Hello everyone. I've been working on my Audi A3 for the past 6 months and I thought it'd be a good idea to create a thread to document my work on. I'd call this a 'rolling project' as I still use the car pretty much everyday. I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed working on the car, but I do understand that not everyone will have the same taste as me, nevertheless the point of this car is to get it exactly how I want it. I've still got many plans in the pipeline but here's what I've been up to so far.
I started off with my completely 'stock' Audi A3 (8L Model) as pictured below:
I really liked the car but I considered the exterior a little too bland as it was and being 21 years old, I prefer the more modern take Audi have had with their model-range, specifically in relation to the single-frame grille and day-time running lights paired with Xenon H.I.D headlights they've been fitting. So with much help from (a fantastic) local body-work shop, I decided to have my own take on a modern Audi built on my A3. To start with, I bought a new set of headlights that ran LED's across the bottom and side of the headlight unit, much like the current generation Audi A5/S5, as well as projector lenses appropriate for housing H.I.D headlight bulbs, as seen below:
However, I wasn't impressed with the amber reflection the indicators gave off in sunlight when they weren't on, so I changed the indicator bulbs for a pair of Silvatec chromed bulbs to give the indicator position a more stealth look when turned off but exactly the same amber glow when they were on:
After changing the bulbs:
My grandfather also kindly sealed the headlights for me, as we wanted to make sure they wouldn't be damaged by condensation:
I wanted to make the rear-end look more modern too, so I started with the numberplate lights, they looked too dull as they were, so I changed them for a pair of 8-LED numberplate lights:
Before:
After:
I decided I'd fit the headlamps at the same time I re-did the front end so I then ordered an RS4 style front bumper with a single-frame grille gap that would be able to mount an S3 style grille into it as well as a metal bonnet extension that would allow the bonnet to meet with the front bumper/ grille in the appropriate position. I unboxed the grille to take a picture but left the bonnet extension and bumper in the box as they were pretty big:
Took the grille out of the box:
Much work would be needed to be done to these parts before they could be fitted, so I put them all into the back of my Audi and off to the bodywork shop to work on the front-end as well as colour-code the side-skirts and rear bumper I went:
I'm tired of writing and uploading photos for the moment, but I have much more to post so will continue the thread with what I got up to next a little later - hope you like what I've shown so far!
I started off with my completely 'stock' Audi A3 (8L Model) as pictured below:
I really liked the car but I considered the exterior a little too bland as it was and being 21 years old, I prefer the more modern take Audi have had with their model-range, specifically in relation to the single-frame grille and day-time running lights paired with Xenon H.I.D headlights they've been fitting. So with much help from (a fantastic) local body-work shop, I decided to have my own take on a modern Audi built on my A3. To start with, I bought a new set of headlights that ran LED's across the bottom and side of the headlight unit, much like the current generation Audi A5/S5, as well as projector lenses appropriate for housing H.I.D headlight bulbs, as seen below:
However, I wasn't impressed with the amber reflection the indicators gave off in sunlight when they weren't on, so I changed the indicator bulbs for a pair of Silvatec chromed bulbs to give the indicator position a more stealth look when turned off but exactly the same amber glow when they were on:
After changing the bulbs:
My grandfather also kindly sealed the headlights for me, as we wanted to make sure they wouldn't be damaged by condensation:
I wanted to make the rear-end look more modern too, so I started with the numberplate lights, they looked too dull as they were, so I changed them for a pair of 8-LED numberplate lights:
Before:
After:
I decided I'd fit the headlamps at the same time I re-did the front end so I then ordered an RS4 style front bumper with a single-frame grille gap that would be able to mount an S3 style grille into it as well as a metal bonnet extension that would allow the bonnet to meet with the front bumper/ grille in the appropriate position. I unboxed the grille to take a picture but left the bonnet extension and bumper in the box as they were pretty big:
Took the grille out of the box:
Much work would be needed to be done to these parts before they could be fitted, so I put them all into the back of my Audi and off to the bodywork shop to work on the front-end as well as colour-code the side-skirts and rear bumper I went:
I'm tired of writing and uploading photos for the moment, but I have much more to post so will continue the thread with what I got up to next a little later - hope you like what I've shown so far!
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haha. To be fair they only ever turn on when you slide the mirror covers open and close, but I'll definitely get them eventually. I'll probably just buy them at the same time I get the two interior boot light LED's (as they're the same size). Thanks.
