Non Facelift to Facelift S3

[Nilz]

Hi all

I just wanted to know is it difficult to make a non facelift S3 into a facelift model, is it just the lights that needs changing on the front and back or are there other differences??

I so badly want one, but the facelift models are so expensive

Any help/info would be much appreciated

Thanks
Nilz

 

[madvw]

Not a lot changed really.....

non-model specific a3/s3 facelift car changes:

Larger door mirror on passenger side
New grain on instrument panel
New grain on door trim
Passenger seat height adjustable
New sports seats
New seat cloth designs and colours
4 antenna diversity
Improved front and rear bumper joint pattern
New door strikers on b and c pillars
New design wing-mirrors
White side inicators
New lever for longitudinal seat movement
New front wings
Different range of wheels
new eplisoid fog lamps
new abs/esp control unit
new front spoiler
new grille trim
new exterior colours
new elipsoid headlamps
optional xenon headlamps
new 5-speed tip-tronic option for 130 and 180bhp engines
1.9 tdi 130 BHP quattro option
1.6 102bhp option
new front shock absorbers
reinforced steering column
new multifunction steering wheel and tiptronic option
next generation immobiliser
new centre console with new ashtray and cupholder
Aluminium trim in interior
Navi+ satnav option and symphony option
illuminated airvents
2-stage gas boot lifters
new tailgate buffers
boot handle flush with body outline
electric tailgate opener
new rear badging
new design tail-lights
new rear shock absorbers
new handbrake
new gear knob
new climate control controls
optional wood inlay
crash optimised pedals
new antiroll bars on wishbone
new shock springs
6 speed manual option on tdi 130/180 quattro.

 

[Nilz]

Thanks for that quick response, from an external point of view, would it just be the lights that needs changing, i think its the wing indicators as well isnt it???

 

[Hotscar]

Not a lot changed really.....

non-model specific a3/s3 facelift car changes:

Larger door mirror on passenger side
New grain on instrument panel
New grain on door trim
Passenger seat height adjustable
New sports seats
New seat cloth designs and colours
4 antenna diversity
Improved front and rear bumper joint pattern
New door strikers on b and c pillars
New design wing-mirrors
White side inicators
New lever for longitudinal seat movement
New front wings
Different range of wheels
new eplisoid fog lamps
new abs/esp control unit
new front spoiler
new grille trim
new exterior colours
new elipsoid headlamps
optional xenon headlamps
new 5-speed tip-tronic option for 130 and 180bhp engines
1.9 tdi 130 BHP quattro option
1.6 102bhp option
new front shock absorbers
reinforced steering column
new multifunction steering wheel and tiptronic option
next generation immobiliser
new centre console with new ashtray and cupholder
Aluminium trim in interior
Navi+ satnav option and symphony option
illuminated airvents
2-stage gas boot lifters
new tailgate buffers
boot handle flush with body outline
electric tailgate opener
new rear badging
new design tail-lights
new rear shock absorbers
new handbrake
new gear knob
new climate control controls
optional wood inlay
crash optimised pedals
new antiroll bars on wishbone
new shock springs
6 speed manual option on tdi 130/180 quattro.

Isn't he refering to the 8L changes on the S3? There aren't that many are there??

 

[madvw]

yep, those are 8L facelift items.

 

[madvw]

Thanks for that quick response, from an external point of view, would it just be the lights that needs changing, i think its the wing indicators as well isnt it???

Externally visible facelift changes:

new headlamps
new side repeaters (different shape to fit new wings)
new Wings
new rear tail-lamps
new rear bootlid with body flush lock and concealed opener.
new shape wingmirrors
new shape foglamps
new badging

 

[Hotscar]

Okay I'll try again!

Isn't he refering to the 8L changes on the S3?

Are they all pertinent to the S3??

 

[mwstewart]

My car has aluminium tailgate struts - is that standard?

 

[madvw]

My car has aluminium tailgate struts - is that standard?

nope

 

[madvw]

Okay I'll try again!



Are they all pertinent to the S3??

I guess those applicable to the S3 facelift would be:

Larger door mirror on passenger side
New grain on instrument panel
New grain on door trim
4 antenna diversity
Improved front and rear bumper joint pattern
New door strikers on b pillars
New design wing-mirrors
White side indicators
New front wings
new eplisoid fog lamps
new abs/esp control unit
new exterior colours
new elipsoid headlamps
reinforced steering column
new multifunction steering wheel and tiptronic option
next generation immobiliser
new centre console with new ashtray and cupholder
Navi+ satnav option and symphony option
illuminated airvents
2-stage gas boot lifters
new tailgate buffers
boot handle flush with body outline
electric tailgate opener
new rear badging
new design tail-lights
new rear shock absorbers
new handbrake
new gear knob
new climate control controls
optional wood inlay
crash optimised pedals

 

[Hardsy]

forget all those...lol (good job with that though) Get the headlights changed, get the rear lights changed, both fron grill badge and rear boot badge (s3) change these, sum newer side repeaters and a flat boot trim over the number plate and a private plate no one will ever know

 

[jojo]

Improved front and rear bumper joint pattern
New door strikers on b pillars
White side indicators

Just wanted to say my early 99' S3 has white indicators, I'd be interested to know what these new strikers on the b-pillar is or look like and is there a difference in the bumper join pattern on facelifts?

 

[madvw]

an early 99 is likely to be a hybrid pre/post facelift.

The pre-facelift repeates were square, the post facelift were lozenge shaped, kinda oblong and clear.
The facelift door strikers were chromed.

no idea what the improved joint pattern means!

 

[jojo]

an early 99 is likely to be a hybrid pre/post facelift.

He did specifically ask about pre and post facelift S3 info.

The pre-facelift repeates were square, the post facelift were lozenge shaped, kinda oblong and clear.
The facelift door strikers were chromed.

S3's only had one facelift, but A3's(since they we're released around 1996?) had 2 facelifts which I know of... so facelift S3's have chrome door strikers!, very bling!

Can someone shed some light on this new bumper join/pattern please.

 

[silver75]

S3's only had one facelift, but A3's(since they we're released around 1996?) had 2 facelifts which I know of...

eh?

 

[mk1chopper]

my W (2000) reg S3 has white side indicators. looking on piston heads all the S3 have them. I dont think the S3 had as many changes as the A3 (i could be wrong) This wing mirror one gets me though, larger passenger side? Im pretty sure both my wing mirrors are identicle, unlike some cars e.g. seat ibiza and old 190e mercs.

 

[Hotscar]

Yeah, good work with the list Mad but I don't think it's that accurate! Did they do optional wood inlays on the S3 and are the wings different from pre to post facelift S3's (8L)?

 

[Hardsy]

I think the only things you need to worry about our both front and rear lights, badges front and rear and the trim above the number plate on the boot.

www.netcarshow.com

has all the relevant images for both pre and post facelift.

If the wings changed then its must of been something soooo minor. The repeaters have always been the same shape and always clear, i just updated mine to some crystal ones to make it that bit more modern. Frosted repeaters are sooooo 90's lol.

Nick

 

[Hardsy]

the lights front and rear are also straight swap arent they? and if the repeaters are the same, which they r......then the wings cannot be that different surely!

 

[silver75]

Im sure pre facelift cars had square repeaters, so the recess in the wing would also be square

 

[Hardsy]

I have a 99 Pre facelift and the wings on mine are exactly as the newer ones, same repeaters.....

 

[mk1chopper]

A3's had square repeaters, but the S3 always had the rectangular white ones i think. The rears are a straight swap the fronts require a little more work theres a sticky about them at the top of this forum.

 

[madvw]

Yeah, good work with the list Mad but I don't think it's that accurate! Did they do optional wood inlays on the S3 and are the wings different from pre to post facelift S3's (8L)?

nah it's not that accurate unfortunately - the list and diagrams ive got just show the generic 8L facelifted items, and are not specific to the S3.

I dont think wood was an option on the S3

The wings are different, to accomodate the single unit headlamps.

 

[jojo]

I think we need to be clear that facelift S3's have different front wings to accomodate the facelift headlights, hence the need for some chopping of the wing, for facelift headlamps to fit!
A3's have had to facelifts in it's life, they had square indicators and flushed door handles from Audi 80's when released, for the first facelift, it was oblong indicators and newer door handles. 2nd facelift is the single piece headlamps and clear/red rear lights.