The Audi A3 is already a well-sorted car. It looks composed, drives cleanly, and sits in a sweet spot between everyday practicality and genuine driving enjoyment. But “already good” has never stopped anyone from making it better.
If you have owned an A3 for more than a few months, you have probably started noticing the things you want to change. Maybe the tail lights look a little dated compared to the newer models. Maybe the interior feels a bit plain once the novelty wears off. Or maybe you just want the front end to look a little more purposeful, a little more planted, than it does straight from the factory.
The good news is that the A3 has a strong aftermarket scene. There are a lot of options out there. The bad news is that a lot of those options are overpriced, poorly fitted, or just not worth the effort of installation.
This list cuts through that. These are five Audi A3 accessories that deliver genuine results, fit correctly, and hold up over time. They cover the 8V generation (2013 to 2020) and the newer 8Y generation (2020 onwards), so regardless of which A3 you are driving, there is something here for you.
1. Front Lip Splitter for the Audi A3 / S3 8V (2013 to 2016)
If there is one modification that changes how an A3 looks more than any other, it is the front lip splitter. It sounds simple. It is a piece of shaped ABS plastic that attaches along the lower edge of the front bumper. But the visual effect is substantial.
Before a front lip, the A3 looks like what it is: a refined, sensible compact. After a front lip, the front end sits lower visually, the car looks wider, and the stance takes on a far more aggressive character. It is the kind of change that makes people ask what you have done to the car without being able to put their finger on exactly what it is.
This front lip splitter for the Audi A3 S3 8V is built specifically for the 8V chassis from 2013 to 2016. That matters. Generic universal lips require cutting, trimming, and fiddling to get a clean result. A model-specific fit means it bolts on correctly the first time, with no gaps and no awkward angles.
It comes in Gloss Black or Carbon Black. Gloss Black is the cleaner, more premium-looking option and works well on any factory paint colour. Carbon Black has a slightly textured finish that suits builds going for a more motorsport-influenced look. Both are made from impact-resistant ABS, which means they handle road debris, kerbs, and the general abuse of daily driving without cracking or deforming.
Installation uses the existing bumper mounting points. No drilling into your car. No permanent changes to the bodywork. If you ever want to remove it, the car goes straight back to standard.
For the 8V A3, this is probably the single highest-impact modification you can make in the exterior aero category. It costs a fraction of what equivalent Maxton Design splitters retail for at Australian specialty retailers, and the result is essentially the same aggressive front-end transformation.
Best for: Audi A3, S3 8V owners from 2013 to 2016 looking for the biggest visual improvement for the least outlay.
2. Rear Roof Spoiler Wing for the Audi A3 S3 RS3 8Y Sportback (2021 to 2024)
The 8Y A3 Sportback is a genuinely attractive car. The roofline is one of its best features: it flows cleanly from the A-pillar through to the rear in a way that makes the car look longer and sleeker than its footprint suggests. Adding a rear roof spoiler does not fight against that design. It works with it.
A well-fitted spoiler adds a visual full stop to the roofline. It creates a more definite, intentional rear profile. It also draws the eye across the top of the car rather than straight to the tail, which accentuates the Sportback’s fastback silhouette.
This rear roof spoiler for the 8Y Sportback is made from glossy black ABS and fits the 2021 to 2024 A3, S3, and RS3 Sportback. The fitment is adhesive-based, meaning no drilling through the bootlid, no wiring, and no damage to the car if you decide to remove it later.
The glossy black finish works against virtually every factory colour. On Mythos Black it is nearly invisible and just changes the shape. On lighter colours like Glacier White or Arrow Grey it creates a sharp two-tone contrast that makes the rear look considerably more premium. Both approaches work, and both are better than the flat roofline the car has in standard form.
This is a particularly strong upgrade for 8Y owners who are in the earlier stages of ownership and want to establish a visual identity for the car without committing to a full body kit. It is one piece. It takes an afternoon to fit. And it meaningfully changes how the rear of the car looks from every angle.
Best for: Audi A3, S3, RS3 8Y Sportback owners from 2021 to 2024 wanting a clean, low-commitment exterior upgrade.
3. Full LED Tail Light Assembly Set for the Audi A3 Sedan (2013 to 2020)
This one is less about cosmetic flair and more about genuinely bringing an older car up to modern standard. And the difference is more dramatic than most owners expect.
The factory tail lights on 2013 to 2020 A3 sedans use halogen bulbs. They are functional. They do the job. But compared to the LED lighting on newer vehicles, they look dim, orange, and frankly a bit dated. The contrast becomes especially noticeable when you park next to a newer A3 or any of Audi’s more recent models that came with full LED lighting as standard.
This full LED tail light assembly set replaces the entire rear light unit, not just the bulbs. That is an important distinction. Bulb swaps can create issues with error messages, canbus warnings, and uneven light distribution. A full assembly replacement means every function, including DRL, brake light, turn signal, fog light, and reversing light, operates exactly as designed, through the correct lenses and reflectors, with no canbus warnings and no coding required.
The fitment is direct plug-and-play for the sedan body style across the full 8-year model run from 2013 to 2020. DOT and EMARK certification means these have been independently tested to road safety standards, which matters for both legality and resale.
At night, the difference is immediately visible. The rear of the car looks sharp, modern, and clearly premium. During the day, the sequential or static LED elements completely transform how the tail end is perceived. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to modernise a 2013 to 2016 A3 sedan that exists.
Best for: Audi A3 sedan owners on the 8V generation (2013 to 2020) wanting to modernise the rear lighting and bring it in line with newer Audi design language.
4. Real Carbon Fibre Central Console Trim Set for the Audi A3 8V / S3 / RS3 (2014 to 2018)
The interior of the 8V A3 is well-designed. The layout is logical, the materials are decent for the class, and the overall feel is clearly a step above most competitors in the segment. But the central console trim, specifically the panel surrounding the gear selector and the nearby surfaces, is gloss black plastic. And gloss black plastic picks up fingerprints instantly, scratches easily, and starts to look worn and cheap faster than almost any other interior material.
Replacing it with real carbon fibre fixes all of that in one go.
This 3-piece real carbon fibre central console trim set is cut specifically for the A3 8V and its S3 and RS3 siblings from 2014 to 2018 in left-hand drive configuration. It uses genuine carbon fibre, not carbon-look film or ABS with a carbon print. The weave pattern is visible, tactile, and unmistakably the real material.
Why does that matter? Because genuine carbon fibre does not age the same way plastic does. The surface does not cloud, haze, or scratch in the same way. The weave stays sharp and defined for years. And in an interior environment that gets touched hundreds of times a week, that longevity makes a real practical difference beyond the obvious visual one.
The set replaces three panels and installs using the existing clips on the factory trim pieces. No glue, no permanent alteration to the car. The upgrade is reversible if needed, though realistically once these panels are in, they stay in.
For S3 owners in particular, this is a natural pairing with the performance character of the car. The RS3 already gets more aggressive interior treatment from the factory. The standard 8V A3 and S3 benefit most from this, pulling the interior quality perception up a noticeable notch.
Best for: Audi A3 8V, S3, and RS3 owners from 2014 to 2018 in left-hand drive markets looking to lift interior material quality and eliminate the factory gloss plastic console surround.
5. Centre Console Charging Expansion Dock for the Audi A3 / A3L / S3 (2021 to 2025)
The 8Y A3 is a thoroughly modern car. The MMI interface is clean, the virtual cockpit is excellent, and the overall technology package feels current in a way the 8V generation simply cannot match. But one area where the 8Y falls noticeably short, particularly in lower trim specifications, is the charging and connectivity setup in the centre console.
One USB-C port and a small tray does not cut it for two people in 2025. And the wireless charging pad, where it exists at all, can be fussy about phone positioning and case thickness.
This centre console charging expansion dock fits directly into the 8Y A3 console and adds a Qi wireless charging surface along with a retractable USB-C cable that coils back when not in use. It occupies otherwise wasted space in the console, keeps cables off the seat, and means both driver and passenger can charge simultaneously without adapters or cable clutter.
This is the least “exciting” upgrade on this list. It does not change how the car looks from the outside. It does not make the exhaust sound better. But it is probably the upgrade that you notice and appreciate most on a daily basis, because you use it every single day, often multiple times. The small frustrations of a poorly organised charging setup accumulate quickly, and eliminating them completely is worth more in practical terms than most of the visual upgrades on this list.
The fitment is specific to the 2021 to 2025 A3, A3L, and S3 8Y platform. It drops into the console without modification and connects through the existing 12V or USB port in the centre stack depending on variant.
Best for: Audi A3, A3L, and S3 8Y owners from 2021 to 2025 who want to clean up console clutter and properly solve the daily charging situation.
Which One Should You Start With?
That depends entirely on what bothers you most about your car right now.
If you drive a 2013 to 2016 A3 and want the biggest single visual change available, the front lip splitter is where to start. If you drive a 2021 to 2024 Sportback and want a subtle but effective exterior upgrade, the rear roof spoiler is the right call. If your sedan’s tail lights look dated every time you walk up to the car at night, the LED assembly replacement will genuinely surprise you with how much difference a set of proper lights makes.
The carbon fibre console trim suits anyone in an 8V who is paying attention to interior quality. And the charging dock is for anyone in an 8Y who has cable fatigue.
None of these require a workshop visit. All of them fit correctly without modification. And all of them are the kind of upgrade that changes how you feel about the car on a daily basis, which is ultimately the whole point.
Browse the full range of Audi A3 accessories at Autofrillz to find the right upgrade for your specific generation and build.