Routledge's S3 Thread

R

Routledge

Wind Deflector Trend-setter
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Thought I'd create a thread to document the life and times of my S3 as I know there's a few of them on here.

At the moment I have no intentions of going super almighty pub numbers 1000+BHP Monster..

But it'll be nice to have somewhere to pop up that I've replaced my TIP, or that I've resolved the gearbox clunking etc.


**

Car is going in to a garage in East Grinstead on Saturday (12/11) to have the Longitudinal Accelerator Sensor changed, so I can get rid of the pesky ABS and Traction Control lights that keep lighting my dash up like a Christmas tree from time to time.

**

Ordered some wind deflectors yesterday, as I like to be able to hear my music when driving and enjoying a cigarette, rather than having half of my hearing destroyed by wind.

Hopefully they'll turn up today so I can fit them this weekend. They were shown as despatched last night.

!B6EPZY!EWk~$(KGrHqUOKjEEyVN)tq8oBMwE7REqEw~~_12.JPG


A very worthy 'mod' for just over £30.00.

**

I've also just ordered some chrome mirror covers. Not to everyone's taste I expect, but they were a little over a £10-er, so if they look bad I'll take 'em back off and bin 'em.

$(KGrHqF,!lEE5zwQOpy4BOp-NlJ0vw~~60_12.JPG


**

Also on the list of treats for the S3 today is a Red dogbone bush that I've just ordered from Awesome GTi. Although some people that have the yellow one find it fine, I think the majority is the best bet.

420r.jpg


**

Annoyingly I had to get a new tyre this week. I say this week, but this is the first week of owning the vehicle. Two days after picking it up I noticed a bulge on the OSR tyre - Fortunately I found someone local selling a 225/40/18 (just what I was after) Michelin tyre with 5mm of tread left for £20!

Had the local tyre fitters swap it over for me for a £10'er and now I'm good!

**

On the list of things to do are:

- Change transmission fluid
- Change dogbone bush
- Change haldex oil & filter
- Fit wind deflectors
- Fit mirror covers
- Fit new longitudinal sensor
- Clean injectors, spark plugs & throttle body
- Take the car into Audi for a free health check, try and 'blag' some fresh coils and also report a minor bit of corrosion that i've spotted on the roof making an entrance into the world.
- Source a Forge 007p DV (Will avoid paying Full RRP if I can)
- Source a Jetex Cone Filter (Same as above)
 
Just to add to your list of things to do i would suggest you have a read of the thread about changing your oil pick up pipe in the stickies as if your car has a few miles on it and has been ion longlife servicing during this the pick up pipe may well have some sludge in it. You may also want to read the sticky about cleaning your injectors.
 
Good stuff. You seem to know what you're doing!

Get a few photos up! S3s are very rare in Avus Silver you know (or is yours a blue i'm not aware of?).
 
Where do you get these wind deflectors from? I hate the wind noise in my car. Plus sometimes get soaked whilst cornering :(
 
Thanks vrbob I'll have a read of that shortly.

I believe the paint colour 'Avus' Blue could be incorrect. That's the colour I was told it was.. But it's not a rare colour as far as I am aware.

Here's the pics from the sale ad anyway:

81136756.png


Yeah the wind deflectors are Team Heko ones - I've had them before in one of my other cars and the fitting was relatively simple - Just make sure you clean the guttering of the window with some white spirit and cloth before you try and fit. It's amazing how much gunk comes out!
 
Yeah it wasn't meant to re-size to that in the first place, obviously Imageshack messing about.

I've separated the file into 4 so hopefully it'll upload better this time:

31492472.png


s32c.png


s31y.png


s3int.png
 
Well I'm off on my lunch break in 15 mins so I'll take a quick look and find out then :)
 
Well apparently it's none of those! It's a Santorin Blue - paint code lz5k!
 
i think that's the same colour as my rs4, or mine could be azure blue, which is very similar....
 
Lol I'd say that eliminates any allegations of rarity then!
 
Ha ha, I'd say that, but still the colour of yours is very nice mate!! Lol
 
Haha and yours then pats ;)

I can't say i'm fussed either way whether it's rare or not - I just like the colour. Makes a change from the black/silver/white I normally go for.
 
Just been looking through your thread West - Very comprehensive!

Raised a few worries for me now, especially the clutch pedal.
 
Routledge said:
Just been looking through your thread West - Very comprehensive!

Raised a few worries for me now, especially the clutch pedal.
Click to expand...

Glad it has been helpful, It might give you a few tuning ideas :eyebrows: My thread will get very busy next year as I try to get 300bhp out of the K04 turbo.

The clutch pedal is a very common issue. I would advise that if your pedal snaps that you get the new one strengthened by putting extra weld on it.
 
Mate don't be scared into changing every part on your car lol. Chances are your car has already had a new clutch pedal, mine did when I bought it.

As for the pick up pipe, mine was on AVS for 90k of its life until I got it, It had a couple standard services with flush. Then I dropped down the sump To replace the pickup, and not a sign of sludge on the pickup! Waste of time and money in my case. Don't just assume yours will be blocked, as theirs no guarantee.

I like the wind deflectors, considered getting some myself
 
I am trying to be preventative rather than reactive, as I'd like to keep the car running as trouble-free as possible.

I'd rather do something in my own time than have something go wrong and have to rush doing it when I don't really have the time if that makes sense :)
 
Routledge said:
I am trying to be preventative rather than reactive, as I'd like to keep the car running as trouble-free as possible.

I'd rather do something in my own time than have something go wrong and have to rush doing it when I don't really have the time if that makes sense :)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately mate you will never be able to be that pro active with these cars. The clutch pedal for example will require removing to get it welded stronger. This job is a ballache. The best thing you could do is buy a spare pedal, get it welded, and keep it for when the inevitable happens ;)
 
Right well some good and bad from the weekend:

Good -

*I drove approximately 150 miles here & there and thoroughly enjoyed it!
*Whilst getting the Longitudinal Acceleration Sensor changed I bought a Forge 007p Diverter Valve to replace the OEM item.
*I got the Longitudinal Acceleration Sensor changed for only £50!

Bad -

*I'm still getting the traction control & ABS light come up.. saying that I need to replace the Longitudinal Acceleration Sensor
*I now have a random beeping that comes up sporadically, with a fault light on the dash saying that it's do with my brakes (it's the excalamation mark in a circle). Further investigation needed.
 
I bet that colour polishes and waxes up mint in summer time.
 
Update:

Good -

*Chrome mirror caps arrived - Although not fantastic I've put them on and they actually look fairly reasonable.
*Wind deflectors have arrived - Other half has banned me from putting them on until she's at work on Saturday and I'm on my own :p
*Placed a deposit on a 'box and intending on getting it fit ASAP.
*Booked in 21/11 at Audi to have the roof corrosion that's beginning to appear investigated. Getting a courtesy car for the day for free too - Let's hope it's an 8P S3 ;)

Bad -

*Ran a full diagnostic test on the car and it's definitely the Longitudinal Acceleration Sensor - Spoke to A D Autotechnik where I got it done and they've said if it is that which is at fault still then they'll refund me. Need to book it in!
*The beeping and brake light that comes up sporadically is suspected to be a loose sensor in the brakes region - Further investigation required this weekend.



I need to take some pictures and get 'em up of the progress as a little boring without pics!
 
Taken from the corrosion thread, my current battle RE: corrosion repair:

Routledge said:
Right, I took mine into Five Oaks Audi near Billingshurst on Monday and was told beforehand that I'd need to leave my car with them for the day, so they'd provide me with a free courtesy car whilst they carried out their investigations. Fair enough - I figured that was acceptable.

I turned up at 08:00am on Monday morning and after standing around for 10 minutes someone finally decided to help me. They said that they didn't need to take my vehicle in and instead they would take a couple of pictures and send them to the warranty team at head office to determine whether or not I would be covered for my claim.

I received a call the following day from the Five Oaks Audi branch saying that they wouldn't be covering me for my claim, yet they were willing to offer 70/30 in my favour for the repair of the vehicle, and that it would cost me just under £50.00 to resolve.

I disputed this immediately to be told that it's Head Office that deal with it and not them - I then asked for their telephone number, which the guy gave me, and he told me to wait 5-10 mins to give him the chance to phone ahead and tell them that I'd be calling.

I waited an hour to be safe and called up - I was told that without my chassis number I wouldn't be able to get any help, so I had to get my chassis number and call back! Eventually they loaded up my details and I was informed that they would investigate it and call me back, as they had to get further info from the warranty department before offering me any assistance.

I received a call back and was told that the corrosion was caused as a result of moisture on edge/fold and was therefore only covered by the 3-year paint warranty rather than the 12 year corrosion warranty.

I argued this and stated that there is corrosion, no break in the paintwork for the moisture to enter and as a result it should be covered under warranty and I shouldn't have to pay a penny for its repair.

The case was escalated to the Customer Relations manager, who communicated with me via the monkey on Customer Service level and informed me that they would not be budging on the 70% offer that I have been made, and are standing by the fact that it's edge/fold and not corrosion.

I then asked why it is that other customers of Audi with the exact same circumstances as me have been offered preferential treatment and had 100% of their claim covered, whereas I am having to pay 30% in order to repair something that is covered under warranty. The monkey went back to the manager and came back advising me that each case is different, dealt with independently, and that there are numerous factors taken into consideration when dealing with any attempts to claim.


I queried and asked how it could be that I am given a different outcome to someone else that has the exact same issue, to almost the exact same extent, in almost the exact same places - If someone else should be offered this then I should be entitled also. I offered to provide a registration number and chassis number as comparison of this case in order for it to be reviewed.

After hopping off to grab a banana and speak to the head honcho again the monkey returned and told me that he couldn't comply with this and was only able to discuss my case and not the case of anyone else due to Data Protection. At this point I then offered to forward to them via fax or post immediately a letter of authority from the individual of the other case that managed to secure 100% contribution so that any worry or concern of the Data Protection Act can be erased.

The monkey then advised me that he'd need to refer back to his Customer Relations manager, and hopped off again for a few moments before coming back and explaining that he wouldn't be moving on this, and that 70% is a fair offer considering it is something that they don't consider to be covered by the warranty.

I then re-iterated the point about the preferential treatment and the fact that I am basically being penalised in comparison to someone else for an undisclosed reason. I was told that it could be down to other factors, such as brand loyalty (how much servicing is done at Audi etc), age and mileage of the vehicle etc..

To which I replied that 85% of the comprehensive service history of the vehicle was carried out at official Audi dealerships, and I am under the (now-dimming) intentions of purchasing a brand new Audi of the same model within the next 18-24 months, and the age and mileage of the vehicle that was offered 100% was almost identical.

I was then told that as the vehicle is over 10 years old they wouldn't be able to obtain any info on their database about my car... Thus defying their argument and point in the first place.

Now losing the argument heavily and running out of pointless, devoid of any sustenance statements, the monkey stated that the matter would be referred to the Customer Relations manager who would contact me back without fail within 48 hours to give me an answer to any further questions I may have in addition to the question that I have raised today.

He stated that he feels it would be unlikely for this offer of 70% to change.


I will keep you posted...
Click to expand...


On another note, the gearbox has arrived with the specialists that are swapping it and uprating my clutch for me - As soon as my old car comes back from the MOT centre on Saturday I'll be able to hand it over to have the work carried out.

As soon as it's back I'll be giving it a good clean, and taking some pics with the chrome mirror caps and wind deflectors on. Can't wait!!
 
The S3 went last night to the guys that're putting in the new clutch, DMF & 'box. He said it was one of the worst cases of a notchy 2nd gear he'd ever seen - Joy!

Should have it back on Tuesday evening with a beautiful crunch-free box filled with fresh transmission fluid and a nice new clutch.

Gave it a nice wash yesterday before it went and took a picture as it's got the wind deflectors and chrome mirror caps on now.

374206_10150392424442285_509002284_8383162_990429314_n.jpg
 
I'm not sure mate - They came with the car - They're 18s. I really like them though. I think I've seen a set on a Mk1 TT before too?
 
Thanks! I'll be keeping them on there for the moment but will probably be putting them up for sale in favour of some lighter aftermarket wheels around the end of spring next year. Just need to make sure I keep them mint and don't put any kerb marks on them ;)
 
Those wheels are from the tt mk1 3.2. Love the colour of the car. Looks great mate.
 
Ah I thought so!

Cheers mate - I'm loving it, and missing it at the moment and it's only been gone 15 hours!
 
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