Ok so a little background. I'd had my 2002 mk4 golf PD150 for 5 1/2 years and had been enjoying 185bhp/320 ft/lb for a few years, but wanted more. I also had a 2004 Honda CBR600RR for the sunny days. So I sold the both of them and bought my 2008 S3!
After learning as much as I could and looking around the internet for a few weeks I found one I liked the look of. I wanted one which was standard with lots of factory options and as long as it wasn't silver I didn't mind the colour, although the mrs was dead against white or orange. (secretly I wanted an orange one, but as we all know they aren't in abundance like black ones and are usually a few grand more for the same car). This one popped up on Ebay which seemed to tick all the boxes.
Options this one had were. Flat bottom MFSW, Nav/RNS-E, TPMS, auto lights, auto wipers, black headlining, coming home/leaving home lights, 2 tone leather, auto dimming rear view mirror with dimming side mirrors, privacy glass and power folding mirrors. On viewing found the power folding mirrors were a mistake in the listing, ah well. Missing cruise control, but I could retrofit that later as I have VCDS.
Purchased on 22nd of March 2018.
This was how she looked on Ebay.
Unknown to me, although it had factory privacy glass, someone had also fitted additional tints. I have no idea why as I was told the mrs couldn't even see me though the windows haha. The wind defectors also made a but of noise at speed so those were first to go. Look how dark they were!
Funny thing was because of the factory glass it looked no different from the outside after I'd removed them.
So first things first. Replace the HPFP tappet. I didn't think it was all that worn, but I replaced it anyway along with an oil and filter swap for peace of mind.
When I had the chance to get it onto the lift I did a haldex oil and filter swap. Audi don't actually give a service interval on the haldex filter, but I wanted to replace it anyway as the car had just passed 100k so again, peace of mind knowing it was all spot on and up to date on it's servicing. I also did a brake fluid change as it was over 2 years since the last one. Very simple to do with the proper machine as you simply replace the reservoir lid with the machine lid which pressurises the brake lines with new fluid. Then just open the caliper bleed nipples and collect the old fluid until it's all been replaced with new stuff. Gone are the days of shouting "up... down... up... down...". It also had a small leak on the exhaust clamp so I addressed that too. At this point I was working as a mechanic for a premier independent VW/Audi dealer.
I also found one day my a/c wouldn't stay on. It'd turn the ECON light off, but then when you let go of the button it'd come back on. Also it would sometimes work and sometimes wouldn't. No fault codes, but was pointed in the direction of the G65 (I think that's right) sensor found on the left side of the condenser if you're looking under the bonnet. Easily swapped out and A/c restored.
The RHS rear caliper hose was also cable tied to the guide which was strange since to rectify I just split the line and reinstalled it into the guide with a new clip to hold it still.
Around October 2018 I bought a Ramair oversized intake. I also fitted the non smoker storage area below the HVAC controls (no photo sorry) which gives a lovely area to pop your phone into where it doesn't fly out during spirited driving.
Turned out the in-laws had a Vax wet vacuum so it was only right I gave the carpet the clean of it's life and the only proper way to do that was without the seats in the car. It was at this point it was confirmed it was previously a smokers car grrr. Found probably a whole rolly down the side of the seats.
While the seats were out they got some love too with a deep clean and condition of the leather with Autoglym products.
The S3 then flew through the MOT with no advisories and then we got to March 2019. At this point I'd changed jobs and gone back to Heavy Plant, this time mobile which meant I had a van. So in March both the S3 and my A4 (B8 3.0 TDI) needed taxing and insuring which was easily over a grand for the pair and being honest the S3 only really got driven on the weekend if we weren't going out as a family (2 kids) so I decided to take it off the road and SORN it.
Now the real transformation begins!
After learning as much as I could and looking around the internet for a few weeks I found one I liked the look of. I wanted one which was standard with lots of factory options and as long as it wasn't silver I didn't mind the colour, although the mrs was dead against white or orange. (secretly I wanted an orange one, but as we all know they aren't in abundance like black ones and are usually a few grand more for the same car). This one popped up on Ebay which seemed to tick all the boxes.
Options this one had were. Flat bottom MFSW, Nav/RNS-E, TPMS, auto lights, auto wipers, black headlining, coming home/leaving home lights, 2 tone leather, auto dimming rear view mirror with dimming side mirrors, privacy glass and power folding mirrors. On viewing found the power folding mirrors were a mistake in the listing, ah well. Missing cruise control, but I could retrofit that later as I have VCDS.
Purchased on 22nd of March 2018.
This was how she looked on Ebay.
Unknown to me, although it had factory privacy glass, someone had also fitted additional tints. I have no idea why as I was told the mrs couldn't even see me though the windows haha. The wind defectors also made a but of noise at speed so those were first to go. Look how dark they were!
Funny thing was because of the factory glass it looked no different from the outside after I'd removed them.
So first things first. Replace the HPFP tappet. I didn't think it was all that worn, but I replaced it anyway along with an oil and filter swap for peace of mind.
When I had the chance to get it onto the lift I did a haldex oil and filter swap. Audi don't actually give a service interval on the haldex filter, but I wanted to replace it anyway as the car had just passed 100k so again, peace of mind knowing it was all spot on and up to date on it's servicing. I also did a brake fluid change as it was over 2 years since the last one. Very simple to do with the proper machine as you simply replace the reservoir lid with the machine lid which pressurises the brake lines with new fluid. Then just open the caliper bleed nipples and collect the old fluid until it's all been replaced with new stuff. Gone are the days of shouting "up... down... up... down...". It also had a small leak on the exhaust clamp so I addressed that too. At this point I was working as a mechanic for a premier independent VW/Audi dealer.
I also found one day my a/c wouldn't stay on. It'd turn the ECON light off, but then when you let go of the button it'd come back on. Also it would sometimes work and sometimes wouldn't. No fault codes, but was pointed in the direction of the G65 (I think that's right) sensor found on the left side of the condenser if you're looking under the bonnet. Easily swapped out and A/c restored.
The RHS rear caliper hose was also cable tied to the guide which was strange since to rectify I just split the line and reinstalled it into the guide with a new clip to hold it still.
Around October 2018 I bought a Ramair oversized intake. I also fitted the non smoker storage area below the HVAC controls (no photo sorry) which gives a lovely area to pop your phone into where it doesn't fly out during spirited driving.
Turned out the in-laws had a Vax wet vacuum so it was only right I gave the carpet the clean of it's life and the only proper way to do that was without the seats in the car. It was at this point it was confirmed it was previously a smokers car grrr. Found probably a whole rolly down the side of the seats.
While the seats were out they got some love too with a deep clean and condition of the leather with Autoglym products.
The S3 then flew through the MOT with no advisories and then we got to March 2019. At this point I'd changed jobs and gone back to Heavy Plant, this time mobile which meant I had a van. So in March both the S3 and my A4 (B8 3.0 TDI) needed taxing and insuring which was easily over a grand for the pair and being honest the S3 only really got driven on the weekend if we weren't going out as a family (2 kids) so I decided to take it off the road and SORN it.
Now the real transformation begins!
Last edited: