New S7 owner - Go-fast parts

[pjekar]

Hey guys,

Looking for some potential paths to upgrade that beauty with go-fast parts. Idea is to get some essentials to go to STG 1, stay there for a while and upgrade to STG 2.

- what to start with?
- what is absolute essential hardware?
- Which tuner to go with?

66967125554__D499E7A1-2B01-4BB5-973E-481F4205AD70.jpg


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[pjekar]

Forgot to add - it’s 2018.


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[Evandoe]

Srm inlets, sway bars of your choice (h and r are popular) and a good cat back or custom exhaust is a perfect set up for stage 1 to me. As for stage 2 read the thread called The Great Downpipe debate and A Cooling Thread kinda nerdy. Both of these threats will help you learn a lot about your downpipes and cooling. Cooling being especially important as you mod these cars. As for tuners either ds1 or integrated engineering. Ds1 has all the way to stage 4 ready to flash while also allowing for custom tuning on top of the OTS maps. Integrated engineering on the other hand only has up to stage 2 currently and has a kick ass e85 map for stage 1 and 2.

[VinnysS4]

Ds1, srm intakes, and tcu tune. Excellent daily

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[Alabama]

Hey guys,

Looking for some potential paths to upgrade that beauty with go-fast parts. Idea is to get some essentials to go to STG 1, stay there for a while and upgrade to STG 2.

- what to start with?
- what is absolute essential hardware?
- Which tuner to go with?

The answer varies with different people's goals and warranty status for a 2018. Many threads on AZ discuss tuner, hardware, etc. For a stage 1 tune, most folk say no hardware modification is "essential". The stage 1 "off the shelf" tunes are all about equal. APR seems to be favored by those who just want an OTS tune at a good price. Those who plan eventual major modifications favor DS1. Read up and have fun.

[robocop47]

If you want basic, cookie cutter stuff APR is always. But before a ton of people recommend it let me do the honors: DS1 and srm intakes

[zabds319]

Hey guys,

Looking for some potential paths to upgrade that beauty with go-fast parts. Idea is to get some essentials to go to STG 1, stay there for a while and upgrade to STG 2.

- what to start with?
- what is absolute essential hardware?
- Which tuner to go with?


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I’ve had an S7 and and RS7. I’ve had APR and now DS1. If you truly plan on nothing behind stage 1, APR is probably better in my opinion to set and forget, except having to go to a dealer.

Since I can’t imagine many people stop at a stg1 tune only, DS1 is way better. Flash at home, and all stages included for whatever you do to your car.

I had APR downpipes and a center suitcase delete on my sport-exhaust S7 and it sounded awesome. I don’t how hard it is to find APR downpipes anymore. The suitcase delete (replace with x-pipe) is a must though, and will cost you less than 100 bucks at an exhaust shop. I also had SRM intakes and I liked the turbo spool and those and/OR downpipes really did reduce lag in my non-scientific opinion. That was a great setup for my S7 (APR stage 2). You could accomplish mostly the same with DS1 stage 2, and I’m not sure about downpipes since the Redstars on my RS7 came from Russia.

Go DS1, SRM intakes, and suitcase exhaust delete. When you get accustomed to/bored with that then upgrade to SRM RS7 turbos, remove the turbo oil screen at that time, and enjoy the DS1 stage 3.

I like the Redstar catted downpipes attached to my Titanium exhaust but that’s a big cost and might not be worth it to you.

[pjekar]

I still hope for some more opinions on my inquiry, although I can’t keep myself from pointing something out…

This is the most helpful “corner” of forum I’ve been part of - so far it seems like C7 people are a great bunch as I expected good deal of troll comments and I’ve gotten reaaaaly good in depth opinions and advices.

THANK YOU.


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[TheChief]

I had APR downpipes and a center suitcase delete on my sport-exhaust S7 and it sounded awesome. I don’t how hard it is to find APR downpipes anymore. The suitcase delete (replace with x-pipe) is a must though, and will cost you less than 100 bucks at an exhaust shop.

Wait this costs less than $100?? does that include the new x-pipe materials cost? I've been dying to get a bit more aggression and volume out of my S6 and I couldn't find options cheaper than a whole cat-back which was like $2,500. How much volume/sound did you gain just from this suitcase delete + x-pipe?

[MattyMarkey]

I still hope for some more opinions on my inquiry, although I can’t keep myself from pointing something out…

This is the most helpful “corner” of forum I’ve been part of - so far it seems like C7 people are a great bunch as I expected good deal of troll comments and I’ve gotten reaaaaly good in depth opinions and advices.

THANK YOU.


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- what to start with?

Seems like a basic question, but can get involved based on your goals. If your goals are only Stg1 & 2, then all you need is an ECU tune to go stage 1. Stage 2 depends on ECU tune, but most because of the EPA crackdown, are for larger turbo inlets. I personally would start with ECU and TCU tune (TCU Co: SRM, BoostedEuro, APR) - I personally think adding the TCU tune (not essential at either stage) will improve drivability and allow you to utilize even more potential of the ECU tune. It also protects the tranny (DL501 is a weak point)

- what is absolute essential hardware?

Essential in terms of going stage 1 & 2: ECU tune provider @ stg1. Larger Turbo inlets @ stg2 (RS7, SRM, or other companies that can have fitment issues lol).

Essential in terms of being the most reliable, with the least amount of risk: ECU/TCU and preventative maintenance (tranny service, spark plugs, turbo screen removal or JHM relocation kit). At some point, you will want to look into billet turbo's, or just wait for the cast (stock) units to fail; there is always this risk when increasing boost on the cast S7 turbos, but many people have been able to get a lot of miles and push plenty hard without failing (yet).

- Which tuner to go with?

I went DS1 for many of the reasons stated above, not to mention their customer service is industry setting/leading, with a good community. APR has the backing of the authorized dealer you choose. Unitronic has a tune. All comparable in terms of power output, but what matters to me is customer service, flexibility (flash from home) and capabilities offered.

[Alabama]

This is the most helpful “corner” of forum I’ve been part of - so far it seems like C7 people are a great bunch as I expected good deal of troll comments and I’ve gotten reaaaaly good in depth opinions and advices.

Couldn't agree more. I've learned a lot since joining; there are many very helpful and knowledgeable folk here and on the V8 sub-forum (don't miss it since you own an S7). There are the occasional people who appear to be "selling" something, a handful of drag strip rivalries, and once or twice the AZ moderator has stepped in to tone down a thread, but mostly it's good-natured folk with varieties of knowledge and skills who try to share what they know. Lots of old threads with good information to read as you have time. Welcome to the gang!

[zabds319]

Wait this costs less than $100?? does that include the new x-pipe materials cost? I've been dying to get a bit more aggression and volume out of my S6 and I couldn't find options cheaper than a whole cat-back which was like $2,500. How much volume/sound did you gain just from this suitcase delete + x-pipe?

You can get a stainless x-pipe on Amazon for $25. Not sure if paying 6 times that for a “better” one is worth it.

The shop I went to either fabricated one or had one lying around, I didn’t ask. Parts and labor were $80 and took 45 min. I think it’s a pretty easy task.

The sound difference was good. Louder, maybe deeper although I could be making that up. No drone.

[THCarpenter]

either accept the rabbit hole, or just stay stage 1.....shit gets weird fast
parts workbook C7.5 S6 Prestige.jpg

[Alabama]

either accept the rabbit hole, or just stay stage 1.....shit gets weird fast
parts workbook C7.5 S6 Prestige.jpg

Still lots of uninstalled inventory, or the list isn't current? About all I could manage to install myself would be the valve stem caps! Care to share ballpark total investment in parts cost?

[THCarpenter]

Still lots of uninstalled inventory, or the list isn't current? About all I could manage to install myself would be the valve stem caps! Care to share ballpark total investment in parts cost?

List is current. I have personally installed everything checked off as installed. Including the Powerflex Bushings. The ECS monoball Thrust Arms were assembled by ECS, and were just a drop in install. Took almost a full day before I found the YT Video about the LCA and Thrust Arm install.

Car was purchased in June of 2021 from Oakes Kia in Kansas City, MO
Car went into storage on November 30, 2021 due to deployment for the Navy.

I cant divulge how much I have spent.....as I dont know....lol...Im sure I could scrounge up my receipts and paypal tabs.....

I have a double line I just noticed that the 034 Top Hats are listed twice.....Ill edit the doc now.

Im currently in the Mediterranean Ocean, so car is in the care of my GF back stateside.

[jrubio96]

Welcome to the 4.0 club! I moved to the 4.0 a few months ago after diving down the rabbit hole further than anyone did with the CREC and ended up setting the record for that motor but still fell just short of the goal.

As everyone mentions, it all depends on your goals. DS1 is the ultimate suite if you want to go down the rabbit hole now. However, I worked closely with IE on the crec stuff so they helped me get my S7 tuned and it movesssss on just the stage 1 E85 map. They however do have plans to do RS7 and hybrid turbo solutions, but it's not something coming out in the short term. It's a bit cheaper up front and at least there's the promise that they'll offer big turbo support in the future.

I'll +1 some of things already said in this thread. First thing I did was exhaust work, I have a pre faclift so the exhausts are notoriously quite so I spent a couple hundred to remove the suitcase muffler, and then installed cutouts that I left open right before the rear mufflers, sounds great. Tune is obviously on the cards. If you don't have one, get a VCDS or OBD11 and mess with your ride height or get lowering links. The way these cars handle with the factory air is pretty not great so do sway bars. And then lastly get the jxb drive shift carrier. That's what I've all done since December when I got the car so that's what I recommend

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[Alabama]

Im currently in the Mediterranean Ocean, so car is in the care of my GF back stateside.

Return safely to your GF and car.