Tuning stages

[AlS3BE]

hi folks

There’s been a lot of chat about tuning the s3 on here and maybe it’s just me being old school where everything I look at is measured in BHP and ft/lbs or nm regardless what stage.
This is where I’m a little out of date with the young ones.
What constitutes a stage 1,2,3,4? Is it just a number for bragging rights, pub chat? To me real BHP/torque is the only measure.

I’m assuming
stage 1 is a filter, exhaust and maybe a remap.

Stages 2, cams? Turbos? Pistons?

Stage 3,4 ????

Happy to be enlightened ;-)

 

[AJ Jacob]

As per my understanding.

Stage 1 - Is remap only Ecu and Gearbox map

Stage 2 - minimum with Downpipes (decat or sports cats), but better gains if you have intake, inlet pipes and even intercooler

I don’t know much about stage 3 onwards.

 

[AlS3BE]

You see that is the wrong way round for me. At least in my head for power mods.
Been messing with cars for longer than I would admit but brakes and suspension is always first. Get the best out what you have then power mods.
So First to me is always breathing mods, filter exhausts then after that remap to get the best out of the breathing mods. Should be a custom map and not an off the shelf one as well as different exhaust/filters perform differently.

Saying that I’m about to shove a mtm box on mine with no other mods.

 

[Boydie]

For the S3 and my experience with Revo

Stage 1:

• ECU Software
• DSG Software
• Intake (optional)
• Cat back exhaust (optional)
• Turbo inlet (optional)
• Turbo muffler (optional)
• Uprated DV (optional)

Stage 2:

• ECU Software
• DSG Software
• Intake
• Turbo back exhaust
• Turbo inlet
• Turbo muffler
• Uprated DV
• RS7/NGK Spark Plugs (optional)
• FMIC (optional)
• Brake kit (optional)

Stage 3:

• ECU Software
• DSG Software
• Intake
• Turbo back exhaust
• Turbo inlet (dependant on what turbo - I have to change mine to a revo one)
• Turbo muffler
• Uprated DV
• RS7/NGK Spark Plugs
• FMIC
• Bigger turbo e.g. Revo's IS38ETR
• Brake kit (optional)

This is purely based on my car and my experience with tuning previous VAG/Revo'd cars of my own

 

[AlS3BE]

What is the expected power from each stage?

 

[Boydie]

Stage 1: around 370 bhp
Stage 2: around 400bhp
Stage 3: from 470-500bhp

All depends on your tuner, condition of car, fuel, etc...

 

[MikeParkin]

If you get a custom map ie not Revo APR etc then it’s the supporting mods that will determine what power etc you will gain.

It’s more of a marketing thing to be honest.

If you go for a custom map they will map the car with say just an intake and gain X bhp etc. If you put all mods on like cooler, exhaust, bigger pipes and so on then you will gain a better figure.

Some people will go through the stages not necessarily knowing they are, as it’s the custom map thats getting tweaked after new mods are added.

As you can see from the above posts it’s very similar.

 

[AlS3BE]

Prefer messing with NA cars
Breathing mods, cams, valves /springs. Then if you still got money individual throttle bodies and a good map. Turbos and superchargers are just cheating

Thats automotive porn

 

[Marky-s3]

Go apr
Im stage 1 with
Intercooler
Intake
Intake pipe
Turbo muffler delete
415 bhp 430 lb
All cars are diffrent though

 

[AlS3BE]

Go apr
Im stage 1 with
Intercooler
Intake
Intake pipe
Turbo muffler delete
415 bhp 430 lb
All cars are diffrent though

Maybe when the warranty is up. Good power without a loud exhaust.
Been looking at the turbo intake pipe and trying to convince myself I need one. The forge one looks good.

 

[Marky-s3]

I had 2 year of warrenty left but life is too short I wouldn't go mad on bolt ons if your not going for a remap as you won't gain alot for the money but always future proof if you do I suppose

 

[AlS3BE]

I had 2 year of warrenty left but life is too short I wouldn't go mad on bolt ons if your not going for a remap as you won't gain alot for the money but always future proof if you do I suppose

Turbo pipe and the revo intake for a bit of bling under the bonnet. Extra power is secondary

 

[MikeParkin]

Go apr
Im stage 1 with
Intercooler
Intake
Intake pipe
Turbo muffler delete
415 bhp 430 lb
All cars are diffrent though

Awesome figures for APR stage 1 ! That’s more like stage 2 figures but hey ho.

Where did your map ?

 

[AlS3BE]

Awesome figures for APR stage 1 ! That’s more like stage 2 figures but hey ho.

Where did your map ?

This is what I was getting at with this stage 1/2/3 stuff. Just get your real wheel horse power, not recalculated flywheel, with torque on paper as that’s what matters.

 

[MikeParkin]

This is my Revo stage 2 print out I had it done just for curiosity, I think it would have produced more if they used a bigger blower or blowers.

It drives awesome so I’m more than happy with it.

 

[Marky-s3]

Ecotune in Glasgow used them with last 3 cars
My 16 golf r made 367 stage 1 Apr on same rollers so shows every cars diffrent
Think I'm 340 at the wheels if it helps
I managed 11.7 at pod1/4 mile and 3.4 to 60 and 11.6 1/4 before intercooler on dragy
I use my instagram for my car feel free to add _s38v_
If you want some bling get an eventuri

 

[AlS3BE]

Ecotune in Glasgow used them with last 3 cars
My 16 golf r made 367 stage 1 Apr on same rollers so shows every cars diffrent
Think I'm 340 at the wheels if it helps
I managed 11.7 at pod1/4 mile and 3.4 to 60 and 11.6 1/4 before intercooler on dragy
I use my instagram for my car feel free to add _s38v_
If you want some bling get an eventuri

11.7 is seriously quick and 340 whp is a good figure.
Last time I was at crail(10 years plus) I managed a 14.1 in my old car and then got beat by an a-team van lookalike

 

[Damo S]

Maybe when the warranty is up. Good power without a loud exhaust.
Been looking at the turbo intake pipe and trying to convince myself I need one. The forge one looks good.

Same, but without the maybe part

My plan is to do the intercooler, sachs clutch and lightened single mass flywheel (mines a manual and the stock one is a bit pants and cant handle the additional torque, and the dual mass flywheel will probably fail anyway), then an MRC remap. The expensive bit is the clutch. I think that as soon as you start mucking about with exhausts and intakes the insurance goes through the roof and I'm not convinced they are bang for buck. The intercooler is an absolute must in my opinion, purely to help prevent engine annihilation when running higher boost after the remap