Tricki
Getting into it
Ok, so I've finally sorted out the basics of my 2002 AMK S3, see signature below, and some pics here:
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...eels-rate-them-if-you-like-2.html#post1552988
I will have some fun just driving it for now, not spending much until late summer. I have several things I want to do then, but it would be nice to get some opinions of what to do first.
First of all; I'm focusing on performance upgrades (from now on at least), not looks or "visual mods". The car is used on twisty, hilly roads, no track in sight, though a trip to Nurburgring is in the pipelines. So, here goes:
I spoke to a local Audi Guru (while he showed me his latest private project - a '93 Audi 100Q, totally stripped and overhauled, poly bushes, ARB's, brakes, KW coilovers, the works and, yes, a whopping 1000 bhp!) and he recommended that I first of all got a Haldex Controller. Which I think makes sense, so I've laid my eyes on the HPA Competition.
But then I read some guide on here about suspension, and found it is not recommended to run H&R lowering springs on OEM dampers like I do (although my dampers are only a few years old, I started to "worry"). So it got me thinking that maybe I should get Bilstein B8's first, and do the rear arb at the same time. Well, I had planned to do both ARB's, 24 front and 22 back, but then I was recommended by another local guru that the thicker ARB's actually put too much strain on the rest of the suspension, and you could risk snapping struts and what have you (his son had done exactly that on his Golf MkV). So I started thinking that 19 mm rear only would do the trick.
After that I've set my eyes on DieselGeek short shifter and a new TIP. Preferably Badger5, but as I'm LHD I have to find out if that will fit (I've asked Badger, and committed to get some pics and measurements to verify. Which I will. Soon).
Summed up (as of now):
1: Haldex Competition Controller
2: B8's and 19mm rear ARB (or both if you think that is recommended, and the local guru should re-evaluate his sons driving style)
3: TIP and short shifter (at the same time since they reside in the same area)
Have I got my priorities straight? Anything else I should put on the list? (Don't say Poly Bushes, I'm not going to bother - to much work...or do I "have to" reconsider that too?)
Any input welcome, valuable input truly appreciated!
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...eels-rate-them-if-you-like-2.html#post1552988
I will have some fun just driving it for now, not spending much until late summer. I have several things I want to do then, but it would be nice to get some opinions of what to do first.
First of all; I'm focusing on performance upgrades (from now on at least), not looks or "visual mods". The car is used on twisty, hilly roads, no track in sight, though a trip to Nurburgring is in the pipelines. So, here goes:
I spoke to a local Audi Guru (while he showed me his latest private project - a '93 Audi 100Q, totally stripped and overhauled, poly bushes, ARB's, brakes, KW coilovers, the works and, yes, a whopping 1000 bhp!) and he recommended that I first of all got a Haldex Controller. Which I think makes sense, so I've laid my eyes on the HPA Competition.
But then I read some guide on here about suspension, and found it is not recommended to run H&R lowering springs on OEM dampers like I do (although my dampers are only a few years old, I started to "worry"). So it got me thinking that maybe I should get Bilstein B8's first, and do the rear arb at the same time. Well, I had planned to do both ARB's, 24 front and 22 back, but then I was recommended by another local guru that the thicker ARB's actually put too much strain on the rest of the suspension, and you could risk snapping struts and what have you (his son had done exactly that on his Golf MkV). So I started thinking that 19 mm rear only would do the trick.
After that I've set my eyes on DieselGeek short shifter and a new TIP. Preferably Badger5, but as I'm LHD I have to find out if that will fit (I've asked Badger, and committed to get some pics and measurements to verify. Which I will. Soon).
Summed up (as of now):
1: Haldex Competition Controller
2: B8's and 19mm rear ARB (or both if you think that is recommended, and the local guru should re-evaluate his sons driving style)
3: TIP and short shifter (at the same time since they reside in the same area)
Have I got my priorities straight? Anything else I should put on the list? (Don't say Poly Bushes, I'm not going to bother - to much work...or do I "have to" reconsider that too?)
Any input welcome, valuable input truly appreciated!