Goodbye Vauxhall (sort of), well hello Audi S3

[Harvey]

It’s that time of year again, no not Christmas, MOT time. The S3 went in earlier this month and all was good thankfully.

To celebrate the S3 pass, 6th birthday and having now covered 24k it had its annual festive service under the flashing lights.

The puddle lights are still doing their thing and look splendid.

Off came its under crackers and out came the lotion motion juice.

The usual filters were changed in addition to a fresh oil filter.

As the S3 is now of age I thought it only fitting to pop a set of fresh sparklers in the Gen3 EA888 lump with mine being a DJHA. Helpful hint as they are buried deep inside make sure you pop some tape on your socket and extension to stop the socket getting stuck.

The original spark plugs are 06K905601L but I opted to replace these with the RS3 FL plugs being 06K905601M. Only reason I sourced a set cheaper than the originals and they run a step cooler but otherwise identical with a posh copper crush washer.

After all my S3 loving was completed, I performed a VCDS service reset (SRI) and all was happy in S3 land.

 

[HollywoodDroid]

It’s that time of year again, no not Christmas, MOT time. The S3 went in earlier this month and all was good thankfully.

To celebrate the S3 pass, 6th birthday and having now covered 24k it had its annual festive service under the flashing lights.

The puddle lights are still doing their thing and look splendid.

Off came its under crackers and out came the lotion motion juice.

The usual filters were changed in addition to a fresh oil filter.

As the S3 is now of age I thought it only fitting to pop a set of fresh sparklers in the Gen3 EA888 lump with mine being a DJHA. Helpful hint as they are buried deep inside make sure you pop some tape on your socket and extension to stop the socket getting stuck.

The original spark plugs are 06K905601L but I opted to replace these with the RS3 FL plugs being 06K905601M. Only reason I sourced a set cheaper than the originals and they run a step cooler but otherwise identical with a posh copper crush washer.

After all my S3 loving was completed, I performed a VCDS service reset (SRI) and all was happy in S3 land.

Have you got the part number for the rear door audi logo flood lights?

 

[Harvey]

@HollywoodDroid my puddle lights are generic cheap as chips eBay specials that cost me next to nothing with my installation detailed here. Search eBay for audi puddle light and you'll find various options but if it helps this is who I bought mine from click me.

 

[Harvey]

After the success with the S3 MOT in went the Amarok a day later. It passed but not plain sailing so a few ikle jobs to sort but not safety critical so I’ll be seeing to them over the next few months.

The Amarok has reached the ripe age of 5 years old having just rolled over 34k miles so it had a derv filter change which was last done when I purchased it at 14k miles..

It’s a messy job and not helped with the filter located underside just behind the front rh wheel.

Luckily it didn’t put up much of a fight so I carefully removed old and primed the new by pouring the litre or so of stinky derv into the “In” of the new filter. It was refitted, everything cleaned up with brake cleaner and pump primed using my VCDS to purge all the air

The brake fluid was changed as it had been two years since the last flush. To my surprised the old fluid was still looking fresh but well worth doing.

Next up was air/pollen/oil filters all changed after getting the engine up to operating temps to drain the oil.

Arty picture time which wasn’t at all intentional, check out the reflection from the 8.5L year old oil.

With the service complete out came the VCDS and I performed a service reset (SRI) and the world was at piece once more, in my head it was!

 

[Harvey]

The annual pilgrimage to Mallory Park Plum Pudding 2022 was once again completed by the wife and I on Boxing Day. Weather was great and the racing was fantastic so a huge thanks to all those who took part. Some pics below and random vid of the action I found on YouTube.

 

[strtnz]

I decided to get the S3 on the rollers to get an official power figure so booked in with my local RR being Dyno-Tech in Ripley, Derbyshire. They are only 10 mins down the road from me and I’ve used them a few times over the years. I have always found their rollers very accurate and they look after your vehicles unlike others out there. They offer 2wd or 4wd runs so I opted for 4wd, not that it matters if I had only ran in 2wd with the fuse pulled.

Loaded, strapped and ready for action.

The real world scores on the doors are 298bhp/314ftlb with the Audi claimed book figures of 306bhp/295ftlb. I’m more than happy with what it’s producing and with currently 11,172miles under its belt I now have a base figure should I decide to go down the tuning route…mmm POWER!!!

For those keen eyed folks yes I’ve changed the plate as it’s a private reg and I have the same on the Amarok with the last two letters transposed, I know, posh or what

I'm in Waingroves, just a few minutes down the road from Ripley. Tempted to take my S3 here as well. Do you happen to remember the price?

 

[Harvey]

@strtnz their prices are listed on their website here just use the dropdown menu to find your exact model
I've used Dynotech a few times and always been happy with the service. If you have any further questions drop me a PM and we can have an offline chat.

 

[strtnz]

I happened to be perusing my favourite auction site and doing some random searches and came across a set of 4x RS3/RS6/RS7/Bentley spark plugs for a bargain price. These are one step cooler than the original S3 plugs I currently run which are due for a change at the next service so I swiftly bought them. They are genuine VAG plugs part no.06K905601M (NGK SILFER8C7ES short code 91006) pre gapped to 0.7mm with copper washer. The official plugs for my MY17 S3 are VAG no.06K905601L (NGK ILFER7C8EG short code 91898) pre gapped to 0.8mm with standard crush washer these have been fitted since new when I checked what was in there last year here.

Had a good rain storm the other day and the recent S3 polish has worked wonders and it’s beading lovely.

Are you running these RS3 plugs with the standard coil-packs? I've bought some new RS3 plugs but it didn't cross my mind until now that there may be compatibility issues and I'd rather not spend on the upgraded coils for now.

 

[Harvey]

@strtnz yes I'm running the RS3 plus with original S3 coils, there are no compatibility issues what so ever don't let anyone tell you otherwis.

 

[strtnz]

@Harvey 06K905601M? Audi have told me they're not compatible but list them for A3 and RS3. How they'd only miss S3 is beyond me.

 

[strtnz]

I happened to be perusing my favourite auction site and doing some random searches and came across a set of 4x RS3/RS6/RS7/Bentley spark plugs for a bargain price. These are one step cooler than the original S3 plugs I currently run which are due for a change at the next service so I swiftly bought them. They are genuine VAG plugs part no.06K905601M (NGK SILFER8C7ES short code 91006) pre gapped to 0.7mm with copper washer. The official plugs for my MY17 S3 are VAG no.06K905601L (NGK ILFER7C8EG short code 91898) pre gapped to 0.8mm with standard crush washer these have been fitted since new when I checked what was in there last year here.

Had a good rain storm the other day and the recent S3 polish has worked wonders and it’s beading lovely.

@Harvey 06K905601M? Audi have told me they're not compatible but list them for A3 and RS3. How they'd only miss S3 is beyond me.

Seems I've found the answer there and they are exactly the same as you're successfully using. I was told I need 06K905601L, which is the original part number. Bought from Sytner Audi on eBay where it lists them as A3/A6/A7/A8/RS3/RS6 spark plug, and when I messaged I got the reply that they're not suitable for my S3 but it seems impossible to me they'd be fit for RS3 & A3 but not S3. As you've used them with no issues I'll be keeping and getting them in over the next week or so.

 

[Harvey]

I thought it was about time I gave my Astra some loving having not been used since Sep 2021. The bonnet was showing signs of paint wear so I booked it in with my local painter in Nov last year. The damage is hard to picture but it started like this with a worn patch, yellowing blemishes and a scratch on the front edge.

I then removed it and stripped all the hardware attached to the bonnet before tucking the car back under its cover.

Popped over to see progress and was greeted with lovely fresh glacier white paint.

Collected the bonnet and the finish was perfect.

The bonnet was then left in my garage as I didn’t get chance to refit until earlier this month so all the hardware was cleaned up and refitted prior to bolting it back on.

Hardest part was getting the new Griffin sticker perfectly aligned but determination and measure twice, stick once got me there.

All finished and I’m very happy to repot its ready for some fun time later this year.

Huge thanks to Ben at Fleets Ahead, top job as always. They specialise in smart repairs but are more than willing to do my kind of job.

 

[Harvey]

Today is the day my Father-in-Law collected his new car. He’s been on about it for a while now and started with thoughts of a Yaris Hybrid but the wife and I soon corrupted his ideas of saving the planet after showing him pics of the Yaris GR4. Fast forward to now and the wife noted a rather good deal last week at the place we bought our Amarok so we took him for a viewing and an hour later a deal was done.
May I present a 1 year old Yaris GR4 Circuit Pack with option pearl paint registered Jan 2022, 1 owner, having covered 507 miles (including the test drive). It’s basically brand new with no wait time, not that you can order them at present as Toyota have paused production of this model. I’m just so chuffed he’s finally treated himself to a proper car and found the one. I know it’ll be pampered and thoroughly looked after so I might pop my name down for when he decides to sell as I was eyeing one up to replace my track car but never bit the bullet.

 

[Harvey]

The Amarok had steering rack bushes flagged as advisories on the last couple of MOTs and after talking with the MOTer he said it’s nothing to be concerned with and just one of those things, not that I could feel any difference while driving it. However, that’ll never do so I bought only the best for the job SuperPro SPF4463K. This kit fits all Amarok variants to date and contains everything to replace the OE rubber steering rack bushes.

As it was mid-Winter and I knew it was going to be a pain of a job I outsourced the fitting to my local Indy who did a sterling job, thanks all at Betta Fit auto Centre. Not much to see but the funky bushes are on. It might be a placebo affect but it does feel a tad sharper with the steering but then again it’s a hefty wibbly wobbly truck and it’ll never be a race car but serves the intended purpose very well.

Last month I also found one of the auxiliary reverse lights on the Amarok that I replaced last year wasn’t working properly as it had water ingress.

Luckily I previously purchased a twin pack so swapped it out for a brand new unit and successfully placed a warranty claim with the eBay supplier who honoured the claim and sent me out a new replacement.

While I was poking around the interweb I found a FOC updated POI for the Amarok with various speed cameras and other random items so updated the Discovery Pro headunit. I can now find food, fuel, cameras and karaoke in my local vicinity.

 

[Mr Freeze]

sorted

 

[Harvey]

I was round my mates the other week finishing off the rally car electronic extinguisher system wiring we plumbed in a few months ago see here.
New “E” switch fitted to the scuttle panel.

Interior switch bolted in amongst the rat nest or wiring which will be getting replaced at some point with a new tidier loom.

The two switches were then run to the main extinguisher and connected then taped up for my own OCD neatness.

Quick test and the main controller lit up green so all good.

We also got the new drivers seat and harnesses fitted so more to come the next time I’m up there.

 

[Harvey]

It’s an OCD thing but I just had to polish the S3 tailpipe tips yet again, all looking rather spiffing I might add.

While I’m on about exhaust tips I noted the wife’s Astra mk3 V6 had started to crack and peel 3yrs after having them ceramic coated.

I decided to try another company Maldon Shotblasting & Powder Coating and had them recoated in Graphite Black.

Prior to fitting I painted the shiny stainless steel rear visible face in black VHT.

Then jacked up for easier access and yes I used axle stands, safety first!

All done and sealed and bolted in place.