Any news about cracking (tuning) ECUs for S4 B9

Filipão

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Sorry this might sound odd but I've been away from cars for the last 18 months.

Wonder if there has been any advances on cracking the ECU and getting a remap from it, or is the piggy-back style the only option as before?

Thank you Gents!

Merry Christmas to all!
 
Sorry this might sound odd but I've been away from cars for the last 18 months.

Wonder if there has been any advances on cracking the ECU and getting a remap from it, or is the piggy-back style the only option as before?

Thank you Gents!

Merry Christmas to all!

Yup, it’s been cracked for a while now!


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My advice (for what its worth) is to wait until APR announce their tune (maybe a month or 2 more). It is clear that they put more efforts into tuning than others (e.g. adding extra monitoring sensors for testing their maps) and so it would be interesting to see what they decide is a good compromise between reliability and extra performance. Remember that the B9's V6T is a brand new design and the piggy-back boxes have only been boosting performance within the safety envelope of the ECU. It is sometimes easy to forget that during tuning of a new engine there can be casualties. The B8 seemed pretty robust, but the previous turbo engine in the B5 wasn't.
 
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I currently have a JB4 on my S4 I love it. By far the best mod I have done made the car feel alive. I would also wait for APR before jumping to a proper tune to see what they have managed to get. Like as already been said above about the extra sensors. I would also still run the JB4 with the tune so I can log and check to make sure everything is where it needs to be I’m also planning on running WMI at some point also.
 
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@A12RNX Thank you Sir. I gather you're running a piggy back, so no one has a proper ECU tune installed as yet?

there are a few company’s doing them. SA tuning and DMS automotive being the ones that I think have tuned the most so far.
 
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@A12RNX Again many thanks.

I am a bl@@dy foreigner and live abroad.

Both SA and DMS replied instantly and asked if I'm willing to send my ECU to them, which won't be a problem.

I am a little scared to do it at this early stage, though...

Would love to get more feedback!

Thank you all
 
@A12RNX Again many thanks.

I am a bl@@dy foreigner and live abroad.

Both SA and DMS replied instantly and asked if I'm willing to send my ECU to them, which won't be a problem.

I am a little scared to do it at this early stage, though...

Would love to get more feedback!

Thank you all

no problem. I would rather wait it out for APR to release and hope you have a APR dealer where you are? I wouldn’t want to send my ECU personally
 
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Had a fair bit of tuning to various VAGmobiles.
Agree the comment re APR - certainly a safe and well-engineered option - bit overpriced but I guess you get what you pay for.
As an intermediary step I have found DTUK to be an excellent 'piggyback' solution.
Easy to fit and remove, Bluetooth connected allowing for changes on the fly.
Now that my S4B9 is run in the level of performance afforded by the DTUK addition is absolutely brilliant and its hard to think that APR could offer more but I'll wait and see.
Fuel consumption excellent, off the line performance/torque/power are all excellent too - great bang for the buck and no tweaks to the gearbox have been or will be applied.
In closing I would never, never entrust my ECU to anyone ever again.
I once had a 'trust me' tuner completely wipe my ECU and it was up to me to trailer my car plus blank ECU back to the dealership and seek a factory re-load.

Happy Christmas folks and stay safe and sane on those winter roads.

Dingah
 
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@Filipão - the Bosch ECU used on the B9 has to be unlocked before it can be remapped. The ECU needs to be disconnected so that the tool can do this, but fortunately due to its position in the engine bay, this can be done without actually removing it. So if you can get your car to a tuner with the tool and maps, then it could be done while-you-wait. However if not the sending your ECU to the tuner is the only option.
 
Thanks again @Dingah from Downundah + @cuke + @Dippy

Tried all tuners and gathered some info., thanks to you all and this Forum. Funny the harshest reply was from DTUK.
 

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Thanks again @Dingah from Downundah + @cuke + @Dippy

Tried all tuners and gathered some info., thanks to you all and this Forum. Funny the harshest reply was from DTUK.

Probably because you’ve asked him about something that’s not advertised anywhere on his website and he possibly thinks you’re taking the mick. Lol.

If I asked you how your BMW was running you’d probably reply with something a little harsh as well. Hahaha.


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Quite I have always had nothing but a positive and good response from @ABYSS at DTUK...
 
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Thanks again @Dingah from Downundah + @cuke + @Dippy

Tried all tuners and gathered some info., thanks to you all and this Forum. Funny the harshest reply was from DTUK.

Hi,

I think my reply is polite and to the point, moreso as we don’t offer Remaps.

That’s the kind of person I am, straight and to the point :)
 
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DTUK is a tuning box. They do not provide remaps. You might as well ask Burger King for a Big Mac.

You're best off either getting a tuning box or waiting for one of the bigger providers to offer a tuning solution.
 
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I don’t have any issues with you :)

next time you email I’ll try and add some glitter and sparkles and fluffy bits to my reply
 
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Chris I need to send that update across to you
Yes you do but not hassle you and looking forward to trying the update. Hopefully if you can do this before we go away next week as I will get a good chance to really try out the maps...
 
I would have thought so if they are the same model(b9)...
 
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Yet to see any good data from the recent round of mapped cars. I would just run one of the well known piggys (DTUK / JB4) in the short term if you want a 50bhp jump right now.

Other wise a indeterminate wait for the big tuners to figure out the gearbox TCU torque limits etc
 
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Good decision my friend and, after a couple of months you might well wonder if you really need (note..... need not want!) anything more.

DIngah
 
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Thank you all and specially @ABYSS, as the purchased box arrived this morning. Have installed it and using the App set at "Sport" not a single light went on.

Have driven the S4 very relaxed and felt more torque immediately.

I'm not sure why the routing of the camshaft sensor's cable must not be close to ABS and injectors' lines.

The harness is way too long, this is how I've routed the cables, hope someone can chime in and correct me please if need be.

All away from any moving parts and heat.

Thank you for you inputs, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Filipão

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I agree there is far to much cable left over, I've hidden all left over cable between the ecu and the intake pipe so it can't be seen, I run mine on sport plus 1 and really like it
 
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Ugh! You can do much better.
Hold on as its Christmas Day here and I'll post a photo for you shortly.

Dingah
 
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Thank you guys!
Try this layout where you will use all of cable length, cable almost imperceptible and actual box hidden under cover over winter motor....
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@Dingah from Downundah

Thank you Dingah, that looks absolutely perfect, did you have to open any holes for the cables to get through to the other side?

After my next service I will surely hide them, though it will be hard to remove/refit the whole thing in a blink. Right now my set up is a 3 minute job to remove with an X-acto.

Keep the suggestions popping out, please!
 
Apologies for crappy photos - fairly well into Xmas Day here
I route the cables under the gasket/sealing strip that runs along the rear of the bonnet and engine bay, preferring to avoid making any discernible, permanent changes.
Start with furthest distant connections and work your way around the front of the block and thence past the ECU body and finish under the sealing gasket and plastic cover at the base of the windscreen.
Listen and heed the advice of the DTUK team re settings - there will be plenty there.
I have not bothered with a dyno as knowing a number doesn’t change it.
In the words of the Rolls Royce salesman you will find everything to be most adequate.
Enjoy and season’s greetings from the antipodes.

Happy motoring
Dingah
 

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