Mods/Tune on Q5 3.0TDI?

[Gabe B]

I am debating purchasing a 2014-2016 3.0TDI Q5.
I like the economy of it vs a non Diesel and driveability due to the high torque, but would probably tune it and modify it asap as I do prefer fun and quick cars. (I'm coming from an F-Pace S that I am dumping).

Anyone have hard world numbers, 0-60 times, mods and review of tunes, be it a complete tune or a plug-in box type setup?

Thanks in advance.

ps, I was thinking of Leasing a new SQ5 (don't like the 2.0t) with the posh interior, virtual cluster and performance, but at over $60K (US) and a low 20's MPG economy, Google Earth stopping possibly after 2020, as well as worry about warranty I don't think I will lease one.

I could also get a 2015+ S5 3.0t and tune it to SQ5 levels, for less $$, but then lose out on the economy of the diesel.

Decisions...Decisions....

[MMXV8S5]

I'm pricing Q5 TDi's now as well. Interested to see what people have to say.

I've owned two previous, VW, TDi's. IMO they're the best of both worlds. Power & economy. Chipped my Jetta TDi and that thing flew! But, the torque caused me to have to replace front axles on more than one occasion. I also burned through the clutch. Replaced it with an upgraded one that could handle the extra power being put through it.

I'd consider putting a tune on the Q5, but I'd be wary of the consequences of that extra power on other parts.

My 2 cents.

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[Audibot]

I'm starting to get into this for my A6. Once I get my tax refund back, I'll probably be springing for a DPF-delete, intercooler, 4-bar map, and minimum stage 2 tune (probably push the turbo a little harder).

You can find a lot of info on tdiforums. You'll find a handful of folks with the 3.0 TDIs (Q5/7, A6/7/8, Toaureg), but they all seem to be elated. The ZF 8-speed seems to be able to hold a lot of power, so shouldn't have to worry too much about other components. Plus much of the TDI components are beefed up to handle the torque. Most of the tunes restore or improve upon pre-dieselgate mileage numbers in addition to giving a bit more power and/or responsiveness. I've not read of a single person having to replace anything in the drivetrain.

Tuning-wise, there are a few options:
[*]Malone Tuning is likely your best bet. They're really responsive on Facebook too, but you can put in an inquiry. Their website has some numbers and prices for Stage 1/2/3 and some other tuning features. This can be done remotely via their Flashzilla device, but you gotta buy or rent it (or take it to a Malone dealer). Malone is based in BC, Canada.[*]JR something (I forget what) is also Canadian. Idk much about them.[*]Bluespark (or something) that is a UK company provides an external tuning box. It plugs in the fuel rail and can be removed for trips to the dealer. From what I've look at, the power numbers seem lower though. But removability for warranty is there.

To maximize performance, you'll want to do a DPF delete for sure. Rawtek, Inc or Buzzken both have them. Seems pretty straightforward installation for even less saavy folks with basic tools. I read someone with minimal wrenching experience did theirs in a couple hours.

I also plan to get an intercooler from Wagner Tuning to keep that cool charge air coming through.

[MMXV8S5]

I'm starting to get into this for my A6. Once I get my tax refund back, I'll probably be springing for a DPF-delete, intercooler, 4-bar map, and minimum stage 2 tune (probably push the turbo a little harder).

You can find a lot of info on tdiforums. You'll find a handful of folks with the 3.0 TDIs (Q5/7, A6/7/8, Toaureg), but they all seem to be elated. The ZF 8-speed seems to be able to hold a lot of power, so shouldn't have to worry too much about other components. Plus much of the TDI components are beefed up to handle the torque. Most of the tunes restore or improve upon pre-dieselgate mileage numbers in addition to giving a bit more power and/or responsiveness. I've not read of a single person having to replace anything in the drivetrain.

Tuning-wise, there are a few options:
[*]Malone Tuning is likely your best bet. They're really responsive on Facebook too, but you can put in an inquiry. Their website has some numbers and prices for Stage 1/2/3 and some other tuning features. This can be done remotely via their Flashzilla device, but you gotta buy or rent it (or take it to a Malone dealer). Malone is based in BC, Canada.[*]JR something (I forget what) is also Canadian. Idk much about them.[*]Bluespark (or something) that is a UK company provides an external tuning box. It plugs in the fuel rail and can be removed for trips to the dealer. From what I've look at, the power numbers seem lower though. But removability for warranty is there.

To maximize performance, you'll want to do a DPF delete for sure. Rawtek, Inc or Buzzken both have them. Seems pretty straightforward installation for even less saavy folks with basic tools. I read someone with minimal wrenching experience did theirs in a couple hours.

I also plan to get an intercooler from Wagner Tuning to keep that cool charge air coming through.

Thanks.

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[Gabe B]

Thank you. So the 3.0TDI Q5 does not have an intercooler? I definitely would want one then asap.

What does a DPF delete do? Also with these mods and DPF delete, when you go full throttle will it puff black sutt like those crazy trucks do?

[Pittdawg]

Thank you. So the 3.0TDI Q5 does not have an intercooler? I definitely would want one then asap.

It does, I believe he was referring to upgrading the intercooler. I upgraded mine to the Euro BITDI intercooler and am quite happy (check out my signature for all mods). My TDI is quite quick stop light to stop light and for passing on the freeway but it runs out of steam pretty quickly and will never be close to a modified 3.0T in terms of 0-60 or other speed measures.

[Gabe B]

It does, I believe he was referring to upgrading the intercooler. I upgraded mine to the Euro BITDI intercooler and am quite happy (check out my signature for all mods). My TDI is quite quick stop light to stop light and for passing on the freeway but it runs out of steam pretty quickly and will never be close to a modified 3.0T in terms of 0-60 or other speed measures.

Ahh ok. Did you ever track the car, or know real 0-60 or 1/4m times? With a diesel I can't figure 0-60 or 1/4m changes with the tunes as easily as with a petrol car.

[Audibot]

Yes, the TDI has an intercooler, but it's relatively small front mount. Adequate for stock boost but I'm also trying to future-proof, so I want one that is larger to accommodate when I upgrade the turbo down the stretch.

DPF-delete literally deletes the diesel particulate filter. If you pop the hood and take off the engine cover, you can see the turbo connects right to the dpf, which has a MASSIVE restriction in it in order to make the turn. DPF-delete will either replace this with a high flow dpf or remove it altogether, in addition to providing a larger diameter downpipe much of the time. You just have to have it coded out to make advantage of it and stop the car from throwing a fit. But since you're eliminating a large restriction, the turbo is able to spool faster due to the reduced back pressure.

W.r.t. speeds, some dude in the UK has a B8 A4 avant 3.0 TDI modded up. Currently at 500+ hp and 980 Nm torque (~722 lb ft). He managed to get his 0-60 <4 seconds. I believe he's gotten into the 10s 1/4 mile.

[baldy]

Here's what my A6 did on the dyno (wheel HP, not crank) with Malone Stage 2, no delete's... yet. You'll be happy with a remap.

Malone STG2 Dyno copy.jpg

[Audibot]

Were the green numbers stock or stage 1? Or after some tweaking? They about have the same #s as stock but at the crank v wheels (236 hp v 239; 405.5 lb-ft v 406)

But yeah if those are wheel numbers w/o deletes, I can't wait to see them with some deletes.

[Gabe B]

Were the green numbers stock or stage 1? Or after some tweaking? They about have the same #s as stock but at the crank v wheels (236 hp v 239; 405.5 lb-ft v 406)

But yeah if those are wheel numbers w/o deletes, I can't wait to see them with some deletes.

I was going to ask the same. Any 0-60 or 1/4m times.

[Pittdawg]

Ahh ok. Did you ever track the car, or know real 0-60 or 1/4m times? With a diesel I can't figure 0-60 or 1/4m changes with the tunes as easily as with a petrol car.

I haven't. The more popular car enthusiast magazines measured a stock Q5 TDI doing 0-60 in the range of 5.8- 6.5 seconds so a tune should get you somewhere below that range. Close to a stock SQ5 but again nowhere near a tuned SQ5.

[elijahallen]

I had the Q5 TDI before my SQ5, it was a great daily driver and plenty of torque to feel confident to pass etc but even after a tune it was just to slow in the upper rpms and I didn't want to do the DPF delete and puff black smoke all the time so I sold it and bought the SQ5. I average 22mpg in the SQ5, I averaged 29mpg in the TDI. The SQ5 modded does 0-60 in 3.8 sec and high 11 sec quarter, my tuned TDI did 0-60 in 5.2 sec and quarter in 14.9. The extra fuel is worth it to me at this point.

[BarryT82]

My wife and I both had Q5 TDI’s. I had a stage 2 tune on mine and it was quick. Check out MRTuning.ca
Jeff has a Facebook page with a large following. His prices are half of what most places charge.

[EYE4SPEED]

I had both SQ and TDI at the same time. Loved the torque of the TDI, SQ didn’t feel that much quicker.

One consideration is the extended emissions warranty - was going to do a tune once factory warranty expired but now it is partially extended again.


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[Swipple]

Even though it has not been posted you can get a stage 1 tune from GIAC...just did it on my wife's 2015 at the beginning of January.....

[baldy]

Were the green numbers stock or stage 1? Or after some tweaking? They about have the same #s as stock but at the crank v wheels (236 hp v 239; 405.5 lb-ft v 406)

But yeah if those are wheel numbers w/o deletes, I can't wait to see them with some deletes.

Hey, sorry for the delay. Mine is an early 2014 (also after receiving another recall notice from Audi for some emissions components, verified by part number I have Euro emissions components), so that may explain the higher than normal dyno numbers.

Green numbers were stock, other are tuned Stage 2, wheel HP. I may do the deletes, but will most likely change the turbo at the same time. Waiting to hear back on suggestions from Malone.

I was going to ask the same. Any 0-60 or 1/4m times.

No reliable 0-60 times as I haven't run it yet with VCDS, but the stopwatch puts me between 4.9 - 5.1s.

Euro BiTDI intercooler is next on the list, and I'll see if Malone has a tranny tune option in the works like these guys: https://www.etuners.gr/audi-sq5-3-0t...earbox-stage1/

[Pittdawg]

I had both SQ and TDI at the same time. Loved the torque of the TDI, SQ didn’t feel that much quicker.

One consideration is the extended emissions warranty - was going to do a tune once factory warranty expired but now it is partially extended again.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

I have never drove an SQ5 but briefly test drove an S-Line 3.0T when I was car shopping for my now current TDI.

The power delivery is so different it's like comparing apples to oranges. I really enjoyed how the supercharged engine responded immediately to any throttle input, especially full throttle. My observation was it was a quick engine with a nice, relatively linear delivery of power.

Conversely, the TDI takes a second or so for the turbo to spool but after a very brief delay in throttle response it then just shoots you out the hole at warp speed before running out of steam in the higher rpms. It's a completely different driving experience, in terms of acceleration at least.

I ultimately went with the TDI because I felt the mpgs increase outweighed the faster/smoother power delivery of the 3.0T.

While I still standby that decision, I must admit seeing all you 3.0Ts/SQ5s making ridiculous power levels and times at the track inspired me to spend a small fortune making my TDI engine "respectable" in the speed department, at least 0-60.

I am just about satisfied at this point (which we all say shortly before buying are next upgrade, right?)