Poli84's Sprint Blue S3 Build Thread

[poli84]

Hey Sarah, thanks for the kind words.

yeah, car is finally coming along nicely. Really looking forward to getting the coilovers in as i am sick of the front arch gap.

Our Australian prices surely do make moding hard but a strong dollar at the moment and decent international shipping makes things more manageable.

I will do a proper shoot once the suspension is done, really show off the colour better than i can do with my camera skills.

 

[poli84]

Small update:

The lack of cubby hole storage in the 8P has always bothered me, no where to put your phone (except on top of the cup holder).
Not that I really have things lying around in my car, it's still nice to have somewhere to put anything!

Saw the ashtray delete on parts4euro.com but shipping was over $100 for something they sell for less than $30.
Audi sell these for about $50 retail but I used my discount and got this at a great price.

Part number is 8P0 863 301A4PK

Before:

Installation is pretty straight forward although very fiddly as you need to remove the "Oh sh!t" handles.
Took about 45 mins because 2 of the screws that were very hard to reach.

Ashtray out (so much room back there):

Grab handles removed:
You can see the connection for the LED light of the ashtray. It would have been really great if I could have utilised this red LED to wash a red glow over the cubby hole but just couldn't find a spot which I liked and that wouldn't ruin the cubby.
Might consider this later.

Finished product and very happy with the result. So much better than the ashtray that I never used and now have a HUGE cubby space for my phone, etc.

 

[FranA3]

top job mate looks nice now

 

[amar06fbr]

nice car mate :icon_thumright:

 

[MartayMcFly]

Didn't even know the ashtray delete was a thing on 8Ps! My 8L had one with LEDs over it... might have found my next "project" to take 4 months doing now that my engine cover is almost on (I tend to do things a VERY long time after I plan to).

 

[RicoS3]

I had the no smoking pack from the factory and it's a great space for all manner of crap. When static it'll take a coffee or drinks bottle too; gear changes pose a problem when moving however.

 

[Silky-S3]

Top job that mate! Whats next?

 

[poli84]

Top job that mate! Whats next?

Thanks mate.

These are going in tomorrow.

Bilstein PSS10s.

Was hoping to purchase the Autotech HPFP and Revo 2+ and have them installed at the same time but don't think budget will allow that for the next couple of months.

After that, I'll start working on cosmetics.
- Wheels refurbed in anthracite (I still need to get some photoshop mock-ups done of this to make up my mind)
- front and rear splitter/diffuser in gloss black
- black out front grill

 

[Paullie]

Hey Gerard, love the job you did on painting the hubs and fitting the smoking pack delete. I had this on my last 8P1 with the little LED's shining down on the cubby hole and it was way more useful than the ashtray. Top job as always, Dude! Can't wait to hear your review of the Bilstein PSS10's (later today hopefully after the install, lol). What a beaut your S3 is, ..love it to pieces!! xx

 

[poli84]

Thanks Paulie!
Still nothing compared to yours but I'm getting there one piece at a time.

I'm going to add the LEDs to my ashtray delete, think it will be a nice touch.
Need to wait until I order some new parts and i'll throw it in the order.

Can't wait to feel and see the PSS10 transformation. Finally getting rid of that horrid front arch gap!

Dropped the car off this morning and very almost said just install the HPFP and 2+ but sensibility kicked in last minute. Need to wait a couple of months.

Can't wait to work on the cosmetics. Never thought it would be something I'd do but now can't get it out of my head!
I need dark wheels and gloss black trim!

 

[Paullie]

Thanks Paulie!
Still nothing compared to yours but I'm getting there one piece at a time.

I'm going to add the LEDs to my ashtray delete, think it will be a nice touch.
Need to wait until I order some new parts and i'll throw it in the order.

Can't wait to feel and see the PSS10 transformation. Finally getting rid of that horrid front arch gap!

Dropped the car off this morning and very almost said just install the HPFP and 2+ but sensibility kicked in last minute. Need to wait a couple of months.

Can't wait to work on the cosmetics. Never thought it would be something I'd do but now can't get it out of my head!
I need dark wheels and gloss black trim!

Hell, yeah! Dark wheels and gloss black bits works SO well on Sprint Blue. It's gonna look even more special than it does already. Can't wait to see how she stands after your Billy's go on. You getting her back tomoz? xx

 

[Silky-S3]

Dropped the car off this morning and very almost said just install the HPFP and 2+ but sensibility kicked in last minute. Need to wait a couple of months.

Ha, just do it mate. Best mod ever

 

[The Engineer]

Thanks mate.

These are going in tomorrow.

Bilstein PSS10s.

Was hoping to purchase the Autotech HPFP and Revo 2+ and have them installed at the same time but don't think budget will allow that for the next couple of months.

After that, I'll start working on cosmetics.
- Wheels refurbed in anthracite (I still need to get some photoshop mock-ups done of this to make up my mind)
- front and rear splitter/diffuser in gloss black
- black out front grill

Car looks beautiful. That colour is one of my favourites.

If you want some photoshopped images let me know, I would be happy to help.

Keep up the good work

 

[poli84]

Car looks beautiful. That colour is one of my favourites.

If you want some photoshopped images let me know, I would be happy to help.

Keep up the good work

Thanks mate, I'll certainly hit you up for some photoshop help.
Car is filthy from all the rain and I've already washed it once this week, so i'll get some proper shots of the car on the Billies and ask for some PS help.

Paulie, Billies are in and I picked the car up last night.
It looks fantastic but i am waiting for the springs to settle and then I'll go back to the shop and make adjustments so it is sitting perfectly level.
I feel the back has settled a little more than the front so it is not quite level anymore.

Right now I am running on 5 all round. It is certainly bumpier than OEM but MUCH less crashy.
The ride feels much better than OEM and I'm looking forward to a drive in the hills next weekend to really test them out.

I'll get some pics up soon.

Silky, couldn't do the HPFP yesterday unfortunately.
I'll get it done shortly, although, I'm beginning to think I should go cosmetic first and get those wheels and splitters done first...

 

[RicoS3]

Pics! Pics! Settled or not, dirty or clean.

 

[The Engineer]

Pics! Pics! Settled or not, dirty or clean.

+1 :sign_pics:

 

[poli84]

Well I had my DP give way on me on Saturday and left my car JDM style.
Deafining loud on start up but some wicked snap crackle and pop on overrun.

Needless to say, there was a hole somewhere.
My mechanic pulled off the DP, fixed the split and had it back on in no time with a redesigned mounting point.

I got the car and was then able to give it a clean and finally get some snaps with the coilovers on.

I'm not overly wrapped with the way it looks, it still needs some adjusting which I will tackle shortly.
I think the front is sitting too high, needs to come down maybe 3-4mm and the back needs to come down another 2mm.

Anyone got some advice on getting the car perfectly level?

Some rubbing is being experienced, nothing too bad but slight rub on a speed hum drop off, etc.
Will remove the arch screw, hope that helps, if not wil switch the 12mm spacer with a 10mm.

The PSS10's seem very noisy. Over low speed bumps, they seem to make noise like something is loose.
I trust that everything is installed properly but it just doesn't sound right.
Once I get the height adjusted correctly, I will get an alignment and see what happens.

Enough talk, here are the pics:

 

[tcardio]

Back is fine. Just adjust the front a little to give you a little rake. Beautiful car and just as sexy on ozaudi!

 

[eastern_s3]

Mate, car looks absolutely beautiful, the penultimate photo is just class. I'm with tcardio, I think the back of the car is perfect, just the front that needs a small adjustment.

Can't wait to get my PSS10s installed too

 

[warren_S5]

Looking really good. +1 for front adjustment!

How is the ride on the roads you have there?

 

[Paullie]

WOW Gerard, your car is pure and simply stunning!!! Your hard work at detailing her is evident in all your piccies. As the guys have said the back looks perfect at that height, front just needs to come down a touch. I hope that as they settle, the noises start to settle down also. How is the ride comfort compared to standard? xx

 

[poli84]

Back is fine. Just adjust the front a little to give you a little rake. Beautiful car and just as sexy on ozaudi!

Thanks mate, will certainly get that nose down ASAP.
Yeah this forum has a lot more traffic so spend more time on here these days.

Mate, car looks absolutely beautiful, the penultimate photo is just class. I'm with tcardio, I think the back of the car is perfect, just the front that needs a small adjustment.

Can't wait to get my PSS10s installed too

Thanks Ben, yours will be on soon and looking even better!

btw, you need to get a build thread up on here going!!

Looking really good. +1 for front adjustment!

How is the ride on the roads you have there?

WOW Gerard, your car is pure and simply stunning!!! Your hard work at detailing her is evident in all your piccies. As the guys have said the back looks perfect at that height, front just needs to come down a touch. I hope that as they settle, the noises start to settle down also. How is the ride comfort compared to standard? xx

Thanks Warren and Paulie!!

Ride is certainly a lot more firm.
The car is creeking and bumping a lot more, the Open Sky has goten louder as the car has certainly stiffened up.

All of the bumping is worth it for the way the car now feels.
Steering is so much more direct, a lot more front end grip. Excellent turn in and overall control and feel.

I love it and can't wait until the next track day.
Need to get some front and rear sways in to really finish off the handling of this car.

Paint is looking very good thanks Paulie, the detail is certainly still going strong.

I wish I could get some photos that give a deeper blue though.
I compare my photos with other Sprint Blue S3 and mine looks so dull.
I'm not very good with DSLR, need to enlist a photographer once the stance is correct I think.

You guys don't think the back needs to come down at all?

 

[nothingness]

I love sprint blue!

The not so sensible side of me is tempting me to finance this:

2011 Audi S3 2.0 T FSI quattro S Tronic 265 PS 3dr

 

[The Engineer]

Thanks mate, I'll certainly hit you up for some photoshop help.

Replied to PM with pics :thumbsup:

 

[poli84]

Replied to PM with pics :thumbsup:

Thanks again mate.

The Engineer was kind enough to photoshop some photos for me.
I'm not sure whether to refurn the wheels anthracite or upgrade to 19's.
These look really good though I think.

Thoughts?

 

[RicoS3]

Anthracite works well against the Sprint. If you can colour match the front and rear valance it ties in nicely. With your S3 non-optics grill as well, there's more grey going on, so could make a good match.

Check out my winter wheels. I didn't colour them, but they match the valances a treat.

 

[S3RYE]

Thanks again mate.

The Engineer was kind enough to photoshop some photos for me.
I'm not sure whether to refurn the wheels anthracite or upgrade to 19's.
These look really good though I think.

Thoughts?

that + change the mirror caps for carbon and you're onto a winner!!

 

[Paullie]

Oh YES! I'm with the guys on this one, fella, I say DO IT! The anthracite will wheels make a massive difference to the overall look of your S3, pulling all the other darker bits together. SWEET!!! xx

 

[poli84]

Thanks guys, yeah the anthracite looks really good.

Rico, I'm confused with your suggestion about colour coding the bumpers.
The bumpers are already grey, my plan was to re-do them in gloss black and install the optics grill to go along with the wheels.

Still not sure whether I should get the wheels re-done or drop the cash and upgrade to 19's though...

 

[N8]

Do it! Then speedlines to match

 

[Neru]

Poli. you have to let know when the next track day is I'm itching to hit the track again

 

[poli84]

Poli. you have to let know when the next track day is I'm itching to hit the track again

Will do mate, there is a Sandown end of April but I fly in from China that morning so will give it a miss.
Next day is Winton in June! I'll let you know when entry forms are out.

 

[poli84]

Do it! Then speedlines to match

That certainly is the dream N8, need to find some locals for sale so i don't get done on crazy shipping costs from the UK.

 

[Juicy Jen]

Loving the PS anthracite looks so much better!

 

[N8]

Doesn't matter if the speedlines come from Mars, still do them anthracite

 

[poli84]

Doesn't matter if the speedlines come from Mars, still do them anthracite

Haha will do for sure!!

 

[The Engineer]

Thanks again mate.

The Engineer was kind enough to photoshop some photos for me.
I'm not sure whether to refurn the wheels anthracite or upgrade to 19's.
These look really good though I think.

Thoughts?

Was glad to be of service, as I said before the car look great in that colour.

The dark accents really bring it out too. You could always get the wheels done
in that colour as a stop gap then get the speedlines N8 takes about on a later date.

 

[poli84]

You could always get the wheels done
in that colour as a stop gap then get the speedlines N8 takes about on a later date.

I think that is the way i'll go mate.
The Speedlines in the correct offset are pretty hard to find over here so the anthracite OEM wheels will be a nice compromise while the hunt continues.

 

[tcardio]

Thanks again mate.

The Engineer was kind enough to photoshop some photos for me.
I'm not sure whether to refurn the wheels anthracite or upgrade to 19's.
These look really good though I think.

Thoughts?

Oh yeah! Those wheels (until 19's), black optics and black fog grills....PURE SEX. Keep those pics coming. Someone on the forum did the splitter and rear valence in carbon. I just love to spend other people's money

 

[tcardio]

Oh yeah! Those wheels (until 19's), black optics and black fog grills....PURE SEX. Keep those pics coming. Someone on the forum did the splitter and rear valence in carbon. I just love to spend other people's money

BTW, I have the mirror covers in black. Nobody wants them over here and I'll send ya them for postage