My first Euro TDI

2.0TDI_Jo · Apr 21, 2017

Hi all, new member and owner of a TDI A3. I came from a 335i that was modded.

I wanted to try something totally different and found A3 TDI fit the bill nicely. The power difference was massive but I have found the A3 to be a very nice car with good TOQ and go for what she is.

Mine is the 2009 8P ambition, 125KW dual clutch with paddle shifters. I love the gearbox with paddle shifters! Grey with black leather interior. Came with Clarion touch screen aftermarket NAV.

I'm a modder can't help myself... So the A3 was standard for about a week.

Fitted a Evo tuningbox by Tuningbox
Painted the OE wheels satin black.
changed the headlights (aftermarket couldn't justify the Zenon cost)
Blacked out the chrome around the grill.
changed the tyres (came with crap road worthy jobs) to Bridgestone Potenza RE003

The tune made a massive difference, up to 155kw now. TOQ 400nm. She fly's for a TDI 2.0 and with the tyres loves the road a lot more now. old tyres would spin and slip on corners (wasn't as much fun as you would think).

I am looking for a new muffler that creates a little more growl. Thinking about a better intercooler. Better springs are also on my list.

Glad to have found this site as local Aussie sites are rather dead.

1st 2 pics are when she was stock. Interested in other members thoughts on the lights.

MikeSel^ · Apr 21, 2017

Car looks like a very clean example

hope you're loving driving it as much as I've loved my A3s

Sounds like quite the shopping list of parts you have there!

Welcome to the forum!

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Sandra · Apr 21, 2017

Welcome to audi-sport.net. Really tidy car you have there. Enjoy the forum.

2.0TDI_Jo · Apr 21, 2017

thnks all, do intercooler upgrades do much for tuned TDIs I read the stock IC is actually quite good.

2.0TDI_Jo · Apr 21, 2017

More pics...

Carefree69 · Apr 21, 2017

Nice lights, not convinced with those wheels though.

2.0TDI_Jo · Apr 21, 2017

Carefree69 said:
Nice lights, not convinced with those wheels though.

tnx, I painted myself oe black not ur thing? spacers might give em a bit more any toughen up the a3 abit?

Rideen · Apr 21, 2017

Welcome!

Nice car, not convinced with the wheels and front lights but that's probably because all the ricers here use them so they have negative reputation in South Eastern Europe.

2.0TDI_Jo · Apr 21, 2017

Rideen said:
Welcome!

Nice car, not convinced with the wheels and front lights but that's probably because all the ricers here use them so they have negative reputation in South Eastern Europe.

Lights are abit ricer i know, issue in australia ****** all aftermarket for a3s.... wheels may end up gunmetal grey semi gloss.

Carefree69 · Apr 22, 2017

2.0TDI_Jo said:
tnx, I painted myself oe black not ur thing? spacers might give em a bit more any toughen up the a3 abit?

No I think black wheels look great, on the right car. I just don't think they go with your car that's all.

Marek196c · Apr 22, 2017

Welcome m8 on forum, guess is better to remap on dyno rather than tuning box, if you looking for exhaust check out miltek brand, as well blank your egr valve, in terms of lighting u mean xenons right? on projector lights you can put them but need to get auto levellers as well washers (unless u're rice-r) if you need tome nice wheels check out rimz sticked post

Intercooler will be ok from S3 (full alloy).

2.0TDI_Jo · Apr 22, 2017

Marek196c said:
Welcome m8 on forum, guess is better to remap on dyno rather than tuning box, if you looking for exhaust check out miltek brand, as well blank your egr valve, in terms of lighting u mean xenons right? on projector lights you can put them but need to get auto levellers as well washers (unless u're rice-r) if you need tome nice wheels check out rimz sticked post Intercooler will be ok from S3 (full alloy).

tnx, i had a remap and custom IC on old car. Had good experiences with TuningBox so got the evo. imo a very good box. Muffler is must needs more growl. springs another nut tyres have improved the handling. Non S3 sportbacks do guys upgrade springs for daily drivers?

Cornish John · Apr 22, 2017

Looks good!
I have a black A3 with the same wheels, I may paint them black!
Have a two spare wheels, may try them first.

2.0TDI_Jo · Apr 24, 2017

Cornish John said:
Looks good!
I have a black A3 with the same wheels, I may paint them black!
Have a two spare wheels, may try them first.

tnx man! I am feeling that spacers will help toughen it a bit as the wheels get a bit lost. I painted mine by hand. yours will be easy if they're off the car. But remember you have to scruff the alloy to get the paint to stick so it's hard to go back once done. Maybe try plastidip to get the feeling before you go the paint.

I saw a few Bimmers black on black that looked great inc a 1er... if you plastidip put some pics up

2.0TDI_Jo · Mar 20, 2018

been a while between drinks. waiting on this new grill to arrive, looking forward to putting it on. not sure i'm going to go too far on the mods as once i light that fuse i can't stop. tunning box has been a nice addition and the egr delete sounds interesting but so does downpies!

Gm95 · Mar 20, 2018

2.0TDI_Jo said:
been a while between drinks. waiting on this new grill to arrive, looking forward to putting it on. not sure i'm going to go too far on the mods as once i light that fuse i can't stop. tunning box has been a nice addition and the egr delete sounds interesting but so does downpies!

I've been eyeing up this grill. Will make the front end look great imo.
Bit late, but welcome to the forum from another new member. It stresses me out when Aussies post pictures on forums though, it looks amazing and makes me want to immigrate everytime haha!

Gm95 · Mar 20, 2018

Also, any chance you remember where you got the aftermarket headlights from?

James94 · Mar 20, 2018

I really like the black interior! My seats and interior are the beige/cream colour

leonwilliams · Mar 21, 2018

2.0TDI_Jo said:
Hi all, new member and owner of a TDI A3. I came from a 335i that was modded.

I wanted to try something totally different and found A3 TDI fit the bill nicely. The power difference was massive but I have found the A3 to be a very nice car with good TOQ and go for what she is.

Mine is the 2009 8P ambition, 125KW dual clutch with paddle shifters. I love the gearbox with paddle shifters! Grey with black leather interior. Came with Clarion touch screen aftermarket NAV.

I'm a modder can't help myself... So the A3 was standard for about a week.

Fitted a Evo tuningbox by Tuningbox
Painted the OE wheels satin black.
changed the headlights (aftermarket couldn't justify the Zenon cost)
Blacked out the chrome around the grill.
changed the tyres (came with **** road worthy jobs) to Bridgestone Potenza RE003

The tune made a massive difference, up to 155kw now. TOQ 400nm. She fly's for a TDI 2.0 and with the tyres loves the road a lot more now. old tyres would spin and slip on corners (wasn't as much fun as you would think).

I am looking for a new muffler that creates a little more growl. Thinking about a better intercooler. Better springs are also on my list.

Glad to have found this site as local Aussie sites are rather dead.

1st 2 pics are when she was stock. Interested in other members thoughts on the lights.

View attachment 123193 View attachment 123194
View attachment 123195 View attachment 123196 View attachment 123197 View attachment 123198 View attachment 123199 View attachment 123200

Nice wheels not sure about black. Everybody's going black gunmetal grey is a nice colour .

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2.0TDI_Jo · Mar 22, 2018

Gm95 said:
I've been eyeing up this grill. Will make the front end look great imo.
Bit late, but welcome to the forum from another new member. It stresses me out when Aussies post pictures on forums though, it looks amazing and makes me want to immigrate everytime haha!

Hi GM95, thanks for the welcome. The Grill imo was a good choice i'm very happy with how it's turned out. small gap to the bonnent but it's an aftermarket. Let us know what u think in the pics. LOL we're just finishing summer but winters are mild / warm compared to what you poor fellas cop in Europe!

Gm95 said:
Also, any chance you remember where you got the aftermarket headlights from?

The lights i'm still not sold on, i really wanted aftermarkets that matched the Hellas but i couldn't find them when i changed my stocks. I'm still looking around for better aftermarket head lights. all depends on your tastes but i think hunt around for better looking ones.

2.0TDI_Jo · Mar 22, 2018

James94 said:
I really like the black interior! My seats and interior are the beige/cream colour

thanks, it was a big one for me, when i was looking for a new car there where only three A3 tdi in my state so i took the silver cuz it had black leather with aftermarket satnav other didn't have nav. apart from being hard to keep clean beige are still a nice.

2.0TDI_Jo · Mar 22, 2018

leonwilliams said:
Nice wheels not sure about black. Everybody's going black gunmetal grey is a nice colour .

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agree there, i looked at gunmetal but the paint at autoshops was average after testing so i went to satin balck. wheels guys around here charge a heap, i wanted to give it ago myself. since the window's are tinted and the window trim is black i wanted to keep the color scheme inline. I just wish my a3 was a darker silver :grumpy:

2.0TDI_Jo · Mar 22, 2018

Hi all I got my AM RS3 Grill fitted today. it fits well but not perfect there's a small gap where it meets the bonnent but it's not too noticable. I'm happy with it and gives the front a much nicer look. I took the foam bar out and had the alo bar painted balck. let us know what you think of the pics. The water is a wash for the show pics :icon thumright:

I'm still keen in putting on some spacers to toughen up the look.

leonwilliams · Mar 22, 2018

2.0TDI_Jo said:
agree there, i looked at gunmetal but the paint at autoshops was average after testing so i went to satin balck. wheels guys around here charge a heap, i wanted to give it ago myself. since the window's are tinted and the window trim is black i wanted to keep the color scheme inline. I just wish my a3 was a darker silver

Shame that up north they do great job and cheap about £150. I'm thinking of doing mines in gunmetal grey but waiting for them to lose there shine first.

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leonwilliams · Mar 22, 2018

leonwilliams said:
Shame that up north they do great job and cheap about £150. I'm thinking of doing mines in gunmetal grey but waiting for them to lose there shine first.

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Mines before I started modding

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2.0TDI_Jo · Mar 22, 2018

leonwilliams said:
Mines before I started modding

Lovely, do u have a latest moded pic?
I'm in Australia they charge idiot money for redoing wheels well here. sucks. love your stock wheels, i'm a big oe wheel fan..

leonwilliams · Mar 22, 2018

2.0TDI_Jo said:
Lovely, do u have a latest moded pic?
I'm in Australia they charge idiot money for redoing wheels well here. sucks. love your stock wheels, i'm a big oe wheel fan..

These wheels arnt cheap would like 18's but 17's do for now.

I've led all the lights outside except front fogs.

Replaced head unit for android pumpkin. Fitted reverse camera number plate style.

Fitted dash cam wired into fuse box.

Replace all some lights for map reading ones.

Led all lights inside comes white.

Fitted front and rear footwells blue leds.

Led scuff plates.

Fitted cruise control.

Fitted heko's all round.

Tinted back half.

Painted calipers Kawasaki green.

Painted centre caps black.

Fitted mudflaps all round.

Next mod home coming lights just doing more research on them.

Final mod will be remap.

Most of my mods have been posted.

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leonwilliams · Mar 22, 2018

leonwilliams said:
These wheels arnt cheap would like 18's but 17's do for now.

I've led all the lights outside except front fogs.

Replaced head unit for android pumpkin. Fitted reverse camera number plate style.

Fitted dash cam wired into fuse box.

Replace all some lights for map reading ones.

Led all lights inside comes white.

Fitted front and rear footwells blue leds.

Led scuff plates.

Fitted cruise control.

Fitted heko's all round.

Tinted back half.

Painted calipers Kawasaki green.

Painted centre caps black.

Fitted mudflaps all round.

Next mod home coming lights just doing more research on them.

Final mod will be remap.

Most of my mods have been posted.

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My mods

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2.0TDI_Jo · Aug 22, 2018

Been awhile between posts, had my head and tail lights blacked out today happy with the outcome goes well with the new grill. I looked for OE xennons but couldn’t justify the price tag to get the conversion down. I’m not that happy with my AM headlights but the tint takes some of their glare away…. just went with a lighter tint.

Was close to selling this car and getting a BMW 123D but TBH the A3 interior is better and the 123D performance was not to the level I thought it would be (don’t see the point) .

So thinking next mods will be coil overs to help handling and thinking about a small turbo upgrade, have any members upgraded their 170hp 8Ps compressor wheel, is it a waste of time? Better just go to a bigger bolt-on? with the tune my a3 is hitting 400Nm have any members noticed DSG issues with higher gains over stock?

pics of tinted heads and tails...

My first Euro TDI

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