Audi S3 8V ECU upgrades

[Remarcabull]

I didn't think they would do that? interesting.

Seems like you have done your home work like me! last thing I want is something going wrong, as this is the first car I have tuned I don't think a $5000 repair and warranty void would go down well with the missus! (that's a lot of shoes she could have bought!)

Posting here my original comment as APR Admins on OzAudi are changing it so people don't hear about it. Wouldn't normally do this, but find this quite amazing that they would censor comments on an "open" forum!

I am particularly interested in this thread as I am most likely going to buy an S3 in the next couple of months (need to convince my first wife that we need a 2.0 TFSI and not just a 1.8 TFSI…).

I am definitely going to tune it, no matter what Audi I am getting. Being an Audi driver for almost 10 years, all of which I bought at the same dealership, so I know a few people there. I spoke to the Service Manager at the Sydney dealership to feel him out a bit about tuning the car and he said Audi recommends ABT. German brand which already has close ties with Audi over in Europe, you can even buy/get it installed directly at the dealership in Sydney. So I looked into it and after countless hours of research, that is the tune I am going to get. Apparently they are a bit like what AMG is to Mercedes, they are for Audi & VW. Their prices are higher than what other tuners charge, but in my opinion that has to do with the quality of the system.

I also asked about the faulty turbo problem which is mentioned in a couple of forums/threads incl. this one, and he said there is no known problem to Audi with any turbos Australia wide! He even went and checked the international database to see if Audi might have had problems in other countries, no entry. So it looks to me like the blown up turbos have to do with the APR tune people put on their cars so please be careful.

[jonoz]

Posting here my original comment as APR Admins on OzAudi are changing it so people don't hear about it. Wouldn't normally do this, but find this quite amazing that they would censor comments on an "open" forum!

I am particularly interested in this thread as I am most likely going to buy an S3 in the next couple of months (need to convince my first wife that we need a 2.0 TFSI and not just a 1.8 TFSI…).

I am definitely going to tune it, no matter what Audi I am getting. Being an Audi driver for almost 10 years, all of which I bought at the same dealership, so I know a few people there. I spoke to the Service Manager at the Sydney dealership to feel him out a bit about tuning the car and he said Audi recommends ABT. German brand which already has close ties with Audi over in Europe, you can even buy/get it installed directly at the dealership in Sydney. So I looked into it and after countless hours of research, that is the tune I am going to get. Apparently they are a bit like what AMG is to Mercedes, they are for Audi & VW. Their prices are higher than what other tuners charge, but in my opinion that has to do with the quality of the system.

I also asked about the faulty turbo problem which is mentioned in a couple of forums/threads incl. this one, and he said there is no known problem to Audi with any turbos Australia wide! He even went and checked the international database to see if Audi might have had problems in other countries, no entry. So it looks to me like the blown up turbos have to do with the APR tune people put on their cars so please be careful.

Mate whilst I agree and I have come to a conclusion about which tune I believe Brockster had, plainly based upon him getting the exhaust done at the same time but there have been instances of turbos going on stock cars I believe.

Also, no dealer is going to tell you openly that there is a "known" problem... Guy from Harding Performance has already put up some info on instances of the turbos going internationally so I think you are being lead down the rabbit hole...

[Brockster]

Your car sounds great. I'm quietly envious. I head back to work in Sydney next week and will make inquiries. I'm hoping my decision to go for a smaller cheaper car doesn't continue to burn me. Happy New Year.


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[jonoz]

So is there any talk about just upgrading the turbo and completely skipping this potential issue? I have zero exposure to Euro modding but has anyone asked the question at all just via email?

[AdamD]

I also asked about the faulty turbo problem which is mentioned in a couple of forums/threads incl. this one, and he said there is no known problem to Audi with any turbos Australia wide! He even went and checked the international database to see if Audi might have had problems in other countries, no entry. So it looks to me like the blown up turbos have to do with the APR tune people put on their cars so please be careful.

Newton, welcome to VWW.

As per what was mentioned on ozAudi, this issue is not specific to APR, or to any other tuner - there have been numerous instances of failures of stock, totally-unmodified cars both here and overseas. Although it's unfortunate if the ozAudi admins are moderating your posts, they may feel it's warranted if you're suggesting these failures are down to APR when the evidence from overseas and Australian forums clearly indicates this is not the case.

Here is some stuff you may like to read:
2014 Audi S3, Golf R and Leon Cupra Developing Turbo Problems - autoevolution
7R just died today on side of freeway
R mk7 Turbo failure! - VW Golf R MK7 Chat - VW R Owners Club
S3 Turbo issues reported | Audi-Sport.net
Cupra /S3 /Golf R turbo problems

[AdamD]

So is there any talk about just upgrading the turbo and completely skipping this potential issue? I have zero exposure to Euro modding but has anyone asked the question at all just via email?

This new 3rd generation EA888 has the turbo housing as an integrated part of the exhaust manifold; it's no longer simply a case of bolting on a new turbo. Aftermarket companies are working on replacement manifolds/housings, but nothing's yet available. Last I heard it's probably another 6-12 months until they start to appear on the market.

[jonoz]

This new 3rd generation EA888 has the turbo housing as an integrated part of the exhaust manifold; it's no longer simply a case of bolting on a new turbo. Aftermarket companies are working on replacement manifolds/housings, but nothing's yet available. Last I heard it's probably another 6-12 months until they start to appear on the market.

I hit up Torquetronix who said they are working on a hybrid solution that will bring it up to 430BHP but no ETA.

[AdamD]

I hit up Torquetronix who said they are working on a hybrid solution that will bring it up to 430BHP but no ETA.

The big issue for turbo development (and tuners) is that with this new integrated design, manifold and turbo temps are much higher than they were previously, which is having an impact on turbo stresses and life in some cases. The new design also means these cars run much leaner AFRs stock at high RPM than they used to as well; it's super-efficient and there's good power stock, but clearly there are also technical challenges around dealing with heat management.

I read that the first few dyno operators running stock Golf Rs and S3s were s**tting themselves with the AFRs they were seeing, thinking the cars were about to blow on the dyno!

[nat225]

The 118tsi runs so lean and a lot of them have had failed compression. The new mk7 R also runs lean and with high EGT plus much higher oil temp, and some have failed. All this to comply with the Euro 6 emission requirements... no doubt great for petrol use and efficiency BUT not great when it does go wrong when you are on a long distance trip!

In fact before my wife's golf mk6 118tsi broke, i had planned to drive it for a return trip Syd-Melb, but the missus preferred the other car.

A few hundred k's trip on the 118tsi, after we were back to Syd, it happened.

[Guy_H]

Posting here my original comment as APR Admins on OzAudi are changing it so people don't hear about it. Wouldn't normally do this, but find this quite amazing that they would censor comments on an "open" forum!

I am particularly interested in this thread as I am most likely going to buy an S3 in the next couple of months (need to convince my first wife that we need a 2.0 TFSI and not just a 1.8 TFSI…).

I am definitely going to tune it, no matter what Audi I am getting. Being an Audi driver for almost 10 years, all of which I bought at the same dealership, so I know a few people there. I spoke to the Service Manager at the Sydney dealership to feel him out a bit about tuning the car and he said Audi recommends ABT. German brand which already has close ties with Audi over in Europe, you can even buy/get it installed directly at the dealership in Sydney. So I looked into it and after countless hours of research, that is the tune I am going to get. Apparently they are a bit like what AMG is to Mercedes, they are for Audi & VW. Their prices are higher than what other tuners charge, but in my opinion that has to do with the quality of the system.

I also asked about the faulty turbo problem which is mentioned in a couple of forums/threads incl. this one, and he said there is no known problem to Audi with any turbos Australia wide! He even went and checked the international database to see if Audi might have had problems in other countries, no entry. So it looks to me like the blown up turbos have to do with the APR tune people put on their cars so please be careful.

Newton, I'm terribly sorry, but you are horribly mis-informed. There have certainly been 4 S3's that have their turbo chargers replaced in Brisbane alone in the last 12 months (that I personally know of), that is directly from the tech's in the dealerships who are paid to replace them.

Audi (as well as Volkswagen) are on a complete information lockdown of course. They have learnt a fair bit from their DSG "bad press" and are handling this accordingly.

If you are curious. Call Audi & ask if they have stock for your S3 turbocharger in Australia

You seem to have an ulterior motive in posting believing APR is responsible for blowing up stock cars, but I'm certainly willing to talk to you and hear your concerns. I would appreciate you calling me to discuss (office number 1300 730 949 - ask for Guy).

And no, ABT is not related to Audi at all. Any dealership can add "after-market" parts to any vehicle they see fit, but there is no co-operation between Audi Australia (or Germany) and ABT regarding warranty.

You can check this by writing an email to AUDI customer service, you will get a very nice reply with the correct answer.

Any warranty offered would be by ABT & the dealer, so you would need to read the warranty PDS carefully & make your mind up!

That's sucks, I feel your pain, I was worried at first before getting mine done, but I decided to spend a little more for warranty and go with ABT. Hope it all goes well for you and they fix it all up and it doesn't cost you too much, how do you think its looking with the dealer covering the part for warranty? This car tuned smashes those V8s and even with amazing fuel economy! Ive been lucky enough to come across a HSV GTS, AMG C63, Evo 9 and Audi RS4 2014 model and beat them all, closest one was the RS4 but still couldn't keep up.

I had about 20 back to back runs on the Audi dyno in their new service station in Sydney on Wednesday, and the power was so consistant, only about 4 hp difference between highest and lowest (hottest/coldest temps) with my ABT tune, realistically you will get about 5-8 kw more on the road as road speed has such a better wind speed though the intercooler and radiator, in winter I will definitely get another 10kw as well.

Let us know what dyno you used when you get a chance keen to see the results, also did you get it dynoed with the stage 2, but then it blew up on the road?

Remarcabull, glad your ride is going well! Can you please post up the dyno's. Of particular technical interest is the Air Fuel ratios of stock vs modified, and as you know - it's been a topic of much interest in how the tune / interceptor / auxiliary ECU handles boost & fuel.

20 dyno runs sounds like you have a good turbo, just like my golf R (over 260 dyno runs and 20+ drag runs), and my turbo is still going strong.

I have formed a theory on which turbos will go now and why others don't (not tune related) but that's another topic!