S3 new owner

S3 new owner

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Discussion

awep

Original Poster:

57 posts

102 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
I've just taken delivery of my new S3!



Happy to now be part of the club here, although I have some questions:

What engine oil do you all use?

I've read about carrying a spare fuel pump relay - can anyone tell me where to get one?

What products should you use to clean the vinyl interior?

Thanks in advance!

Alex

ukflyboy

246 posts

115 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Opieoilman recommends an ester based 10w-50 oil such as Fuchs Titan Race Pro S, although it's not cheap at £54 for 5 litres! I imagine most on here use similar non-ester (cheaper) oils.

I found Ultra Clean from Furniture Clinic to be excellent for cleaning the interior leather and vinyl. Came up looking great!

Griffinr

1,017 posts

173 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Valvoline VR1 racing is a current favourite of many on here, its a high ZDDP oil which is good for the older engine design. Often on offer at Eurocarparts.

glenrobbo

35,077 posts

149 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
^^^^^^ Wot Rob said! ^^^^^^

ZddP = Zinc & Phosphorus derivatives, kinder to the Cologne valve train than modern synthetic oils, VR1 Racing is a mineral based 20w/50 perfect for our old lumps smile

( I read too much & really need to get out more! driving )

Welcome to our happy band waveythumbup

glenrobbo

35,077 posts

149 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
S3 Fuel pump relay source anyone? confusedscratchchin Answers are a bit slow on here today wink


I know it's not the same as the S1, which is pink and getting hard to find......

By the way Alex, where are you located? You may wish to add yourself to the S owners map on here, also add to the S3 owners' list.

Cheers,
Glen smile

awep

Original Poster:

57 posts

102 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Thanks guys.

I'm based in Winchester - have added myself to the map but not the list.

glenrobbo

35,077 posts

149 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
awep said:
Thanks guys.

I'm based in Winchester - have added myself to the map but not the list.
Ah, Winchester!


Off topic, but....We called in that lovely town, after a 4.5 hour drive from oop norf, parked in the town centre and were told it was free parking for 30 mins, only to collect a hefty parking penalty 15 mins after arrival. We found there was a sign further on, facing away from our parking spot that said you had to get the free ticket from a machine some distance away. Bcensoredds! A "fine" way to welcome visitors! frown

Sorry, rant over. But Goodwood Revival cheered us up!

Rower

1,378 posts

265 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Looks good , is that single roof panel ? I cant spot the join.

glenrobbo

35,077 posts

149 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Rower said:
Looks good , is that single roof panel ? I cant spot the join.
A Surrey roof? In Sussex? What are they thinking of? wink

Sorry! Hampshire! What was I thinking of?

You really should be more roofless in an S.

Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 7th October 17:57

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
glenrobbo said:
I know it's not the same as the S1, which is pink and getting hard to find......
It's Yellow and getting hard to find wink



Ford part No. on my spares is 81AG 14N089CA ( owned car since 2008 and not had a failure yet)

ATS3

319 posts

108 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Hi Alex

I can certainly recommend the cleaning kit from the furniture clinic - mine has a magnolia interior and it came up really well.

http://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Cleaners_...

Andy

awep

Original Poster:

57 posts

102 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
quotequote all
Thanks guys.

Any thoughts on how to tighten a loose gear knob?

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
quotequote all
Depends where it is loose. If its the actual knob then this should be a case of screwing it back down, or tightening some grub screws, or if its a Sierra item re doing the fixing (I don't know how theose ones are fixed). If it is threaded then some threadlock, PTFE tape or a locking nut will stop it undoing in the future.

If it is the linkage that is loose then this is centre console out and fiddly fingers time to renew the linkage saddle.

If it is the whole thing dancing around as you power on then the gearbox mount needs changing.

awep

Original Poster:

57 posts

102 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
quotequote all
It's one of the solid metal 'spheres'. It twists about the same point by maybe 45 degrees - there's no rattling.

AutoAndy

2,265 posts

214 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
quotequote all
welcome to the gang Alex...you wont regret it.. wink

...Gear knob is non-standard...might be a grub screw or a worn out nylon thread in side that needs replacing - perhaps unscrew it completely and have a look

awep

Original Poster:

57 posts

102 months

Friday 9th October 2015
quotequote all
Thanks, I'll take a look over the weekend.

The heater gauge paint has worn off my dashboard - can anyone explain what the two sliders do please? Or offer a photo??

Alex

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Friday 9th October 2015
quotequote all
Did you get a hand book with the car?

On my S3 the top is for directing the air to slightly more the windscreen or slightly more the footwells.

The bottom controls the hot water going to the rad in the heater box.

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Friday 9th October 2015
quotequote all
awep said:
- can anyone explain what the two sliders do please?
Not a lot wink

Scoobimax

1,892 posts

200 months

Friday 9th October 2015
quotequote all
D
phillpot said:
awep said:
- can anyone explain what the two sliders do please?
Not a lot wink
Or in my case seemingly the opposite of what is indicated!!!

motomatchless

123 posts

167 months

Friday 9th October 2015
quotequote all
Scoobimax said:
Or in my case seemingly the opposite of what is indicated!!!
How strange, on mine also winkwink