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[Audi A3/S3] New member with S3 questions


themanthatcan
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Hi there everyone,

Having owned a Toyota Yaris diesel for 5 years I'm now looking at getting myself a 2001 S3, and there is one for sale at a local motor traders. I've always loved the S3 but originally bought the Yaris because it's a sensible, very cheap to run little car. I'm a petrolhead at heart though and am yearning for some power under my right foot!

I'm going to look at the car on Saturday, and have a basic spec list but I'd like to know how to tell if it has the BOSE stereo option?

Also, how much am I looking to pay for servicing and how often does an S3 require it? What do I need to be looking at mechanically? It's done 106k miles but has a complete Audi service history. Is something with this kind of mileage work considering..I should be able to pick it up for £7k (knocked down from £8k as the guy that runs the garage is a good friend fo the family), which will include a years warranty.

Many thanks for your time,

Andy

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Hi +welcome!

had mine for three.5 years so will (try to!) break down costs:

-mpg 18-25

-tyres (4x) every 12-18 months

-service = £200-£400 depending on garage, type of service etc.

-mine is serviced every 9 months, but this is unusually high - either every 12 months or so many miles (this varies with driving but it will tell u: SERVICE!)

-It needs haldex oil changed every 40,000 miles (check it has bin done as this is ££££s if it hasn't been)

-cam belt & water pump every 60,000 miles (about £400)

-aircon recharge?? (never had this done myself..)

-hows the clutch?

£7k sounds expensive, it is old & high milage. There are 12 S3s for less with same milage/age http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www...-67-103-133-146,N-4294964620-4294966997/search.action?&sort=p_VehiclePrice&postcode=g3+8pb&radius=1500&showMoreOptions=&page=2

mechanically, the engine is good, look for 'coil pack' failure and MAF problems (ie. make sure the engine doesn't sound like it is dying & check the turbo comes in progressivly from 3500rpm to 6500rpm if the MAF is bad then the turbo will come in in one mighty shove at about 4500rpm.)

all S3s have problems with anti roll brushes which is a creaking sound at the back sometimes. i ignore it (replaced the whole suspension first though!) but i'm sure there is a fix..

rust spots develop under the sideskirts sometimes

All in all, the S3 is a good car and IMO one of the best hot hatches ever due to its subtlety. I have thought about selling it, but there is no point as £7k will not get anything remotely complete as an S3. £500 will buy you a remap which will take you to 265bhp and if u do this, there is no longer any difference between a 210bhp (1999-Xreg) and a 225bhp(Y-53(?))

garbled but hope that helps!

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Hi matey. Thanks for all the info so far. £7k seems like an ok price from a trader going by Parkers. They suggest £7995 from an independant dealer.

It's certainly not a cheap car to run going by your figures, but I'll take my old man along with me who used to be a mechanic and get him to give it a good check over. At least I can now knock up a crib sheet of what needs checking on the car and in the service history

Any info on the BOSE identification process?

Thanks again,

Andy

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[ QUOTE ]

It needs haldex oil changed every 40,000 miles (check it has bin done as this is ££££s if it hasn't been)

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry but I have had S3's since 2002. Haldex servicing as follows.

Oil 20K Miles.

Oil and Filter 40K miles.

Oil 60K miles.

Oil and Filter 80K miles

Oil 100K Miles

Oil and Filter 120K miles and so on.

I personally get mine done early at the same time as the AVS servicing. Over serviced, but saves on two trips.

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Bose was never standard to my knowledge.

On the later S3's (2002/2003)

"Bose" logo is on the front speaker grills.

"Bose" also displays on the radio on start up, but Not with Sat Nav.

With Bose you usually get Base, Mid and Trebble, (not with sat nav) rather than just base and treble adjustment.

Bose Sub in the left hand side of the boot, has two grills/speakers, rather than the standard one speaker.

My Bose subs also have a bose sticker on it. (a good hint!)

Usually there is also a Bose amp in the right hand cubby hole.

If its an earlier S3, then some of this may not be relevant, I only had experience with facelift 2002 and 2003 S3's. 169144-ok.gif

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* Shudders * suicide.gif

I would never let an S3 get near 80K on a cambelt and waterpump let alone 120K

Sod Audi's figures, I have seen earlier failures on 225 TT's which is the same engine. My advice.... get it done every 50K. I do.

£400 quid, is cheaper than £4000 + for a new engine.

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Can I just ask how the £400 cambelt change is broken down, ie how much for the parts and how much for labour and what's the book time?

My dad runs a Honda dealership so I get parts at cost price and the mechanics do me a good deal on their time, so could probably do the cambelt change a lot cheaper than an Audi stealership.

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Sorry that was a ball park figure from an Audi Specialist. Audi will be more.

IIRC mine was £315 fixed price all in + vat on special offer, All Audi official parts, with exception of the water pump, swapped out for an all metal one.

VW/Audi water pumps are crap. They either break up, or the shaft spins and the impeller doesnt, because the plastic impeller has lost grip on the knurled drive shaft.

Cambelt on the S3 is a pig to get at. The turbo to first intercooler pipe has to come off, and they also drain and remove the powersteering reservoir to gain access.

Time wise, hard to say, because it was booked in for a load of other service work at the time.

An S3 is not a cheap car to run. but then i maintain mine regardless to cost, above and beyond the recommendations for peace of mind.

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[ QUOTE ]

Bose was never standard to my knowledge.

On the later S3's (2002/2003)

"Bose" logo is on the front speaker grills.

"Bose" also displays on the radio on start up, but Not with Sat Nav.

With Bose you usually get Base, Mid and Trebble, (not with sat nav) rather than just base and treble adjustment.

Bose Sub in the left hand side of the boot, has two grills/speakers, rather than the standard one speaker.

My Bose subs also have a bose sticker on it. (a good hint!)

Usually there is also a Bose amp in the right hand cubby hole.

If its an earlier S3, then some of this may not be relevant, I only had experience with facelift 2002 and 2003 S3's. 169144-ok.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Was the same as all that on my September 2000 S3 with Bose - which I had to pay extra for.

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Picking up on the 'waterpump' aspect of the previous threads... mention is made of an 'all metal' pump as opposed to Audi's metal/plastic component.

Where does one get hold of an all metal waterpump and would an Audi dealer workshop not insist on fitting the Audi part in order to warranty the work done?

D.

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Non Audi Parts have to be proved to be the cause if blamed in a warranty claim.

I have Porsche brakes, Spacers, remap, Samco hoses, DV, R32 Arb's, Spacers, Aero wipers etc etc that are not OEM parts.

I extended my warranty from 2 to 4 years, and never had any issues with any claims, due to upgraded parts, but then those parts were not linked to any claim.

I am now firmly out of warranty, so its not a problem.

I dont know Audi's stance on fitting customer supplied parts, i never broached the subject, and i would never get them to carry out work like cambelt and clutches anyway, far too expensive.

My metal waterpump was supplied and fitted by APS. IIRC it was made by a company called www.firstline.co.uk and cost about £40.

As far as i know APS use them on all their cambelt changes, and i am sure they could probably supply/post you one, given correct details of your car. Mention to Ed I sent you their way if you like. They do all the work on my car now. 169144-ok.gif

www.autops.co.uk.

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