Lingo's Audi A3 Project (8L to 8P Style Conversion). Warning: Picture-Heavy Thread!

[Lingo]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this site and I thought I'd start by creating a thread to demonstrate my enthusiasm for working on my Audi A3. I've had the car for a little under a year now and I've been doing a lot of modifications to it over that time, having said this I'd call it a 'rolling project' as I still use the car pretty much everyday. I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed working on the car, I've still got many plans in the pipeline but here's what I've been up to so far.

I started off with my Audi A3 (8L Model) as pictured below:

http://www.abload.de/img/frontandside-beforepub97j1.jpg

http://www.abload.de/img/frontend-beforepublicv1gz3.jpg

http://www.abload.de/img/rearend-beforepublicveanhx.jpg

http://www.abload.de/img/sideview-beforepublicvk7u8.jpg

I really liked the car but I considered the exterior a little too bland as it was and being 21 years old, I prefer the more modern take Audi have had with their model-range, specifically in relation to the single-frame grille and day-time running lights paired with xenon H.I.D headlights they've been fitting. So with much help from (a fantastic) local body-work shop, I decided to have my own take on a modern Audi built on my A3. To start with, I bought a new set of headlights that ran LED's across the bottom and side of the headlight unit, much like the current generation Audi A5/S5, as well as projector lenses appropriate for housing H.I.D headlight bulbs, as seen below:

http://www.abload.de/img/headlightsbeforesilvatyops.jpg

However, I wasn't impressed with the amber reflection the indicators gave off in sunlight when they weren't on, so I changed the indicator bulbs for a pair of Silvatec chromed bulbs to give the indicator position a more stealth look when turned off but exactly the same amber glow when they were on:

http://www.abload.de/img/silvatectostockbulbcomxt80.jpg

After changing the bulbs:

http://www.abload.de/img/headlightsaftersilvatex7et.jpg

My grandfather also kindly sealed the headlights for me, as we wanted to make sure they wouldn't be damaged by condensation:

http://www.abload.de/img/sealingheadlamppn9i.jpg

I wanted to make the rear-end look more modern too, so I started with the numberplate lights, they looked too dull as they were, so I changed them for a pair of 8-LED numberplate lights:

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/stocknumberplatelightszov0.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/lednumberplatelightsafbomi.jpg

I decided I'd fit the headlamps at the same time I re-did the front end so I then ordered an RS4 style front bumper with a single-frame grille gap that would be able to mount an S3 style grille into it as well as a metal bonnet extension that would allow the bonnet to meet with the front bumper/ grille in the appropriate position. I unboxed the grille to take a picture but left the bonnet extension and bumper in the box as they were pretty big:

http://www.abload.de/img/bumpergrilleandheadligosn9.jpg

Took the grille out of the box:

http://www.abload.de/img/s3single-framegrillett68.jpg


Much work would be needed to be done to these parts before they could be fitted, so I put them all into the back of my Audi and off to the bodywork shop to work on the front-end as well as colour-code the side-skirts and rear bumper I went:


http://www.abload.de/img/leavingforthebodyshopwpk5.jpg

I'm tired of writing and uploading photos for the moment, so will continue the thread with what I got up to next a little later - hope you like what I've shown thus far. [:d]

[Maitre Absolut]

wow i've never seen pics of a 2 door 8L before

good job refreshening its looks!

[dubguts]

Super interested. Get some energy and keep posting!

[fatbrembos]

sounds like a great project id love to see how it comes out
wouldnt it be cheaper just to buy a 8p tho?
anyways keep us updated

[Lingo]

Thanks for the kind responses guys, they're much appreciated! to fatbrembos, no it wouldn't be cheaper to buy the 8P as the cost of labour on the work done here is pretty minimal as all the work done is either by myself, a family member or a family friend.

So, to continue with the project thread, I took the car to the bodywork shop and let them get on with what they do best. As they were so local, I went in every now and again to take photos of the progress. They begun by stripping the original front bumper and old headlights and then lining up the new headlights, as shown here:

http://www.abload.de/img/newheadlightsfittedpubvnm3.jpg


They then began preparing the front bumper, a lot of work needed to be done to actually have it properly line up with the new lip of the bonnet extension and not be so ridiculously low to the floor that it was comical:

http://www.abload.de/img/new8pstylefrontbumperrpqr.jpg

Test-fitting to make sure the bumper was lining up:

http://www.abload.de/img/new8pstylebumpertest-f9gkn.jpg

Final test-fit with the single-frame grille on:

http://www.abload.de/img/testfitsingle-framegrisr43.jpg

This is where I'd argue most conversions in the past go wrong, in that once the single-frame grille is on they don't really care about having it match up with the lines of the car. Whereas I wanted the front end to look very similar to OEM, and the only way I think this can be achieved is by lining the bonnet up to the single-frame grille. The bodywork shop then welded a custom metal lip to the original bonnet, as shown below:

http://www.abload.de/img/weldedfrontbonnetrysp.jpg

The body work shop then removed the rear bumper to colour code the bottom section (they also did the side-skirts at the same time):

http://www.abload.de/img/rearbumperremovedpubli8mgo.jpg

Considering the grille was already badged as an S3, I decided to go with an S3 scheme, I purchased a pair of S3 style chrome mirrors to match the S3 style chrome grille and chrome finished headlights:

http://www.abload.de/img/chromemirrorstjyy.jpg

I then went out and bought a set of 8000k Xenon H.I.D's to fit into my new projector headlamps:

http://www.abload.de/img/xenonhidconversionkitqu1o.jpg

After much preparation and painting later, here's my car as it was...

Firstly a night shot to show you how the LED DRL's look (back when it was icy in the winter):

http://www.abload.de/img/mycarinthenightinicycoquye.jpg

Xenons on at night:

http://www.abload.de/img/xenonsonatnightpublicvcuu1.jpg

A shot of it with the chrome mirrors fitted (the insides of which I filled with industrial-grade adhesive after reading about mirrors being stolen from members who post on here):

http://www.abload.de/img/audiwithchromemirrorsongx.jpg

Repainted rear bumper (bottom section) and side-skirts:

http://www.abload.de/img/repaintedrearside-skirrxuj.jpg

One last picture:

http://www.abload.de/img/frontendchromemirrorspwyb1.jpg

Hope you guys like it. Thanks for looking, I have much planned so will continue uploading soon.

[tiptronic]

Great transformation! keep us posted!

[TRON1C]

Very nice, keep working, and keep posting.

[fatbrembos]

very nice progress

[itsmatt33]

appreciate ur boldness.
i would remove the s3 badge....as u dont drive an s3
lower it big time and get some wheels it looks so funny with an aggressive front and weak rear/stance.

but i understand this is your daily. keep up the good work

[dubguts]

appreciate ur boldness.
i would remove the s3 badge....as u dont drive an s3
lower it big time and get some wheels it looks so funny with an aggressive front and weak rear/stance.

but i understand this is your daily. keep up the good work

People put on S3 steering wheels for the nice look and the flat bottom, should they take those off because it's not really an S3? Nah.

Lingo, looks good dude

[krazyboi]

Good work on the conversion...keep us posted!

[itsmatt33]

People put on S3 steering wheels for the nice look and the flat bottom, should they take those off because it's not really an S3? Nah.

Lingo, looks good dude
first off its a steering wheel for performance use, not a badging that serves no purpose but cosmetics

[Lingo]

Thanks for the kind responses everyone, I appreciate them all. I'll continue to update this thread soon.

[green a6]

nice progress lingo

[fatbrembos]

first off its a steering wheel for performance use, not a badging that serves no purpose but cosmetics
i dont see the difference... performance use? seriously? people put the steering wheel on so they can say they have a s3 steering wheel so that it looks different and here we have a s3 grill, i have a s3 shift knob and its got the badge, i didnt take it off and it serves no "performance use" so whatever its his car not yours so let it be
car is looking good, keep it up!

[Lingo]

I have another update guys - I found that some of the light bulbs in the top rear brake light cluster had stopped working, this is an issue I've noticed on a number of 8L's. I decided to replace them with red LED's rather than the original bulbs to give the brake lights a more modern look as they glow a much 'purer' red, rather than the orange-red the original bulbs gave off as well as the added bonus of a longer life-span than the originals:

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/topbrakelightbeforepubr90g.jpg

Comparison of a new LED and old filament bulbs with the lense removed:

http://www.abload.de/img/ledandfilamentcomparisojlh.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/topbrakelightaftermjf5.jpg

http://www.abload.de/img/audiatnightwithnewtopla8p7.jpg

I then moved onto making some interior modifications. I started with the stock radio, it was outdated (it didn't even have a CD-player) so I went with an after-market unit in car tv/ dvd-player/ radio with an aux 'ipod jack' and SD card reader. I made sure I bought a unit with a removable head so that I could always take the radio fascia with me when the car is parked up (making the unit pointless for a thief to bother trying to steal).

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/radiobeforev825.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/radioafterckdv.jpg

I also replaced the interior lights with LED's which make it look much better in my opinion.

Front interior light, before:

http://www.abload.de/img/ledinteriorlightbeforeqkcx.jpg

Front interior light, after (replaced with two 16-LED units and two 5-LED units):

http://www.abload.de/img/ledinteriorlightsafterlmo5.jpg

Rear interior lights, before:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110408-00169wgwb.jpg

Rear interior lights, after (replaced with two 5-LED units):

http://www.abload.de/img/rearledlightsafterbt8u.jpg


Thanks again for looking!

[green a6]

wow nice update

[itsmatt33]

i dont see the difference... performance use? seriously? people put the steering wheel on so they can say they have a s3 steering wheel so that it looks different and here we have a s3 grill, i have a s3 shift knob and its got the badge, i didnt take it off and it serves no "performance use" so whatever its his car not yours so let it be
car is looking good, keep it up!

lol yea that was a stupid comment. my bad. but i guess theres a different mentality in the b6 a4 world.
when someone buys a s4 grille/bumper and puts it on their a4 with the badging they get flamed on big time. (just for the badging though)

u really dont see a problem when someone drives by in an a4 yet rocks s4/v8 badges? how am i the only person seeing this...

edit:
i guess i am bias because i would have no problem rocking interior badges... (s4 seats/rs4 shift knob/ttrs steering wheel) i think my only problem is with exterior badges. to each his own i guess.

[dubguts]

It's all about OEM+

[Neil41487]

This looks great so far!

What are you plans on wheels for this conversion? I think something along the lings of replica 18" S5 wheels (the OEM 19's might look too big / awkward) would look fantastic, and not overwhelm the car.

After wheels and a wash, this car would look absolutely great! Keep us posted.

[RaptorHunter]

Did you modified your Bumper to extend the hood?

[jumalian]

is it me or do the headlights not fit right?

nice work otherwise!

[Lingo]

Thanks for the kind comments greena6, dubguts and Neil4147. They're massively appreciated, as always! Neil, I'm definitely going to get some 18" alloy wheels for the car soon. They'll definitely be OEM/OEM style wheels, I do like the S5 style alloys but I'm thinking about fitting a set of Audi R8 V10 style alloys as I believe they look fantastic but I'm not definite yet. Any other recommendation?


Did you modified your Bumper to extend the hood?

Yes, the bumper had to be modified extensively for the bonnet extension to fit, when the front bumper came from the factory it sat ridiculously low, which not only would have scraped everywhere (DUB is not my thing but each to their own) but meant that the bonnet extension could not possibly be fitted because the bonnet extension needed room to sit above the bumper so that it would appropriately line up with the single-frame grille. All credit for this goes to the bodywork-shop I had the work done at though, it really couldn't have been done without them.


is it me or do the headlights not fit right?

nice work otherwise!

The headlights fit perfectly fine mate, all mounts bolted in to the right position. The idea of them sticking out on the inside edges is a feature of the body kit, it creates that angular look that the front end on 8P3 chassis has whilst at the same time allows the lights to fit in with the new bonnet line created by the extension. It would be easy enough to have the body stick further out so there are no angles and it'd look more like the older 8P2 chassis but that's not what I'm going for here. Thanks though.

I'm currently waiting for parts that I've ordered to work on the next part of this car, so another update will be coming soon. Thanks again for looking.

[larsmate]

I have another update guys - I found that some of the light bulbs in the top rear brake light cluster had stopped working, this is an issue I've noticed on a number of 8L's. I decided to replace them with red LED's rather than the original bulbs to give the brake lights a more modern look as they glow a much 'purer' red, rather than the orange-red the original bulbs gave off as well as the added bonus of a longer life-span than the originals:.
Are those LED's plug and play? Where did you get them from? I'm sick of replacing mine....

[Lingo]

Larsmate, yes they are a direct plug and play replacement, it's well worth swapping them for LEDs, they look much better and are much longer lasting. You can find them on eBay or any automotive lighting website.

Here's my next update:

I decided to work on the rear of the car, specifically on the rear light cluster. I wanted rear lights that would match the modern styling of the new 8P facelift tail lights but I wasn't really fully satisfied with any of the lights I'd seen for sale, so I decided to customise a set to make them to be how I wanted them.

I started out by buying a set of LED tail lamps (running 8-LED side lights, 9-LED brake lights and 12-LED fog lights per side):

http://www.abload.de/img/reartaillamps4epf.jpg

Whilst I was pleased with the actual set-up these lights had, I felt they looked a little too cluttered as they were which made them seem tacky to me, so I wanted to make them more subtle and look more like an OEM product. I did this by having completely red lenses with small rectangular slits on both units for reverse lights much like the current 8P model:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110528-00651fqme.jpg

Just as I did with my headlights, I used silicone on the inside edges to make sure they don't let water seep in, in the long-term:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110528-00656vss2.jpg

I then replaced the remaining filament bulbs for LED units (reverse bulbs and indicator bulbs):

* Filament indicator with amber 36-LED comparison:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110515-00542qoq0.jpg

* New 36 LED reverse bulb:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110515-005435osm.jpg

Rear tail lights before (side view):

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110529-00660jor1.jpg

Rear tail lights after: (side view):

http://www.abload.de/img/rearlightssideviewxqrx.jpg

Rear tail lights (before):

http://www.abload.de/img/lightsbackpublicversio0mqx.jpg

Rear tail lights (after):

http://www.abload.de/img/lightsbackafterpublicv8rqi.jpg

Finally, a couple of pictures with the lights on (sorry for the lacking quality in advance, my BlackBerry's camera isn't great in the dark):

Side lights on:

http://www.abload.de/img/audiatnightwithnewledbfrb4.jpg

Brake lights on:

http://www.abload.de/img/rearbrakelightsonpubli9q8j.jpg


Thanks for looking!

[TRON1C]

It's really starting to come together now. Your car looks great btw. Keep us updated

[Kittrell]

u really dont see a problem when someone drives by in an a4 yet rocks s4/v8 badges? how am i the only person seeing this...



I am the same way, and yeah, you know he would get torn up in the B6 section. He can do whatever he wants to make it look like an S3, but you never put the badges on. Why? Well because it's not an S3.

[dubguts]

I am the same way, and yeah, you know he would get torn up in the B6 section. He can do whatever he wants to make it look like an S3, but you never put the badges on. Why? Well because it's not an S3.

Must be just a B6 thing

[Lingo]

I decided to update the side repeaters. The white 'smoked' side-repeaters that come as standard are a little too 1990s for my taste. So I've fitted a pair of triple LED clear chromed units. It's a pretty subtle modification but the chromed side repeater is a much better match for the mirrors, headlights and grille as well as giving the car a more updated look:

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110615-007841djf.jpg

After (also decided to start raining just as I was taking the photo, which was nice of the sky) :

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110615-008050uwp.jpg

Before (indicator on):

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110615-007831uqx.jpg

After (indicator on):

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110615-00797uuik.jpg

Thanks for looking!

[DNasty777]

Yeah the badging is a b6 thing it seems like.

Wheels and lower! It needs it bad! Looks good so far nonetheless.

[rayray086]

Good work mate, way to dig into a project/daily driver! I just bought an 8L A3T (unmolested, K03S model - was close in buying one in the silver blue that you have on yours but ended up getting a silver instead) and will want to change a few interior bits, especially the head unit. My question is, where did you find the plastic trims that fill up the space left by installing an aftermarket head unit, like in this pic:


http://www.abload.de/img/radioafterckdv.jpg

I noticed as soon as I got into an A3 that the stock headunits are longer than typical single-DIN headunits.

Cheers mate, would be good to see it with a decent stance.

[NYCameron]

nice work so far!

I understand why you would want to make it look more modern and like the newer a3s
but personally, I would just keep your body style and make sure it constantly looks clean and fresh
maybe it's only because I am in the US and we are 8L deficient here =/

can't wait for the next update!
different strokes for different folks

[LWNY]

You couldn't convert the tail lights to have the light tube look? Like the current 2 door A3? Otherwise, amazing transformation with bondo. Now you have to slope the rear hatch more to make it more like the current A3. Nothing your bodyshop couldn't do with a welding torch.

[everso]

maybe i'm the only one here, but i think your A3 looked MUCH better before, and it just looks weird now. Not sure why you would ruin the look of the car.....but hey! it's your car, whatever makes you happy, man!

IMO, you should have spent that money to get better wheels and performance out of it, rather than just doing cosmetic stuff which doesn't belong on the car...

[dubguts]

maybe i'm the only one here, but i think your A3 looked MUCH better before, and it just looks weird now. Not sure why you would ruin the look of the car.....but hey! it's your car, whatever makes you happy, man!

IMO, you should have spent that money to get better wheels and performance out of it, rather than just doing cosmetic stuff which doesn't belong on the car...

It's a project dude give it time

[Lingo]

Good work mate, My question is, where did you find the plastic trims that fill up the space left by installing an aftermarket head unit, like in this pic:

I noticed as soon as I got into an A3 that the stock headunits are longer than typical single-DIN headunits.

Cheers mate, would be good to see it with a decent stance.

Thanks for the kind words, the head-unit edges can be found on eBay or any reputable audio shop should be able to get them in for you. You're right though, the stock shape of the radio was abnormal but it's easily fixed with the edges.



IMO, you should have spent that money to get better wheels and performance out of it, rather than just doing cosmetic stuff which doesn't belong on the car...

New wheels coming soon, a bigger engine transplant with a juicy turbo will also be done eventually.


nice work so far!

I understand why you would want to make it look more modern and like the newer a3s
but personally, I would just keep your body style and make sure it constantly looks clean and fresh
maybe it's only because I am in the US and we are 8L deficient here =/

can't wait for the next update!
different strokes for different folks

Thanks Cameron, fair enough opinion but I live in England and standard 8ls are absolutely everywhere here. I wanted my car to be a little more unique and special.



It's a project dude give it time

You've really hit the nail on the head mate, this truly is an on-going project for me and I intend to complete a lot of the recommendations made here.

Now, for a quick update:

I've had more work done to the rear end, it's pretty subtle to all but the most keen of eyes really. I've now got an S3 spoiler fitted and had the rear bumper smoothed so that it's one large unit rather than a bumper with a bottom attachment.

Rear end before:

http://www.abload.de/img/lightsbackafterpublicv0te8.jpg

Rear end after:

http://www.abload.de/img/rearwiths3spoilerpubli8ktp.jpg

Thanks again for looking. I'll have another relatively big update pretty soon, I'm just waiting for parts.

[dubguts]

Bueno dude, bueno. I'm excited to see this thing from start to finish

[IndianDrives]

It really starts to come together today. Your car looks very good indeed. Maintain

[Spitzbergen]

Looks really good. Keep it up!

[Lingo]

Thanks for the kind comments guys. They are much appreciated, as always!


So my new parts arrived. Brand new 18" R8 V10 Alloys. Absolutely love them, I believe they give the car a much more aggressive profile. Also decided to give it a good wash to match the shiny wheels. So, here some before and after photos:

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/frontendwithalloysbefovd46.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/frontendwithalloysafte2e7q.jpg

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/rearendwithalloysbeforsf74.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/rearendwithalloysafteref37.jpg

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110729-01113ye4l.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110730-01139xejr.jpg

Thanks for looking!

[dubguts]

Moarrr lowwwwww

[Lingo]

Thanks for the kind comments guys. They are much appreciated, as always!


So my new parts arrived. Brand new 18" R8 V10 Alloys. Absolutely love them, I believe they give the car a much more aggressive profile. Also decided to give it a good wash to match the shiny wheels. So, here some before and after photos:

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/frontendwithalloysbefovd46.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/frontendwithalloysafte2e7q.jpg

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/rearendwithalloysbeforsf74.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/rearendwithalloysafteref37.jpg

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110729-01113ye4l.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20110730-01139xejr.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Dubguts, how did I know you'd say that!? haha. Pictures quoted for the new page. :)

[NYCameron]

car looks nicer now!

but why do 18s look so tiny on your car?
either time to go lower and/or bigger wheels! [>_<]

[20AE428]

The S3 Badges on this car are SAD. It's OK to adopt the look but give it up on the badging something your not. Good job on the lighting stuff though.

[Lingo]

Hello everyone. I've got a few new updates as I've been busy working away on the car recently. Some of the stuff is pretty minor, the other stuff is much bigger.

Firstly, I did a really minor change that most people probably wouldn't actually bother doing. The O.C.D'er in me was unwilling to let this slide though. The number-plate screw cap on one side was missing and I also felt white caps would look better than black ones. So I changed them:

Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/numberplatescrewcover1leps.jpg

After:

http://www.abload.de/img/numberplatescrewcoverl1fwm.jpg

Secondly, my biggest update would be the removal of my old cloth seats and fitting of a complete leather interior and matching interior and door cards. My cloth drivers seat was pretty worn out, on the right hand side bolster so I figured this would be a good excuse to get a leather set. I went for a tan cream colour because I absolutely love how it stands out and I felt it matched my interior well. Wiring the front seat airbags which had different plugs took a bit of patience but thanks to my VCDS cable and some help from my father the airbags are wired up perfectly with no airbag warning light.

Front Seats & Door Cards Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111105-001205cc36.jpg

Front Seats & Door Cards After:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111108-00146ygdw1.jpg

Rear Seats Before:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111105-0011781efw.jpg

Rear Seats After:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111108-00149l4c3u.jpg

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111108-00148xncum.jpg

Finally, I also completed my LED interior conversion by fitting two 6-LED units into my boot and fitting two 16-LED units into the front "vanity mirror" slots. The LEDs really light up the light coloured interior at night.


Firstly, here's a picture of the boot LEDs. Unfortunately it came it pretty terribly. They really brighten up the boot at night in real life:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111108-00164a6kag.jpg

All interior LEDs on, including the LED vanity mirror LEDs:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111108-001631jeky.jpg


Lastly, one photo to show how much all of those LEDs brighten up the interior:

http://www.abload.de/img/img-20111108-00160q8ejp.jpg


I hope you all like the progress made. I will update the thread again soon with new progress on the Audi. Thanks for looking!

[dubguts]

Keep it up!

[Alexshady]

Good night. I want to make a mode just like yours and I was wondering how you did the thing with the hood, The 8P aggressive look. Would you mind telling me more about that? Thanks!

[Audi cabriolet]

Looks nice roughly what's the cost involved in this? I've just bought one of these but I managed to source a low mileage a3 1.8T 8l quattro I'm just in the early stages of doing her up.