H&Rs, Sachs Clutch and Denso Iridium Plugs fitted...car transformed!...

[akash_sky1]

Finally after months of driving with slipping clutch, got my Sachs uprated clutch fitted with new DMF, Denso Iridium Plugs, and H&R lowering springs fitted thanks to Waring 192...

Some Blackberry pics first ( PS APOLOGIES TO LAVE GREY OWNERS FOR NOT WASHING THIS AWESOME COLOUR PRIOR TO PICCIES)


Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Firstly the ride height. These are only -25mm H&R springs but are meant for the S3 sportback, which is already much lower then my car ( a sport with S-Line/votex factory fitted body kit). I think because of this it looks relatively slammed considering its only on springs!
I love the stance now esp at the rear, the car has yet to fully settle although these springs have already been run in. Not yet had the chance to test the handling on my 3.0mile test drive.

Secondly the Sachs uprated clutch - drive disc and pressure plate, with OEM DMF. I once tried the pedal in Davie's Orange S3 with this clutch and was astounded at the weight. ! But despite my friend/mechanic saying the same after his test I find the pedal pressure acceptible. It is alot more springy then before thanks to the uprated pressure plate, and this will take some getting used to. Once it is bedded in I'll try some nice quick launches
As i expected brand new these clutches judder when setting off a bit but I drove it 25 mins in traffic on hilly roads without too much difficulty. So for everyday, it is fine for me ( although its not a daily driver), bearing in mind its at its worst now driveability wise.
When engaging a new gear you can def. feel a much much quicker uptake then before even though its not bedded in. So far impressed with this clutch.

Thirdly the plugs- Denso Iridiums. My original plugs were coked to death and the car was not running right- rough idle and felt it holding back after afew seconds WOT.
With these plugs fitted, while in STANDARD map there is a very significant improvement in performance and running of the engine. The old plugs were clearly knakerd.
Idling is much smoother and even in standard map the car feels quick, it feels 85% of what it feels like in GIAC 'pump' mode before. Clearly I have been driving with a v poorly car and missing many ponies. The car never used to feel that quick in standard mode, now it idles smooth and pulls harder to redline, bearing in mind I did not load the engine from low revs due to a new clutch.

I have also had the gearbox oil changed for the first time and a treatment inserted, which acts as a secondary lubricant which adheres to the rotating parts and 'attract's the oil better. This is has vastly improved the shift quality and I recommend this to EVERYONE.

When the clutch is fully bedded in I will report further re its ability to withstand launches and how the plugs have improved performance in 'Pump' Mode. Given what its now like in stock mode i cant wait to test it out properly .
I have had the car remapped for a while now and changing the plugs was something I wish I hadn't overlooked!
Next is Autotech Fuel Pump, new map, then wheel refurb and paint correction.Oh and new brakes when back from holiday! What disc /pad combo do you recommend?

 

[sub39h]

nice stance mate. how much has it been lowered?

 

[One Spoke]

Excuse my ignorance, but what's "pump mode"?

 

[akash_sky1]

Excuse my ignorance, but what's "pump mode"?

GIAC is an American Company, so their flashloader ( ie map switcher) is quite Americanised. Pump mode is for high octane Pump fuel ie 99 RON.

There is also a Stock setting- for normal ECU settings, Race- for 100 octane plus, and various others.

 

[akash_sky1]

nice stance mate. how much has it been lowered?

Well it looks like its about 40mm. Its on Sport shocks, which my mechanic said are not fresh as daises but are still fine to run. These springs are -25mm ones for the S3, but the S3 already sits about 25 mm lower then my car does.

 

[sub39h]

that's pretty much the stance i wanna go for. i'm in discussion with smudge_don for his weitec coilies. don't like how high my car sits on the OEM S-Line suspension but hate the slammed look either. yours strikes the perfect balance

 

[Ash B]

Car looks good mate in the best colour for an A3 aswell lol! I like the grill.
Good write up to. Bet your pleased with the results. What colour you going for your alloys?
Got some good plans for the car.

 

[akash_sky1]

I'm amazed how low mine looks on these springs.. and forgot to mention the ride is A LOT BETTER!!!!
Weitic coilies would lick sick but you would need new ARBs as well to avoid catching them, and be a lot more careful with kerbs/ steep drives.

I dont want to damage my bodywork in such situatuations so have avoided them. I do think Sportbacks especially though look awesome lowered due to the extra junk in the trunk.

 

[One Spoke]

GIAC is an American Company, so their flashloader ( ie map switcher) is quite Americanised. Pump mode is for high octane Pump fuel ie 99 RON.

There is also a Stock setting- for normal ECU settings, Race- for 100 octane plus, and various others.

Thanks for clarifying. How do you rate the GIAC map? Have you ever had Revo or APR? I'm thinking of mapping my 2007 S3 at some point but have no idea which map to go for. REVO seems to be the default, but when I was looking at the MVSport stand at GTI International a couple fo months ago they use their own map called DPI. Too much choice is not always a good thing lol

 

[sub39h]

I'm amazed how low mine looks on these springs.. and forgot to mention the ride is A LOT BETTER!!!!
Weitic coilies would lick sick but you would need new ARBs as well to avoid catching them, and be a lot more careful with kerbs/ steep drives.

I dont want to damage my bodywork in such situatuations so have avoided them. I do think Sportbacks especially though look awesome lowered due to the extra junk in the trunk.

cheers for the heads up. i wasn't aware of the ARB issue . i mean i wanted new ARBs at some point but i'd prefer to save up for RNS-E instead. hmm you've got me thinking now... would it be an issue even if i'm not slamming it?

and yeah i know i'd need to be careful. at work i parked with my nose over a kurb and it was fine, but if the car was any lower it would have owned the front bumper lol

 

[akash_sky1]

Car looks good mate in the best colour for an A3 aswell lol! I like the grill. Good write up to.
Bet your pleases with the results. What colour you going for your alloys?
Got some good plans for the car.

Cheers bro .The same dark anthratice they are now. Then I will probably sell them and get some lightweight TD 1.2 as I'm more bothered about weight then looks.

 

[nally]

car looks spectalurar well done mate

 

[Ash B]

Cheers bro .The same dark anthratice they are now. Then I will probably sell them and get some lightweight TD 1.2 as I'm more bothered about weight then looks.

No problem. One of my favourite sportsback. That's fair enough..Looking forward to seeing the progress.
You got any more photos of the front end?

 

[akash_sky1]

No problem. One of my favourite sportsback. That's fair enough..Looking forward to seeing the progress.
You got any more photos of the front end?

I do somewhere I'll take better ones when its washed! Re exterior only other things I will probably do is maybe a BE grille or a custom black one, extra air inlet in the grill ( like in my bumper) , and tints.

 

[waring192]

Its on Sport shocks, which my mechanic said are not fresh as daises but are still fine to run. These springs are -25mm ones for the S3, but the S3 already sits about 25 mm lower then my car does

Cheeky swine! They have done about 5K miles!!!

Cheers for the write up, very interested on how you got on with the clutch. Make sure you keep us updated as it bed in.

 

[Ash B]

I do somewhere I'll take better ones when its washed! Re exterior only other things I will probably do is maybe a BE grille or a custom black one, extra air inlet in the grill ( like in my bumper) , and tints.

Thank you. I saw the intake looks good. Tints would be a nice finish aswell. You going for the back ones or fronts aswell?

 

[akash_sky1]

Cheeky swine! They have done about 5K miles!!!

Cheers for the write up, very interested on how you got on with the clutch. Make sure you keep us updated as it bed in.

Thanks for the springs mate or I'd probably still be riding up in the clouds haha! He was saying the shocks are not so fresh, yours..now my H&Rs totally fine blud! Going for another bedding-in drive right now. Seriously I've barely drive the car in town much at all recently in last 2 months and still getting used to this clutch in traffic wasnt that bad at all. It will be fine for a daily driver. My old clutch was light as hell, same as your probably, but unless your calves are stick thin you will manage!
Another difference I have noticed is its biting a bit fair higher up the pedal travel then before, but suspect this is mainly due to the new sheen on the drive plate not providing friction till its being pressed in harder by the pressure plate.

 

[akash_sky1]

Thank you. I saw the intake looks good. Tints would be a nice finish aswell. You going for the back ones or fronts aswell?

Just the back I think, a dark car, dark wheels and right tints always look good. TBH want to keep exterior smart and subtle as poss, more concerned with how it drives and performs.

I am considering an RS3 nexr year or spending £3k approx on this and going BT, will see how the rest of the car holds up!
Will certainly have the camshaft inspected when I get the autotech next month. Can't wait to get it on, car feels great now just with a plug change. Old ones must have been sparking with the strength of a candle.
Edited post re gearbox oil and treatment...a must do!

 

[sub39h]

Just the back I think, a dark car, dark wheels and right tints always look good. TBH want to keep exterior smart and subtle as poss, more concerned with how it drives and performs.

I am considering an RS3 nexr year or spending £3k approx on this and going BT, will see how the rest of the car holds up!
Will certainly have the camshaft inspected when I get the autotech next month. Can't wait to get it on, car feels great now just with a plug change. Old ones must have been sparking with the strength of a candle.
Edited post re gearbox oil and treatment...a must do!

definitely all about the RS3

 

[waring192]

Thanks for the springs mate or I'd probably still be riding up in the clouds haha! He was saying the shocks are not so fresh, yours..now my H&Rs totally fine blud! Going for another bedding-in drive right now. Seriously I've barely drive the car in town much at all recently in last 2 months and still getting used to this clutch in traffic wasnt that bad at all. It will be fine for a daily driver. My old clutch was light as hell, same as your probably, but unless your calves are stick thin you will manage!
Another difference I have noticed is its biting a bit fair higher up the pedal travel then before, but suspect this is mainly due to the new sheen on the drive plate not providing friction till its being pressed in harder by the pressure plate.

Cheers, just the mrs also driving mine! Keep me posted though on how it goes.

 

[warrenlord]

got the wheel tyres specs mate? looks like a nice drop fro springs.

 

[akash_sky1]

got the wheel tyres specs mate? looks like a nice drop fro springs.

18 X 8 R32 replicas, dont know the ET sorry, tyres just 225/40/18.

James I have just been out for a proper drive now...still only got 15 miles on it but put it in Pump mode, and gradually booted it from 4K revs..shifted slowly..no problems so far. There's still a slight judder when pulling away but as mentioned barely any miles on it. Densos and gearbox oil have really made a difference too.

 

[akash_sky1]

Thanks for clarifying. How do you rate the GIAC map? Have you ever had Revo or APR? I'm thinking of mapping my 2007 S3 at some point but have no idea which map to go for. REVO seems to be the default, but when I was looking at the MVSport stand at GTI International a couple fo months ago they use their own map called DPI. Too much choice is not always a good thing lol

I've had two maps on my car- a crappy generic Celtic tuning one, and this GIAC . It's leagues better, and Celtic tuning don't even know a thing about mapping. They said it would adapt to my intake, when it clearly was a stage 1 for standard airbox. When I fitted my Neuspeed I lost all my low down torque on the celtic map.
The fact I needed a new clutch was mostly down do the huge low -mid range torque on the GIAC map. its very smooth also. One or two people on KO4 cars like yours have resorted misfires on GIAC Extreme + maps, otherwise they seem to be excellent.

Stattler my tuner in Sheffield is running this file on his car and its going great, with about 390 bhp last time I saw it!
Revo is also excellent and on average seem to get slighly higher top end figures, and with a select plus switch there is more adjustment that can be made to your timing /boost etc. GIAC flashloader only gives you Stock , Pump and Race files plus 3 for different boost settings if your running a BT set up, plus Valet and kill mode.

I have also been in an MTM stage 2 car- Haz1's which had amazing throttle response and mid range performance , but they have no stage 2+ file to account for an uprated HPFP like revo, GIAC and APR etc and this is what really gives you amazing gains.