Best bang for buck modifications on pfl?

5pot4banger

5pot4banger

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Been reading through some threads on modifications and my itch has started, just like it did on my R :) not really after more power but rather more sound!

Aside from some interior goodies the only thing iv done is a milltek secondary decat which was money well spent.

Have also gone with a 255/35/19 setup all round, the 255’s in the back are a tight fit and occasionally rub on long sweeping corners if I take them with speed but other than that they fill the guards beautifully. I wouldn’t recommend carrying anything heavy in the boot or having 4 passengers though lol!

Where to next? My friend recommended a valve controller if I wanted it to be loud through the whole rev range but I’m not sure if this is worth it since it’s quite expensive?

My plan was just an apr tune with an intake and downpipe. Not sure which brand? since iroz is ridiculously expensive to ship and no resellers here in Aus. Or is there anything else I can do with the exhaust?

From what I understand you can hear the intake soothing for air but the downpipe turns the sound even more monstrous, will need to be a catted dp though. Any recommendation?
 
the active valve controller is worth every penny in my opinion.. yes its louder but the sound is as it should have been from the factory. if you can have a listen and just pay the bucks .. I sold mine recently within a couple of hours but had a million requests to buy it. keep an eye out in the classifieds or just buy one you won't regret it honestly!
 
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I bought @zippster ’s valve controller, my PFL sounds brutal now (and i’ve still got my secondary decats to fit)!
Money well spent, as you get that growl in 1st gear in all gears now. It’s also great that i can close the valves during cold start (no more pi**ing the neighbours off).
 
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Can someone give a breakdown of how these controllers work/fitted? Sounds like a good mod for the pfl
 
royalsteve68 said:
Presume it affects the warranty
Click to expand...

It will have no affect on the warranty as it just allows you to control the exhaust valve rather than it do it depending on mode. It’s a canbus device .

Besides it can be completely deactivated during service time if required so the valve behaviours return to stock.
 
More sound?! My PFL was decat and it sounded like a mini V10 to me, can't see how more sound is even an issue!

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
 
AshRS3sportback said:
Can someone give a breakdown of how these controllers work/fitted? Sounds like a good mod for the pfl
Click to expand...

Fit in the passenger side lower trim.

Integrates into the Can-bus to allow manual override of the flaps via either the ESC button (Cete version) or via a keyfob (ASR version)

Bonus of having the Cete on the FL car..... it stops the wastegate rattle on cold start.
 
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terminator x said:
They would never know unless they were really looking close for some reason. I had it on my RS4 and Audi never mentioned it.

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Christ John, you had it long enough to go near a dealer ?
 
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T-800 said:
Fit in the passenger side lower trim.

Integrates into the Can-bus to allow manual override of the flaps via either the ESC button (Cete version) or via a keyfob (ASR version)

Bonus of having the Cete on the FL car..... it stops the wastegate rattle on cold start.
Click to expand...

Thanks, so am I correct in assuming this controller also allows the flaps to stay open right through the rev range? Or is that only achieved by completely disconnecting the valves at the rear underneath of the car?
 
AshRS3sportback said:
Thanks, so am I correct in assuming this controller also allows the flaps to stay open right through the rev range? Or is that only achieved by completely disconnecting the valves at the rear underneath of the car?
Click to expand...

Open all the time.

If you have them closed for keeping things quiet (tut , tut) then they’ll automatically open at 4,000rpm so as not to cause engine damage.
 
I've purchased the valve controller so I'll update when it arrives, the website was in german so was a little rough translating and asking about shipping costs, etc but looks like a solid mod, albeit being quite expensive for what it is.
 
5pot4banger said:
Been reading through some threads on modifications and my itch has started, just like it did on my R :) not really after more power but rather more sound!

Aside from some interior goodies the only thing iv done is a milltek secondary decat which was money well spent.

Have also gone with a 255/35/19 setup all round, the 255’s in the back are a tight fit and occasionally rub on long sweeping corners if I take them with speed but other than that they fill the guards beautifully. I wouldn’t recommend carrying anything heavy in the boot or having 4 passengers though lol!

Where to next? My friend recommended a valve controller if I wanted it to be loud through the whole rev range but I’m not sure if this is worth it since it’s quite expensive?

My plan was just an apr tune with an intake and downpipe. Not sure which brand? since iroz is ridiculously expensive to ship and no resellers here in Aus. Or is there anything else I can do with the exhaust?

From what I understand you can hear the intake soothing for air but the downpipe turns the sound even more monstrous, will need to be a catted dp though. Any recommendation?
Click to expand...

My 255 good year scrubbed on stock wheels but my 265 yokos don’t and running 9.5 wide
 
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5pot4banger said:
I've purchased the valve controller so I'll update when it arrives, the website was in german so was a little rough translating and asking about shipping costs, etc but looks like a solid mod, albeit being quite expensive for what it is.
Click to expand...
You wont be disappointed!
 
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Well it came on Monday but only today did I get a chance to install it, followed a youtube video which applies to the s3 as well and was quite simple.

WOW does it make a difference. Car is loud as hell now regardless of what gear I'm in. I'll try find a way to post a video somewhere and link it but it probably won't translate to how it sounds in person. Whereas normally the valves are open in 1st or after 3500 rpm I believe (don't quote me) they're open constantly and my gosh is it anti social. I don't particularly care what my neighbors think so I'm not going to close them on cold starts or ever really. Best way I can explain the sound is the 1st to 2nd growl is now in every gear like djp said.

May draw attention to police moreso however :p

Next I've found a used leyo intake for about half what they retail for so that'll be going on the car as well as a milltek catted dp and apr tune. Wanted to try get the iroz dp but after some sensible thought I didn't feel like risking it being catless and the car already being so loud + technically illegal to be driving without cats
 
Glad you got one, which one did you end up getting ? I thought that there was one that the valve leads plug into and its controlled by a remote ? Is that different to the canbus ones ? Also (I dont know) will these cause any damage to valves/ silencers in the long run at all?
 
I've got the one that plugs directly into the valves and is fitted inside the boot.

The key fob allows you to have valves a) open b) closed or c) factory - the downside with the one I had fitted is if you're a complete numpty you can set the valves to be closed and they will not automatically open so in theory could cause engine damage.

I'm not sure under what scenario I'm likely to have set the valves to closed and then let rip. I either set the car to dynamic (and valves open) when I want to buzz around with a grin on my face, or set it back to default Audi and comfort if I'm wanting it quiet for a long cruise.

I guess the cost did play a part too as these ones are a little cheaper than the ones that plug into the canbus.

I don't see how any of them can cause damage to the valves/silencers in the long run, actually running with them open all the time might actually help - there will be less open/close going on?
 
Thanks, do these not open the valves after 4000rpm if you close them permanently, to prevent damage ?

What are all the different types of controller you can get, and their pro's and cons - anybody know ?
 
The Cete one is a bit more expensive but auto opens the valves at about 5k revs to avoid damaging something. I'd not "go cheap" on one that doesn't.

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
 
Do any of the remote ones work like the CETE one ? As strange as it sounds, I would rather have a remote.
 
Nickyc said:
Do any of the remote ones work like the CETE one ? As strange as it sounds, I would rather have a remote.
Click to expand...
Cete is easy though, shut in comfort open in dynamic. Use DSC button to open / shut anytime you like.

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
 
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Thanks TX, what happens in individual and auto ?
Im looking for something that will act as standard in all modes but can keep the valves open in any mode by pressing some sort of button, leaving it back to standard rather than completely shut, basically like an exhaust button.
 
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Nickyc said:
Thanks TX, what happens in individual and auto ?
Im looking for something that will act as standard in all modes but can keep the valves open in any mode by pressing some sort of button, leaving it back to standard rather than completely shut, basically like an exhaust button.
Click to expand...
The DSC button does that e.g. open and shut at will + it doesn't reset every ignition cycle.

Can't remember how it's set up in Auto or Individual, sorry.

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
 
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Nickyc said:
Thanks TX, what happens in individual and auto ?
Im looking for something that will act as standard in all modes but can keep the valves open in any mode by pressing some sort of button, leaving it back to standard rather than completely shut, basically like an exhaust button.
Click to expand...

I have the cete on a fl. It operates as per audi stock if you fit it and leave it, apart from the valve state being constant.
Without cete fitted cold start defaults valves shut regardless if mode switched to and even if you select dynamic after ignition on before starting. With the cete dynamic is fully vves open, even cold start. Comfort is default always closed, I have never used auto (oddly) so can it comment on vlave state. Individual depends on you setup. I have all dynamic aside from suspension (magride) and it starts and stays valves open.
The other benefit of cete is overriding the factory default of valves closed below about 1500rpm.in dynamic / individual for me now valve's always open so better noise at idle and slow speeds without the step of valve open.
As @terminator x states, you can change valve states with cete at any point by double pressing the tc button and disable it completly by long press (5s) of tc button.
I also found it stopped wastgate rattle at start up, but only if I'm in individual/dynamic and I don't have to cycle through to dynamic at startup anymore.
I like it, it's a good mod if you want control. Just like factory comfort setting the valves auto open at 4k rpm (if you have them set closed) to reduce back pressure and safeguard turbo function.
Edit: in summary benefits for me: can be disabled completly if needed, no remote to rattle around, can shut off valves when missus complains, no cold start wastgate rattle (cold starts are now pretty ground shaking in the garage!) and more low speed sound. All pros, only con is price. If you get a second hand one off a pfl it will need to be sent back to Germany for a software update. Old software on pfl lacks all functionality aside from valve switching using tc button.
 
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