First upgrades/mods, everyone should do...

[wrcardon]

So this is my first moded car. Finally out of warranty, and have time to mess with my car. Here are the mods/upgrades I wish I would have know about before. Lest expense, most increase in performance:

Suspension:
034motorsports Transmission Insert - firm shifts... little to no additional vibration (easily reversible without a jack)
034motorsports Rear Sway Bar (RSB) - keeps the car flat while in the "soft setting" without major daily driver loss at all. Improved "turn in" (no dealership will worry about this)
Moog rear end links - to maximize the effect of your RSB. Take the poly out (which will wear out with a non-OEM stiffer RSB). Silent and solid
Moog front end links - not sure how much it helps, but tightens things up a bit. Cheap.

HP and responsiveness:
Airbox mod - cut a hole in the place a hole should be. More air... no downside.
034motorsports Silicone Throttle Body Intake - allows the engine to take in more air... quicker throttle response. Zero downside.
EPL TCU and EPL Stage I -- both are self installed and self reversible even if you are under warranty. Amazing upgrade... smooth shifts.. aggressive... MUCH MUCH more power without changing anything but software.

Steering:
Turn off

[RoofRails]

I would have to add AWE exhaust to your must do list. It's not cheap but its certainly worth it.

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[djn876]

I'd add the whole driveline insert package and potentially trans mount. Good list though!

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[4-ring-sleepers]

Led reverse lights will give you an extra 2HP when backing up!

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[Unleaded20T]

What does opening a hole in the airbox do? My concerns would be the hot air being pulled from the engine bay.

do you have any pics?

[djn876]

What does opening a hole in the airbox do? My concerns would be the hot air being pulled from the engine bay.

do you have any pics?

The hole is drilled low on the fender side of the air box. FWIW, even open intakes don't see any ill effects from engine bay temps. For the modification, all you are doing is opening up a blanked off location, it's the passenger side if it's in the car.

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[ADG05]

Led reverse lights will give you an extra 2HP when backing up!

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I saw a 3hp gain with this mod.

[wrcardon]

Actually, this and interior LEDs should be on the list. But the reverse lights are magic and are a huge improvement.

[Salty Mope]

for those of you who went with the deAutoLED interior kits, how difficult was it to swap everything out and did you need any special trim removal tools?

i'm a bull in a china shop when it comes to removing delicate clips/clasps/trim and afraid I will break something. should i pay professionals to do the swap or is it not that difficult?

Also, whats with the $40 upcharge for "stage 2" trunk/puddle/warning lights? is that what everyone gets? i care more about the dome, visor, and glovebox lights than i do the trunk puddle and warning lights. seems odd that they wouldn't just sell the kit at a higher price including the better lights rather than selling them as an add on for a $40 upcharge.

[SQive]

Change your air filter too. I went with the AFE dry, but with the air box mod and the intake hose, it's a must! You can hear the SC without too much whine.

[wrcardon]

Change your air filter too. I went with the AFE dry, but with the air box mod and the intake hose, it's a must! You can hear the SC without too much whine.

I did the AFR dry as well.

[MSq5]

Change your air filter too. I went with the AFE dry, but with the air box mod and the intake hose, it's a must! You can hear the SC without too much whine.

This. A high flow aFe is the natural paring to go with the 034 hose and air box mod. Either the dry flow or oiled cotton gauze version (Pro 5R). I went with oiled cotton as it seems to flow a bit better.

[MSq5]

What does opening a hole in the airbox do? My concerns would be the hot air being pulled from the engine bay.

do you have any pics?

The air behind the passenger side fog light is cool. The hole draws from that area. The circular molded part of the air box, once opened looks like this:

[giggidy1]

Subscribed*

[eruben123]

for those of you who went with the deAutoLED interior kits, how difficult was it to swap everything out and did you need any special trim removal tools?

i'm a bull in a china shop when it comes to removing delicate clips/clasps/trim and afraid I will break something. should i pay professionals to do the swap or is it not that difficult?

Also, whats with the $40 upcharge for "stage 2" trunk/puddle/warning lights? is that what everyone gets? i care more about the dome, visor, and glovebox lights than i do the trunk puddle and warning lights. seems odd that they wouldn't just sell the kit at a higher price including the better lights rather than selling them as an add on for a $40 upcharge.

Was a cake walk install. One trim removal tool is all you'll need. You should have no trouble - just be patient!

[arjun90]

Interior Lights are Much Needed; Make sure to do your Footwell lights as well. I may do the fog lights one of these days

Anyone here has any feedback on the 034 Motorsports Inlet Hose?

[djn876]

Interior Lights are Much Needed; Make sure to do your Footwell lights as well. I may do the fog lights one of these days

Anyone here has any feedback on the 034 Motorsports Inlet Hose?

Yes, buy it. One of the first things I did, no problems, more whine, should flow better.

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[bigjamesdean]

Imho wheels/coilovers/tune.. rest is meh

[pickle.rs]

I just picked up a 2015 TDI, here's my list of initial mods queued up:

20” Wheels - Audi “Rotors"
265/45 tires
10mm spacers
KW Street Comfort coilovers
Honeycomb grille + foglight grilles (no badges, c'mon)
Interior LEDs
OEM carbon fiber interior trim from SQ5
Apple CarPlay retrofit (wireless)
S-line flat bottom steering wheel (partial perforated)
S-line shifter (to match the perforated wheel and titanium stitching)
034 Transmission Insert
034 Rear Sway Bar

Considering upgrading brakes to Stoptech slotted rotors with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads, but might wait until the car needs replacement to do that.

Would do a Malone tune, but want to keep that sweet Extended Dieselgate Warranty intact.

[pickle.rs]

Interior Lights are Much Needed; Make sure to do your Footwell lights as well. I may do the fog lights one of these days

Anyone have recommendations on fog light replacements that color match the headlights better?

[SQive]

I just picked up a 2015 TDI, here's my list of initial mods queued up:

20” Wheels - Audi “Rotors"
265/40 tires
10mm spacers
KW Street Comfort coilovers
Honeycomb grille + foglight grilles (no badges, c'mon)
Interior LEDs
OEM carbon fiber interior trim from SQ5
Apple CarPlay retrofit (wireless)
S-line flat bottom steering wheel (partial perforated)
S-line shifter (to match the perforated wheel and titanium stitching)
034 Transmission Insert
034 Rear Sway Bar

Considering upgrading brakes to Stoptech slotted rotors with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads, but might wait until the car needs replacement to do that.

Would do a Malone tune, but want to keep that sweet Extended Dieselgate Warranty intact.

With 20-inch wheels, might want to go with 265/45 tires.

[MSq5]

I just picked up a 2015 TDI, here's my list of initial mods queued up:

20” Wheels - Audi “Rotors"
265/40 tires
10mm spacers
KW Street Comfort coilovers
Honeycomb grille + foglight grilles (no badges, c'mon)
Interior LEDs
OEM carbon fiber interior trim from SQ5
Apple CarPlay retrofit (wireless)
S-line flat bottom steering wheel (partial perforated)
S-line shifter (to match the perforated wheel and titanium stitching)
034 Transmission Insert
034 Rear Sway Bar

Considering upgrading brakes to Stoptech slotted rotors with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads, but might wait until the car needs replacement to do that.

Would do a Malone tune, but want to keep that sweet Extended Dieselgate Warranty intact.

What are Audi “Rotors”? Is this a 20” wheel style? Photo please.

[pickle.rs]

With 20-inch wheels, might want to go with 265/45 tires.

I did! That was a typo.

[pickle.rs]

What are Audi “Rotors”? Is this a 20” wheel style? Photo please.

I haven’t put them on yet, but they are the same wheels on my RS5. Wanted both cars to be a little matchy-matchy. Ha.

[SQive]

Those are the best-looking rotors, with great concavity. They even make them for the R8's which also look excellent.

BTW, everyone should keep an extinguisher in their kitchen for that very reason.

[MSq5]

I haven’t put them on yet, but they are the same wheels on my RS5. Wanted both cars to be a little matchy-matchy. Ha.

Thanks. Niiiiiice!

[wrcardon]

I would have to add AWE exhaust to your must do list. It's not cheap but its certainly worth it.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Audizine mobile app

Is it just a sound improvement or is there some performance gain... it's pretty pricey and I probably wouldn't list it as "a mod everyone should do" unless there was a massive performance gain.

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I'd add the whole driveline insert package and potentially trans mount. Good list though!

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I have heard good things about the transmission mounts... not so good about the driveline inserts... I heard you get some odd "whining" sounds.

[wrcardon]

Oh, i missed a few...

Spacers... I know a lot of people will change wheels... but I like the SQ5 B8.5 wheels (21").

Also, either VagCom or OBD11

[arjun90]

Thanks for the feedback. How's the ECS Carbon Fiber Air Intake inlet for comparison-sake?

Yes, buy it. One of the first things I did, no problems, more whine, should flow better.

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[djn876]

Is it just a sound improvement or is there some performance gain... it's pretty pricey and I probably wouldn't list it as "a mod everyone should do" unless there was a massive performance gain.

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I have heard good things about the transmission mounts... not so good about the driveline inserts... I heard you get some odd "whining" sounds.

Exhaust is definitely just noise, agree probably not a good fit for everyone as it does change the driving experience a fair amount.

If you get the ECS inserts that are poly, the noise will be less, some driveline noise or whine is to be expected. Same with the trans mount, but that also gave some vibration in certain resonance areas. The trans mount definitely have a lot more NVH than the inserts did, I don't remember noticing much after them, but I have the ECS ones. Aluminum is expect to see more.

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[djn876]

Thanks for the feedback. How's the ECS Carbon Fiber Air Intake inlet for comparison-sake?

Does ECS make one or do you mean APR? I know ECS makes one for the S4 but didn't think it fit our cars. Either way any straight shot tube that takes out that muffler piece is going to be similar so can't really go wrong!

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[RoofRails]

Is it just a sound improvement or is there some performance gain... it's pretty pricey and I probably wouldn't list it as "a mod everyone should do" .

There isn't any massive Horse Power gain to be had with a exhaust but it absolutely transforms the driving experience. I love it and I wish I would have got it sooner. It is all about the sound matching the output of that V6 and it is lovely.

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[MSq5]

Thanks for the feedback. How's the ECS Carbon Fiber Air Intake inlet for comparison-sake?

What is that?

[arjun90]

I thought the setup was extremely similar as both have the gen 1 3.0T engines

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...SABEgJcZPD_BwE

Is the one linked above for the newer twin-scroll 3.0T engine?

Does ECS make one or do you mean APR? I know ECS makes one for the S4 but didn't think it fit our cars. Either way any straight shot tube that takes out that muffler piece is going to be similar so can't really go wrong!

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Also as far exterior lighting goes, which ones would you replace first? I especially like the looks of the deAutoKey front fog light option

[MSq5]

I thought the setup was extremely similar as both have the gen 1 3.0T engines

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...SABEgJcZPD_BwE

Is the one linked above for the newer twin-scroll 3.0T engine?

That is for the supercharged gen 1 3.0T. That appears to simply be a fancier, carbon fiber variation of the silicone reinforced 034 throttle body tube many of us have been using. It may be more visually striking, but also more expensive. I like its appearance but doubt it works any better.

[djn876]

Yeah that one says it does not fit my SQ5, maybe it fits some of the earlier Q5s? Either way as stated, performs the same function, just more bling factor.

[q5 dave]

That intake tube should work on any 3.0T, but the CF is just for looks. Intakes don't do too much on these engines except sound cool.

deautoled front fog lights and their LED reverse lights are fantastic

[Spesh1969]

I just picked up a 2015 TDI, here's my list of initial mods queued up:

20” Wheels - Audi “Rotors"
265/45 tires
10mm spacers
KW Street Comfort coilovers
Honeycomb grille + foglight grilles (no badges, c'mon)
Interior LEDs
OEM carbon fiber interior trim from SQ5
Apple CarPlay retrofit (wireless)
S-line flat bottom steering wheel (partial perforated)
S-line shifter (to match the perforated wheel and titanium stitching)
034 Transmission Insert
034 Rear Sway Bar

Considering upgrading brakes to Stoptech slotted rotors with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads, but might wait until the car needs replacement to do that.

Would do a Malone tune, but want to keep that sweet Extended Dieselgate Warranty intact.

What is this Apple Carplay retrofit your speak of? I thought it was hard to do for our years? I'm in a 2016.

[pickle.rs]

What is this Apple Carplay retrofit your speak of? I thought it was hard to do for our years? I'm in a 2016.

It’s an RSNAV unit. I did the standalone unit in my RS5, but going for the full 10” screen upgrade for the Q5. The standalone will reuse stock screen (no touch), and the version i got includes new hardware and a large touchscreen. Check out rsnav.com

[ILVTRANCE]

With 20-inch wheels, might want to go with 265/45 tires.

I did 255/45/20 as per Audi spec.