My first Audi - A3 TDI

[MattKeating]

After a few months of trolling the forums, while looking for a new car - I found what I was after.
Bought myself a 2006 A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI Quattro S-Line Pan Roof. (Lava grey)

This being my first Audi, my last car being a 3.0L V6 1985 Alfa GTV6 (South African edition) - I knew what i was getting myself into (diesel) and I definitely knew I had become 'a real grownup'.

So far I'm really impressed with it. Owned it for just on a month now, and enjoyed what few trips I've been able to make (London traffic is a nightmare)

Now for the car, its been remapped by RSTuning - has a definite kick once the turbo spools. Semi leather interior and of course the panoramic roof (which was a main criteria for me - even though there are only like 7 sunny days a year in the UK).

Goodies ready and waiting:


This weekend I set of with my first mod (new soldering iron in hand, looms made):
new LED style rear clusters & rear parking sensors.


Round 1 done: (Also added LED numberplate from T8ups):

I took the advise of others and bought a 16mm hole saw for the sensors - what a mistake... no way I could make them fit, so had to do some carving to make the holes big enough to fit them through. Overall I'm happy with the job (few of the edges are slightly rough still - but will clean that up later).
Spliced into the reverse power line in rear passenger side of the boot, for the sensors. (will get some better photos when the sun is out and the car is dry)



Next mods I've got planned and parts waiting:
S3 pedals
Metal dead pedal
Full interior LED swap (purchased from t8ups).

Eventually will look into some new headlights and a front splitter (not sure which one I want just yet).
Possibly some ICE upgrades (as I have the concert 2 (single DIN).

Unfortunately the car, mods, holiday has rinsed my bank account and with Christmas around the corner - best to lay off the spending for a while....
Comments/suggestions welcome

 

[LEE69]

Rear lights are a must have mod, i love mine.
Any pics of the roof?

 

[MattKeating]

Rear lights are a must have mod, i love mine.
Any pics of the roof?

Afraid none on my phone - will take a few on the weekend.

Another mod that I'm keen to do is the MFSW (which requires an updated ECU component).

 

[LEE69]

All depends on the steering wheel module i believe.

 

[Mindak]

Looking good mate!
Are the rear lights a hard job, and where did you get them?

 

[MattKeating]

Looking good mate!
Are the rear lights a hard job, and where did you get them?

Nope, lights weren't too difficult - just required a bit of knowledge on removing the trim in the rear of the car.
Bought them from ebay: here
I did find that the looms weren't that great and the power cable was a bit too short for the the internal halves - so I had to add extensions to add them properly to the numberplate lights. (Need to remove the trim off the rear door to get to the power cables.
Otherwise they basically plug and play - apart from a quick change on VCDS.

As Lee said, a definite must for anyone looking to mod their car.

I'll get a photo of the wiring in the rear door (I never had time to close it up properly last night - fingers were freezing).

 

[MattKeating]

All depends on the steering wheel module i believe.

Yep - mine only supports the DIS

 

[T33_BKD]

Nice, I look foward to the updates! are the parking sensors OEM? looks very neat.

 

[MattKeating]

Nice, I look foward to the updates! are the parking sensors OEM? looks very neat.

Afraid not, I took a shortcut route here and bought the Cobra A0358 (flush sensors). As far as parking sensors go, I didn't really care for them to be OEM, as long as they looked good.

 

[Mindak]

I thought I read somewhere that they need programming to the car or something, I'm new to audi so don't know what all these codes etc are about yet! Lol why did you have to link to number plate lights?

 

[MattKeating]

I thought I read somewhere that they need programming to the car or something, I'm new to audi so don't know what all these codes etc are about yet! Lol why did you have to link to number plate lights?

Yes, you need someone with vagcom to program the lights, but you can still drive without it, just doesn't look at good.
Numberplate lights? Link shows rear lights for me

 

[LEE69]

The inner lights feed of the numberplate power

 

[MattKeating]

Yes, you need someone with vagcom to program the lights, but you can still drive without it, just doesn't look at good.
Numberplate lights? Link shows rear lights for me

Just re-read this. Thought you meant the url link I put.
But as Lee said, the smaller inside lights need to link to the numberplate lights to power their LEDs.
As the standard lights don't have a bit that illuminates when you switch the headlights on.

 

[Mindak]

sorry if i didnt sound clear! lol
Only had mine 2 weeks so may put them on hold for now!
But when i do il need to try find someone local who can do the coding....

 

[MattKeating]

sorry if i didnt sound clear! lol
Only had mine 2 weeks so may put them on hold for now!
But when i do il need to try find someone local who can do the coding....

What area you live. Happy to help if you close.

 

[Mindak]

Down in Wiltshire mate but far from you! 😩 lol

 

[MattKeating]

Photo of the red wire I added for the new rear lights :

Takes power from the numberplate lights.

A better photo of the rear sensors


Had a bit of time to install the S3 pedals and a few more LEDs today


I must have turned the ignition on when I was changing the pedals - as when i tried starting the car, the dash lit up like a Xmas tree...
There was no response from the Accelerator pedal and the car was idling a bit high. A quick scan and cleared the errors in VCDS fixed this.

 

[MattKeating]

Added the metal dead pedal on the weekend (footwell needs a hoover):


Managed to take a few quick photos this morning, of the front of the car.


Anyone think a front lip would look any good on the Sline 8P2 front bumper? eg link

 

[LEE69]

Like the dead pedal off i go to search lol

 

[MattKeating]

Lee: bought mine here

Just a note - its a flat piece of aluminium, with cut-outs. So might be worth blanking the dead pedal before fitting it.. I'm still toying with the idea of adding something behind it.

 

[LEE69]

Thanks and bought.Ta for info

 

[MattKeating]

Nice!

taken from here :
To get it out.
You undo one screw at the top of the rest and a nut on a stud hidden behind a circular panel behind the brake pedal.
You then need to push it diagonally up and towards the front of the car, took a bit of jiggling to get it out.

 

[LEE69]

Nice one thanks

 

[MattKeating]

Thinking to upgrade to 312mm brakes during the christmas break.

Can anyone confirm that the golf gti carriers will work fine? Or do I need specific audi ones?
eg golf gti ebay - what price should i aim for?
Are the carriers different on the front/back? And whats the take on used discs (e.g. from ebay/breakers), or should I rather just get new ones...
This is new to me, so any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MattKeating]

And I'm going down the route of changing all 4 discs, unless thats a bit daft?

 

[foxymk1]

looking good pal. iv got the the same car but without the roof keep the updates coming

foxy

 

[c_w]

That Cobra rear sensor kit looks really smart - I'd have got that kit had I known about them! Can't fit it now as the holes for my other ebay kit were bigger so it wouldn't give the right look.

With regards the inner taillamp illumination, I think they actually look pretty good with just the outer lamps lit up. The shape of the light is very similar to the Jaguar XF then. Makes the car look slightly wider too somehow.

 

[t3ddy]

I got some coated brembo discs that would look great with your lava grey. They have a dark grey metallic coating on all the bits that would normally get rusty. Good price from nextdaybrakes.com.

Matt

 

[MattKeating]

Thanks t3ddy, will take a look.
Did you change all 4 or only the fronts?

 

[t3ddy]

I did all 4 so they look the same. Rear discs are quite cheap if you dont need vented ones. Mine are 253 diameter X 10mm thick and cost about £50 for the pair.

 

[MattKeating]

Thinking to change to AP coilovers, I'm not sure how old my current shocks/springs are and figured I may as well get something decent'ish.
All reviews on this site seem pretty good.
Anything else I should replace at the same time? Keeping in mind this is a 100k mile car.

 

[MattKeating]

AP Coilovers arrived. Thanks to MXGazza33.


Now to get them fitted at a decent price.
Can anyone recommend a place close to SW London to fit them?
Thanks

 

[MattKeating]

Car is in for its first real service.

Coilovers being fitted.
Big brake conversion - upgrading to 345mm fronts (found some carriers/calipers at a local scrappy).

Photos to follow once its back.

As this is a PD engine, would it be possible to squeeze much more out of it by changing the turbo?

 

[andyam]

In regards to a splitter the cupra r is really nice with s line and none s line bumpers. About 40£ from a dealership

 

[Ash187]

good progress on the car, looks like this will turn out to be a nice project.
Is yours the 140 or 170? a hybrid turbo and remap should add a good 70-80 BHP

 

[MattKeating]

its a 140. which makes me think it may be a bit limiting.... at least its the Quattro, which should help plant the power more.

 

[MattKeating]

Will add some pics once everything has been cleaned up, but here are a couple I took now. Ap coilovers fitted and big brakes on the front (345mm)

 

[MattKeating]

I think the car might be sitting just a bit too low, might raise it an inch - What do the rest of you think?
Next on my list is wheel spacers, definitely need to sort out the stance a bit more. Any recommendations?

EDIT: odd, looks like the photos arent uploading correctly.
View attachment 30976View attachment 30977

 

[MattKeating]

New clip arrived, for the centre arm rest. Thought I'd give it a try, as it only cost £10...

 

[dancupra225]

Where did u get the clip from Audi or eBay if so part number as mine is broken please