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

Sorry guys...ranting again :sadlike:

Ah man...I so much want to love my car but it just doesn't want to love me!

My tyre man called me on Friday to get my wheels swapped over while he was quiet...I thought, today is going to be a good day, I'll pop by the care home and drop a treat in for my mum on the way, as we can't see each other during lockdown, then revel in the glory of admiring my sparkling wheels on my S3.

Let's just check the oil before we go...as the dipstick comes out, so do some plastic fragments from the top of it and fly off. Luckily, I think, the bits flew off as the stick was out of the tube so fingers crossed on that one. Need to order one of those now. That just sums it up...DIPSTICK!

Anyway, got to my tyre man and he swapped over the tyres and wheels, torqued them up and it's just the centre caps to pop on. As you can see from the picture above, they fit nice and flush, after I had to cut back some plastic tabs on the rear of them. You would push them in until they stop leaving a small gap then you just had to 'whack' them with the palm of your hand and they clicked into place...easy.

Well, that's what we thought until we realised, after severe bruising to the palm of my hand, that with the hubcentric spacers on, the centre caps would not 'click' into place and just kept popping out again, and again.

ARRGGGHHHH!!!

Left there with the centre caps banished to the boot, feeling totally deflated. After a couple of hours stewing and mentally writing out 'FOR SALE' adverts in my head, I felt brave enough to face the car alone in my garage, just the two of us, man to man!

I managed to find some thin double sided tape and stuck some to the inner wheel and back of the centre cap and pressed firmly. I had to remove the metal 'o' ring that locates behind the wheel for the caps to fit flush. Certainly not ideal and not sure what will happen after a few heat/wash cycles.

Got some hi-temp double sided on the way, should be here June...

...2023 and thinking about maybe magnets, bonded to the back of the cap, something like these...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/small-large-NEODYMIUM-MAGNETS-1mm-2mm-3mm-thick-Round-Rings-Cylinder-Discs/132012556278?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160811114145&meid=7ea6a59ec8f24bfcb055c847637973b8&pid=100667&rk=4&rkt=8&mehot=pp&sd=172812195870&itm=132012556278&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2334524&brand=Unbranded&_trksid=p2334524.c100667.m2042

Not sure of strength, size, etc. so research needed there. That's what bugs me about my S3, it always seems to bite me. I rarely look back at my car when I leave it and we all know that we do when we love them. I really thought that with these spacers and refurbished wheels on the car, it would make me want to look back and feel good. Instead if I look back, it will be to check how many centre caps are still on the car.

I've driven 30 miles or so and they're still there. At least I've added a fair bit to my S3's scrap value now, as they're not perfect, but a vast improvement regardless.

Here's the results...

IMG 20200516 103025






IMG 20200514 162121


IMG 20200516 102953
 
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Dont give up man - she looks good for the new wheels
 
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I buy alot of them magnets for various bits and Bob's and have to say they are quite strong. Not sure about for your caps. Dont want to say they are and they drop off
 
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Cheers guys...need to sort something better than tape...magnets seem a good shout @Asim1 , just need to explore further.
 
Like I said they are strong little buggers..if you can find a way to sit 4 maybe 4 around might work for around ten and low speed driving and take em off if you hit motorways. The problem will end up being when you get to comfortable with them on your car and forget to take them off
 
Thought about bonding 4/5 magnets to wheel and cap in the hope they would be strong enough and to remove the cap, I'm thinking maybe turning the cap to disengage the magnets...sound plausible?
 
I had the same problem with my centre caps, I had to remove the metal ring to get them to clip on. My wheels are genuine so it's nothing to do with them not being genuine but that caps arent genuine so perhaps that's where the issue lies with them, i had wondered if it was the powder coating thickness that wasnt helping......so far they've stayed on for a few thousand miles & have held up to 100+ on private roads of course
 
Been quiet on the S3 front, no doubt that'll change soon as it's in for a service and check up in a couple of weeks for it's MOT in October at Audi.I did have some good fortune recently though.

Don't hate me too much,we all know we're a bunch of piranhas on here,trawling the ebay ocean for that monster catch...and I got one,a facelift headlight switch in mint condition for less than a 'pony'...

IMG 20200829 132005


Trouble is I'm in two minds whether to fit it or place it in a display cabinet as a piece of rare art :blink: most likely the second option for now.

I'm sure there's plenty of you on here with a large spares collection...is it us?...or just the car that causes it?

Stay safe guys.
 
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Looks brand new that bargain that, I do like a Bargin and I am guilty of buying spares parts because they rare and hard to get or just cheap, I’ve got mute cupholders than I have wheels for my car ha
 
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audi upgrades
I wouldn’t want to get any finger prints on that lee alone fit it..... looks brand new! Nice find.

I was struggling for ages to find one and ended up getting the “hard” plastic looking one.


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Had to swap out my scratched original for a pre-facelift one with the manual adjustment after I got the car so now I have 3 switches :blush:

I wanted to look into the auto lights mod but didn't want to cut the new knob so I can at least look into making the hole bigger in the scratched one.Only trouble is I think the size of the hole to fit the new knob would mean another under dash panel to cut as well.
 
Had an advisory on the last MOT for front indicators not being bright enough so I thought I'd refresh all the bulbs in the headlights with...

IMG 20200830 092046


I've gone for 5000K dipped and main beam plus the pair of EM Tuning sidelight bulbs and some LED indicator bulbs. I forgot to take any before/after pictures to compare headlights but did remember one of the indicators...here's the difference between old OEM and new LED bulbs...

Indicatorf


No trouble spotting my car being unlocked in a car park now, just need to get some for the back as the difference is 'night & day'.

Service and pre MOT check next week :blink:
 
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Close up pic of the new headlight bulbs...for me, I think the high beam bulbs gives it a nice blue tint...
IMG 20200912 105031
 
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Morning all...good start to the week :huh:

My car was in for it's service yesterday and about a week ago it had started to 'pull back' under full load, so we all know that is usually plugs/coilpack related and it is a 'misfire cylinder 4'...need a new coilpack and my mech advises to replace them in pairs, so 2 & 4 to change.

Need to find some cheap coilpacks...anyone tried the ebay ones that come with a warranty?

Also, yes there's more, do these cars have AI?...did it know it was in for a service?...on Saturday when I drove it, it started to 'squeal like a pig'.

So embarrassing, driving around with everyone staring at me (usually that only happens when I'm out of the car!).

Turns out it's the aux belt tensioner...so need to find out how to get that off, maybe some grease will help but expect I'll have to replace that as well.

Who said these cars a money pit?...I think mine is a money crater!

Any suggestions welcome guys.
 
Well I got on and removed the tensioner and managed to remove the plastic wheel. As par for the course with my S3, there was only two bolts holding the tensioner on, not three :wtf:

Ordered a replacement wheel off ebay, should be here in a couple of days. Out with the pushbike again, best bit of fitness equipment I've ever bought is my S3, gets me out on my bike more than ever. Then off down to Audi to order the bolts and two coilpacks.

I'll write it up when it's back together...damn car!
 
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So that was fun!...picked up the parts from Audi yesterday and when I got home I noticed the bolts were slightly shorter than the two I removed. They were the right ones according to ETKA so will have to speak to the dealership about that.

And the reason there was only two bolts fitted was because the third thread had been stripped so I ended up putting the two old bolts back in with plenty of threadlock...I'm not happy only having two so will have to get that sorted at a later date. The thing is, if I hadn't removed the tensioner, I wouldn't have known and now I know, it bugs me!

Ignorance is bliss.

Anyway, on to the job in question...I have thin arms and hands so I was able to do it by just undoing the charge pipe where it joins metal to rubber, take off the clamps, then lever the charge pipe out of the way...

IMG 20200915 110026


To slacken the tensioner I used a long 15mm spanner (or 11/16 AF will do) and pulled it towards the front of the car until I could lock it off. To lock it off I used one of my cheap 4mm drill bits. I tried a 5mm, which fits the holes, but it was too long, there wasn't enough space to thread it through. I had to put the drill bit into the outside hole of the tensioner before I pulled it back to lock off...sorry guys, no photo of that (too much frustration) but hopefully you get the idea.

The tensioner sits behind a bracket with the charge pipe bracket fitted onto this piece...

IMG 20200915 141212


It is tight in there but I managed to get the bolts out using a combination of 13mm ring spanners and stubby and long 13mm sockets. I just had to keep changing angles with my skinny hands, more fiddly than anything. Plus when you drop a tool, the engine bay vending machine sends it down the engine undertray and spits it out on the floor underneath the car...hey, I won again, another 13mm spanner to pick up!

So once undone, I slid it down a bit and managed to wiggle it back up past the front of the alternator to freedom. With the tensioner on the bench you can remove the wheel with a Torx T40 bit...

IMG 20200915 141315


I bought a new wheel off ebay, plenty for sale as it's a generic part for the 1.8T engine...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fits-AUDI-A3-TT-SEAT-LEON-1-6-1-8-2-0-Fan-Belt-Tensioner-Pulley-V-Ribbed-Belt/123859779177?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

A comparison new and old...

IMG 20200916 160931


Gave the tensioner a clean up and slapped some engine paint on the charge pipe bracket (and three useless bolts)...
IMG 20200917 143448


Also found this split pipe in the process...
IMG 20200820 154059


Is that the one going to the servo?...it was still on the fitting but it had gone rock solid and split and must have been leaking. I cut off the split piece then used a heat gun to gently warm it and a metal punch tapered end to ease open the pipe.

All back together, coilpacks fitted and started up the car...is it?...is it?...no, it's fine and no squealing.

Out for a few miles test run today and no holding back under load, no screeching....I hate to say this but, it seems to be behaving itself. I might get another two coilpacks from Audi to replace my old pair, only charged me £50.06 plus vat for the two, that seems a good price.

MOT next month :blink:
 
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tcg said:
Offered up a sacrafice to the gods of suspension this weekend...View attachment 83723

And with the addition of some magic beans as well,this was my reward for pacifying them...View attachment 83724

Bit of a difference in rear springs on the passenger side...View attachment 83725

#commonfault

Not surprising that the car feels better 'on the road' now :yes:
Click to expand...


Hi, where did you get the bump stops and the other plasticky/rubbery things for the rear springs.
Thanks

Chris.
 
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:rage: MOT = FAIL :rage:

Rear brake lines corroded!...also advisories for both ball joints and steering rack boots....not good.

Having read plenty of posts on here about problems with bleeding these brakes I'll leave that one alone so it's booked in with my mechanic to do those next week so I'm 'carless' again, seems to be a common event with S3 8L ownership.
 
I had to replace my rear brake lines a couple years back mate don’t get to beat up about it. Unfortunately our cars are getting on a bit, there are far worse cars out there...... be glad you don’t own a Peugeot haha, my poor mum had replaced 3 rear axles in her ownership.

keep us updated on how you get on
 
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Cheers mate...I get my MOT free at Audi and I'm lucky as I don't need my S3 daily but, if I was a 'normal punter', the Audi quote for brake lines and labour was around £1500 and the car has to be fixed before it gets an MOT due to the law nowadays so a lot of people could get shafted.

At least I can take it to my mechanic, just for the brake pipes at Audi they were £200, my man said he'll be able to get them for about £60-£70. Even then, I couldn't get it booked in until next week so out with the pushbike again!

I'm getting him to do the ball joints and steering boots at the same time and also replace the brake fluid as I expect that has never been done in the car's lifetime knowing how these S3's have been looked after by previous owners.
 
Well that was interesting...are you sitting comfortably?

Dropped off my S3 for my mechanic on Tuesday morning and got a call from him within an hour...we all know that's not a good sign and it wasn't. When he was inspecting the ball joints, etc. he noticed that the rear bushes on both lower arms had split (that wasn't noted on the MOT) and he wasn't happy leaving the car like it.

Like most people on here, I'd intended to uprate the bushes at some point but other things took their place on the never ending list we have so I just let him decide what to do and he found some 'pattern' lower arms that he was happy to fit. For the pair of them with ball joints included it came to £218, so not too bad, about half the price of oem ones, I think he said.

Picked up the car that afternoon and drove it the couple of miles to the dealership to get it retested. Finally got the car back on Saturday with a new MOT.

I won't be taking up the option of a free MOT with AUDI anymore, with the new MOT law I think I've learnt my lesson, next year it will go to my mechanic...I know I can trust him plus on the second MOT the dealership gave the rear brake pipes as a monitor advisory for corrosion when they'd just been changed for new ones. They also noted (as minor defect) the chip I have had on the windscreen since buying the car, but never mentioned that on the failed MOT the first time, very frustrating.

I didn't bother to have a rant at them, just got the paperwork and left.

So now I have fresh fluid in the brakes and they feel better, also when the car had it's tracking done I got them to straighten my steering wheel, which has always been slightly off centre since I bought the car.

Also with the new lower arms and bushes, the front end feels much 'tighter', quite a difference from before so there have been some positives.

Took it for a blast around the ring road, just to confirm!
 
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Good news that you’ve got an MOT now. Painful experience getting there mate! I’d never take my S3 to a dealer.... never had good experiences with them, they ALWAYS seem to find something wrong. A trusted mechanic is worth there weight in gold! Now you can enjoy the car
 
When I got my car back in 2016, the dealership were really friendly and helpful, unlike most places like that. Unfortunately the franchise changed and it gradually got less inviting and more like you would expect. The last couple of years it seems to have got worse and the covid pandemic has made it even more unwelcoming due to the restrictions put in place.

Just a relief to get back on the road, still struggle to love my S3...it just keeps on wanting!
 
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Another homage paid to one of my old cars on Wheeler Dealers last night...it was my most unreliable car until I bought my S3... and so much more fun to drive and work on.

It was on the path to being a V8 but unfortunately circumstances got in the way...still miss it now. One of the best handling cars I've owned, once I'd lowered/uprated and polybushed the suspension...it drove like it was on rails and always with a bit of oversteer. The 'live' rear axle was great fun.

The only pic's I have of my baby from back then...

TR7


TR7 1
 
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Loved mine mate, wish I'd managed to get the 3.5 V8 into it as they were lovely like that. I was hoping to do mine but other things took priority.

One that got away :crying:
 
I did like wheeler dealers..... Mike is such a C**T though . It was Ed that made that show, Mike just took all the credit.


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S3AMJ said:
I did like wheeler dealers..... Mike is such a C**T though
emoji23.png
. It was Ed that made that show, Mike just took all the credit.
Click to expand...

I'm the same mate...good when it started, then like most shows, they always have to go one better and lose sight of what made it good to start with...a bit like my S3 :yes:
 
Insured my S3 again on my fifth anniversary with it and I've decided this will be my last year owning a S3 8L. In the last few years my mileage has dropped to a couple of thousand and since last March it only gets driven twice a week, to ASDA and the care home drop off, about 30 miles maximum. Almost all of my driving now is in 30/50mph limits and I never get the urge to take the 'long way' anywhere I drive it.

A few things to tidy up and then I'll put it up for sale in the summer...it is a waste just sat in my garage, these cars need to be driven.

On a personal note, my old friendly neighbours from two doors up who I'd been helping with their shopping since last March, he (Colin), the guy who cut down my locking bolts last April, was taken into hospital with Covid two weeks ago and sadly passed away on Wednesday.

A lovely fit 80 year old man taken when it wasn't his time.

Stay safe guys.
 
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just read this last page of posts and noticed you mentioned.....
"advisory on the last MOT for front indicators not being bright enough"

Then you later commented you replaced the standard light bulbs - so the standard bulbs not good enough or they decreased their brightness over time?
Also how do they know where to draw the line and issue an advisory on the brightness?
 
No idea how they judge the indicators, but they mentioned the orange bulbs had faded, so I decided to fit led indicator bulbs as they won't fade and when I changed them, I changed all the headlight bulbs to give it a 'fresher' look, plus going from standard 3800K dip beam to the 5000K has improved the vision in my opinion.

hth
 
Cheers mate...usually people are glad to see the back of me!

It's wasted sitting idle in a garage...it needs someone with the passion to keep it going/improving. I just need to decide whether to strip off some of the more valuable parts or sell it altogether with the spares. I could remove the MK2 RNS-E and bluetooth, also have some black mirrors so could remove the ally ones plus I have two sets of wheels now.

I just need a more 'urban' car...been thinking of a Fiesta ST150 as my next project...any opinions or experience of those cars guys?
 
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Tim, it will be a sad day when you sell. I have been reading this thread the last 5 years and you have achieved so much. I hope your car goes to someone with the same passion you have in keeping this lovely car on the road. I’m also sorry to hear about your good neighbour. Stay safe Tim. :friends:
 
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Sorry to see your moving on mate, stay in touch and stay safe. My close friend loves Ford and has had various over the years, I'm personally not a big fan... Build quality isn't the best however they are cheap to run. He is planning on parting ways with his Focus ST to get an Audi S4, read that how you will :)
 
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Sandra said:
Tim, it will be a sad day when you sell. I have been reading this thread the last 5 years and you have achieved so much. I hope your car goes to someone with the same passion you have in keeping this lovely car on the road. I’m also sorry to hear about your good neighbour. Stay safe Tim.
Click to expand...

Kind words Sandra...always grateful for your first welcome back then. It's a shame to sell but the car needs more love than I can give, hopefully when I sell, I'll be able to find someone who will cherish it.

I'm not giving it the use it needs or deserves...today I did my weekly 'Red Cross' parcel drop off to my mum at her care home. The trip is about 7.5 miles each way and not counting bus/pedestrian lights, I pass through 7 sets of traffic lights, there is one stretch of 70 mph for 0.5 mile and the rest of the journey is urban/suburban 30/50 mph limits.

My ASDA trip is about 3.5 miles each way with about 0.5 mile 70 limit so this car needs to go to someone who will push its limits more than I am. I just need a runaround for now that is cheaper to run/fix/mod/upgrade.

I always try to get my cars into a better condition when I sell them than when I buy them...must stop buying lemons!

S3AMJ said:
Sorry to see your moving on mate, stay in touch and stay safe. My close friend loves Ford and has had various over the years, I'm personally not a big fan... Build quality isn't the best however they are cheap to run. He is planning on parting ways with his Focus ST to get an Audi S4, read that how you will
Click to expand...

Cheers Ash, I'm not mad on 'Fast Fords' although I have owned a XR3 and XR3i in the past and my GF drives a '13 Fiesta so yeh, build/cabin quality is not the same. Having said that no soft touch rubber to wear off.

It's also the parts price/source that annoys me with the S3...if I get a Fiesta ST150 then pretty much anything from a Fiesta will fit. They can be easily tuned for some small gains. They can have similar interior specs as ours plus a few more.

I always find the Audi a B*s*a*d to work on...nothing ever seems easy to remove/fix on my S3...I'll probably have to visit my therapist for the rest of my life from the scars of owning this car.

I haven't sold it yet so let's see if I can!
 
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Your always welcome on here Tim, even if you do sell the car. You have made a lot of friends along the way :friends:so don’t disappear no matter what car you drive. :thumbs up:
 
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Sorry to hear about your neighbour mate..brilliant that you were doing the shopping for him. I salute you lad
 
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