Back in S3 number 4!

[Ian W]

In another moment of madness I decided I wanted another S3 and so I went ahead and sold my Focus ST and bought another 8L S3, looked about and was surprised with the prices, seemed to be cheap money pits or pretty expensive sorted examples, hopefully in learning lessons from the past I decided to go with what appears to be a well sorted example - more than I wanted to spend but hoping the overall savings on mods and maintenance will make it more cost effective

As soon as I got in it, it instantly felt so much nicer than my old ST, even though it is coming up to 20 years old, they just feel well built and planted, drives lovely I had a 4 hour drive home from picking it up and the only issue I encountered is the classic dodgy thermostat so i'll sort that over Christmas.

Will get some pictures up at some point when I get some sunlight....

Really hoping I don't regret this decision

 

[Tj 0785]

You are a sucker for punishment ha, any big plans for this one

 

[Ian W]

You are a sucker for punishment ha, any big plans for this one

Ha, I think I must be!

No big plans, so far it seems pretty well sorted, subtle drop, spacers, stage 1 map etc so all stuff I would have ended up doing.

Looking at a connects2 for the standard head unit, fix the DIS and get the wheels refurbed, keep it clean and enjoy it and that is about it

 

[Sandra]

Welcome back Ian.

 

[Ian W]

Welcome back Ian.

Thanks, I know it is a bit old school but I prefer the forum to Facebook groups

 

[Sandra]

Thanks, I know it is a bit old school but I prefer the forum to Facebook groups

Same here Ian. Guess I’m old school as well, lol.

 

[Tj 0785]

If repairing the fis might aswell get the colourmfa looks well better and is useful

Ha, I think I must be!

No big plans, so far it seems pretty well sorted, subtle drop, spacers, stage 1 map etc so all stuff I would have ended up doing.

Looking at a connects2 for the standard head unit, fix the DIS and get the wheels refurbed, keep it clean and enjoy it and that is about it

 

[S3AMJ]

Welcome back! Number 4 that’s got to be some sort of record...... I’m still paying for my first one haha.


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[Ian W]

If repairing the fis might aswell get the colourmfa looks well better and is useful

I love the idea of one but the cost really rules it out for me, maybe in the future but for now, a £100 refresh to make the dash pod as good as new is enough for me

Welcome back! Number 4 that’s got to be some sort of record...... I’m still paying for my first one haha.
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Thanks, probably am myself one way or another haha

 

[s3mad_dude]

Welcome back, Ian. I also prefer the forums to FB groups. I feel there is more knowledge in the forums, but there is more daily activity in the FB groups.

I know what you mean about the colour MFA, it looks great, but cost is quite high and I don’t have the soldering skills to do myself without the fear of destroying my cluster! Secretly, I love the fact that my car is factory standard (except the stage 1 remap), because many many cars have been messed around with and there aren’t many standard unabused example left.

Get some pics up when you can of all four examples!

 

[Ian W]

Welcome back, Ian. I also prefer the forums to FB groups. I feel there is more knowledge in the forums, but there is more daily activity in the FB groups.

I know what you mean about the colour MFA, it looks great, but cost is quite high and I don’t have the soldering skills to do myself without the fear of destroying my cluster! Secretly, I love the fact that my car is factory standard (except the stage 1 remap), because many many cars have been messed around with and there aren’t many standard unabused example left.

Get some pics up when you can of all four examples!

Always happy to post pictures of the previous money pits

 

[S3AMJ]

What colour have you gone for this time


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[Ian W]

Another red one

Love the red, loved the purple, was never a massive fan of ming blue but it did look nice in the sun.

 

[hydro s3]

Yes have to agree the ming blue does look good in the sun when its properly cleaned.
The problem with red though is you need to keep it out if the sun or it starts going pink.
Its good to see former members coming back it has got very quiet on here over the last year. Which is a shame.
I like the forum better than fb on fb everyone just think there the best and ridiculous comments for a simple question.

 

[Ian W]

Yes have to agree the ming blue does look good in the sun when its properly cleaned.
The problem with red though is you need to keep it out if the sun or it starts going pink.
Its good to see former members coming back it has got very quiet on here over the last year. Which is a shame.
I like the forum better than fb on fb everyone just think there the best and ridiculous comments for a simple question.

The problem I have with Facebook groups, and forums to an extent but far more rife on Facebook is that if you post about an issue looking for a resolution, you'll have ten people tell you ten different things that they have read on another Facebook post, no real knowledge for the most part, just rehashing some garbage someone else posted.

I am tarring everyone with the same brush there which I know isn't the case

 

[S3 Rav]

Great job. Pics of the new car?

 

[spiker]

Welcome back Ian - I bought my 4th S3 back in March this year ( after a 10 year absense )

Are we mad ?

 

[Ian W]

Welcome back Ian - I bought my 4th S3 back in March this year ( after a 10 year absense )

Are we mad ?

We must be

Great job. Pics of the new car?

There she is, a week on and still very happy with it. Needs a few bits sorting as they all do at 19 years old but nothing major.

 

[S3 Rav]

Lovely! You're not a policeman are you?

 

[Ian W]

Lovely! You're not a policeman are you?

Thanks . I'm not a policeman haha, why would you think that?

 

[S3 Rav]

Lol...random I know. I saw a beautiful mint s3 just like the one you've now purchased on autotrader...I wanted to view it but the chappy said that he had already had interest and the first person to contact him (that had first dibs) was a nice chappy who was also a policeman!

Next day car was off auto trader much to my heartbreak and then I see you've got a 4th! Lol!!

 

[S3AMJ]

A very tidy car there Ian. Good find!


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[Ian W]

Lol...random I know. I saw a beautiful mint s3 just like the one you've now purchased on autotrader...I wanted to view it but the chappy said that he had already had interest and the first person to contact him (that had first dibs) was a nice chappy who was also a policeman!

Next day car was off auto trader much to my heartbreak and then I see you've got a 4th! Lol!!

Haha well it makes sense but not this one, I found this on Facebook market place

A very tidy car there Ian. Good find!

Thanks bud

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[Ian W]

First parts arrived this week, new thermostat, some G13 and new sidelight bubs.

The seller of my aero wiper arms has just booked the collection over a week after buying which I think is a bit of a p*** take but I guess they'll be here soon enough.

Pulled the wind deflectors off this morning, never been a fan!

 

[Ian W]

First few jobs on the S3 today. A bit of headlight restoration and fitted my aero wipers

I didn't think they were that bad when I viewed the car but I must have been looking with rose tinted glasses..

Before:





After:









And the Aero wipers looking much better than the big aero style ones that were fitted!

 

[S3AMJ]

I do like those Aero wiper blades, on my shopping list for my car. What car are they off mate?


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[Ian W]

I do like those Aero wiper blades, on my shopping list for my car. What car are they off mate?


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MK4 Golf buddy.

 

[S3AMJ]

Cheers dude


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[hydro s3]

Those lenses came up well mate. It makes the front look a lot better.

 

[Ian W]

Thermostat change done this morning, now sitting at 90 and feels much nicer now it's running at proper temperature

 

[Ian W]

Few more little jobs done this weekend.

I was getting an intermittent brake pad warning on the DIS, as expected, when I checked it it was a break in the wire coming off the pad so joined that together and problem solved. The car had a few ugly GPS tracker devices dotted around, none of which are now active so i've removed them.

Also discovered quite a severe power steering leak on the front pipe under the cross member so i'll do my best to get a pipe this week and get it sorted.

All fun and games, benefit of being on my fourth S3 (you could say fifth given I ran a 225 TT for 7 years) means a lot of the issues I think, ah yes, that again

 

[Ian W]

S3 went to a local indy yesterday for a new cambelt kit, previous owner didn't get it done and had it four years so I decided on better safe than sorry.

While it was in it got a once over and no issues found which is good news The previous waterpump had a slight leak which wasn't known to me so that has been resolved as part of the job.

Also, while keeping my fingers firmly crossed I think I may have over thought the power steering issue. The system was low and groaning on full lock so I topped it up, being January and freezing cold, I didn't do this as tidy as I perhaps could have, hence quite a significant amount of wasted fluid knocking about the top up area...

200 miles later and so far, nothing else has leaked, the level doesn't seem to have dropped and the garage never reported on a fluid leak so.....lets see how that ones goes

Got to say, absolutely loving the S3, no exaggeration to say I look forward to every drive of it

 

[Ian W]

The S3 got its first wash in my ownership yesterday and happy to report no real shocks, it actually looks really nice all clean.

Wheels are worse than I thought so they definitely need a refurb come the spring and the rear bumper needs a bit of attention but I am hoping I can improve that with a wet sand and polish up.

Looking forward to giving it a deep clean and paint correction in a few months.

Only issue with the car so far is a knock from underneath under heavy acceleration, sounds suspiciously like an exhaust knock. The car is running an unknown 3" system which tbh, I will probably remove and refit an original system, I don't need the hassle of messing about with decats at MOT time and I don't want something knocking underneath.

Pictures aren't great, was quite cold at this point and the lighting wasn't the best

 

[hydro s3]

Looks well mate. I do like them wheels

 

[Ian W]

Looks well mate. I do like them wheels

Thanks, I think the RSTT's work well on the S3, funny that when I bought by first one way back in 2007, everyone wanted them and the 17" Avus you couldn't give away, now everyone seems to be running back on the 17's.

 

[sy119199]

Those lenses came up well mate. It makes the front look a lot better.

Can I ask what you used on the lenses as I've recently purchased similar and would like to brighten mine up.

TIA

Simon

 

[Ian W]

Can I ask what you used on the lenses as I've recently purchased similar and would like to brighten mine up.

TIA

Simon

Hi,

No problem, I did the following in this order...

1000 wet & dry
1500 wet & dry
2500 wet & dry
3000 wet & dry

Machine polish with a cutting compound to remove the fine scratches and bring clear.
Machine polish with a polishing compound to bring to a shine.
Wax to act some protection.

I will need to give them a going over in the summer and add some lacquer but I couldn't leave as they were until then!

 

[sy119199]

Hi,

No problem, I did the following in this order...

1000 wet & dry
1500 wet & dry
2500 wet & dry
3000 wet & dry

Machine polish with a cutting compound to remove the fine scratches and bring clear.
Machine polish with a polishing compound to bring to a shine.
Wax to act some protection.

I will need to give them a going over in the summer and add some lacquer but I couldn't leave as they were until then!

Thanks Ian, very much appreciated. Will get ordering!

Rgds

Simon

 

[desertstorm]

I would look at the dog bone mount and make sure it's been uprated at least. With most aftermarket 3 inch systems there is little room between the body and the prop and any movement on the engine will likely result in something knocking.

 

[Ian W]

I would look at the dog bone mount and make sure it's been uprated at least. With most aftermarket 3 inch systems there is little room between the body and the prop and any movement on the engine will likely result in something knocking.

Thanks, I have a receipt for an uprated mount but that doesn't mean it is fitted does it

Just waiting for better weather now, it isn't bad enough that I need to be crawling on the cold floor!