Identifying an S3 facelift model ???

[jq_quint]

Car hunt is still underway (dragging out now)

I'm getting confused though. Pre-face lifted cars I'm clear on identifying (split front lenses), but as i'm coming across a few seemingly facelifted cars with amk engines I'm confused.

Question being: If a 2001 car has a full light lense is it definately a facelifted car along with the interior and suspension updates?

Reason I ask is i'm not entirely bothered if I get an amk (as i'll get it mapped anyway), but I want the facelifted features at least, i'm worried i'll buy a car based on the front light lenses shape and then realise its not a facelift and miss out on updated items..?

Hope this makes sense...

 

[Carpy25]

i think some very early facelift S3's had the 210 bhp engine


Rob

 

[grathies]

You really wont notice that much of a differnce

Main things are usualy the clock dials, door handles, the boot lock plinth, rear lights... cant think of much else

 

[voorhees]

Ryan is yours a pre facelift ?

 

[grathies]

Nope, its a Y Plated March 2001, Ii just have the older style badge on the front as I prefer the style

 

[ex_scoobydoo]

sorry to hijack the thread, but
if i want to put the facelift headlights into my 2000 x plate
can i just use any headlights out of an a3 and put my ballasts and bulbs in them ?

 

[jq_quint]

Thanks for the pointers grathies, how do the rear lights change?

Can pre-face lift be fitted with facelifted lights to disguise them?

Can they not be distinguished by chassis numbers?

 

[grathies]

Just chatting to the gf online atm mate, when Im done Ill try and sort out pictures of the differences for you.

And no you cant scooby, on Facelifts the normal dipped beam is in the middle, on pre-lifts their on the outside and its a completely different setup. I think you may need to trim the wings too

 

[ex_scoobydoo]

thanks

 

[jq_quint]

And no you cant scooby, on Facelifts the normal dipped beam is in the middle, on pre-lifts their on the outside and its a completely different setup. I think you may need to trim the wings too

ah ha, that answers my first question......So pre facelift cars can't masquerade as facelifted then ?

So as long as a car has full lenses on the front it is face lift then? Can I then assume it also carry's the improved suspension?

 

[grathies]

Nope, its doable, and plenty of people do it, its not huge work but enough too put somee people off, think theres a how to guide on here!

And Ill take your word for improved suspension, that was never something that Ive heard of in the past, mind you Ive never owned a car with OEM suspension on it for more than a week!

 

[jq_quint]

Nope, its doable, and plenty of people do it, its not huge work but enough too put somee people off, think theres a how to guide on here!

And Ill take your word for improved suspension, that was never something that Ive heard of in the past, mind you Ive never owned a car with OEM suspension on it for more than a week!

Ref the suspension, sure I read it on here?
Anyone shed any light?
Or did I dream it? lol...

 

[grathies]

I could be wrong but Ive never personally read that, sure it cant be that much of a change anyway, possibly find its because the original parts were superseeded

 

[jq_quint]

Grathies you mentioned different dials and rear lights any links or pics you could send me too?

 

[grathies]

Will sort it out in a bit mate, only just popping in here quickly, my ladys getting the most of my attention atm Im afraid! Will sort it as soon as I can tho

 

[jq_quint]

Will sort it out in a bit mate, only just popping in here quickly, my ladys getting the most of my attention atm Im afraid! Will sort it as soon as I can tho

ok no worries i'll check back later...

 

[Essflee]

Apparently there were some revised changes to the suspension on the latest S3's ( BAM )

How much difference there was I don't know but it was suppose to be an improvement...

The face lifts aswell as having updated front and rear lights also had a better dash and centre console, if your not 100% aware the difference when looking then look for the ESP button above the stereo, if there isn't one then you are sitting in a pre-face lift...

 

[jq_quint]

Apparently there were some revised changes to the suspension on the latest S3's ( BAM )

How much difference there was I don't know but it was suppose to be an improvement...

The face lifts aswell as having updated front and rear lights also had a better dash and centre console, if your not 100% aware the difference when looking then look for the ESP button above the stereo, if there isn't one then you are sitting in a pre-face lift...

ok thanks for the tip...

so BAM only had suspension mods...ok.

On pre then what is in place of the esp button or are there no buttons there at all? Can you not turn esp off then on pre facelift?

 

[Essflee]

The pre-face lifts don't have ESP at all apparently...

AMK and BAM are face lift models, the BAM had some suspension revisions...:icon_thumright:

 

[jq_quint]

The pre-face lifts don't have ESP at all apparently...

AMK and BAM are face lift models, the BAM had some suspension revisions...:icon_thumright:

Superb leggy,

Thats the missing info I was after....

Ta

(I'll be glad when i've finally got this car, starting to p**s the missus off now)

 

[grathies]

Rear comparison:

Left is Pre, Right is Facelift
Differences are the booth plinth, you can see an acual recess where the lock it and the plinth itself is curved. Also the rear lights are different as you can see, and the badges can be also (Ignore the gay RS3 badge!)

Early Badges

Facelift Badges

Pre lift dash and steering wheel. Buttons in the dash are also oblong

Facelift dash, square buttons above the stereo, different steering wheel with chrome ring, different badge in the bottom of it too

Pre set of clocks, on the later ones they had the later style S3 logo/badge on the left hand clock as opposed to the right

 

[ianysm]

Evo magazine mention a few suspension changes to the BAM model for the better but there is next to no info exactly what was altered?

I think the centre console is slightly different in the facelift too

 

[ianysm]

Ah beat me to it!! Very thorough grathies!!

 

[jq_quint]

Grathies,

Big help...thanks for taking time out to help..

Interior is the most obvious thing i'll look out for (just in case lights have been upgraded)..

Thanks again

 

[grathies]

Best I could find in a hurry! Untill now I had no idea how hard it is trying to find images of S3s when Im naked on webcam to my girlfriend! haha

 

[jojo]

I think the lower track arms are different and possibly lighter on 225 models, but the mounting points are the same. I have facelift ones fitted by AmD a few years back when they was still in Bicester, and Ed commented on the newer ones was lighter and different shape, but I never got to see them side by side to compare, so not 100% sure.