A5 larger turbo options

[sw55]

Any A5 owners out there upgrade to a larger turbo? I'm looking into the IS38 and TTE440L systems and curious to see if anyone has feedback on either. Also interested to hear if there are other options available.

As for background, I really prefer driving manuals and fell in love with the B9 style so I had to make a choice.....S5 auto or A5 manual. The manual wins for me as I appreciate rowing gears! I know the autos are faster but I'm just old school and grew up with the 3rd pedal. I've also been told a hundred times to sell it and get something else, but I really like the style of this car.

Photos of how the car sits now with a mods list below:

JB4 tune
Wagner intercooler
034 intake
CTS HFC
AWE cat back exhaust (touring)
EMD springs and spacers
034 front strut brace

I'd like to keep running the JB4 tune which is why I'm leaning to the IS38 but it's not a deal breaker for me. For anyone who has upgraded their turbos....any other supporting mods required/recommended? Colder plugs, diverter valve, transmission mount and brake upgrades are all on my to do list but I'm on pause until I pick a turbo path. I'm not building a track car but do want something with a better response and feel.

Appreciate any feedback!

-Steve

[mashani9]

Someone else might know for sure as I don't know what clutch Audi uses in those 2.0T A5s, but if it's the same one that VW on its E888 same generation manual cars (GTI, Golf-R), then you will have to upgrade it if you go big turbo.

[sw55]

Good call- I’ve started looking at the GTI forums to see what those guys are doing and it’s a mix. Some are upgrading and others are retaining the stock clutch until it goes.

Appreciate the response.

[Sir Soysauce]

Good call- I’ve started looking at the GTI forums to see what those guys are doing and it’s a mix. Some are upgrading and others are retaining the stock clutch until it goes.

Appreciate the response.

Please let me know what you find! I currently have a Tuned S5 but have been considering getting an A4 to get my third pedal back but haven’t really investigated options. I’d love to hear what you end up doing!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

[sw55]

Most definitely. My plan is to spend the next couple months putting a plan together for the car and to start pulling the trigger on orders in the new year.

[mashani9]

Good call- I’ve started looking at the GTI forums to see what those guys are doing and it’s a mix. Some are upgrading and others are retaining the stock clutch until it goes.

Appreciate the response.

Its the max torque and how it is utilized that is the limitation, so it all depends on how you drive it as far as how long it would last, and if the big turbo tune limits torque in 1st/2nd or lets you actually apply it all or not. No torque limit + big foot from a dig = new clutch real soon now. But saving the big foot for 3rd and > and downshifting and not lugging it in big gears will make it last longer. YMMV, everyone drives different. Just budget for it because one day it will be needed. The reason Golf Rs and GTIs don't really have a big difference in torque is just how close those transmissions are being pushed to their limits stock. (also why MK8 manual Golf R's are de-tuned compared to the DSGs, they didn't upgrade the clutch in any way in MK8s).

[sw55]

Great info and agreed on your point around driving style. Personally, I’m not running from a dig. Those days are behind me!

I just want to have more fun on backroads and maybe hit an open track day once or twice a year. Brakes and clutch upgrades are going into the budget along with suspension upgrades.

[A4 Centaur]

Southbend Clutch is the path forward for the drivetrain.

The folks at The Turbo Engineers should be able to hook you up with a good hybrid turbo good to around 400 AWHP with the larger injectors.

Certainly a FMIC will be requisite as well.

https://tteglobal.com/audi/a4/b9-2.0...ocharger?c=205

[sw55]

Thanks. Any recommendations on the southbend clutch? I was thinking stage 2 daily would do the trick but that’s based off very little research at this point.

I may wait on a clutch just to see how the stock one holds up after the turbo upgrade. Will be an interesting test case to see whether it’s required. Doesn’t feel like too many A5 owners have upgraded turbos so I don’t mind being the Guinea pig here and providing some feedback. Fair warning though……I’m no car expert. Just a regular enthusiast willing to learn.

Fortunately my son has a car (B6 Avant 5 speed) and can’t drive yet so I can daily his if mine breaks!

[A4 Centaur]

^Yea, the clamping force required to prevent slipping at WOT might only crop up after some repeated abuse.

Looks like this daily version should be perfect and is pretty cost effective too: https://www.southbendclutch.com/clut...14-HD-O-12508/

[mashani9]

Just note that if you don't want to buy a new oem flywheel, the daily clutch needs to go on before your clutch actually burns to toast. Because when that happens often the flywheel is toast too. Ask me how I know lol.

[sw55]

Looks like some of the A4 guys have upgraded turbos and the two leading options are the TTE440 or the Lm430. Both of which require custom tunes so trying to find a good company for that now. From what I understand the IS38 upgrade requires a ton of custom work to get it to fit so not going down that path. Works great for the GTI guys but different engine setup.

As for tunes- AGP based in Russia is one option and Malone tune are the options I’ve seen. I’ve heard Malone can take up to 3 months but I don’t have first hand experience. Any other tune recommendations out there?

I’m going to reach out to the turbo engineers (thanks for the above suggestion A4 Centaur!) as they have a software pricing option to see where that takes me. More to come….

[AudiTFSIGen3]

To compare: oem/stock vs. hybrid:

AUDI A5 F5 8W A4 B9 B8.5 A6 C7 A7 Q5 Q7 Q8 2.0 TFSI Turbo LM430 Upgrade Hybrid Turbocharger Pors.jpg

AUDI A5 2.0T LM430 Upgrade Turbo.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbo9YxKjLUw

[Commandopat]

Did you ever upgrade your turbos, and/or clutch? Would love to know as I have a 2023 A5 and am considering more mods :)

[sw55]

Did you ever upgrade your turbos, and/or clutch? Would love to know as I have a 2023 A5 and am considering more mods :)

I debated it for a while and spoke to a few tuners & mechanics who all told me it just wasn’t worth it, so I went out and bought a sport bike instead! I know a few people on the A4 forums have gone with hybrid turbos so check that group as well.

I know my way around an engine but I’m certainly not a mechanic and just felt it would be a headache and not worth the money.

[Commandopat]

That’s fair. I figured it might not be worth the investment but thought I’d check if others had done it. Thank you!