S3 Engine transplant

BennybS3

BennybS3

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I'm asking this on behalf of a friend

He's recently brought himself the 1.8 tfsi s-line model as he couldn't afford an s3...but he's been offered an s3 engine and gearbox also from an 8v £2500

He's just asked if it would be able to be transplanted into his shell before he goes ahead and thinks about buying the engine itself.

We know it will need all brakes uprated etc and he's in look out for set Rs3 set.

Any help and advice will be much appreciated before he goes ahead with this project
 
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Well if he's still in warranty that would go out the window of course.
I would guess that, even if possible, it would be so complicated and expensive that he would have been better off buying an S3 in the first place - maybe a bit older if there are cost pressures.
 
Work out the cost to buy and install the new engine vs selling current car for a S3. If it's close then just do that.

TX.
 
I agree. But factor in a reasonable contingency be cause it's bound to cost more than you think.
Plus, remember that the secondhand value of the converted car would be very seriously affected.
 
Personally I'd swerve that entirely just because of warranty. If cost is a major factor then he/she should think about the risk of an expensive repair in future that would not be covered under warranty.

If they're after more power, the less risky (debatable) option is a re-map from a reputable mapping company or a DTUK box - in my opinion.
 
Just save the £2500 and put it towards an S3!!! on top of that £2500 you will have all the other mods needed to take the engine, so it could cost £4000!!! Plus all other costs will be high, extra insurance/or if he doesn't tell them and anything happens his insurance is void, warranty void as mentioned, it would also be a nightmare to sell on!

It's a big headache all around....or am I missing something?!?!
 
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No way this would work out cheaper than selling current car and getting an S3, not to even think about resale value.
 
I cant imagine what the insurance companies would say.........

Having had an A3 I'm not convinced that the rest of the chassis components would be suitable for the performance.
Get an S3 cheaper in the long run, particularly as the vehicles second hand value will be so low.
 
Well this is what he's now told me...he paid £15K for the 1.8tfsi...found the engine and gearbox for £2.5, his uncle has told him that he would fit it for him as a birthday presant (wish my uncle was that nice!!)..his gf is buying him rs3 brakes also...so what else etc would he need to do the conversion?

Iv said he may need all wiring look,Ecu,rear brakes and hubs...

So far he's got s3 dials and tags it in all hope that the job is capable lol
 
Wondering Soul said:
Definitely an ECU, not sure how you can get your hands on one..
Click to expand...

His uncle knows someone who is breaking a rear end accident s3 that's where he's getting the engine from and can have anything he wants from the vehicle
 
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In that case, this is a no brainer for him. Since he will have the donor car, he will need to get the ecu and some of the wiring ported over. I'd assume that will rid him of any component protection issues. One thing that will be hard to change is the Vin in the ecu.
 
rcnacura said:
In that case, this is a no brainer for him. Since he will have the donor car, he will need to get the ecu and some of the wiring ported over. I'd assume that will rid him of any component protection issues. One thing that will be hard to change is the Vin in the ecu.
Click to expand...
What else exactly will he need from the diner car?
 
I'd def take the mmi (allieve any component issues) and ecu. Optionally would also get the center console controller and the buttons, along with the steering wheel if it has paddles.

Compare the haldex too and make sure they are the same part number on both cars.
 
Certainly would need the whole running gear as the final drive ratios will be different, plus all the suspension and the brakes....
 
You won't need suspension parts for an engine swap, but if it's magride, I'd get that. Car will most likely need a good amount of vcd coding to compensate for missing options in current car, but that should be the easy part
 
rcnacura said:
You won't need suspension parts for an engine swap, but if it's magride, I'd get that. Car will most likely need a good amount of vcd coding to compensate for missing options in current car, but that should be the easy part
Click to expand...

Both cars are Quattro..his words on suspension was that he's going to get coilovers apparently,brakes are going be rs3 front,standard s3 on rear.

I never thought about mmi as I know his has mmi aswel so didn't realise would be difference in both :/
 
rcnacura said:
You won't need suspension parts for an engine swap, but if it's magride, I'd get that. Car will most likely need a good amount of vcd coding to compensate for missing options in current car, but that should be the easy part
Click to expand...
You not think that the dampers or springs would be different for a car far quicker, higher top speed and cornering speeds and one audi claim to be a S3? Perhaps Audi dupe everyone and just bolt the engine into a standard setup then...
 
cuke2u said:
You not think that the dampers or springs would be different for a car far quicker, higher top speed and cornering speeds and one audi claim to be a S3? Perhaps Audi dupe everyone and just bolt the engine into a standard setup then...
Click to expand...
When asking about an engine swap, suspension components are not needed.
 
The original post asked if the engine swap was feasable.
Cuke2u suggests that he needs to consider suspension as well. Completely on topic.
 
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All Cuke2u is saying is that to reap the full benefits of the more powerful engine, the rest of the car has to be able to cope with the increased performance IE. uprate the other components to match - solid point!
 
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The 1.8 TFSI is quite a capable engine, claimed to have 180bhp its more around 200bhp stock (Mine showed 210bhp on a reputable dyno). A few owners with a tune and downpipe are around 260-270bhp. My point is that may be a better route and save you a lot of hassle. When he wants to sell the car it is much easier to revert back to stock also. If he fancies tuning up it up after putting in the engine then I agree with everyone here, buy an S3!!!!!!
 
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I would have also thought it easer to drop the engine and gearbox out of the S3 on the front sub frame with all the front suspension, brakes etc. in place then bolt it back in again, same for the rear diff. Far quicker than having to dissassemble everything then have to reassemble it again..
But hey, we'll beg to differ...
 
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cuke2u said:
I would have also thought it easer to drop the engine and gearbox out of the S3 on the front sub frame with all the front suspension, brakes etc. in place then bolt it back in again, same for the rear diff. Far quicker than having to dissassemble everything then have to reassemble it again..
But hey, we'll beg to differ...
Click to expand...
Agreed. But easier still - give up the idea and buy the S3, as has been suggested!!!
 
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Basically the way to think of it is you're reshelling the S3, but in the most expensive way possible by tearing down a decent roadworthy s-line rather than just buying a bare shell for the S3 & swopping everything across!!. Each to their own I suppose.
 
cuke2u said:
You not think that the dampers or springs would be different for a car far quicker, higher top speed and cornering speeds and one audi claim to be a S3? Perhaps Audi dupe everyone and just bolt the engine into a standard setup then...
Click to expand...
S-line suspension and S3 suspension are exactly the same, just the brakes are different
 
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Would the ecu not need to be changed over , keys etc reprogrammed seems a lot of hassle.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
You can get the keys reprogrammed easily, but yes the ecu is mandatory along with a bunch of vcd coding.
 
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