I got mine off brough for £60 back in October, but told him to hold on to all the 'bits' (air scoop etc) since I was only needing it to trim down.
S3 MY12 Panther Build thread: The End; it's been emotional!
- Thread starter warren_S5
- Start date
I got mine off brough for £60 back in October, but told him to hold on to all the 'bits' (air scoop etc) since I was only needing it to trim down.
36f and 34r is what I run my 225/35 19's at and it seems a good compromise.....wear seems to be even on OE suspension as well.
In cold, I've been told to keep the tyre pressures as normal, but keep an eye on it as the cold can make the pressures drop quite markedly.
Be interested to see the results of your f/rear diffuser dilemma as well, as you haven't made a wrong move yet on the modding front ..
In cold, I've been told to keep the tyre pressures as normal, but keep an eye on it as the cold can make the pressures drop quite markedly.
Be interested to see the results of your f/rear diffuser dilemma as well, as you haven't made a wrong move yet on the modding front ..
gloss black would look goodFeburary modification: Engine cover
After much deliberation and fannying about I've decided on an engine cover that will hide much of the jiggery pokery thats going on in the bay.
I'm sticking with the stock S3 cover, and as you can see in this one pictured below. Acquired one off the bay for £55, so I'm going to cut it down so that the CAI hoses can pass neatly round the side / back. I've never thought the S3 lump was a thing of beauty, so I'm glad to be covering it back up.
I'm tempted to either spray the black plastic gloss black, or wrap it in 3M Di-noc vinyl. Deciding on that in the next day or so. As for the grey coloured section, unsure as to what to do with it yet, may just clean it up.
Hopefully will arrive for the weekend so I can get the dremmel out and start cutting. Then the CAI can go on!
if you're going to wrap it with carbon vinyl i would recomend clear coat over it so it looks really nice, and probably would hold vinyl better down. didn't try it, it's just my opinion...
i'm thinking of getting tts engine cover and either painting it either wrapping it too. will see when the time comes
The Engineer
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Right, after a couple of weeks work related interlude from car stuff I have 10 minutes to breathe and I'm now firmly back on the case!
12) Eibach lowering springs (20mm) fitted by APS Brackley
Part 1 - Rubbin' is Dubbin!
So after trying my luck with some Forge 5mm spacers on the rears, I had to submit to common sense and take them off as even with the standard ride height the 235/35/19 tyres were never going to allow a rub free ride even with the arch liner screw removed. With regret I peeled them off, but they may not be completely gone just yet ;-) - watch this space..... As soon as they were off it was back to the sound of silence which is all good by me.
Part 2 - Stance
As many of you know the reverse rake on the S3 suspension does my head in, but being an aged lazy, indolent, slothful b@$**rd I decided coilies were not the way forward for me. So I did the research and decided the Eibach Pro kit was going to offer the closest thing to an OEM ride without the speedboat risen front end. I contacted Ed Jackson at APS who sorted out a great price for supply and fitting and they can even book Saturdays with a bit of notice.
I'm using APS for the remainder of my Stage 2+ build as their customer service is excellent and they seem to have a really good perspective and depth of knowledge in the VAG arena. Quite a few VAGOC'ers seem to use them and I guess the 6 Audi Driver Magazine awards in their office cabinet (for customer service / dealer services) are an indication that their track record is pretty sound. Whilst they're about 70 miles from me the car is so precious I want the best independent care I can get, and am even considering circumventing Audi dealer service route and letting APS look after her despite the possible residual hit.
So less words, some pictures are what we need to give an idea of what we're addressing here:
REVERSE RAKE
So in the picture below (outside APS's workshop), you can see the elevated front end. It's not huge, but it's annoying if you're a pedantic OCD fruit cake like me!
And close up - BEFORE
You'll see there is a pretty consistent arch gap all the way round the tyre from left to right.
So at 8am on Saturday morning me and the Mrs went and sat down in reception at APS, and Ed got the brews in and put the telly on so we could wake up after our drive from down south. Complimentary wi-fi was on offer so you can surf while you wait.
Here is a picture of the kit we were having fitted. Just 2 springs which means it's something of a bargain at not much over a ton + fitting.
Eibach Pro-kit Front Springs - S3 2.0T (Part Number E10-15-007-14-20)
About an hour and a half later it was all sorted and it was time to see whether I'd ruined the ride or made an inspired choice!
So what difference did it make visually? (assume they may still have to settle a little from here)
BEFORE
AFTER
Subtle difference, but it means the car looks balanced front and rear.
So it looks right, but how does it ride??
In all my days of chucking suspension mods at cars, there is only one kit I can remember that really impressed me for it's value / improvement (Weitec TX kit springs and dampers). Bilstein PSS-9's on my Leon were good, but they didn't offer much more for the money. The only time I've just changed springs were on my wife's Lupo 16V Sport (H&R), and she hated them, so this was a bit of a punt.
I'm pleased to say that on ALL but the most undulating surfaces it rides with identical comfort to OEM. Big undulations that really put the suspension at it's limits are just slightly firmer, but other than that it's no less comfortable at all - cheers loudly!
So ride is good, but what about handling?
Very positive. I've always found the front end of the S3 a bit ponderous and likely to lean too hard into corners which really compromises the stability of the car through successive corners where it can become quite unsettled. Just lowering the car 20mm at the front has steadied her no end, and through mini or midi roundabouts the mutiple direction changes are far smoother and grip on the inner wheel remains more consistent. There is noticeably less body roll, and less sense of any electronic interaction.
Other positive side effects are that the engine seems to tip back less aggressively under hard acceleration which means gear changes feel crisper as the linkage is put under less duress. Likely to mean the car is kinder to it's exhaust brackets and downpipe too.
So would I recommend it, and to who?
If you're like me and you like to enjoy the occasional quality B road you encounter (or wrong turn you make which leads you onto a race circuit...
) then this spring kit will be ideal. It makes the car look balanced, and 3 seperate passengers who know the car well have failed to notice any negative ride quality issues around their local town. Obviously if you're looking for a more bespoke adjustable ride height then coilies are your mistress, but for me these offer an opportunity to try some FSD's at a later stage and get the best of both comfort and a bit of poise when I need it.
For the money this is a terrific upgrade and it really improves the high speed balance of the car and comes heartily recommended. And a big thank you to Ed and Nathan at APS for doing the job quickly enough that I could get to the oesteopath on time (nothing to do with the springs!).
Next Steps...
For suspension / handling I'm going to get the Whitelink Anti Lift Kit and have them fitted when the full TBE goes on in May / June. Also I have acquired a set of these rear mounts to tighten things up and deal with the extra strain on the drivetrain: (THS FR3 engine mounts - softest they offer)
I will get back to the engine cover in the next couple of weeks, I just have a few bits to sort out before it's finished!
12) Eibach lowering springs (20mm) fitted by APS Brackley
Part 1 - Rubbin' is Dubbin!
So after trying my luck with some Forge 5mm spacers on the rears, I had to submit to common sense and take them off as even with the standard ride height the 235/35/19 tyres were never going to allow a rub free ride even with the arch liner screw removed. With regret I peeled them off, but they may not be completely gone just yet ;-) - watch this space..... As soon as they were off it was back to the sound of silence which is all good by me.
Part 2 - Stance
As many of you know the reverse rake on the S3 suspension does my head in, but being an aged lazy, indolent, slothful b@$**rd I decided coilies were not the way forward for me. So I did the research and decided the Eibach Pro kit was going to offer the closest thing to an OEM ride without the speedboat risen front end. I contacted Ed Jackson at APS who sorted out a great price for supply and fitting and they can even book Saturdays with a bit of notice.
I'm using APS for the remainder of my Stage 2+ build as their customer service is excellent and they seem to have a really good perspective and depth of knowledge in the VAG arena. Quite a few VAGOC'ers seem to use them and I guess the 6 Audi Driver Magazine awards in their office cabinet (for customer service / dealer services) are an indication that their track record is pretty sound. Whilst they're about 70 miles from me the car is so precious I want the best independent care I can get, and am even considering circumventing Audi dealer service route and letting APS look after her despite the possible residual hit.
So less words, some pictures are what we need to give an idea of what we're addressing here:
REVERSE RAKE
So in the picture below (outside APS's workshop), you can see the elevated front end. It's not huge, but it's annoying if you're a pedantic OCD fruit cake like me!
And close up - BEFORE
You'll see there is a pretty consistent arch gap all the way round the tyre from left to right.
So at 8am on Saturday morning me and the Mrs went and sat down in reception at APS, and Ed got the brews in and put the telly on so we could wake up after our drive from down south. Complimentary wi-fi was on offer so you can surf while you wait.
Here is a picture of the kit we were having fitted. Just 2 springs which means it's something of a bargain at not much over a ton + fitting.
Eibach Pro-kit Front Springs - S3 2.0T (Part Number E10-15-007-14-20)
About an hour and a half later it was all sorted and it was time to see whether I'd ruined the ride or made an inspired choice!
So what difference did it make visually? (assume they may still have to settle a little from here)
BEFORE
AFTER
Subtle difference, but it means the car looks balanced front and rear.
So it looks right, but how does it ride??
In all my days of chucking suspension mods at cars, there is only one kit I can remember that really impressed me for it's value / improvement (Weitec TX kit springs and dampers). Bilstein PSS-9's on my Leon were good, but they didn't offer much more for the money. The only time I've just changed springs were on my wife's Lupo 16V Sport (H&R), and she hated them, so this was a bit of a punt.
I'm pleased to say that on ALL but the most undulating surfaces it rides with identical comfort to OEM. Big undulations that really put the suspension at it's limits are just slightly firmer, but other than that it's no less comfortable at all - cheers loudly!
So ride is good, but what about handling?
Very positive. I've always found the front end of the S3 a bit ponderous and likely to lean too hard into corners which really compromises the stability of the car through successive corners where it can become quite unsettled. Just lowering the car 20mm at the front has steadied her no end, and through mini or midi roundabouts the mutiple direction changes are far smoother and grip on the inner wheel remains more consistent. There is noticeably less body roll, and less sense of any electronic interaction.
Other positive side effects are that the engine seems to tip back less aggressively under hard acceleration which means gear changes feel crisper as the linkage is put under less duress. Likely to mean the car is kinder to it's exhaust brackets and downpipe too.
So would I recommend it, and to who?
If you're like me and you like to enjoy the occasional quality B road you encounter (or wrong turn you make which leads you onto a race circuit...
) then this spring kit will be ideal. It makes the car look balanced, and 3 seperate passengers who know the car well have failed to notice any negative ride quality issues around their local town. Obviously if you're looking for a more bespoke adjustable ride height then coilies are your mistress, but for me these offer an opportunity to try some FSD's at a later stage and get the best of both comfort and a bit of poise when I need it.For the money this is a terrific upgrade and it really improves the high speed balance of the car and comes heartily recommended. And a big thank you to Ed and Nathan at APS for doing the job quickly enough that I could get to the oesteopath on time (nothing to do with the springs!).
Next Steps...
For suspension / handling I'm going to get the Whitelink Anti Lift Kit and have them fitted when the full TBE goes on in May / June. Also I have acquired a set of these rear mounts to tighten things up and deal with the extra strain on the drivetrain: (THS FR3 engine mounts - softest they offer)
I will get back to the engine cover in the next couple of weeks, I just have a few bits to sort out before it's finished!
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Stance is looking pretty bang on, Warren! Have to say, that Eibach kit seems to be full of win, win ..great stance with only half the cost for purchasing and fitting . I can't wait to rid my car of the H&R bounce, by adding some FSD's. Rob Waite has an excellent offer on with his WALK kits at the moment, if you are thinking of buying. I ordered one myself last night. Fab write up as always! 
xx
. I can't wait to rid my car of the H&R bounce, by adding some FSD's. Rob Waite has an excellent offer on with his WALK kits at the moment, if you are thinking of buying. I ordered one myself last night. Fab write up as always! xx
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Stance is looking pretty bang on, Warren! Have to say, that Eibach kit seems to be full of win, win ..great stance with only half the cost for purchasing and fitting
Thanks love, and for the tip off on the WALK's. I'll fit them and see if that is enough to sort the car out. Was thinking of rear ARB, but don't want to risk removing the sensation from the car where you can no longer feel the where the transition between grip and no grip just evaporates!
Oh, and thanks for the number plate screws, only saw them yesterday afternoon when I was fiddling in the garage, really appreciated. Been neglecting the car for a few weeks due to work commitments so I need to get back on the case with spring round the corner!!
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So where's the full shot of the car, Wazza? I take it you've made a conscious effort to only show us the front arch. 
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Looks spot on that mate. I'm pretty happy with the H&R kit on ours at the moment but I did look at the Eibachs as the reverse rake and stance of the wheels on a stock S3 is ridiculous!
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Hi Ads, I'll get you a pic, I'm just embarrased by how rank the car looks as it's dirty as feck!
In the meantime another mod for y'awll that I'm not sure if I'll keep or not. Bored and fiddling with VCDS yesterday!
In the meantime another mod for y'awll that I'm not sure if I'll keep or not. Bored and fiddling with VCDS yesterday!
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I had that mod for a whole two days before it annoyed the hell out of me. I'm back to being beep-less now.
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Ads, not the best as our drive is a slight upward slope and with the handbrake on the car hotches up at the rear a tiny bit but when I get her on a flat road I'll take another (and apologies, they're not same way round either!):
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
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Looking SWEET.
Also Warren...do you know if the exterior silver door handle trims (silver strip across the top of each handle) are supposed to come as standard on S3s. By the looks of it you don't have them and neither do I and we both have the same MY cars.
Also Warren...do you know if the exterior silver door handle trims (silver strip across the top of each handle) are supposed to come as standard on S3s. By the looks of it you don't have them and neither do I and we both have the same MY cars.
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Not seen them on an S3 to date so I'd guess they only come on other models (SE at a guess????)
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Looks good Warren, as usual
Did you have to get the suspension re-aligned to account for the drop, or is it not a significant enough change to need it ?
As its such a minor drop I didn't bother for now, but when Ed & Co. fit the WALK's etc. it will be fully aligned.
cheers
W
Farhan
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Warren, looks like a very nice drop. Perfect for driveability low enough for us to notice a difference. I to will be following suit soon
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looks goods Warren, looks more even now
Looks good Warren, as usual
Did you have to get the suspension re-aligned to account for the drop, or is it not a significant enough change to need it ?
Warren, looks like a very nice drop. Perfect for driveability low enough for us to notice a difference. I to will be following suit soon
Cheers gents.
Nice to spend such a reasonable amount and get something that looks so pleasing. What can you buy for £200 (fitted) in the car world which makes you car look good these days?
That beep's a little disappointing... not the 'bwoop-bwoop' alarm beep you get locking an American car.
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Just a cationary note, when I had my H&Rs fitted I was told the geometry wouldnt be affected, the car drove fine so I had no reason to think otherwise, anyhow after just a couple of thousand miles both front tyres had scrubbed the insides to the cord.
2 new GY Assys and a 4 wheel align later.......
Car looks well BTW:icon_thumright:
A3_Black_Edition
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Spin140
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Phil_T
Revo Stage 2+ Audi S3
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Great thread & nice to see you enjoy a good write up, Just thought id let you know my tuner has said the S3 doesnt need the walk kit as its only needed on the fwd cars like the golf & rocco. Also if you really like the oem suspension feel I can say go for the the Pss10 bilsteins if you have them on setting 3 it feels like oem even if you go low. I do like mine to be go kart like & now mine is a hard bouncing 6 all round but does handle really well and even better with the H & R arbs
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Indeed. To be honest whilst it looks better the handling improvements are quit significant, and much more than I thought.
Interesting, and thanks for the heads up. Did wonder, but I'd found the S3 so understeery I thought it may need all the help it could get! I suppose rear ARB could be enough without adding potentially more vibration through the car with stiffer bushing. I'm not doing coilovers, just don't see the benefit for general road use.
poli84
Registered User
Great result Warren.
The front certainly looks the goods with that horrible rake removed (massive pet hate of mine too!).
The front certainly looks the goods with that horrible rake removed (massive pet hate of mine too!).
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13) LED Number Plate Bulb Modification
As many of you know, I did the rear number plate bulb upgrade and sourced the CANBUS error free bulbs from Germany for about £30.
Due to them having 18 LED's on the board you can imagine they're ****** bright, and it's only due to the black paint that I've really got away without it lighting up the entire **** end of the car.
I decided enough was enough, and I needed to do something about it, and a massive thank you to Rob from W8 Performance who came to my rescue with an offcut of smoked tinting film.
The bulb lens / units used by the company in Germany are rough edged (unlike the smooth finished ones I took off from factory), and I could not switch them over as they wouldn't fit into the newer bulb casing. Hence as they have a kind of matric platic nobbly finish the film was going to have to be stuck to the inside.
I tentatively peeled the LED innards out of the casing. First one came out a treat, second one snaps the frickin' connector arm off on the outer edge
18 LED's enough for you!
A 'one arm' LED rear light - get the solder out
The bulb housing with nobbly bits
To make matters even harder, the inside of the casing has all sorts of ridges and knurls in it, so it was a case of doing the best possible job! Also it's a very tight space to work in, so a craft knife is a must.
Some tint film is stuck inside the casing
Then to solder the arm back on the LED housing; DOH!
And this is what it looks like with some light behind it
Now the proof of the pudding is to see what it looks like tonight, I'll get some before and after photos once it gets dark....
As many of you know, I did the rear number plate bulb upgrade and sourced the CANBUS error free bulbs from Germany for about £30.
Due to them having 18 LED's on the board you can imagine they're ****** bright, and it's only due to the black paint that I've really got away without it lighting up the entire **** end of the car.
I decided enough was enough, and I needed to do something about it, and a massive thank you to Rob from W8 Performance who came to my rescue with an offcut of smoked tinting film.
The bulb lens / units used by the company in Germany are rough edged (unlike the smooth finished ones I took off from factory), and I could not switch them over as they wouldn't fit into the newer bulb casing. Hence as they have a kind of matric platic nobbly finish the film was going to have to be stuck to the inside.
I tentatively peeled the LED innards out of the casing. First one came out a treat, second one snaps the frickin' connector arm off on the outer edge
18 LED's enough for you!
A 'one arm' LED rear light - get the solder out
The bulb housing with nobbly bits
To make matters even harder, the inside of the casing has all sorts of ridges and knurls in it, so it was a case of doing the best possible job! Also it's a very tight space to work in, so a craft knife is a must.
Some tint film is stuck inside the casing
Then to solder the arm back on the LED housing; DOH!
And this is what it looks like with some light behind it
Now the proof of the pudding is to see what it looks like tonight, I'll get some before and after photos once it gets dark....
Cracking work, Warren! Looking foward to the night time piccies. I really think that the tint film will make all the difference. xx
xx
Warren, you know I love your car! It's perfect and the mods are so tastefully done. I just have a sneaky suspicion that your OCD will get the best of you and we will be seeing coilovers in this thread
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You'll be seeing another layer of tinting film in the number plate lights tomorrow for a start, one layer is NOT enough!!!
My coilover days are truly over mate, at most you'll be seeing some Koni FSD's maybe next year. I have enough issues with my back as it is!
My coilover days are truly over mate, at most you'll be seeing some Koni FSD's maybe next year. I have enough issues with my back as it is!
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warren, its dark. where's the pics?
You'll get some tomorrow, the ones I took tonight don't pass quality control!
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