New S7 looking for the best tune to get???

[rlny]

checked out apr but i think i heard somewhere that it was not the best. can anyone advise? Im new to this platform so will i need to get the DME tune or just a flash with a handheld or something?

[kthorpe88]

Use the search tool.........DS1

[ericw.]

Depends what your long term plans are..

If you want custom tuning and plan to do all the supporting mods for e85 then go DS1.

If you just want to drive the car on pump gas, APR can't be beat especially now that they're priced so competitively.

APR is faster off the shelf on pump gas but DS1 offers a lot more head room to go beyond the standard bolt on mods.

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[dealermaintnd]

checked out apr but i think i heard somewhere that it was not the best. can anyone advise? Im new to this platform so will i need to get the DME tune or just a flash with a handheld or something?

Ds1

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[rlny]

Depends what your long term plans are..

If you want custom tuning and plan to do all the supporting mods for e85 then go DS1.

If you just want to drive the car on pump gas, APR can't be beat especially now that they're priced so competitively.

APR is faster off the shelf on pump gas but DS1 offers a lot more head room to go beyond the standard bolt on mods.

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Can i use race gas with the apr tune?

[rlny]

i was thinking of getting the stage 2 tune. im stock right now but gonna take it to get straight piped first. do people usually leave the resonators or just take everything out?

[Alabama]

Can i use race gas with the apr tune?

Yes, with either APR or DS1 as well as others. Check their respective websites. Both allow "switching" of the tune depending on what fuel is being used. I believe neither one sells a traditional "stage 2" any more due to concerns with EPA compliance.

[ericw.]

Can i use race gas with the apr tune?

Yes, they offer tunes for race gas but they have nothing specific for e85.

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[Ruasky]

DS1 no contest

[MattyMarkey]

Yes, with either APR or DS1 as well as others. Check their respective websites. Both allow "switching" of the tune depending on what fuel is being used. I believe neither one sells a traditional "stage 2" any more due to concerns with EPA compliance.

DS1 has stages 1-4(x) and custom tuning; all in one package; all for the same price - like genie in a bottle.

If you meant utilizing Downpipes as “traditional stage 2”, than sure, neither do - DS1 states cooling mods instead now.

Best way to describe it: Limited with APR. Limitless with DS1


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[rlny]

Yes, with either APR or DS1 as well as others. Check their respective websites. Both allow "switching" of the tune depending on what fuel is being used. I believe neither one sells a traditional "stage 2" any more due to concerns with EPA compliance.

They don’t have e85 or e50 anywhere near me so I think I’m going to go with apt for right now.

So what do I do if I want stage 2? When I go straight pipe it should automatically adjust to it and produce more hp anyway right.


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[Alabama]

If you meant utilizing Downpipes as “traditional stage 2”, than sure, neither do - DS1 states cooling mods instead now.

Best way to describe it: Limited with APR. Limitless with DS1

Since in post #6 OP mentioned doing exhaust mods rather than cooling mods, I made that assumption when OP mentioned Stage 2. No argument DS1 is more flexible in application than APR or some others, but as ericw. notes price may be a consideration for folk who do not require that flexibility. I believe the DynoSpectrum folk said themselves they have no interest in competing with APR on price at Stage 1; I suspect they are targeting a different market.

[MattyMarkey]

Since in post #6 OP mentioned doing exhaust mods rather than cooling mods, I made that assumption when OP mentioned Stage 2. No argument DS1 is more flexible in application than APR or some others, but as ericw. notes price may be a consideration for folk who do not require that flexibility. I believe the DynoSpectrum folk said themselves they have no interest in competing with APR on price at Stage 1; I suspect they are targeting a different market.

Valid. As far as I understand APR now, you cannot get past stage 1 (because of the EPA). If the OP is looking for exhaust mods (DPs), APR doesn’t offer a tune to support that. Seems like an easy choice then!

They have no interest, because there is no comparison - APR numbers aren’t that much higher than DS1 Stage 1. DS1 is arguably safer for longevity. Both have done plenty of testing, though seems like DS1 has a greater focus on safety (knock protection).

Even if you don’t want to go past stage 1, $500 difference in the grand scheme of things, is peanuts. We own a high-priced, expensive, German luxury auto. My way of thinking lol.


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[ericw.]

Valid. As far as I understand APR now, you cannot get past stage 1 (because of the EPA). If the OP is looking for exhaust mods (DPs), APR doesn’t offer a tune to support that. Seems like an easy choice then!

They have no interest, because there is no comparison - APR numbers aren’t that much higher than DS1 Stage 1. DS1 is arguably safer for longevity. Both have done plenty of testing, though seems like DS1 has a greater focus on safety (knock protection).

Even if you don’t want to go past stage 1, $500 difference in the grand scheme of things, is peanuts. We own a high-priced, expensive, German luxury auto. My way of thinking lol.


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Both DS1 and APR no longer offer the option of coding out rear O2 sensors.

Many of us have been running various APR stage tunes for years, and running them hard. Reliability is a selling point for APR's competitors that holds no weight in the real world. APR output is higher though, on pump gas.

[ericw.]

They don’t have e85 or e50 anywhere near me so I think I’m going to go with apt for right now.

So what do I do if I want stage 2? When I go straight pipe it should automatically adjust to it and produce more hp anyway right.


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If you're going with catless downpipes, regardless of what tune you go with, you'll want to play with oxygen sensor J spacers to clear the errors because none of the tuners will code out the errors any longer. EPA cracked down and most tuners fell in line to protect their business.

[MattyMarkey]

Both DS1 and APR no longer offer the option of coding out rear O2 sensors.

Many of us have been running various APR stage tunes for years, and running them hard. Reliability is a selling point for APR's competitors that holds no weight in the real world. APR output is higher though, on pump gas.

While I don’t disagree with your first statement, there is no way you can prove that you’re not causing more damage to your engine because APRs tune is pushing it past knock detection, unless you’re logging your runs. DS1 allows you to see the logs, and has stated many times they are more conservative/sensitive to reducing timing due to knock.

If we are knocking (pun intended) APRs competitors for promoting safety and reliability, that’s essentially laughable. I am also not knocking (did it again) APR, I am merely stating my opinion and why I’d choose one over the other.

While DS1 no longer offers the option of coding out the O2’s for their OTS tunes, the customer still has the option to do so themselves or have someone custom tune it.

No argument that APRs numbers are higher on 93. It’s also marginal. A margin you will be hard pressed to see a big difference in the ‘real world’.


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[MattyMarkey]

If you're going with catless downpipes, regardless of what tune you go with, you'll want to play with oxygen sensor J spacers to clear the errors because none of the tuners will code out the errors any longer. EPA cracked down and most tuners fell in line to protect their business.

Has anyone run an APR stage 1 tune with downpipes?

My take - there would be zero benefit, since the tune is not self-adjusting, nor codes out the sensors. There is also likely a good chance it won’t run right, or run too rich.


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[delz05]

My 2 cents worth... I have experienced great results using Boost Dynamic Tuning on my RS... had Trent's tune ECU/TCU on an SQ5 (huge improvement in drivability over EPL) and have recently switched from unitronics stage 3 to Boost and there is an immediate improvement in torq, smoother shits and WOT acceleration. I have been running his tune on my RS7 with no issues at all (18months). I don't plan on any power add-ons, so a simple flash and go is all I require... AND I AM NOT KNOCKING ANYONE ELSE"S TUNE, SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE!!!

[ericw.]

Has anyone run an APR stage 1 tune with downpipes?

My take - there would be zero benefit, since the tune is not self-adjusting, nor codes out the sensors. There is also likely a good chance it won’t run right, or run too rich.


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It runs fine, you just need to solve the catalyst deficiency code with oxygen sensor spacers, as you would with all tunes now. The CEL is what causes the engine to run rich since the ECU tries to compensate for a sensor reading that's out of bounds.

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[MattyMarkey]

It runs fine, you just need to solve the catalyst deficiency code with oxygen sensor spacers, as you would with all tunes now. The CEL is what causes the engine to run rich since the ECU tries to compensate for a sensor reading that's out of bounds.

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That certainly makes sense. In my mind, you’d be going through that hassle for nothing... as far as I can see it, you won’t get any performance gains, since you’re still APR stage 1


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[ericw.]

That certainly makes sense. In my mind, you’d be going through that hassle for nothing... as far as I can see it, you won’t get any performance gains, since you’re still APR stage 1


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DS1 doesn't consider downpipes to be stage 2 so it's kind of the same thing isn't it?

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[Alabama]

Valid. As far as I understand APR now, you cannot get past stage 1 (because of the EPA).

The APR website still lists a Stage 1 and a Stage 3 for a 2014 S6. A difference between APR and DynoSpectrum is that APR has an additional charge to go from Stage 1 ($800) to Stage 3 ($400). DynoSpectrum is $1,300 paid once.

[MattyMarkey]

DS1 doesn't consider downpipes to be stage 2 so it's kind of the same thing isn't it?

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True, yet they have a stage 2 tune. A tune they likely didn’t change, they just changed words on a piece of paper to be EPA compliant.


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[MattyMarkey]

The APR website still lists a Stage 1 and a Stage 3 for a 2014 S6. A difference between APR and DynoSpectrum is that APR has an additional charge to go from Stage 1 ($800) to Stage 3 ($400). DynoSpectrum is $1,300 paid once.

Stage 3 (upgraded turbos) might be a bit above the OPs initial intentions (staying stage 1, but with DPs).

Seems like $1200 vs $1300 is an even easier decision IMO (yes, it’s just an opinion). Spend $100 more for a couple more stages (4 & 4x), flexibility, E85, custom tuning, amazing customer support, etc., etc.


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[ericw.]

True, yet they have a stage 2 tune. A tune they likely didn’t change, they just changed words on a piece of paper to be EPA compliant.


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They changed the tune to no longer modify emissions systems like everyone else did including APR. They also removed access to do it yourself in the software. It's posted in their thread.

A custom tuner using DS1 might have some way around it, idk.

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[MattyMarkey]

They changed the tune to no longer modify emissions systems like everyone else did including APR. They also removed access to do it yourself in the software. It's posted in their thread.

A custom tuner using DS1 might have some way around it, idk.

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Thanks for setting me straight there! I guess my main point is: the tune still increases boost, something that an S7 needs additional cooling (new stage 2) for, but also something that easier evacuation of exhaust gases (previous DPs stage 2) would still benefit from and maybe increase a few ponies

I guess one could argue that the APR stage 1 tune could benefit from the same.


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[Alabama]

I guess one could argue that the APR stage 1 tune could benefit from the same.

Got me how it works, but here is a quote from the APR website concerning their Stage 1 for a 2014 S6: "To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, cooler, catback exhaust, and various other bolt-on modifications all without requiring any new modifications to the ECU."

[Riker]

DS1.