Hey fellas

Been researching Audi forums lately and decided to get an ECU tune. Having bought a 2005 A4 2.0T quattro, I want it to keep it as a family car --> keep as stock as possible

I have decided to get a stage 2 tune, so my questions are:

1) only modification i need is ECU tune (obviously)+downpipe ? I cant justiffy spending $2500 on a full exhaust system.

2) do i require a CAI ? (I'm leaning towards not havingit, as it only makes 1/2 hp increase and is only a cosmetic/sound piece ??)

3) For the ECU tune, I want the giac tune as its the most aggressive however, i see that it once u get the stage 2 tune, you have the CEL problem (APR doesn't have this), can this be fixed easily/cost effectively ?

4) Fuel economy is also important as i do 95% urban driving, with the above combo, will i get better fuel mileage, assuming i drive the same in my stock car

5) Any noticeable difference between stage 2/2+ ? assuming i don't get fuel cuts, is this even necessary ?

Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated !

P.S. Did i miss anything ?

 

Congrats! I'll be following this thread closely as I too and thinking of taking the plunge. I would be tempted to just get a K/N drop-in filter rather than the CAI.

 

welcome to the forum and congrats on the purchase of a fine machine.

1) a complete exhaust job is a waste since 95% of the flow restriction is in the catalytic converter. get a testpipe or a catless downpipe and be done with it unless you don't like your new exhaust tone that much because it will louder.

2)no. a CAI or any other intake mod is a complete waste. the oem filter flows as much as aftermarket plus it cleans better. the oem intake is already RAM and CAI.

3)yes, the APR stage 2 tune removes the CEL (for high emissions or whatever) from coming on.

4)a more efficient engine is good for fuel economy only if you don't have a heavy foot. there was a top gear episode where a BMW m3 followed a toyota yaris around a few laps. the BMW ended up with the beter milage.

5)i'm thinking about upgrading the current stage 2 setup to stage 2+ as well. i'm sure it will help since the top end power seems to dip off a bit.

 

Just to follow up... would you recommend the oem filter over a K&N insert? I've heard the K&N flowed better... but I haven't seen a direct test between the K&N and OEM on a B7 A4.

 

Kn sound cool but you'll kill your maf if not careful

 

yes just stick with the oem filter. they (k&n or carbonio) don't show facts because they don't add anything. there was a time and place for them but these german cars have virtually no bottlenecks. even tuners can barely manage to squeeze out a few extra HP from the naturally aspirated engines.

 

Thanks esandes!

Regarding the giac stage 2 tune, will i have the CEL on permanently ?? This is my real concern and will prob choose APR if it cant be fixed easily


Any giac owner care to share there thoughts ??



One other thing, there is quite a lot of differences in prices in downpipes, APR sell their downpipe for $2500 ?!! whereas some forums members have purchased them for around the $500 mark...why is there a $2000 mark up ? and would the $500 downpipes work on par with the APR downpipe i.e. no problems in the future ??


P.S. Prices are from Australian dealers

 

i'm sure the GIAC software permanently removes the engine light. my APR stage 2 has so i don't see why the GIAC doesn't do the same.

sounds like people are trying to fleece you with the downpipe cost. here's one for less than $500.
http://www.raimotorsport.com/RAI-2-0...i-20tip-dp.htm

i'd just get a testpipe. a catless downpipe probably flows as good as the stock exhaust + test pipe.

 

Esandes, You beauty !!

Thanks a lot champ, saved me heaps of money and time !!

Now this might sound like a dumb question, but seeing as i have a LHD car, will it still fit properly ? reason i ask, is some websites state their exhaust systems/parts will not work with LHD cars.


Last thing, After i receive the down pipe, do i just go to my local performance exhaust shop and tell them to weld it on ?? don't want to sound like an idiot when i actually go there lol (1st modding experience ever)

cheers,

 

One last thing, what do you reckon of a downpipe+testpipe combo ?