[Audi A3/S3] Newbie Questions...

[davebgsi]

Hi, I hope that non of my questions are repeating too much. I've spent the last week looking around the forums and have (as you'd expect) found differing answers to certain questions that I've got about the S3.

I'm looking at buying an S3 within the next 6-7weeks and just have a couple of questions before I jump in and purchase one.

1. How strong is the 4x4 system, is it Audi only serviving or can it be done at home?

2. If the car is serviced by an independant dealer/myself can the 'service reminder' be turned off?

3. Plenty companies offer the 'stage 1' remap for the engine; realistically (ignoring price) is there any reason why one company would be better at another at carrying this out?

4. Are the engines strong? Haven't seen many posts about engine 'problems' but there are a couple of engines just going pop for no apparent reason :s

5. What security comes on the car, Cat 1 Factory alarm?

6. The aftermarket Haldex upgrade kit that can be bought and fitted to the car. Can this be fitted yourself, or does it need to be taken to a specialist to do? Where's the cheapest place to buy this kit?

7. What do xenon bulbs cost to replace, how often do they last?

8. Is the car limited to 155mph? will it exceed this speed?

9. Aside from change of headlights/tail lights are there any other differences/benefits of buying a 'face-lift' model?

10. If the clutch needs changing, is it an engine out job? Anyone ever had one replaced by Audi?

Thank thats it. Sorry if the questions have been covered before. Just really want to make sure I get my facts right before I make the commitment to buy one

Dave

[bustwell]

Sounds like you will be buying, servicing and running on a very tight budget.

1. No idea

2. The service indicator can be reset by either yourself or indy

3. There is variations in remaps, some give smooth power delivery where is others can be harsh

4. The 1.8T is a very good strong engine but like any other engine you can never gaurentee if it will go or not

5. There is an alarm and imobiliser fitted as standard, don't know which catogary they fall into

6. No idea

7. Don't know how long they last and they can be had for about £70 each

8. I have yet to hear of an S3 to reach 155mph

9. I think the facelift has a new dash as well as different engines, AMK + BAM amongst other things

10. The engine doesn't need to come out but budget for about £700 - £1000 depending what you replace it with

[davebgsi]

I wouldn't say I have a tight budget tbh, although I probably have less to spend on a car than most on these forums I certainly wouldn't say I'd be stretching my budget to buy one.

I work in IT during the day, but am a mechanic at weekends for extra cash. Hence I won't be going to Audi for services/jobs on the car. Thats why I'm curious as to what level of maintenance I could do myself on the car, if required. Thanks for your help so far

[fingermouse]

when asking if its a diy job on parts I would say yes but it depends on you are you handy with the spanners ???

[s3ollie]

changing the heldex controller is supposed to be easy only two bolts but its in a tight position so need small hands!

[Paul]

1. How strong is the 4x4 system, is it Audi only servicing or can it be done at home?

<font color="blue"> Its fairly strong and reliable, and is made buy a company called Haldex. www.haldextraction.com. There are cars out ther running in excess of 350 bhp+ on them.

servicing is done as such.

oil at 20k

oil and filter at 40K

oil at 60k and so on and so forth.

I have never done it, nor intend to, but i do understand how its done.

the oil is emptied out the drain plug, as expected, and suggested to do it while warm. Nothing new there.

However to fill it, requires it being injected back UP the drain hole out of a cartridge, with a gun. Much like a silicon gun.

So unlikely your do it on axel stands or halfords ramps as you wont get clearance.

Filter there is a special spamnner for it.

</font>

2. If the car is serviced by an independant dealer/myself can the 'service reminder' be turned off?

<font color="blue"> No so sure about OFF, but it can ceratinly be set for AVS (upto 18k miles) or yearly servicing and reset with vagcom.</font>

3. Plenty companies offer the 'stage 1' remap for the engine; realistically (ignoring price) is there any reason why one company would be better at another at carrying this out?

<font color="blue">Personal choice, how YOU want delivery. Linear, aggressive, huge boost spike then tail off etc, end figures are similar, but how they get there differ.

also do you want it switchable, if so remap contained in the ecu and switched, or out the ecu in a standalone unit to switch it. Do you want serial remap via diagnostics port, for easy removal, or do you not mind some one opening your ecu and soldeing in a chip the old way. </font>

4. Are the engines strong? Haven't seen many posts about engine 'problems' but there are a couple of engines just going pop for no apparent reason :s

<font color="blue"> Engines are strong and highly tunable. Failures do happen, but frequency is not what i would call common.

my personal advice is totally ignore Audi recommended figures on cambelt life and get it done early between 50 and 60k.

I have also made the decision to replace my spark plugs every service. They are cheap at £32 a set. Audi would only replace them every second larger service on AVS. </font>

5. What security comes on the car, Cat 1 Factory alarm?

<font color="blue">Alarm/Immobiliser, and I've been led to believe its cat 2. No insurance co. has ever asked me to better it. </font>

6. The aftermarket Haldex upgrade kit that can be bought and fitted to the car. Can this be fitted yourself, or does it need to be taken to a specialist to do? Where's the cheapest place to buy this kit?

<font color="blue">import from the US probably cheapest if you play russian roulette with VAT. They are about £500 + fitting in the UK.

fitting and general info described here.

</font>

7. What do xenon bulbs cost to replace, how often do they last?

<font color="blue">Audi will charge you in region of £120, they can be got cheaper off ebay, or slightly more off www.powerbulbs.com for £100.

They are Phillips D2S and should last the life of the car. </font>

8. Is the car limited to 155mph? will it exceed this speed?

<font color="blue">The S3 are limited (can be lifted with right software and a laptop) They are limited very very close to the factory book top speed of 151 mph. It could if delimited do a bit more, but it will not be by much, nor very quickly. </font>

9. Aside from change of headlights/tail lights are there any other differences/benefits of buying a 'face-lift' model?

<font color="blue"> facelifts come with two engines. Old 210bhp or New 225 bhp, there was a period in the facelift when you could get either engine.

later cars, somewhere late 2000/early 2002 all got the 225 engine.

other bits changed were climate control panel, radio options, interior door handles, badges, bits and pieces like that. Ive had 2 x 225's so not really upto scratch on the full list of changes. Most of them were minor cosmetic mods iirc. </font>

10. If the clutch needs changing, is it an engine out job? Anyone ever had one replaced by Audi?

<font color="blue"> Not an engine out job, but i understand its a big one.

£700-800 from an independant

£1000 upwards from Audi. </font>

[davebgsi]

Thanks Paul, that's great. Just need to find myself one now