Back in an S3...

Ian W · Dec 12, 2018

Hi!

It's been a while but I am back in an S3

Previously owned an Absolute Red prefacelift and a beautiful Merlin Purple facelift a number of years ago, i've been happily living with a MK1 TT the last 6.5 years but a new member of the family means a TT isn't really going to work :wink new:

So I have decided to buy another S3, been looking since the summer but only seen poor examples, today's purchase seems pretty decent for the money and age of the car...

Now I have a 2001, Ming Blue, very close to standard and just in need of a few bits and bobs to bring it up to scratch, I don't mind that, a little mini project is always fun

I'll be posting various threads over the coming weeks no doubt as I re-familiarise myself with the 8L. Had a quick trip down memory lane today when the passenger window got stuck all the way down about 5 miles from home

Will get some pictures this weekend hopefully, no doubt this will turn in to a project thread...

Ashy>> · Dec 12, 2018

Welcome back

Is it the one that Chris has been having all the work done on lately to get it ready for sale? Looks a really nice car if so.

Get that wallet ready to be opened weekly

hydro s3 · Dec 12, 2018

Best colour to have. If it is that one Chris was selling that does look a nice example.

Sandra · Dec 13, 2018

Welcome back Ian. Look forward to your project thread, lol. Enjoy

Ian W · Dec 13, 2018

Yep, the one Chris was selling, looking forward to the weekend so I can give it a bit of a clean, fingers crossed it is dry!

Ian W · Dec 16, 2018

Came home from the Xmas party early this afternoon and got cracking with the S3...

Started with a full hoover out and a good wipe down inside, then cleaned all the leather with Gliptone, could see within minutes a matt finish returning. While the cleaner was drying I gave the outside a quick wash, mainly to get rid of the buffer paste in the door shuts etc.

Finished the outside and then applied Gliptone conditioner to the leather.

Finally had a nice little win on the key, only came with one and the fob didn't work, ordered a new outer case and blank blade from ebay, got the blade cut yesterday and managed to resync the key today so I have a working fob now

Not got any pics yet really, weather and light working against me...

Ian W · Dec 27, 2018

Got to spend a bit of time on this today, fitted my bargain amex / apex springs with new top mounts and bearings.

Took my 19's off my TT and fitted them to the S3, they look so much better than the dark coloured 18's that where on it.

Quite a job, I don't think any of the suspension components had ever been off so everything needed a good dose of penetrating fluid but I'm happy with the results

Car and wheels need a decent scrub..

The finish on the wheels is chrome powder coat, they looks awesome when clean and help brighten it all up..

Now onto the next jobs....

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Ian W · Dec 30, 2018

Quick wash today, managed to get both side light bulbs changed and oiled the door lock so more jobs ticked off the list...

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ben4866 · Dec 30, 2018

That's a really nice S3 mate

Ian W · Dec 30, 2018

ben4866 said:
That's a really nice S3 mate

Cheers Ben, it's not bad tbf, needs a few hours on it to get a few bits fixed but on the whole it's pretty good.

Really want to do the headlights next, hopefully next Sunday, I need to sort the condensation then flat and polish, will tidy the front end up nicely.

Ian W · Jan 5, 2019

Few hours on the S3 today, removed the passenger headlight to remove the condensation and then polished both headlights, added a nice fresh number plate and the front end is looking for better for it

Gave the rear lights some similar treatment and they look great, one in particular was very dull and now they look great!

Put a new plate on the back once I'd finished cleaning up the area on the boot. Cars looking s lot fresher now

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Ian W · Jan 13, 2019

Picked up a set of polished mirrors for S3 this week, I do like how it brightens it up

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Ian W · Jan 19, 2019

Another weekend and managed to squeeze in a few jobs:

Fitted some Aero arms and blades from my TT.
Replaced all the bulbs in the high brake light so it all lights up
Wet vac'd the mats and boot carpet so it is looking a little fresher in side now.

Hoping next weekend I will have time to wash and give it a quick going over with a spray on wax to give it at least some protection, at the minute everything off the road is sticking to it.

Still enjoying being back in an S3 though

Ian W · Jan 19, 2019

As I can't really get any decent pics of S3 number 3, I thought I would share a few pictures of my old ones...

I bought my first one in 2007, a pre facelift in Absolute red, I really wanted a red one so was super happy when I bought this. Seems crazy that I paid £8K for it though given the prices now.

When I first bought it...

I started getting into detailing and trying different waxes etc, added a few bits and it looked really good after a couple of years...

About 2010 I was really wishing I had a facelift, my friend had one and so did my dad and I just liked the little extra touches. One day browsing Pistonheads I came across a lovely Merlin Purple one, before the end of that day I had bought it and owned two S3's :/

Was a stunning example, virtually every extra, great to drive and turned heads. Another one to add to the 'shouldn't have sold list'

Kept it until 2012 and decided to buy a Z4 that I kept for 6 weeks as I hated it with the roof down

Bought a MK1 TT as a temp car and kept it until now.

Can't wait for the better weather so I can see what I can do with bringing the Ming blue paintwork up to scratch!

hydro s3 · Jan 19, 2019

Love the Merlin purple one.

Ian W · Feb 22, 2019

Been a busy and expensive few weeks with the S3!

It all started near the end of the month, driving home from work and the oil pressure light decided to appear

did the usual thing of switching off and arranging delivery to my mates garage. This is the not what you want to be seeing at anytime but I had a heavily pregnant wife at home ready to give birth at any moment and I was having to go to work without my car 30 miles away, not ideal!

Luckily the little fella made his appearance in the evening so the car wasn't required

After a few days, the reports came back on the car, oil pressure check was fine and well within limits which was good news, put the light down to a dodgy sensor, while it was in I had the sump dropped, pickup changed and a new oil pressure switch fitted.

It was also discovered that both rear calipers were completely seized, I knew they where a bit stiff but the pads and discs were metal on metal, so it came out with full new rear brakes on the rear.

So, got it back and it was certainly driving better and no more oil pressure warnings

As i'm on paternity leave and my S3 isn't the family car, it made the ideal time to send the dashpod off for DIS replacement so that has been done, after trying to figure out why my drivers side vent didn't illuminate, it became clear when I had the dashpod out, clearly it's had some kind of gauge fitted and then very poorly removed, just a mess of wires behind the vent. I removed all unnecessary wires, fixed the wiring for the vent and now that is working as well.

Next job was the passenger side xenon, it has been full of condensation since I bought it, once removed and inspected, I could see water swishing around, got it in the oven, seperated the lense from the unit, cleaned it all up and put it back together, added an extra bead of sealant all around the edge which so far, seems to have worked.

While the bumper was off, I removed the Cupra R splitter, never been a fan of them myself, much prefer the standard bumper

Today being such a nice day, I did something I have been itching to do, give it a good clean. It had previously had some sort of oily product applied which apart from being very streaky, seemed to offer no repellent protection at all. Cleaned it with hot water and fairy liquid to act as a degreaser and remove the previous product and clay'd the car, finished with a coat of Collinite 476. In a couple of months I will be correcting the paint but for now it looks clean and has some decent protection.

It's now looking pretty good IMO...

Rainbird · Feb 23, 2019

Congrats on the new arrival dude!

Ian W · Feb 23, 2019

Rainbird said:
Congrats on the new arrival dude!

Thanks

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hydro s3 · Feb 23, 2019

Congratulations on the baby mate.
Do you plan to put the splitter back on or will it be in the classifieds?

Ian W · Feb 23, 2019

hydro s3 said:
Congratulations on the baby mate.
Do you plan to put the splitter back on or will it be in the classifieds?

Thanks

Splitter will be staying off, they're not my thing, would like to sell but not entirely sure the value is worth the hassle of trying to wrap up

hydro s3 · Feb 23, 2019

Yeah i get what you mean.

Sam_ · Mar 4, 2019

Looks awesome! :icon thumright:

Ian W · Mar 4, 2019

Not a big update but I managed to resolve my broken cup holder, chap on Facebook had a mechanism that was missing the face, sent it to me for the price of postage, cleaned it and fitted the face off mine and it now works

It's not 100% as the bottom bit that acts as a base is a bit broken but I think it should still work, the main thing is that it holds itselt within the dash as it is meant to so looks far tidier.

Not a bad fix for a fiver

Ian W · Mar 25, 2019

Removed my Forge Big Knob from my soon to be sold TT and fitted it to the S3.

Chopped the shaft down a little so it sits a bit lower.

Feels great, it's got a bit of weight in it so feels like a nice positive shift.

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Ian W · May 1, 2019

Car got treated to a bit of a clean after work today, very much needed. I'm hoping during this month I will have time to machine polish it, eager to try and get the flake popping a bit more.

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S3AMJ · May 1, 2019

Dam sight cleaner than mine, looks really good bud. Need to sort my bodywork out at some point.

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Ian W · May 1, 2019

S3AMJ said:
Dam sight cleaner than mine, looks really good bud. Need to sort my bodywork out at some point.

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Pictures and a good shine do wonders

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Ian W · May 22, 2019

Little bit of progress today, had a PDR guy take the big knocks out of it

A few little ones remain but I can live with that, hoping to machine polish it this weekend...

Ian W · May 23, 2019

Found a few minutes to get the wings and bonnet machine polished and waxed after work...

I'm happy with that finish

thinking I might get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday and get the rest of the car done, going to be worth it I think.

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hydro s3 · May 24, 2019

That's a very good shine you got on it. What cleaning products do you use?

Ian W · May 24, 2019

hydro s3 said:
That's a very good shine you got on it. What cleaning products do you use?

Thanks bud. It was washed and clayed then I used Dodo Juice Lime Prime on a polishing pad with the DA to clean the paint, this makes it lovely and fresh looking.

Topped it with Fusso 99 which is a nice hard wearing wax.

Nothing too extreme, I don't have the entire weekends free that I used to have for car detailing anymore so it's a case of doing the best I can in a short space of time and trying to make it as durable as possible

Daniel M · May 24, 2019

Good work with the DA...looks great.

I need to do mine desperately but keep putting off buying new pads.

Is that a corsa GSI hiding in the garage?

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Ian W · May 24, 2019

Daniel M said:
Good work with the DA...looks great.

I need to do mine desperately but keep putting off buying new pads.

Is that a corsa GSI hiding in the garage?

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I've pretty much stuck with the Hexlogic pads the last few years, they work well.

Yes, good spot

my other rolling project in the garage. If you're interested, here's my project thread for it: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/194237/1995-vauxhall-corsa-gsi-16v

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Ian W · May 25, 2019

As planned, early start today and car machine polished and waxed. Very happy with the results.

The only bit I worked on correcting was the rear bumper as it was full of scratches and flat, that's come up great, drivers rear quarter has some flat paint from previous paint work so I'll be correcting that when I have chance. The rest of the car I passed over with the paint cleanser to prep it for the wax (Fusso 99)

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Ian W · Jul 23, 2019

Well, that's my S3 journey coming to an end for the third and (probably) final time.

Car started running really hot at the end of last month, general suspicion was a failed water pump, local indy suggested the same and I was looking around £350 for a new pump and belt kit.

Turns out the head gasket has failed, I don't have the time to fix it myself these days and I don't fancy spending the £800 they wanted to resolve it so the S3 is up for sale as spares or repair.

It was nice to relive the old 8L memories in some respects but in others it reminded me why I sold the previous ones!

I never added pictures of the final bits I did, I fitted a lovely half leather / alcantara trim (black/white) and got some nice S3 mats.

Now it's sat waiting for a new owner :bye:

Ian W · Aug 6, 2019

Well, that's the S3 gone and by Audi journey come to an end, probably never should have come back to S3 ownership in hindsight. My previous one was lovely and this one, while not back, showed all the signs of being an old car.

Made quite a loss on it given the fact I had to sell it with the head gasket gone but such is life!

Vex182 · Aug 6, 2019

Ian W said:
Well, that's the S3 gone and by Audi journey come to an end, probably never should have come back to S3 ownership in hindsight. My previous one was lovely and this one, while not back, showed all the signs of being an old car.

Made quite a loss on it given the fact I had to sell it with the head gasket gone but such is life!

I have one for 6ish years, sold it and then got another 18 months later but still love it. At least you tried one again!

Ian W · Aug 6, 2019

Vex182 said:
I have one for 6ish years, sold it and then got another 18 months later but still love it. At least you tried one again!

Yep, if the head gasket hadn't gone I wouldn't have got rid as I had really got it looking and feeling nice over the last couple of months, I just couldn't justify the cost of the repair. In the past I have thrown good money after bad at cars and I decided to use my head this time and realise it was time to move it on.

Tj 0785 · Aug 6, 2019

What’s the next headache going to be ?

Ian W · Aug 6, 2019

Its a 2007 Focus ST2. Not had a fast Ford for years and not really had any interest in them but I must say, i'm really enjoying it, it's a great car to drive, very comfortable and plenty of room inside. Its standard so not exactly a super car but I just want a nice clean standard car.

Back in an S3...

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