Dan's A3 TDI Thread

[danwoodcock]

Hi all, new to the forum, purchased my first Audi recently so thought I'd sign up! Already finding it a very useful place to be.

Not so new to the VAG world, couple of cars I've owned:

MK4 Golf, only a 1.4. Coilies, BBS LM reps, it was pretty clean.

Still regret selling this next one. MK2 Golf GTI 8v. Coilies, rebuilt BBS RM's, G60 arches, US Recaro's, full respray the list is endless. Took it to Worthersee 2014, head gasket ruined it out there. Was never the same car:

Worthersee by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

And now I've decided to 'settle down' a bit. Audi A3 2.0TDI SE. Leather seats, sat nav, cruise control. xenons etc, lovely car! Few plans for it but I'll keep them to myself for now! Got a few pictures with my new 50mm lens too.

New car! by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

New car! by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

New car! by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

 

[Sayam]

Congratulations on your new purchase and welcome

Your car has a lovely spec to it, all I would change is suspension and wheels but that is down to personal taste.

 

[Rideen]

Welcome to the forum!

Beautiful car, just get some 18" alloys on it and it will be fabulous!

 

[danwoodcock]

Congratulations on your new purchase and welcome

Your car has a lovely spec to it, all I would change is suspension and wheels but that is down to personal taste.

Thanks man Suspension and wheels is definitely on the cards. Maybe some little things too but nothing major that I can think of. Keeping it real clean too as I am a detailer by hobby and by trade!

Welcome to the forum!

Beautiful car, just get some 18" alloys on it and it will be fabulous!

Thank you! Definitely 18's, not a fan of 19's unless the car is bagged

 

[DJ_26]

Nice car mate, will keep an eye on this thread! I like how the car has all the top-of-the-line extras on there that you don't see on other trim levels like the S-Line. So there isn't a lot you have to do to get it up a proper high spec. I must say I do like what you have done with your previous cars, the mk4 looked very nice in my opinion and then I saw the mk2.......

 

[Rideen]

Give some interior shots and possible 18" rim choices mate!

 

[danwoodcock]

Nice car mate, will keep an eye on this thread! I like how the car has all the top-of-the-line extras on there that you don't see on other trim levels like the S-Line. So there isn't a lot you have to do to get it up a proper high spec. I must say I do like what you have done with your previous cars, the mk4 looked very nice in my opinion and then I saw the mk2.......

Cheers mate fingers crossed I'm going to follow a similar path as both the MK4 and the MK2. I do miss the MK2 terribly, but onwards and upwards. Got a good feeling about the A3 and love learning new things too.

Give some interior shots and possible 18" rim choices mate!

Will have to get some interior night shots to show you all And yeah wheel choices are kinda up and down. I'm going to go for a 'down and out' approach first so something wide, bit of camber perhaps, nice stretch. Nothing too in your face, it won't be a show car that's for sure, just tidy. See how it goes, if I like it then keep it that way, if not take an OEM approach. Lower it a little, RS4 wheels or something similar, keep it real clean!

 

[danwoodcock]

So as you can imagine 250 miles a week, the car does get filthy. Gave her a quick wash and a layer of wax. Still needs an entire correction when the weather warms up. iPhone picture as I didn't pack my camera. And yes I forgot the arches!

On the way home the A3 hit it's first milestone since I've owned it! 80k, barely run in...

Also I may have accidentally purchased some wheels. They're in need of a refurb etc but got them for a steal. Picking them up on Sunday

 

[danwoodcock]

So a few weeks went by, got myself some XXR 527's but the offset was way too aggressive so sold them on. Decided to keep it 'simple' for now.

Got some 3SDM 0.01's, staggered. Fitted 215/35's to them all round, gave a real nice stretch on the rear.

Rears all the way down, adjuster cup is in until the arch lining has been removed as it rubs and I couldn't bare the noise. Fronts as far as they go until I get a notch and the helper springs have been removed too. Arches have been rolled too!

Tiny bit of spacing and some rear camber should do me nicely. More plans of course

 

[danwoodcock]

So last minute thing, went on the uk-mkiv stand at UD, aka a guaranteed parking space that doesn't involve me walking far!! Car looked alright, still rocking the reverse rake but that's very soon to change. Got a couple of goodies too, and a nice little list building up

Booked a notch with Moores Motors for next Saturday, can't wait to get that front down. But here's a few pictures from UD and a quick shoot from last night.

IMG_7280 by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

IMG_7291 by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

IMG_7285 by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

IMG_7237 by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

Brilliant roller by Mowbray, taken on a phone believe it or not! Edited by myself

20150315_164556-2 by danwoodcock92, on Flickr



Roll on next Saturday

 

[sonny.]

Looks good!

 

[manor13]

not a fan of stretched tyres but it's looking good

 

[lisaaudia3]

Looking good I'm look for some 3sdms where did u get yours off?

 

[unionjack30]

look nice

 

[TomL83]

Love the wheels mate. I'm a UKmkivs member aswell as I had 25th Anni which I wish I had kept.

Keep the updates coming.

 

[danwoodcock]

Looks good!

Cheers man!

not a fan of stretched tyres but it's looking good

It's a marmite thing I think. I love it!

Looking good I'm look for some 3sdms where did u get yours off?

Thanks a lot dude. I got them brand new from someone that had previously purchased from rimstyle.com I think...

look nice

Cheers mate!

Love the wheels mate. I'm a UKmkivs member aswell as I had 25th Anni which I wish I had kept.

Keep the updates coming.

I really like them, suit the car down to the ground and fitment is spot on. I will be on the hunt for something else in the future, something 'splitty'!

 

[danwoodcock]

So front is now notched, coilies were wound down but still got a fair few threads left. Left it like that as I've had to travel a fair bit this week. Even at this height, the odd scrape and the stupid under tray touches everything so that is coming off.

Random picture

As for rear fitment, it's not bad considering I haven't added any camber yet, no spacers and the adjuster cup is also still in. Arch lining will be out/cut soon, then the adjuster can also come out.

And I seem to have made a pretty decent purchase for this season...

The list for Early Edition is slowly growing, but nothing OTT so that's good!

 

[danwoodcock]

Couple of really dog photos to keep the thread alive

Then finally some actual updates!

Under tray came out finally

Wound the coils right down as far as they go on the front. This is what they were before

Debadged the rear

And hasn't 100% settled on the front but..

Sitting way better on the front now

Now time to sort my Alphards out before Early Edition!

 

[FaisalFazeli]

Very nice! Keep the pictures coming! Whats the wheels/tyres spec and whats the drop?

 

[tdi-man]

don't like the stretched look tbh.....also a lot of oil under car

 

[danwoodcock]

Very nice! Keep the pictures coming! Whats the wheels/tyres spec and whats the drop?

Thanks wheels are 8.5 ET40 front, 9.5 ET42 rear, 215/35's all round. Drop is like 110mm front, 80mm rear? Something like that anyway

don't like the stretched look tbh.....also a lot of oil under car

Each to their own! Oil is old, once I took the undertray off I had a good check and can confirm that is isn't recent

 

[danwoodcock]

Went out and got some proper picture today, quickly edited them too. Enjoy!


Dumped (kinda) by danwoodcock92, on Flickr


Rear fitment by danwoodcock92, on Flickr


Front fitment by danwoodcock92, on Flickr


Chillin' by danwoodcock92, on Flickr


Bagged... jokes by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

Cheeky one with my friend's bagged Bora too!

Static or bagged? by danwoodcock92, on Flickr

 

[danwoodcock]

Sold the 3SDM's and got myself some genuine Alphards for a real good price. Was after a set for a long time so grabbed them quick, chucked the tyres from the 3SDM's on and we have a winner. Sits perfectly on both the front and the rear, ride height is exactly what I wanted.

They could do with a refurb, they'll be coming off the car after Early Edition and refurbed ready for VW Days

Pics from fitting them and Springfest (which was rubbish)

 

[smurfworth]

Much better with those alphards, the 3sdm's are far too common. Great photos and I bet it's a pain to drive at times at that height

 

[danwoodcock]

Thanks mate, I think so too. The pictures don't really show it but they are in need of a good OEM refurb! It is quite a pain yes. Once Early Edition is over the next main show is VW Days in June, so after this weekend my RS4 reps will be chucked on and the car will be raised.