace:

Battery, Alternator, 2 Coils, repair coil wiring, 2 rear shocks, Wishbone bushes, NSF Inner CV joint, 2 tyres & rear wheel bearing.

Ouch.

Mmm... i think this needs an edit now, sorry But fran shouldn't feel like getting rid

 

[Y83OLK]

Definatly dont get rid for a knock Fran!.

As for lists, since late september:
4 tyres, rear wheel bearing, 2 rear springs, front arb + bushes, new dogbone bush, various airleaks, new windscreen, new CD headunit, hazard switch, new wiper motor+ linkage, new headlight ballast, 2x new xenon bulbs, o/s door lock, roof warrenty repair (still in bodyshop), tear in seat retrimmed, front pads + discs, rear pads and discs.
Then for fun a new d/v, remap and airfilter.
When the cars back from the bodyshop all 4 wheels will be refurbed.
Yay

 

[fran-s3]

Right so my mate changed the front shocks and greased the heck out of all my cv joints, all the bushes possible.. and the verdict is....

IT ONLY FLIPPING CURED IT!!! So chuffed you wouldn't believe, it's silent at last. He said the shock was shockingly bad (mind the pun) and offered little or no resitance when he tried it against the floor compared to the other he'd take off. Hmm thanks a lot from my former vw specialist garage I took it to who in his opinion was 'abosulelty fine' and started pointing me in the direction of the steering rack!

So now all I have to do is get the tracking sorted as was pulling to the left slightly before I had the new shocks installed, and it's now pulling to the right slightly - how random ehh?! Should I leave the shocks to settle for a week or so before I get the tracking done? Any suggestions?

So one happy bunny who will be keeping his S3! (well at least until something else crazily expensive goes wrong!) Thanks guys for all you help diagnosing it, rattle solved!

 

[Dani_B19]

Glad it's all sorted mate.

 

[fran-s3]

cheers mate so glad to! Any suggestions how long shocks take to settle before I get the tracking done again?

 

[Y83OLK]

Shocks dont take too long to settle, Its usually springs which take 50-100miles.
So long as the fitter worked the oil/gas round the dampers before you fitted thm it should be fine.

 

[fran-s3]

ok cool cheer, I take it it's quite normal for the tracking to be out then when replacing shocks

 

[Welly]

IT ONLY FLIPPING CURED IT!!!

Nice work mate, so glad you've got it sorted. I feel your pain, repeating problems drive you mad! lol.

If I were you, I'd take it back after a few hundred miles and complain to the garage that did the tracking about it not being right, and get it retracked for free....

*cough*

Yes I am a charlatan.

 

[Sandip]

Glad it's all sorted bud