B8 A4 Engine Swap Options

[tocqueville]

Hi all,

I have a 2012 A4 Avant S-Line, 8spd automatic ZF8HP55 with 169,000KM, engine is running good with oil consumption. I drive average 35,000km per year, hopefully I can drive it for another 2-3 years.

Anyway, I am doing research and wondering what's the available options for engine swap. I assumed transmission needs to be swapped if I use a S4, SQ5 S5 or RS5 engine, can someone confirm that? I already did a some research online, however information I found was bit and piece, and mostly on 8.5 swap. So I hope to start this thread to help myself and anyone who wants to do a engine swap on their A4 in the future.

I am not planning to do a manual swap, since there is no handbrake on Audi :(

Beside the engine and transmission, what else do I need? ECU, TCU..........etc

Please correct me if I am wrong

1. CAEB - A4 B8 (Typ 8K; 2008–2012) (no transmission swap)

2. CPMB - A4B8 (Typ 8K; 2013–2016) (no transmission swap)

3. CAKA - S4/SQ5 V6 (Typ 8K, 2009–2016)

4. CALA/CAUA - S5 V8 B8/8T (2007–2012)

5. CAUA - S5 B8.5/8.5T V8 (2013–2017)

6. CFSA - RS5 V8 (2010–2015)

[Avantmaniac]

For sure you can fit with the S4 B8/8.5 and even you can do facelift to B 8.5, it has been done by couple of shops in US.

Pacific German in Orange County, California in the west coast, I forgot the other shop's name in the east coast.

All other engines you mentioned, I'm not sure as fitting, etc might be an issue.

[Avantmaniac]

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...Pacific-German

[tocqueville]

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...Pacific-German

I already saw that, but there's no much technical information on the swap. For example what need to be change using VCDS.

[Theiceman]

have you considered rebuilding your own engine ?

I did mine , it was a third car so I was not under pressure but it was very rewarding.

[Theiceman]

what kind of dollars/ km are you looking at on these engines and how do you know they don't have oil burning issues etc

[tocqueville]

what kind of dollars/ km are you looking at on these engines and how do you know they don't have oil burning issues etc

I was thinking rebuild my engine when it fail too. I want something a little bit faster, probably around 350-400hp, that's why I am thinking S4 conversion. K04 seems a little expensive, turbo + downpipe + tune probably around $5000.

My budget is around CAD $10000-15000, I will try to find a rear ended car with low kms. My friend owns a bodyshop, so he can help me on the swap. So it's really depends, swapping the engine and transmission should be easy, I am more worried about the computer/electronics compatibility.

For oil consumption, if it's less than 0.5qt every 6000km, I am happy. I came from EVO X and mini, those engines burn oil too. haha

[Theiceman]

if you are dropping in an engine 3.0 is the way to go . im sure mechanically it will be easy as they come that way , but yeah i would think you want the ecu also

[tocqueville]

if you are dropping in an engine 3.0 is the way to go . im sure mechanically it will be easy as they come that way , but yeah i would think you want the ecu also

That's exactly the information I am looking for, I just couldn't find any wiring/ECU/TCU related information on the Internet.


Plan C is getting Intergrated Engineering Assembled Race Engines. lol

https://www.performancebyie.com/ie-2...-cylinder-head
https://www.performancebyie.com/ie-t...rt-short-block

[studioRS]

Here's a 3.0T swap in an Avant by GMG Racing, quite the project.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...-Avant!!/page7


...and this 3.0T swap is a little more detailed with the process and photos. Love that he kept the 2.0T badge on the back =)

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...-S4-Conversion

[TwinTipSkier]

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...4-2-S5-V8-swap

https://www.best-performance.pl/

If you speak polish, talk to those guys. I'd mess with it... But those guys have some serious fab skills.

[Bhamby]

Hi all,

I have a 2012 A4 Avant S-Line, 8spd automatic ZF8HP55 with 169,000KM, engine is running good with oil consumption. I drive average 35,000km per year, hopefully I can drive it for another 2-3 years.

Anyway, I am doing research and wondering what's the available options for engine swap. I assumed transmission needs to be swapped if I use a S4, SQ5 S5 or RS5 engine, can someone confirm that? I already did a some research online, however information I found was bit and piece, and mostly on 8.5 swap. So I hope to start this thread to help myself and anyone who wants to do a engine swap on their A4 in the future.

I am not planning to do a manual swap, since there is no handbrake on Audi :(

Beside the engine and transmission, what else do I need? ECU, TCU..........etc

Please correct me if I am wrong

1. CAEB - A4 B8 (Typ 8K; 2008–2012) (no transmission swap)

2. CPMB - A4B8 (Typ 8K; 2013–2016) (no transmission swap)

3. CAKA - S4/SQ5 V6 (Typ 8K, 2009–2016)

4. CALA/CAUA - S5 V8 B8/8T (2007–2012)

5. CAUA - S5 B8.5/8.5T V8 (2013–2017)

6. CFSA - RS5 V8 (2010–2015)

I was thinking of doing a rs3 engine swap on my Audi A5 but have found no information on it or if it’s even possible.

[Smac770]

That list seems to have some issues with it.

The relevant B8 2.0T engines should be well enough known at this point. As for the 3.0T supercharged, what I see is (from a US products perspective):

first wave, EA837 gen 3

2009-2011 C6 A6, 300hp CCAA (EU version CAJA)
2010-2012 B8.0 S4 sedan / S5 cabriolet, 333hp CCBA (EU version CAKA)
2011-2013 4L Q7 S-line, 333hp CJWB (EU version CJTB)
2011-2012 4L Q7, 272hp CJWC (EU version CJTC)
2012-2013 4L Q7, 280hp CJWE (mixed info on if the 2012 had the 272 or 280 version)

Other codes you might run across would be CHMA (China A6/A7), CHMB (China A5), CNAA (China Q7).

second wave - modified for stop/start and for no more power steering pump

2012-2013 C7 A6, 310hp CGXB (EU version CGWB/CGWD; CGWA was EU A8)
2013 B8.5 S4/S5, 333hp CGXC (EU version CGWC)
2013 B8.5 Q5, 272hp CGXD (EU version CMUA, which could also be had on the A4/A5 there)

third wave - EA837 gen 4 (evo) - this was a fuel efficiency and emissions reduction effort to meet the EU 6 W standards starting in 2014. magnetic disengagement clutch for the supercharger, and full port and direction injection, but only on the EU engines (CREx).

2014-2017 C7 A6/A7, 310hp CTUA
2014-2016/2017 B8.5 S4/S5, 333hp CTUB (US D4 A8 2013-2017 also used this)
2014-2017 B8.5 Q5, 272hp CTUC
2014-2017 B8.5 SQ5, 354hp CTUD
2014-2015 4L Q7 S-line, 333hp CTWA
2014-2015 4L Q7, 280hp CTWB

I have no idea what the CTDA/CTTA/CTVA/CTXA codes represent. Maybe they were non-EU ROW engines? Looks like it (CTDA, S5 Korea, CTTA, A6/A7 China). CTVA and CTXA are listed as Q5, but what for or where, who knows.

The hp numbers in the chart are AoA's marketing numbers, ie metric hp, not real brake hp values (so 211 and 220 are really 208 and 217, but since no one would recognize the real hp values, ...).

That should clear up (or not) the EA837 3.0T supercharged codes.

As for the US B8 engines that I could see:

B8 US engines chart.jpg

[GTA_G20]

I too am in Canada. If your budget is 10-15k. Why not just sell your a4 and buy and s4? Save yourself time hassle and $$$. B8 s4 are sub 15k cars? You’d be ahead buying a car with what you want already in it rather than trying to do it yourself ....


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[tocqueville]

I too am in Canada. If your budget is 10-15k. Why not just sell your a4 and buy and s4? Save yourself time hassle and $$$. B8 s4 are sub 15k cars? You’d be ahead buying a car with what you want already in it rather than trying to do it yourself ....


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Because I want a wagon.

[GTA_G20]

Apologize. Didn’t see your wagon. I too have been looking at a 3.0t swap. Motors are around 5 k. Just gotta find a shop to do it. Only guy I’ve heard of is Adam Jankomait in kitchener/Cambridge. I went to his shop a few years ago. He’s meticulous


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[Chatchie]

Go into the Avant section. Quite a few swaps going on and completed. You don't just need a motor, you need absolutely everything from an S4 donor including full harness and all modules. It's not for someone that isn't mechanically inclined. A 300+hp/350+tq k04 for $4000 installed is cheap in comparison.

[Jreadman23]

Iceman great work I read your post last night, i need some guidance with my newly bought oil leaking like a bastard b8. For longevity and cost would you recommend a rebuild or 8.5 swap? I’m in a tough spot and need to get this car running. Any advice would be appreciated. Appreciate your knowledge!

[Theiceman]

I will always recommend a rebuild or even a " repair" over a swap if you have the tools, time and ability to do it yourself. The high cost if this is labour. I have rebuilt many engines over the years so I was not worried in the least.
But if you have to pay somone, dropping In a replacement engine may be more economical. The issue of course is replacement engines are a crap shoot.

Good luck in which way you go.

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[Theiceman]

Iceman great work I read your post last night, i need some guidance with my newly bought oil leaking like a bastard b8. For longevity and cost would you recommend a rebuild or 8.5 swap? I’m in a tough spot and need to get this car running. Any advice would be appreciated. Appreciate your knowledge!

I would find out where it is leaking from, perhaps this just needs a repair. Dont assume the worst.
The worst would be oil is dissapearing and it's NOT leaking.

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