Pete's OEM+ Audi A3 Black Edition 3 door 2.0 TDI 170ps

[rdfcpete]

Despite lurking around here for 5 years or so, this thread is probably 18 months later than it should be, but here's the replacement to my MY06 Steel Grey MK5 Golf GTI (below) that I owned for 3.5 years. I've had the A3 BE since Aug 2012 and it's been superb. The 8P3 A3 swung me on looks and with the Bose over the MK6 GTD.

The Mk5 GTI, it got a quite a few comments when out and about considering it was subtly modded and not particularly 'scene':







The MY10 A3 BE 2.0 TDI 170hp 3door in Phantom Black when purchased, 18 months or so ago.



Since then, I've done:

+ Xenon H11 Fog light bulbs
+ Rear de-badge
+ VCDS tweaks such as cornering lights, coming home adaptations and comfort windows
+ AP Coilovers, running fairly low but not slammed
+ LED RNS-E Nav with 2013 maps
+ Revo Stage 1 (via AKS Tuning who are recommended)
+ Hawk HPS Plus fast road brake pads front and rear
+ Pressed plates
+ OEM Black washer cap
+ 18x8 BBS CK in a titanium grey gloss
+ S-Line interior mats
+ Pipercross panel filter
+ Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's all round (225/40/18 92Y)
+ 2x Nankang SV2 winter tyres for winter use only (they're rubbish above 6 degrees celcius or so)
+ LED rear plate domes & bulbs
+ An expensive auto adaptive lights & leaving home/coming home lights retrofit ONLY (around £550), worth it though
+ OEM S-Line fog panels with chrome grille surrounds
+ MY11 rear lights
+ OEM Cruise control kit
+ OEM 8P3 S3 black edition grille

I think it's project done, it's certainly drained the pockets but it's literally how I wanted it to look. I'm tempted with the front and rear S3 bumpers & skirts now and again, but tbh it would lose it's TDI Black Edition character.

So, it's about finished now.

It's a very very good all rounder - I get smooth in gear performance from roughly 212hp/340lbs ft torque and it reaches 60mpg on a motorway run to London, or similar distance. When I drove to the Nordschleife/Nurburgring I squeezed 740 miles from one tank brim to brim, which was awesome. The pads and tyres are a nice bonus when hammering the B-roads when I get the chance, I want to try it at Bedford Autodrome this year too.
When 3rd and 4th gears catch pace it's definitely quicker than my old MK5 GTI and has real shove about it.

Leaving home lights (via auto light retrofit) vid


With the original BE grille and OEM RS4 style wheels on coilovers and mapped.



















CK's side view








It's current look (with the S3 BE grille)

With two friends' E350 CDI coupe and 330d LCI coupe














Cheers :icon_thumright:

 

[Westy]

Looks a very nice car and highly spec'd. The Mk5 golf looked a beautiful car too.

 

[RobbieWebs]

Uv done a fantastic job m8 the car looks great

 

[Phil-1]

Very nice. Like it alot

 

[manor13]

looks good, like the MK5 as well came from one myself best colour imo.

 

[s3_trev]

One of the nicest A3s ive seen in a long time mate. Uve very tastefully modified it. I am very interested in the "expensive auto adaptive lights & leaving home/coming home lights retrofit". What all did that entail? I assume that is how you can unlock the car and the side lights and fog lights come on? As with my car the dipped beam comes on and no fog lights, but id much rather have it like you.

 

[jamoy]

Looks good! which AP coils are you running? what's the ride/handling like compared to stock?

 

[rdfcpete]

Looks a very nice car and highly spec'd. The Mk5 golf looked a beautiful car too.

Uv done a fantastic job m8 the car looks great

Very nice. Like it alot

looks good, like the MK5 as well came from one myself best colour imo.

Thanks kindly all :icon_thumright:

One of the nicest A3s ive seen in a long time mate. Uve very tastefully modified it. I am very interested in the "expensive auto adaptive lights & leaving home/coming home lights retrofit". What all did that entail? I assume that is how you can unlock the car and the side lights and fog lights come on? As with my car the dipped beam comes on and no fog lights, but id much rather have it like you.

Thanks Trev :icon_thumright: In short, the retrofit was the light sensor, rain and light wiring (for the sensors), OEM auto headlight switch and the VCDS tweak. It's basically all the bits except the windscreen replacement and new auto dimming rear view mirror. I wouldn't advise it as it's just as expensive as the full retrofit, I just simply want to change the windscreen unnecessarily.

I've still got manual wipers and a manual dimming mirror, but I have the auto adaptive headlights and switch with fully leaving/coming home lights. The MK5 GTI had them and I missed it loads.

The headlights or fogs/sides coming on, on unlock, is simply a VCDS checkbox. It's fairly well documented around the net.

Cheers.

Looks good! which AP coils are you running? what's the ride/handling like compared to stock?

Ta dude. Absolutely fine - the AP's are more of a comfort coilover, although they're fine when pushing on fast roads/track.
Hardcore track car owners would overlook them though for the right reasons as Blisteins/H&R's etc will give a firmer and more planted ride on hardcore drives, or tight circuits.

Over speedbumps and potholes however, they're no noticeably harder than the stock springs, which was a particular requirement for me

 

[Lee+Ash_a3]

Looks lovely, good job.

 

[Rhyso]

Car looks smart

You got any pics / prices of the auto light retro fit? Was it just sensors you have retor-fitted?? Or was it headlights too?? £550 seems a bit steep if its just the sensors and wiring??
Im interested in fitting auto lights to mine (already fitted xenons) Ive enabled auto lights in VCDS but obviously without the sensors it works all the time lol

 

[rdfcpete]

Car looks smart

You got any pics / prices of the auto light retro fit? Was it just sensors you have retor-fitted?? Or was it headlights too?? £550 seems a bit steep if its just the sensors and wiring??
Im interested in fitting auto lights to mine (already fitted xenons) Ive enabled auto lights in VCDS but obviously without the sensors it works all the time lol

100% Rhys, I wish it was cheaper

Nope, no headlights. It's a black edition so don't forget Xenons/LED's from factory.
I got the light and rain wiring separately from Kufatec, had to buy an OEM headlight Auto switch from the dealer (there were none on eBay, just the DRL switches), I bought two sensors by mistake (assumed I'd need two, established near the end that ONE sensor does BOTH rain and light metering) and was also paying for the time of someone to fit it, so it quickly took it to around £500 and a bit notes if you include the £90 sensor I didn't actually need (sold it on eBay afterwards, but for half the price unfortunately).

So it quickly adds up - but, I got fully adaptive auto lights without the windscreen being changed so it was a nice trial project with success :thumbsup: I did it over a few months too, to stage the cost.

 

[Rhyso]

You got more money than sense!! Lol

I found a company that does a kit for about £80 but only for the MK5 / MK6 Golf. I emailed them but they dont do kits for Audi's

Bold-Sport.com :: Auto Driving Light - Upgrade Kit

Thanks for the info

 

[Jay.Ing]

100% Rhys, I wish it was cheaper

Nope, no headlights. It's a black edition so don't forget Xenons/LED's from factory.
I got the light and rain wiring separately from Kufatec, had to buy an OEM headlight Auto switch from the dealer (there were none on eBay, just the DRL switches), I bought two sensors by mistake (assumed I'd need two, established near the end that ONE sensor does BOTH rain and light metering) and was also paying for the time of someone to fit it, so it quickly took it to around £500 and a bit notes if you include the £90 sensor I didn't actually need (sold it on eBay afterwards, but for half the price unfortunately).

So it quickly adds up - but, I got fully adaptive auto lights without the windscreen being changed so it was a nice trial project with success :thumbsup: I did it over a few months too, to stage the cost.

How have you mounted your auto dimming rearview mirror if you didn't buy the screen, and where have you stuck the sensor?

Ive got all the bits to do this mod but was saving up for a screen!?

 

[Rhyso]

How have you mounted your auto dimming rearview mirror if you didn't buy the screen, and where have you stuck the sensor?

Ive got all the bits to do this mod but was saving up for a screen!?

Do you have windscreen cover on your insurance?? On my Golf i 'cracked' the screen and told them it was an auto dimming one. Cost me £50 for a brand new screen with the mount fitted

 

[rdfcpete]

You got more money than sense!! Lol

I found a company that does a kit for about £80 but only for the MK5 / MK6 Golf. I emailed them but they dont do kits for Audi's

Bold-Sport.com :: Auto Driving Light - Upgrade Kit

Thanks for the info

Bought, tried - won't work mate, so they're right
Only Polo's and some MK5 Golf's that fits, pre March 2008 IIRC because of the BCM's getting fussier.

lol nah, if I had plenty of cash I'd run an S3 in honesty

 

[rdfcpete]

How have you mounted your auto dimming rearview mirror if you didn't buy the screen, and where have you stuck the sensor?

Ive got all the bits to do this mod but was saving up for a screen!?

Don't have the AutoDim mirror dude - I also don't have the fully fitted auto wipers, the wiring is there but obviously the light/rain sensor isn't mounted into the windscreen in the factory manner so the wipers are still manual.

The sensor is just sticking out of the headlining so that it can gauge the light - it works perfectly and as you'll know from all VAG light sensors is always cautious, putting the Xenons on the second the light drops below clear & crisp daylight.

Any Audi's with DRL's on into dusk are definitely manual headlight switches, you can tell lol.

 

[Rhyso]

Bought, tried - won't work mate, so they're right
Only Polo's and some MK5 Golf's that fits, pre March 2008 IIRC because of the BCM's getting fussier.

lol nah, if I had plenty of cash I'd run an S3 in honesty

Gutted

 

[Jay.Ing]

Don't have the AutoDim mirror dude - I also don't have the fully fitted auto wipers, the wiring is there but obviously the light/rain sensor isn't mounted into the windscreen in the factory manner so the wipers are still manual.

The sensor is just sticking out of the headlining so that it can gauge the light - it works perfectly and as you'll know from all VAG light sensors is always cautious, putting the Xenons on the second the light drops below clear & crisp daylight.

Any Audi's with DRL's on into dusk are definitely manual headlight switches, you can tell lol.

Might do this until i decide to go the whole hog! :thumbsup:

 

[MorkC68]

love the look of the Golf fella - nicely done! A3 looks great too however!

 

[rdfcpete]

Might do this until i decide to go the whole hog!

It's not a bad half way house as it's all I was looking for, but if you're going the whole hog - I'd probably do it all in one go if I was you, unless you need to stagger the cost like I did too. It's barley much more £££ to do the whole shabang in one go TBH :icon_thumright:

love the look of the Golf fella - nicely done! A3 looks great too however!

Thanks guv' :thumbsup: They're nothing too unique, simply OEM + examples.

 

[warren_S5]

Both lovely cars, great job on the A3 too, coming along very nicely

 

[rdfcpete]

Both lovely cars, great job on the A3 too, coming along very nicely

Thanks chief - it's certainly done for now, lol!

That modlist cost me a fair whack since I bought it.
Aside a little facelift I've got in mind (I say little...) it won't change much at all. I'll keep it for a long time to get some ROI on it, until well specced' used BMW 430d's fall under the 20k mark.

 

[rdfcpete]

Winter tyres off and Pilot Sport PS2 x2 back on the front a couple of weeks back.

Can honestly say these are the best all round tyres I've owned versus Conti's, Pirellis, Goodyears and every other top brands I've tried. If you're looking for a new set of tyres, you won't be disappointed (mine are 225/40/18 92Y).

Coupled with the XDS diff in the dry, it makes the turn in feel much more 'sure' and planted.
If you go silly, the famous Audi-steer (understeer) gloops into the mix, but you've got to be fairly clumbsy to find it now.

 

[jamoy]

Didn't know the 8P had the XDS? thought it was just a mk6 GTI/cupra thing?

I've got Nankangs on the front, think they are the originals as they are showing signs of age with cracks and will be replaced soon.

 

[rdfcpete]

Didn't know the 8P had the XDS? thought it was just a mk6 GTI/cupra thing?

I've got Nankangs on the front, think they are the originals as they are showing signs of age with cracks and will be replaced soon.

The 8P3 does, yep. Well, mine does (MY10).

I know a good few friends with 2010 Scirocco's and Golf GTD's that also have it :thumbsup:
The SV2's are pretty poor in anything other than snow and ice. Any reviews I've seen on any other Nankang model tyres also seem to reveal the same stories too

 

[jamoy]

The 8P3 does, yep. Well, mine does (MY10).

I know a good few friends with 2010 Scirocco's and Golf GTD's that also have it :thumbsup:
The SV2's are pretty poor in anything other than snow and ice. Any reviews I've seen on any other Nankang model tyres also seem to reveal the same stories too

Yeah mine is also a 2010, it would explain the improvement in front traction compared to my mk1 lcr lol

I can confirm that the Nankang's that I have are are pretty terrible in the wet especially, but i can only compare to what my previous car was like and that had conti sport 3's which took whatever i threw at them and never stepped out...unlike the A3 with the Nankang's lol

 

[rdfcpete]

Yeah mine is also a 2010, it would explain the improvement in front traction compared to my mk1 lcr lol

I can confirm that the Nankang's that I have are are pretty terrible in the wet especially, but i can only compare to what my previous car was like and that had conti sport 3's which took whatever i threw at them and never stepped out...unlike the A3 with the Nankang's lol

Sounds about right.

LOL, consistent to what we've both heard then at least!

Contisports are indeed capable too. I can't imagine owning a car that doesn't wear Pilot Sports, Contisports or the new P Zero Rosso's for the near future :icon_thumright:

 

[rdfcpete]

I'm more or less done as of the original plan, needs a little freshening up cosmetically on the brakes.

Calipers will likely be done in GTI red and the hubs in grey or black, as they look a bit dated for a 2010 car.
Tracking needs aligning too, I don't think it's ever been spot on since I've owned it but never out enough to rush to.

Looking at Forge 6MT short shift kit - for some reason, my box does not like fast changes unless you're absolutely committed with an iron fist. Hopefully a SS kit will help this.

Stage 2 is very likely too, software and upgraded intercooler perhaps. I'll look at Darkside Development options through Alex @ AKS but don't want to change the factory DPF setup if I can avoid a DPF delete with some gains.

 

[rdfcpete]

Updates.

Small and subtle, but have cost a fair whack.

It's still the excellent all rounder I wanted it to be, steady on fuel, 50mpg on my 12 mile commutes consistently, 580 miles to a tank without really looking for it, bags of torque in 3rd and 4th when needed and can drop my golf clubs and mountain bike in the back without any real hassle. It's no more to run than 1.4 Fiesta in reality (with the right contacts in the trade) although translates to Golf GTI performance which is enjoyable for a Derv.

So - Started with successfully configuring regular ebay LED plate bulbs with the Kufatec LED adapter which look excellent, OEM, and work a treat while not being as bright as flood lights like the ones I ran for ages, previously.

That then led to full Cambelt & WP service (4 years, even though I'm well short of 80k miles), some more Revo sauce, a short shift kit with bushes and side shifter from AKS tuning & S3 intercooler.
Some 19"s to come soon.

Oh - and some cosmetic touches which are fairly obvious. IMHO how the black edition should've left the factory to set it off from the regular S-Lines, especially as the vRS diesels, Leon FR diesels and GTD's share their bodywork with the fast petrol equivalents. It now truly looks 'bit more' of a special edition TDI, which is what I've always wanted for it. As you'll see, OEM as you like with no silly or non original badges












































Cheers.

 

[Shanwaz]

Absolutely spot on mate.

 

[rdfcpete]

Thanks @Shanwaz ^

Very happy with the drive at the moment, it's dead eco when I'm off boost and when needed, 3rd and 4th feel very potent @ roughly 330lbft. It's not costing me anymore to run than a 1.4 Fiesta either, which is perfect when you're starting on the property ladder















Instagram: @rdfcpete

Cheers.