Coil Pack Question

[Leo Gets]

Looking at upgrading my coil packs and see that both APR and CTS have options available around the same price range.
Both also claiming a 10% performance increase.
Is anyone using either or have any experience with them or know if there is a difference between them?

I also see that Original Equipment makes an "unbranded" red top set for significantly less.
Are these the same as OEM just redtop?
Or are they more like unbranded APR/CTS ones that offer some "performance increases"?

APR


CTS


Original Equipment



Is it even worth the cost to upgrade if the OEM ones are working fine?
Should I care about "branded" vs "unbranded"?

[TheMysticWizard]

Had a set of the APR ones.

Noticed no difference in the way it ran until one failed electronically. When swapping coils around one broke as well, the outside shell of the connector came right off the coil.

4 Months, less than 5k miles.

Wrote to APR and they sent me a whole new set. Sold those to a member here and went back to my OEM set.

034 told me that the OEM set is fine for stage 2 and there is really no point in looking for an upgrade.

[initiala4]

Looking at upgrading my coil packs and see that both APR and CTS have options available around the same price range.
Both also claiming a 10% performance increase.
Is anyone using either or have any experience with them or know if there is a difference between them?

I also see that Original Equipment makes an "unbranded" red top set for significantly less.
Are these the same as OEM just redtop?
Or are they more like unbranded APR/CTS ones that offer some "performance increases"?

APR


CTS


Original Equipment



Is it even worth the cost to upgrade if the OEM ones are working fine?
Should I care about "branded" vs "unbranded"?

I ran the APR one before, and felt nothing. Swapped to Ignition Projects, and felt a little bit more power.

[JohnEnglish]

Everything I’ve read says to stick with the OEM ones as third party ones offer no real benefits or advantages.

[Leo Gets]

Thx everyone. It seems anecdotally a lot of people have APR coil packs fail.

[ninjamanRS5]

Don't waste your money on bogus claims. The stock coil packs work perfectly fine. :) This kinda reminds me of the old days when people bought grounding kits for their econoboxes. LMAO!

[JohnEnglish]

Oh yeah grounding kits. I think the explanation was that you'd have better grounding so you'd get a stronger spark and therefor more horsepower. I remember reading threads on RennList where half the people would swear they were adding 30 - 50 HP and the other half were mocking them.

[Leo Gets]

Don't waste your money on bogus claims. The stock coil packs work perfectly fine. :) This kinda reminds me of the old days when people bought grounding kits for their econoboxes. LMAO!

[CurvesAhead]

These are OEM R8 coil packs, similar to other Audi packs, certainly look better than the APR junk up there^

963b3fb-lrgscaleu5014-x4-1.jpeg

[Dave10]

Along the same lines as OEM coils versus APR and others, are the OEM R8 ones the same as the ones that go in a 2018 A5 2.0 (4 cylinder turbo)? Also, what NGK plugs should be used?

Sorry is advance for this newb question but I just picked up my CPO 2018 A5 with 27,000 miles on it last night and searched and found so many different opinions.

Thanks everyone for the great information on this site, it's very informative and I have been doing a LOT of reading.

Today I learned I have a B9. We all have to start at the beginning sometime.

[CurvesAhead]

Along the same lines as OEM coils versus APR and others, are the OEM R8 ones the same as the ones that go in a 2018 A5 2.0 (4 cylinder turbo)? Also, what NGK plugs should be used?

Sorry is advance for this newb question but I just picked up my CPO 2018 A5 with 27,000 miles on it last night and searched and found so many different opinions.

Thanks everyone for the great information on this site, it's very informative and I have been doing a LOT of reading.

Today I learned I have a B9. We all have to start at the beginning sometime.

Look here: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assemble.../06e905115ekt/

They have the correct plugs too. Also, check FCP Euro: if you buy oil or parts from them and send the used parts back (that you bought from them) they send you your money back. You might think I'm kidding, I'm NOT!

[Dave10]

I know all too well to NOT to buy anything from ECS.

I am longtime FCP customer and I totally know your not a kidding about the oil. My buddy also uses FCP also and gets new track pads, rotors, oil and Motul brake fluid free after every track weekend.

I had a very custom 2005 MINI Cooper JCW with a fully built forged motor, TVS 900 SC, Aquamist Meth kit and made over 300 WHP to the wheels. Just sold it for $16,000 after owning it for 15 years.

[CurvesAhead]

I know all too well to NOT to buy anything from ECS.

I am longtime FCP customer and I totally know your not a kidding about the oil. My buddy also uses FCP also and gets new track pads, rotors, oil and Motul brake fluid free after every track weekend.

I had a very custom 2005 MINI Cooper JCW with a fully built forged motor, TVS 900 SC, Aquamist Meth kit and made over 300 WHP to the wheels. Just sold it for $16,000 after owning it for 15 years.

How do suppose they can refund all that money and stay in business, I often wonder why they do it?

[JohnEnglish]

Along the same lines as OEM coils versus APR and others, are the OEM R8 ones the same as the ones that go in a 2018 A5 2.0 (4 cylinder turbo)? Also, what NGK plugs should be used?

The coil packs are the same. Some people claimed the R8 or RS car packs were more powerful but several places have tested that claim and have shown that all Audi coil packs perform the same.

The dealer should be able to tell you want plus you need.

[Dave10]

The coil packs are the same. Some people claimed the R8 or RS car packs were more powerful but several places have tested that claim and have shown that all Audi coil packs perform the same.

The dealer should be able to tell you want plus you need.

Thank you, that is exactly what I was thinking.

[Dave10]

How do suppose they can refund all that money and stay in business, I often wonder why they do it?

I talked to someone in ownership and they said for every One person that uses that warrant over 500 do not. The warranty pays for itself as word of mouth advertising but most people never use it.

They are a top,shelf company with excellent customer service. I have ordered before from FCP with rush overnight shipping. The parts did not show up for 3 days due to UPS / FedEx issues. The refunded my entire order and said it on the house. WHAT! Now that’s customer service, going above and beyond and made me a lifetime customer.

ECS Tuning, yeah not so much.