Pete's OEM+ A3 Black Edition

[rdfcpete]

What type of driving do you do? I've got an 07 530d m sport touring as the family car, spec is much better although mine doesn't have xenons though I'm sure a 330d coupe has them as standard. Mine is an auto and obviously a lot bigger than the coupe but my experience is an easy 40mpg on the motorway but can go as low as 31mpg doing town/short journeys. Mine is the auto so that probably has a negative effect as well. I suspect that a 330d coupe wouldn't be far off 50mpg with a map on the motorway. My dad had an a5 3.0tdi and the average was about 42mpg

The weather up in Scotland has been too mild to even test the Quattro so far!

My new commute is very mixed, but I could vary that.
That's decent info. It would be the auto I'd want TBH   I've been in a 2009 325d cab with the single clutch paddle box, and thought it was perfectly adequate tbh. Does yours have the paddles too?

You're right, all E92 coupes had Xenons  
Is the 5 series on runflats?

The Audi's great and is low cost to run, but everyone has a 'next car' itch. The plan is to keep this for a long time and wait till the new 430D series fall under £17k one day in about 2020, but if I can chop it for a 'new as possible' 330d coupe then the temptation will always be there. Stage 2 map, decat down pipe and some VMR rims would follow.

I hope when the snow comes you're smiling with the Haldex 

[grant845]

Mine doesn't have paddles, from what I've seen there are two types of auto in the 5 series, mine is the one with longer thinner gear stick, the shorter gear stick seems to go with the paddles. It still has run flats, I bought it in March and they were practically brand new so I've just learned to live with them. They do give a pretty firm ride but my wife drives it most of the time so it gives a bit of peace of mind that she won't be stranded with a puncture

[rdfcpete]

Fair enough pal

What's the 2007 30d engine like to drive, do you enjoy it?
If I got one just for my use, I'd definitely ditch the RF's given their weight & ride, but that is me being a bit fussy in some ways.

I've been youtubing too much and have got the sound of different exhausts and tuning on them ringing around the ears - keeps enticing me towards that engine in a 3'er...

[monte]

Love the S3 grill Pete 

[grant845]

The 3.0d is a great engine, really smooth, great turn of pace and even a decent noise considering its diesel. It must be rapid in a 3 series. I would definitely recommend it

[rdfcpete]

Just when you think you're done and I start thinking about houses and a 4 series in a few years, this little list of requirements is written.

- Calipers done in GTI red and paint the hubs black, they need a lick of paint or two
- 6MT Short shift kit
- Tracking needs aligning
- Wrap the splitter centre piece in silver
- OEM RS3 grille at some point
- Get a genuine set of RS4s in 18x8J as the second/original set of wheels for the car, to replace the OEM RS4 'style' 18x7.5J ones the 2010 black editions came on
- Stage 2+ with Darkside Dev downpipe via Alex @ AKS. Not decided whether to go full exhaust or downpipe only yet, need a run through of the gains

Phase 1 is definitely finished. Need to get round to phase 2 by this time next year.

[Tfsi_Mike]

 

[N8KOW]

Just when you think you're done and I start thinking about houses and a 4 series in a few years, this little list of requirements is written.

- Calipers done in GTI red and paint the drums black, they need a lick of paint or two
- 6MT Short shift kit
- Tracking needs aligning
- Wrap the splitter centre piece in silver
- OEM RS3 grille at some point
- Get a genuine set of RS4s in 18x8J as the second/original set of wheels for the car, to replace the OEM RS4 'style' 18x7.5J ones the 2010 black editions came on
- Stage 2+ with Darkside Dev downpipe via Alex @ AKS. Not decided whether to go full exhaust or downpipe only yet, need a run through of the gains

Phase 1 is definitely finished. Need to get round to phase 2 by this time next year.

Sounds lovely Pete.

[rdfcpete]

I WILL catch you one day at Alex's gaff... 

Sounds lovely Pete.

 



Been dying to recently establish just how quick the torque makes a Revo stage 1 CR 170 so that I had a proper benchmark. Had a sprint with a good mates MY06 engine standard A3 2.0 TFSI (k03) in some twisties where actually, I'd say into the corners and out, I was sharper with the torque and began to pull away before silly speeds.
Also, managed to catch my mate with a 2005 40k miles Leon Cupra R 225 with the BAM engine at the right time. He's got Pirelli P Zero Rosso's all round but engine standard. Through 3rd, 4th and 5th, there was absolutely nothing in it. At motorway speeds, we were very evenly matched. On the second run I managed to pullaway slightly in 5th heading for 6th, but the margins were quite tight and I sustained a few lengths ahead which I'm really pleased with.

It was at the end of the day a car I bought to bring my motoring costs down, which it has  It does 60+mpg on reasonable runs without too much effort and 600 miles to a tank in summer. Still dead chuffed, particularly in real world driving conditions to match a standard Mk1 Leon Cupra R and be no doubt quicker than a standard k03 2.0TFSI A3 is certainly a welcome bonus.

This proves that the Revo STG1 and Pilot Sport 2's are working really nicely.

[rdfcpete]

Still going strong. I'll have had the car 2 years as of next week and I can honestly say it's the affordable performance/economy balance I was looking for.

It's pennies to run compared to my MK5 GTI all told. It drove really well at Bedford Autodrome weekend before last, very impressed with it and the XDS electronic diff worked well actually - I didn't think it be as effective as it was. Pics from that to come 

[Matto]

Looking good Pete 

[rdfcpete]

Ta guv' 

Were you happy with yours on track? I was pleasantly surprised in mine, I have to say. Everything worked out and performed for a daily.

[Matto]

Ta guv' 

Were you happy with yours on track? I was pleasantly surprised in mine, I have to say. Everything worked out and performed for a daily.

TBH I was a little underwhelemed. I was running my road tyres at road pressures. I reckon the track temp ust have been 30+ degrees so I found them very soft and squirmy. Another thing I found was that as I was going off line to let the quicker stuff by, it would pick all the marbles up. So for the next half a lap or so it sounded like I had a wheel bearing gone haha.

Maybe with some dedicated track tyres this wouldn't be an issue. I did enjoy it though. I have been a passenger may times around Donington and have done a few bike track days but this was my first time driving it myself.

[rdfcpete]

Ta guv' 

Were you happy with yours on track? I was pleasantly surprised in mine, I have to say. Everything worked out and performed for a daily.

TBH I was a little underwhelemed. I was running my road tyres at road pressures. I reckon the track temp ust have been 30+ degrees so I found them very soft and squirmy. Another thing I found was that as I was going off line to let the quicker stuff by, it would pick all the marbles up. So for the next half a lap or so it sounded like I had a wheel bearing gone haha.

Maybe with some dedicated track tyres this wouldn't be an issue. I did enjoy it though. I have been a passenger may times around Donington and have done a few bike track days but this was my first time driving it myself.

Interesting. Perhaps you (and the car) did better than you thought then?

I'm on essentially a MK5 chassis but just fast road pads F&R, coilovers and Pilot Sport PS2's. The tyres were absolutely excellent tbh although I expected that, as they've never let me down. The brakes coped well with only marginal fade once.
Even in the wet, the car felt very stable for a front engined FWD diesel. Perhaps the XDS did more than I thought in reality, traction control light wasn't on that much though.

I let a lot of stuff past too tbh, perhaps part of parcel when there's always going to be fast stuff around. By the last 5 or 6 laps though I was keeping some pretty committed Catherhams and a Seat Leon Cupra 225 behind me though for a few laps which I was chuffed with, having learnt the best route around by then of course.

I'd happily happily trust it on track again, as I'm sure you would yours?

[rdfcpete]

Few updates recently, with a full Spring freshen up to come.

Buying a house next year but keep getting itchy feet and looking at e90 330d's, however I know I'll keep the BE for much longer deep down. S3 intercooler to come.


http://iconosquare.com/viewer.php#/detail/926134380168138340_182143250