First time buyer. Need help 210 /225?

[Scott_j]

After having my Clio 197 wrote of courtesy of someone else.
I have decided to spend my payout wisely. Iv always wanted an s3 and now is the perfect time to buy. Basically I never knew there were 3 different engine variations.

All the ones I'm looking at are mainly 210, and a few 225 versions.
I have not done any background research until last night. So basically I'm after a bit of information,

i will be buying the car to keep as a sleeper, and with the intention of aiming for around 350 bhp

if I get the 210 version is this something that will hold me back? The only thing I can tell that may us the difference in the forged crank.

 

[Sandra]

Hi Scott, welcome to audi-sport.net. Have a read at the faqs thread in this section. Im sure one of the guys be along shortly to help you out. Enjoy the forum. x

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-forum-8l-chassis/101863-audi-s3-buying-guide.html

 

[Scott_j]

Had a quick look through the faq's I can sort or grasp the differences but just not sure if this will affect which bhp/ engine model I need for what I want.

 

[p1tse]

Amk , BAM is this on the VIN plate to verify?

 

[s3mad_dude]

The lump itself will not restrict your tuning potential - either APY, AMK or BAM. Based upon this I'd buy the car with the nicest condition (exterior and interior) and service history. My two cents....

 

[s3mad_dude]

Amk , BAM is this on the VIN plate to verify?

It's part of the engine number on the nearside edge towards the front (on the engine block) and V5C document.

 

[Scott_j]

Yes I can verify the engine code no probs.

cheers s3mad that's sort of the answer I'm after, I just don't want to buy a 210 version and find I'm restricted due to a weak crank or something that restricts power or cost more to tune.

 

[<tuffty/>]

APY codes are prefacelift, 210ps and narrowband ECU... AMK are facelift, 210ps and wideband ECU, BAM are 225ps, facelift and wideband ECU... 210/225 map up the same but final power is subject to engine condition and mods..

Personally I would look at the AMK/BAM facelift models (I am biased of course) but obviously this depends on your budget...

<tuffty/>

 

[<tuffty/>]

...engine code is on the head..

<tuffty/>

 

[p1tse]

Thanks but what engine is that above?

 

[Scott_j]

So irrelevant of factory power. It's safe to safe I'm best to go for an amk / bam

 

[<tuffty/>]

Thanks but what engine is that above?

Engine is a 1.8t... the particular one in the pic is an inline engine (A4, Passat etc) but engine code location is the same on all 20v heads...

<tuffty/>

 

[p1tse]

Thanks

 

[Craig Cull]

Not quite the same but I had a Leon cupra r 225 bam and it was so reliable. As far as I'm aware there's not much difference really. But if it helps I sold it with 155000 miles on it, it took some serious stick from me and its still going now with 170000 on it. I was always advised to go for AMK or BAM out of the 3. Your hp targets will just be slightly lower between the 2. The bam would get you closer to what your aiming for. But not by much. There all good engines with good service history

 

[phil miller]

All 20v engines will map to a similar figure, why do people say get a BAM, well if it was me buying an S3 and wanted around 350 id get qa BAM for one reason and one reason only, 20mm Gudgeon pins (waist pins) no other reason, tbh an AGU is just as good (ecu aside)

 

[<tuffty/>]

All 20v engines will map to a similar figure, why do people say get a BAM, well if it was me buying an S3 and wanted around 350 id get qa BAM for one reason and one reason only, 20mm Gudgeon pins (waist pins) no other reason, tbh an AGU is just as good (ecu aside)

All S3's are 20mm pins dude... APY, AMK, BAM...

AGU is a K03 turbo of course where APY, AMK, BAM are K04's...

No advantages getting a BAM over an AMK other than age of car... AMK where only in the picture for a year, was the launch engine for the facelift S3's then they went over to BAM late 2001 to 2002

Only difference between AMK and BAM is a map tweak... hardware wise they are the same...

<tuffty/>

 

[phil miller]

Ahh, for some reason (Jrod prob) i thought it was just the AGU and BAM that had bigger gudgeon pins

 

[superkarl]

onlY reason to opt for AMK or BAM is they are a bit cleverer than early APY, whether that is a good thing depends how you look at it.
But tuning beyond a certain level it is beneficial to have the cleverer engine of the 2. Im glad i have wideband, vvt and egt for sure.

 

[s3mad_dude]

Just get the engine that's in the best condition for modding who cares what it is, but a build thread on here is compulsory!!

 

[Craig Cull]

There all good engines, but people will always defend the one they have lol! I don't even own one, just thought I would share my very good experience with the bam. My mates got the AMK seems fine.