Close to pulling the trigger on an S2 (3B)

[stephenwillnz]

Hello everybody,

As the title suggests i'm seriously considering getting myself an S2, although I had a couple of questions first I was hoping some of you could answer!

I currently drive a 1997 E39 540I, and although I do enjoy this car a lot, I want to get something a bit smaller for town driving, the V8 around town drinks some serious petrol.

I've owned two Coupe GT's in the past a 1985 and an 86, and these were seriously fun cars, although not the fastest and not 4wd i used to cherish them.

My ultimate ride would be a Ur Quattro as I'm still addicted to that shape audi, although this will be a number of years off as my financials do not yet warrant the spending of that sort of money, that's why i'm getting very serious about buying a 20V 5 Cyl Turbo quattro S2.

I had a couple quick questions and they are below.

How much did they change over the years? The one i'm looking at is 1991, is there a production year that was the best? When newer years were released did they update mainly cosmetic items like headlights and taillights?

Secondly, what reasonably priced, aftermarket mods can be done about the rear taillights? I'm sorry for all you big S2 fans, but i have always had an issue with the rear of these cars, especially the taillights, I find them so intrusive and over-sized. I absolutely love the front and side of the car, but the rear reminds me of the rear of a Mazda 323 Astina which my dad used to drive.

Below is a picture of the one i'm looking into buying, see those headlights!!



I'm going to arrange to take the car for a test drive sometime this week, and if it all feels and sounds right it might be mine, I'm also looking forward to working on an Audi again, I found the GT Coupes 100x easier to work on than the E39.

Thanks!!!

[newsh]

This car will be a 3B and has single coil ignition and a dizzy (same engine as the RR Ur quattro). The ABY arrived in 93 and had a new ECU and 5 coils on plugs, battery was moved from under the bonnet to under the rear seat, and the tranny got 6 speeds and a dual mass flywheel to quieten the noise from the straighter cut gears. It also got airbags instead of procon ten and ellipsoid lights.

Having said that the 3B is a fun car to drive, is sligtly lighter than the ABY and the 5 speed whilst not being as strong, has great ratios.

Mine is a 3B but having had it for 11 years it has most of the ABY bits on it now!

[stephenwillnz]

Thank for your reply! So from your experience having purchased a 3b then spending the time and money to upgrade it more closely to the ABY, am I better off waiting and trying to find an ABY? Being from New Zealand there might not be a lot of ABY models around, do you know if they normally demand a lot more money?

how much more power does the ABY generate? I read somewhere the 3b will do 0-100 in around 6.1 seconds which is similar to my bmw.

[newsh]

I think stock power is 220 for 3B vs 230 for ABY. Very easy to get another 50 HP on either with a set of chips though.

[Bowie69]

Keep the wheels! Love them... and original.

[Monkeymagic]

Having driven both and owning a 3B, I prefr the 5 speed box and the 3b feels a bit more raw, the ABY felt a touch more refined. I put this down to the DMF..

[stephenwillnz]

I do like those alloys, a little small but not bad! I myself do prefer a 5 speed box over 6. Will take it for a spin and see how it goes. I like the sound of an extra 50hp with a chip!

Just those taillights to worry about lol.

[macspring]

The taillights are one of the best bits on a Coupe. ala RS2 and Porsche 964.

I'd stick with the 540i you already have and know, it is a lovely car and not as dear to maintain as an M5.

A chipped S2 won't be anymore economical than a 540i around town in terms of mpg.

[stephenwillnz]

I do not plan on selling the bmw, it is a great car and I have 422,000 k's on it so it's resale value would be small anyhow.

I guess the taillights come down to personal preference to be fair the 964 has a lot more subtle taillights and so did the coupe gt and ur quattro.

I've just seen some pictures of some s2 with less in your face taillights and liked the look a lot more, but was not sure if it was a specific year where they changed it or an aftermarket mod, I would post a sample picture but on my mobile at the moment.

Thanks for all your replies been very helpful!

[fourwh33ldriv3]

to the forum. I think that it could just be that the camera angle caught this off guard. I've not really seen many different types of tail lights that would be less "in your face" than these, but maybe a set of Tresser lights might sort this out. Red/orange on a black car with the sun behind it may just be making it look too much??!!

[stephenwillnz]

Looking at this photo it looks relatively easy to dull them down, this guy has obviously replaced the number plate surround part with Trim, and then has smoked them a bit.



To me that is a big improvement.

[Bowie69]

As above, I think these are just reflecting a lot of light and giving quite a bit of glare because the sun is hitting them hard -on a camera phone it is easy to make a picture look horrid in bright light as well as low light.

They look stock to me, *maybe* the lamps from one generation newer, but my hazy-ish recollection says these lamps came in with the introduction of the S2, leaving the more clearly defined lights on the other coupes.

Pic of some of the more modern lights:



This is old-school B3, with more defined coloured areas, and no red tint:

[anthonys2]

Welcome to the Forum!! A vast place for lots and lots of information!! To be fair if your wanting S2 3b owners will say good things about their cars as will aby owners the top and bottom of it they are both fun cars and both will drain your wallet but when they are going well they are hard to beat. Had my 95 aby Coupe for 15 years and I still love the car and I never will sell this car.

[mackenzie50]

Buy that 3B if S2s are very rare over there-they're rare enough here now! You'll forget about rearlights aesthetics quickly when you start enjoying the S2 experience...as for models...I've got both and value the differences between models- the 3B and ABY are both magnificent

[mullder]

Look like a nice car. I have a 3B and have had an ABY....... Still got the 3B. Like pepole are saying it's the feeling you get from driving these cars. It will make you poor and it will frustrate you like nothing else can but f*?k me its more than worth it.

BUY IT !!!