A3 1.8t AGU Downpipe Fitting Woes

WorkInProgress

WorkInProgress

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Evening all,

Had an unsuccessful morning trying to fit my new decat downpipe, I've only got ramps so couldn't get enough purchase on the bolts.

I've got a mobile mechanic coming to look at it, he has a 1.8t Golf and advises me that sometimes the studs can shear/snap meaning a turbo out job to sort this. What's the likelihood of that happening? I did hope this would be an easy job for me to do but I've fallen at the first hurdle!

Rob
 
Get the gas on the nuts and undo them while they are nice and hot, they will never snap off doing it this way mate, or anther way is start the engine and run it up as that will help aswell to undo them
 
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Reactions: JudderMan
Cheers, will let it run for a while to heat them up then, fingers crossed I don't have any problems
 
access from drive on ramps shouldnt be a problem either, I've always done them on my drive and never struggled too much.

Running the engine to warm them can help, but it'll also make the downpipe red hot and make it much more tricky to get to it without burning yourself!
 
Cheers Prawn, I'm going to see how this mechanic guy gets on, I've got so much to do on this car I'd rather just let someone else do it and I can get cracking on the rest of the stuff. Never buying a car on EBay again without viewing it first!
 
Got the downpipe off this morning :cool:

Does anyone know the diameter of the standard exhaust, think I'm going to need a reducer pipe as the downpipe is 2.5"?
 
Found the info using the search function :readit:

2.25" apparently....off to find a reducer
 
i shall be removing a downpipe on an agu soon, how did you get them undone in the end? hopefully no broken studs?
cheers, rob.
 
I'd soaked everything with PlusGas the day before and my flexi had broken away so access to the bolts on the turbo was good. With the car on the ramps on the driveway it was awkward but ok. Hardest bit was getting the sleeve off the exhaust section which still isn't quite done.
No broken or snapped studs though!
 
excellent, did you need heat or did they undo cold with just the oil soaked on them?
 
Mine didn't but a few people have suggested this...I think it could have been the liberal soaking with PlusGas or I might just have been lucky.
 
hello matey, just read your PM.

Stock exhaust is indeed 2.25'', 57mm.

The decat should reduce to 57m also and the stock exhaust slide over it though.

What size is the end of your decat?
 
It's a 2.5" Toyosports/EBay job, I'll need to double check the size of the pipe where it meets the existing exhaust, I've maybe just assumed it's 2.5" all the way. You reckon it tapers to 2.25"?
 
I'd check it all out first mate. Most decats reduce from 3-2.5-2.25 to mate to the stock system.
 
JudderMan said:
WorkInProgress: how did you get on with the DP? I assume you've fitted it and had a reducer made? Do you have a link to the DP you bought? I'm currently pricing them up - what's your thoughts on this eBay special SEAT LEON AUDI A3 1.8T 20v STAINLESS STEEL 200 CPI SPORTS EXHAUST DOWNPIE | eBay ? Is it similar/the same as the one you've fitted?
Click to expand...

Sorry for the delay in replying! That looks similar to mine, except mine has no cat. Good fit, relatively easy to do. I got a 2.5" one but I think the general consensus would be to go for a 3" for future proofing if you were to go for a K03s at some point
 
WorkInProgress said:
Sorry for the delay in replying! That looks similar to mine, except mine has no cat. Good fit, relatively easy to do. I got a 2.5" one but I think the general consensus would be to go for a 3" for future proofing if you were to go for a K03s at some point
Click to expand...

Ahhh, I have an AUM with a K03S anyway, so you'd recommend 3" then for my application? I'm only going stage 2 and no more* btw.


*famous last words.
 
JudderMan said:
Ahhh, I have an AUM with a K03S anyway, so you'd recommend 3" then for my application? I'm only going stage 2 and no more* btw.


*famous last words.
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure, best asking on here first before making a purchase! I think 3" would be best but I'm sure someone on here could confirm this for you
 
Prawn said:
3'' downpipe for ko3S please lads :)
Click to expand...

Prawn to the rescue once again :) Thanks pal.

Right then, Relentless V3 seems to be the order of the day I do believe - I'll check prices as I'm not sure what they go for. I've had quotes for a Milltek £369 for a cat back or £300 from Powerflow but I want a resonator which the Powerful doesn't have so it might bump the price up. After that, it's mapping time :)
 
audi upgrades
JudderMan said:
WorkInProgress: how did you get on with the DP? I assume you've fitted it and had a reducer made? Do you have a link to the DP you bought? I'm currently pricing them up - what's your thoughts on this eBay special SEAT LEON AUDI A3 1.8T 20v STAINLESS STEEL 200 CPI SPORTS EXHAUST DOWNPIE | eBay ? Is it similar/the same as the one you've fitted?
Click to expand...

Hope its ok to restart this tread. I am currenly looking at a smilar item on eBay for my A3 1.8T 1999 AGU:
SEAT LEON 1.8T 20v STAINLESS STEEL 200 CPI SPORTS CAT PIPE EXHAUST DOWNPIPE | eBay

The seller said it will not fit my AGU only AUM and AUQ coded engines (I guess these engine are from the facelift from 2000-).

After searching the web, I cant find any post on this subject, that there is in fact a difference....

Are the seller correct on claming it will not fit AGU engines?

Please advise, since my original down pipe cat assy is struggeling with leaks and old age ;-)
 
Yes mine is a FWD. After more searching the net, it seems that all FWD golf MK4's and A3 8L, have the same front pipe with cat.

The eBay front end pipe have different titles/description but seems to have the same picture for all:

Skoda:
SKODA OCTAVIA 1.8T 20v STAINLESS STEEL 200 CPI SPORTS CAT PIPE EXHAUST DOWNPIPE | eBay

Golf/Bora:
VW GOLF BORA 1.8T 20v STAINLESS STEEL 200 CPI SPORTS CAT PIPE EXHAUST DOWNPIPE | eBay

Seat Leon:
SEAT LEON 1.8T 20v STAINLESS STEEL 200 CPI SPORTS DE CAT EXHAUST DOWNPIE | eBay

any objections ;-) or those this seem resonable.... that they all will fit.

Thanks
 
AGU/AUM downpipes are all the same, AGU only uses one lamda hole, but they come with plugs anyway.

It'll fit yours fine mate.
 
Prawn said:
AGU/AUM downpipes are all the same, AGU only uses one lamda hole, but they come with plugs anyway.

It'll fit yours fine mate.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the second lamda should be easely plugged (maybe that's way the seller states AUM and AUQ only???!!)

Thanks for the swift replay, workinprogress and prawn.

I will but in some bids, and replay with some pic of the goodies, when it arrives :)
 
PS would it get much louder with this down pipe cat, on an original existing cat back system(trough a downpipe of course :)

Could the material stainless steel be rather thin.... making "thin can" sound from the system after fit?

Anyone now the difference between say a miltek or jetex downpipe cat, in compare(except prise)?

Just curious :blink:
 
Well thats a blow out... my bidding item was removed in the hours of the last day:

This listing was ended by the seller because there was an error in the listing.
Click to expand...

my bid was @41pound.... :nunu:

well back to square1..
 
I finally got a bid at 124£. I promised som pic's, here you go:
Sportscatpartsinpackage

compared with the stock;
Sportscatvsoemaudibend

Installed:
Sportcatlhfullview003

But I got an major issue. There is not enough clearance to the crossmember, so there is a banking sound at startup and when giving some throttle:
Sportdownpipelhlowclear

What to do?
 
Last edited:
You can see here that the original down pipe have a "bend or turn" around the crossmember:
Audia3oemdownpipecat

Just checked the LH transmission mount, and it have only a slight tilt to left(to the rear of the car):
Audia3lhenginemount
Seems rather tight, with normal wear and tear....

I wonder if it will help to install the Vibra tech engine mounts "Road" version:
Left Hand Engine Mount Mt 18 V6 - Vibra-Technics Compliance Technology

Or is this waiste of mony for daily road drive only, and possibly more noice in the compartment?
 
Found this kit of spacers to raise the engine:
Mk4 Motor Mount Spacer Kit | Euro Image Tuning

This I think would make enough clearance for my down pipe. They are currently sold out on 5∕8", so maybe go for 1"?

I put LH engine mount in a wise, and managed to tilt i over, to a more level position. Further I have treated my LH mount with a sealant, and now waiting for it to try out. There was a lot of space to fill up with sealant:sign_omg:
 
audi upgrades
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