'Fecks Nogaro S3'

New year, new plans :)

The S3 has been keeping warm in the garage over the winter months. I got a CTEK battery conditioner at Christmas. It has been a great bit of kit and has sorted issues I've had over the past few winters of my battery getting throttled by the cold.



I also recently bought an eBay VCDS cable and downloaded VCDS on to my laptop, so looking forward to playing with it and doing some Kenny Logging (bad 80s joke alert). Hopefully it proves how inaccurate my wifi OBD2 reader is lol

My beater Civic has been a proper moneypit over the past 18 months of ownership so it's going to make way for something more boring and reliable in the next month or so. This means I can crack on with modifying the S3. Next purchase will be a FMIC. I'm currently debating whether to go with the AH Fabs V2 and just got a price from Lars, but I do wonder if it's too much for all I need. I'd be happy just with a reliable and efficient 280bhp from my little K04.

A friend has had a Toyo Type R intercooler on his 2.2 litre Audi S6+ and has been getting good results from it. It's 550mm x 225mm x 64mm so it isn't big like the AH Fabs but it also has 64mm inlet/outlets so hopefully still decent flow from it for all the power I want. I just can't find much on it on here, other than a couple of members with hybrid A3s in the intercooler sticky.
 
My Toyosport intercooler arrived :)



I've ordered up a couple of 90 degree alloy bends to get welded on to the intercooler and then I'll get it all mocked up and the rest of the pipework ordered.

My Stack boost gauge also arrived. I'm still not 100% where I'm going to put it though. Why isn't there a vent pod available that doesn't block the whole vent? :(

 
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feck_on_a_stick said:
My Toyosport intercooler arrived :)



I've ordered up a couple of 90 degree alloy bends to get welded on to the intercooler and then I'll get it all mocked up and the rest of the pipework ordered.

My Stack boost gauge also arrived. I'm still not 100% where I'm going to put it though. Why isn't there a vent pod available that doesn't block the whole vent? :(

Click to expand...

I recon a vent pod could be made fairly easily
 
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feck_on_a_stick said:
My Toyosport intercooler arrived :)



I've ordered up a couple of 90 degree alloy bends to get welded on to the intercooler and then I'll get it all mocked up and the rest of the pipework ordered.

My Stack boost gauge also arrived. I'm still not 100% where I'm going to put it though. Why isn't there a vent pod available that doesn't block the whole vent? :(

Click to expand...

I recon a vent pod could be made fairly easily
 
Things have been slow enough going to be honest. I've been trying to do as much of this myself when time allows. I've never taken a bumper off a car before this, nevermind the rest lol Thankfully this is a second car, so I wasn't in any real rush.

The whole months of April and May seems to have disappeared for me though, but finally got some alloy bends welded to intercooler and then a light paint in black, before mounting it a couple of weeks ago.

IMG_6312%201_zpsotn8eqjv.jpg


Connected up the pipework

IMG_6331_zpssk1r8vms.jpg


IMG_6337_zpsfilrvajn.jpg


Then took it out for a few runs without the bumper.

IMG_6346_zpseussv4y4.jpg


Unfortunately it kept blowing one of the alloy pipes just below the bonnet, so I replaced the two upper alloy pipes with stainless steel and got a friend to add a few welds at the ends to stop the silicon pipes from slipping off. Another few test drives and seems to have sorted it.

Got the bumper back after a tiny little bit of trimming to the grills with a Dremmel. You wouldn't even know ;)

99718BC0-6F64-462C-A160-98B2EFCA917C_zps4wkylcga.jpg


After a wash



Finally my friend built me up a decat pipe and I removed the sports cat. I can just swap them round at each MOT :)

A8249D00-6759-420A-8610-EFB7DA987784_zpsyywuuhxu.jpg


I just plan on putting some miles on it now to make sure everything is fine with it. It's really nice to get the car back out on the road again.

I've borrowed a copy of VCDS and want to make a few logs this weekend, and then try and figure it out lol
 
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It's definitely 100% 2.5" lol :)

For some reason my camera seems to take photos that make things look smaller than they really are.......
 
Jetex filter and Badger 5 heat shield fitted :)



The panel filter must have been holding the car back as I honestly wasn't expecting such a difference between standard and cone filter. A quick test drive last night and it might be one of my favourite mods so far.

I've a remap provisionally booked in for start of August and now I'm also contemplating whether or not to get a Milltek before then.....

I'm also trying out an N75 that I found at a friends garage and thought I'd play with. It's rusted on the outside so I don't know what it is but he thinks it's off an RS2. Logs before and after show that it's requesting more boost than the standard one, but I'll be replacing it for the standard one before the remap.
 
It's looking like an expensive month for the S3. Treated myself to a Milltek resonated system. It's a gorgeous bit of kit. Combined with the intake, it has completely smoothed out the current map. The tailpipes just need a tweak as they are a little off-centre but I'll do that in a couple of weeks after MOT when I remove the sports cat again.

Anyone know why there is an extra hanger on the resonator pipe but nowhere on the car for it to attach to? Would this be different on earlier cars?

Roll on this Saturday though when it goes for a Revo stage 2 map :)

Old vs new




 
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Thanks buddy. I should have actually done a search on here first lol Found the part numbers and might as well order myself a middle hanger.
 
Love this car, and great work fitting the fmic :)

How'd today go then?
 
Recently I removed the Parrot bluetooth kit as I wanted something more subtle. I had to make more of a mess to remove the previous Nokia kit that was also still behind the dash.



Whatever animal originally fitted the Parrot kit had made an absolute mess of the centre console and trim. They must have used a screwdriver to force the stereo out and then superglued the Parrot screen to the trim piece lol






I tried wrapping the trim but it looks wick, but will do until I find a decent replacement. If anyone has one please PM me as a new part from Audi is now obsolete :(

I can't see me replacing the dash anytime soon as double din dashs are so expensive.



I've now installed a Connects2 bluetooth unit to the car. No pics but that's because nothing can be seen in the car other than a microphone on the a-pillar but it looks like this.



I'm pretty chuffed with it. I can stream my music from my phone to the stereo and control volume and tracks using the Audi stereo as well as answer calls using the stereo FF button.

I also replaced the old soft touch HVAC control panel with an older unit that doesn't suffer from button wear. It's a darker plastic though so I'm just going to keep my eye out for a better soul black unit.

Old vs new





Next was to replace the PCV system. I've been doing my best to replace the older rubber hoses in the car with silicone ones and I'd done the upper hoses late last year.

First I pulled out the old system.



It wasn't in that bad a shape but was still a bit crusty.





I replaced the old pipes with new ones from 034 Motorsport with a billet block breather adapter and billet check valve.





I doubt it's really noticeably improved the car in any way, but peace of mind that it's hopefully running more efficiently.

Over Easter I gave the car a good clean and polish and took it out for a spin to get some pics.







Some other goodies also arrived but yet to be fitted. Bilstein B8 shocks, Apex 30mm springs Leon Cupra R top mounts and bearings, and some H&R hub adapters for a potential wheel change that may happen. I'm really looking forward to getting these all fitted as I think the only visual change I've made to the exterior of the car so far has been a smaller aerial!

 
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I picked up a genuine set of S4 wheels. Still haven't decided if I prefer them over my original wheels but I'll give them a couple of weeks and see once it's lowered.



image-png.112082
 
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Nice and subtle change of wheels bit tamer looking than the TT ones though :)
 
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Damn that looks fit. Im really fancying some oem wheels for mine atm...
 
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My Forge turbo pipe doesn't like staying on anymore and would randomly blow off the charge pipe from time to time when I'm pushing on. When it last blew off and I was waiting for the manifold to cool down I discovered a tear in another pipe that comes from the N75 to the charge pipe.



I cursed owning a turbo car for a day or two and then fixed the smaller pipe (£90 for a new one!) and ordered myself a Trackslag 2.5" charge pipe.



I also decided to replace the Forge diverter valve with a new standard one from Mike on here via Parts Request. Quick delivery as usual :)



Since I changed the wheels and added the pcd adapters I've ended up with some negative camber on the rears, so I'm trying to source some decent adjustable tie bars.



I've also just bought a replacement centre console to replace my current one that was damaged. I'm not looking forward to pulling the dash apart to replace it though! :(

15E6084F-5351-4ED8-B964-808E28412404_zpshenlnbuq.jpeg
 
Trackslag charge pipe in. No real difference other than a bit more turbo noise as expected, but at least no more worries about the silicone pipe blowing off.





A bit of a small change; I replaced the worn cupholder.



Finally I got the new shocks, springs, top mounts and bearings in. It's sitting about 10mm up at the front but hopefully it'll settle a bit. I'm still undecided on the wheels. The offset on the S4 wheels are maybe just a tad too high and I don't want to go any higher than the 25mm spacers on the rear. Hopefully once the tie bars arrive and negative camber sorted, the wheels will fill the rear arches a bit better.



E485B0AE-F32F-47B5-9946-E248A74A7BC0_zpsm1wtmfdx.jpg


 
audi upgrades
After 2 months of waiting my exhaust centre bracket finally arrived at my local Audi dealer. Fitting it has stopped my Miltek centre section from hanging low and better positioned the tail pipe that had been more off-centre and was doing my head in

 
looking good!!!

mine just got roadworthied a couple hours ago so now am free to do whatever i want to it! so much stuff to switch in!!! wooohoooo!!!

The centre console isn't too bad of a job! Your interior will just look like it's been ransacked when you're doing it as you need to remove both glovebox and driver's kick panel to then be able to access the rest of the torx screws that hold everything to some metal brackets.
 
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feck_on_a_stick said:
I also replaced the old soft touch HVAC control panel with an older unit that doesn't suffer from button wear. It's a darker plastic though so I'm just going to keep my eye out for a better soul black unit.
Click to expand...

Don't know if you'd be happy with this solution but I just changed the buttons on my HVAC so the panel still matches...
DSC 02122


At first I wasn't sure about the difference in shades but after driving the car a bit and people seeing it I think it looks just as good as before, if not better and makes the buttons 'stand out'.
A personal choice though.
 
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IanPG said:
looking good!!!

mine just got roadworthied a couple hours ago so now am free to do whatever i want to it! so much stuff to switch in!!! wooohoooo!!!

The centre console isn't too bad of a job! Your interior will just look like it's been ransacked when you're doing it as you need to remove both glovebox and driver's kick panel to then be able to access the rest of the torx screws that hold everything to some metal brackets.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ian. Glad to hear you got yours on the road. Have you sorted out the running issues you felt it had when you bought it?

superkarl said:
This car is an absolute beauty!
Well looked after, great colour and wheel combo, great spec
Click to expand...

Thanks buddy :) Always great to read positive comments on it. I feel that it's finally starting to go somewhere after running it pretty much standard for so long.

tcg said:
Don't know if you'd be happy with this solution but I just changed the buttons on my HVAC so the panel still matches...

At first I wasn't sure about the difference in shades but after driving the car a bit and people seeing it I think it looks just as good as before, if not better and makes the buttons 'stand out'.
A personal choice though.
Click to expand...

Hey. Thanks. Yeah I have considered changing the buttons but not sure if I'd like it or not. I actually took the darker HVAC back out on Tuesday night there, coloured in the worn buttons on the original HVAC with black pen and put it back in. The darker HVAC unit just looked too different to the lighter grey of the stereo :( I would actually pay good money for a used HVAC unit without any wear, but I'm guessing they don't exist.
 
It actually doesn't look THAT bad when you have the hard plastic against soul black surround. If anything it will definitely last longer and that's what I like about it.

I've found that if you can find the buttons at the wreckers you're laughing. They're the same in a3 8l's and older generation a4/Avants. I came across one here in the same soft touch grey. All in good mint condition.

Hahaha yes the running issues were a pretty solid boost leak that the previous owner would never have known due to not being anal like I am. LOVE VCDS for that reason!

So now she's fully boosting with a good 100hp over stock. *insert golf claps*

Will make a pic thread soon!
 
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what you doin with the other wheels? :blackrs4:
 
I took the car to a VAG/BMW meet local to me a couple of evenings ago. It's nice to find pics that someone else has taken of my car lol

It also passed its MOT this week, although I came out the night before the MOT to discover that one of the new rear Bilstein shocks was sitting very low. I lifted the car with my trolly jack and couldn't see anything noticeable. When I dropped it again it sat back at the proper height. Not looking forward to checking it when I get home tonight as I really hope this isn't a fault with the shock looming :(







 
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Firstly, noggies rule and secondly these latest pictures have just made me dribble into my whisky.....
 
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that first photo - the lighting is just so right it's like she's come straight from the heavens
 
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Lovely 8L bud, and a very nice thread! Big thanks for sharing.
 
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I can sit here drooling for days!!
Well done for taking good care of this beaut!! Absolutely stunning



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Inspirational.

That is all.

:sex:
 
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I haven't updated this in a few months :redface new: but to be honest the car hardly moved all winter.

Just to bring this thread up to date though last August I got Brembo Mac grooved discs, Ferodo DS2500 pads along with Motul RBF600 brake fluid.







Also bought a rocker cover gasket and new door tweeter from Mike via the parts request on here as my passenger door tweeter was blown. No pics, but a very quick and easy fix.
 
New set of plates made with a GB badge



I'd ordered a set of Cookbot tie bars from Paul at Cookbot earlier in summer 16 to sort out the rear camber from fitting the shocks and springs. These arrived and got them fitted with the help of a friend. I forgot to take pics of them before I installed them but I'm very pleased with how they came out. I also ordered some bike chain covers to wrap round the adjusters to keep dirt, salt etc away.



The morning after these were fitted I left the car in for a four wheel alignment, went home and packed my bags for an early start for the ferry.
 
That morning 12 of us took 6 cars from Northern Ireland to the Nurburgring. We got a ferry to Cairnryan in Scotland, took a detour to Newcastle to pick up another lad, then drove down the A1 to Hull for the ferry.

Once we got to Rotterdam it was a quick enough run down to Adenau. Plenty of twisty roads round that area as well.



Adenau is a beautiful little town and we'd rented a house at the top of the town skirting the countryside.



Plenty of room at the house for our cars.



On the Friday night we had our first run round the Nurburgring itself. That first lap was certainly one of the most thrilling things I've ever done.

 
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