Turbo Inlet Pipe Differences

[aintitthelife98]

Hey everyone. Now that my 2016 A3 is past warranty, I'm getting more into modding it. I started with an ECU/DSG tune from Unitronic and now I'm looking at getting an upgraded turbo inlet pipe. It seems they range in price from $68 currently for the CTS one to $150 for the Uni or APR ones with a few in the middle around $100. Is there a real quality or performance difference not to go with the CTS TIP and save the money for something else? Just looking to see what everyone's experiences have been.

Just for context, I don't plan on going with an after market intake but rather getting a better air filter and doing the simple mods to the stock air box. Thanks in advance!

[TheMysticWizard]

And if you look on eBay, you can get one that LOOKS just like the CTS one for $29.

Not sure if there is really any difference between them all, but I'm guessing the difference between the plastic and metal ones is enough to merit replacing them.

[MikTip]

The main difference...
Cost. 😁

[Spinnetti]

Its a solution looking for a problem, but fun to satisfy the mod itch lol.

[Hard-Knocks]

Purchased the CTS one from someone on the forum and after looking at the poor quality of the part (wall thickness, interior roughness, etc.), listed it on the forum and purchased the APR part. The APR part was of significant better quality. However, based on some testing that someone posted, the quality of the part may have nothing to do with the slight increased in performance you will realize from this part.


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[Ad615]

Proven to borderline be a waste of time. Unless you find a used one for dirt cheap, don’t bother. Most piping besides a dp is pointless on a stock turbo and more trouble than they’re worth along with open element intakes and afterMarket dvs.

[Coolrunning]

MST makes a pretty badass setup.

[Gberg888]

I have the IE one! It is quality for sure.

Please note, its opening that leads to the intake and stock air-box is bigger than other TIPs. Both ECS's silicone and carbon intake pipes (just the connector from airbox to TIP) do not fit. So you will either have to use the flimsy stock one with a worm clamp or go with the IE intake connector pipe which is like $150.00 and really not worth it unless you want carbon in your engine bay.

[aaronc7]

I really wanted to get IE, but sadly they don't make a silicone piece that connects from their inlet to stock airbox.... oh well. I got the ECS turbo inlet when it was on sale for like $60.

[Gberg888]

I really wanted to get IE, but sadly they don't make a silicone piece that connects from their inlet to stock airbox.... oh well. I got the ECS turbo inlet when it was on sale for like $60.

The IE Tip has a silicone connector that will connect to the OEM plastic hose and then that OEM plastic hose connects to the airbox...

[Hondan]

Can anyone comment which brand, if any, work the the GFB DV+ diverter valve? I have heard mixed reviews on the DV+ but I had in on my previous MK7 R due to a failed stock diverter. Now it's on my 18 S3. I'm at stg1 Uni and feel the top of the rev range is lacking so hoping a TIP helps up top. Thanks

[BecksA3]

Can anyone comment which brand, if any, work the the GFB DV+ diverter valve? I have heard mixed reviews on the DV+ but I had in on my previous MK7 R due to a failed stock diverter. Now it's on my 18 S3. I'm at stg1 Uni and feel the top of the rev range is lacking so hoping a TIP helps up top. Thanks

I checked the reviews carefully since I have the dv+ and saw many with fitment issues. I ended up with a CTS TIP I got used on the forum and bought a DFG silicone hose on sale and it went together slick with no swearing. It also fit right up to the stock air box and I already had the driver’s side of the air duct opened up. It’s working great and it makes a difference.


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[Hondan]

I checked the reviews carefully since I have the dv+ and saw many with fitment issues. I ended up with a CTS TIP I got used on the forum and bought a DFG silicone hose on sale and it went together slick with no swearing. It also fit right up to the stock air box and I already had the driver’s side of the air duct opened up. It’s working great and it makes a difference.


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Thank you BecksA3, I appreciate the feedback. I was emailing Urotuning and they believe the Unitronic TIP should work. I might try that one but if it doesn't work, I'll go with CTS. I'll be sure to report back with the results.

[949]

are you planning on tuning the car once you put these items on?

[BecksA3]

are you planning on tuning the car once you put these items on?

I think I saw another post from him on a different thread that said he does have a tune now.


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[aintitthelife98]

are you planning on tuning the car once you put these items on?

Not sure If this question was directed at me, but yes, I’m currently running Unitronic Stage 1+ ECU and Stage 1 TCU tunes.

[BecksA3]

Not sure If this question was directed at me, but yes, I’m currently running Unitronic Stage 1+ ECU and Stage 1 TCU tunes.

How are you liking the tunes? I keep swaying back and forth between them and IE.


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[aintitthelife98]

How are you liking the tunes? I keep swaying back and forth between them and IE.


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The ECU tune is great. It definitely transforms the car. I'm currently working through some troubleshooting with them on the TCU tune and it's shifting behavior in D on my car. Sport Mode and Manual mode in the TCU tune are perfect. I'll have to reserve judgement beyond that until we are done troubleshooting. I also debated a lot between IE and Uni. Honestly I don't think there is a bad choice between them.

[BecksA3]

The ECU tune is great. It definitely transforms the car. I'm currently working through some troubleshooting with them on the TCU tune and it's shifting behavior in D on my car. Sport Mode and Manual mode in the TCU tune are perfect. I'll have to reserve judgement beyond that until we are done troubleshooting. I also debated a lot between IE and Uni. Honestly I don't think there is a bad choice between them.

Yeah, I’m sure I’d like either one. I have seen the Uni TCU tune can be finicky in the beginning. Let me know what happens with yours.


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[jinetix]

If you're planning on keeping the stock airbox and accordion intake hose, get the new cast version of the CTS elbow (the one that's not powder-coated black). I've installed both and the newer version mates to the turbo and intake hose much better (better machining on turbo end, and better hose clamp mating design on the intake end). If you're planning on getting an aftermarket intake setup with a bigger hose/pipe diameter (3 inches +), then spend the extra bucks for the bigger diameter inlets like the IE, DBV2, MST, etc. However, you won't notice much of a gain until you swap to a turbo with a bigger inlet opening on the actual turbo. The stock turbo inlet diameter bottlenecks the airflow. Regardless, given how cheap the new CTS elbow is, it's a worthwhile upgrade in combination with the stock airbox mods.

[Hondan]

Thank you BecksA3, I appreciate the feedback. I was emailing Urotuning and they believe the Unitronic TIP should work. I might try that one but if it doesn't work, I'll go with CTS. I'll be sure to report back with the results.

I received the Unitronic TIP and discovered when also running the DV+ it is NOT a direct bolt on fit. Luckily however I was able to reduce some of the meaty portion of the DV+ housing that was interfering. Seems to be working good with everything installed. Overall my opinion of the general quality and fit and finish of the Uni TIP is not what I would call great but it is pretty good. The photos on the website make the inside of the pipe appear smoother, more finished. As if someone made effort with a porting tool to take out any casting flaws. This is not how it arrived. The interior casing flaws are there but I honestly cant see it affecting performance in anyway. Just overall perceived quality. There are also some imperfections in the casting on the mounting bolt tab as well as the barbs that lock it into place. Again overall quality is good but not superb. They also sent the wrong o-ring darn it! I ended up just reusing my OEM o-ring.

Here are some photos of the interference, where I ground down the DV+, and the final fit. I am not sure why the forum rotated the first four photos. Kind of annoying but hopefully it makes sense.

[BecksA3]

I received the Unitronic TIP and discovered when also running the DV+ it is NOT a direct bolt on fit. Luckily however I was able to reduce some of the meaty portion of the DV+ housing that was interfering. Seems to be working good with everything installed. Overall my opinion of the general quality and fit and finish of the Uni TIP is not what I would call great but it is pretty good. The photos on the website make the inside of the pipe appear smoother, more finished. As if someone made effort with a porting tool to take out any casting flaws. This is not how it arrived. The interior casing flaws are there but I honestly cant see it affecting performance in anyway. Just overall perceived quality. There are also some imperfections in the casting on the mounting bolt tab as well as the barbs that lock it into place. Again overall quality is good but not superb. They also sent the wrong o-ring darn it! I ended up just reusing my OEM o-ring.

Here are some photos of the interference, where I ground down the DV+, and the final fit. I am not sure why the forum rotated the first four photos. Kind of annoying but hopefully it makes sense.

Nice. Glad you got it to work.


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[gman1275]

Not sure If this question was directed at me, but yes, I’m currently running Unitronic Stage 1+ ECU and Stage 1 TCU tunes.

Hi Chris, I'm a little confused, your response says your A3 has a Unitronic Stage 1+ Ecu and Stage 1 Tcu tunes but your signature says it's Integrated Engineering. Can you explain?

[aintitthelife98]

Hi Chris, I'm a little confused, your response says your A3 has a Unitronic Stage 1+ Ecu and Stage 1 Tcu tunes but your signature says it's Integrated Engineering. Can you explain?

At the time when I posted that I was using Uni's tunes but I had some issues with their TCU tune on my car so I returned them within the return window and went with Integrated Engineering instead. I've been very happy with the change.

[gman1275]

At the time when I posted that I was using Uni's tunes but I had some issues with their TCU tune on my car so I returned them within the return window and went with Integrated Engineering instead. I've been very happy with the change.

Got it, thanks for clearing it up