Stage 1 map worth the money?

antonws3

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Is a stage 1 remap reallly worth the money and do you notice much difference? Thinking of getting the shark stage one taking it to 310 is it? Alternatively I was going to spend the money on having the car detailed for summer. Like do you even get bag pinned back to the seat feeling I was hoping to get when I bought the car?
 
It will be night and day compared to a standard car

I think you will struggle to get pinned back to the seat feeling from these engines as the power delivery is very linear compared to older turbo cars where it was nothing...........boooooooosssstttt!
 
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Is a stage 1 remap reallly worth the money and do you notice much difference? Thinking of getting the shark stage one taking it to 310 is it? Alternatively I was going to spend the money on having the car detailed for summer. Like do you even get bag pinned back to the seat feeling I was hoping to get when I bought the car?

As s3matty has said,the delivery is a lot more linear than the old school turbos I was used to,but a Stg1 map will make a significant difference,for relatively small outlay.

The extra midrange torque significantly improves driveability,but it will lead to you wanting more....
 
looks like it will have to be a remap first, is it best waiting for a discount deal to come available
 
Going stage 1 is definitely worth it. As mentioned you won't really get the pinned to your seat feeling, but it'll transform the car to the car you were probably expecting it to be. Each car will make different power so take them as estimates, I'd put a CAI on mine and made a nice bit more at AMD.
Also before you get it mapped change your cam follower and check your DV hasn't split if it's a rubber diaphragm version.
 
It's 100% worth it mate, it's how the S3 should've come as standard. If going for a generic map then I'd recommend APR's software over Shark, better still custom mapping is your best friend with the likes of Unicorn, R-Tech and AMD Tuning.
 
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Thinking of amd now over shark, anyone recommend a place in the north west?
 
Custom tuning is where it's at mate. Forget the revo hype train
 
Confusing all this for a remap haha, there's a guy round the corner that does a remap for £200 yet I was convinced best to get revo/amd
 
There are a few well recommended tuners that most of the forum will confirm include Rick at Unicorn, AMD, and R-Tech.
AMD are a tuner so you would need to visit them in Essex to get a map from them.
Revo/APR are both off the shelf maps which are good, but i don't think they have worked on maps for an 8p for a while now so less updates as new cars become available.
Most tuners will continue to update their base maps. I'd steer clear of the guys offering maps for £200 personally, stick to the recommended tuners if you want reliability and customer service that won't disappoint.
I remember the same confusion, but the guys here were a great help and that's what led me to go with AMD.
 
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Thanks for the help, I've gone from shark to apr to rick in Stockport in a few hours haha.
 
What year is you S3 and are you manual or s-tronic?
Stage 1 can lead to new clutch which makes it expensive. I went stage 1 shark performance and on the way home clutch slip.
Mine is a 2007 manual S3 with 72k on the clock.
 
just what I wanted to hear! Yeah mines 2008 with 90k on.
What year is you S3 and are you manual or s-tronic?
Stage 1 can lead to new clutch which makes it expensive. I went stage 1 shark performance and on the way home clutch slip.
Mine is a 2007 manual S3 with 72k on the clock.
sr
 
I was a little pi**ed when driving home lol, it's now a joy to drive though after the new clutch and bedding it in. If s-tronic then your ok as clutch is a lot stronger. You may be lucky and not need one but i would budget for one.
 
This is true I have everything sitting next to my desk to replace my clutch too.
You can if only staying stage 1 and going custom map with someone like Rick at Unicorn, ask to tune with a clutch friendly map, it's mainly the torque that'll kill the clutch as they are close to their limit as standard.
Although how long the clutch will last depends on how it's been treated in the past. No launches and the likes will help.
 
My cars only had one owner from new so I would like to think the clutch hasn't been hammered be various owners. Think it's best to say it's going to cost me roughly £1200 to be sorted with the remap
 
Would cost you about that for the clutch and then fitting so add the remap on top.
While doing it make sure get transfer box fluid and clutch fluid all replaced.
 
I would say get it remapped, the clutch shouldn't give up straight away. It could slip but chances are slim, if Rick notices it he will dial the torque down, then when you have the clutch changed he'll turn it up for you.
The clutch will cost you about £1200 going for a Helix or Sachs organic with the full kit. There's lots about these on here too.
It's something that many have come up against when starting to tune the S3, take some time to read through some of the threads on here about tuning, speak to Rick at i'm sure he will be able to give you a good steer on everything too.
Once you modify something that Audi designed to last as it was standard then eventually something will have to be replaced. Your talking about adding almost 20% extra power to the car just from a remap that's quite a jump.
 
Thinking of the generic map companies, APR have released more recent software than Revo.
 
I havent mapped mine yet but i 100% it will be a better car and well worth it
 
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I would say get it remapped, the clutch shouldn't give up straight away. It could slip but chances are slim, if Rick notices it he will dial the torque down, then when you have the clutch changed he'll turn it up for you.
The clutch will cost you about £1200 going for a Helix or Sachs organic with the full kit. There's lots about these on here too.
It's something that many have come up against when starting to tune the S3, take some time to read through some of the threads on here about tuning, speak to Rick at i'm sure he will be able to give you a good steer on everything too.
Once you modify something that Audi designed to last as it was standard then eventually something will have to be replaced. Your talking about adding almost 20% extra power to the car just from a remap that's quite a jump.


My own impression was that at Stg1 and 2/2+,the engine was still very reliable,and with the exception of the chocolate clutch,gave me no issues at all.

Bear in mind it's been stripped down about 4 times in all over 80k miles,and at no point has the crank been worn beyond OEM tolerances.

The real weak points are clutch,gearbox,transfer case and possibly Haldex,and the rest is down to remembering to service the car more frequently.
 
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I quite often think about getting this done, mine is an 07 s3 but it has had a few previous owners. This leads me to think I'd have to spend quite a bit on a new clutch.
 
I quite often think about getting this done, mine is an 07 s3 but it has had a few previous owners. This leads me to think I'd have to spend quite a bit on a new clutch.
If I had known would have been a clutch straight away I may have waited. The £1200 could have been used for handling and brakes etc first of all. It has made a difference to the car but it's quite a bit if only going stage 1 and that's all.
 
If I had known would have been a clutch straight away I may have waited. The £1200 could have been used for handling and brakes etc first of all. It has made a difference to the car but it's quite a bit if only going stage 1 and that's all.
Yeah I see what you mean on that. What clutch did you get in the end?
 
Sachs organic clutch kit with Luk DMF. Has been good since fitted definitely heavier but you get used to it.
Can I ask where you got it from? I get confused with all the terminology!
 
I was the same but got info from this site and has led me to speaking with a supplier which led me to the mechanic that fitted it all and now done other work.
 
I was the same but got info from this site and has led me to speaking with a supplier which led me to the mechanic that fitted it all and now done other work.
What company did you use for your remap?
 
What company did you use for your remap?
Shark performance, just a generic map but read some good things and did a 25% off so for £300 was a good price until had to do the clutch lol, means i can go stage 2+ at some point.. Same guy that did the remap also is a detailer and supply lots of parts, company called brotek.
 

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