Calling All Those With The 034 ECU / TCU Tune

[dal59]

Okay, I am getting so desperate for more power I am very close, willing to throw away my warranty. However, I would really appreciate hearing from those that already have the tune one more time before pulling the trigger. Tell me anything. Loves, regrets, impressions, difference in 1/4-mile times or anything else you wish to highlight.

As you know I am currently running the RC and since I have 93 octane available, I believe the 034 will give me approximately double the gains in HP & TQ over stock when compared to the RC. And, a lot smoother ride, but I would really appreciate to hear from current users.

Thanks in advance, Dal

[ninjamanRS5]

Okay, I am getting so desperate for more power I am very close, willing to throw away my warranty. However, I would really appreciate hearing from those that already have the tune one more time before pulling the trigger. Tell me anything. Loves, regrets, impressions, difference in 1/4-mile times or anything else you wish to highlight.

As you know I am currently running the RC and since I have 93 octane available, I believe the 034 will give me approximately double the gains in HP & TQ over stock when compared to the RC. And, a lot smoother ride, but I would really appreciate to hear from current users.

Thanks in advance, Dal

I have the 034 ECU/TCU tune and love it! I don’t suggest POTENTIALLY voiding your warranty but that’s my opinion. As for me, I’m not worried about it. You’ll love the extra power and delivery of the ECU/TCU combo. Makes daily driving a lot of fun. If you need cooling mods, DM me. I have an unopened Wagner intercooler and radiator that I’ll sell for a really competitive price. I decided to go another route with respect to cooling. :)

[dal59]

I have the 034 ECU/TCU tune and love it! I don’t suggest POTENTIALLY voiding your warranty but that’s my opinion. As for me, I’m not worried about it. You’ll love the extra power and delivery of the ECU/TCU combo. Makes daily driving a lot of fun. If you need cooling mods, DM me. I have an unopened Wagner intercooler and radiator that I’ll sell for a really competitive price. I decided to go another route with respect to cooling. :)

Thank you for the input. I hope to get a lot more from all members with this tune. However, just to be clear. It is my understanding that the 93 tune does not "require" any additional tuning or additional fuel. It may be recommended, but not necessary. I am misunderstanding something with regards to cooling and fuel??

[coolwater]

As you may know I tried the 034 tune on 93 Oct and went back to JB4 as I didn’t like the pedal response. The tuning process was pretty straight forward and tune was very smooth.

I think running ethanol mix and map 5 on the JB4 left me wanting more on the 034 93 Oct tune. I would consider going 100% e85 tune, but I still have to bring my car in for warranty/recall and audicare. If the pedal response was better I would have kept the tune. You could always try it out to see if you like it.

I went with IE tune on my SQ5 and so far it’s been great. Pedal response is very much like stock. They are working on a RS5 tune also and I might give that a try when ready.

I don’t believe they have B9.5 tunes ready, but 034 does so it might come down to which ever tuner even has software for you.

And yeah here is the jb4 dyno BMS shared. I know different dyno, day and conditions etc….
Original thread - https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...4-dyno-results






-cW


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[dal59]

As you may know I tried the 034 tune on 93 Oct and went back to JB4 as I didn’t like the pedal response. The tuning process was pretty straight forward and tune was very smooth.

I think running ethanol mix and map 5 on the JB4 left me wanting more on the 034 93 Oct tune. I would consider going 100% e85 tune, but I still have to bring my car in for warranty/recall and audicare. If the pedal response was better I would have kept the tune. You could always try it out to see if you like it.

I went with IE tune on my SQ5 and so far it’s been great. Pedal response is very much like stock. They are working on a RS5 tune also and I might give that a try when ready.

I don’t believe they have B9.5 tunes ready, but 034 does so it might come down to which ever tuner even has software for you.

And yeah here is the jb4 dyno BMS shared. I know different dyno, day and conditions etc….
Original thread - https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...4-dyno-results






-cW


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Thank you, CW.
I wonder if you had tried a Pedalbox with the 034 93 tune if that would have given you the pedal response you wanted. It seems that a number of guys that are used to the "rush" from the piggyback tunes miss it when it is gone. Some have kept their Pedalbox with the 034 and keep the pedal response they like.

[JohnEnglish]

Thank you for the input. I hope to get a lot more from all members with this tune. However, just to be clear. It is my understanding that the 93 tune does not "require" any additional tuning or additional fuel. It may be recommended, but not necessary. I am misunderstanding something with regards to cooling and fuel??

No fuel mods are needed for the 93 tune. Only if you move to E85. The Wagner intercooler is recommended but not required. It only really becomes an issue if you track the car or plan to spend the day at a drag strip doing back to back runs.

[dal59]

No fuel mods are needed for the 93 tune. Only if you move to E85. The Wagner intercooler is recommended but not required. It only really becomes an issue if you track the car or plan to spend the day at a drag strip doing back to back runs.

Great. I am 93 octane only and never track with occasional highway blasts only.

[Bezlar]

Our car runs great. Only 5000 miles on the clock. For us it was about the crackles. Sounds so good now with open exhaust. We don’t beat on it very much so warranty was not that important. We have had 6 vag cars tuned and never had an issue. Knock on wood.


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[ragy17001]

034 stage 1 93 octane tuned here. I'm afraid to go full e85 and not want to go back lol. I installed it last week and then got a resonator delete yesterday. I gotta say, the car sounds and feels amazing to drive. You wont be disappointed it you go with 034 and get a res delete.

[coolwater]

Thank you, CW.
I wonder if you had tried a Pedalbox with the 034 93 tune if that would have given you the pedal response you wanted. It seems that a number of guys that are used to the "rush" from the piggyback tunes miss it when it is gone. Some have kept their Pedalbox with the 034 and keep the pedal response they like.

I had thought about it. But I decided stock pedal with JB4 was the best option. If you plan to launch your car often and for stop light pulls the 034 tune could be good. However, just doing regular pulls it was nowhere near aggressive enough on the 93oct tune.

So if you are having fun with let’s say a Model 3 Performance, which I did test the car out with 034 tune on it. You will 100% need to use launch to compete. Dude was 2-3 car lengths on me from the start with no launch on my car and a passenger. Reeled him in after about 80+. But on the JB4 without launch the initial surge makes it much closer from the beginning.

I think 034 is a great tune for track, just not right for how I like to drive the car. Thus I tried the IE tune on my SQ5 and it was great as it has the same if not better pedal response and supported ethanol mixes.

I’m waiting to try it IE on the RS5 when ready. But yeah since these guys all offer money back guarantees. You can give it a shot. Flash counters could be an issue, but if nothing major happens during the trial you should be fine to go back to stock and still have a good chance of retaining warranty.


-cW


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[ninjamanRS5]

Great. I am 93 octane only and never track with occasional highway blasts only.

English is right but cooling *is* important for consistent power. Otherwise timing will be pulled and power will be lost. I know how hot it gets in Georgia and an upgraded IC would benefit tremendously. As for me, I'm going the route of methanol injection which will eliminate the need to replace even more OEM parts to manage heat. Between 034's solution and the meth kit, my ride should be running plenty strong for a daily and will allow me to safely run the Stage 1 Plus 93 OCT tune.

[Dan99]

Okay, I am getting so desperate for more power I am very close, willing to throw away my warranty. However, I would really appreciate hearing from those that already have the tune one more time before pulling the trigger. Tell me anything. Loves, regrets, impressions, difference in 1/4-mile times or anything else you wish to highlight.

As you know I am currently running the RC and since I have 93 octane available, I believe the 034 will give me approximately double the gains in HP & TQ over stock when compared to the RC. And, a lot smoother ride, but I would really appreciate to hear from current users.

Thanks in advance, Dal

I have the 93 octane 034 Stage 1 tune, which comes with Stage 1 TCU. I also purchased the Stage 2 TCU.

The ECU tune provides more power across the rpm range, but it really comes on more as the rpms increase and it keeps pulling to the redline. Other tunes, such as APR focus more on low end torque and run out of steam at higher rpms, and some tunes modify the throttle map to give the illusion of more power. So, you get a different power profile and throttle map with different tunes. Still, some of the perceived low end response in other products is a function of the throttle maps. 034 gives you 50% throttle when the gas peddle is 50% depressed. Other tunes accelerate this so you might get 70% throttle when the gas peddle is depressed 30%. This, by the way, is exactly what a peddle box does - it does not give you any more power; it just tells the engine that you are depressing the gas peddle farther than you are.

The Stage 2 TCU tune, however, makes everything more aggressive and it makes the car noticeably faster. 034 says it reduces 0-60 by as much as 0.5 seconds (youtube) or 0.1 seconds (product description). I have not tested either, but there is a definite gain, I just can't tell you how much. However, the Stage 2 TCU tune is not dialed in very well for casual daily driving as it sometimes shifts much more aggressively than you are driving. 034 did post recently that a modification to the Stage 2 TCU tune will address this soon.

I would get the ECU and Stage 1 TCU now and consider the Stage 2 TCU after the next update (then you will have 30 days to decide if you want to keep it).

[akhlo.ca]

Dan99 I'm glad you mentioned APR as I've been searching relentlessly and couldn't find an answer. I am currently APR Stage 1 tuned with 93 Octane with the APR carbon intake/turbo inlet pipe. I'm generally happy with it as it feels fast and torquey. I am even head to head with my buddy's stock 2020 M5 Competition from 0-100kmh (but he gaps me after, by a significant margin). I guess I'm wondering if anyone has experience with both APR and 034 (with TCU tune) and would be kind enough to comment on which one is actually "better"? I'm pretty happy up to 100kmh but the power is seriously lacking after that and I'm getting a bit frustrated... FYI I currently run 0-100kmh at 3.2 to 3.3s at 3450 ft above sea level (I live in Alberta, Canada) with this APR setup and AG rotary forged wheels / Michelin PS4S. I do track my car a few times a year if that's relevant. Thanks!

[ninjamanRS5]

I guess I'm wondering if anyone has experience with both APR and 034 (with TCU tune) and would be kind enough to comment on which one is actually "better"?

From the reviews and results I've seen, switching from APR to 034 will be money wasted. 034's ECU/TCU tune has been great with my ride but I don't think those who have an existing flash tune (unless running EPL because they went out of business) need to cross over for marginal benefit. The cost IMO doesn't justify it but if you have money to burn, you can consider it. I was initially interested in going the APR route but couldn't because they didn't have a solution for the B9.5 platform. 034 beat them out so I went their way. One big thing I wish 034 would fix is the pedal response though. I don't like how they changed it and I wish they'd offer an option to effectively program a stock-like response if that makes sense. I like the punchy feel more than the steady feel and don't like the idea of buying yet another product to gain that when 034 can just change the parameters in their tune programming.

[coolwater]

From the reviews and results I've seen, switching from APR to 034 will be money wasted. 034's ECU/TCU tune has been great with my ride but I don't think those who have an existing flash tune (unless running EPL because they went out of business) need to cross over for marginal benefit. The cost IMO doesn't justify it but if you have money to burn, you can consider it. I was initially interested in going the APR route but couldn't because they didn't have a solution for the B9.5 platform. 034 beat them out so I went their way. One big thing I wish 034 would fix is the pedal response though. I don't like how they changed it and I wish they'd offer an option to effectively program a stock-like response if that makes sense. I like the punchy feel more than the steady feel and don't like the idea of buying yet another product to gain that when 034 can just change the parameters in their tune programming.

I would add that if you are ok with upping the flash counter, there is no reason not to try other competitors tune especially if there is a money back guarantee. 034 was great about the refund process. Just had to pay shipping cost for the tuning cable back to them.

I agree with you on the pedal feel and it makes street driving lose some of the fun. Plus support for ethanol mix file so you could goto back to stock for work at the dealer without having to drain your tank of E85…

Also map switching would be awesome. Even picked up an EPL cable in anticipation of their RS5 tune, but we all know what happened there.


-cW


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[akhlo.ca]

Thanks Ninjaman. I'm actually very happy with the pedal feel of the APR tune (it is even punchier than stock in S mode) so if the 034 tune doesn't provide that same feeling then that's definitely a no-go for me. As for the gains - if my research is correct:

034 Stage 1 = 514HP / 537TQ
APR Stage 1 = 498HP / 556TQ

I guess if I were to make a switch I'm trading 16HP for 19TQ, which at the end of the day is probably not even noticeable... but maybe the 034 TCU tune makes a big difference?

Does anyone have experience / knowledge about the VR Stage 2 tune? Their website says +85WHP / +100WTQ. Assume 15% drive train loss that's +100HP / +118TQ at the crank, making it about 550HP/561TQ? Now that's a bit more significant.

[dal59]

My runs are almost always highway, beginning at 70 - 80 mph, with a rare start at a streetlight. So, for me getting the car to pull all the way to redline (+5,000 rpms) is very important. We all know that the piggybacks are great with TQ from a stop, but the power takes a crap over 5k rpms which is not good for those highways runs. It sounds to me that the 034 ECU/TCU with a Pedalbox would give me power everywhere. A non-linear feel while driving around town that I and others prefer and also good power +5,000 rpms for the highway. And maybe when 034 updates the stage 2 TCU tune, we could do away with the Pedalbox.

Oh, and don't forget about being able to open the exhaust valves for Bezlar (and others) :)

[Bezlar]

My runs are almost always highway, beginning at 70 - 80 mph, with a rare start at a streetlight. So, for me getting the car to pull all the way to redline (+5,000 rpms) is very important. We all know that the piggybacks are great with TQ from a stop, but the power takes a crap over 5k rpms which is not good for those highways runs. It sounds to me that the 034 ECU/TCU with a Pedalbox would give me power everywhere. A non-linear feel while driving around town that I and others prefer and also good power +5,000 rpms for the highway. And maybe when 034 updates the stage 2 TCU tune, we could do away with the Pedalbox.

Oh, and don't forget about being able to open the exhaust valves for Bezlar (and others) :)

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[coolwater]

Dude sounds like you are set on getting it. Money back guarantee. So might as well just give it a shot.

-cW


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[dal59]

Dude sounds like you are set on getting it. Money back guarantee. So might as well just give it a shot.

-cW


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Well, I am definitely set on getting more power than the piggyback route and there really are not many options. I am really just trying to figure out if the additional power is worth losing the warranty. For me, APR is not an option. Way too many problems with the rollout of their tune. In your case, you had the tune yet went back to the JB, so this makes me have second thoughts. It is not the cost of the tune, and you can get a refund. However, I am under the impression that once you overwrite the ECU, your warranty is gone even if you return to stock.

[ninjamanRS5]

Well, I am definitely set on getting more power than the piggyback route and there really are not many options. I am really just trying to figure out if the additional power is worth losing the warranty. For me, APR is not an option. Way too many problems with the rollout of their tune. In your case, you had the tune yet went back to the JB, so this makes me have second thoughts. It is not the cost of the tune, and you can get a refund. However, I am under the impression that once you overwrite the ECU, your warranty is gone even if you return to stock.

I've not seen a warranty be voided just because of a flash count. However, I have seen one voided when aftermarket flash was left on the ECU. Keep in mind that you must do what your wallet can potentially afford. The best bet is to keep your warranty safe but if the need for speed is greater than the need for a warranty, then that's on you. Your only real protection on a modified OEM car is the magnuson-moss act but that will only go so far.

[coolwater]

I’ve been flagged TD1 before and it’s a case by case for powertrain repairs. It all depends on what it is and if it’s a known issue. Engine mounts weren’t covered, but taking my whole engine apart to fix oil consumption was.

You can still try the JB4 and you’ll get a bit more power compared to the Racechip. It’s just 3 more plugs than what you are currently running. You can even run the odb on the outside to try it out first before you start cutting grommets.

-cW


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[Dan99]

Thanks Ninjaman. I'm actually very happy with the pedal feel of the APR tune (it is even punchier than stock in S mode) so if the 034 tune doesn't provide that same feeling then that's definitely a no-go for me. As for the gains - if my research is correct:

034 Stage 1 = 514HP / 537TQ
APR Stage 1 = 498HP / 556TQ

I guess if I were to make a switch I'm trading 16HP for 19TQ, which at the end of the day is probably not even noticeable... but maybe the 034 TCU tune makes a big difference?

Does anyone have experience / knowledge about the VR Stage 2 tune? Their website says +85WHP / +100WTQ. Assume 15% drive train loss that's +100HP / +118TQ at the crank, making it about 550HP/561TQ? Now that's a bit more significant.

Generally speaking, the APR will provide more low end grunt than 034 but it runs out of steam as the rpms climb. The 034 tune does not jack up low end torque in the same way but it pulls strong all the way to the redline.

But, I would like to point out that you can't directly compare horsepower figures from the APR and 034 websites. As we all know, dyno figures can vary a lot from one dyno to another, so you can't directly compare the top number. You should look at the delta.

Audi claims 444 hp for the stock RS5:

- APR's dyno was calibrated such that stock horsepower was measured at 458, and a 93 octane tune gives you 498, for an increase of 40 hp.

- 034's dyno was calibrated such that stock horsepower was measured at 441, and a 93 octane tune gives you 514, for an increase of 73 hp.

So the difference is 33 hp, not 16.

Audi claims 443 ft lbs of torque:

- APR's dyno measured stock torque at 469, and a 93 octane tune gives you 556, for an increase of 87 ft lbs.

- 034's dyno measured stock torque at 467, and a 93 octane tune gives you 537, for an increase of 70 ft lbs.

So the difference is 17 ft lbs, not 19 ft lbs.

I think the real difference shows up in the shape of the curves for the dyno charts on both websites. APR increased low end grunt and 034 focused more on horsepower and extending the usable rpm range.

So, if you are happy with the throttle response and low end power with the APR tune, there is probably not much reason to change. If you prefer to have a engine that pulls strong all the way to the redline, and more overall horsepower, 034 does that. And, if you really want to get aggressive, the Stage 2 TCU tune from 034 does that. In the end, both tunes deliver performance increases, but with different personalities.

[akhlo.ca]

Thanks Dan. We are on the same page (even though my initial analysis was slightly off) - APR has more low end and 034 has more high end and it's pretty much all preference. It would probably be silly to spend money to switch to 034 right now given that I already have the APR, especially since 034 Stage 1+ requires a HPFP which is another $1200 USD (although I don't get why it is needed, given that 1 and 1+ have the same HP/TQ).

That said, I am interested in 034's TCU tune as most reviews have been quite positive, but I think I'm going to wait till they come up with a stage 2 ECU tune and do everything at the same time. It has been "under development" for a few months now so hopefully they are available soonish.

*edit: nevermind I just remembered that there will be no stage 2 lol

[dal59]

Thanks Dan. We are on the same page (even though my initial analysis was slightly off) - APR has more low end and 034 has more high end and it's pretty much all preference. It would probably be silly to spend money to switch to 034 right now given that I already have the APR, especially since 034 Stage 1+ requires a HPFP which is another $1200 USD (although I don't get why it is needed, given that 1 and 1+ have the same HP/TQ).

That said, I am interested in 034's TCU tune as most reviews have been quite positive, but I think I'm going to wait till they come up with a stage 2 ECU tune and do everything at the same time. It has been "under development" for a few months now so hopefully they are available soonish.

*edit: nevermind I just remembered that there will be no stage 2 lol

And that you do not need the HPFP unless using E85 as was pointed out in a response from 034 and Johnny English. Also, as others have pointed out, if you want the best of both worlds you can use a Pedalbox with 034 to get your low end grunt and get power all the way to redline as pointed out by Dan.

[Dan99]

Thanks Dan... That said, I am interested in 034's TCU tune as most reviews have been quite positive, but I think I'm going to wait till they come up with a stage 2 ECU tune and do everything at the same time. It has been "under development" for a few months now so hopefully they are available soonish... *edit: nevermind I just remembered that there will be no stage 2 lol

034 said that the stock cats flow very well and there is nothing to be gained by going to high performance cats on the RS5, so the status of a Stage 2 ECU tune is not clear. However, they are working on other enhancements, such as hybrid turbos, so we'll have to see what they come up with. Here is a video that discusses this in more detail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kKONXzDyqA

But, the Stage 2 TCU tune (available now) adds a level of performance I did not expect. It transforms the car making it much more aggressive and getting more power to the road sooner. The difference between Stage 1 and 2 TCU is very much like the difference I experienced going from Stage 1 to Stage 2 ECU on my previous S4.

However, the programming for the Stage 2 TCU is not as refined as I would like. It definitely adds significant performance but it is too aggressive for daily driving for my taste. It does very well when you want to go fast, and it does very well when you are driving casually, but it shifts too aggressively when you are driving in-between casual and aggressive - at least it does in Sport. For example, it can bang gears inappropriately hard when I am just trying to keep up with a minivan pulling away from a stop light.

Nick@034 recently acknowledged the issue and said they are working on an update to address this. I would expect it to get released relatively soon. I hope this gets addressed as the Stage 2 TCU adds immediacy and intensity to the power delivery. As long as the programming becomes more sophisticated it will be a must-have for me.

[akhlo.ca]

Thanks Dan. Um maybe the TCU stage 2 is enough for me to switch from APR to 034. Gotta need to seriously put some thoughts into it…


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[ragy17001]

034 said that the stock cats flow very well and there is nothing to be gained by going to high performance cats on the RS5, so the status of a Stage 2 ECU tune is not clear. However, they are working on other enhancements, such as hybrid turbos, so we'll have to see what they come up with. Here is a video that discusses this in more detail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kKONXzDyqA

But, the Stage 2 TCU tune (available now) adds a level of performance I did not expect. It transforms the car making it much more aggressive and getting more power to the road sooner. 034 claims it cuts 0.5 seconds from 0-60. I have not tested that claim, but it definitely feels that way. The difference between Stage 1 and 2 TCU is very much like the difference I experienced going from Stage 1 to Stage 2 ECU on my previous S4.

However, the programming for the Stage 2 TCU is not as refined as I would like. It definitely adds significant performance but it is too aggressive for daily driving for my taste. It does very well when you want to go fast, and it does very well when you are driving casually, but it shifts too aggressively when you are driving in-between casual and aggressive - at least it does in Sport. For example, it can bang gears inappropriately hard when I am just trying to keep up with a minivan pulling away from a stop light.

Nick@034 recently acknowledged the issue and said they are working on an update to address this. I would expect it to get released relatively soon. I hope this gets addressed as the Stage 2 TCU adds immediacy and intensity to the power delivery. As long as the programming becomes more sophisticated it will be a must-have for me.

Dan, in a separate thread you mentioned how important gearing is. Can tuning the TCU make a difference in trap speed and top end power? Are gear ratios and things like that a physical attribute based on hardware or has 034 stage 2 TCU tune only changed the characteristics of that hardware?

[dal59]

Can someone give me detailed instructions on how to use OBD11 to look up ecu / tcu box codes to make sure the 034 tune is ready to be loaded in my car?

[Bezlar]

Can someone give me detailed instructions on how to use OBD11 to look up ecu / tcu box codes to make sure the 034 tune is ready to be loaded in my car?

It’s pretty straight forward. Just hook up the obd11 and scan. You will see the different modules in a list. Select engine I think. It’s really common sense once you see it.


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[dal59]

It’s pretty straight forward. Just hook up the obd11 and scan. You will see the different modules in a list. Select engine I think. It’s really common sense once you see it.


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Boy that was quick. :) It probably is pretty straight forward, but whenever I hook up to OBD2 I PANIC. I am not connected now but just looking at the app. On the bottom of the screen next to home and apps is other. Under other there is lookup and under lookup there is engine codes. I suppose this is it unless it automatically pops up when you connect and scan.

tks, dal

[JohnEnglish]

Can someone give me detailed instructions on how to use OBD11 to look up ecu / tcu box codes to make sure the 034 tune is ready to be loaded in my car?

034 has links to instructions on this page: https://store.034motorsport.com/chec...di-volkswagen/

[dal59]

034 has links to instructions on this page: https://store.034motorsport.com/chec...di-volkswagen/

Mr. English...... that is awesome!!!!!!
It appears you do not even have to connect to OBD2 again to get this info. I only used OBD11 one time, but apparently the app stored my ECU / TCU codes the same way it stores you VIN from that initial connection. I opened the OBD11 app and followed the instructions from the link you sent, while sitting on my couch, and it brought up the codes for the engine and the tranny.
Thank you very much!!!!!

[Dan99]

Dan, in a separate thread you mentioned how important gearing is. Can tuning the TCU make a difference in trap speed and top end power? Are gear ratios and things like that a physical attribute based on hardware or has 034 stage 2 TCU tune only changed the characteristics of that hardware?

The tune does not affect gear ratios, you would have to change hardware for that, but it does make a differences in trap speed and power. While the gear ratios in the higher gears are taller than BMW's, you are applying more power to those gears with the tune, so it does go faster.

I don't grag race so I don't have any official traps speeds for you; however, the difference between TCU Stage 1 and Stage 2 became immediately apparent to me on my favorite expressway entrance ramp. With Stage 2 I'm going at least 10 mph faster at the end of the ramp than Stage 1. I'm using the 93 octane tune.

I was a bit surprised by the difference, but I suppose it's a function of making the torque converter/automatic transmission more efficient. Automatic transmissions always have more power loss than manual transmissions. By increasing the clamping pressures, I guess that 034 has reduced the power loss inherent in an automatic, with the tradeoff being more aggressive shifts. But, that's just a guess.

[ragy17001]

The tune does not affect gear ratios, you would have to change hardware for that, but it does make a differences in trap speed and power. While the gear ratios in the higher gears are taller than BMW's, you are applying more power to those gears with the tune, so it does go faster.

I don't grag race so I don't have any official traps speeds for you; however, the difference between TCU Stage 1 and Stage 2 became immediately apparent to me on my favorite expressway entrance ramp. With Stage 2 I'm going at least 10 mph faster at the end of the ramp than Stage 1. I'm using the 93 octane tune.

I was a bit surprised by the difference, but I suppose it's a function of making the torque converter/automatic transmission more efficient. Automatic transmissions always have more power loss than manual transmissions. By increasing the clamping pressures, I guess that 034 has reduced the power loss inherent in an automatic, with the tradeoff being more aggressive shifts. But, that's just a guess.

Thanks for the reply dan. 034 mentioned in their most recent podcast how substantial the TCU tune is. Seems like it's something that doesn't always show up on the dyno but translates well on the road.

One last question for you. I'm coming from a 034 stage 2 B9 S5 Sportback to my current B9.5 RS5. Surprisingly, my Stock RS5 (444HP) was faster than my tuned S5 (510HP E85)when I compared 0 to 60 draggy results. Not sure that to make of this since both cars were launched from the same spot on similar days and I took the best results from each. Doing a little bit of YouTube research confirmed my numbers did make some sense. The fastest time I got out of my S5 was 3.5s and the fastest I got from my RS5 was 3.3s. With a power difference of 66HP, I was expecting a different outcome. Is this RS magic or something else?

[ragy17001]

update on my RS5 times It was 3.5s to 60. Brain fart.

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update on my RS5 times It was 3.5s to 60. Brain fart.

[dal59]

I imagine the TCU stage 2 will be very popular if it addresses the rough shifting during normal driving and reduces 60-130 times like it reduces 0-60 times.

[Dan99]

Thanks for the reply dan. 034 mentioned in their most recent podcast how substantial the TCU tune is. Seems like it's something that doesn't always show up on the dyno but translates well on the road.

One last question for you. I'm coming from a 034 stage 2 B9 S5 Sportback to my current B9.5 RS5. Surprisingly, my Stock RS5 (444HP) was faster than my tuned S5 (510HP E85)when I compared 0 to 60 draggy results. Not sure that to make of this since both cars were launched from the same spot on similar days and I took the best results from each. Doing a little bit of YouTube research confirmed my numbers did make some sense. The fastest time I got out of my S5 was 3.5s and the fastest I got from my RS5 was 3.3s. With a power difference of 66HP, I was expecting a different outcome. Is this RS magic or something else?

Can't say I believe in RS5 magic, but I can't explain your results. The RS cars have different transmission tuning than the S cars, but it looks like you probably had the 034 transmission tune for the S5, so I would not expect transmission tuning to explain your results. The 034 E85 tune produces a lot of torque. When you ran draggy in the S5 did you have wheel hop or spin such that it might not have resulted in the best time possible?

Perhaps someone else with more experience with the 034 tune for the S5 can provide some insight.

[ragy17001]

Now that I think about it, It may have more to do with the way the RS5 is set up. Summer tires, different transmission tuning, and twin turbos may have all contributed to it's better performance compared to my tuned S5. Ah well