A3 Automatic Bootlid (3 Doors Only, So Far)

MatthijsR

MatthijsR

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Hi guys,

Wanted to share this with you.

Some guy from the Dutch Audi forum has replaced his bootlid gassprings for stronger ones.
Now when he presses the boot unlock button it automaticly opens;



Springs used:
Febi-Bilstein 14657
They are originally used for a Ford escort (92-00 model) for the spoilered version. nr. 6 900 217

I'm not the smart guy who thought this up, So all credit goes to him (Cupra 310)
 
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I am all over this when I get mine! I wonder if it will work on a sportback boot?
 
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As of now nope, the sportback has different springs.

You can help me find them (havnt so far)

Length 556,5mm (think 557 or 556 will be fine)
Stroke 224mm
Force 450nm (you need to find some that are stronger, around 480 - 500 i think)
 
Just ordered the Febi-Bilstein branded parts as recommended from Mick's Garage. Looking forward to getting this :)
 
ITEM CODE - 1426144

DESCRIPTION - Febi Bilstein Boot Strut Gas Springs (14657)

QUANTITY - 2

ITEM PRICE - £23.69

TOTAL - £47.38

I think this is for two struts (a pair) however it could be two pairs of struts... either way, not exactly expensive and might get a nice surprise :)
 
No the guy in Holland payed about € 50,00 for the set

I just need to find a pair that will fit the sportback
 
Be careful about buying gas struts that are too cheap.

I had to replace the gas struts on a Ford Focus last year because the originals had failed (after 100k). I went through two different pairs of cheap gas struts that were both specified for the car - first pair wouldn't support the weight of the hatchback and the second pair failed after a couple of weeks (as I was getting some shopping out - trust me it hurts!).

I would think that the hatchback on a new Audi is considerably lighter than a 10 year old Focus but it's still gonna smart if it lands on your head...
 
pat15312 said:
ITEM CODE - 1426144

DESCRIPTION - Febi Bilstein Boot Strut Gas Springs (14657)

QUANTITY - 2

ITEM PRICE - £23.69

TOTAL - £47.38

I think this is for two struts (a pair) however it could be two pairs of struts... either way, not exactly expensive and might get a nice surprise :)
Click to expand...

I look forward to a fitting guide and some photos!
 
Also read on a golf forum that it can make the boot quite hard to shut as the struts are stronger. So glad someone on here is giving it a go!

Probably won't be too bad to be fair and would differ based on struts used.
 
This mod is not for me. We have a low-ceiling garage at work, and the last thing I need is for the hatch to automatically crash at speed into the concrete.......

On Saloons the opening height tends to be marginally (if at all) higher than the roof line, that is why Saloon boot lids pop open fully.
 
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We had this mod on our G6 with struts from a Skoda, but it resulted in a few problems.

1) The boot lid became a lot harder to close,
2) The length of the struts made it impossible to open the boot lid 100%, making it impossible for me to stand fully upright below it,
3) In cold weather the struts were not strong enough to open the boot lid completely,
4) The struts damaged the paint (removed it all the way to the bare metal) where they were fixed to the car,
5) The struts caused small indentations around the securing points,

So whoever will do this mod, be careful and monitor the paint and panels closely.

And yes, it someone finds the prefect struts, I will do the mod again as it does make life easier ;)
 
Good idea, what's the point of unlocking the boot with the key if the thing doesn't go up automatically.
 
Fanoe said:
We had this mod on our G6 with struts from a Skoda, but it resulted in a few problems.

1) The boot lid became a lot harder to close,
2) The length of the struts made it impossible to open the boot lid 100%, making it impossible for me to stand fully upright below it,
3) In cold weather the struts were not strong enough to open the boot lid completely,
4) The struts damaged the paint (removed it all the way to the bare metal) where they were fixed to the car,
5) The struts caused small indentations around the securing points,

So whoever will do this mod, be careful and monitor the paint and panels closely.

And yes, it someone finds the prefect struts, I will do the mod again as it does make life easier ;)
Click to expand...

Well there are some things that expected, like the first one and the third one.

But the others are strange. if you took struts that are too short nr 2 seems logical. However, 4 and 5 really surprise me.
 
Followed this instruction , and think we kept the car a little less than a year after the mod.
 
Maybe this is a good alternative, stock springs, but with some small springs installed.



Not sure if they fit on an A3 and also dont know which type of springs the blue ones are.

Edit:
Found the springs, can someone measure the diameter of the thin rod of the gasspring from a SB.
I'll order some and when I get my car I'll test some and give you guys the info.
 
Last edited:
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veeeight said:
On Saloons the opening height tends to be marginally (if at all) higher than the roof line, that is why Saloon boot lids pop open fully.
Click to expand...

Does anyone know if this also applies to the cabrio? I read somewhere in another thread on here (the one about nice surprises, I think) about a push and hold function on the middle key button making the boot pop open, I'd be chuffed if my car has this feature. As well as being mighty handy when you've got armfuls of shopping or something heavy, it would shut my Dad up, who has been repeatedly showing the same feature off on his Jag S-Type ever since he got it!
 
Some cars with keyless ignition have a feature where you can wave your foot under the car at the back, and the boot pops open. Don't think the A3 does though!
 
It would only apply to the Saloon. Maybe because there is such a variety of shapes/configurations for the A3, and you can't have it on all of them?
 
cemerson said:
It would only apply to the Saloon. Maybe because there is such a variety of shapes/configurations for the A3, and you can't have it on all of them?
Click to expand...

******. I was hoping that because the cabrio is based on the saloon and has (I think?) essentially the same boot, that it would have the same feature. Shame. :(
 
The saloon doesn't have it either... as far as I know... that's my point!
 
Relliott6879 said:
******. I was hoping that because the cabrio is based on the saloon and has (I think?) essentially the same boot, that it would have the same feature. Shame. :(
Click to expand...
Pretty sure cemerson was talking about the fancy foot waving thing not the keyfob button.
To answer your original question I would be 99% sure that the boot would open fully on the cabrio by holding the middle button on the keyfob since it's a saloon style boot.
 
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Yeh - they all have the button that unlocks and opens the boot, it's just that the saloon's boot lid is sprung in a way that makes it rise once it is open, the hatchback's aren't.

And I was referring to the foot waving thing above yes, sorry! BMW 4 series has it as well I believe.
 
cemerson said:
Yeh - they all have the button that unlocks and opens the boot, it's just that the saloon's boot lid is sprung in a way that makes it rise once it is open, the hatchback's aren't.

And I was referring to the foot waving thing above yes, sorry! BMW 4 series has it as well I believe.
Click to expand...

Yer BMW do use the foot waving thing
 
audi upgrades
I fitted the new struts yesterday; took about 5mins.

It works the same as shown in the video however it is now harder to close the boot, although this was expected.

I've not really had a chance to trial it in real-life situation yet so will let you know if any problems arise. I have kept the old struts just in case.
 
pat15312 said:
I fitted the new struts yesterday; took about 5mins.

It works the same as shown in the video however it is now harder to close the boot, although this was expected.

I've not really had a chance to trial it in real-life situation yet so will let you know if any problems arise. I have kept the old struts just in case.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update, did you get 2 sets or 1 then? Lol
 
Ha yeh I just got two so I can confirm they sell them as individual units, not pairs.
 
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Can you just confirm the exact details of the struts you have fitted please, and an indication of where to obtain them + price? Cheers
 
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