2015 Audi SQ5 3.0 TDI Biturbo

[Daniel_M]

Hi Hillbilly - the main thrust appears to be around the legality of them which, I suppose, everyone assigns a varying level of prioritisation to.

There are a two main reasons though.

I want to put the spacers on to see if it actually makes a decent visual difference prior to spending heaps on wheels/tyres (although I am spending some money, not a lot of it is in the wheel/tyre area - so reallocating would mean not doing something else, likely the tuning given the cost of wheels/tyres). Also, I quite like the OEM rims, I would be sad to have to swap these out.

Would love nothing more than changing, particularly the rear, wheels/tyres to something wider so the rubber looks meatier when viewed from behind the car, but may be an 'all in good time' type deal.

[Daniel_M]

I wonder if they have any recommended install partners in Newcastle or at least Sydney. Electronics are one aspect of cars that I do not enjoy, so I would want to have this professionally installed.

I haven't heard back from Nathan, but given he started this business fairly recently he probably doesn't have a network up there.

I did hear back from another colleague, and advice is that the fitter at Autobarn Warners Bay is good - his name is Anthony May. As I say, using the youtube video Nathan put together, it's a pretty straightforward job. If you do go ahead with it, I'd get them to run the USB cable up into one of the USB ports in the centre console while they're at it (only relevant if running Android).

Hope this helps.

[Daniel_M]

Topic for today is EGR & DPF delete.

Going back to an earlier post in this thread where I highlighted the carbon build up in the intake due to the EGR process and a function of me making many short trips. Due to a recent workplace relocation, I'm back in the world of making very short trips each day, which I understand will put me back in prime territory for this kind of build up to re-occur.

Each service, I do ask that the intake be taken off and inspected - then either manually cleaned, or if not serious build up and intake clean be run through it. However, I'd like to avoid it altogether as the result of it building up between services was frankly a little scary when I was driving on the freeway and the engine was all over the shop.

Lucas_R had some experience that I've drawn from with a software-based EGR delete that was attempted alongside a stage 1 tune from Underground Performance and the subsequent outcome/failure of that. When I contacted Underground to discuss my tune, I chatted about EGR delete and what happened with Lucas's car - good discussion resulted - and I ended up being pointed to Darkside Developments in the UK for more expertise.

As most know, Darkside are a specialist diesel tuning house and fabricator of modifications for diesel vehicles. I went back and forth with them a bit on the specifics for the SQ5. Their advice was that the reason the method Underground attempted for Lucas failed was because there is a reliance on the EGR for the DPF to properly function - ie you shouldn't remove one without the other. This intuitively makes sense in that the outcome of Lucas experience was a massively blocked up DPF from regens not being triggered.

In good news, Darkside advised they can solve the issue by using a combination of two products they have available. First, is an "Audi Later 3.0 TDI V6 EGR Blanking Kit - Replaces 059131530K" which is the physical part to block the EGR - picture is below, it comprises two blanking plates and two gaskets. Quite cheap, good stuff.



Unfortunately, the other necessary part was not so cheap. The second part is "DPF Delete Pipe for Audi SQ5 / A6 / A7 3.0 Bi-Turbo TDi Engine". Picture below. Not being a mechanical guy, I was quite impressed when I opened the box and saw that sitting there.



Parts were DHL'd from Leeds and were delivered to me in Melbourne in 7 days.

Advice from Darkside is that when these parts are installed, a software tweak is required to delete EGR/DPF - otherwise the vehicle will go straight into limp mode due to the level of emissions the exhaust sensors pick up relative to expected values. I chatted with Underground and they will fit the parts and make the tweaks when I bring the car in to get all the other stuff fitted and the tune performed. This has been scheduled for 18/19 November, pretty bloody excited to see my car on a dyno.

[Lucas_R]

Good stuff - the Darkside exhaust parts are very nice quality products. The DPF pipe literally takes 10 mins to remove and replace - it's directly underneath the centre console area of the car. Couldnt be easier to access which is good news as the DPF's on front wheel drive based cars (like Golf / Tiguan etc) are a royal pain in the butt to remove and take hours and require disassembly of the front suspension/subframe etc. Also means you wont be charged much for labour to remove the DPF's and refit the new part.

The EGR delete kit you got has more to it than the one I got (also from Darkside). All I had was the blocking plate on the far right in your picture and the matching gasket, so you have 1x other plate and another gasket. So with a more comprehensive kit, and physically being able to go to Underground for the tune im sure they will get yours working fine.

Just bear in mind the car will be noticeably louder with the DPF delete pipe.

[Daniel_M]

Just bear in mind the car will be noticeably louder with the DPF delete pipe.

Thanks for the tip - I'll turn off the Kufatec and see what the base sound is like after it's done. Might be satisfactory without the amplification.

I'm hoping to get some videos of the car on the dyno to post on here, alongside the data.

[Daniel_M]

The tune and installation of various bits at Underground Performance has been put back a few weeks, will now be occurring across 18/19 November. Alongside the above EGR/DPF modifications, tuning, and a service, there are a few other parts being fitted that I've mentioned previously. Below are photos of these bits and pieces.

034 Motorsports driveline mount inserts.


BMC air filter


Spulen wheel spacers from USP Motorsports (20mm shown, also have the 15mm for front)

[Lucas_R]

Will be great to pick the car up with all of those mods done at once. Also I was going to mention that you should consider joining the Aussie SQ5 owners group on Facebook if you are interested. Audi SQ5 Owners Australia

Through this Facebook group I have become aware of another tuning company who does work on the SQ5's, called 3bar. They are also based in Melbourne (not far from Underground) and offer the ECU tune for $1050 (stage 1, stage 2 which is what you need might cost a little extra), and they also tune the transmission for $1200 3BAR | EURO ECU & TCU PERFORMANCE TUNING

[Daniel_M]

Also I was going to mention that you should consider joining the Aussie SQ5 owners group on Facebook if you are interested. Audi SQ5 Owners Australia

Mate - sounds great, I'd love to, but I'm not on Facebook!

Through this Facebook group I have become aware of another tuning company who does work on the SQ5's, called 3bar. They are also based in Melbourne (not far from Underground) and offer the ECU tune for $1050 (stage 1, stage 2 which is what you need might cost a little extra), and they also tune the transmission for $1200 3BAR | EURO ECU & TCU PERFORMANCE TUNING

I'll check them out. Good reviews of their work on Facebook? Their site is pretty basic, and I get a bit disconcerted when a business seems to go out of their way to not give you their actual address (other than a suburb). Gives me 'backyarder' vibes (rightly or wrongly). I'll give them a ring anyway and see what's up. From where I live it's about a 20 minute drive to either Underground or them.

[Louie_111]

Hi Daniel

I just had the stage 1 tune along with an EGR/DPF at Zadtec Performance by Jay. I own an SQ5 same engine as Lucas (I have been also following his thread) I had my pipe made at Windsor Exhaust without the provision for the sensors, I thought this wouldn't be necessary given the DPF delete and having watched the darkside DPF delete video for their A6 bitdi 3.0. It ended up costing $349 with their current workload taking 7 days to make the pipe.



I was also presented with a blocked DPF prior to the tune, had followed Lucas on how he had cleaned his DPF but eventually in time due the nature of my short trips, it again blocked so proceeded with the tune DPF/EGR delete.
Jay had succesfully performed both DPF and EGR delete along with tune however was left with the following errors from VCDS that was unable to resolve. I left the workshop with the car in limp mode obviously keen to get to the bottom of this. I thought these errors were in relation to the DPF being blocked but they still remain after the tune with the DPF and EGR deleted.

2 Faults Found:
11876 - Control Circuit for Turbocharger Inlet Valve
P22CF 00 [175] - Open Circuit
MIL ON - Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 109235 km
Date: 2021.11.10
Time: 14:33:36
Engine RPM: 738.00 /min
Normed load value: 11.8 %
Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
Coolant temperature: 75 °C
Intake air temperature: 26 °C
Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 13.760 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Charge air pressure: actual value: 988.6 hPa

11881 - Control Circuit for Turbocharger Inlet Valve
P22D0 00 [038] - Short to GND
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 2
Mileage: 109235 km
Date: 2021.11.10
Time: 14:34:10
VCDS
Diagnostic Trouble Code Report
Control Module Part Number: 8K5 907 589
Page 2
Engine RPM: 763.00 /min
Normed load value: 6.7 %
Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
Coolant temperature: 76 °C
Intake air temperature: 28 °C
Ambient air pressure: 990 mbar
Voltage terminal 30: 12.020 V
Unlearning counter according OBD: 40
Charge air pressure: actual value: 981.6 hPa

Not much info around these fault codes – I have ran output tests in VCDS for the wastegate actuator on the secondary (top) turbo and electronic actuator on the primary (bottom) turbo and both move as it should. I am just not sure how much travel is required on the secondary turbo.
It's booked in at several workshops around the Hills area to further diagnose.

Also I purchased the 10.25inch from RSNAV – they specialise in making units for AUDI and it’s fully integrated with existing controls including steering wheel. Android auto comes as standard.

S3 Navigation System 10.25" Android 9.0 4GB/64GB for Audi Q3 – RS Nav

All the best with your tune and delete!

[Daniel_M]

Thanks for having a read and for your input mate, look to be in a spot of bother with the car left in limp mode! Mildly worried with what I'm going into next week.

It's booked in at several workshops around the Hills area to further diagnose.

Might be worth also flicking Darkside an email - they were very helpful when I was in touch with them, and may have seen it before.

Also I purchased the 10.25inch from RSNAV – they specialise in making units for AUDI and it’s fully integrated with existing controls including steering wheel. Android auto comes as standard.

These units did look good. I had looked at them back when I first purchased the car, but decided that it didn't seem (to me) like it was a "finished product" yet. Seemed to be a lot of test this, test that, update firmware etc from the owner of the company in a forum I was following at the time. That said, years have passed since then.

The units today look good, I played with one that was nice - wireless Android Auto is also a bonus.. AES/Nathan popping up was opportunistic for me, but very happy with the unit. All MMI and steering wheel buttons work with the unit - only gripe, as above, is the wired Android Auto - which, to be fair, I knew about prior to install.

All the best with your tune and delete!

Thanks - appreciate it! All the best with getting your car back up and running properly too!