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Hi all,
So I've been around here for a little while now, having owned my current S3 from new since January 2014, I decided its time to start with the upgrades! I plan on keeping the car for a good while so this thread may be a document of years worth of changes, as some things wont be coming until a LOT later! I've had a few plans for the car and after speaking to some other owners and some 'tuners' I have made the decision to beef up this model a bit. Currently, there are only a few minor cosmetic changes completed however there are massive mechanical changes in the pipeline, but all will take time (somethings a lot!!).
So below is a list of the planned upgrades, what has been done already and estimated costs involved. I would be doing the very vast majority of all work myself so most things listed wont include any labour but I will state how long the job took me to complete! I will be getting a 'run-around' at some point next year so that's when the real building will begin! This thread is for my own reference as much as anyone else's!
Will update as and when new pieces arrive and get fitted!
So I've been around here for a little while now, having owned my current S3 from new since January 2014, I decided its time to start with the upgrades! I plan on keeping the car for a good while so this thread may be a document of years worth of changes, as some things wont be coming until a LOT later! I've had a few plans for the car and after speaking to some other owners and some 'tuners' I have made the decision to beef up this model a bit. Currently, there are only a few minor cosmetic changes completed however there are massive mechanical changes in the pipeline, but all will take time (somethings a lot!!).
So below is a list of the planned upgrades, what has been done already and estimated costs involved. I would be doing the very vast majority of all work myself so most things listed wont include any labour but I will state how long the job took me to complete! I will be getting a 'run-around' at some point next year so that's when the real building will begin! This thread is for my own reference as much as anyone else's!
- Cosmetic
- Rear Wiper Delete (Done - motor removed, lines and cables removed and tied back) [cost ≈ £30 total - 40 minute install]
- Wheel Spacers (Done - 15mm front, 20mm rear - will be replaced by new, wider wheels) [cost ≈ £200 total - 30 minute install]
- Painted Wheel Hubs (Done - wheels/callipers removed and hubs painted with silver Hammerite) [cost ≈ £6 - 2.5 hours including 2nd coat etc]
- Lowering Springs (Likely not happening, going with adjustable coils instead [might be on for a bit])
- Engine/Gearbox
- APR Intake System (may end up being VWR600 or Revo depending on final application)
- APR Catch Can
- Turbo Muffler Delete (APR)
- PCV Delete (if anyone has had their turbo open you'll know why this is here for the 8V!!!)
- Forge Recirculating Valve with Solenoid Kit etc
- Forge Boost hoses and Throttle Body hose (throttle body may be carbon from APR in the end)
- Forge Coolant hoses (full set of 18 hoses will be changed with coolant drain and flush)
- Wagner Intercooler as it gains slightly higher than the Forge as far as I've seen
- Stage 2 ECU Map (APR or Revo, possibly custom map by a friend)
- TCU Map for DSG (APR or Revo)
- BCS Downpipe to provide better flow to the turbo (before stage 1)
- Cat-Back Exhaust - Non-resonated, valved (Scorpion or Miltek probably)
- AEM Water/Meth Injection depending on achieved boost levels
- HPFP upgrade to allow for higher HP limit
- High Flow Injectors (HPA probably)
- Possibly a new Rail Valve depending on pressure achieved
- Syvecs ECU Upgrade (eventually)
- Haldex GenV Race Controller (eventually, when they get coding!)
- HPA Inlet Manifold (provides better flow to individual runners and has ready-to-go meth injection ports)
- Flex Fuel sensor as the car may have a track ready tune made for 'race fuel'
- Possibly uprated clutch but may not be required for the gained power on a DSG until much later
- Stock Internals should be fine until I near the end of this project but this is something that will be monitored throughout the build, as options become available stock parts will likely be swapped out, cost dependant
- Handling/Traction Stuff
- Set of wheels with better offset to widen the track a bit and make the spacers redundant
- Stock suspension replaced with some brand of adjustable Sport/Track Coilovers (to sort out the high speed bounce and also provide ample customisation)
- Big Brake Kit, front and back from PB Brakes
- Fronts - 356mm x 32mm 6 Pot Callipers with Drilled & Slotted Floating Rotors
- Rears - 356mm x 28mm 4/6 Pot Callipers with Drilled & Slotted Rotors
- Sport pads all round as opposed to race as I don't want to sacrifice too much cold performance and hot bite before fade
- Braided Steel and PVC coated lines all round
- Lower control arm replacement (built in camber and caster change wanted & found!)
- Various suspension bushings being replaced, most by SuperPro
- Electronics and Misc Stuff
- A few gauges are going to go in, probably the usual three, undecided where yet
- Possible use of a Toucan (Syvecs) type digital display to save having the need for analogue gauges as it plugs into the ECU and reads from there
- Set of front racing seats with attached harness
- Bit of weight reduction in the boot and rear seats etc
Will update as and when new pieces arrive and get fitted!
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