Anybody had any experience with these atall,what should you look out for and is there any common problems

 

Which version? Both great cars. 8L is getting old now so usual age related problems start to appear.

Rick

 

Will be about 2000-2001 so the old shape is that the 8l shape I presume

 

They suffer from blocked oil pick up pipes if the oil hasn't been changed regular or the wrong oil has been used.

Also have crap water pumps which break up, alot of people replace them with aftermarket pumps which have metal impellors,

Coil packs were shite on the earlier cars aswell.

The plastic clips that hold the window to the regulator also break, Again metal replacements are availble.

Also the tie rods wear out pretty quickly giving a vague feel to the steering.

It shares all the same faults as the mk4 golf gti since they are pretty much the same cars

If you get a good one Paul they are great cars with loads of potential




P.s Make sure you check the miledge as they are so easily changed.

 

I've owned one for just over a year watch out for rust on the sides of where the roof meets the quater

Engine mounts go week I've had all replaced

Other than that my car has been faultless and great to drive

Make sure you get a BAM engine code as these are 225 bhp all the others are 210 bhp

 

Yeh read about the water pumps,oil will always get changed regularly if I get one anyway,window clips I will check and if they're plastic I will probably just replace them straight away,I've spotted a nice yellow one on eBay think it's a pre facelift model not really sure on what the differences are apart from the headlights and indicators being separate units

 

If you put the window down half way and then give the glass a wobble, it may rattle or have play in it, thats a sign that one of the clips has broke.
Usualy happens when the windows are frozen up and people try to open them.
I had to replace both the fronts on my golf.
I found out the hard way when the window dropped into the door.

You will soon realise how well built they are when you start stripping down the door.

its not just a case of popping off the door card, there is a metal plate behind the door card which is bolted to the door, lol

Id say it would be worth dropping the sump and replacing the oil pick up pipe as a matter of course.


If you do the cam belt, swap the water pump at the same time, they don't cost alot £30 from GFS, well worth it

 

Are the engine codes the same as the newer audis and printed on a sticker in the boot,will check for rust aswell on the roof cheers engine mounts I will keep an eye on them and replace them if they do look to start giving hassle

 

Engine code will be on the data sticker in the boot and handbook.


Really like the 8l S3, fancy one aswell.

 

Yeh same as the new audis aswell then cheers,is there actually any difference in the engines or is it just different maps in the ecu

 

if your going for a pre face lift thenit will be 210bhp front and rear lights are different as is the centre of the dashboard and a few other bits

heres mine

 

Internals are different
APY and AMK are 210 bhp.

Bam is 225 which has the stronger internals (Forged as standard) but have a rubbish oil strainer and pump as Mark said

 

Ok cool the couple I've spotted have had remaps anyway so are about 260bhp,might have a look around for a later car aswell if the engines are stronger,can the oil strainer on the later cars not be changed for the earlier engine strainer

 

Looks nice mate love those wheels aswell

 

Mate had one years ago and loved it,a bit like that stunner pictured above.

I'd never seen it before I came to Scotland but they do rust on the front wings where the inner arch guards rub against it from the inside,usually right in the middle of the arc but bad ones up here go right around the full wing;must be the harsh weather and salty roads combination as I honestly never saw one once down south of the border even really rough ones.

He did say it was heavy on fuel I'm assuming due to permanent 4x4 but that's life.

I love them myself,I'd say their pretty much the perfect all rounder.