Thought I should start a proper progress thread.
I'm Murray, I'm 33 and live in Glasgow. Petrol head through and bought my 2010 S3 Sportback Black Edition last October. I got it from a local independent Audi dealer with 22k on it and pretty as close to new in condition as you will likely find, quite remarkable for a 3 & 1/2 year old car.
( http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/welcome-section/202192-new-s3-8p-owner-glasgow.html )
Best car I've ever owned by far, love it!
Not massively specced but not poverty spec either!
Symphony 2+
Bose
iPod dock
Alcantara option
Bluetooth
Auto lights
Auto wipers
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Here's some pics of when I first got it:
Modifications so far:
1. MK2 RNSE with glossy surround.
I however got sick of the crap radio reception after fitting it (a problem on the later cars due to the different antenna setup) and modified the antenna setup properly to diversity (as comes standard on the later S3 with RNSE from the factory) with two new boosters and a custom loom, total cost just under £100 but well worthwhile mod. More details here: 8P - Solution for the Symphony II+ to RNS-E Antenna Issue | VAGOC.co.uk
2. Took her to Mark (Brodster / Brotek) for a Shark Performance stage 1 remap, delighted with this, could not fault the map at all really is the way it should have left the factory and a bargain price.
3. Next up I fitted a Creations Motorsport short shift kit, amazing mod for very little money! And also a GFB DV+ diverter valve.
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...king-about-short-shift-your-s3-look-here.html
4. Then it was back to Brotek for the CTS Turbo CAI and heatshield I got though a group buy Mark was running, he very kindly offered to help fit it too. I also picked up a TTS engine cover and fittings for it the next day.
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...-heatshield-audi-tts-engine-cover-fitted.html
5. Then had the car into Gordon @ Defined Details in Glasgow for a deep clean and winter protection detail. He used Polished Angel - Viking Shield which is a new sealant in the range designed for Scandinavian winters and should see me 6 months protection right through the winter with only a snowfoam and jetwash required, very low maintenance.
6. Next up was the wheels, I liked the 18's but couldn't help myself when Warren_S3 posted up that he was selling his genuine RS3 19" Rotors and looking for 18's in P/X as he was trading his car in.
So believe it or not it was such a good deal I drove from Glasgow to 40 mins outside London to Warrens house and back again the same day, total of 770 miles and took me the best part of 13 hours lol Was nice to meet Warren he's a really nice fella and even threw in an interior LED kit for my car and some number plate LED's that work perfectly on the 2010 S3.
7. So I've a good idea of look im going for with the car. I'm taking some of the RS3 refinements and adding them but not so much as to make it an RS3 replica I just like how they went a bit more styled with the RS3 and I'll happily take some of those bits thanks So RS3 rear difuser and front grille arrived this week. Also ordered up a 24mm adjustable Whiteline RARB and ALK (caster correction kit)
Had a little time this last couple of days and managed to get the RARB and RS3 rear diffuser on, the rest hopefully this weekend along with Eibach Pro-Kit springs that I've just ordered.
The rear diffuser was a bit of a task to get to fit, you have to cut away quite a lot of the lower bumper (after removing the original diffuser) for it to work but it fits well after you do that and i also added a couplf of extra bolts in undreneath (not visible) to properly secure the ends but well worth the effort as I think it really changes the look of the rear for the better
The RARB has seriously gone a good way to sorting the understeer, very impressed although a few people asked why rear only so I'll cope and paste what I replied to them.
My experience with powerful front drive bias cars is that a rear ARB is the best bang for buck handling mod you can do and potentially more beneficial purely in terms of reducing understeer than a pair. It's widely accepted that the bigger the rear arb in relation to the front the less understeer however you have to be on the ball as the rear can get playful, naturally you're transferring the weight to the outside tyre much quicker and it will in turn lose traction quicker but I like that and would much rather a point and shoot setup with a marginally more playful rear that calls Quattro into play a bit sooner than an understeering mess.
Well that's it for now, I'll keep this updated as much as I can and I hope it was a worthwhile read for you.
RS3 front grille, ALK and springs this weekend if the weather holds off!
I'm Murray, I'm 33 and live in Glasgow. Petrol head through and bought my 2010 S3 Sportback Black Edition last October. I got it from a local independent Audi dealer with 22k on it and pretty as close to new in condition as you will likely find, quite remarkable for a 3 & 1/2 year old car.
( http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/welcome-section/202192-new-s3-8p-owner-glasgow.html )
Best car I've ever owned by far, love it!
Not massively specced but not poverty spec either!
Symphony 2+
Bose
iPod dock
Alcantara option
Bluetooth
Auto lights
Auto wipers
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Here's some pics of when I first got it:
Modifications so far:
1. MK2 RNSE with glossy surround.
I however got sick of the crap radio reception after fitting it (a problem on the later cars due to the different antenna setup) and modified the antenna setup properly to diversity (as comes standard on the later S3 with RNSE from the factory) with two new boosters and a custom loom, total cost just under £100 but well worthwhile mod. More details here: 8P - Solution for the Symphony II+ to RNS-E Antenna Issue | VAGOC.co.uk
2. Took her to Mark (Brodster / Brotek) for a Shark Performance stage 1 remap, delighted with this, could not fault the map at all really is the way it should have left the factory and a bargain price.
3. Next up I fitted a Creations Motorsport short shift kit, amazing mod for very little money! And also a GFB DV+ diverter valve.
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...king-about-short-shift-your-s3-look-here.html
4. Then it was back to Brotek for the CTS Turbo CAI and heatshield I got though a group buy Mark was running, he very kindly offered to help fit it too. I also picked up a TTS engine cover and fittings for it the next day.
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...-heatshield-audi-tts-engine-cover-fitted.html
5. Then had the car into Gordon @ Defined Details in Glasgow for a deep clean and winter protection detail. He used Polished Angel - Viking Shield which is a new sealant in the range designed for Scandinavian winters and should see me 6 months protection right through the winter with only a snowfoam and jetwash required, very low maintenance.
6. Next up was the wheels, I liked the 18's but couldn't help myself when Warren_S3 posted up that he was selling his genuine RS3 19" Rotors and looking for 18's in P/X as he was trading his car in.
So believe it or not it was such a good deal I drove from Glasgow to 40 mins outside London to Warrens house and back again the same day, total of 770 miles and took me the best part of 13 hours lol Was nice to meet Warren he's a really nice fella and even threw in an interior LED kit for my car and some number plate LED's that work perfectly on the 2010 S3.
7. So I've a good idea of look im going for with the car. I'm taking some of the RS3 refinements and adding them but not so much as to make it an RS3 replica I just like how they went a bit more styled with the RS3 and I'll happily take some of those bits thanks So RS3 rear difuser and front grille arrived this week. Also ordered up a 24mm adjustable Whiteline RARB and ALK (caster correction kit)
Had a little time this last couple of days and managed to get the RARB and RS3 rear diffuser on, the rest hopefully this weekend along with Eibach Pro-Kit springs that I've just ordered.
The rear diffuser was a bit of a task to get to fit, you have to cut away quite a lot of the lower bumper (after removing the original diffuser) for it to work but it fits well after you do that and i also added a couplf of extra bolts in undreneath (not visible) to properly secure the ends but well worth the effort as I think it really changes the look of the rear for the better
The RARB has seriously gone a good way to sorting the understeer, very impressed although a few people asked why rear only so I'll cope and paste what I replied to them.
My experience with powerful front drive bias cars is that a rear ARB is the best bang for buck handling mod you can do and potentially more beneficial purely in terms of reducing understeer than a pair. It's widely accepted that the bigger the rear arb in relation to the front the less understeer however you have to be on the ball as the rear can get playful, naturally you're transferring the weight to the outside tyre much quicker and it will in turn lose traction quicker but I like that and would much rather a point and shoot setup with a marginally more playful rear that calls Quattro into play a bit sooner than an understeering mess.
Well that's it for now, I'll keep this updated as much as I can and I hope it was a worthwhile read for you.
RS3 front grille, ALK and springs this weekend if the weather holds off!