A3 Automatic Bootlid (3 Doors Only, So Far)

Someone on one of the MINI sites has done a similar thing for the hatchback R56 MINI's

The reason I mention this is that they have done the mod much cheaper and more simpler

See -

http://bonxy.info/mini/



I'll be doing this to the wife's MINI JCW hatch :thumbs up:

Just wondering whether the same or similar would work on the HB & SB A3's :think:
 
They also use this on the A6 avant, so it should work.
When I get my car im going to order some springs to test them, then I'll let you guys know.
 
Do you not find that if you have a free hand to press the button, then you have a free hand to open the boot lid anyway? I don't really get what this is useful for. Don't think I want to do it myself either, because of the 'car park' situation where you could end up smacking the boot lid on the roof... or even if your keys are in your pocket and you accidentally press the button (I've done it before...)
 
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Quite, with 'proper' versions on a Ford you can stop the hatch at a predermined height and it can remember the setting as well. Or get a saloon :devilish:
 
cemerson said:
Do you not find that if you have a free hand to press the button, then you have a free hand to open the boot lid anyway? I don't really get what this is useful for. Don't think I want to do it myself either, because of the 'car park' situation where you could end up smacking the boot lid on the roof... or even if your keys are in your pocket and you accidentally press the button (I've done it before...)
Click to expand...

There are offcourse drawbacks, but I find it a usefull tool. (you have to put the stuff down to close the frontdoor of your house, it would be usefull to remotly open the boot.
 
I was thinking more like if you wanted to open the hatch alot to unload your shopping and the car was in a garage. You can then set a predetermined height, not fully open but maybe three quarters, to stop any damage. Is it me or does that sound obvious?
 
well I actually find it better for my sister.. not for me as she is kinda short and badly reaches to close the boot.
if I fit the HB struts of the escort i supose it has to work...
Has someone found the SB sized struts?
 
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ok, now, i've been on the internet all day just searching this things... I found some Audi 80 or the RS2 used to use a strut that was about
Lenght 575 mm
Force 500 N
and stroke 235 mm
for a UK page i only found this:
http://www.cargasstruts.co.uk/produ...p-896?osCsid=834ec6edba802dccf3d622699b0cccf8

do you guys think this is the one for the Sportback?

By the way orginal Sportback struts are (at least in mine... Living in Spain)
Lenght 580 mm
Force 450 N
Stroke ~235
 
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ChiYoung said:
ok, now, i've been on the internet all day just searching this things... I found some Audi 80 or the RS2 used to use a strut that was about
Lenght 575 mm
Force 500 N
and stroke 235 mm
for a UK page i only found this:
http://www.cargasstruts.co.uk/produ...p-896?osCsid=834ec6edba802dccf3d622699b0cccf8

do you guys think this is the one for the Sportback?

By the way orginal Sportback struts are (at least in mine... Living in Spain)
Lenght 580 mm
Force 450 N
Stroke ~235
Click to expand...

those sound perfect
 
Just to give you all a heads up, this mod hasn't been working too well... It appears that you need to source an additional part from the VW Scirocco to get the hatch to pop far enough for the struts to fully open it up. Going to source these this week and let you know if there is any improvement...
 
The previous platform needed the stroke length adjusting, reversing the bottom plate, and replacing the top pin.


See here:

 
went today to the VW dealship to order the bump stops... Bad thing I need money for the struts...

EDIT: got them from ebay, hope they are good...
 
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I know i´ve been talking way to much into this but can someone with the A3 HB (3 door version) measure the size of the boot struts, as the guy from the youtube video says 544mm but my friend from spain says 570mm. Whos right?
And just that im asking he also mentions the SB has 566 mm struts but even though i measure it in mine they are 580mm.
That may be one reason why pat has his boot now opening less than before.

By the way anyone takes the measure i would thank you if you take 1 more minute to measure stroke and the Force on the OEM struts.
 
Now that I have my car, I can confirm that the boot lid on the cabrio doesn't rise automatically when 'popped' by long pressing the unlock button on the key. :(

My guess is that the saloon must have higher pressure gas struts.
 
Not visible in any way, but IMO tha arrow would be the spring pulling to open it up.
The MB w211 has the system I'm saying fitted.
umadegy6.jpg
 
ChiYoung said:
I may think that the Saloon uses springs instead of gas struts.
Click to expand...
My A4 saloon has this function

Had a look and its defo springs not struts if thats any help
 
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Hi,

I would like to do this on my sportback. I've read through the thread but i'm still unclear if there is a compatible gas strut that works as well as the originals. Has anyone done this on their sportback?
 
I have it on my Sportback but fitted a pair of struts 10mm longer than the OEM and have some problems as if the car is wet a bit of rain is getting in the boot when opened in excess by the design of it...
Maybe a good mod for summer only
 
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