Want(need) to buy 1999-00 1.9 90hp/110hp but want to mod it/Facelift S-line grill?

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buel

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Hi all,
Im a newbie on here so go easy on me, ha ha.

Ok, to cut a long story short, i've been saving my hard earned cash for a long time and originally wanted to buy a 2005 A3 diesel.
The complication is that i wanted to run it on a veg oil mix.

I have had it on very good authority that that year or thereabouts have a PD fuel system which do NOT like any sort of veg oil mix, wheras the non-PD versions loved it. I was advised that the PD fuel system began to be phased in on Audis from 1999 onwards and that the models i need to get are the 90hp or 110hp 1.9 models as they are both non-PD.

So, i thought my chances of owning an A3 were gone as i don't particularly like the 1999-2000 look as i think they now look dated. However, earlier today i seen this thread from Mattandrew:
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...uble-grill-bumper-facelift-s-line-bumper.html

And it gave me an idea that perhaps i could buy a 99-00 model and upgrade the grill, bumber etc and maybe more? (If i was to buy a 99-00 for around £3500 then i wouldn't mind paying £700-£1000 extra to mod it)

Please can i have some advice as to whether this could work and if it would look newer or simply an old car trying to look newer, if you see what i mean.

Anyway, i look forward to any replies on this, thanks.
 
Tbh get a different brand if your on that tight a budget,plenty of decent cheaper ones on the market
 
James TQ said:
£3500 for a 99 A3? seems alot?
Click to expand...

From my first post: i've been saving my hard earned cash for a long time and originally wanted to buy a 2005 A3 diesel.

I was willing to pay up to £5500 but i now see that, to run on veg, it has to be 1999-2003 you see. Hope that explains it a bit bettter, thanks.
 
Doesnt make sense? 4500 to spend on the car but insist on 10 year old diesel to run on veg oil?

Spend 3k on a decent 1.8t and the difference more than covers the fuel? I guess you own a chipy :D
 
have you concidered a petrol and a LPG Conversion?
 
James TQ said:
have you concidered a petrol and a LPG Conversion?
Click to expand...

Hi James,
That is very, very, very interesting!!!! I hadn't thought of that!
Any ideas how much a conversion costs?

I can understand what S3 Andy means, it's just that i have a steady supply of veg oil at 50p per litre so that is a hell of a saving!!
 
Yes as above, but make sure whoever you take it to is registerd to install them as youl be driving around with compressed gas in the car...I thinK Lpg is at around 70p a litre with more and more petrol stations stocking it now days, another benefit is the car will sell better with the conversion done. Worth a look into IMO
 
I converted a 1999 A4 110bhp 1.9tdi to run on veg oil (which I then did for the following 18 months). I like messing with cars and was interested to see how this would all work out. IIRC the cost of the kit was circa £500 and a few hours spent trying to decipher the instructions. It was necessary to plumb in a heat exchanger in the engine bay so that warmth of coolant was used to heat veg oil before its injected, as well as fittment of solenoids to the fuel lines to swich between fuel supplys (diesel for start-up/off, and veg oil when at running temp). Once fitted it was relatively simple and hassel free in operation. Things that put me off though were: Having to go to the cash and carry to get veg oil and the physical aspect of lugging 25L containers of oil and of transferring oil into car without spilling it (or knackering my back). Performance wise there is noticably less power when running on veg oil. Saftey, smell and practical issues of having a second tank of diesel in the boot are also to be considered. As to is resale value as this will also be affected (probably for the worse). Over all I found it to be a good idea in theory but a hassel in reality.

Just my experience...
 
Congorobot said:
I converted a 1999 A4 110bhp 1.9tdi to run on veg oil (which I then did for the following 18 months). I like messing with cars and was interested to see how this would all work out. IIRC the cost of the kit was circa £500 and a few hours spent trying to decipher the instructions. It was necessary to plumb in a heat exchanger in the engine bay so that warmth of coolant was used to heat veg oil before its injected, as well as fittment of solenoids to the fuel lines to swich between fuel supplys (diesel for start-up/off, and veg oil when at running temp). Once fitted it was relatively simple and hassel free in operation. Things that put me off though were: Having to go to the cash and carry to get veg oil and the physical aspect of lugging 25L containers of oil and of transferring oil into car without spilling it (or knackering my back). Performance wise there is noticably less power when running on veg oil. Saftey, smell and practical issues of having a second tank of diesel in the boot are also to be considered. As to is resale value as this will also be affected (probably for the worse). Over all I found it to be a good idea in theory but a hassel in reality.

Just my experience...
Click to expand...
Hi

Hi,
Thanks for that, Just a question- You say you had the conversion done (Twin tank), from everything i have been told, the 110bhp 1.9 doesn't need a conversion to run on veg? Can i ask why you did this please?
Ps- I see your point about the veg oil and the hassle but it is worth it for me for two reasons:
1, I pay 50p per litre whereas you, im guessing, would have paid much more to buy it new.
2, I dont really find it too much hassle as i have a 'system' set up so that all i have to do is fill up the tank with a watering can of veg (I have a Peugeot 206 diesel).

Please post back when you can (or anyone, for that matter)T
hanks- B
 
Yes I found out that it would heve been possible to run this car on veg oil without the conversion, however, the conversion is preferrable for optimal performance. Veg oil becomes very viscous when cold and will cause starting and power problems if it does not atomize properly at the injectors. The kit allows you to start up and shut off the engine while its running on diesel, only using veg oil when engine has reached running temp allowing the heat in the engine coolant to warm the veg oil via a heat exchanger before the veg oil reaches the injectors. This is I am sure better/kinder for the engine than without a kit. If I were doing it again I would probably forget the kit and just vary the ratio of diesel/veg oil mix. 50/50 for summer temps and 75 diesel/25 veg oil for winter.

I made up a threaded spout to screw onto the oil containers to try and make filling more easy and quicker but still takes ages pouring 60L of veg oil into the tank (nowhere near as fast as a forcourt pump).

I found that the price I was paying for veg oil tracked the price of diesel and was about 70 - 80pence/litre. Where are you getting oil for 50P/L? Is it used oil?
 
Congorobot said:
Yes I found out that it would heve been possible to run this car on veg oil without the conversion, however, the conversion is preferrable for optimal performance. Veg oil becomes very viscous when cold and will cause starting and power problems if it does not atomize properly at the injectors. The kit allows you to start up and shut off the engine while its running on diesel, only using veg oil when engine has reached running temp allowing the heat in the engine coolant to warm the veg oil via a heat exchanger before the veg oil reaches the injectors. This is I am sure better/kinder for the engine than without a kit. If I were doing it again I would probably forget the kit and just vary the ratio of diesel/veg oil mix. 50/50 for summer temps and 75 diesel/25 veg oil for winter.

I made up a threaded spout to screw onto the oil containers to try and make filling more easy and quicker but still takes ages pouring 60L of veg oil into the tank (nowhere near as fast as a forcourt pump).

I found that the price I was paying for veg oil tracked the price of diesel and was about 70 - 80pence/litre. Where are you getting oil for 50P/L? Is it used oil?
Click to expand...

Ah, i see your point about the heat exchanger, the reason why i am thinking of not going that route is because i was prepared to put a blend of 75% Veg oil, 15% Diesel and 10% Petrol you see so that should negate the need for the kit.
Yes, it is used veg oil that i currently centrifuge but will probably filter instead using micron nets/filters.

You know, (It's a bit late now i suppose) using a watering can seems perfect to fill my car up, the watering can even has a wide top so filling that is also easy.

My only other 'problem' is that any A3 i get is probably going to be around the 140,000 mark! I dont know how long these engines run for you see.
 
get an electric pump for the transfer of oil, even a caravan water pump works well and is ideal for going into small openings in jerry cans etc

whalecheapypmp.jpg
 
Any more thoughts on the longevity of an A3 around the 140,000 mark? Too much? And as for any concerns regarding the clocking of the miles, doesn't a HPI negate this potential problem?
 
arn't there certain Tax laws that have to be followed when running veg oil ??? i know it's not often but they do check fuel sometimes in random stop checks.... we had them outside the gates of our works a couple of years back dip checking every diesel that entered site
 
666markyboy said:
arn't there certain Tax laws that have to be followed when running veg oil ??? i know it's not often but they do check fuel sometimes in random stop checks.... we had them outside the gates of our works a couple of years back dip checking every diesel that entered site
Click to expand...

Yes there is but it's something unbelievable huge like 1200 litres per year before you have to declare your usage (Im sure i'll be corrected on this amount soon). So up to that point, it's legal.

I guess they were looking for red diesel users. Did anyone fail?
 
buel said:
Yes there is but it's something unbelievable huge like 1200 litres per year before you have to declare your usage (Im sure i'll be corrected on this amount soon). So up to that point, it's legal.

I guess they were looking for red diesel users. Did anyone fail?
Click to expand...

2500 litres per year per person
 
I really would like some advice, if i can please?
 
buel said:
I really would like some advice, if i can please?
Click to expand...

Don't think people are ignoring you mate. Just don't think many on here really know about running veg oil in cars... Mostly the type on this forum that pay for Vpower/bp ulitimate over normal 95...

Maybe better of over at moneysavingexpert or the car equivilent - sorry if that sounds rude!
 
S3 Andy said:
Don't think people are ignoring you mate. Just don't think many on here really know about running veg oil in cars... Mostly the type on this forum that pay for Vpower/bp ulitimate over normal 95...

Maybe better of over at moneysavingexpert or the car equivilent - sorry if that sounds rude!
Click to expand...

Hi Andy,
No you're not being rude. I see your point but id like to bring the thread back to my original question, if i may:
Is it possible to upgrade the grill on a 2000/2001/2002 A3 to the more modern grill, is it the S-line?
Basically id like to know who i need to contact and a rough idea of what it'd cost me?

Thanks, i hope this is ok to ask.
 
buel said:
Hi Andy,
No you're not being rude. I see your point but id like to bring the thread back to my original question, if i may:
Is it possible to upgrade the grill on a 2000/2001/2002 A3 to the more modern grill, is it the S-line?
Basically id like to know who i need to contact and a rough idea of what it'd cost me?

Thanks, i hope this is ok to ask.
Click to expand...

Bonnet Audi A3 8L

+ paint you're prob looking at close to 1k...
 
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