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Introduced in 2017, the facelift Audi RS3 8V received revised RS styling, a substantially updated 400PS aluminium five-cylinder engine and enhanced interior technology, further developing the original 8V RS3 formula. The following equipment forms part of the standard UK Audi RS3 specification and is fitted in addition to any Factory Optional Extras detailed above:
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2017-onwards Facelift Revisions:
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Highlight Specification:
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Preparation That Goes Beyond Perfection:
Our preparation process goes far beyond industry norms – What follows outlines the intensive inspection, detailing, and restoration work carried out on every vehicle we offer for sale.
This High specification Audi RS3 Sportback has been subject to our innovative, industry-leading preparation process, involving up to 100-hours of labour-intensive work, designed to satisfy even the most pedantic automotive enthusiast. At every stage, our exacting standards must be met before this Standard unmodified Audi RS3 8V can be offered for sale by Automotive Addiction.
The first phase of this process is our crucial pre-sale inspections, a comprehensive five-part assessment. This includes a deep-dive diagnostic inspection to verify mileage authenticity, review the launch-control counter, and identify any stored fault codes. This is followed by a 260-point mechanical inspection and road test to ensure that what lies beneath the paintwork meets the highest standards of mechanical integrity.
An in-depth 150-point visual inspection of all exterior and interior surfaces is then carried out, including bodywork, paintwork, wheels, glass, and interior materials. We also complete a rigorous paint depth analysis, allowing us to verify the originality of the paintwork and body panels. Finally, a service and maintenance inspection is conducted to determine whether any time or mileage-sensitive servicing, maintenance, or manufacturer recall items require attention before progressing to our professional pre-sale detailing work.
This High specification Audi RS3 Sportback has successfully passed all pre-sale inspections, enabling us to confidently offer this example for sale today.
Prior to advertisement, up to 60-hours of meticulous detailing preparation has been completed by our highly skilled, in-house professional detailers, each with over 10 years of experience. This £1,500 worth of work is carried out free of charge and includes a deep wheels-off decontamination cleanse, pre-paint correction preparation, brake disc centre refurbishment, exhaust system polishing, steam cleaning of intricate areas, and underbody and wheel arch rejuvenation. This is followed by our paint protection film decontamination. Interior surfaces are restored with equal precision, ensuring this 2018 Audi RS3 Ara Blue Sportback is presented in the most optimal condition possible, regardless of age or mileage.
The result is a finish that often surpasses factory standards when new — because we believe a vehicle should look as exceptional as it feels to drive.
This unique, industry-leading preparation process has been fully documented through both images and video. Selected images can be found within the gallery for this advert, along with a short clip included in the walkaround video. Additional documentation of the preparation work can be supplied to prospective buyers upon request.
Automotive Addiction has grown from an unrivalled passion for perfection in vehicle preparation and performance.
Please contact us without delay for a full breakdown of the preparation carried out on this 2018 Audi RS3 Ara Blue Sportback for sale
An Ara Blue DAZA RS3 Whose History Is Already Known to Us. The strongest performance cars are rarely defined by one attribute alone, and this 2018 Audi RS3 brings together specification, originality, preservation and documented care in a combination that would be increasingly difficult to repeat. Finished in Ara Blue Crystal Effect and equipped with £11,415 of factory optional extras, it retains its standard factory mechanical specification whilst benefiting from £7,000 of Paint Protection Film and carefully selected OEM+ enhancements. More importantly, it is a vehicle Automotive Addiction has known since 2022, having supplied it on three separate occasions and subsequently purchased it back each time.
A £63,000 Specification Built Around the Right Options. This RS3 was configured with the equipment that genuinely enhances its appearance, character and everyday usability, carrying an original Audi factory build price of approximately £56,000 before its Paint Protection Film and OEM+ enhancements were added. Matrix LED Headlights, Carbon-Fibre Interior Styling, RS Super Sport Seats, Comfort & Sound Package and RS Sports Exhaust are joined by the optional Top Speed Increase to 174mph. Ara Blue Crystal Effect paintwork and Gloss Black exterior detailing create a purposeful exterior appearance, whilst inside, the specification delivers the technology, comfort and finish expected from a flagship compact Audi RS model.
A Longstanding Relationship Across Successive Owners. Few specialist dealers can offer the same continuity of knowledge when presenting an eight-year-old performance car. Automotive Addiction first supplied this RS3 in March 2022 at 21,196 miles, supplied it again in February 2024 and most recently in November 2025, subsequently purchasing it back on each occasion. This repeated involvement has allowed us to remain familiar with the vehicle across successive enthusiast owners, with our relationship extending beyond each sale into its ongoing servicing, maintenance and preservation. Rather than relying solely on information assembled when the car returned to the market, we can present an example whose history has been known to us for several years.
The DAZA Non-OPF Sweet Spot. Registration year matters considerably when choosing a facelift Audi RS3 8V, and this example represents one of the most desirable drivetrain configurations of the generation. Its 400PS DAZA five-cylinder engine introduced a lightweight aluminium crankcase and reduced total engine weight by 26KG compared with the earlier cast-iron unit, improving front-end agility whilst retaining the unmistakable character created by Audi’s 1-2-4-5-3 firing order. Crucially, it predates the introduction of the petrol particulate filter fitted to later DNWA-powered examples, allowing the factory RS Sports Exhaust to deliver the louder and more distinctive five-cylinder soundtrack associated with the earlier facelift cars. As the industry continues its transition towards electrification, this combination represents an increasingly significant chapter in Audi RS history.
Original Paintwork Preserved to a Remarkable Standard. The condition of the original underlying factory paintwork is one of this RS3’s most important distinctions as it approaches a decade old. Gloss CarPro Paint Protection Film has been professionally applied across the painted body panels, preserving the depth, crystal effect and factory gloss finish of the Ara Blue paintwork beneath whilst protecting it from stone chips, road debris and everyday wear. Consistent paint-depth readings support the originality of the underlying factory finish, creating a level of preservation increasingly difficult to find on an RS3 of this age and mileage. The PPF has not been used to transform or disguise the car; it has been applied to protect the factory colour and condition that make this example so appealing.
Confidence Built Through Over-Servicing, Not Assumption. This RS3’s maintenance record extends considerably beyond routine engine-oil changes, with ten recorded service visits across eight years comprising eight Audi Main Dealer and two Audi Specialist visits. Every Audi Main Dealer service is supported by its corresponding invoice and Vehicle Health Check, providing a documented record of the car’s ongoing mechanical condition from new. Crucially, recent maintenance has covered the Engine, S-Tronic Gearbox, Haldex Rear Differential, Front Transfer Box Differential, Brake Fluid, Spark Plugs, Air Filter and Pollen Filter. Brand New Genuine Audi Brake Discs & Pads have also been fitted to the Front & Rear at a cost of £2,500, addressing one of the most substantial wear-related expenses for the next owner. Genuine mileage has additionally been verified using Audi-grade dealer diagnostics, alongside 13 recorded Launch Control activations across 8.5 years.
Prepared Without Compromise. A performance car with this level of history, maintenance and paint preservation deserves preparation capable of supporting each claim. This RS3 has completed Automotive Addiction’s comprehensive 100-Hour Pre-Sale Preparation Process, incorporating Audi-grade electronic diagnostics, a detailed 260-point mechanical inspection and road test, a 150-point visual inspection and comprehensive originality verification. This was followed by up to 60 hours of meticulous in-house detailing, with every stage focused on preserving the qualities already present rather than merely creating a temporary showroom finish. The result is an example prepared to a standard worthy of carrying the Automotive Addiction name.
An Increasingly Difficult Combination to Replace. Audi RS3 8V examples remain available, but finding another that combines Ara Blue Crystal Effect paintwork, £11,415 of factory options, the DAZA Non-OPF drivetrain, standard factory mechanical specification, original underlying factory paintwork, extensive PPF coverage, documented drivetrain servicing, new genuine brakes and a longstanding relationship with the same Audi RS specialist is considerably harder. None of these qualities needs to stand alone to make this RS3 desirable; it is the way they complement one another that distinguishes it. For the enthusiast seeking a properly specified, carefully preserved and comprehensively maintained DAZA RS3, this represents an opportunity deserving serious consideration.
An Opportunity That Deserves Closer Inspection. We invite you to watch the detailed video walkaround and explore the comprehensive high-resolution image gallery, factory specification, Paint Protection Film coverage and supporting service documentation before arranging a personal showroom appointment to experience this Audi RS3 firsthand. Whether you would like to discuss the vehicle in greater detail, arrange a tailored finance quotation, explore a part exchange or leave a deposit to secure the vehicle, please contact Automotive Addiction today. Our team would be delighted to assist.
Specialist performance cars sourced with care, inspected with precision and prepared without compromise. The Difference is in our Detail.
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