APR or GIAC for a tune?

[cobrar97]

When looking at a Stage 1 tune, I see there's APR and GIAC (as far as the most popular choices go).
Is one any better/worse than the other. Any benefits of one versus another?
Does anyone know the HP/TQ comparison?

[Valyr]

I have the GIAC stage 1. Extremely pleased, major performance increase, smooth, averaging 1.5 mpg more. GIAC has a sale going now too and I have had no CEL or other issues recently reported with APR.

[cobrar97]

I have the GIAC stage 1. Extremely pleased, major performance increase, smooth, averaging 1.5 mpg more. GIAC has a sale going now too and I have had no CEL or other issues recently reported with APR.

What's the sale?

[q5 dave]

Oh man not this question again.... do you like pepsi or coke? anyway I'd suggest GIAC only because there is no gossip/no drama about them, everyone just has compliments.

I had a stage 1 tune scheduled today but I put it off so I can do an exhaust, tints, tune in one day. Now I wish I would've at least got the tune lol.


Anyway the guys at GIAC told me its $1080 for the 93 and 100 octane tune as well as a stock mode/valet mode with a handheld switcher.

[Pepper SQ5]

I've been leaning towards the Unitronic software. Haven't pulled the trigger yet since I'm doing coilovers first.

http://www.unitronic-chipped.com/ecu...015-stage1plus

[Silverarrow240]

I've been leaning towards the Unitronic software. Haven't pulled the trigger yet since I'm doing coilovers first.

http://www.unitronic-chipped.com/ecu...015-stage1plus

Yeah I was thinking the same... Plus the guys who put in my springs are a AD for Unitronic. I'd go to stage 1+...but again I'm not doing anything additional until next year... Except for the carbon fiber bezel I got to go around nav screen from OSIR...

[tmoe]

I've got apr havent had an issue but if you have a GIAC dealer close looks like they have better PR these days and support. AWE and one of their dealers would be a very sound choice!

[Jay337]

go unitronic..
http://www.unitronic-chipped.com/ecu...TFSI-2014-2015

[rcastillejos]

I have the GIAC stage 1. Extremely pleased, major performance increase, smooth, averaging 1.5 mpg more. GIAC has a sale going now too and I have had no CEL or other issues recently reported with APR.

Where did you get your tune done at?

[cobrar97]

go unitronic..
http://www.unitronic-chipped.com/ecu...TFSI-2014-2015

I've been hearing more and more about Unitronic. I don't understand the attraction...since the numbers are lower than GIAC. Is there something I'm missing about it?

[Jay337]

Numbers are only a reference trust me, they are conservative, they dont want tp sell you something that will be hard to get.... I had unitronic on all of my car... Pulled better number than the website numbera.. Never had an issue. Thats a no brainer for me...

[osideaudi]

well the numbers any company provides are usually under the most ideal conditions. I have GIAC in the SQ5 and APR in the TT and haven't had any issues with either. Theres a lot of debate to which is the best but I'd say go with whichever one is having a sale at the time of purchase :)

[tmoe]

Where did you get your tune done at?

Komet Motorsport is AWE/GIAC St. Charles is solid tuning shop.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Komet...073450?fref=ts

[LINDW4LL]

APR is fine but I'd rather give my business to GIAC.

[Silverarrow240]

I'm not seeing a GIAC tune for SQ... am I missing it?

[cobrar97]

I'm not seeing a GIAC tune for SQ... am I missing it?

It's available...just not listed on the site. Both Stage 1 and 2 are available at this point. You have to get info from your ECU to make sure the files they have written are good-to-go. If not, they will write the appropriate files as needed.

[Valyr]

KometMotorsports in St. Charles did mine.

[cobrar97]

Has anyone had any experience with REVO tunes? The number look good anyhow:

http://www.revotechnik.com/product-d.../stage-1-plus/

[q5 dave]

I've been hearing more and more about Unitronic. I don't understand the attraction...since the numbers are lower than GIAC. Is there something I'm missing about it?

Unitronic is planning to allow people to tune from home, they're calling it Uniconnect. They hyped it up last fall but they've yet to release it....

There is also EP labs, and you can tune it from home while your on the phone with them. Some of the S4 guys are using it.

[Jay337]

anyone here know if the sq5 can be flagged with the td1 code ?

[q5 dave]

anyone here know if the sq5 can be flagged with the td1 code ?

its not a model specific thing. TD1 is possible on all tuned audi's

[Pepper SQ5]

anyone here know if the sq5 can be flagged with the td1 code ?

ANY Audi/VW can be flagged. Before you EVER take it in for ANYTHING have it flashed back to stock.

[QUBE5]

ANY Audi/VW can be flagged. Before you EVER take it in for ANYTHING have it flashed back to stock.

That won't protect you. Audi will see that the car was previously flashed in the vehicle's log. The only way to avoid it is to swap ECUs and that isn't easy since the immobilizer has to be reprogrammed each time.

Basically, if you flash a tune to your ECU, your going to be flagged TD1 by Audi if you bring your car to a dealership and they plug into your ECU, whether you reflash it back to stock or not. Everything transmits back to Audi in Germany once the vehicle is hooked up.

[LINDW4LL]

That won't protect you.

Yes it does. Being flashed fully back to stock prevents you from being flagged TD1 (for now).

Of course you should always assume the worst in case a new detection method is implemented. I feel pretty good about the SQ's powertrain reliability, regardless.


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[QUBE5]

Yes it does. Being flashed fully back to stock prevents you from being flagged TD1 (for now).

Of course you should always assume the worst in case a new detection method is implemented. I feel pretty good about the SQ's powertrain reliability, regardless.


Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

Are you an Audi Service Tech? Have you tested this? How are you so certain?

I've heard from multiple sources that it WILL NOT PROTECT YOU since the ECU will log the previous flashes.

There are a number of threads on Audizine from people who have been flagged TD1 despite flashing back to stock. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...e-to-APR-flash

BTW, Audi now compares the ECU's programming with the OEM flash and if it is not exact you'll have issues.(a reflash back to stock is still not exactly the same as the original OEM flash)..... check out some info I found...

[LINDW4LL]

Hundreds, if not thousands, of AZ members use this method with success. It works, I'm not here to debate it, just to correct misinformation.

In your thread above, he simply switched to stock MODE instead of actually being FLASHED back to stock. Huge difference- yes, you will get detected if you're just in "stock mode".


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[QUBE5]

Please provide a few posts of the thousands that it has worked for then(flashing back to stock and then AoA performing warranty work). Should be easy if thousands have posted, like your stating.

BTW, you can't just say it works and by saying those simple words proves it.....provide evidence..... thousands of posts should make it very simple to provide several examples of how it works.

The truth is even flashing back to stock doesn't guarantee that the ECU will be identical to the original ECU OEM programming and even the slightest deviation will cause you to be flagged TD1. The dealership won't share with the car owner that they have been flagged until it comes to warranty work, then AoA will decline covering it and your SOL.

This is the reason why so many tuners around the world have started using piggy-back systems. If flashing back to stock always works then why are all the big tuners outside of the US stepping away from flashing?

[Silverarrow240]

This issue is a huge debate... based on a conversation with the Shop foreman... They can tell; flashed back or not. However, it is up to them to report it to AoA, and they were told to ignore it now because of lost business.

YMMV, but for me, my dealer has my back on this, so that's what will influence my eventual decision. I, of course ask again before I bite the bullet (whenever that may be), and will reevaluate if necessary... To each is own, but without another letter from Audi, or everyone of us talking to our local dealer to confirm, it's he said/she said and this can turn into a huge debate...

BUT I now have my popcorn and am ready...

[q5 dave]

Please provide a few posts of the thousands that it has worked for then(flashing back to stock and then AoA performing warranty work). Should be easy if thousands have posted, like your stating.

BTW, you can't just say it works and by saying those simple words proves it.....provide evidence..... thousands of posts should make it very simple to provide several examples of how it works.

The truth is even flashing back to stock doesn't guarantee that the ECU will be identical to the original ECU OEM programming and even the slightest deviation will cause you to be flagged TD1. The dealership won't share with the car owner that they have been flagged until it comes to warranty work, then AoA will decline covering it and your SOL.

This is the reason why so many tuners around the world have started using piggy-back systems. If flashing back to stock always works then why are all the big tuners outside of the US stepping away from flashing?

your previous post says piggy backing can also cause TD1? This topic has been covered extensively throughout all the subforums, it's hard to search for but browse around the b8 and c7 forums. Theres alot of good info there.

Bottom line- if you tune assume TD1.

Obviously being flagged is not preferable but it doesn't mean your banned from visiting the dealer, Audi techs just have to get approval before completing any warranty work.

[LINDW4LL]

This issue is a huge debate... based on a conversation with the Shop foreman... They can tell; flashed back or not. However, it is up to them to report it to AoA, and they were told to ignore it now because of lost business.

BUT I now have my popcorn and am ready...

There used to be discretion involved as I understand it, but the technicians are now required to plug the car into the Audi computer and run a spec/actual test which checks the ECU for tampering, before any warranty work is approved by Audi Germany. If you are tuned at the time of the test, it will automatically report that to Audi and you'll be marked TD1 on Audi GmbH's servers.

[Silverarrow240]

There used to be discretion involved as I understand it, but the technicians are now required to plug the car into the Audi computer and run a spec/actual test which checks the ECU for tampering, before any warranty work is approved by Audi Germany. If you are tuned at the time of the test, it will automatically report that to Audi and you'll be marked TD1 on Audi GmbH's servers.

Just literally sent this tpost to my friend who is master tech at Audi... He confirmed that this is 100% true...

BUT he said it doesn't mean it will kick back and void the claim...

I still view tunes currently as a gamble... Hope it changes by spring 2016 so I can unitronic.

[QUBE5]

your previous post says piggy backing can also cause TD1?

True, but the reason most tuners, outside the US, are transitioning to piggy-back systems is because they can be removed much easier and without modifying the ECU, which can lead directly to TD1 flagging. However, most of these tuners are also providing a warranty themselves since there is no guarantee that Audi won't pick up on the piggy-back tune eventually, even if it's removed prior to a dealership visit.

Bottom line- if you tune assume TD1.

Ultimately, your advice it probably the best....err on the side of caution and assume the worse.

[q5 dave]

This was just posted in the S4 forums, good info

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...aight-from-AoA!

[SQ57]

This is sweet, Gents!

[SQ57]

So nobody digs?
I mean this is really sweet.

[q5 dave]

So nobody digs?
I mean this is really sweet.

Bob glad you got tuned. Did you go stage 1 or 2?

Im really enjoying my extra power as well👍

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[sliu6122]

This is sweet, Gents!

x2

btw I'm saving more gas while cruising also!

Otherwise my mpg is 7 lol

For sq5 owners u need to at least go stage 2. If you do not, don't even do it as the gains are so small On 91.

[SQ57]

Hello Gents,
Das ist sweet, indeed!
Went Einz for now, and feel the power and torque boost, all smooth and very strong actually . As the shop guy said, you kinda visualize the graph in your mind as you push the pedal to the metal. And I only took it up to hundert maybe(due to the spacers/vibration issue).
Average MPG reading was all over, but once it I put few miles on it it stabilized. I mean you get your 14 while playing in town, and your upper twanzig while cruising the highway, only now with more aplomb.
As far as GIAC shows, stage 1 is the MOST noticeable, as you get a solid 70 HP AWP or so. And so far it seems very much so.
Stage zwo adds some(20-30) too, but the main gain is over einz in this case. Which is the other way, with the "other" company.
So for now, I'm happy at einz! For now... Pulley kit is some 800$(bit more than the "other" 500$ pulley).
You guys know the little children's (with Big German cars)song:
"Einz, zwei,
Polizei!"

Funny, cause is true,they say!
Ciuss,
Bob

PS: now ROC Euro intake make sense.

[kevin99]

Has anyone blown up an engine that was tuned. I have never heard of any problems the tuning may cause. My local dealer Phfaff has a tuning shop so correct me if I am wrong but I have never heard of engine problems while reading Audi forums for years.

Comments welcomed

[Manoloiv]

Giac Stage 2 + 103 octane, you'll never look back !