Stage 2 tune on order.

[chucky1]

I got hooked on this site originally after reading a review by warrenS5 on his Revo tune. Well, after a lot of research I ordered the tune on my Avant today. She's booked in in a couple of weeks . Wish it was tomorrow, but due to work etc....... On order is an APR Stage 2 tune with pulley upgrade. Going to let the intake slide for now and see if I can pick up one this Xmas when hopefully APR has a sale. The Carbonio Stage 2 CAI is about $1200 here, so fingers crossed, I can score a discount then. I ended up comparing APR, Revo and ABT. (ABT got dropped early on). Like Warren I liked the idea of using one company throughout to integrate everything. What swayed me in the end was the fact that the guys, who have looked after my Audis for years, are specialists in APR. Simple as that. The Revo set up was very close to APR. Between the two, one does higher kWs, while the other does higher Nms. There wasn't much in it. Pricewise they are about the same as well here. I'm looking forward to telling you what I think about unleashing the hidden ponies in my little sedate "family wagon" in a few weeks.

 

[xpoweruk]

I foresee huge grins in a few weeks

 

[jdp1962]

Nice one, Chucky

 

[Dippy]

Going to let the intake slide for now and see if I can pick up one this Xmas when hopefully APR has a sale.

There was a post about air intake not so long ago but I can't remember if it was here or another site. Basically someone was asking about what mods are needed for a stage 2, and that he/she had specifically asked APR if their stage 2 package includes intake mods and the reply was no. IIRC I wrote that I believe that the reason is that APR is addressing the DIY and distributor market, the bulk of which is just an ECU remap, or an ECU remap + new pulley. Hence their 'standard off-the-shelf' map wouldn't take advantage of intake mods.

So the point of my post is to advise that you check with APR. In theory if you get a stage 2 done now, then simply changing some air intake parts yourself later won't make any difference to the overall engine performance. For that you would need a 'tweaked' map (if APR offer them).

 

[chucky1]

Thanks Dippy. I understand that The CAI has only very minor gains due to relatively unrestricted flow to the SC. Apparently you hear the SC a little more,which I wouldn't mind, and masses of carbon just looks gorgeous. Yes your correct, I'm doing an ECU remap and a pulley upgrade at this point. The CAI is, in a sense unnecessary but might just round off the job correctly. I may or may not do it. Depends on how much I can get it for. Tried hard to figure out what IIRC means.

 

[jdp1962]

Tried hard to figure out what IIRC means.

"If I Remember Correctly".

 

[chucky1]

Aha! A lot of acronyms elude me. Thank you.

 

[jdp1962]

Me too. I used to have a right bozo of a manager. In emails, he'd abbreviate "Thank you" to "TY", which I just found so rude.

I got into the habit of replying "YW", which he strangely thought meant "You're welcome".

 

[mcfc1987]

Lucky you, I'm still waiting for Revo to develope a stage one tune for the engine in mine let alone stage 2

 

[Keef]

Nice Chucky, can wait to see the results on the S4!
As I'm sure you will have see from reading Warrens thread, I've been lucky enough to have experienced Warrens car, truly amazing transformation!
For me, personally, the CAI isn't to my liking, whilst the supercharge wine adds excitement, it's a bit too much for my everyday driving imo.

 

[Bristle Hound]

@chucky1 - Nice one buddy!
Looking foreword to hearing your thoughts when fitted

Me too. I used to have a right bozo of a manager. In emails, he'd abbreviate "Thank you" to "TY", which I just found so rude.

I got into the habit of replying "YW", which he strangely thought meant "You're welcome".

@jdp1962 - Should have replied 'GFY'
I'll let you work that one out mate

 

[chucky1]

Yes Keef, this was, and is something that is a biggy for me. The Carbonio is a lot more boxed in, in construction, compared to the Revo and other types, say the ROC. From my homework if anything most guys are a bit disappointed that there isn't more whine from this intake. This sounds more to my liking. I'm really only considering this because when they are installed they really are that good looking. Just justifying the cost to myself. And then to my wife.

 

[xpoweruk]

The Revo whine is right I reckon

Quick vid

 

[chucky1]

That does sound good xp. Lets you know just how savage these things can become when tuned.

 

[Dippy]

relatively unrestricted flow to the SC

Hmm - I'm not so sure. MRC's stage 2 package (which has the best gains it seems) includes a new air hose. Those guys wouldn't do that unless there were significant gains to be had. But the main point is that their remap is custom to ensure that those best gains are achieved on each customer's car. From what I have seen of APR's CAI, it looks like much the same as MRC do. However if it is used with their 'off-the-shelf' remap that is designed for cars with just the pulley mod, then as I stated, the map can't take advantage of any derestriction that it offers.

Of course if you're just after noise then fine. I remember reading about mods that some driver put in their engine bays which have a speaker which makes 'whoosh' sounds like a turbo air release or diverter valve. Maybe there's something like that for supercharger whine? Shame that Audi didn't go further with the 'structure borne sound' module. Mine is set to quiet or comfort or whatever in ADS individual so it always amuses me when I set it to dynamic and suddenly it starts roaring and I have to turn the music volume up! (Yes, I prefer driving a 'Q' car).

 

[xpoweruk]

Revo also state BHP gains with the intake they use.

It's not huge,but every little helps.Also makes a lovely sound when letting off the gas too

 

[chucky1]

Dippy, from what I've read here and elsewhere the MRC tunes sound great. A custom tune would be very attractive to me. Getting someone reputable like MRC isn't something I've been able to find here. Wish I could, but thats the way it is. There are tuners here but giving my car over to an unknown is not going to happen. You guys are lucky having the option of someone very well known who can offer this service. Off the shelf as you call it is the best option I have and it comes down to the two I've mentioned.

The CAI from Carbonio is two stage. S1 is the main intake box. S2, is the connector from box to SC. It has a larger hose diameter increasing flow and being made from carbon further reduces engine bay temperature transfer, thats it from what I can see, therefore higher, cooler flow. I assume that the APR tune has callibrations that take advantage of this but if it hasn't been done it will not change things much. There are gains from the CAI, I've studied the graphs a number of times, but they are small. The largest gain occurs at stage 1 ECU upgrade. Stage 2 ECU/Pulley gives a decent gain for the dollars, then all the other things you do produce ever diminishing results from a power point of view. ie the less and less bang for buck ratio. The intake is something I would like to do, whether I do or not? we'll see. I'm definitely not looking for "whoosh" noises. Revo Australia have to order the intake from the UK, they don't normally carry them here.

The A4 3ltr Tdi I had before this, was good. Stock. I had it Oettinger tuned. An off the shelf. Turned it into a torque beast. I loved it. The guys who look after my cars did this. They have assured me that the APR tune on the S4 will blow my previous car out of the water. I have no reason to doubt them as they have always been very accurate in the past. I'm putting my hard earned on the table for this. Sure I won't be disappointed.

 

[Dippy]

@chucky1 - at least you have the option to have an engine tune. I have the new CREC engine so I can't get any tune at all!

 

[chucky1]

I'm sure they won't take too long cracking it.

 

[jdp1962]

But if the engine's going to be phased out altogether for the B9, will MRC and the others even bother trying?

 

[xpoweruk]

I thought MRC had already done one?

 

[Dippy]

But if the engine's going to be phased out altogether for the B9, will MRC and the others even bother trying?

That is a fear. However I believe that the CREC engine first appeared in mid 2014, there are still a few of the last S4s being delivered this or next month, and then maybe there is another 6 months of S5s to come, so that's over 18 months production of S4s and S5s - surely a market worth addressing? I did exchange a couple of PMs with Doug on the matter and he confirmed that they were looking to crack the new ECU, probably something that they need to do anyway since it could quite possibly be used again on future models. So I do feel fairly confident that a stage 1 package will arrive sometime. Maybe the stage 2 is at risk, however I imagine that the investment in design and manufacture of a new bolt-on pulley is not that huge considering the income they can generate from it.

 

[chucky1]

Well, things were changed around a bit today. My guys came back to me with a deal I couldn't refuse. Discounts across both parts and labour which made the Stage 2 Carbonio intake irresistible. Santa wouldn't have been able to get anywhere near this deal. Put down the deposit. Deals done.

 

[Shrek5]

Well, things were changed around a bit today. My guys came back to me with a deal I couldn't refuse. Discounts across both parts and labour which made the Stage 2 Carbonio intake irresistible. Santa wouldn't have been able to get anywhere near this deal. Put down the deposit. Deals done.

I guess you end up "saving" money getting it all done at once rather than doing one bit and then going back for some more work... Man maths.

 

[chucky1]

Yes, man logic is a wonderful thing. Then again if my wife starts comparing bags, shoes whatever the same applies. It really was a very good deal though. By not doing the intake there was no discount. Including it meant they discounted everything. All parts, all labour. The whole intake then came in at about a third of its price. But yes, I ended up spending more.

 

[scotty76]

Looking forward to seeing/hearing/reading all about this.

 

[chucky1]

9 more sleeps.

 

[Chop.]

Nice job chucky

 

[chucky1]

Checked with my guys today. All the hardware has been delivered. All ready to go on Tuesday. Woohoo!!

 

[Chop.]

Better than Christmas !!

I'm well jealous

 

[chucky1]

Looking forward to the carbon fibre intake because I got a deal on some way cool engine bay bling that will set it off to the max.

 

[Chop.]

I'm looking forward to it all and it's not even my motor, hahaha

 

[Keef]

I need to see this thread updated asap!
Pics & videos the works - roll on Tuesday

 

[chucky1]

Haha video??? Guys I can't even get photos up properly. Cop this, the other day I got a new iphone. Went from an ancient 4 to a 5. Young blokes are already laughing!! Well, the 20 something year old guy in the shop tells me, don't spend $20 getting the guy 2 shops down to transfer your info it's easy. Upload into iTunes, download into your new one. Easy. %$###@ I did this and in 5 seconds I was looking at my wifes screensaver. Yes, I now had my wifes phone. Great. All my stuff was in the cloud and it was raining on me. So, I laugh out loud at the idea of a video. Will get the neighbours 12 year old to help me. But I will get it there somehow. Might not be Tuesday might be too busy going nuts.

 

[jdp1962]

Finally, someone who's even less tech savvy than me.

You rock,@chucky1!

 

[scotty76]

Finally, someone who's even less tech savvy than me.

You rock,@chucky1!

Much LOL Jeff.

 

[chucky1]

Boys I know a compliment when I see it. Thank you. IMHO IIRC LOL.

 

[chucky1]

Well. I'm over the moon guys. There are too many little and BIG differences to start telling you guys yet. The cars the same but completely different. Brutal acceleration if you want it but still soft around shops etc. Supercharger whine just a little bit more when you accelerate just as I was hoping for. What is different is the exhaust note on stock set up. A real bark I hadn't heard before when you mash it. Its a serious bark!! And the carbon fibre intake OH BABY!! Very happy. More to follow.

 

[jdp1962]

Great news; also money well spent, excellent value for money and a very sensible investment.

(just in case Mrs @chucky1 is reading this. )

 

[chucky1]

She is yet to have a run in it. I'll go slow.