A3 oem+

[Charlie_Williams]

Alright guys, I posted in the welcome thread ages ago but havent managed to get a proper build thread up here until now!!!!!

It all started with this -

Which I loved, but being a student at the time i never modded it (criminal I know!!!). Long story short it went and i bought an A3, 1 owner and 24,000 on the clock last summer -

Then on the way back from picking it up I couldn't cope with the wheel/ tyre ratio (f'ing small/ f'ing big) so started the search for new wheels. To start it was between a set of mirror polished segins and some porsche twists (but really i was looking at anything oem).

After a while I found these, fell in love and 1 week later convinced my brother to pick them up and bring them to me. WIN!!! :lol:

possibly my best cargo ever!!

Next step - suspension

And yes, they are ratchet straps im taking the rear springs off with!!! normal spring compressors dont fit in the gap and the specialist compressors were £300!!!

Rear down;

and then wheels on

At this point I could see potential, but it clearly looked sh|te!!! So, after about a month of it being like this I did the decent thing and really spent some time on it!

New tyres went on (205/35 to 215/40) ;

then needed a little better fitment so got these (20mm for the back);

Which made the rear sit like this!!

I was pretty happy with the rear so decided to leave it alone (as the next step would have been custom springs or new coilovers!), but as i always have to be doing something to the car I followed it up with some 10mm spacers for the front and an s-line front end ;

Fitting was actually really easy, and took me around 2 hours without any prior knowledge!!

Off;

and on again!!

Since then all I have managed to do is get on some 20mm spacers at the front -

and now nearly get it stuck going in and out of work as there is a ****** huge ramp -

This left me with a little bit of a decision to make. New suspension set up or new job (well im obviously not going to drive a standard car am I?!!!).

Safe to say after staring at Luke's A3 on alphards and N8's setup I chose suspension. My order will be going in tonight!!!!! You can all guess what I'm getting at, but there will be one part of the order that most won't have seen before (I didn't even know the part existed yet!!)

I'll keep you all posted!!!

 

[Ash B]

Looks good fella. looks like a different car all together well done.
Now get some facelift rears light and a spoiler

 

[1inchpunch]

Looking good. Only thing i'd say is change the black optics grill back to chrome. It doesn't go with the chrome fog rings or the polished rims.

 

[Paullie]

That looks absolutely stunning, fella! I really love the difference the S-Line bumper has made and those wheels are seriously sick!!! This is gonna be something pretty special, ..I can just feel it!! xx

 

[Boydie]

Were you at Edition?

 

[Batt284]

Like the front end, but those wheels are not for me.

 

[FranA3]

good choice of wheels mate certaily different and i think it works very well

 

[TimG]

Lovely car, maybe air is needed to really pull those wheels off well. This may be crazy, but I also think the wheels would have better suited the standard sport bumper (ie smooth and simple) over the aggressive S line one. Just my opinion though.

Were those pics with the JOMs wound all the way down on the front?

 

[nally]

cany remember if i posted when you joined so welcome. car looks slammin

 

[N8]

Wheels just don't sit right on the car at all man. What kit did you order btw?

 

[The Engineer]

Sweet ride!

What springs did you use to lower it and how does it ride?

 

[Charlie_Williams]

Cheers for the comments guys, i think!!!!

TimG - the current coilies are JOM, completely down on the back with no adjusters but at the front there is shed loads more adjustment but JOMs are ****e and use the standard drop links which kicks up loads of issues hitting the lower swing arm!! On the bumper, I know what you mean, its why I don't run the splitter anymore (didn't work)

Boydie - yeah i was mate, didn't bother putting it into the show field but it was sitting in the camping area.

N8 - im deeply hurt!!! you mean the stance is ****e or the wheels don't suit?! I've gone for air lift slam series all round with autopilot. Got a great deal from bag riders so thought it was rude not to!!! After that the balloon tyres will get swapped out for 205/40s!!

 

[Charlie_Williams]

BTW - I think they'll look ok when its on air!!

 

[TimG]

Cheers for the comments guys, i think!!!!

TimG - the current coilies are JOM, completely down on the back with no adjusters but at the front there is shed loads more adjustment but JOMs are ****e and use the standard drop links which kicks up loads of issues hitting the lower swing arm!!

Strange. I run JOMs and have no issues with the drop links. Im also much lower on the rear with the adjusters still in place and not even wound right down.... however I am wound down on the front & its not low enough & you say you have loads left. Wierd!

Should look baller on air

 

[N8]

Why hurt? Just giving my HONEST advice which is what I always give man. Yeh it'll look better on air. But they are only 8s aren't they, the wheels themselves are alright, just not wow! Colour is nice on that SB.

 

[Charlie_Williams]

haha im joking mate!!!! every car isn't going to be to everyones taste! I'm thinking about some new wheels next summer, but the problem is what to get!

 

[Shane.]

I quite like the wheels but agree the black grill doesn't really tie in with it all so would get that switched over. Should look much better on air (and alot more practicle)

 

[bagey]

looking good fella ! if you want to swap grills for the chrome one giz a shout :icon_thumright:

 

[Jord]

Looks very nice, keep it up

 

[Charlie_Williams]

looking good fella ! if you want to swap grills for the chrome one giz a shout :icon_thumright:

I was going to take you up on that Bagey, but noticed you're in Newcastle - that's going to be a ***** to swap them!!!


Oh, and I'm on this site for like 1 month and this happened;

Now I'm just waiting for the postman to come knocking, wanting the import tax!!!

 

[bagey]

where abouts are you like charlie ? , yeah fella its a nightmare getting anything imported , they stick it right up you dont they

 

[Charlie_Williams]

Yes mate, yes they do!!! Adds £400 ish to your order:sign_unfair:

haha, I'm in Surrey bud just outside the M25!

 

[J.R.]

Lovely... but I agree with a few others in changing the grill to a silver one or something. Also is it an SE Audi a3 ? Looks SE with all that horribly Wood on the door trims....

To be honest I would of start with a Sport Edition at least ....SE models are pants.....so much you have to change.....

Also what engine is it ? looks like a 2.0 FSI from here........Love the wheels thou....very OEM and different.......:icon_thumright:

 

[N8]

Well done Charlie, you getting a notch lad?

 

[SAiLO]

Personally, I don't like the wheels on the A3 but new front bumper looks mint mate!

 

[Ash B]

To be honest I would of start with a Sport Edition at least ....SE models are pants.....so much you have to change.....

To best honest Standard, SE & Sport are the worse models to start of with. S-line and now Black Edition are the only good models with a good base to start modding.

 

[NHN]

WTF are you doing with a ratchet on the rear suspension man lmfao, job made hard imho.

 

[Charlie_Williams]

Christ, where to start!!!

WTF are you doing with a ratchet on the rear suspension man lmfao, job made hard imho.

Haha, well the spring compressors didnt fit so I 'improvised'!!!! It was actually really easy, and much quicker - just tighten ratchet straps to rear spring while car is on the ground, then jack up, remove wheel and pull spring out. No problem!!!!

Well done Charlie, you getting a notch lad?

Yes bud, would be silly not to i figured!!

Personally, I don't like the wheels on the A3 but new front bumper looks mint mate!

Cheers mate, The bumper makes such a huge difference - dead happy with it. The wheels are Marmite, they get some negative feedback but hey whats the point in doing something safe if it's not 100% what you want?!!! I can completely see your point of view though, but I love them!!!

To best honest Standard, SE & Sport are the worse models to start of with. S-line and now Black Edition are the only good models with a good base to start modding.

Lovely... but I agree with a few others in changing the grill to a silver one or something. Also is it an SE Audi a3 ? Looks SE with all that horribly Wood on the door trims....

To be honest I would of start with a Sport Edition at least ....SE models are pants.....so much you have to change.....

Also what engine is it ? looks like a 2.0 FSI from here........Love the wheels thou....very OEM and different.......:icon_thumright:

When I was looking for a car an s-line tdi was top of the list, however they are frickin rare!!! So after a while I found this one with 24k on the clock, FASH, 2 owners and all they toys (rear sensors, auto wipers, auto lights, leather/ suede trim, cruise etc etc) so I thought nuts to it!!! The only extras I needed to buy were the bumper and some new interior trim to replace the rover spec wood so i thought that was bearable!!! Still need to replace the trim though....

 

[S3RYE]

look pretty good! not sure on the wheels tbh but hey, as long as your happy who gives a flying.....

 

[Boydie]

I used a **** load of cable ties to compress my springs as the compressors wouldnt fit lol

 

[Charlie_Williams]

I used a **** load of cable ties to compress my springs as the compressors wouldnt fit lol

Haha Boydie, it's all about improvising!!!! as long as they come out, who cares?!!

 

[N8]

Where you getting the notch done lad?

 

[Charlie_Williams]

Where you getting the notch done lad?

Getting a genius mate of mine to do it (olethalb - he has a white bora on th-lines), he has done 6 or so air systems and notches now and his car is a testament to his skills. All i need to figure out is where to mount the controller box and design and make the install!

 

[N8]

Oli's a top top lad! Knows his stuff for sure, I'm very good mates with Dele, his mate.

 

[Charlie_Williams]

Yeah, he's a top guy! He'll be doing the notch/ external stuff while another mate is ripping the interior out to run the lines through and wires for control unit and I'll be focussing on the install. Gunning for a one day completion!!!

Dele has the mk4 r32 on Dan's old Bentleys right?

 

[Charlie_Williams]

Ok, so I've once again been slack on the modifyingness of my car.

This time though I can safely say that it isn't my fault!!! Changes are afoot, and big changes at that. I'm sure plenty of you will know what I've done/ bought/ ordered already but for those that don't all I'm going to say is this;


1.The air should be coming over from the states in approx 3 weeks time. After a number of delays on the new management, its finally in production!!
2.I am selling my wheels.
3.I have bought some new wheels already! They are 19" and very nice. I will post a teaser up soon. Shortly after that I will get too excited and show all exactly what I've done!!!

I've had mixed reactions on selling my wheels, they are still rare as stink and have made the car up until now. After this show season however, I saw quite a few sets (one on an A3) so thought a change would be good to start 2012 with. I had always had a soft spot for the wheels I've gone for and, to be honest it seemed like fate that a set were going when I looked on ebay!!

Anyways, I'll keep you lot updated!!

 

[N8]

Sounds good Charlie.

 

[inkiboo]

Dear lord above, those wheels!

 

[Rob W8]

Loving your work Charlie. Will keep an eye on this thread.

 

[Charlie_Williams]

Sounds good Charlie.

Yeah, its getting there slowly! Plenty of time though, as the target is UD!!

Dear lord above, those wheels!

Haha glad you like them bud, but they're now sold! Trust me, wheels like the monos are not friendly to keep looking good, especially in Winter!!! (last year i didnt have any others so rocked them through the snow!!!)

Loving your work Charlie. Will keep an eye on this thread.

Cheers mate, appreciate it. Hopefully the new look will be stronger than the current one and the wheels (teaser1 - Carlssons) will suit the car (as with the monos I've bought them without seeing them on an A3 before and didnt bother with a photoshop!!!)