Project - Val

[IanPGonzaga]

Seeing a couple of Audi's pop up (in the for sale section) so thought i'd put mine up.

Been a bit of a project car which i thought i was going to sell but got attached. Was a little neglected when i first got him (and by the looks of things the previous owner) but the car looked clean and just needed some TLC. So, when i was searching, i originally wanted a TT. Brother mentioned he had a friend who was selling a car - so i checked it out and noticed "hey wtf it's got the same engine. What is this!?" I'd never even heard of the S3! So checked it out and a couple days later - drove him home.


• missing foglight grilles, hazy headlight


• blown LED's, no spoiler, no badge


• scuffed up interior bits, broken cupholder (headlining was completely falling off too)


• i was lucky to find it to be pretty clean under the bonnet with the bonus of a silicone TIP and silicone boost hoses (don't know why i cropped them out, probably didn't realise they were aftermarket). When i first drove him i didn't notice it but there was a noticeable lack in power after about 3000rpm

When i finally got time to fix things up i started sourcing things online. stuff from overseas comes in heaps less than brand new at dealers so i was able to fix those little bits up. I like my music sounding GREAT so out went the stock system and now...


• shark fin antenna instead of the HUGE aerial (still spoiler-less), x-over for the German Maestro front stage, pioneer H/U w/time alignment, hidden amps & installed a rear reversing cam (awesome for getting that fat ass into those tight spaces!)


• spoiler on! Full view with original S3 Ronals


• wanted 18 inchers so got these A8 rims that i liked...


• i obtained VCDS as the more i found out about the car the more i wanted to know. VCDS revealed misfires due to a bad coil pack, dead lambda and some other various codes. Set out on fixing the power issues first. The cam cover had leaked oil onto coil pack 1 so off it went for new gaskets and while i was at it - paint


• blue and black theme is coming on along with 2.0 coil packs installed with spacers

Then that was it for a while. Car was still unregistered. A whole lot of nothing again for a bit as studies kicked back in and then...


• Val was born! Dodgiest panels got some new paint, darker tints and found some TT reps (they're not perfect but will restore...)


• Low light shots - black cars at night

... and the focus is now back to the engine...


• IE catch can to (hopefully) keep crap out the engine

So far it's been a rewarding experience fixing him up. Will be better when there's time in a couple weeks to REALLY get stuck into it all!!! Best thing is i did some logs through VCDS and it looks like there's a tune on him - makes sense with the uprated silicone piping! BONUS!!!

Can't wait!

[richierichaudis3]

What year and any pics?

[IanPGonzaga]

well that went well... pictures looked like they uploaded but have vanished

- it's an '02 model

[jgribben]

Looking good Ian. How do you find the Samco intake...i have the B5 one but something seems to be going a miss so considering buying one to see if it solves any issues.

[IanPGonzaga]

yeah the samco intake seems like it's doing the job great - smooth power delivery all up the way up to 5-6k

what's going on with the badger5 one that it's going amiss?

[IanPGonzaga]

was out at PVAG Melbourne Meet and got this shot taken. lookin' good (don't want anything to stand out)



and got this guy on the rear - sticking with the blue and black theme (i didn't actually realise the sway bar would be blue until i opened it two days ago). Did this along with a diff and Haldex fluid / filter change up the back.

[IanPGonzaga]

Couple other jobs done
- changed all oils down the front (dropped the sump and gave all of that a much needed clean)


This is is the magnetic plug from the bevel box - again thank god I'm being thorough because that gunk and metal shavings have pretty much filled the plug! IDK why the bottom transmission plug isn't magnetic though...



- I have injectors 1&2 leaking a bit of onto the manifold so out they came for new o-rings and a bit of a wire tidy. I cleaned them thoroughly by hooking each one up to a home made (cut off from wreckers) injector plug and run carby cleaner through them. All injectors flowing properly.
- Doing the wire tidy was pretty easy once the fuel rail was off. I read a guide saying you needed to unplug a couple of sensors under/ to the left of the engine but I found this wasn't necessary with the fuel rail off. Just had to remove the original black bracket and the plug brackets that hold 1&2 and 3&4 together then re route the wiring however you want! Made sure to clean up all the gunk that had accumulated from the past 120000km's and it looks heaps neater! Fuel loss was minimal too. Once the first injector was out most of the fuel to leak was lost at that point.

Stock shifter linkages


- dieselgeek sigma 6 short shift kit. What a lovely, high quality piece of kit this is! Easy to install (should've just gone with instinct with the bolt off and on process) & adjustment instructions were easy to follow. Excellent reduction in shift travel, no notchiness to be felt and looks great! If only all the rest of the crud wasn't ruining the shiny new metal.

will link to a video once I figure out how to superimpose the two together.

Now the one hugest, most annoying this is I've not been out for a test drive I'm still waiting on a Haldex drain plug from Audi as the unit is empty of oil. So in the meantime Val is still waiting patiently up on car stands and I'm just itching to give the new kit a quick go before moving on to more servicing jobs.

[IanPGonzaga]

stock shifter throw compared to dieselgeek sigma 6 throw. reduced? yup! notchy? nope! easy to get into all gears? yup!

[IanPGonzaga]

been working on doing timing belt/ water pump/ thermostat service today

bit of a bitch and stripped some of the pulley sprocket bolts but got to the point of re-installation

[IanPGonzaga]

I've finally been able to drive now that i received a Haldex drain plug that took 3 weeks to arrive

So while i was waiting and super annoyed with Audi - this happened




• horns relocated to either side of the car as there won't be space on the new bracket which sticks out further than stock




• clearance from radiatior to reo bar - it's tight but all super snug. temperature sensor (i think) just taped down onto the wiring


• cut and soldered longer wire to move this horn to the driver's side SMIC mount




• tiniest bit of grinding needed so the sharp angles of the foglight brackets didn't rub on silicone piping




• Wagner front mount intercooler (apparently fits into Mk1 TT 225 as well!) all cleanly bolted up. For those who are unfamiliar here are the specs

Wagner FMIC - High-performance 600mm x 355mm x 50mm 10,650cm³
Stock SMIC: 2pcs 174mm x 183mm x 85mm, 2.700cm³
CAD / FEM optimized cast aluminum end tanks
60mm inlet, 70mm outlet
Includes High Grade Hardware and Black Silicone Hoses

AND my effing Haldex drain plug FINALLY arrived which i hastily filled up with oil and fitted! woooooo! have finally been able to have some fun with the car and al i can say is that the sigma 6 short shift makes a WORLD of difference. I need to teach myself to push the pedals faster with the MUCH shorter throw. i love it.

Handling is most noticeable when turning and the car is a lot more eager to take the turn and feels like it pushes into it. I read some information saying that upgrading the rear swaybar only to anything more than 19mm = skittish front end when driving straight but i can't feel any of that. All is solid there.

I will have to do some logging to see what difference the Wagner makes but so far i'm happy with how it's all come together and going to leave working on the car until after New Year where i think i will move back to interior stuff!!! I've missed driving Val that's for sure!!!