Audi S1- My diary

[S1 OAP]

Hello!

I used to own a Audi S3 8L and loved the car, had it for over five years and it was my daily.

When the Audi A1 first came out I wondered if there would be a S1 version, and when the A1 Quattro arrived I knew it was on the cards!

And then later in 2014 I drove home from work past my local Audi dealer and saw some S1's being delivered and awaiting pdi.

I vowed to myself that one day I was going to get one!, it took over 11 years but I now have one.

It has taken me nearly a year to find the right car as I was looking for something with most of the options, it also had to be three door and Daytona Grey.

The car will a hobby/weekend toy in my retirement, it will be garaged and has been all its life.

Looking forward to learning as much as i can about the car in my ownership, I have loads plan for it.

 

[Phazer]

Welcome to the party!!

 

[iLikefishing]

Had mine nearly 10 years and still love it, enjoy

 

[S1 OAP]

Thanks Guy's

I have enjoyed reading all the old posts and feeling the excitement people had, late to the party but i'm here now!

I have only driven it a few hundred miles before it was put away for winter.

I was worried I wouldn't get the same feeling I had with the S3, but i feel even more connected with this car.

It's all I thought it would be, I love this very unique car.

 

[Phazer]

Thanks Guy's

I have enjoyed reading all the old posts and feeling the excitement people had, late to the party but i'm here now!

I have only driven it a few hundred miles before it was put away for winter.

I was worried I wouldn't get the same feeling I had with the S3, but i feel even more connected with this car.

It's all I thought it would be, I love this very unique car.

Glad you're enjoying, it's a much more engaging drive than some of the other "grown up" Audis. I sold my 2018 TTS when my wife was done with the S1 so I could keep it. The TT is a phenomenal car but the S1 is sooo much more fun. Mine is just for fun too so also lives in the garage. Recently ticked over 6k miles

 

[danycee]

Daytona grey is a great colour, the S1 is a very unique car and IMO will be one of audis jewel S models in the future, I have mine on sepang blue with chrome caps, I wish I got one with the pan roof , but just some small info on the car from a mechanics perspective, gen 5 haldex unit that needs to be serviced every 40k miles, including cleaning out the filter, oil changes are great on these for the DIY mechanics oil filter sits on the top needing 32mm socket, no need to worry about sump plug as these don't use a traditional nut being a plastic sump it's a one turn lock key that you could use a butter knife to open , I like it, some dont, just keep your bottom cover on for protection, main dealer will tell you 10k oil changes because the computer told them that, but don't, either 5k miles or 6 months of sitting, if it's passed 60k miles switch to a 5w40, millers nano CT+ amazing oil, these ea888 gen 3s are noisy units, and in this cold don't be to alarmed, you have MPI multi port injection and they're noisy timing chains on these are actually very reliable but like everything nothing is perfect I would recommend getting a OBD eleven and checking for any stretch electronically, I am sure you will do your homework, enjoy dude

 

[S1 OAP]

Glad you're enjoying, it's a much more engaging drive than some of the other "grown up" Audis. I sold my 2018 TTS when my wife was done with the S1 so I could keep it. The TT is a phenomenal car but the S1 is sooo much more fun. Mine is just for fun too so also lives in the garage. Recently ticked over 6k miles

I can't go through the gears quick enough, I I don't like taking a car to the rev limiter so glad it;s got one.

Has your car only done 6k miles, what spec is it?

 

[S1 OAP]

Daytona grey is a great colour, the S1 is a very unique car and IMO will be one of audis jewel S models in the future, I have mine on sepang blue with chrome caps, I wish I got one with the pan roof , but just some small info on the car from a mechanics perspective, gen 5 haldex unit that needs to be serviced every 40k miles, including cleaning out the filter, oil changes are great on these for the DIY mechanics oil filter sits on the top needing 32mm socket, no need to worry about sump plug as these don't use a traditional nut being a plastic sump it's a one turn lock key that you could use a butter knife to open , I like it, some dont, just keep your bottom cover on for protection, main dealer will tell you 10k oil changes because the computer told them that, but don't, either 5k miles or 6 months of sitting, if it's passed 60k miles switch to a 5w40, millers nano CT+ amazing oil, these ea888 gen 3s are noisy units, and in this cold don't be to alarmed, you have MPI multi port injection and they're noisy timing chains on these are actually very reliable but like everything nothing is perfect I would recommend getting a OBD eleven and checking for any stretch electronically, I am sure you will do your homework, enjoy dude

Thanks for the info, I'm still learning about the car.

I think it's the last geared S cars, I could never understand why the S3 8L values are low

I really wanted my S3 8L in Dolphin Grey but found a car with 65k in Silver and it was mint, so sometimes you have to compromise.
This time it had to be the colour I wanted, but I also liked the Blue which was a S1 colour.

 

[S1 OAP]

The car has had two owners before me, the first owner had it for four years and took out a service plan with the supplying dealer.

The car was sold by the supplying dealer as an Audi approved car in 2018 to the previous owner to me.

With the second owner using Audi and Audi specialists to service the car over the last seven years.

The car came with all the paperwork and Audi approved folder and has been well looked after, as soon as I first saw it I knew it was the one I had been looking for.


I gave the car a very through inspection inside and out and also scanned the car with vcds.

I like to do this with my cars and make a list and go through them with a fine tooth comb.

The car had just had a major service before i bought it so I was intrigued to see what I would find.

They had done a very good job, Haldex service had been done, I could tell the pump had been removed for the filter clean.
Brake fluid had been changed,nice and clean. Even the much missed inline fuel filter had been replaced.
I took the under tray off and no nasty surprises, the car has never had a waterpump and there are no leaks.
They was a little engine oil residue around the sump so i have cleaned everything and will check again soon.
I know the sumps can crack but I think the cam cover gasket might have a small leak.
Also the lower intercooler pipe bracket for the coolant pipe had snapped, so that is on the to do list.

I now have a list of jobs, nothing to serious. I just like having a fault free/code free car.

 

[Phazer]

I can't go through the gears quick enough, I I don't like taking a car to the rev limiter so glad it;s got one.

Has your car only done 6k miles, what spec is it?

No point mashing the limiter on a turbo car, you can feel the power band

Yes just over 6k miles, factory order delivered Dec 2017. It's a Competition Nav.

 

[S1 OAP]

Changed the battery in both keys, they were still fitted with the originals.
The key pad on the spare key was like new, and there was a little wear on the main key pad so I replaced it.
Also fitted the Audi Daytona Grey cover and S Line key ring, still have the supplying dealer key rings too.

 

[S1 OAP]

Really enjoying owning the car, few more bits done.

The supplying dealer changed the standard exterior door mirror covers in aluminium styling for the body coloured version (Daytona Grey pearl effect)

I have now changed the genuine real aluminium ones (8XA857527B 3Q7 and 8XA857528B 3Q7)

I have kept the originals in case the next owner wants to refit them.

Added a genuine Audi Sport rear number plate holder.

And added a S1 stainless steel cup holder plate and 12v cover which matches in quite nicely.

 

[S1 OAP]

Still having fun playing with the car, few more jobs done.
Rear panel wrapped
Replaced the intercooler pipe
Painted the rear disc
Serviced the air-con
Replaced faded washer bottle cap
Replaced some missing engine cover grommets and bonnet trims

 

[S1 OAP]

When I scanned the car I had codes 16452 and 1031, which pointed to the servo vacuum sensor.
Replaced the sensor and cleared the codes, stop/start is now working.
I don't like that so I will coded it out.

The battery has been changed so I checked if it had been coded in, it hadn't.
Re-coded to the correct value.

When I inspected the car I noticed the fuel flap could be opened when the car was locked.
A scan showed a fault with the fuel flap actuator.
Stripped the boot and gave it a through clean while replacing the actuator.
Tool kit was unused and like new.
Added some genuine Audi accessories and a genuine 18 inch spare wheel.

 

[Phazer]

When I scanned the car I had codes 16452 and 1031, which pointed to the servo vacuum sensor.
Replaced the sensor and cleared the codes, stop/start is now working.
I don't like that so I will coded it out.

The battery has been changed so I checked if it had been coded in, it hadn't.
Re-coded to the correct value.

When I inspected the car I noticed the fuel flap could be opened when the car was locked.
A scan showed a fault with the fuel flap actuator.
Stripped the boot and gave it a through clean while replacing the actuator.
Tool kit was unused and like new.
Added some genuine Audi accessories and a genuine 18 inch spare wheel.

Nice. You managed to get the fuel filler out without damage? Audi's workshop manual says it's destruction and replace only. Was it straightforward?

 

[S1 OAP]

It was very tricky, you need a lot of patience to remove it.

I had to repair one of the clips but it fitted back nice and secure

There is a good video on youtube , I used that video as a guide and found a better way to remove it .

It's a cheap part if you need to replace it.

 

[Phazer]

It was very tricky, you need a lot of patience to remove it.

I had to repair one of the clips but it fitted back nice and secure

There is a good video on youtube , I used that video as a guide and found a better way to remove it .

It's a cheap part if you need to replace it.

Thanks, yeah was more interested for way down the line when they're hard to get and the inevitable solenoid failure happens!

 

[S1 OAP]

I must admit, the reason i didn't want to fit a new one was next time it will be easier to remove!

 

[S1 OAP]

When I inspected the car I noticed the air wasn't diverting to the centre air vents and footwell vents
The scan showed a central flap motor fault (V70 flap motor)
I did some research on the HVAC system on the car, to try and work out what was going on and what I needed to do
I didn't want to take the dash out but Audi had made it possible to change the V70 motor in situ
Purchased a new V70 motor (8Z0819453D) and spent a while fitting it
It was a very tricky job getting into some uncomfortable positions and I was pleased to get this job done!
I also removed the glovebox and replaced the recirculation motor (V71) as I could hear a faint clicking noise
I then needed to carry out basic setting with VCDS and cleared the stored faults
The HVAC system in the car now works perfectly with no noises or fault codes

 

[S1 OAP]

Next up was the cooling system
I wasn't happy with heater temp
I drained the coolant
Replaced the heater radiator and coolant control valve
The expansion tank was discoloured so I replaced it, the bag was still intact
While I was at it I replaced the coolant adaptor with a billet one as it would have failed at some point
Filled with new coolant and bleed the system
Heater now very hot!, as it should be

 

[Phazer]

Some worthwhile and tricky jobs ticked off!! The new coolant tank you bought, assume it's the original part number but no longer comes with the silica bag?

 

[iLikefishing]

Nice to know the fan and flap can be replaced without the dash coming out in case I ever need to do the same

 

[S1 OAP]

Some worthwhile and tricky jobs ticked off!! The new coolant tank you bought, assume it's the original part number but no longer comes with the silica bag?

Wasn't expecting the tricky jobs but it's all part of the fun and getting to know the car!
Not a genuine tank as I wanted to have the G12 marking as the anti freeze is G12 EVO, genuine tanks marked G13
No bag fitted in the tank I have

 

[S1 OAP]

Nice to know the fan and flap can be replaced without the dash coming out in case I ever need to do the same

If anyone needs to change anything on the HVAC system let me know as i took lots of photos
Some people have had large bills having motors changed

 

[Phazer]

Wasn't expecting the tricky jobs but it's all part of the fun and getting to know the car!
Not a genuine tank as I wanted to have the G12 marking as the anti freeze is G12 EVO, genuine tanks marked G13
No bag fitted in the tank I have

Thanks. I'd heard the replacement genuine tanks didn't have the silica bag as G12 Evo has replaced G13. Was ready to get one ordered, less than 25 quid for OEM Might just get it anyway.

 

[S1 OAP]

Next up was the front brakes
Before I purchased the car I could see it was going to need front discs and pads
The rear brakes had already been replaced by Audi and had lots of life left in them
I like Brembo brakes so fitted standard discs and Xtra pads
Had a disc retaining screw snap and I replaced these with s/s screws
Cleaned the calipers and fitted new caliper S1 plates
Did some research about the Xtra pads and I am very pleased with the feel and performance

 

[Phazer]

More good jobs done. The plates for the front brakes are silly prices now

I've received the new genuine coolant tank and can confirm there's no bag in there so looks like with the new G12Evo coolant they've canned them thankfully

 

[S1 OAP]

As soon as someone said last year that the plates were no longer available, I knew I had to get some.

Still paid around 40 pounds, now I have seen them around 100 pounds!!!!

As I plan on keeping the car a while, I am starting to stock up with bits I think might start getting hard to get find

 

[Phazer]

As soon as someone said last year that the plates were no longer available, I knew I had to get some.

Still paid around 40 pounds, now I have seen them around 100 pounds!!!!

As I plan on keeping the car a while, I am starting to stock up with bits I think might start getting hard to get find

They still show as available but they're just over 58 quid each retail. I bought a set from Germany before our trading issues for about 40 quid the pair.

With you though, there's quite a few bits that are going to get much harder to get hold of and the amount of parts that are unique to the S1 doesn't bode well for long term ownership - I plan on keeping mine long term too.

 

[S1 OAP]

MOT Day!

 

[iLikefishing]

I'm sure there were no advisories and your car passed easily

 

[S1 OAP]

Yes, it passed with flying colours

Before I purchased the car and did my checks, I always look at the MOT history.

I was pleased to see it had never failed a test, a good sign of a well looked after car.

 

[iLikefishing]

Bought mine way before it needed an MOT, but since getting it, it has had everthing done early and also flies through MOT's

 

[S1 OAP]

I have added the rear Audi A1 Quattro badge,

Also added the genuine Audi aluminium look fuel cap

What do you guy's think, to much?

 

[Phazer]

Filler cap looks nice, seen people using Porsche items before but that one's better. Quattro badge not for me but it doesn't look out of place tbh, if you like it, it's all good

 

[S1 OAP]

Thanks Phazer, not sure about the badge yet but it's growing on me