Manual S3 - Clutch slip - recommendations on where to get it changed?

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pop80_uk

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Hey all,
My S3 8V has done 37,000 miles and I think the clutch is starting to slips, about 3 or 4 times now, I have accelerated in 2nd and 3rd and the revs have increased but the car has hesitated and then accelerated, it felt like turbo lag.

So I am assuming the clutch is on its last legs, it still bites in the middle of the pedal and 5th and 6th seem fine, but I can not risk it just going all of a sudden in the middle of no where.

I intent to replace it with a SACHS organic replacement, and I will probably replace the flywheel at the same time, but my question is:

> Has anyone had the clutch changed in their manual S3? Where and who by? (and if you don't mind saying how much)

> Is the SACHS organic like the original in terms of feel?

> Should the SACHS clutch last alot longer?

Recommendations please people, I am struggling to find many places who will change the clutch on the S3

Thanks


 
I would have thought that the standard clutch should last longer that 37K miles.
 
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You've done really well to get to 37k on the original clutch. I'm running Sachs Organic and am happy with it. The pedal is firmer than stock to start with but does get lighter with a few hundred miles but remains firmer. I like this though as OEM was to light in my view. If you state where you are then that would help with finding a fitter.
 
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Starry said:
You've done really well to get to 37k on the original clutch. I'm running Sachs Organic and am happy with it. The pedal is firmer than stock to start with but does get lighter with a few hundred miles but remains firmer. I like this though as OEM was to light in my view. If you state where you are then that would help with finding a fitter.
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Unless you abuse the clutch, a standard clutch should last longer than 37K miles surely. I know S3 clutches have a bad reputation, but without trying to launch it several times, they should last longer than that?
 
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The clutch’s are very poor indeed mine started slipping at 5k ish and changed it to Sachs sinted 4 paddle clutch at 8k.

If your not intending to highly mod your car then go for the organic as it will feel more OEM.

Change the flywheel £300, clutch £500 ish and labour should be £200 ish.

I paid £800 all in from an Audi specialist and I didn’t need to change the flywheel as it was in great condition having only 8k.
 
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Starry said:
You've done really well to get to 37k on the original clutch. I'm running Sachs Organic and am happy with it. The pedal is firmer than stock to start with but does get lighter with a few hundred miles but remains firmer. I like this though as OEM was to light in my view. If you state where you are then that would help with finding a fitter.
Click to expand...

Im based in Staffordshire in the West Midlands, but willing to travel a little.

Do you find the organic clutch tiring in relation to the original?

I am also intending on changing the flywheel.
 
wab172uk said:
Unless you abuse the clutch, a standard clutch should last longer than 37K miles surely. I know S3 clutches have a bad reputation, but without trying to launch it several times, they should last longer than that?
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Never launched, not abused. The clutch in the manual S3 and Golf R are know to be very weak. Its a shame as it lets down what is otherwise a brilliant package.
 
MikeParkin said:
The clutch’s are very poor indeed mine started slipping at 5k ish and changed it to Sachs sinted 4 paddle clutch at 8k.

If your not intending to highly mod your car then go for the organic as it will feel more OEM.

Change the flywheel £300, clutch £500 ish and labour should be £200 ish.

I paid £800 all in from an Audi specialist and I didn’t need to change the flywheel as it was in great condition having only 8k.
Click to expand...

Im going to change the flywheel, I have been quoted £1250 for the Organic clutch, flywheel and labour, but its a 4hr drive there and back, so a bit of a trek.
 
pop80_uk said:
Im going to change the flywheel, I have been quoted £1250 for the Organic clutch, flywheel and labour, but its a 4hr drive there and back, so a bit of a trek.
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I was going to do a similar drive pal. I was going to use VRS Northampton but got someone local to price match them.
 
MikeParkin said:
I was going to do a similar drive pal. I was going to use VRS Northampton but got someone local to price match them.
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Yeah, there are a couple of local'ish garages who claimed to be Audi / VW experts, but they never get back to me

The garage I have found is in Sheffield, its a 2hr drive there and the same back, but they seem to know their stuff and are well reviewed.

I have so far contacted 10 garages for quotes and ONE has got back to me
 
pop80_uk said:
Yeah, there are a couple of local'ish garages who claimed to be Audi / VW experts, but they never get back to me

The garage I have found is in Sheffield, its a 2hr drive there and the same back, but they seem to know their stuff and are well reviewed.

I have so far contacted 10 garages for quotes and ONE has got back to me
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Where are you from ?
 
pop80_uk said:
Im based in Staffordshire in the West Midlands, but willing to travel a little.

Do you find the organic clutch tiring in relation to the original?

I am also intending on changing the flywheel.
Click to expand...

Not tiring at all in my opinion, I think the extra pedal weight improves the feel, I've also fitted a clutch stop and a forge short shifter which tightens up the whole gear change experience.
 
Starry said:
Not tiring at all in my opinion, I think the extra pedal weight improves the feel, I've also fitted a clutch stop and a forge short shifter which tightens up the whole gear change experience.
Click to expand...

Thanks thats good to hear.

I actually have a forge short shift in the garage waiting to be fitted. What have you got the throw set up to ? (% wise)

Whats a clutch stop do?

Thanks
 
pop80_uk said:
Im going to change the flywheel, I have been quoted £1250 for the Organic clutch, flywheel and labour, but its a 4hr drive there and back, so a bit of a trek.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a very good deal to me, on the Sachs website the clutch kit and flywheel is over £1k.
The flywheel alone is circa £500.
 
I'm quite surprised the oem stands up to circa 400bhp. Good to know. I'm a couple of months away from a new clutch and remap package from awsome GTI. was expecting to have to change out the oem for Sachs.
 
audi upgrades
From what I’ve heard the OEM flywheel is sound and even for stage 3. If I need to then I’ll change it all again.
 
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When I do mine which inevitably I will have to I am doing both whilst the clutch is open............with any decent mileage on it I think you would be missing a trick not to. OK at 5k miles then no worries!
 
pop80_uk said:
Thanks thats good to hear.

I actually have a forge short shift in the garage waiting to be fitted. What have you got the throw set up to ? (% wise)

Whats a clutch stop do?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Set the shifter to max, it's perfect in my view. The clutch stop just spots the pedal going any further than it needs to, just stops it at the biting point.
 
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Same here on the shortest setting.
 
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Thanks for the replies, so far!

I have had some quotes from some garages now, any recommendations are welcome though, names of suggested / ones who have done your manual clutch change, ones etc etc....

I am a bit confused though by some of the pricing.

Some garages are suggesting I need a new flywheel, 100% need one.

Others are saying to reuse the original flywheel and that will be fine.

Obviously it adds quite a cost to change the flywheel, do I need to? I will be keeping it standard, and at most going to stage one but in the future. But that's it.

Also some garages advising that wheel alignment needs to be part of the cost as well, well others no mention at all.

Any help / advice appreciated!!
 
MikeParkin said:
My duel mass is OEM pal.
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Leevr said:
I'm quite surprised the oem stands up to circa 400bhp. Good to know. I'm a couple of months away from a new clutch and remap package from awsome GTI. was expecting to have to change out the oem for Sachs.
Click to expand...

Flywheel would be OK at 37,000 miles then?
Standard power? or Max stage one (in the future)
 
You have the best Vw specialist on your doorstep. Give midland Vw a call. Great prices and all enthusiasts who know what they’re doing. Did a clutch and flywheel on my mk5 Gti 10 years ago. They waited until my flywheel was off and inspected before telling me if I needed a new one and imagine they’d suggest the same with this
 
I had my flywheel inspected and the guys said it's perfect so i reused it, that was on 42k. The wheel alignment is needed as the front subframe will need to be dropped and this throws alignment out.
 
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Starry said:
I had my flywheel inspected and the guys said it's perfect so i reused it, that was on 42k. The wheel alignment is needed as the front subframe will need to be dropped and this throws alignment out.
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Well if it’s inspected prior to fitting the clutch and it’s fine then yeah.
 
Starry said:
You've done really well to get to 37k on the original clutch. I'm running Sachs Organic and am happy with it. The pedal is firmer than stock to start with but does get lighter with a few hundred miles but remains firmer. I like this though as OEM was to light in my view. If you state where you are then that would help with finding a fitter.
Click to expand...

Starry said:
Not tiring at all in my opinion, I think the extra pedal weight improves the feel, I've also fitted a clutch stop and a forge short shifter which tightens up the whole gear change experience.
Click to expand...

winrya said:
You have the best Vw specialist on your doorstep. Give midland Vw a call. Great prices and all enthusiasts who know what they’re doing. Did a clutch and flywheel on my mk5 Gti 10 years ago. They waited until my flywheel was off and inspected before telling me if I needed a new one and imagine they’d suggest the same with this
Click to expand...

My head is spinning

Many thanks for all the replies so far, I have quite a few quotes now from various garages, including Midland VW, but also quite alot of conflicting information which is confusing, any help appreciated to straighten out my thoughts:

1) I am correct in thinking the S3 8V manual has a DMF (dual mass Flywheel as standard), some garages have said this has to be replaced at the same time as the clutch, and with a Single mass flywheel, some saying they will not complete the work without the change. Some well regarded garages have said no flywheel is needed and the original DMF can be re-used. I have also been told that the flywheel makes no difference to pedal feel and clutch operation? Who is correct? What is correct? How long will the standard DMF last?

2) So I was set on the SACHS organic performance clutch (NOT sinsered) as the replacement, however I am reading the forums and getting conflicting info on its feel, some people say this clutch feels OEM after a few hundred miles. Others have said it bites really low, a judders the car in reverse and also in 1st at traffic speed? and they wish they had gone OEM
Is there another clutch choice in between Audi original and SACHS organic performance which people are choosing which give a more OEM feel?

Any feedback from manual S3 8V owners who have made the change?

Audi main dealer is out, as their quote for labour was £1100 (no parts!), and lots of variation in quotes, advice etc.

HUGE thanks for anyone who replies, its appreciated.
 
Definitely not a SMF pal, if your old DMF is ok then re-use it on the recommendation of the garage. If your DMF is not up to standards then get a new OEM or better DMF with a Sachs clutch kit of your choice.
 
MikeParkin said:
Definitely not a SMF pal, if your old DMF is ok then re-use it on the recommendation of the garage. If your DMF is not up to standards then get a new OEM or better DMF with a Sachs clutch kit of your choice.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike,
A couple of garages have been fairly certain that at 37,000 miles my standard DMF will be OK, but have said they will have one on standby should it need to be changed. So I can live with that.

Is there a option in between OEM clutch and SACHS organic performance which gives OEM feels but solid reassurance of it giving me at least 30 - 40,000 miles of life. Or is the SACHS performance clutch actually fine after it beds in?
 
pop80_uk said:
Thanks Mike,
A couple of garages have been fairly certain that at 37,000 miles my standard DMF will be OK, but have said they will have one on standby should it need to be changed. So I can live with that.

Is there a option in between OEM clutch and SACHS organic performance which gives OEM feels but solid reassurance of it giving me at least 30 - 40,000 miles of life. Or is the SACHS performance clutch actually fine after it beds in?
Click to expand...

I think you will be fine with the Sachs pal.
 
Haha it is what it is pal.

When I was looking a few years ago at replacing mine it was only £300 so not sure why the massive price hike.
 
MikeParkin said:
Haha it is what it is pal.

When I was looking a few years ago at replacing mine it was only £300 so not sure why the massive price hike.
Click to expand...

Out of sheer interest, what is the life of the DMF?
Can they last for the life of the car.
 
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