Nothing major but enjoying the evolution of my S3, can see the potential now....

[roysterdsb]

Since selling off my 3rd R53 (Mini) and trying to be sensible, I tried to get by on a Mk 6 GTI (DSG) and failed.
Nice enough car for a daily commute car, but definitely not a weekend car & as I don’t have a daily commute it makes it useless… (unfortunately the family mobile is also a very sensible member of the VAG family too).

What the Golf did though was made me have a good look at the VAG forums to see what else appealed & made up a shortlist, with a few helpful suggestions from friends (which mostly involved a V8 or a Porsche) and then ended up buying an S3 (8P).

It’s good a decent spec – Manual, Heated Leather, SatNav, Bluetooth, flatbottomed wheel & Xenons.

It was also pretty tatty when I picked it up, so sent it to WildHorses Mustang Specialist in Edinburgh for a full detail (inside, out and all 4 wheels refurbished) –

Anyway, after coming from a properly sorted (fully built) Mini, the car needs a lot of work to get it to a level that i'll be able to start enjoy driving it….so phase one took place in early December, with the following done at Autohaus in Edinburgh, (they made a really good first impression & I’ll be back) :

Phase 1 (Dec 12)

• Full oil and brake fluid service
• New NGK Iridium 8 plugs
• RS4 Fuel Return Valve
• Revision D Diverter Valve
• Pipercross panel filter
• New oem cam follower
• APR High Pressure Fuel Pump
• Full Miltek (sports cat) and resonated 3" exhaust system
• APR Stage 2+ Tune
• Loba Motorsport uprated clutch & Single mass flywheel conversion (& new Sachs master and slave cylinder)
• 4 X new Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4Ds to get me through Baltic conditions

The following month it was back to Autohaus for some initial suspension work

Phase 2 (Jan 13)

• THS Upgraded Lower, Upper Engine and Transmission Mounts
• Whiteline Anti-Lift kit
• Whiteline steering rack mount
• Whiteline bumpsteer correction kit
• 8 sets of Powerflex Polybushes - which covers full front and rear suspension
• H&R Front (24mm) and Rear (26mm) Anti-Roll Bars
• Superpro front camber adjustable ball joints
• 4 wheel alignment
• Changed Haldex Oil/Filter
• Changed Gearbox Oil

The car feels much much tighter but… I really don’t think the stock suspension is up to the job of delivering a compliant/controlled ride when then the beefcake ARBs have been fitted and everything else is polybushed to within an inch of it’s life (particularly at higher speeds). So… I was straight on the phone to Awesome GTI and ordered a few bits… & it’s now booked into Autohaus for next month (delays from KW), as it was meant to all go down next Monday!

Phase 2.1 (March 13)

• KW V3 Coilovers (which will have damper settings set to fairly soft initially & i'll take it from there)
• Replacement stock top mounts
• Whiteline Front & Rear adjustable drop links
• Genuine BBS CH 18x8 Rims & Bridgestone Potenza RE050s (thanks Matt) Summer rims are here!
• 4 Wheel alignment/Corner Weighting

I’ll report back once that’s done, it should really help settle the car down.

Phase 2.3 will be around June & will include :

+ Uprated Haldex Controller
+ Quaife ATB LSD
+ Upgraded Pads, Discs, Lines and Fluid (which are all sitting in my boot just now & slowing me down....)

The car must look 100% stock though, under the hood and from the outside, don’t want any hint of what’s been done to it from the outside (noise or looks). Don’t really even want oem+ look on the outside… it really just needs to look like a well looked after S3 8P.

The aim is to get to a reliable and usable 400bhp on this car, that handles really well (on a track) & the Quattro really helps the handling rather than hinders by being a dead weight! The final stage for the car to get it to 400 at the flywheel will be APR Intercooler, APR Stage 3 map & a Loba Hybrid Turbo (which should be done just in time for to get my winter wheels/tyres back on again...lol)

I’ve dealt with quite a few suppliers on here & been really happy with the service – GNJ Motorsport & Awesome GTI. I know Autohaus are not a supplier on here, but they are great bunch of guys and would highly recommend them to anyone in Edinburgh looking for someone to take very good care of their Audi/VW.

There is not much to look at so far, its just a nice stock looking Black S3 from the outside, I do have a few pictures... which I'll post up to show before before and after once the coilovers & BBS CH go on (I'd also like to get it back in for a detail).

I'd like views and opinions on my aspirations - i've still not been able to extract a single respone from anyone on the forum about using an ATB style differential on the S3... Please please please.

I'm also aware that the stock airbox is a big restriction & that 400 at the fly is possibly a pipedream - The only thing i'd consider is the TTS replacement cover to keep it looking OEM.

Any more than can be done on the handling front ?

 

[S3Alex]

Not sure if this is any use to you but I will have a kW v3 kit for an S3 for sale as of Monday.

In good condition and fully functional it's 3 yrs old and has done approximately 34 000 miles.

 

[S.]

nice progress

 

[roysterdsb]

Not sure if this is any use to you but I will have a kW v3 kit for an S3 for sale as of Monday.

In good condition and fully functional it's 3 yrs old and has done approximately 34 000 miles.

Thanks Alex, but already bought and paid for a new set from AwesomeGTI (for a great price).

I read your post about the KW Clubsport top mounts, are there not other good quality adjustable top mount manufacturers for the 8P ? (I used to run Vorshlag top mounts on my mini with KW V3s & they were faultless)

nice progress

Thank you kindly (this started off as a relatively cheap winter car... I'm starting to enjoy now though & it's staying!)

 

[S3Alex]

I think you'll be happy with them.

The problem with topmounts is the length of the bolts at the top of the struts.
It's too short to allow you to fit through the adjustable topmounts safely unfortunately

 

[roysterdsb]

The history, skip to phase 2.1 for the latest...

Phase 1 (Dec 12)


• Full oil and brake fluid service
• New NGK Iridium 8 plugs
• RS4 Fuel Return Valve
• Revision D Diverter Valve
• Pipercross panel filter
• New oem cam follower
• APR HPFP
• Miltek Turbo Back Exhaust (resonated & sports cat)
• APR Stage 2+ Tune
• Loba Motorsport Clutch & Single Mass Flywheel conversion (& new Sachs master and slave cylinder)
• 4 X new Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4Ds to get me through Baltic conditions


Phase 2 (Jan 13)


• THS Upgraded Lower, Upper Engine and Transmission Mounts
• Whiteline Anti-Lift kit
• Whiteline steering rack mount
• Whiteline bumpsteer correction kit
• 8 sets of Powerflex Polybushes - which covers full front and rear suspension
• H&R Front (24mm) and Rear (26mm) ARBs
• Superpro front camber adjustable ball joints
• 4 wheel alignment
• Changed Haldex Oil/Filter
• Changed Gearbox Oil


Phase 2.1 (March 13)


• KW V3 Coilovers
• Replacement stock top mounts
• Whiteline Front & Rear adjustable drop links
• Genuine BBS CH 18x8 Rims & Bridgestone Potenza RE050s
• HEL braided brake lines & RBF600 brake fluid
• Pagid discs and ATE brake pads (front & rear)
• Oil & Filter change
• 4 Wheel alignment (corner weighting to come…)


The latest lot was completed at Autohaus in Edinburgh today (29th March), I had the car fully detailed again at WildhorseMustang (bonnet resprayed too). The car is now definitely doing it for me, looks exactly the way I want it to & drives well (it’s not what I’d call a raw car…. But it still shifts and is much more composed at all speeds and all surfaces with the V3s on). I’ve gone a bit hobo on the brakes this time around, will do them properly in a few months.

Provided I can persuade Sir Dave to sell me his remote Haldex set-up on here, then I’ll be back at Autohaus in a couple of weeks to have that fitted.


Next steps in one epic go will be


Phase 3


• Quaife ATB or Wavetrac Differential (with ARP bolts)
• Loba Motorsport LO400 Hybrid Turbo
• APR Stage 3 tune
• Custom brake set-up (If someone could remind me of the guy on here that makes up brake kits from VAG group parts ? must fit under my 18” stock & BBS rims (preferably without spacers).

Once that's all done, I expect to have a pretty epic 'bargain' car - will consider Aquamist HFS4 kit if temps become an issue (used to run water injection only on my old turbo conversion mini & it was very effective).

 

[S3Alex]

The history, skip to phase 2.1 for the latest...

Phase 1 (Dec 12)


• Full oil and brake fluid service
• New NGK Iridium 8 plugs
• RS4 Fuel Return Valve
• Revision D Diverter Valve
• Pipercross panel filter
• New oem cam follower
• APR HPFP
• Miltek Turbo Back Exhaust (resonated & sports cat)
• APR Stage 2+ Tune
• Loba Motorsport Clutch & Single Mass Flywheel conversion (& new Sachs master and slave cylinder)
• 4 X new Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4Ds to get me through Baltic conditions


Phase 2 (Jan 13)


• THS Upgraded Lower, Upper Engine and Transmission Mounts
• Whiteline Anti-Lift kit
• Whiteline steering rack mount
• Whiteline bumpsteer correction kit
• 8 sets of Powerflex Polybushes - which covers full front and rear suspension
• H&R Front (24mm) and Rear (26mm) ARBs
• Superpro front camber adjustable ball joints
• 4 wheel alignment
• Changed Haldex Oil/Filter
• Changed Gearbox Oil


Phase 2.1 (March 13)


• KW V3 Coilovers
• Replacement stock top mounts
• Whiteline Front & Rear adjustable drop links
• Genuine BBS CH 18x8 Rims & Bridgestone Potenza RE050s
• HEL braided brake lines & RBF600 brake fluid
• Pagid discs and ATE brake pads (front & rear)
• Oil & Filter change
• 4 Wheel alignment (corner weighting to come…)


The latest lot was completed at Autohaus in Edinburgh today (29th March), I had the car fully detailed again at WildhorseMustang (bonnet resprayed too). The car is now definitely doing it for me, looks exactly the way I want it to & drives well (it’s not what I’d call a raw car…. But it still shifts and is much more composed at all speeds and all surfaces with the V3s on). I’ve gone a bit hobo on the brakes this time around, will do them properly in a few months.

Provided I can persuade Sir Dave to sell me his remote Haldex set-up on here, then I’ll be back at Autohaus in a couple of weeks to have that fitted.


Next steps in one epic go will be


Phase 3


• Quaife ATB or Wavetrac Differential (with ARP bolts)
• Loba Motorsport LO400 Hybrid Turbo
• APR Stage 3 tune
• Custom brake set-up (If someone could remind me of the guy on here that makes up brake kits from VAG group parts ? must fit under my 18” stock & BBS rims (preferably without spacers).

Once that's all done, I expect to have a pretty epic 'bargain' car - will consider Aquamist HFS4 kit if temps become an issue (used to run water injection only on my old turbo conversion mini & it was very effective).

Glad you're enjoying it.

DaveB1970 is the brake man.

Did you have the RE050's fitted?......if not,there are some much better alternatives to be had,such as the Goodyear F1s,Michelin PS3 or Michelin Pilot Supersport,which now comes in 225x40x18.

The AEM water meth kit is substantially easier to set up than the Aquamist,and may be worth considering.

 

[roysterdsb]

Glad you're enjoying it.

DaveB1970 is the brake man.

Did you have the RE050's fitted?......if not,there are some much better alternatives to be had,such as the Goodyear F1s,Michelin PS3 or Michelin Pilot Supersport,which now comes in 225x40x18.

The AEM water meth kit is substantially easier to set up than the Aquamist,and may be worth considering.

Thanks Alex, that's the chaps name I was looking for!

Yes, I know the RE050s are not great (they came with the wheels) & definitely got my eye on Supersports next (too many people loving them for them not be pretty special).

That's interesting on the AEM, I'm more familiar with the Aquamist stuff (but it's not cheap!) & I suppose because i'm not mapping for meth & intend to use 100% distilled water most of the time, I will get looking into it.

Cannot believe this started off as 'only' a winter car...lol

 

[S3Alex]

Thanks Alex, that's the chaps name I was looking for!

Yes, I know the RE050s are not great (they came with the wheels) & definitely got my eye on Supersports next (too many people loving them for them not be pretty special).

That's interesting on the AEM, I'm more familiar with the Aquamist stuff (but it's not cheap!) & I suppose because i'm not mapping for meth & intend to use 100% distilled water most of the time, I will get looking into it.

Cannot believe this started off as 'only' a winter car...lol

The AEM has worked really well on mine and doesn't require a whole lot of setup time.

If you look at my thread you'll see the superb job that AMD did in fitting and hiding the entire system.

You will need a BSH inlet pipe which is bigger and better than the stock plastic thing,but is also ready plumbed for WMI.

 

[roysterdsb]

Been driving my wife's car a bit of late & quite frankly it's rubbish.

On that note, ordered a new one which should be up to the job as the replacement family wagon - Audi SQ5 in Estoril Blue

Not too fussed about the middle of the road reviews on it - it's very quick, very economical & I think it's one of the best looking soft-roaders on the road just now (the new cayenne pips it though!).

Delivery is not until Sept 13 but it will hopefully be worth the wait.

It does mean the progress on my S3 might slow down a little bit still plenty to be done though & it will pick up soon enough!

 

[Ironborn]

Pictures!

 

[roysterdsb]

Pictures!

...lol i'm not so good at pictures

 

[roysterdsb]

It's been emotional, but it's now got to go.

Classifieds: 2007 Audi S3 (8P) For Sale