2011 S4 with APR Stage 2+ badge.... just bought it.

[Luckybeagle]

5 years and 2 kids after selling my Stage 2 (K03s) 2001 B5 S4, I finally bought another. This time, a 2011 B8 S4 with some APR goodies. The dealership didn't know exactly what work the previous owner had done to it and just told me "pulley, exhaust, and tune." Exhaust brand is APR. It feels wildly fast to me, significantly faster than anything I've ever driven or owned before, but I'm still unsure of exactly what's been done to it, so I'm hoping for a little guidance.

The thing that's really throwing me off is that there is a Stage 2+ badge on the trunk, which I understand that to be the APR kit with dual pulley upgrade and ultracharger throttle body, but the TB looks pretty stock to me. Not sure why the previous owner would have that badge but no ultracharger, unless he removed it before trading it in to pass WA smog (not sure if this would affect it?). We don't have smog testing where I'm at (Oregon).... Anyway, any help at unpacking this mystery would be great.





Any thoughts or ideas? I held the brake and pressed the gas and was able to bring up the RPMS (didn't launch it) so I know it has SOME level of APR tune.

[Brother Owl]

Nice pickup - email APR with your VIN and they should be able to confirm the previous owner's ECU/TCU tune. Your ECU is probably on a Stage 1 tune...
The belt on your current setup is a Bando 7PK1270 which is an OEM sized belt that can be used for a smaller supercharger pulley (e.g. Stage 1 tune). This and the "APR Stage II+" badging might imply that the previous owner sold the Ultracharger and larger crank pulley setup to recoup some additional money before he sold it.
AFAIK it's $149 to transfer the existing tunes (ECU & TCU) to you as the new owner, that way you can get an APR dealer to flash the most recent updated tune if/when you want decide to go back to dual-pulley or ultracharged setup.

[Dippy]

FWIW I came from a stage 2 (k03) 2001 B5 S4 to my B8.5 S5. I found that whilst the stock peak torque was less than the B5, the torque curve and the DSG made it overall equivalent performance, or perhaps slightly better with regard to driveability. So if your new B8 feels significantly faster then certainly it must have a remap (stage 1). I don't see how it can be DP with a 7PK1270 but it could have an uprated supercharge pulley. The stock one is just over 63mm diameter and an uprated one is likely to be about 57mm diameter.

[Luckybeagle]

Awesome thanks Brother Owl! That all makes sense. I e-mailed APR this morning and received a super fast response:

"Thanks for reaching out, I can confirm your car is running both our ECU and TCU software. On the ECU side you are currently running our stage 2 single pulley file, so that would be correct for the hardware setup you described. As for the Transmission tune, you are running the correct stage 2 TCU software so you are good there as well.

Currently you are running switchable tune with the following maps:

Stock
91 Octane
93 Octane
Valet"


Nice!!

Now I have to decide if the $149 tune transfer + $350 crank pulley + $20 new belt is worth the ~10hp gain (seems like a very cheap way to make a little extra power). Do you know if/what APR. authorized dealers charge to reflash from Stage 2 single pulley to a Stage 2 dual pulley tune?

[Jamen]

It’s worth the money to upgrade. The HP isn’t much but the torque upgrade makes a difference

[Fresh.S4]

if you are currently apr stage1 and have the full menu (91/93/100oct), then just spend the $120ish and install an ethanol sensor then switch your tune and run 100oct daily.

i am currently on e40 & apr100 as a daily. I havent even considered wasting time putting more money into stage2 as technically according to their charts, i am already faster lol.

[Ashtonts]

Now I have to decide if the $149 tune transfer + $350 crank pulley + $20 new belt is worth the ~10hp gain (seems like a very cheap way to make a little extra power). Do you know if/what APR. authorized dealers charge to reflash from Stage 2 single pulley to a Stage 2 dual pulley tune?

Don't be fooled by the small gain in peak torque. The upgrade to Single Pulley or Dual Pulley from Stage 1 is very significant. You aren't gaining much in peak power, but you increase the torque basically everywhere else in the powerband. I went stock -> Stage 1 -> Dual Pulley and the jump from Stage 1 to Dual Pulley was at least as big of an upgrade as stock to Stage 1 was, if not moreso. Single pulley will be a smaller increase, but you will definitely be happy with the outcome.

[messepants]

I also have APR single pulley with program switching. If you go dial pulley you will get upgrade to V4 and only be able to run one map. I like having the option to switch for road trips. This function only came for the b8 and has been abandoned. There is a large thread on it. It has made my decision to stay single pulley.

Nice snag on the car though. I find the single pulley good and strong for daily driving.

Jesse

[MrFunk]

Guys - the email from APR said he is Stage 2 with TCU tune.
I'd say enjoy the car as is for now - especially if it feels potent to you as is.

Congrats on the new whip!

[Luckybeagle]

Thanks everyone! It's a blast to drive. I appreciate all the input. For now the Stage 2 setup feels plenty fast. I also worry about wear and tear on the DSG if I were to upgrade to full stage 2+ ultracharger setup. I'm a pretty mellow driver (especially when in full-on dad mode), though.

I'll enjoy it as-is for another 3-6 months before considering any upgrades. That'll give me some time to recoup the cash spent on it, anyway.

[734jeant]

Looks nice. What are the current miles on the car? Any factory options?