Back in an S3....with a nice surprise!

[-Ju-]

I sold my 08 3 door S3 back in 2012 and last week I bought a 59 plate S3 Sportback S-tronic.
I fitted my BBS CKII's the next day and this morning I fitted some H&R springs to sort the ride height.
While the car was jacked up i found it had a full milltek system inc sports cat, no wonder it sounded different to my old S3
Now I was planning on a remap at some point but something tells me why would you fit a sports cat and not remap it. The car doesn't feel remap quick like my old APR'd S3 was so it may have been turned off or removed by the dealer. So without going back to the original owner how can I tell?
Next on the list is cruise, then roof rails and then possibly a retrofit of the auto lights/wipers (yeah I know its a biggie)
Maybe the car is known on the forum, does the plate ring a bell?

 

[grchmason]

How did you find the fronts springs fella???? I keep getting let down so looking at fitting my eibachs myself!!!!!

 

[grchmason]

Any tips lol!!!!

 

[-Ju-]

They are a doddle m8, I have done it loads of times now though.
You need some spline bits for the link rod ball joints and the main strut bolt and a hub spreader. I did all 4 in 1 1/2hrs

 

[-Ju-]

Also to strip the strut you need a 7 mm Allen key and either a spark plug socket that you can get a spanner on or a swan neck spanner. No spring compressors needed.

 

[too hot]

What's wrong with going back and asking the previous keeper ?????

 

[-Ju-]

What's wrong with going back and asking the previous keeper ?????

As long as I can get in touch with the previous keeper then no problem at all.
I just want to explore other avenues.

 

[Dave-S3]

You don't need to remap if you fit an exhaust system, its just recommended to release the power, has it got an intake fitted too? If so its more likely its been remapped to stage 2... Ask the dealer? Just say I've been told the cars remapped, can you check for me?

 

[-Ju-]

No intake fitted and yes I understand that a remap is not required but would you fit a full system and then not remap it?

 

[Dave-S3]

Hmmm, possibly It might have been done via a bluefin though and the map was removed by the previous owner before it was traded it in, id get in touch with the owner to find out!

 

[nluk100]

Get someone local to you with vcds to log boost and airflow to see if it's still running a map of some kind.

 

[-Ju-]

I have vcds, any idea what a standard map flows?

 

[Scoot Yo]

Wish mine came with that! I assume being a circa 20k car he didn't buy it of someone's driveway and bought it from a dealer, hence not having the previous owners details.

 

[mjr901]

I remember when you bought the R36 and left the 8P world, how come the change back?

The noise those things make with the good exhaust is epic!

 

[Dan-Jnr]

That's a nice little extra to find.
Standard air flow for an S3 is 205-210g/s if its remapped then it should be 225+g/s

 

[-Ju-]

Wish mine came with that! I assume being a circa 20k car he didn't buy it of someone's driveway and bought it from a dealer, hence not having the previous owners details.

Correct I bought the car from Wakefield Audi. Spoke to the salesman and he is going to ask the previous owner but he thinks it is unlikely he put it on and tbh judging by the crud on the tailpipe, it's been on a while.

I remember when you bought the R36 and left the 8P world, how come the change back?

The noise those things make with the good exhaust is epic!

The R36 was beautiful but the wife thought it was like driving a barge and tbh the S3 sportback with Stronic was just too expensive for me at the time, but it was the car I've always wanted. A perfect blend between practicality and performance!
The number of people that would just stop and stare at the R36 though was unbelievable!

 

[-Ju-]

That's a nice little extra to find.
Standard air flow for an S3 is 205-210g/s if its remapped then it should be 225+g/s

Thanks for that, I'll report back!

 

[Johnny Bravo]

(...)While the car was jacked up i found it had a full milltek system inc sports cat, no wonder it sounded different to my old S3(...)

That indeed is a nice surprise!

 

[-Ju-]

That's a nice little extra to find.
Standard air flow for an S3 is 205-210g/s if its remapped then it should be 225+g/s

Well I logged it this evening and it peaked at 222 g/s consistently, I guess if standard is up to 210 g/s then the extra 12 could well be down to the exhaust & cat?

 

[voorhees]

Good to see you back in an Audi Jus

 

[-Ju-]

Cheers m8, sure does feel good

 

[nluk100]

Well I logged it this evening and it peaked at 222 g/s consistently, I guess if standard is up to 210 g/s then the extra 12 could well be down to the exhaust & cat?

Yeah, a sports cat will add a few hp for sure. My stage 1 with pre-cat removed was running 235 g/s. Having had a mapped S3 before you should know what a map feels like. It may of been flashed back to stock by the dealer during a routine service check (was it a main dealer?). Previous owner should be on the V5 too?

 

[-Ju-]

Not got the V5 back yet but my guess is it was the owner before that had it fitted.
My plan is to go APR when I'm ready as I like the maps
I also like the ability to use the cruise switch and the anti-theft.

 

[wrecksigge]

God thats a lovely interior!

 

[grchmason]

They are a doddle m8, I have done it loads of times now though.
You need some spline bits for the link rod ball joints and the main strut bolt and a hub spreader. I did all 4 in 1 1/2hrs

Perfect getting ready for tomorrow can you remember the size of the spanner swan neck I will need with the 7mm allen key please?

21mm ?

Cheers

 

[-Ju-]

Yes 21mm
Plus you'll need
Drop link - 18mm spanner and M6 spline bit
Hub bolt - 18mm spanner and M14 spline bit
A hub spreader or some means of opening the joint a little
You can ease up the scuttle panel just enough to get in to the 3x13mm bolts without taking the wipers off
The backs are 1 bolt!

 

[Mike X]

+1 on the interior , well jel

 

[grchmason]

Thanks mate

Thats a great help sorting tools out now Spline i'm finding hard lol

 

[-Ju-]

Halfrauds!

 

[mechanic69]

Thanks mate

Thats a great help sorting tools out now Spline i'm finding hard lol

You'll need to source the 14mm spline outside the UK, Halfrauds only go up to 12mm. Something like 10 PC XZN TAMPERED TRIPLE SQUARE SPLINE BIT SOCKET 12 POINTS | eBay

for the spreader something like this does the job

VW/Audi Spreader Socket Strut Suspension Special Socket Bit Tool 3424 | eBay

21mm sockets and spanners also not common, happy hunting

 

[-Ju-]

Not true on the spline bits
Halfords | Halfords Advanced Professional 7 Piece Spline Bit Socket Rail 1/2"
For the strut I use a 21mm spark plug socket with a 7mm Allen key through the middle.
7mm is a tricky size to get, the one I have is a specialist one by draper for brakes. Got it in my local car spares shop!
Hub spreader came from VW!

 

[mechanic69]

Not true on the spline bits
Halfords | Halfords Advanced Professional 7 Piece Spline Bit Socket Rail 1/2"
For the strut I use a 21mm spark plug socket with a 7mm Allen key through the middle.
7mm is a tricky size to get, the one I have is a specialist one by draper for brakes. Got it in my local car spares shop!
Hub spreader came from VW!

Nice one, when I got mine halfords only went up to 12mm, nice to know they go larger now.

For the strut I use a 21mm ring spanner and the 7mm hex that comes with the Halfords pro socket set.