What should I check before a remap on my S3 APY 150,000miles or should I leave it standard?

[kcoles1]

Hi all, I’ve recently bought a completely standard Audi S3 with the APY engine, it’s in great condition and has full service history to date (Mainly Audi) with a recent Cambelt and water pump change. Im looking to get it remapped at Badger 5, but I’m debating whether to or not? I’ll be doing a compression test and full service before hand, but is there anything else I should do or check? My next question is, should I fit a turbo intake pipe, front mount intercooler, downpipe and decat to try squeeze a bit more power or should I just map it with stock parts and not try and push the engine at its age? Any other little mods I should do or parts to have a look at?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tj 0785]

Compression test and if needed a leak down test no point remapping if engine on way out. If all is well smoke test to test for boost leaks

 

[kcoles1]

Compression test and if needed a leak down test no point remapping if engine on way out. If all is well smoke test to test for boost leaks

Yeah ill be doing that over the weekend I think, I’m sure they do a smoke test/boost leak test before aswell as a fault diagnostics test and health check, so providing compression is good I’ll be taking it there to see what they think just wanted opinions too to be honest. Any ideas what healthy compression is?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tj 0785]

I think it’s around 180psi with a 10 psi difference between cylinders
If I’m wrong someone will correct me . Yeah a decent remap place will smoke test and scan for codes are you getting a custom map ?
Parts wise if you only want a stage 1 map get a badger5 tip and air filter

 

[Alex C]

Yeah ill be doing that over the weekend I think, I’m sure they do a smoke test/boost leak test before aswell as a fault diagnostics test and health check, so providing compression is good I’ll be taking it there to see what they think just wanted opinions too to be honest. Any ideas what healthy compression is?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As advised by Bill when he did some work on my car a few years back: "A good fresh engine would have <5% leakdown and 190-200psi across the cyl with +/-5psi max range"

 

[Stuart B]

why not ask Bill Badger5 for his advice? minimum should be the oversized TIP and air filter, even if a fabric green filter in the stock box?

 

[kcoles1]

I think it’s around 280psi with a 10 psi difference between cylinders
If I’m wrong someone will correct me . Yeah a decent remap place will smoke test and scan for codes are you getting a custom map ?
Parts wise if you only want a stage 1 map get a badger5 tip and air filter

Yeah I’ll be getting it custom mapped at badger 5 on their dyno as I live like 10 mins away from them. That’s ideal then cus I didn’t want to spend silly money as I’m not going to mad with this car it’s a daily. In regards to the air filter I was going to stick with a green panel filter? Or whatever they’re called, an uprated one!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kcoles1]

As advised by Bill when he did some work on my car a few years back: "A good fresh engine would have <5% leakdown and 190-200psi across the cyl with +/-5psi max range"

So on an engine with 150k what would be acceptable? I’ve read somewhere 150-160 on older engines? 140 and below is bad?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tj 0785]

you can’t go wrong with badger5 the best in the business

 

[Alex C]

well mine had ~130k on it when Bill got hold of it; my results were as follows:

Compression:
1 - 175psi
2 - 155psi
3 - 175psi
4 - 185psi

Leakdown
1 - 35% leak
2 - 60% leak
3 - 40% leak
4 - 20% leak

was advised: Strip, clean off the valves, new guides and relap in valves is what we would do for a head build at this point

 

[kcoles1]

why not ask Bill Badger5 for his advice? minimum should be the oversized TIP and air filter, even if a fabric green filter in the stock box?

Yeah I have asked and he said FMIC, downpipe and tip depending what I want to spend, I’ll be driving up there in the new year ASAP for a proper chat with him and so he can have a look over my car, but I just wanted others opinions on mapping a car with such high mileage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kcoles1]

you can’t go wrong with badger5 the best in the business

It’s ideal cus I’m so close too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kcoles1]

well mine had ~130k on it when Bill got hold of it; my results were as follows:

Compression:
1 - 175psi
2 - 155psi
3 - 175psi
4 - 185psi

Leakdown
1 - 35% leak
2 - 60% leak
3 - 40% leak
4 - 20% leak

was advised: Strip, clean off the valves, new guides and relap in valves is what we would do for a head build at this point

Ok that’s sweet, ill compression test, show him the results see what he thinks.

Anyone have a guide to compression test and leak down for this engine? I’m pretty sure I know how to do a compression test, put tester in place with all plugs removed, unplug injectors and crank a few times? But what’s a leak down?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stuart B]

you don't need to unplug the injectors you can pull the fuel pump fuse instead, and you usually only do a leak down test to help determine the issue, by putting the cylinder at TC with a compressor running to run around the car listening and looking to see where the compression is leaking from eg exhaust, cylinder next door, air filler cap, expansion tank and maybe also the throttle body.

but..... as I have both kits still in their box instead of doing the tests I cannot really advise - essentially I know mine has a problem so knowing what the problem is wont fix it.

I like your wheels by the way Audi TT 18inch look much better than the standard ones.

 

[superkarl]

Make sure it’s had a clutch replacement.
Smoke test the breather/vac system.
Replace the coil pack loom.
Change the plugs.

 

[kcoles1]

you don't need to unplug the injectors you can pull the fuel pump fuse instead, and you usually only do a leak down test to help determine the issue, by putting the cylinder at TC with a compressor running to run around the car listening and looking to see where the compression is leaking from eg exhaust, cylinder next door, air filler cap, expansion tank and maybe also the throttle body.

but..... as I have both kits still in their box instead of doing the tests I cannot really advise - essentially I know mine has a problem so knowing what the problem is wont fix it.

I like your wheels by the way Audi TT 18inch look much better than the standard ones.

Oh right okay, any idea where the fuel pump fuse is? I’ll just do a compression test cus I don’t have any known faults, if compression is bad I’ll do a leak down. Thankyou mate, they came with the car, I do like them!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kcoles1]

Make sure it’s had a clutch replacement.
Smoke test the breather/vac system.
Replace the coil pack loom.
Change the plugs.

I’ll have a look through receipts, just out of interest I don’t suppose you would know the labour charge roughly be for a clutch fitted? And where’s the best place for a new loom? I was going to get all new coil packs to be safe, as I’ve had 3 Leon cupra’s and every time I mapped them atleast one coil pack went lol. I’ve got plugs, NGK BKR7EIX.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[superkarl]

Awesome GTI sell the loom.
Never paid labour for a clutch so I can’t say.
They’re good plugs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kcoles1]

Awesome GTI sell the loom.
Never paid labour for a clutch so I can’t say.
They’re good plugs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok mate sweet. I’ll probably do it myself, only ever worked on Jap RWD cars before but always up for a challenge and learning! Thanks dude.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stuart B]

I think Bill does a basic health check before starting his magic.
But as you can see it's suddenly potentially £1500 before visiting Bill depending on whether you want 245bhp-240lb/ft or 275bhp-270lb/ft

 

[kcoles1]

I think Bill does a basic health check before starting his magic.
But as you can see it's suddenly potentially £1500 before visiting Bill depending on whether you want 245bhp-240lb/ft or 275bhp-270lb/ft

I’m not going too mad with it, I’ll probably just go with a turbo intake pipe and a green mesh filter, I like the standard look of the car and I’m only hoping for a little more “poke” as I said it’s a daily, I’ve got a skyline for fun, but going from the skyline to this is quite boring lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stuart B]

At least you can put the bottles and cardboard in the S3 to take to the recycling centre.
How long have you had your car? These S3s quite often need running repairs. I have at least 7 "non-picky" things I know of, wrong with mine at the moment.

 

[kcoles1]

At least you can put the bottles and cardboard in the S3 to take to the recycling centre.
How long have you had your car? These S3s quite often need running repairs. I have at least 7 "non-picky" things I know of, wrong with mine at the moment.

I can in the skyline but it’s a pain in the ***, trust me I’ve done a few tip runs and people do look at me funny! Lol.

I’ve only had it a month but haven’t yet drove it, my 4 years no claims comes in on the 8th so that’s when my insurance is starting which I’ve already payed for. I’ve previously had 3 Leon cupras running auq engines so I’m sort of prepared for little bits, but if you have any advice, from little bits to big problems that I should maybe look into that would be a real great help, because I’m a complete newbie to the APY / Audi S3.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[<tuffty/>]

If you are 10 mins from Bills then drop down and have a word... he has a few weeks lead time for bookings anyway... he can probably have a quick look over the car visually if he isn't in the middle of mapping and let you know if anything obvious needs doing..

He will map to the capabilities of the engine anyway...

<tuffty/>

 

[kcoles1]

If you are 10 mins from Bills then drop down and have a word... he has a few weeks lead time for bookings anyway... he can probably have a quick look over the car visually if he isn't in the middle of mapping and let you know if anything obvious needs doing..

He will map to the capabilities of the engine anyway...

<tuffty/>

Yeah that was the plan anyway to be honest, but it’s always good to get other opinions, and also see what experiences people have had or little things I should pay some attention to.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[<tuffty/>]

Smoke test will reveal issues...

In the meantime you can look for obvious split pipes and other things that look out of place...

If you are passing Bills on a Saturday I may even be able to give it a quick look over and advise..

<tuffty/>