5 Extras you should retrofit on a used Audi A3

By Martin Pretorius 

With the Audi A3 being such a popular car in South Africa, you see them all over the place. But what if you want to put your personal stamp on your used A3? Well, there’s always room for improvement, so we had a look at some aftermarket accessories which will really make your A3 your own. These improvements range from the functional to the cosmetic, and many of them aren’t even terribly expensive, either.

Cruise Control

For a car with such a high specification level, it’s really quite strange that cruise control isn’t fitted as standard across the range. But fear not, because Audi offers a retro-fit cruise control system, which ties seamlessly into the car’s electronic hardware, and can be fitted by the dealership in just a few hours. This will make cross-country touring in your A3 that little bit less stressful: no more speeding fines on the open road, and you may even save some fuel on long trips as well. 

Rear Mud Flaps

This is another genuine Audi accessory, and is a must-have if you want to keep your A3 looking pristine. Made of hard-wearing rubber, these rear mud flaps will prevent stone chips to the underside of your A3’s rear bumper, and will keep the rear tyres from spraying stones and sand onto the car behind you. 

Boot Spoiler

You can get an OEM boot spoiler for your A3 from the Audi dealership, or you can save a lot of money buy getting a neat plastic item from Autostyle. It’s an easy fit (using adhesive tape), and can be left black or painted to match your car’s body colour. Either way, this small add-on will complete the stylish appearance of your A3 for not a huge lot of money.

Alloy Wheels

Chances are that your A3 already rolls on a set of alloy wheels, but if it’s a base-spec car, those wheels will be in a rather anorexic 16-inch size. Larger-diameter wheels will not only look nicer, but will also sharpen the car’s handling and improve its road holding. You could buy bigger wheels from the Audi dealership, of course, but you’ll save quite a bit of money by investing in some stylish aftermarket wheels. These  looks particularly fetching on an A3, but you can choose any design that takes your fancy.

Luggage Compartment Liner

Your A3 has a fairly durable boot mat, but if you want to keep it looking pristine, you may want to invest in this luggage compartment liner from the dealership. It’s made of rubber, which reduces the chances of your luggage sliding around in the boot, while its raised and reinforced lip will prevent dirt from entering past its edges. A worthwhile improvement indeed!