Stop the clock...Start the thread-My baby is home

[tcg]

Hi

Hi @Stuart B

Thanks for the info,mine problem sounds similar to yours,on acceleration it would have 'dead' patches randomly but no jerking/shaking mate.

Which plugs are you using now?...I'm thinking of going back to standard ones when it goes in for it's service in a couple of months.

 

[Stuart B]

I replaced the faulty plugs with the Iridium versions of the copper BKR7 whatever's (although I did read about changing the copper plugs every 4000 miles or something but they only lasted about 1000) - it was my problematic cylinder 1 misfiring but plug looked perfect - I assumed it was getting too hot as a Stage 1 map but I had added downpipe, B5 TIP, new filter - so I assumed it was lean. but the new plugs sorted the issue out.

 

[tcg]

A nostalgic trip down memory lane last night watching Wheeler Dealers...had the pleasure to own a 1985 Celica Supra 2.8i in the late eighties and for me,it was a great car of its time and one I wish I'd never parted company with

I'm probably biased but I think it looks stunning,especially in black (the right colour) fully loaded with extras and mine also had the digital dash so a 'real' rocket ship.

So for anyone too young to know,here's a few pictures of my old Supra (I dug out from the photo album)

Enjoy...

 

[tcg]

Ever since I purchased my S3 I've been looking to upgrade the Symphony II to a RNS-E but there's always been something more important on the 'to do' list and nearly two years down the line that's still the same...but just in case,picked this little beauty up today from Lidl (£17.99)

So now I just need a RSN-E to trim and a win on the gg's.

Although no doubt something else will bump it down the list again

 

[Tj 0785]

My already trimmed rnse could well be back if up for sale if All goes well I’d be bricking it when trimming it down

 

[tcg]

My already trimmed rnse could well be back if up for sale if All goes well I’d be bricking it when trimming it down

Unfortunately RNS-E is way down the list,next up is getting my air con sorted after the last pump exploded.Luckily I've got 3 years warranty on the grinder so it should still be around by the time I finally get to do the swap (I'll be picking your brains on that install!)

If not,it will come in handy when I'm old/sad enough to get my train set out of the loft and start playing with that instead

choo choo

 

[JakeOwen]

Good evening, there is an air con compressor on eBay for 25 quid at the moment. I’m sad I look daily for parts for mine lol

 

[tcg]

Hi mate,luckily the company that I got my oem copy air con compressor from replaced it under warranty,it's just a case of funds for the job and I didn't see any point in getting it done until Springtime.

Owning a S3 dictates daily scouring for parts,just in case you're no sadder than the rest of us.

 

[Stuart B]

going back to your Toyota Supra my ex brother-in-law (in about 1987) "toolbag-trevor" had a Nissan 280-ZX twin turbo <-- or something like that with a Targa top. I went in it and felt like Magnum PIs girlfriend.
that might have been a "Datsun" are they the same?

 

[tcg]

"toolbag-trevor"

Quality.

A Targa top,something in those days rarely seen on an average Joe's car,unless you had a X-19.I loved the digital dash on the Supra,I felt like Buck Rogers and I'd stolen KIT from Hasselhoff!

Mine returned about 19mpg on a good day and when I was having fun I could watch the fuel 'bricks' disappearing in front of my eyes.

Good luck with the sale of your S3 if you decide to.If you do sell it I will miss you mate,we need as many realists as possible in an 'anorak' club,just to keep a sense of proportion.

Plus you have been my most ardent supporter through all the times my car has really pi$$ed me off and you have helped to keep me motivated,not only with advice and incoherent ramblings but also with the fact that whatever sh!t my S3 has thrown at me,your S3 would be giving you more grief than I could imagine dealing with.

It will feel like at school when the worst kid in the class leaves and that means I'll now become bottom of the class hell you know I don't get the buzz from my S3 like I should and now I'm thinking of spending over £200 to fit a RNS-E that is 14 years out of date!

I should of bought a Golf but than I would still be driving around in a Golf and that would be too dull for me.I need some interaction with my car or it might as well be a 'jelly mould 1.0 whatever' and my GF has a Fiesta to plug that hole.

Chin up mate and hope you end up with the right car,whatever you choose.I'll still have a K04 turbo housing waiting just in case you keep it.

 

[Stuart B]

he he yeah I have been constructing the advert

Since owning this car I have fitted​

• New brake discs and Brembo Pads all round - £150
• New drop links front and rear - £50
• New rear rose joints and replacement lower tie bars - £100
• Head Gasket, Timing Water, Pump- £150
• 3 Inch Downpipe - £200
• Badger5 V3.0 TIP, heat shield and filter - £200
• Front Mount Intercooler - £200
• Both Front drive shafts - £250
• Oil service every 4000 miles - £200
• Haldex filter and 2 haldex oil changes - £100
• New rear head light level auto adjuster sensor (before I realised it has replacement headlights) - £50
• Lateral Sensor - £50
• Powerflex Yellow Dog Bone engine mount - £30
• Rear suspension springs and dampers - £160
• New mats - £40
• New Clutch Switch - £15
• New Brake Switch - £15
• New Diverter Valve - £20
• New Windscreen - £55
• New Battery - £120
• Catch Can - £50
• MAF Sensor - £50
• Clutch Master Cylinder - £60

Extra Parts not fitted or spare

- Additional spare ECU (IMMO-OFF) for bench flashing maps and taking out when testing maps for rollback - £150
- Unused under tray and sides - £50
- Rear wishbone bushs - £20
- Spare coilpack - £30
- Unused fake relentless manifold - £120
- Helper springs for rear caliper handbrake - £5
- Engine Thermostat (is quite fiddly to fit) - £15

Spend - what... about £2400 (estimated)​

and this is the work needed
- Clutch and Slave - £800
- Front Wings NEW - £700 ebay £120
- Engine - £2000
- Drive Door catch - £30?
- Screenwash container has a leak (this is what caused the driver's wing rust) - £? 30
- Headlights are not the original HID - maybe pointing a bit too high after fitting the FMIC - £500
- Radio does not work on MW (eg Radio 5 Live) only FM (this is to do with the aftermarket aerial) - £20
- Dashboard DIS does not show the current radio channel (requires licenced VCDS to setup the CANBUS) - £100
- Driver's electric seat up/down doesn't work ?
- Paintwork is a bit "flat" - £2000
- Driver's doorblade is stuck on (been like that since purchasing car in 2015) - £400 (need all 4 as the current have been painted)
- Sump plug requires sealant on oil change (probably needs a new sump to rectify properly - should change the oil pick up at the same time) - £50 part of £2K engine rebuild

but if I do that I should get this extra
Forged Engine Internals as part of rebuild + - £1000
B5 380 turbo and manifold - £1500
Miltek Cat Back ? - £600 ?
Lowered Coilovers - £1000


minimum to get it nice £7000 (Estimate)

extras to get it special £4100 (Estimate)

That does include getting MW 909 working on the radio too.


but our bathroom hasn't been decorated more than paint and an electric shower since we moved into this house 24 years ago lol.

finally - found a TT with a nice interior

the SLK 230 has partial red leather interior that is almost a "slags interior" - they are not very exciting though - but maybe that's what I need a cruiser instead of a scream machine. I've already looked at uprated supercharger pulleys tut

 

[Stuart B]

I didn't include any tools I bought so maybe add £300 to that spent.

or the fuel pump £100

 

[tcg]

finally - found a TT with a nice interior

Looks like you've already found your path to enlightenment and you have a host of generic parts and tools for a TT,plus you'd still been around here keeping me in check.

Personally I would choose a TT over a SLK,but then I would have chosen a TT over a S3 if I didn't have to accommodate my old dog in the back.

As a general rule I find the SLK goes best with curling tongs whereas the TT is more suited to hair straighteners so I would say,whichever of those you use most in the salon,pick the corresponding car to match

I'm sure you'll enjoy either and hopefully you'll be spending much time and money on the road,rather than off it.

Good luck mate,as 'Our Graham' would say...the choice is yours,will you pick number 1, 2 or 3 for your blind date!

 

[Stuart B]

the SLK had a pretty ropey interior and looks incredibly plastic inside. - it is a cruiser - only revs to 5800 only boost between 4 and 5

the ebay ad isn't really getting any traction so if I find a TT in the next week or so I will take it off to steel the parts and scrap the remainder.

 

[Tj 0785]

Can’t seem to find your ad on eBay

 

[tcg]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Aud...141841?hash=item2a9d90d811:g:CUoAAOSwO~VaZMb4

 

[tcg]

Who wouldn't want to buy a car from David Beckham

 

[Stuart B]

I created that account when eBay started, when someone was bootlegging my wife's Depeche Mode remixes, as I thought you could just put £1m on something to force that price, low and behold I never changed it. Bootlegging bootlegs is frowned upon.

 

[tcg]

I thought you could just put £1m on something to force that price

Everything counts in large amounts...It's a competitive world

 

[Stuart B]

Can’t seem to find your ad on eBay

I purposely hadn't posted it on here as I might change my mind, and don't want any comebacks.

 

[Stuart B]

no wonder people want to buy the car for £600

 

[Tj 0785]

I think if it’s going for less than 1k you’d be better off breaking it

 

[Stuart B]

Yeah I agree. Thanks

 

[tcg]

So we've made it to two years together,something I didn't think would happen if you had asked me twelve months ago.

When my turbo went then I really fell out of love with my S3...but over the last year it has been performing and behaving itself so much better.

Still no oil leaks but I was getting an 'oil burn' smell after parking up.It turned out to be the rubber washer that sits between the oil fill tower and the rocker cover that was allowing oil to sit in the little moat on top of the rocker cover.

Replaced it with a new one (pt. 036 115 111 B) with a little gasket sealant left over from my rocker cover gasket change and that seems to have cured the whiffy oily smell.

Over the New Year I had a good long think about my car and I've decided after the way it has been now this last year that it's staying with me for a few more years,at least another 5,as long as nothing major occurs

This year I've seen a few S3's fall by the wayside on here and that always makes me want to keep mine going and improving it.

It's in next month for an annual service and to get the air con pump replaced (again) then I'm going to look into fitting a RNS-E and hopefully oem bluetooth,a nice little project to look forward to.I will also have to do something with the ride sometime in the future as it wallows too much in corners but that's going to cost a bit so will have to wait.

I'm not sure if I've 'missed the boat' with the reputation of the S3 8L but I still don't get that real buzz I should about it,yet yesterday my GF drove it to her work where she has the pleasure of looking after young racing drivers and she said they were round it like 'bees to a honeypot',so it must have something that I'm not seeing.

Anyway guys I'm hoping we're on an upward curve now so let's keep the faith and keep on pushing to improve on whatever we have.

 

[Erikn89nl]

Over the New Year I had a good long think about my car and I've decided after the way it has been now this last year that it's staying with me for a few more years,at least another 5

That's the spirit! Should be an inspiration to everyone here keep it up mate!

These old cars have the ability to make you very sad, angry and depressed when they have issues, but once things are all running like they should, it's all too easy to forget you are driving a 20-year old hatchback which is getting more rare and special with each passing day.

 

[tcg]

Cheers mate,I do struggle with my appreciation of my S3.Only last week I took it to my 'tyre & exhaust' man and his assistant was salivating over it so much I let him take it round the block and he came back looking well pleasured (I did check my seats for stains...all clean) it is his dream car.

It is a fine line that I tread,I need to have interaction with my car or else it may as well be any car,but also I don't want to be spending too much time and money on just keeping it alive.I have been spoiled for reliability driving Jap Cr@p cars for so long.

I have come to accept it is an old sporty hatchback,not an old sports car,that lacks a decent suspension set-up.

I am just a puppy compared to you guys on here so I know there's still plenty to fix/repair/update.

 

[scotty_24]

Sometimes I hate my S3. Ive not drove it since July last year. Drove home from Cadwell Park track day and spat my dummy out as it had been missfiring all day.
Over the winter ive done the coil pack wiring etc which was all cracked.
The cars in the garage out of sight out of mind, but Ive booked Croft on good friday and I'm starting to get excited!

Love hate relationship these cars.
But when they work.....

 

[tcg]

The cars in the garage out of sight out of mind, but Ive booked Croft on good friday and I'm starting to get excited!

Make sure you've got a box of tissues with you then mate,don't want any nasty stains on those seats.

You belong to the group of guys on here that are 'Premier League' compared to the group I fall into...'Sunday Football Team'

Keep pushing,you're nearly where you need to be,on track!

 

[superkarl]

Make sure you've got a box of tissues with you then mate,don't want any nasty stains on those seats.

You belong to the group of guys on here that are 'Premier League' compared to the group I fall into...'Sunday Football Team'

Keep pushing,you're nearly where you need to be,on track!

I’ve been relegated to playing bowls

 

[tcg]

I’ve been relegated to playing bowls

From what I've gleaned on here,especially with your build sheet,that's a tasty pair of bowls you're carrying round with you

 

[tcg]

Always looking for parts,etc. for my S3.

Found a bargain buy today for @Stuart B ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Aud...425964?hash=item3d5bfebbec:g:K1cAAOSwk4tan4V~

 

[tcg]

Replaced the boot gas struts on the S3 today as my old ones were looking a bit sorry.

Read on here a few had gone for SGS ones and some found them a bit strong so I plumped for these...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-...390817305445?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10

New
v
Old

They fitted fine and are rated at 470N so virtually identical as the oem ones and no more having to push up the tailgate to engage the second set of rocket boosters for full opening anymore.

 

[Gonzokew]

For some reason this post made me motivated to FINALLY do mine. I've gone and bought the same ones from your link.

Cheers

 

[RS4B5]

A nostalgic trip down memory lane last night watching Wheeler Dealers...had the pleasure to own a 1985 Celica Supra 2.8i in the late eighties and for me,it was a great car of its time and one I wish I'd never parted company with

I'm probably biased but I think it looks stunning,especially in black (the right colour) fully loaded with extras and mine also had the digital dash so a 'real' rocket ship.

So for anyone too young to know,here's a few pictures of my old Supra (I dug out from the photo album)

Enjoy...

View attachment 145632
View attachment 145633
View attachment 145634
View attachment 145635
View attachment 145636

On paper I should be too young but trust me I understand that 1j life

 

[tcg]

For some reason this post made me motivated to FINALLY do mine. I've gone and bought the same ones from your link.

No worries mate,the hardest part was removing the clips from the new rams,when I put a small bladed screwdriver in to hook them out,they would spin and catch one side.Solved it by putting a large Allen key in the socket to replicate a ball joint.

Don't forget to prop up the boot.

 

[tcg]

On paper I should be too young but trust me I understand that 1j life

Sweet times,maybe only second to my GT4,

Or maybe not?

 

[tcg]

Does it feel cold to you?...it does to me,as once again I have aircon working.I went through last summer without it and in a black S3 that's sweaty.Also got my garage to do a mini service and put some decent spark plugs in as I found the copper NGK ones were only lasting 3000 miles.

I also got them to do the Haldex oil & filter as the member I bought my S3 from assured me he did it,but after speaking to my mechanic and seeing the state of the filter and oil that was as true as all the other $h!te he told me and when I picked up my car and pulled a tight right turn to get away,there was a flash of the ESP warning triangle and I can't remember seeing that happen before.

On the back of the enthusiasm of @Gonzokew I bought a secondhand tailgate trim from the bay,has a few battle scars but at least its not cracked like the original fitted in mine,that's the boot area sorted now.I still need to source a rear door card as it has a crack that I've fibreglassed from behind for now and a couple of 'C' pillar roof trims are scuffed.

Little things like that bug me.

 

[tcg]

Been quiet on the S3 front due to my mother landing herself in hospital but the upside being I've been doing a round trip of about 25 miles almost daily and the car has performed great and the air con is a blessing.The car certainly seems better since it had the spark plug change (I let my mech choose this time),I just didn't like the lifespan of the NGK's being so random and inconsistant.

I did tick one more job off my 'to do list'.Since I've had the S3 the ultrasonic deactivation button (Part number is 4B0 962 109 A) has been broken.They're only about £20 new but in the eco friendly world we live in,a secondhand one from ebay for a tenner is good enough...

 

[Gonzokew]

Where did you get your a/c compressor from? Think my clutch is damaged as my a/c has never worked and after 4 years I really need to sort it out!!!!

It shows no leaks from the testing machine and I've filled it up twice with no luck so guessing the pump is at fault.

Keep the motivation going! It is hard sometimes I agree with you completely.

 

[tcg]

Where did you get your a/c compressor from?

Here's where I got mine mate...

https://www.autoairconparts.co.uk/

The first one I got from there did blow up on me but was replaced under warranty and anyway,it could have been linked to when my car dumped the coolant which also ****** the oil pimp and then the turbo around the time,so I think I was just unlucky.

When I looked into replacing mine,I was wary of buying a secondhand one as they're so old and the one I bought is just a 'copy' of the OEM one for a fraction of the price.

If you do get a new one,make sure the pump is primed before fitting mate.

Keep the motivation going! It is hard sometimes I agree with you completely.

Yeah just when changing the alarm switch,I prised out the old one,it kindly broke and the back of the plug and connector fell down inside the rear door panel so I had to get a wire to 'fish' it out...never straightforward with my S3!