Just treated the S4 to an MRC Stage 2 package

[Craigshag]

Well all I can say is wow!!!

But first of all thanks to they guys at MRC for helping me with my flat tyre, turns out that the garage I bought the car from had fitted runflats, which isn't so great when you don't have low tyre pressure sensors. So after a quick switch on the side of the M6 removing the completely trashed tyre which was hanging on by the smallest amount of rubber, the guys at MRC sorted me out with some nice new Pirelli tyres!

After mostly waiting for the tyres to arrive, a temp set of wheels where fitted to my car, and modifications began. To my amazement the car pulled 480bhp on the dyno!

Tonight I had a play and made this short clip to get an idea of what 0-60 time the car was achieving.

1st attempt, no launch control and launched from a smidge over 1000rpm...... less than 4 sec? you decide



filmed on a samsung S7

 

[RyanJonS4]

Mines booked in first week in January! Can’t come soon enough, gives me something to look forward too through the grimness that is Christmas!!

 

[V6_Man]

Congrats on the car @Craigshag and I agree that the guys at MRC are awesome. Stage 2 brings the car to life, i.e. exactly what it should be straight from the factory . It’s smiles per mile from now on .

What other mods do you have in the pipeline?


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[xpoweruk]

Happy days You'll be smiling every time you drive it now.
Sub 4sec 0-60 is the norm for pulley & tune cars

 

[THQuattro]

Sweet mate, enjoy.

 

[Dippy]

Welcome to the party @Craigshag

Around 480PS (not bhp) peak is typical for an MRC stage 2.
I am surprised that you were 'playing' in D and not S, but the result looks good anyway!

 

[Dippy]

Stage 2 brings the car to life, i.e. exactly what it should be straight from the factory

So you'd have preferred to pay an RS price for your car rather than the S price plus what you paid MRC?

 

[jdp1962]

Am I in a minority in preferring the S4 to the RS4? With or without a performance upgrade (I have a stage one remap), I just find it the nicer car. I prefer how it does its business discreetly where the RS (and I'm aware this is a personal subjective view that others will disagree with) has a slight cartoonishness about it.

 

[V6_Man]

So you'd have preferred to pay an RS price for your car rather than the S price plus what you paid MRC?

Not necessarily RS price but definitely performance. And I understand Audi limiting the car’s performance to within its ‘safe’ limits but we all know what is the car capable of. I would love to pay what I paid for my S4 plus the extra I paid to MRC for the remap .

Like @jdp1962 I am not a fan of an Avant either unless off-course it is an RS6!



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[rum4mo]

Hum, yes the RS6 does have presence.
I'm another saloon/sedan lover always have been.

 

[mercules]

Am I in a minority in preferring the S4 to the RS4? With or without a performance upgrade (I have a stage one remap), I just find it the nicer car. I prefer how it does its business discreetly where the RS (and I'm aware this is a personal subjective view that others will disagree with) has a slight cartoonishness about it.

S4 is better as a daily driver but RS4 looks better imo. I chose the S4 over the RS4 due to half the road tax, crazy power potential for low cost ratio and because that V8 drops power from carbon build up. I think they can get about 450 mapped. Obviously on track they handle and brake better but most of that's down to the driver. I take it to work, family trips out and like the fact I don't get alot of attention..


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[Craigshag]

Congrats on the car @Craigshag and I agree that the guys at MRC are awesome. Stage 2 brings the car to life, i.e. exactly what it should be straight from the factory . It’s smiles per mile from now on .

What other mods do you have in the pipeline?


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Next i think i will do the Sway bars and upgrade the brakes, i was thinking of SQ5 or i may push the boat out and go for full RS set up.
i would like to upgrade the suspension, but i really dont want a rock hard ride, so need to do a bit more research i think.

 

[Craigshag]

Welcome to the party @Craigshag

Around 480PS (not bhp) peak is typical for an MRC stage 2.
I am surprised that you were 'playing' in D and not S, but the result looks good anyway!

ya i got it wrong, its 480PS, but i can live with that........ i have no idea why i was in D....... S vid coming up and maybe some launch control just for giggles !

 

[razza1]

I do miss the power of my old MRC stage 2


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[Dippy]

I do miss the power of my old MRC stage 2

Offset by the emotion you get when remembering the gearbox...?

 

[V6_Man]

Offset by the emotion you get when remembering the gearbox...?

Lol. You’ve very good memory @Dippy


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[fast-ferret]

So how much did the upgrade to stage 2 cost in total? Same price as the MRC site, nearly £1600?


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[fast-ferret]

Would also be interested how much it puts up your insurance premium


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[V6_Man]

Would also be interested how much it puts up your insurance premium


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It’s a little over £1,600 better give MRC a call to check. Insurance premium depends on multiple factors but to cut it short I am paying £500 for my Stage 2 and all the other mods as per my signature. I am using AIB Insurance via Adrian Flux through the forum. There are other people like @jdp1962 using Prestige (hope I am right Jeff). If you are looking at modifying you have to find mod-friendly insurers as regular ones won’t do it.


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[jdp1962]

It’s a little over £1,600 better give MRC a call to check. Insurance premium depends on multiple factors but to cut it short I am paying £500 for my Stage 2 and all the other mods as per my signature. I am using AIB Insurance via Adrian Flux through the forum. There are other people like @jdp1962 using Prestige (hope I am right Jeff). If you are looking at modifying you have to find a mod-friendly insurers as regular once won’t do it.


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@Tashfeen, well remembered, buddy.

 

[fast-ferret]

It’s a little over £1,600 better give MRC a call to check. Insurance premium depends on multiple factors but to cut it short I am paying £500 for my Stage 2 and all the other mods as per my signature. I am using AIB Insurance via Adrian Flux through the forum. There are other people like @jdp1962 using Prestige (hope I am right Jeff). If you are looking at modifying you have to find mod-friendly insurers as regular ones won’t do it.


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That’s not a bad price at all, might give them a shout. I tired Sky Insurance (used to use them with my Supra) and pretty sure they came in a fair bit more, my memory is crap though!

The only other thing I worry about is doing damage to the engine. The last owner had to have a whole new one (not for any reasons of remapping etc, or at least not that I know of) and I’ve seen the costs from the receipts! (It was warranty work thankfully). Not sure if there are stories of damage from any S4 tunes? I was considering tuning my F30 BMW 320 but got a bit scared with reports of thrown rods etc.


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[forty3]

Next i think i will do the Sway bars and upgrade the brakes, i was thinking of SQ5 or i may push the boat out and go for full RS set up.
i would like to upgrade the suspension, but i really dont want a rock hard ride, so need to do a bit more research i think.

Eibach pro springs give a ride that is almost identical to stock. My wife hasn't even noticed that I've changed the suspension!

For a cheap handling upgrade try making a strut brace out of some ally box section. It gives a really good improvement in turn in feel and only cost £10 plus a couple of hours of my time. Check out @desertstorm build thread for more info.

Not really had much chance to try out the car since the springs and rear ARB were fitted but the car definitely feels much different when going quickly around roundabouts. Almost feels like the back end pulls you around. It's a strange sensation.

 

[fast-ferret]

Eibach pro springs give a ride that is almost identical to stock. My wife hasn't even noticed that I've changed the suspension!

For a cheap handling upgrade try making a strut brace out of some ally box section. It gives a really good improvement in turn in feel and only cost £10 plus a couple of hours of my time. Check out @desertstorm build thread for more info.

Not really had much chance to try out the car since the springs and rear ARB were fitted but the car definitely feels much different when going quickly around roundabouts. Almost feels like the back end pulls you around. It's a strange sensation.

Got any pics of how the car looks with the eibachs? Presuming you put them on to lower it mainly?

Interesting you say the back end pulls you around, have you got the rear sport diff? Pretty much what that feels like, so if you don’t then maybe sport diff + arb would pull even more!


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[forty3]

No sports diff for me unfortunately.

Fitted the springs to reduce body roll. The drop on the s4 is minimal (around 10mm I'd guess) so it's not obviously lowered although it definitely sits better. I was aware of the small drop before fitting the springs and it was the look I wanted although some people would want more.

Not the best picture but the only one I've taken since the springs were fitted.

 

[V6_Man]

No sports diff for me unfortunately.

Fitted the springs to reduce body roll. The drop on the s4 is minimal (around 10mm I'd guess) so it's not obviously lowered although it definitely sits better. I was aware of the small drop before fitting the springs and it was the look I wanted although some people would want more.

Not the best picture but the only one I've taken since the springs were fitted.

Car looks fab mate


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[V6_Man]

That’s not a bad price at all, might give them a shout. I tired Sky Insurance (used to use them with my Supra) and pretty sure they came in a fair bit more, my memory is **** though!

The only other thing I worry about is doing damage to the engine. The last owner had to have a whole new one (not for any reasons of remapping etc, or at least not that I know of) and I’ve seen the costs from the receipts! (It was warranty work thankfully). Not sure if there are stories of damage from any S4 tunes? I was considering tuning my F30 BMW 320 but got a bit scared with reports of thrown rods etc.


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The damage to the engine is a bit relative and depends on, to an extent whether it is a B8 or 8.5. The main problem reported by most is the mechatronic failure but it was mainly on B8s, i.e. PFLs (pre 2012) and hence the reason for @Dippy’s post above. Razza had his mechs rebuilt. DSG box in FL B8.5, I won’t say it is ‘bulletproof’ however there are not many problems reported (or perhaps I haven’t come across many). Rest of it is down to luck. Another one can be CATs failure but again a lot of the folks in US have reported them but I have not seen many in the UK. And might be due to how heavily the US folks modify their cars and the abuse their cars get . I met a forum member back in June who had his 2010 S4 APR tuned at 60k and had done 40k since the remap. Not saying the engines are bullet proof but imho it depends whether you ‘use’ the car of ‘abuse’ it


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[V6_Man]

Got any pics of how the car looks with the eibachs? Presuming you put them on to lower it mainly?

Interesting you say the back end pulls you around, have you got the rear sport diff? Pretty much what that feels like, so if you don’t then maybe sport diff + arb would pull even more!


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Another vote for Eibach. Gives you just the perfect drop and ride comfort.

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[razza1]

Offset by the emotion you get when remembering the gearbox...?

Completely lol


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[bobby singh]

Goes very well

 

[scotty76]

Completely lol


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This is why I don't plan to remap my S4, I just can't face the fear of the gearbox going pop.

 

[Dippy]

Would also be interested how much it puts up your insurance premium

What you need to check is if the insurer will insure the power hike. Stage 2 can be up to 45% and some insurers don't like that, or else they have some other limit in mind such as 450PS. Some insurers will also only insure for a modified car if you are a known risk, i.e. they won't take you on as a new customer, but might if you have a year of unmodified car insurance with them first. In fact it was the latter reason why when I bought my S5, I went with an insurer who would insure me when I eventually modified it, because I planned to wait a year. That turned into nearly 2 years due to the new ECU and so I was paying over the market rate just for the confidence that I would be guaranteed getting insurance for the mods. However I believe my premium is more like £600 and @Tashfeen is not the only one who I know is paying less than me, so I'll be shopping around next year.

The only other thing I worry about is doing damage to the engine.

@Tashfeen has covered most of this. MRC has been doing stage 2 on B8s since around 2010 I believe. They use an undampened crank pulley. Then there's loads in the US using the smaller supercharger pulley. Since we're all the sort to discuss problems on forums like this, the fact that ASAIK there are no recorded reports of engine damage suggests that stage 2 is safe in the short to medium term. Long term I'd suggest that we cannot ignore the risk of using an undampened crank pulley, but then for those like me who are prepared to pay extra for peace of mind, there is a dampened option.

As for consequential damage, yes there are cases. Personally I feel confident that the gearboxes which failed on tuned cars would probably still have failed if the engine had not been tuned. And as for cats, I have been reading the reports and it is due to their melting. As @Tashfeen stated, those reports are from owners who are near the limit on pulley ratio. I have a ratio of 2.99 with stock cooling and have not had problems, although I don't push the car particularly hard, and of course even in summer it doesn't get hot here. I'm ready to uprate my cooling if I need to. I believe that with ratio 3.0 and higher (and with further tuning such as larger TB) the temperatures will really start to rise. Those guys in the US who had cat failure are probably cooking them. APR offer a dual pulley solution with a 3.28 ratio and they recommend removing the cats for that.

 

[V6_Man]

And no one explains it better than @Dippy does. Cheers mate!


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[SteveMcB]

Next i think i will do the Sway bars and upgrade the brakes, i was thinking of SQ5 or i may push the boat out and go for full RS set up.
i would like to upgrade the suspension, but i really dont want a rock hard ride, so need to do a bit more research i think.

SQ5 has a sliding caliper, brakes are massive and look the part but in reality aren't all that great.

 

[arad85]

I am in the process of going APR dual pulley/ultracharger. I will be getting custom built race cats early next year.

 

[jdp1962]

SQ5 has a sliding caliper, brakes are massive and look the part but in reality aren't all that great.

Bet they're heavy too.

 

[V6_Man]

I am in the process of going APR dual pulley/ultracharger. I will be getting custom built race cats early next year.

Would be interested to see the results @arad85. Fingers crossed. I am sure everything will go as planned this time round


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[SteveMcB]

Bet they're heavy too.

No doubt, expensive as well - much better options out there I reckon.

 

[Dippy]

I am in the process of going APR dual pulley/ultracharger. I will be getting custom built race cats early next year.

Would be interested to see the results @arad85. Fingers crossed. I am sure everything will go as planned this time round

You and me both! Fortunately it is more interest than envy. On the alas rare occasions that the traffic where I drive allows me to unleash my stage 2 power, I realise that it really is enough for me (for now).

@arad85 - will those cats come with extended downpipes? Comments on Audizine suggest that even HFCs will melt if put in the same position as the stock ones.

 

[arad85]

@arad85 - will those cats come with extended downpipes? Comments on Audizine suggest that even HFCs will melt if put in the same position as the stock ones.

Will discuss with the guy making them (Tom @ Retro Resus in Bridgwater - check their Facebook page for some of the stuff they make). He does lots of work on track cars (and is an APR dealer and was the one who got me in to Awesome to be the dev. car). Was thinking of moving them somewhere a tad easier to service should they need it anyway

 

[Bobby rs6-r]

Just had my S4 treated to the MRC stage 2 package.
Done by chris at CM tuning in Morley.

Great guy
Turned it tlround in 4 hours.

Running around 477bhp & 600nm.

Beautiful.