Thinking of tuning my A6. Need suggestions!

[agent47]

New to tuning. Need suggestions on ecu flashes and supercharger pulley upgrades. Looking at starting off on these and then go for manifolds and intakes. Need your experiences with different tuners and which ones have been the most hasslefree . All input appreciated. People who have tuned their new cars , how did your experience with the Audi warranty go? Thanks in advance guys!

[MLee]

everyones going to tell you search, this has been talked over a million times. you don't have many choices, its probably apr or giac. depending on your dealer or what breaks, it may or may not be covered. but your warranty is technically voided.

[agent47]

Thats what I thought . I have heard about Stasis also from two Audi dealers around me. Has anybody ran that with good success?

[jrsAudiA6]

New to tuning. Need suggestions on ecu flashes and supercharger pulley upgrades. Looking at starting off on these and then go for manifolds and intakes. Need your experiences with different tuners and which ones have been the most hasslefree . All input appreciated. People who have tuned their new cars , how did your experience with the Audi warranty go? Thanks in advance guys!

I have the GIAC tune up to stage 2 and am extremely happy with the tune. I will be taking it to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana CA. on April 5th to get some straight line performance numbers. This drag strip is finally in operation again and is not far from my house.

[texsun]

There was a recent long-winded discussion of Stasis so no need to rehash. Stick with APR or GIAC. I'm very happy I went with APR Stage 1.

[Cyncris]

New to tuning. Need suggestions on ecu flashes and supercharger pulley upgrades. Looking at starting off on these and then go for manifolds and intakes.

A stage I tune is $1,299
Stage II with pulley is an additional $549
By the time you add manifold, intake and probably exhaust not to mention wheels, tires etc....you are up close to 10k and with no warranty.

If you want to do all that why not just buy a CPO S6? It is faster, wider wheels, V8, and would have a warranty.

[agent47]

I do have an Apr dealer close by. Gonna talk to them for sure. Do you plan on tinkering with the pulley also?

[agent47]

A stage I tune is $1,299
Stage II with pulley is an additional $549
By the time you add manifold, intake and probably exhaust not to mention wheels, tires etc....you are up close to 10k and with no warranty.

If you want to do all that why not just buy a CPO S6? It is faster, wider wheels, V8, and would have a warranty.

I agree with you . As of now I am just thinking of a flash and maybe the pulley. Not sure when or even if I will go with the other stuff since the car is pretty fast even as a stock. Spending close to 10k doesn't come on my charts right now - I have my eyes on the rs7 😎

[agent47]

I do have an Apr dealer close by. Gonna talk to them for sure. Do you plan on tinkering with the pulley also?

[Wusty]

So on this 3.0T supercharged engine, a stage 1 tune really doesn't do that much until higher RPM's IMO. I've been there done that with my previous S4, but when I went stage 2 with the pulley upgrade, it's fast, the pulley upgrade is the trick. IMO, don't even fuss with stage 1, go right to stage 2.

[agent47]

So on this 3.0T supercharged engine, a stage 1 tune really doesn't do that much until higher RPM's IMO. I've been there done that with my previous S4, but when I went stage 2 with the pulley upgrade, it's fast, the pulley upgrade is the trick. IMO, don't even fuss with stage 1, go right to stage 2.

But they would still need me to buy the stage 1 tune and then get the pulley with stage 2, right?

[buzztt]

I have no desire to do this and void my warranty but what hp increase is realistic with tune, pully etc ?

[Wusty]

But they would still need me to buy the stage 1 tune and then get the pulley with stage 2, right?

No, you can straight to Stage 2, you don't need Stage 1 software before getting Stage 2 software and the pulley upgrade.

I have no desire to do this and void my warranty but what hp increase is realistic with tune, pully etc ?

I know man, I said screw it and did it on my 2013 S4 but I'm on the fence about doing it to my A6 although the power increase IS very noticeable. For the C7 A6 APR Stage 2 will net you 108 AWHP & 80 AWTQ!

[agent47]

Same dilemma. I have 79K miles left on the warranty so it does curdle my mind too if I want to void that warranty. But based on what I am hearing and seeing, I might jump the rope and do it!

[agent47]

No, you can straight to Stage 2, you don't need Stage 1 software before getting Stage 2 software and the pulley upgrade.
Wow. When I called a dealer today, he said I'd have to go the stage 1 and then stage 2 route. But he said it can be all done in one session, plus the stage 2 programming is free after a paid stage 1+pulley .


I know man, I said screw it and did it on my 2013 S4 but I'm on the fence about doing it to my A6 although the power increase IS very noticeable. For the C7 A6 APR Stage 2 will net you 108 AWHP & 80 AWTQ!

I am confused as well. Did you ever face any issues after the tune ? Did the dealer point out that your warranty is void and AoA will see the codes logged by the ECU?

[dnbdamian]

Pulley is unnoticeable to the naked eye. Flash back to stock if you have warranty work. Avoid going to the dealer for service unless you have warranty work.

I too have 90k miles left on my cpo a6. But I plan on going stage 2, suspension and intake. Far too much fun not to.

As for going to s6. It's far more than 10k. U will lose 10k just to sales tax you paid for a6 and then again on the s6. Then factor in depreciation of your a6. A cpo s6 with innovation package will still cost around 70k assuming low miles. I'd say it's at least a 20k difference. I thought of doing this as well. Still cheaper to do basic mods.

[agent47]

Pulley is unnoticeable to the naked eye. Flash back to stock if you have warranty work. Avoid going to the dealer for service unless you have warranty work.

I too have 90k miles left on my cpo a6. But I plan on going stage 2, suspension and intake. Far too much fun not to.

As for going to s6. It's far more than 10k. U will lose 10k just to sales tax you paid for a6 and then again on the s6. Then factor in depreciation of your a6. A cpo s6 with innovation package will still cost around 70k assuming low miles. I'd say it's at least a 20k difference. I thought of doing this as well. Still cheaper to do basic mods.

I dont plan on switching to the s6 either. Just working my finances to squeeze in the rs7 . I will talk to another apr dealer today .

[agent47]

Update: Just got off the phone with one of the dealers. He gave me the following quote for a stage 2 (from oem condition) : $1299 for ecu flash+ $75 installation charge. $549 for the pulley and belt + $425 for labor. What are your thoughts on this guys?

[Wusty]

Update: Just got off the phone with one of the dealers. He gave me the following quote for a stage 2 (from oem condition) : $1299 for ecu flash+ $75 installation charge. $549 for the pulley and belt + $425 for labor. What are your thoughts on this guys?

Not a bad price at all.

[MikeDwerks]

With all these comments about "voiding the warranty" you guys do know that it does not simply wipe out your warranty across the board right? It will only come into play if there is a problem with a specific part on the car that could be related to the tune playing a factor. Which comes down to mostly engine internals or possibly transmission. It would not effect all the thousands of other components on the car that are completely unrelated.

[Wusty]

With all these comments about "voiding the warranty" you guys do know that it does not simply wipe out your warranty across the board right? It will only come into play if there is a problem with a specific part on the car that could be related to the tune playing a factor. Which comes down to mostly engine internals or possibly transmission. It would not effect all the thousands of other components on the car that are completely unrelated.

Yes this is realized but all the things one would really want warrantied will not be after a tune has been detected and AOA has marked you TD1. We know that if your windshield wipers break and you're TD1 they'll still cover them but if theirs engine components or tranny issues, SOL.

[agent47]

Yes this is realized but all the things one would really want warrantied will not be after a tune has been detected and AOA has marked you TD1. We know that if your windshield wipers break and you're TD1 they'll still cover them but if theirs engine components or tranny issues, SOL.

I agree with that. It's a tough pill to swallow, but most of the dealers definitely run diagnostics when an engine or tranny issue is reported. And no matter if we reflash to stock before sending the car in, we would still get flagged . One of my pals around here had a tuned s4 worked on for warranty for oil burning issues. Apparently he never got flagged, which might have a lot to do with the dealer or the tech himself. We do have the M-V act on our side, and AoA would have to prove that the issue was caused by the tune only. The real question is, how many of us would be willing to go to courts and if the court would side with us .
The confusion continues

[IanCH]

Guys, get with the program, it has been 100% confirmed that at least with APR flashing the car back to stock at your APR dealer will avoid tune detection completely.

[Wusty]

Guys, get with the program, it has been 100% confirmed that at least with APR flashing the car back to stock at your APR dealer will avoid tune detection completely.

This is true and only confirmed by APR I believe just a few weeks ago.

[agent47]

Guys, get with the program, it has been 100% confirmed that at least with APR flashing the car back to stock at your APR dealer will avoid tune detection completely.

That is some good news. Gonna call APR today and confirm. I'll update you guys . Hopefully we get a positive response

[agent47]

ECS tuning gave me a quote for $819.99 for the stage 2 flash + pulley. All I would need is to get the pulley installed. Not sure if this is authentic though

[Wusty]

ECS tuning gave me a quote for $819.99 for the stage 2 flash + pulley. All I would need is to get the pulley installed. Not sure if this is authentic though

Don't see how this is possible. Flash alone is $1,299.00, pulley is $549.00, labor will be $250-$450, then tax, somethings wrong with your quote.

[buzztt]

Guys, get with the program, it has been 100% confirmed that at least with APR flashing the car back to stock at your APR dealer will avoid tune detection completely.

My big concern would be if the car died, I guess I would have to get it towed to the apr dealer then to the Audi dealer.

Not sure I want to risk getting flagged because I don't have time or it's just not possible to get to the apr dealer, an extra 100hp is really tempting though

[agent47]

Don't see how this is possible. Flash alone is $1,299.00, pulley is $549.00, labor will be $250-$450, then tax, somethings wrong with your quote.

Basically they need me to send my ecu to them for the flash and they would send it back to me with the pulley and the belt. Then I gotta get the pulley put on . So ofcourse the labor charge has to be added. But even then, it seems totally unreal. I asked a sales rep "Brandon" about the price again and again. He confirmed that $819.99 is what I would have to pay. They might just steal my ecu

[buzztt]

How hard was the dealer looking for the tune ? Just wondering if an engine blew whether the dealer would look a little deeper to make sure it hadn't been messed with

[agent47]

How hard was the dealer looking for the tune ? Just wondering if an engine blew whether the dealer would look a little deeper to make sure it hadn't been messed with

As far as I know, a tech runs the ecu scan everytime an engine or tranny issue is reported. And we get a td1 as soon as the ecu scan is run. I haven't talked to apr yet about what our fellow members posted that it can't be detected if a dealer reflashes it to stock.