ABT power upgrade (AEC)

[Mdhavi18]

I was searching around for some reviews on this for either the S4 or S5, but couldn’t really find much. Does anybody have one yet? Or maybe they aren’t readily available in the US?

[Mops@Nemesis]

@tommy@nemesis

[Tommy@Nemesis]

I have it, but its not for sale yet in the US officially. ABT is still evaluating their AEC program for the states and we are also testing the RS3 piggyback for them

[JohnEnglish]

I have it, but its not for sale yet in the US officially. ABT is still evaluating their AEC program for the states and we are also testing the RS3 piggyback for them

How do you like it? Is it something you can install yourself at home? Any issues with dealer servicing?

[Tommy@Nemesis]

How do you like it? Is it something you can install yourself at home? Any issues with dealer servicing?

Def not a DIY unless you are pretty well versed because their piggybacks have a pretty extensive engine harness as well.

We have scanned the car multiple times here at the dealer and no TD1 and no faults ever

It pulls nicely and I've only driven about 200 miles with it, so its not even adapted to its potential yet

[Alex@TAG]

Yup! So we will know by Friday/early next week about if we are going to be selling the ABT Power Upgrades stateside. They are doing some final testing on it and then we will begin the testing on 91 OCT and report back :)

[JohnEnglish]

Def not a DIY unless you are pretty well versed because their piggybacks have a pretty extensive engine harness as well.

We have scanned the car multiple times here at the dealer and no TD1 and no faults ever

It pulls nicely and I've only driven about 200 miles with it, so its not even adapted to its potential yet

Thanks for the feedback. :)

[JohnEnglish]

Yup! So we will know by Friday/early next week about if we are going to be selling the ABT Power Upgrades stateside. They are doing some final testing on it and then we will begin the testing on 91 OCT and report back :)

Reading the ABT site it seems that the piggyback is designed for 98 RON (93 (R+M)/2) octane. Are they testing a 91 (R+M)/2 octane tune?

[Alex@TAG]

Reading the ABT site it seems that the piggyback is designed for 98 RON (93 (R+M)/2) octane. Are they testing a 91 (R+M)/2 octane tune?

They are going to begin testing it once they determine this week if they are going to allow the powerkits/software upgrades to be sold here in the USA.

The primarily details they are working out right now is how they are going to combat the warranty situation. Just like Stasis, Brabus and TechArt - ABT maintains the factory warranty and doesn't "TD1" your vehicle, so they are ironing out how they are going to deal with it. Its been in the works for some time and they are getting close from what they tell me :)

[Tommy@Nemesis]

Reading the ABT site it seems that the piggyback is designed for 98 RON (93 (R+M)/2) octane. Are they testing a 91 (R+M)/2 octane tune?

We have tested all of our piggybacks with 93 octane Shell V-Power with no issues

[JohnEnglish]

We have tested all of our piggybacks with 93 octane Shell V-Power with no issues

I didn't think there would be. I have several stations around me with 93 octane. I was just curious about the comment that they were testing the piggyback on 91 octane and was wondering if they're creating adjusting it for the North American market so it can run on 93 or at lower HP on 91.

[Tommy@Nemesis]

I didn't think there would be. I have several stations around me with 93 octane. I was just curious about the comment that they were testing the piggyback on 91 octane and was wondering if they're creating adjusting it for the North American market so it can run on 93 or at lower HP on 91.

From what I've gathered, they weren't planning on adjusting the tune for a 91 octane program. Maybe they are re-evaluating that though for our market. The purpose of our testing directly with ABT (as told to us), was to see if there 98 RON programming would run flawlessly on US 93 octane. So far so good, so now its a matter of how they will price it, etc.

[JohnEnglish]

From what I've gathered, they weren't planning on adjusting the tune for a 91 octane program. Maybe they are re-evaluating that though for our market. The purpose of our testing directly with ABT (as told to us), was to see if there 98 RON programming would run flawlessly on US 93 octane. So far so good, so now its a matter of how they will price it, etc.

That makes sense. I’ll guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

[Fdvigna]

They are going to begin testing it once they determine this week if they are going to allow the powerkits/software upgrades to be sold here in the USA.

The primarily details they are working out right now is how they are going to combat the warranty situation. Just like Stasis, Brabus and TechArt - ABT maintains the factory warranty and doesn't "TD1" your vehicle, so they are ironing out how they are going to deal with it. Its been in the works for some time and they are getting close from what they tell me :)

Any updates regarding this? thanks.

[Tommy@Nemesis]

Any updates regarding this? thanks.

Not yet, but I have another thread going in the RS3 section gauging interest in that AEC. I'm going to have ABT join the conversation hopefully and see if we can make a push!

[JohnEnglish]

I'm planning to order a RS5 Sportback when they become available. I'd be very interested in ABT selling their RS5 piggyback here too.

[MrSkimo]

@Tommy@Nemesis - what was the results of your testing with 91 Octane? I got one for my S5 B9 Sportback for Christmas. The only problem is that we only have 90 Octane available in Alaska. I was told not to install with less than 91 as it hadn’t been tested. Did you see a reduction in power? Did it work at all?

I am still planning to install it, but trying to decide how to deal with octane problem. Planning to start with Torco, but I am enticed with water/methanol injection for ease of use. Would love to hear what you guys learned.

[Tommy@Nemesis]

@Tommy@Nemesis - what was the results of your testing with 91 Octane? I got one for my S5 B9 Sportback for Christmas. The only problem is that we only have 90 Octane available in Alaska. I was told not to install with less than 91 as it hadn’t been tested. Did you see a reduction in power? Did it work at all?

I am still planning to install it, but trying to decide how to deal with octane problem. Planning to start with Torco, but I am enticed with water/methanol injection for ease of use. Would love to hear what you guys learned.

We were never able to test with anything less than 93 octane. IMO the 93 octane was a requirement to get these to work with US gas as they were developed using the EU RON ratings.
Did they vendor you got it from say they got the ok from ABT to run it?

[MrSkimo]

My wife bought it for me as a surprise, so didn’t really know the questions to ask. Dealer was out of State - none here. When I asked dealer after I got it, he said it would be fine - just wouldn’t develop as much power. I talked to ABT directly and they told me not to install without at least 91. ABT suggested trying it while monitoring engine to see if there were problems.

So, did they not allow you to try it with lower octane gas, or you just didn’t get to it?

[Tommy@Nemesis]

My wife bought it for me as a surprise, so didn’t really know the questions to ask. Dealer was out of State - none here. When I asked dealer after I got it, he said it would be fine - just wouldn’t develop as much power. I talked to ABT directly and they told me not to install without at least 91. ABT suggested trying it while monitoring engine to see if there were problems.

So, did they not allow you to try it with lower octane gas, or you just didn’t get to it?

We never tried it because at the time it was strictly to be used on 93 octane or more. It was engineering with 98 RON which equates to 93 octane

[MrSkimo]

Got it. Thanks. Well, I will post here after I do some testing on 90 octane. I will be quite careful.

The problem with a black box tune like this is I can’t really adjust for other parameters like w/mi,

[MrSkimo]

I was waiting for the weather to warm up and the streets to dry, but I finally got the ABT AEC installed. The instructions said it would take about an hour - took me more like four, but I could do it again in that time (am providing ABT with some feedback on the translation that may help others). The ABT America folks were great, and really responsive. I’m glad I did it myself, as now I know how to remove and reinstall in case I have to take it to the dealer.

ABT had no experience with customers using water/meth injection. After talking with the distributor, I figured the dangers of an injection failure, or running out of meth outweighed the advantages. I opted to mix with Torco Accelerator. The Torco guys confirmed my math - 12 ounces raises 10 gallons of 90 to 93. Now I just carry around a bottle of Torco and a graduated funnel for refueling.

I just installed, so the ECU is still learning - but I can already tell a huge difference in the butt dyno. I did notice an Immediate increase in mpg as well. I haven’t seen a published 0-60 time with this unit, but I hope to take it the drag races this summer, as well as get it dynoed. Will post results.


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[zoomzoom!]

All these piggybacks are tacit admission that no one is going to crack the ECU. The tuning scene, at least directly via the ECU, might be over.

[chris@kmd]

All these piggybacks are tacit admission that no one is going to crack the ECU. The tuning scene, at least directly via the ECU, might be over.

Not necessarily true. There are bench flashes available. Some tuners say they are close but nothing official yet.

[911 Flavors]

I have had the ABT piggyback installed on a 2019 RS5 Sportback for a couple of months now (it was done by KMD Tuning in NJ -- I wasn't going to try to install an additional radiator). The improved performance is very noticeable and there are no issues whatsoever (the car is still very smooth and there's no overheating). I highly recommend the upgrade and Danny from KMD Tuning (it looks like ABT is running a 20% discount on parts -- but that expires at the end of day today). Even if someone cracks the ECU, I am not sure how you can significantly increase the horsepower of the car without some additional cooling (but then again I am not a mechanic).

[chris@kmd]

I have had the ABT piggyback installed on a 2019 RS5 Sportback for a couple of months now (it was done by KMD Tuning in NJ -- I wasn't going to try to install an additional radiator). The improved performance is very noticeable and there are no issues whatsoever (the car is still very smooth and there's no overheating). I highly recommend the upgrade and Danny from KMD Tuning (it looks like ABT is running a 20% discount on parts -- but that expires at the end of day today). Even if someone cracks the ECU, I am not sure how you can significantly increase the horsepower of the car without some additional cooling (but then again I am not a mechanic).

Awesome! So glad you're enjoying the power upgrade. I spoke with Abt and they were happy to hear that as well.

I showed this to Danny and and he, along with the rest of us here certainly appreciate the recommendation. And when it comes to cracking the ECU, you are spot on. Even if someone does do it, more than likely additional cooling will be required due to the twin turbo.

- Chris

[zoomzoom!]

Not necessarily true. There are bench flashes available. Some tuners say they are close but nothing official yet.

Respectfully, we're been hearing "we're close" for over a year now.

[Dais0948]

I have had the ABT piggyback installed on a 2019 RS5 Sportback for a couple of months now (it was done by KMD Tuning in NJ -- I wasn't going to try to install an additional radiator). The improved performance is very noticeable and there are no issues whatsoever (the car is still very smooth and there's no overheating). I highly recommend the upgrade and Danny from KMD Tuning (it looks like ABT is running a 20% discount on parts -- but that expires at the end of day today). Even if someone cracks the ECU, I am not sure how you can significantly increase the horsepower of the car without some additional cooling (but then again I am not a mechanic).

We never tried it because at the time it was strictly to be used on 93 octane or more. It was engineering with 98 RON which equates to 93 octane

Tommy, did you ever track test the kit or try out Draggy?