Progression of Mods on B8.5 S4 Platform

[Nardo Grey]

Hello Audizine!!

BLUF: In what order should I install the mods listed below? Is there any recommended progression?

I hope you are all doing well!

I have mostly figured out what mods I want to do with my S4, so now the question is in what order?

Below is a list (In no particular order) of all mods that I would want to ever get. It is an ideal list which I will definitely slim down. In which order would it be the best to put them on?

DSG Tune
ECU Tune
X34 Intake
Rear Sway Bar
Lowering Springs
I may also get the KW Variant 1 Coil-overs if they are worth the increase in price compared to the springs.
Trans Insert
AWE Touring Exhaust
X Brace
And then a brake kit which I have yet to find.

Is there anything that I missed? Is there anything that I should add?

A main reason why I'm going with 034 is because they are headquartered a 20 minute drive away from me, and that they machine their parts in the U.S.

I was thinking of getting the sway bar now, and then saving up for the TCU/ECU tune. Please let me know if there is a better way to go through this. Also, please let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you all so much for taking time out of your undoubtedly busy lives to help me out here. I appreciate you all!

Drive safe, drive fast, and have fun!!

Respectfully,

Nardo Grey

[Engineer2]

My thoughts are:
Intake
Trans insert
X Brace
Sway bar
Macan brakes
ECU
TCU
Coilovers/springs
Exhaust

If you plan to do most of the work yourself, this progression should give you smaller, mostly cheaper, projects to scratch that itch periodically before tackling something bigger like the coilovers/exhaust.

The Macan brakes were a no brainer. If nothing else, by being able to pull the pads out without removing the entire caliper makes them a big improvement over stock to me. At the same time, I also upgrade to stainless brake lines all around and would also recommend.

Just my $.02

[DOCEVG]

Since you're out of warranty you don't need to delay the ECU/TCU tunes.
My own progression reflected my priorities for the car:
First, paint protection so partial PPF+ceramic coats
Second, suspension/handling so
f+r sway bars
KW HAS
Alu-Krueze subframe brace
Lightweight OZ wheels
Third, sound so
AWE touring exhaust
AWE intake
Last, acceleration/speed so
APR stage 1 ECU (I'm 6MT so didn't need TCU tune).

[Glacier_S4]

Trans insert made a quick difference. $25 on Amazon and 10 minutes to swap out. Provides a crisper shift as it removes the slack that the oem insert allows. It’s over less than half the price of other brands.

PQY Billet Transmission Mount Insert Compatible with Audi B8 B8.5 A4 S4 A5 S5 SQ5 Q5 8K0399151BD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KMXT1KR...ing=UTF8&psc=1

[ModItNow]

The biggest differences for me and what I did first was intake, springs (kw has)/034 rear sway, tune then exhaust. Good choice with 034. I'm in SF too btw

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[mahhdd]

My opinions:

X34 Intake
AWE Touring Exhaust
New NGK Spark Plugs and gapped to 034's specs, consider changing every 25k - Do your maintenance!
DSG Tune & ECU Tune together
VCDS cable for logging and tweaks, customizing, logging your car... then...
VCDS log a 3rd gear pull: Log for IATs, Knock, and other parameters 034 looks for and send them your log to check the health of the setup... You might need to bleed the SC, add more water to the coolant, or need a HX upgrade if you're running in a hot area

These can all be done together:
034 Sway Bar
End Links (034 has Spherical but they make noise and may need future replacement... I went with Moog) - some say stocks are fine; but, it's $30 for a pair of Moogs
034 Lowering Springs - Coils don't come engineered and speced to the car. Unless you really, really want to dabble and don't mind doing your own wrenching to adjust, or you really want a specific stance, get springs.
034 Trans Insert Mount Package (the Trans, Rear Carrier Mount & Rear Diff)
X Brace


My mods are in my sig - I have the 034 Sway and Inserts Package. I installed them together so I can't tell how much each mod did; but, the car is definitely tightened up. I thought the OEM sway bar was fine; but, this probably added 30% more stiffness (I'm on the track setting).

[B7TitaniumA4]

Not saying you aren’t up to speed on them, but definitely the usual suspects in relation to maintenance to make sure your engine is ready for the new power.

I’m jumping from stage 1 to dual pulley and my long list of maintenance was priority to make sure I have a solid foundation. 97k on my 2013.

Sounds like you have a good plan, good luck!


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[GoneQuantum]

What is important to you? Handling/power/sound? IMO that should drive the order of upgrades on YOUR car.

If you are just talking a stage 1 tune, then you shouldn't need any supporting mods and aren't really limited to a certain order. Going beyond stage 1 is another story.

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[Nardo Grey]

Engineer2,

Thanks for that input, it's helpful for sure. Nice idea on "scratching the itch" too, I hadn't thought of it.

DOGEVG,

Thanks for the list. I will look into those mods more. Thanks for that!

Glacier_S4

I will look at the link provided. How does the trans insert affect the car? Does it just make the shifts "crisper" somehow?

ModItNow,

Good to see another fellow Bay Area person on here! One off topic question: Do you know if there are any Audi groups that head up to Alice's at all? I was there today and would love to see more modded Audi's up there. I think I will stick with 034, as they are local and seem like good guys. One more question: Does it get hot enough in the Bay Area to the point where I would need an upgraded HX? Thanks for the reply!

mahhdd,

Thanks for the reply! I like how you grouped them together so to speak. The 034 Trans Insert Mount Package is about 20 bucks cheaper, so I will look into that. One question: Do I need to use the 034 endlinks, or can I get away with the Moog endlinks? $175 seems pretty steep for a small piece of CNC'ed aluminum with a bearing. Thanks for that!

B7TitaniumA4,

Hello! It's definitely important to keep up with maintenance. Once I get my car tuned, I think I will move to a 5,000 mile OCI. The dealership extracts, so I think I might get an oil extractor and do it that way. Thanks for the reply!

GoneQuantum,

I'm thinking of having my car be more handling focused. I want to go to stage 1, and I don't see myself going higher than that. As I want my car to be a car focused on handling/vehicle dynamics, what would be a good mod to start with? Rear sway bar maybe? Thanks for the reply!

On another note, all the sway bar does is prevent understeer, right? I'm thinking of going with the rear sway bar and trans insert now, and then going with springs after it.

Thank you all so much for the replies!

[GoneQuantum]

Engineer2,

Thanks for that input, it's helpful for sure. Nice idea on "scratching the itch" too, I hadn't thought of it.

DOGEVG,

Thanks for the list. I will look into those mods more. Thanks for that!

Glacier_S4

I will look at the link provided. How does the trans insert affect the car? Does it just make the shifts "crisper" somehow?

ModItNow,

Good to see another fellow Bay Area person on here! One off topic question: Do you know if there are any Audi groups that head up to Alice's at all? I was there today and would love to see more modded Audi's up there. I think I will stick with 034, as they are local and seem like good guys. One more question: Does it get hot enough in the Bay Area to the point where I would need an upgraded HX? Thanks for the reply!

mahhdd,

Thanks for the reply! I like how you grouped them together so to speak. The 034 Trans Insert Mount Package is about 20 bucks cheaper, so I will look into that. One question: Do I need to use the 034 endlinks, or can I get away with the Moog endlinks? $175 seems pretty steep for a small piece of CNC'ed aluminum with a bearing. Thanks for that!

B7TitaniumA4,

Hello! It's definitely important to keep up with maintenance. Once I get my car tuned, I think I will move to a 5,000 mile OCI. The dealership extracts, so I think I might get an oil extractor and do it that way. Thanks for the reply!

GoneQuantum,

I'm thinking of having my car be more handling focused. I want to go to stage 1, and I don't see myself going higher than that. As I want my car to be a car focused on handling/vehicle dynamics, what would be a good mod to start with? Rear sway bar maybe? Thanks for the reply!

On another note, all the sway bar does is prevent understeer, right? I'm thinking of going with the rear sway bar and trans insert now, and then going with springs after it.

Thank you all so much for the replies!

I have heard good things about upgrading the rear sway bar, but don't have any experience with that myself. I do, however, highly recommend the CanyonRun CR-15 strut tower brace. I felt a noticeable increase in overall steering feel from installing that. It feels a lot more direct and responsive.

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[mahhdd]

mahhdd,

Thanks for the reply! I like how you grouped them together so to speak. The 034 Trans Insert Mount Package is about 20 bucks cheaper, so I will look into that. One question: Do I need to use the 034 endlinks, or can I get away with the Moog endlinks? $175 seems pretty steep for a small piece of CNC'ed aluminum with a bearing. Thanks for that!

OEM/stock, Moog, or 034 will work fine. You do not need to use the 034 endlinks with the 034 RSB.

The 034 endlinks are Spherical (unlike the Moogs), which is why there's an added cost. It's more track friendly; but, can make more sound and can wear.

[mahhdd]

I have heard good things about upgrading the rear sway bar, but don't have any experience with that myself. I do, however, highly recommend the CanyonRun CR-15 strut tower brace. I felt a noticeable increase in overall steering feel from installing that. It feels a lot more direct and responsive.

Sent from my HD1905 using Tapatalk

I was thinking about the CR-15 with my 034 RSB; but, the 034 RSB is designed for the stock "up-front" suspension I think. I asked users if people did the 034 RSB then added on the CR-15, and the users that did this exact order said it wasn't even a noticeable upgrade for them. Just be aware of this in case you're on a budget. The CR-15 bar isn't too expensive, though.

[Nardo Grey]

I was thinking about the CR-15 with my 034 RSB; but, the 034 RSB is designed for the stock "up-front" suspension I think. I asked users if people did the 034 RSB then added on the CR-15, and the users that did this exact order said it wasn't even a noticeable upgrade for them. Just be aware of this in case you're on a budget. The CR-15 bar isn't too expensive, though.

That's helpful to know. On a side note, how do you like your ECS exhaust? I like that it is a valved exhaust.

[mahhdd]

That's helpful to know. On a side note, how do you like your ECS exhaust? I like that it is a valved exhaust.

Take my advice with a grain of salt, because I personally like something more muscular sounding than the 3.0t. Personally, the 3.0t sounds a little "ricey" to me with most exhaust setups, and I don't like that.

I think the ECS full exhaust is on the line between sounding muscular and sounding ricey/importy. From my limited experience, it's the closest I could get to sounding like a large displacement motor, which I like more.

From the driver's seat, it sounds good to me! I don't get any exhausting drone. There is a frequency range in 6th where it gets loud under loud; but, it doesn't pound your head. Again, I wish it had more of a muscle sound to it; but, it works.

I haven't had anyone rev it for me with me outside the car yet.

I had a ECS standalone X-Pipe on the car (which I'm planning on selling it at some point) before I went with the full ECS exhaust. When the valves are closed, and it just kinda sounds like a stock exhaust with a slightly louder ECS X-pipe. Open the valves and it's definitely an aftermarket exhaust.

Me only in the car? Valves open.
GF in the car? On a phone call? Valves closed.
It's as simple as hitting the HomeLink buttons.

NOTE #1: The X-Pipe on the full exhaust is NOT THE SAME as the standalone X-Pipe. The full exhaust's x-pipe is larger. The standalone is designed to fit with the stock exhaust.
NOTE #2: You need to order a $40 boost tap from ECS to get vacuum to the exhaust actuator, for the valves to open and close. I didn't know that until an ECS rep told me.

Would I get it again? Yes.
Do I wish it sounded a little bit deeper? Yes.
Does AWE sound deeper than ECS? I don't think so. I could be wrong on this.

[Nardo Grey]

Take my advice with a grain of salt, because I personally like something more muscular sounding than the 3.0t. Personally, the 3.0t sounds a little "ricey" to me with most exhaust setups, and I don't like that.

I think the ECS full exhaust is on the line between sounding muscular and sounding ricey/importy. From my limited experience, it's the closest I could get to sounding like a large displacement motor, which I like more.

From the driver's seat, it sounds good to me! I don't get any exhausting drone. There is a frequency range in 6th where it gets loud under loud; but, it doesn't pound your head. Again, I wish it had more of a muscle sound to it; but, it works.

I haven't had anyone rev it for me with me outside the car yet.

I had a ECS standalone X-Pipe on the car (which I'm planning on selling it at some point) before I went with the full ECS exhaust. When the valves are closed, and it just kinda sounds like a stock exhaust with a slightly louder ECS X-pipe. Open the valves and it's definitely an aftermarket exhaust.

Me only in the car? Valves open.
GF in the car? On a phone call? Valves closed.
It's as simple as hitting the HomeLink buttons.

NOTE #1: The X-Pipe on the full exhaust is NOT THE SAME as the standalone X-Pipe. The full exhaust's x-pipe is larger. The standalone is designed to fit with the stock exhaust.
NOTE #2: You need to order a $40 boost tap from ECS to get vacuum to the exhaust actuator, for the valves to open and close. I didn't know that until an ECS rep told me.

Would I get it again? Yes.
Do I wish it sounded a little bit deeper? Yes.
Does AWE sound deeper than ECS? I don't think so. I could be wrong on this.

Hello again!!

I listened to some sound clips, and I think it sounds great!! I like how you can go from mild to wild with the press of a button. I don't want to wake up the whole neighborhood when my car cold starts. Has the system been pretty reliable? And for the boost tap, is it just the $40 part that connects to the exhaust? Thanks for the reply, mahhdd!

[mahhdd]

Hello again!!

I listened to some sound clips, and I think it sounds great!! I like how you can go from mild to wild with the press of a button. I don't want to wake up the whole neighborhood when my car cold starts. Has the system been pretty reliable? And for the boost tap, is it just the $40 part that connects to the exhaust? Thanks for the reply, mahhdd!

Boost tap is installed at the engine.

I just had it installed about 2 weeks ago. Historically, ECS has some quality issues with the welds; but, supposedly they've revised the exhaust to improve the welds.

[Truper78]

Pues si miras en AliExpress la misma marca y de aluminio por 5e la tienes