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Controversial TTS - Wide Arched & Track Focused

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204K views 1.3K replies 134 participants last post by  MT-V6  
#1 · (Edited)
Edit: Due to the new forum layout I will no longer be able to edit this post moving forward.
Hopefully I will continue to post beyond the updates I have put below in this but you'll find anything 2022 onward past page 31 in the thread!

There are constant updates - At multi points thorughout the many pages in this thread, had been slacking so sometimes there is gaps.

Would be best if you've just stumbled apon this, to read through, all the pages of my rambling as there is many more regular/small updates throughout - Sorry!

Timeline for the first have of this original post is backwards...
Latest first so you can see a brief over view of the cars stages over the years I have owned it, but there is much more throughout the thread.
Then after these brief snip-its of spec, it goes back to is where it all began - in a normal time layour moving forward not back
If you do, thank you for reading & hope you enjoy!

2021 updates have made this car really the best it has ever been, I am so pleased with it.
Now over 5 years & over 60k miles in this TTS, it's been amazing and I do love it far too much :lol:

So have the 2021 spec, then some photos!


Performance/chassis:
•3.5” trackslag downpipe + sportscat
•Milltek Catback exhaust (non-res)
•Toyosport intercooler & custom pipework + Murray clamps
•Hel performance Oil cooler
•Creation motorsport muffler delete & discharge pipe
•Forge silicone charge pipe joiner
•Loba high pressure fuel pump
•Custom pro-ram induction kit
•AEM meth injection kit
•OEM Rev G diverter
•Audi RS4 fuel pressure return valve
•AKS runner flap delete
•NGK Iridium BKR7EIX
•R8 coilpacks
•R-tech full PCV delete
•R-tech remap 'stage 2+' - stock ECU
•Helix organic clutch kit + DMF & braided clutch line
•Coolerworx shifter tower, Forge short shifter, WG relay shifter, Draft 42 shifter bushings & diesel geek runner bush
•Powerflex engine & dogmount inserts
•Rota Titans 18” Wheels + Goodyear Supersports (road) & 1Form 18" Wheels + Yokohama AD08Rs (track)
•Yellowspeed racing/Intermotiv custom coilovers
•Cloude9 magride delete modules
•Superpro Antilift Kit & front polybushes
•Tyrol subframe locking kit
•Whitline Rear anti-roll bar & links
•Ultraracing front strut bar
•TTRS brake calipers, CL RC5+ or RC6 pads, braided brake hoses & Tarox fluid
•Genuine Audi TTRS lower inner & modified vented arch liners

Exterior:
•Genuine Audi TTRS front bumper and black edition grill
•Custom vented front wings
•Fibreglass rear vented bumper + custom fog/rainlight
•Maxton designs splitter & side skirts
•Mk3 performance Carbon fibre spoiler
•Carbon fibre ~ door handles, front bumper insert, mirror blanks
•Dynamic mirror lenses
•Custom 4” carbon exhaust tips
•Custom front & rear tow eyes
•Black badges

Interior:
•Corbeau Revolution XL seats, alloy sidemounts & sliders
•Retrofitted OEM heated seat pads
•TRS 3 inch ultralight harnesses
•Cloude9 seat bases
•Cloude9 rear seat delete & net
•All rear boot panels retrimmed
•SW Motorsport cage
•Alpine X802D-U 8” headunit
•Focal audio speakers & tweeters
•Cloude9 vent adaptor
•Stack boost gauge
•Audi 8V S3 heater vents
•Liquid digital gauge
•All interior red illumination changed to white
•All bulbs to LED & double boot light
•Carbon fibre ~ centre console, glove box trim, grab handles, pull handles, interior mirror, clock besile, hand brake

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2020 saw a huge change to the car.
Also marked 4 years with this car and 50k miles in it. Must say it's been brilliant.


2020 Spec & Photos...

Performance/chassis:
•3.5" trackslag downpipe + sportscat
•Milltek Catback exhaust (non-res)
•Toyosport intercooler & custom pipework
•Hel performance Oil cooler
•Creation motorsport muffler delete & discharge pipe
•Loba high pressure fuel pump
•Custom pro-ram induction kit
•AEM meth injection kit
•Forge recirc valve
•Audi RS4 fuel pressure return valve
•AKS runner flap delete
•NGK Iridium BKR7EIX
•R-tech remap - stock ECU
•Helix organic clutch & braided clutch line
•Coolerworx shifter tower, Forge short shifter, WG relay shifter, Draft 42 shifter bushings & diesel geek runner bush
•Cloude9 oil catch can kit
•Powerflex engine & dogmount inserts
•2Forge ZF5 18" Wheels
•Yellowspeed racing/Intermotiv custom coilovers
•KW magride delete modules
•Superpro Antilift Kit & polybushes
•Tyrol subframe locking kit
•Whitline Rear anti-roll bar & links
•Ultraracing front strut bar
•TTRS brake calipers, Tarox 2 piece discs, CL RC6 pads & braided brake hoses
•Genuine Audi TTRS inner arch liners & tubed brake cooling ducts

Exteriror:
•Genuine Audi TTRS front bumper and black edition grill
•Custom vented front wings
•Custom rear diffuser & rain light
•Maxton designs splitter & side skirts
•TTRS Carbon fibre spoiler
•Carbon fibre ~ petrol cap, mirror caps, front TTS emblem, door handles, front bumper insert
•Custom 4" exhaust tips
•Black badges

Interior:
•Motamec Evo-One seats, alloy sidemounts & sliders
•Cloude9 seat bases
•Cloude9 rear seat delete & net
•Cloude9 harness bar
•Cloude9 vent adaptor
•Stack boost gauge
•TRS 3 inch harnesses
•Euro Impulse gearknob
•Audi 8V S3 heater vents
•Liquid digital gauge
•Carbon fibre ~ centre console, glove box trim, grab handles, pull handles, interior mirror, clock besile, hand brake & magic tree

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Here's just a few photos of updates, and spec list of 2019 - many more updates have happened since

Recaro Wingback bucket seats (optional factory extra)
Audi RSNE head unit (optional factory extra) & retrofitted AMI
Cloude 9 customs rear seat delete, bar & net - with yellow stitch to match yellow seat belts
Audi TTRS genuine front bumper and grills
Maxton designs splitter & side skirts
Custom made rear diffuser & exhaust tips
Japspeed Carbon fibre spoiler & custom uprights
Rear window Vortex generator
Window tints
Custom Audi sport Livery
Bola CSR 19 x 9.5" wheels
Mtech grooved discs, Brembo HP2000 sport pads & Hel braided brake hoses, ATE Typ2000 fluid
Yellowspeed Club performance coilovers
Superpro Antilift Kit & front wishbone polybushes
Tyrol subframe locking kit
Helix organic clutch & AKS braided clutch line
Forge short shifter, Draft42 shifter end link bushes, OEM metal relay shifter, Diesel geek slider
GFB DV+ valve
Custom Ramair induction
Milltek Full exhaust - 100 cell race cat & non-res
Toyosport intercooler (600x300x76mm plate & bar core)
2.5" custom pipework into modified creation motorsport charge & discharge pipes with turbo muffler
Loba HPFP (high pressure fuel pump)
Audi RS4 FPRV (fuel pressure return valve)
AKS runner flap delete
R-tech custom map - 380HP/410ftlbs
Carbon fibre - Interior:
Centre console, Glove box trim, Grab handles, Pull handles, Mirror surround, Cluster/clock bezel, Steering wheel, Gearknob, Hand brake, dash ends.
Carbon fibre - Exterior:
Petrol cap, Wing mirrors, Door handles, Front bumper lip, TTS front emblem

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2018 updates will be on the later pages from 10 onward - This is where car took some serious changes for the better and where it went from good too decent.

After posting the recent look of my TTS I got asked to make a build thread and thought f**k it, might as well. If this isn't in the correct section could an Admin please move it though as I had no idea where to sling it. I have done a fair amount to my TT since I bought it back in September. A lot will probably dislike many, but one thing in particular about my car bur I built it for me and I can honestly say I love it :p

So before my TTS I owned my polo GTI for 2.5 years, done a hell of a lot to it mainly all myself, but I won't go on about, just a few pictures..

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As you can see I went pretty far with it, not only cosmetic but also a lot of engine and chassis work done. I wish now I could of kept it, but I had no space and at 23 I can't afford to run, insure and modify 2 cars. So once only a week or so after buying my TTS the polo got stripped for parts and scrapped :cry:

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Here's how I got the TTS, however with some nice extras, heated Recaro wingbacks :mrgreen: and uprated 2010? satnav with the gloss surround and media button. However, have and AUX port, which doesn't work, rewired the wires into the 32? wire plug as seen in a thread and activated it a vag-com but still nothing. So if someone could shed some light please PM me!
Other than this it was relatively standard minus the rs rep grill still with the badge [smiley=bomb.gif], however was clear that the previous owners weren't ones to spend money once buying the car, had some rep wheels, cheap as chips Teflon tyres and what looked like brand new brakes but they were warped, felt over 50-60 with heavy breaking. Although these slight issues, I was still massively happy, and as much as I loved the polo, there was no comparison on driving feel and interior spec, a whole other league. First couple of things I did was just change few odds and sods with my vag com just to make it exactly what I wanted with what you can code in through it. Also got my plate onto the car pretty quickly too.

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I tried to convince myself and others around me that I wasn't going to go silly and it was a decent car and wouldn't need me fiddling around with it, but who was I kidding :roll: Within 2 weeks of owning the car I was booked in with local vag tuner AMD. Car received a lot of parts there and this is the first time I had ever, literally ever let any garage touch any of my cars (minus tracking). I was a little nervous to say the least!
But once I picked up the car, I was more than relieved! So whilst in, had the Cambelt & pump done, forge short shifter, GFB DV+, forge induction kit and a milltek catback (regret not buying a full system and to be fair maybe even choosing the milltek). Asked for a quick test drive before handing over the money and it was brilliant! New intake and DV+ give a lovely turbo flutter on partial throttle up to 4k and past that a nice grunt from the engine whilst feeling much quicker. At the time I hadn't even cared about the exhaust note I was too much of a child, lightly putting my foot down to keep changing gear. But was presently surprised on the drive home with no drone what so ever even after speccing the non-res which from research people said was loud and awful. Anyways the car made a healthy 316BHP/333Ftlbs so I was well chuffed.

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Next on the list was those awful tyres! They were scary enough in the dry but in the wet they were honestly death. My polo had 5.5 & 7.5 degrees of camber, with 9.5 wide wheels with 185/45 tyres and it drove better round corners in the wet than the TT could. They were shocking, the tyres had to go But I wasn't going to put some nice new rubber on nasty rep wheels, so I hunted all over the internet for wheel specs on the TT. Wheel spec and fitment for the polo I had become a right nerd so I knew what I was looking for just had to find out enough about the TT chassis/arches. Whilst doing this I took the car to Audi for the remainder of service items. I had my pants pulled down! £179 for an oil change :eek: after doing everything myself for the last 4 years knowing the cost of parts, I was shocked but wanted the stamp in the book. Along with the oil, the haldex which AMD couldn't do and Audi nicely enough fitted my 1 stage cooler plugs for free which I thought was a result. However after picking up my car and seeing the trip on 8mpg and 15-20 miles had been put on the car I wasn't impressed! Think after that and for the price I will just return to doing bits on the car myself. Atleast I know exactly what's happening.

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In the end only a week after coming back from AMD I had these packages arrive. I went for 19 x 9.5 Bola CSR wheels all around, in bronze, which as the time I was sooo unsure on, but my misses convinced me. Also with some 245/35/19 Goodyear Asymmetric 3s to mount on them. Once I managed to get them bolted on, the doubts about bronze went. Women can be right about some things :lol: 😉

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Also had a friend of mine run over the car with mop after some long hours cleaning and de-ironizing the car. The results speak for themselves, he managed to make white shiny!

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Just after the mopping I received back the other part I had ordered when the car was at AMD. I managed to find a genuine RS spoiler and after a 2 week wait and a pretty poor job, I had it painted white. I bolted it on and was suddenly unsure if I was happy with it or not. Yes I know its not an RS, sorry if bolting an RS offends you, but as mentioned at 23, I can't afford an RS and I'm more than happy to bolt on the parts which I find enhance the car.

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As much as I was happy with the new wheels, it highlighted, 2 major issues though. The awful arch gap and the poorly looking brakes. Luckily I had 80% of the brakes covered. With some right fitting (rounded bolts and rust) I fitted some Mtech drilled and grooved discs with some Brembo HP2000 sport pads, this was like a night and day difference from whatever was fitted before even during the beading in process. Plans to change the lines to braided when the fluid is due went in as I already have the uprated fluid sitting on the work bench. Another thing with the brakes was their poor appearance and it may sound sad but couple of hours and some black brake paint and them some new badges at £60 [smiley=bomb.gif] completed that job for now.

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Next was the arch gap, it had to go, did plenty of research and looked into springs first as I wasn't convinced about putting coilovers onto the TT. Had many times before on polos and obviously air ride on the last but was still unsure. The more I looked into it the more springs seem to be next to nothing on the amount of drop and I thought f**k it. BC BR series coilovers were bought, but they had to do a bit of waiting. I thought whilst I was there, I would start sorting the front suspension as well in a hope to dial out the well know understeer. So after having the coilovers sitting around for nearly 5 weeks, acting like an inpatient child, I had the other parts I had ordered. Tyrol subframe locking collar kit and SuperPro anti lift kit and front wishbone bushes and a Powerflex dogbone mount. With help from a friend and my awesome over the road neighbour letting us use his unit and some specialist tools, we set to it on freezing cold 28th December. It really didn't go to plan though. In the end the frame had to come off and a new whole dogbone mount had to be fitted due to such a badly seized bolt. So after a long old fight and 2 days of work. It was all on! Of course, me being me, coilovers on the front as low as possible :roll: :mrgreen:

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Took it to another friend of mine who has a hunter and had it all dialled in. Front camber set to 1.5 and rear to 2.5 with slight toe out on the front and in on the rear, if my awful memory serves me right, I'll have to check the spec sheet to confirm. With all of the modifications and the tracking, the car drives brilliantly! All the money and pissing around under the car was certainly worth it! It now looked and felt quality! Would definitely recommend any of the above parts to any owner on the hunt for a nice drive feel/feedback through the wheel.

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As can already see, I'd managed to get a million miles from not touching it and leaving it as a standard car :roll: However I did manage a few months of not touching or ordering anything for TT and just kept on with it as it was. Probably should mention at this point the car is my daily just as the polo was, covering 50ish miles a day on my journey to work and back. I thought after all this time it was only fair to treat it, so I bought... Airride :oops: However, I fitted the management in the boot and test that it worked as it was 2nd hand and refreshed all the topmounts, lines, fittings and etc. But I had the car photoshopped, I'll have to try hunt down the photos, but I wasn't happy. Just wasn't the look I was going for and the struts sat in the garage for 3 weeks and I wasn't at all bothered to fit them. You must all know that feeling when you have a new part sat around and you cannot wait to get it fitted, didn't have that in the slightest and decided on selling it.
Found the photoshops:
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This is where the controversy will come in for most. With the newly freed up cash, the next idea was time for trail...

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So first the RS front bumper, it also came with a genuine grill so I was well pleased with this and love the look of the RS bumper over the TTS bumper, much more aggressive lines. Same with the spoiler, yes I know its not an RS, I'm 23 I can't afford an RS but even if I could I couldn't justify the amount the insure would cost me. The stealers already take plenty for the TTS. I love the look of the bumper so I had it, it's not far off standard (none plus) RS power anyhow and I'm not running the badges but I shouldn't let down the RS name too badly 😉 but if they know what they are looking at from the rear, you should know it isn't an RS.

Then comes the proper marmite decisions :p

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After much thought and always wanted one, I bought a BGW, a very big one. Time to make the car look more 'racecar'
Once bought the realisation of how much work would be needed to fit it dawned. However with loads of measure, re-measuring and templates, I got there! The first custom uprights we made were only temporary and as you'll see they changed into the ones I drew up for the CAD program and as like with a lot of my things the lads I have at work are more than helpful!
Along with this massive in your face wing, I wanted additional parts that tie in. So very kindly, my misses bought me some Maxton design side skirts and splitter, quick 30 minute lunch break these were fitted and was very pleased! Had been driving around with only a big gay wing on a semi standard looking car and this I felt helped tie in the look more.
Next had my old school friend make me up a set of custom side stripes and shortly after decided to give it a good with tyre pens on the goodyears.

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I liked this look, but they were incredibly small, had looked into actual tyre letting but so far the cheapest I have found was £100+ and I think that's far too much for some white on tyres. So again turned to my school friend and he made me some templates and was much more impressed with this! See how well the tyre pen lasts now its on the actual sidewall rather than in the textured lettering.

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So this leads pretty much where we are at. Other than the last thing I have done...

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Taken from the polo, I wanted yellow brakes again for so long but I thought this would never go with the finish of my wheels. I should of got the paint and bushes out earlier! I do wish I had the money to drop on some real yellow brakes but I can't justify spending the money on a set of 4-6-8 pots for the actual performance gains I'd have. So couple of hours and a brush will do for me! Have a picture of our naughty little cat joining in for good measure.

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If you've actually managed to read through all my dyslexic mumbling to read what I've done to my car, then I thank you! I understand this might not everyones cuppa and its on a public forum but its mine and I love it.
Current plans are happening, mid way through trying to make a diffuser to tie in the rear more to the 'racecar' look. Progress from here on will probably seem far slower than everything else in this thread, but I have had the car a fair amount of time now and it becoming more and more my car. If anyone is interested my instagram where I post most things is: @Barr_end
Thanks for reading [smiley=book2.gif] 8) Unsure why some of the photos have decided to rotate as they are fine in my Flickr but hey ho :roll:
 
#1,274 ·
If you have the front left fender off, can you post a few pictures of the alarm box? Not often we get this opportunity.

Also on the rear bumper, can you get some shots of where the tow-eye connects and also what looks like a grommet directly above it, and to the left of the overpressure vent. I'm kicking around the idea of running a Ctek charger extension cable from the battery to the tow-eye location. That way I can just pop the tow-eye cover and connect to the charger.

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Since the space behind the tow-eye cover is not used for anything, it might be a good location for the Ctek charger connection. I just need to have an idea of what's behind it and where the best access for a grommet into the trunk is located that I can get to without pulling the bumper.

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#1,275 ·
I have grabbed you a photo of the rear, Swiss - Do you want me to ping it to you in a PM?
I'll be honest, don't think you will be able to achieve what you are after without removing the rear bumper.
That being said, rear bumper is very simple to remove and think it would be worth while doing to achieve your plan!

However, front wings were already back on the car when you posted your message & also my alarm horn is not in the OEM location or box due to both sets of my vented wings I have run, so would of been no help anyways!

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Will post a proper update regarding the wrapping / new look when I get some time to type it up
Realised I still haven't posted some of the decent photos of the black! Pretty behind in this thread so better pull my finger out.

Shortest update I can type quickly, is the new rubber!
Turned up during the madness that was happening for the rewrap. Placed one on with no front wing, cleared the shock internally, happy days.
They were at a price point just could not say no to. If I had it my way / it was possible, I would of loved them to be silver!
Was not remotely expecting to find a set of wheels second hand which would match the requirements needed for wide arch, plus the price, had to be done.

So they are 2Forge ZF6's 18 x 11 et28, running 295/30 Yoko AO52
Even with the car being now complete, at point of typing this, I still haven't actually tried to test fit them!

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#1,277 ·
Can't actually seem to PM you as it won't let me on your profile :unsure:

-------

Random selection of x10 photos from the top end of camera roll, some of these maybe repeats. I'm not sure at this point
I don't really take that many photos but always forget to use them for weeks on end 😅

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#1,281 · (Edited)
With this post being start of yet another page of my ramblings, now making 65..
Think it maybe best to reveal the fresh look, using some of the only photos I have so far + get the spec list in at the top as it's minorly different, so all up to date.

However I will attach a video link prior to that as I really don't feel like photos truly capture how this looks! Wait till the end :cool:
Video link to show actual colour - CLICK HERE by James Barr, on Flickr


Colour shift in shade vs low sun vs bright mid day is vastly different, but oddly think my favourite is the shade, still looking close to it's old look but so glossy!
Obviously for those who've seen previous pages / know the car, it being white previously, can has never been so deep/reflective/glossy
Genuinely still not used to seeing it sat there like this. The finish for a wrap is mega!
You can still tell it's a wrap with the small amount of orange peal, but still very impressive finish and people have asked when did I paint it 😂

None of this would of ever been done without the huge help from Alex @Monstagraphics, we go way back and help each other out plenty, but think the favour swing is currently in his favour 😂
If anyone reading can check his youtube or socials out, I would appreciate it alot as he's trying to grow:
Alex's YouTube / Alex's Instagram / Monstagraphics Facebook / Monstagraphics Instagram
I will go into more details in another post on how much effort we went into along side the obvious exterior colour change

Spec:
Performance- Engine / Tuning:
•3.5” trackslag downpipe
•Milltek Catback exhaust
•Custom pro-ram induction
•Toyosport cooler/custom 2.5” piping
•Creation motorsport muffler delete & discharge pipe
•Forge silicone charge pipe join
•Samco silicone DV return line
•Forge silicone coolant hoses
•Murray clamps throughout
•OEM Rev G diverter valve
•Loba high pressure fuel pump
•Audi RS4 fuel pressure return valve
•AEM V2 meth injection
•AKS runner flap delete
•NGK Iridium BKR7EIX
•Custom metal oil filter housing
•Mocal Oil cooler kit
•AKS bsd oil pump assembly
•BBT Anti-Surge core & ported hotside
•R-tech remap 381hp/425ftlbs - stock ECU
•Billet engine caps & dipstick

Chassis:
•HPA performance Haldex controller
•Helix SMF/paddle clutch & braided clutch line
•Coolerworx shifter tower
•Forge short & relay shifter & dieselgeek slider bush
•Draft 42 solid shifter bushings
•AKS solid shifter mount bushes
•Vibratechnic engine & dogmount
•JBX central prop bearing
•Custom Intermotiv Stealth 2 way coilovers (10k/F 12k/R)
•Cloude9 magride delete modules
•Audi 8S TT front hubs
•Superpro anti-lift kit & front polybushes
•Tyrol front subframe locking kit
•Powerflex polybushed rear subframe & diff bushes
•Superpro polybushed control arms
•Whitline Rear anti-roll bar & adjustable links
•Ultraracing front strut bar
•AP racing 9660/5000R calipers, AP 368x36 floating discs, RayBesto ST45 / ProjectMu H21 pads
•CB 2 piece rear discs & EBC pads
•Braided hoses & Castrol SRF fluid
•Custom brake cooling ducting
•JR SL01 18 x 10.5 / 275 Michelin PS5

Exterior:
•Wrapped gloss black green metallic
•Genuine Audi TTRS front bumper and black edition grill
•Custom chassis mounted splitter & tunnels
•Custom Vented bonnet
•Gravity+ carbon canards
•Alsatek carbon vented front wings
•Alsatek carbon wide rear arches
•Ingo Noak rear diffuser
•Custom fog/rainlight
•Custom 4” exhaust tips
•TRC side skirts
•Speed Engineering Big Swan-neck Wing
•Carbon fibre mirror blanks
•Dynamic mirror lenses
•Black badges

Interior:
•Cobra Evolution Profit seats, alloy sidemounts & sliders
•Cloude 9 seat adaptor bases
•TRS 6 point 3 inch ultralight harnesses
•SW Motorsport cage
•Cloude 9 rear seat delete & net
•Flocked Dash - top, bottom & ends
•OMP Boss & Sparco 353 flat bottom wheel
•Alpine X802D-U 8” headunit •Focal audio speakers & tweeters
•Audi 8V S3 heater vents
•Cloude9 vent adaptors
•Stack boost gauge
•Stack oil pressure gauge
•Digital multi-temp gauge
•Custom clock/dial details
•Red interior illumination SMD LEDs resoldered to white
•All bulbs changed to LED & double boot light mod
•Carbon fibre ~ centre console, glove box trim, grab handles, pull handles, interior mirror, clock besile & handbrake

And finally some photos!

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#1,282 ·
Well with the above going down more like a lead balloon, seemingly following the trend of this entire forum.
Maybe a long waffling update isn't worth the effort 😂

I'll just throw time line well out of whack as it's minimal typing, with fact got to test the new track wheels on & try a test drive!
Very very pleased once complete and thought have a little fun which can be seen below
Good comparison of what they would look like on the same chassis (with daily having 8J front end set up) in a different frock & wheel/tyres that do fit it....

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#1,283 ·
Trimming the bumper tabs might not stop that from rubbing 😂
 
#1,284 ·
I enjoy all the updates mate. Keep them coming. There is a definitely a few of us who really enjoy this build thread so please don't let the lack of engagement put you off doing the detailed posts. I really enjoy them :)
 
#1,286 ·
Trimming the bumper tabs might not stop that from rubbing 😂
Think this will need to be marked down as the best comment of the thread 😅
Proper made me chuckle 😂

I enjoy all the updates mate. Keep them coming. There is a definitely a few of us who really enjoy this build thread so please don't let the lack of engagement put you off doing the detailed posts. I really enjoy them :)
Just feel like the forum as a whole is slowly falling off! Think I have moaned about it before 😂
It is a task to organise my brain to actually write things all down, whilst trying to contain it, but which still ends up in rambling waffle

I enjoy reading the updates too... even though I have just got a mk3, I still pop back here to read this thread
Dave
I appreciate the forum thread hop over, I might need to take a nose in the MK3 one myself now and again
 
#1,289 ·
Let's give this go...
Might be a fair bit of rambling test to follow.

Little jump back in time to actually around post #1273, when the car was actually receiving its refreshed look which first meant stripping it back, a lot! Not just the old vinyl.

In short – almost every bolt on panel was removed! Bonnet being the only exception, all be it being moved on its mounts. Bumpers, wings, doors, over arches, boot lid, spoiler, splitter, even the drivers side skirt.
All in an attempt to improve things but mainly, to hide the cars true colour – white.

So now the front of the door shuts sprayed black, rear was wrapped, same for the boot shut. Additionally the boot and drivers door were swapped out at this point. Now meaning the bonnet, both doors and the bootlid are all black and not original to the car. Which makes every removable panel other than the side skirts being from another vehicle.
Resulting in unless the bonnet is open and looking within the engine bay, or reg checked the car - I don’t believe you would know the car is white.

Some might consider this pointless, but for me, not having any blatant contrast with a door or the boot open just completes the entire visual and really does add to overall package. I’ve always believed that minor details matter.

As some may know, this strip down along was a large amount of effort, on top of the already fun job needing to wrap the car properly.But then adding to things you find along the way. Such as minor visual defects to bigger issues. Also making minor improvements, it got even longer!

The previous damage taken on the Donington trackday from that rogue boost pipe, seemingly only the splitter/air dam, was not the case. Stripping this down, the damage hidden, actually heavily cracked and damaged the OE bumper splitter under the ‘fog’ grills. Behind the air dam.

This needed repairing, along with the entire front bumper needing to be flat sanded, primed and flattened again to remove as much of the stone chipping as possible. Unfortunately the new gloss wrap highlighted these and made it look like the surface of the moon with some green wrap applied over the top.This was taken to the Bodyshop that also did the boot lid and drivers door. Whilst this was off, tried to add additional air guiding behind it in addition to what had been done previously.
One of the front carbon wings had developed a small crack in its eadge, from what/where unknown. Some fibreglass work there, additional fittings glued in and remade fresh mesh covering the vent holes and these were ready for another coat of vinyl.
Bonnet vent had to be removed out of the giant hole and this was more fun on reassembly.
Spoiler was removed from the boot lid and was all swapped over, drilling cutting etc. Hopefully finally waterproofed completely! (writing this months on, seems to be the case) with some taller water sealing.
One of the wide arch fixings I had glued had also cracked, not on the side that saw the impact last year. This again was just another small job that needed addressing with the car in pieces.
Rear bumper ended up being swapped out entirely, this had some pretty annoying damaged caused from loading/unloading car on low loader from the crash. Rear diffuser fins pushing up and denting the lower lip of the S-line bulge. The replacement still needed prep work from a poor respray and I did try and smooth the number plate screw holes myself due to deadlines and unfortunately, this hasn’t come out to a standard that I am massively happy with. Plus then needed the internal chopping no one can see behind the wide arches.
Door hinges, or at least ones that could be were all swapped for black ones, to minimise the items that would need wrap/paint. The upper car side is not, unless the dash is removed and after doing that once, not doing it again! Or drill through the support bar which again did not fancy.

There are probably some details I am missing from that already long list – but there was plenty done before/whilst the new vinyl was being laid down!

Then came putting that all back together, which was also more fun.

‘New’ rear bumper also came with a rear diffuser which wasn’t many textured layers of poorly painted black that I had to cover with plastidip – it again isn’t the best but is gloss black and better than what currently had. So swapping the fins and rain light into this
Rest of it was fairly straight forward and usual, other than the bonnet vent…
Stuck this down with tiger seal and a lot of it yet with 24 hours, half of it was pealing off! Literally have no idea what’s happened with it, used that so many times over the years on various things and it is usually a complete pain to get off. This was the direct opposite. So few days later I had to get some windscreen adhesive from a dreaded car part supply, but I needed it then and there and all I could get my hands on.

There is probably alot more, my Dory brain is forgetting. But there is more than enough text there to explain how much fun me and Alex had. Alot of people wouldn't be able to see or recognise just how much work goes into these things

EDIT: Actually there is, 2 more import things that forgot! Headlights & PPF
In the damage of the front bumper, also found the drivers headlight brackets had seen some abuse - actually thinking this maybe from someone hitting the car, but anyways. These were addressed as was the state of the light lenses themselves. As you can see, we already had enough on our plate, so the bodyshop sanded and prepped these back for me. Previous poor yellow & black headlight tints had destroyed the drivers top coating and all of this is now gone!
To protect further, the headlights & the front canards were covered in PPF! Which is nice little finishing touch to really
Plan to PPF the front, but with no time or front bumper template, still currently waiting on the company to sort this.

But as always, comes with a MASSIVE thank you to Monstagraphix for going above and beyond as always and couldn't be happier with the new look - which I got more and more worried closer the deadline come to it be finished.
He did alot of good work and helped massively.
Pictures aren't fun or pretty, more just to try and support the huge amount of text & then 2 favourites on the day it rolled out which likely are already posted:

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#1,291 ·
Not sure how I missed that last post but very good work there! And a nice choice of colour that suits the TT well

A minor detail would be to paint the shark fin. Mine was also unpainted matt black even thoughy car is black, so I had it colour coded. It's in my thread somewhere. Just note that the primered part is different to the unpainted one, so I sourced one just to make the job more straightforward for the bodyshop
 
#1,292 ·
Wow you did go to a real level of detail to make the wrap look as good as possible! Great work. Would love to see this car in the flesh one day. :)
Thank you, we certainly tried! It does get about, I am just not one for shows much anymore and it'll never be a minter as it gets abuse 😂

Not sure how I missed that last post but very good work there! And a nice choice of colour that suits the TT well

A minor detail would be to paint the shark fin. Mine was also unpainted matt black even thoughy car is black, so I had it colour coded. It's in my thread somewhere. Just note that the primered part is different to the unpainted one, so I sourced one just to make the job more straightforward for the bodyshop
🤷‍♂️😂 I have no idea, I know isn't great photos of the green, still but there's few of them down this last page

Interesting you should say that... It's not actually unpainted - It is still my original white one!
It's been plasti-dipped black when the satin went down and been the same ever since.
Now you're mentioned it, would be nice to have it in gloss to be fair, I do want to do this...
However, with the cage, it is a complete faff of a job to do 🙄
 
#1,293 ·
Forgotten updates as always, so will try and actually post things
While back did manage to find the rattle! Only mid way through July 😅
This is a nice win! Doesn't always need to be big mods - little things have always made bigger picture, especially if it's peaceful.

Although it did take a pretty large effort and was somewhere I really wasn't expecting. Trying to find it, I fully stripped the rear of the car out as much as seemed sense...

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No passengers seat, seat delete, rear doorcards, boot cards, boot floor, boot lid trim...
Did any of this make any difference? Nope 🤦‍♂️
As soon as moved car on the drive, knew this hadn't 'worked' - small test drive definitely confirmed.
When pulling back in, noticed I could trigger the noise purposely. Quick jab on the brakes / deceleration triggered. So grabbed the misses and asked her to do the same thing, which was so helpful.
Then could even manage to replicate the noise again by purely putting weight on/oof the rear axle.

Long story short, this led to finally finding the cause of the noise... The trailing arm bush bolt.
Still now, not 100& sure how this has happened, both bolts had paint pen marks and showed we torqued them up on rebuild & that was around 3k miles & a track day ago
Only possibility which is plausible, both brackets I repainted with textured paint and maybe the bolts were tight on the high spots, then the paint was pressured down and allowed the bolts to become loose?
Well this was actually really awkward to fix as the bolt being loose and backing out, actually caused it to be stuck within the hole inside the chassis

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With this side fixed, nice bit of Loctite and more of an FT torque spec - it would have been silly to leave the other side, good job did.
The passengers side was also loose, finger tight but not unwound. Rinse and repeat of the other side and noise was sorted.

But the work on the car continued - Seemed wrong not to take advantage of them being out the car to improve on the rear doorcards yet again.
To be totally fair, I was happy with the work done on V2 doorcards, just the doorcards themselves were fairly damaged / poor condition before starting.
So chopped up yet another set and made my final set & I mean it, I hate doing interior work 😅 chaulk it up below rear end refurbs & widearches.
these may not be perfect... But doorcards V3 have turned out really nicely and I am more than happy with them.

Additionally, completely uncaptured, I sprayed inside behind the doorcards with bit of satin black paint & reinstalled the cloth sound deadening
So now when there is a slight angle you could see through / past the cage to behind, I feel like its impossible to actually see anything but darkness

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Now the noise is sorted, have actually driven the car a large amount in last month or so!
It is highlighting more and more how I do NOT like the Vibratechnic engine mounts though - these will be coming out to test it without again
 
#1,295 ·
Let's try keeping the updates in line

One thing I did miss off the end of the wrapping update, I actually had my windows retinted.
The black bootlid that was swapped on had no tint on it at all - keen eyes may of spotted this as in some shots nothing on the hatch at all, with the side quarter windows being dark as shit 😅
So redid the rear 3 - reducing the tint level alot this time. Believe the rears were either 80 or 95% previously.
The entire car is now 50% - I do actually much prefer it on the TTS - being able to see through the car, but only just is nice. Enough to see the cage and etc, but not being open like a goldfish bowl 😂

As said in the last update, other than very minor odd things, mainly just been a lot of driving – with the noise gone it was much nicer to drive, all be it with this vibration and noise from the Vibratechnic mounts.
I actually even took a lot (still not a lot) photos than I usually would whilst floating about using the car
So this will be a nice short post of mainly more random photos of the green I have taken, maybe even a following post due to 10 picture limit - but they likely pretty poor like usual.

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#1,298 ·
Looking good as always. The glossy wrap actually makes it look a little less aggressive I think, but in a good way. The aggression is in the body, and the colour makes it look a bit more "polished" than the previous matt