Leon MK2 audi A3/RS3 air vent conversion

AlexK1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2014
545
2
Poole
Just finished fitting the Audi A3/RS3 air vents as a conversion. There is done minor trimming involved but the whole job too around 20 minutes for both sides.

Tools required,

Plastic trim tools,
Long nosed pliers,
Hacksaw blade.

Here's a link to a guide on audi-sport.net if you want to paint the air vent flaps red to make them like the RS3 ones. It's an excellent step by step guide and took me around 1 hour inc painting.

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/index.php?threads/278747/

Credit to Max-Robbo for the above painting guide.
First step you will need to take the side fusebox cover off the side of the dashboard, the same panel will need to be removed for the passenger side.

Then grab your trim tools and insert a thinner one inbetween the vent and the dash. The dash is fairly flexible so it can be levered against to a degree just be careful not to cause damage to it.

Rotate the trim tool around the vent, and in the 10 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions start to lever the vent out.

Once it has started to come away from the dash, grab your wider trim tool. Use that to lever the vent out and repeat the process of rotating the thinner trim tool around the vent.

With a bit of pulling it will eventually come out further. At this point the inner air duct in the dashboard will be holding the vent in. BE CAREFUL!!! As the air vent temp sensors are in the pipe.

I gave both the vents a firm pull and they released from the air duct.

The next step is to prepare the dash recess for the vent. In the corners there are tabs for holding the original vent in place. These will need to be trimmed down using a hacksaw blade to make the recess into a circle.

Grab your vents, there will be a raised section on the top and bottom of them that will need to be trimmed off. Repeat this for both sides.

Now you will be ready to fit your vents. If you have followed the above linked guide for painting, use the long nosed pliers to release the centre section of the vent. This allows you to apply more pressure to the vents whilst fitting, without the risk of pushing you palm through the vent.

When fitting the cog adjustment wheel on the side of the vent needs to be facing to the right, otherwise the vent will not go into the dash fully.

Hopefully now you should have your vents fitted and can sit back with a nice beer with a much nicer looking dashboard!
a8c91417e29964416c1deea1a92a4e92.jpg
e89c0b80453533a25df8d517fef8f831.jpg
ea149ea57102b08f5571e19b6c9fff9f.jpg
0c1693510b75e3a7af92d7f928379678.jpg
fd1941f96fbf847e62c7c89592b08df4.jpg
cbc7399550799bbb895e2046c7f230b6.jpg
30e330521b4546c1ae1ecbf50d679d83.jpg
efaa17945afea0a5f62f31dd2caedf7d.jpg
30a022f39f0b421bfab99268ed1d2ce0.jpg
1d062a0eb0bf681582895f4f970ddb85.jpg
8089dd576d27921c651979c1907c08f1.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 

AlexK1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2014
545
2
Poole
Good write up, but now the centre vent looks out of place.

Fish
Yeah I agree they look out of place, was thinking of splitting the slats out and spraying them red to match, may break it up a bit more.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 

Hamzah Awan

Active Member
Sep 4, 2018
34
2
Just finished fitting the Audi A3/RS3 air vents as a conversion. There is done minor trimming involved but the whole job too around 20 minutes for both sides.

Tools required,

Plastic trim tools,
Long nosed pliers,
Hacksaw blade.

Here's a link to a guide on audi-sport.net if you want to paint the air vent flaps red to make them like the RS3 ones. It's an excellent step by step guide and took me around 1 hour inc painting.

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/index.php?threads/278747/

Credit to Max-Robbo for the above painting guide.
First step you will need to take the side fusebox cover off the side of the dashboard, the same panel will need to be removed for the passenger side.

Then grab your trim tools and insert a thinner one inbetween the vent and the dash. The dash is fairly flexible so it can be levered against to a degree just be careful not to cause damage to it.

Rotate the trim tool around the vent, and in the 10 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions start to lever the vent out.

Once it has started to come away from the dash, grab your wider trim tool. Use that to lever the vent out and repeat the process of rotating the thinner trim tool around the vent.

With a bit of pulling it will eventually come out further. At this point the inner air duct in the dashboard will be holding the vent in. BE CAREFUL!!! As the air vent temp sensors are in the pipe.

I gave both the vents a firm pull and they released from the air duct.

The next step is to prepare the dash recess for the vent. In the corners there are tabs for holding the original vent in place. These will need to be trimmed down using a hacksaw blade to make the recess into a circle.

Grab your vents, there will be a raised section on the top and bottom of them that will need to be trimmed off. Repeat this for both sides.

Now you will be ready to fit your vents. If you have followed the above linked guide for painting, use the long nosed pliers to release the centre section of the vent. This allows you to apply more pressure to the vents whilst fitting, without the risk of pushing you palm through the vent.

When fitting the cog adjustment wheel on the side of the vent needs to be facing to the right, otherwise the vent will not go into the dash fully.

Hopefully now you should have your vents fitted and can sit back with a nice beer with a much nicer looking dashboard!
a8c91417e29964416c1deea1a92a4e92.jpg
e89c0b80453533a25df8d517fef8f831.jpg
ea149ea57102b08f5571e19b6c9fff9f.jpg
0c1693510b75e3a7af92d7f928379678.jpg
fd1941f96fbf847e62c7c89592b08df4.jpg
cbc7399550799bbb895e2046c7f230b6.jpg
30e330521b4546c1ae1ecbf50d679d83.jpg
efaa17945afea0a5f62f31dd2caedf7d.jpg
30a022f39f0b421bfab99268ed1d2ce0.jpg
1d062a0eb0bf681582895f4f970ddb85.jpg
8089dd576d27921c651979c1907c08f1.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
That looks wicked mate where did you get the vents from I’ve been looking on eBay can’t find them anywhere
 

AlexK1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2014
545
2
Poole
That looks wicked mate where did you get the vents from I’ve been looking on eBay can’t find them anywhere
Hi mate if you search A3 8V air vent on ebay they usually come up. Just be careful as sometimes they will put a picture of 2 or 4 but will be priced per vent. I think I paid £35 for a pair.

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk
 

Pete77

Active Member
Nov 28, 2020
13
3
Hi. Sorry to bring this back up but how did it fit in the vent pipe behind with it being a different shape and would the 8p fit as well?
Cheers
 
Nimbus hosting - Based solely in the UK.