A3 bose system & Timing belt

**A4 S-line** · 24-07-2007,08:11 PM

Hi can anyone help please i have just brought a Audi A3 1.8 T Quattro 180bhp 6 2001 first Audi for me it has a Audi concert radio how do i upgrade to a bose system ?? what head unit ,speakers etc is needed or is it cheaper to go to halfords ??

Also The Car is on 61000 Do i change the timing belt etc the book shows 115k thats got to be wrong ?

Any help would be good thanks

**CmdrBond** · 25-07-2007,08:39 AM

As far as I am aware, the BOSE is a factory option only. There is no reason as far as I know that the ICE cannot be upgraded with new speakers etc.

As for the cambelt - if your car is on 61K miles and the service book is not showing the cambelt having been changed, I would get it changed just to be on the safe side. A long time ago I had a cambelt snap on me and wrecked my engine and ever since then I have changed it on time - every time

**Nezmond** · 25-07-2007,12:35 PM

As far as the timing belt is concerned i would get it changed as soon as possible if you suspect it hasnt been done. If it snaps the bill will be potentially massive

**adamss24** · 25-07-2007,01:04 PM

Originally Posted by A3turbot

Hi can anyone help please i have just brought a Audi A3 1.8 T Quattro 180bhp 6 2001 first Audi for me it has a Audi concert radio how do i upgrade to a bose system ?? what head unit ,speakers etc is needed or is it cheaper to go to halfords ??

Also The Car is on 61000 Do i change the timing belt etc the book shows 115k thats got to be wrong ?

Any help would be good thanks

Bose was a factory option and is not wise to upgrade your existing stereo to it, because there is lots of wiring to do, most of the carpets and sound deadenigs needs to come off and to be onest, you could get better gear than the bose offers for about 500 pounds. Get a set of MB Quart/Focal/Diamond Audio high quality components up front and a quality amp/subwoofer combo and it will owerpower the bose set up ! Remember to upgrade the head unit though !

**Space Cadet** · 25-07-2007,03:21 PM

As above.

Have the Bose system in my A3 and as far as factory-fit systems go its wicked, is definitely good enough not to bother thinking about upgrading it.

As for your non-Bose system, wouldn’t bother upgrading yours to Bose, as for your money you could get something even better, think Alpine V-12 amps and separates.

And definitely do the cam-belt and have the water-pump replaced at the same time, as far as I know it’s meant to be done at 60k on the 1.8T (was on my old MK4 GTI).

**A4 S-line** · 25-07-2007,10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Space Cadet

As above.

Have the Bose system in my A3 and as far as factory-fit systems go its wicked, is definitely good enough not to bother thinking about upgrading it.

As for your non-Bose system, wouldn’t bother upgrading yours to Bose, as for your money you could get something even better, think Alpine V-12 amps and separates.

And definitely do the cam-belt and have the water-pump replaced at the same time, as far as I know it’s meant to be done at 60k on the 1.8T (was on my old MK4 GTI).

Thanks for everyones help will book in the car to have belt etc changed been quoted £186 inc Vat does that sound ok ?? Ref Tunes will get into a local audio shop and get sort something out thanks

**A4 S-line** · 25-07-2007,10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Nezmond

As far as the timing belt is concerned i would get it changed as soon as possible if you suspect it hasnt been done. If it snaps the bill will be potentially massive

Thanks will get it sorted ASAP Cheers

**A4 S-line** · 25-07-2007,10:08 PM

Originally Posted by adamss24

Bose was a factory option and is not wise to upgrade your existing stereo to it, because there is lots of wiring to do, most of the carpets and sound deadenigs needs to come off and to be onest, you could get better gear than the bose offers for about 500 pounds. Get a set of MB Quart/Focal/Diamond Audio high quality components up front and a quality amp/subwoofer combo and it will owerpower the bose set up ! Remember to upgrade the head unit though !

Thanks for everyones help will book in the car to have belt etc changed been quoted £186 inc Vat does that sound ok ?? Ref Tunes will get into a local audio shop and get sort something out thanks

**CmdrBond** · 25-07-2007,11:04 PM

Originally Posted by A3turbot

Thanks for everyones help will book in the car to have belt etc changed been quoted £186 inc Vat does that sound ok ?? Ref Tunes will get into a local audio shop and get sort something out thanks

I think that is a very good price - it is a very big job. I have a chain on my BMW but my wife has a VW Bora, and I can't remember how much the last timing belt was but I do recall it was about that price.

I have been toying with the idea of selling my BMW and getting an A3 Tdi 130 or a VW Golf GTTDI 130 or 150, but have to work on my good lady.

Good luck with your new car, welcome to the forum and when she is all nice and shiny, post some pics.

**Space Cadet** · 26-07-2007,08:47 AM

£186 doesn’t sound a lot for a cam-belt change and water pump, would just double check and make sure they are using OEM parts (think you need a new belt tensioner at the same time) can’t remember exactly but had it done as part of a service and it was around the £500 mark at VW.

With regards the water pump, this isn’t normally done on a service, but as with mine and it seems plenty of others the pumps tend to go with higher mileage and it means another cam-belt off exercise to do it. Therefore rather than VW/Audi advising you to spend the odd £20 (or whatever it is) at the time of the cam-belt change they wait until it goes and then get another load of ££ for doing essentially the same procedure.