Integrated Engineering RS5 Tune Review - First thoughts

[BlackOctopus]

Stock: 456 HP, 485 TQ
91: +46 HP, +80 TQ
E85: +86 HP, +96 TQ
E85+: +148 HP, +175 TQ


Given that it's the newest tune released for the RS5 you may be wondering why I chose IE when 034 has had such a solid, well-tested, and refined tune. While I don't currently run E85 (HPFP soon!), I don't want to be stranded running ethanol and not have a laptop to switch ECU files. If get in a bind and can only get 91 octane (only a handful of ethanol stations in my area) I will be up Shit Creek without mobile flashing. I'm aware that 034 is in the process of developing mobile flashing, but to my knowledge no timeline has been provided for its release. The second reason that I opted to try IE is for stage 2 downpipe coding. The RS5 exhaust is notably in need of some love. With downpipes and/or a full catback, this thing can sing how it was meant to. But even with spacers on my downpipes, my O² sensors unfortunately still flag a code. I'm not about to have a real engine code light up my CEL and be masked by the O² code that can be turned off by the IE tune. I daily my RS5 and can't afford to let small things slide. With as intricately engineered as this car is, it doesn't take much to starr a cascade of mechanical problems and I need to be aware of any problem that arises, no matter how small.

On to the review...

Flashing was a piece of cake. Well, it was easier than that, actually. Plug and play, with no issues mobile flashing. Cool!

The first thing I notice right off the bat is that throttle input has been revamped. It's smooth, but not so smooth that it has strayed from the pep that Audi was originally going for. Audi did a pretty awful job with making the input optimal for daily driving. I get where they were coming from, but I feel like they could have done a much better if they actually had to daily the car on i5 during rush hour. The stock input was so bad that that my wife got a pillow to help with the rough and jarring lurch that even the smallest amount of input gave her in the passenger seat. No longer! Input is now linearized. Now, it's my choice if I want to put my passengers (happily) back into their seats, as it should be. It's nice having a car that's ready to and wants to go lightspeed at a moments notice, but I don't need to be reminded of it every single time I'm in traffic or at a light and a moquito lands on the gas pedal.

The second thing I notice is the shifting. No, wait. The third thing I notice is the shifting. The second thing I notice is that I'm an inch further back my seat. I'm left feeling surprised with a stupid ear-to-ear grin every time I pull away at a light. Even at just 91 octane the gains are real and they are more than tangible. While the Racechip GTS was a nice bump and had some fun exhaust overrun, this is different. This isn't just the turbo working harder, either. This is the engine. And it's pulling every drop power that it can from pump gas, and I can't help but feel like it's hungry for more every time I reluctantly pull my foot off the pedal. I can't wait to see what ethanol can give this engine. Wow.

The shifting. The shifts are much cleaner, almost seamless. So much so that I wouldn't notice them if not for the beautiful roar of the exhaust with downpipes, and a small breath in before the next gear. There is no more slop, no more delay, and no more searching. The TCU is now a laser guided predator, and it knows exactly what to do and when to do it. Stage 2 TCU flashing provides different files for different circumstances, giving you the option to keep as much grip as those vacant city streets will let you if you like street launching. Want to chirp all four tires? You might be looking for the "aggressive launch" file. Taking those rings to the strip? "Race launch" is for you.

But... It's not all good news. While this tune provides more freedom of customization, it comes with a price (for now). If you go stage 2 to get rid of the O² CEL from downpipes, your dynamic mode will have the crackle tune. No if, ands, or buts. I hope that this will eventually change with an update. While I love the louder exhaust of downpipes, and some burbles or pops every now and then can be nice, I don't want to hear a good four to five seconds (yes, four to five seconds) of constant pops and burbles. And certainly not every single time I downshift, decelerate, or simply take my foot off the gas. And every time I want to let loose on dynamic? If I want to launch I have to deal with the crackles? That's not a feature I'm happy with, and I hope that the crackle tune is eventually toned down, or restricted to individual mode drive select. While it isn't obvious initially, I have found a workaround that does not sacrifice performance. I have set drive select individual mode to have everything dynamic except for engine sound which is in comfort (even in auto, crackles are present when in sport mode). I rarely launch my RS5 and having drive select in indivudal mode isn't a huge issue for me. It's certainly not optimal and is sure to be a drawback to some, if not most people looking for more performance from this platform.

Update:
CEL downpipe support apparently doesn't keep the CEL from activating due to tripping the catalyst O² sensor. And when it is tripped, you have to manually clear the engine code. Because restarting the car doesn't automatically remove the code. So if I had to guess, simply flashing resets the status for the sensors but doesn't stop them from tripping again, and to me, that isn't "stage 2 downpipe support." Pretty unhappy about that as it's an inconvenience that was advertised as being taken care of, but has not been remedied. Definitely going to contact support on this. Pretty nifty being able to see all my engine data and engine/transmission codes on my phone though!

This is written to convey my experience with the tune as an amateur enthusiast. If something I have written here is inaccurate please let me know so that I can correct it. Thanks!

[ywang98]

Thank you for your detailed review.

[B6_Dolphin]

While I don't currently run E85 (HPFP soon!), I don't want to be stranded running ethanol and not have a laptop to switch ECU files. If get in a bind and can only get 91 octane (only a handful of ethanol stations in my area) I will be up Shit Creek without mobile flashing.

You mean you don't want to make a special trip to Smokey Point every time you want to run E85? I'm with you, and I'm closer to the station, as I'm in Everett.

[jdm-v35]

Thanks for this review. This is exactly the type of real world review I was looking for on IE, since the few reviews there are seem to be on 034.

[BlackOctopus]

You mean you don't want to make a special trip to Smokey Point every time you want to run E85? I'm with you, and I'm closer to the station, as I'm in Everett.

I'm in Lake Stevens so it's not as bad as being downtown I guess. All things considered, I think it's pretty good luck to have a pump only 20 miles away that can give wild gains if I want them. I'm definitely going to have a couple five-gallon jugs to fill whenever I go so that I'm not making the trip more than once a week.

Thanks for this review. This is exactly the type of real world review I was looking for on IE, since the few reviews there are seem to be on 034.

Glad you think so, I hope it helped!

[Kyokio]

thank you for the detailed review!

[DarkSideGTI]

That is a bummer about the pops and bangs. I am too old for those.

[peterg29]

What would happen if you install one from these active valve controllers? Maybe that would help to reduce the pop and bangs and noice, no?

[djmika]

OP - Very nicely written review. Thanks for taking the time.

To clarify, if one were to just go Stage 1, the Crackle Tune is not included? Does this basically mean that there are no more of that nonsense than with the stock tune? I'm completely with Darkside on this. I'm too old for that stuff. Frankly, even as a former 4th gen LT1 Camaro owner, I wasn't into that stuff even in my 20's and on a car where one would more likely expect it.

[BlackOctopus]

Update to my review which I'll attempt to change in my main post...

CEL downpipe support apparently doesn't keep the CEL from activating due to tripping the catalyst O² sensor. And when it is tripped, you have to manually clear the engine code. So if I had to guess, simply flashing resets the status for the sensors but doesn't stop them from tripping again, and to me, that isn't "stage 2 downpipe support." Pretty unhappy about that as it's an inconvenience that was advertised as being taken care of, but has not been remedied. Definitely going to contact support on this.

What would happen if you install one from these active valve controllers? Maybe that would help to reduce the pop and bangs and noice, no?

I had my resonators deleted but plugged my valves back in when I put in downpipes. The valves make some difference, but not nearly enough to negate the duration of the overrun. I liked having that when I ran the racechip because it was pretty infrequent, even with the valves open all the time. This is, somehow, still too much.

OP - Very nicely written review. Thanks for taking the time.

To clarify, if one were to just go Stage 1, the Crackle Tune is not included? Does this basically mean that there are no more of that nonsense than with the stock tune? I'm completely with Darkside on this. I'm too old for that stuff. Frankly, even as a former 4th gen LT1 Camaro owner, I wasn't into that stuff even in my 20's and on a car where one would more likely expect it.

Right, I believe crackle is only on stage 2. It's no doubt that "boy racer" vibe and even though I'm in my 20's now, I can't get with it. I'm sure it's exactly what some people want though, and it's done well for it's purpose. Unfortunately, there's no in-between.

[DarkSideGTI]

This video review is pretty telling between 034 and IE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtKyTp0JUvM

[kmarei]

wow
bummer all already bought the 034 tune
dont' really want to soend anothet 1500 on a tune
and the value of the 034 would be zero, since they don't allow you to move tune to a different VIN

[djmika]

I don't see 034 playing second fiddle for too long. I think there's a good chance they continue to work on their tune to stay competitive. From what I've seen (and I'm local and have been there), they're among the most significant players with a large R&D component. If I owned 034, I'd hold tight or even bring this to their attention and see what they say.

[dal59]

Wonderful review. I am not seeing the gains for the stage 1 - 93 tune, nor can I find it on their website. Do you happen to know these claimed numbers?

[Dr. Jekyll]

I'm curious of there's a difference in thermal management between the two tunes, which then impacts 1/4 ET and trap. In the video, the 034 1/4 time seems pretty consistent for cars without an upgraded intercooler/heat exchanger, which are usually in the low 11's. I know the YouTuber mentioned 60' times as being the discriminator between the two tunes, but it seems that most 034 RS5s in the 10's have upgraded intercoolers. 034 has also mentioned that the RS5 heat soaks bad, even during a 1/4 mile pull. So if 034's tuning philosophy means they are more conservative than IE with thermal management (i.e. they decrease timing/boost more or at a lower temp threshold), then that might explain the slower time in comparison to the IE tune.

Not that there is anything wrong with different tuning philosophies. 034 does a lot of track testing, which would indicate a focus on thermal management and maybe a more conservative approach if sustained high temps are being accounted for. I don't know enough about IE, but they may be less conservative with the thermal management parameters if their focus is on street, 1/4, and dyno, with lower or less sustained temps. All that to say, I want to see a back-to-back test between the tunes on a car with an upgraded IC/HX.

[SlowRolla]

I'm curious of there's a difference in thermal management between the two tunes, which then impacts 1/4 ET and trap. In the video, the 034 1/4 time seems pretty consistent for cars without an upgraded intercooler/heat exchanger, which are usually in the low 11's. I know the YouTuber mentioned 60' times as being the discriminator between the two tunes, but it seems that most 034 RS5s in the 10's have upgraded intercoolers. 034 has also mentioned that the RS5 heat soaks bad, even during a 1/4 mile pull. So if 034's tuning philosophy means they are more conservative than IE with thermal management (i.e. they decrease timing/boost more or at a lower temp threshold), then that might explain the slower time in comparison to the IE tune.

Not that there is anything wrong with different tuning philosophies. 034 does a lot of track testing, which would indicate a focus on thermal management and maybe a more conservative approach if sustained high temps are being accounted for. I don't know enough about IE, but they may be less conservative with the thermal management parameters if their focus is on street, 1/4, and dyno, with lower or less sustained temps. All that to say, I want to see a back-to-back test between the tunes on a car with an upgraded IC/HX.

This is my thought as well. If you look through 034 posts of when they release a new version of their RS5 tune, they detail the revisions and it almost always includes some sort of "safety" revisions to keep their tune as reliable as possible. I'm not saying IE's isn't, but definitely something to think about.

[deejayh]

This is my thought as well. If you look through 034 posts of when they release a new version of their RS5 tune, they detail the revisions and it almost always includes some sort of "safety" revisions to keep their tune as reliable as possible. I'm not saying IE's isn't, but definitely something to think about.

This * 1000000000

[iReminisce]

Wonderful review. I am not seeing the gains for the stage 1 - 93 tune, nor can I find it on their website. Do you happen to know these claimed numbers?

Stage 1 93 Octane is 522HP 572ft-lb. Go here and click the Performance Results tab https://performancebyie.com/collecti...9-2-9t-rs4-rs5

[Dan99]

Stage 1 93 Octane is 522HP 572ft-lb. Go here and click the Performance Results tab https://performancebyie.com/collecti...9-2-9t-rs4-rs5

When you compare the 034 and IE tunes for 93 octane, and take the baseline figures into account, they are very similar:

034 stock baseline = 441HP, 467TQ
034 93 octane tune = 514HP, 537TQ
034 gain = 73HP, 70 TQ

IE stock baseline = 456HP, 485TQ
IE 93 octane tune = 522HP, 572TQ
IE gain = 66HP, 87TQ

So, 034 provides more gains in horsepower (73 vs 66) and IE gains more torque (87 vs 70). While the peak numbers are very similar, the shape of the power curves is very different. IE dials up the torque earlier and remains higher longer, which probably accounts for the better 60 foot times. However, the horsepower curves are the opposite. IE horsepower peaks at about 5700 rpm while the 034 tune peaks around 6700 rpm. So, the 034 tunes likes to rev more while the IE tune is more focused on low-end grunt.

[jdm-v35]

When you compare the 034 and IE tunes for 93 octane, and take the baseline figures into account, they are very similar:

034 stock baseline = 441HP, 467TQ
034 93 octane tune = 514HP, 537TQ
034 gain = 73HP, 70 TQ

IE stock baseline = 456HP, 485TQ
IE 93 octane tune = 522HP, 572TQ
IE gain = 66HP, 87TQ

So, 034 provides more gains in horsepower (73 vs 66) and IE gains more torque (87 vs 70). While the peak numbers are very similar, the shape of the power curves is very different. IE dials up the torque earlier and remains higher longer, which probably accounts for the better 60 foot times. However, the horsepower curves are the opposite. IE runs out of steam at about 5700 rpm while the 034 tune pulls hard to 6700 rpm. So, the 034 tunes likes to rev more while the IE tune is more focused on low-end grunt.

I ordered IE stage1 ECU/Stage2 TCU tune this week due to the difference in how the dynos were and the reviews of throttle response. I think the lower end torque boost and close-to-stock pedal feel of IE will be more useful around town, and will have more of a difference in everyday driving feel. I can see the 034 tune being easier to utilize on a technical track though with the linear throttle map as well as more HP up top towards redline. IMO both are good, but better at different applications/uses.

[Dan99]

I ordered IE stage1 ECU/Stage2 TCU tune this week due to the difference in how the dynos were and the reviews of throttle response. I think the lower end torque boost and close-to-stock pedal feel of IE will be more useful around town, and will have more of a difference in everyday driving feel. I can see the 034 tune being easier to utilize on a technical track though with the linear throttle map as well as more HP up top towards redline. IMO both are good, but better at different applications/uses.

I would agree with this on paper. Let us know how it is in practice.

[iReminisce]

When you compare the 034 and IE tunes for 93 octane, and take the baseline figures into account, they are very similar:

034 stock baseline = 441HP, 467TQ
034 93 octane tune = 514HP, 537TQ
034 gain = 73HP, 70 TQ

IE stock baseline = 456HP, 485TQ
IE 93 octane tune = 522HP, 572TQ
IE gain = 66HP, 87TQ

So, 034 provides more gains in horsepower (73 vs 66) and IE gains more torque (87 vs 70). While the peak numbers are very similar, the shape of the power curves is very different. IE dials up the torque earlier and remains higher longer, which probably accounts for the better 60 foot times. However, the horsepower curves are the opposite. IE runs out of steam at about 5700 rpm while the 034 tune pulls hard to 6700 rpm. So, the 034 tunes likes to rev more while the IE tune is more focused on low-end grunt.

You have a good point. I ordered the IE stage 1 ECU and stage 2 TCU tune yesterday for my RS 5 so hoping to test this out. I have a track day coming up soon and hoping to get a stock lap and then a tune lap to compare feel and performance.
I had 034 stage 1 ECU 1 TCU on my B9 S5 and really enjoyed the increased output from 4k-6k. So if I feel like the increased mid range on the IE misses out on that continuous pull feel, at least I'll know and can switch.

Sent from my SM-F936U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

[jdm-v35]

I would agree with this on paper. Let us know how it is in practice.

Figured i would add my review as well here to reinforce the original review.

Flashed Stage 1 91 ECU tune and Stage 2 TCU street launch tune yesterday and drove it to work today. I did not launch it, but did go WOT to see how it feels in comparison to stock, as well as modulated the throttle at a roll to see how it feels. There is definitely more power throughout the entire power band and it feels significantly faster and imo it pulls hard to redline and does not give up. It is not twice as fast as before but you can definitely feel it. The throttle feel is pretty similar to OEM, especially within the first 20% of the pedal. After that it does seem to be smoothed out some. I would also say that what we discussed as the throttle input on paper being optimal in different scenarios proves true. I think this throttle map feels perfect on the street and from a stop like at a drag strip, but if you are trying to do a road or technical track I think a more linear throttle feel like 034 advertises would be easier to modulate than OEM or the IE tune.

The biggest difference to me was the TCU tune. The shifts are much faster and more pronounced; it does not hesitate to downshift like it did stock, and because of this it feels like a lot of the lag accelerating from a stop or even flooring it from a roll is gone. Pedal to the floor and the power is almost immediate. Stock it felt like I floor it and the rubber band pulls back for a few seconds then lets go. I do think the TCU tune at minimal to partial throttle can be honed in a little better, as it does seem to want to stick in the mid RPM's more before upshifting even with only partial throttle input, like it is preparing to launch.

I do not regret doing the tune at all and for the price and convenience of mobile flashing I think it is worth it. Even for just the 91 tune which has the lowest gains(I only have 91 here) you will be hard pressed to find that significant of a difference in speed and precision increase for that $ amount.

[iReminisce]

Figured i would add my review as well here to reinforce the original review.

Flashed Stage 1 91 ECU tune and Stage 2 TCU street launch tune yesterday and drove it to work today. I did not launch it, but did go WOT to see how it feels in comparison to stock, as well as modulated the throttle at a roll to see how it feels. There is definitely more power throughout the entire power band and it feels significantly faster and imo it pulls hard to redline and does not give up. It is not twice as fast as before but you can definitely feel it. The throttle feel is pretty similar to OEM, especially within the first 20% of the pedal. After that it does seem to be smoothed out some. I would also say that what we discussed as the throttle input on paper being optimal in different scenarios proves true. I think this throttle map feels perfect on the street and from a stop like at a drag strip, but if you are trying to do a road or technical track I think a more linear throttle feel like 034 advertises would be easier to modulate than OEM or the IE tune.

The biggest difference to me was the TCU tune. The shifts are much faster and more pronounced; it does not hesitate to downshift like it did stock, and because of this it feels like a lot of the lag accelerating from a stop or even flooring it from a roll is gone. Pedal to the floor and the power is almost immediate. Stock it felt like I floor it and the rubber band pulls back for a few seconds then lets go. I do think the TCU tune at minimal to partial throttle can be honed in a little better, as it does seem to want to stick in the mid RPM's more before upshifting even with only partial throttle input, like it is preparing to launch.

I do not regret doing the tune at all and for the price and convenience of mobile flashing I think it is worth it. Even for just the 91 tune which has the lowest gains(I only have 91 here) you will be hard pressed to find that significant of a difference in speed and precision increase for that $ amount.

Thanks jdm-v35. Can't wait to get mine. Did yours come with IE's new Powerlink mobile tuning? or the old one where you need a laptop?

[jdm-v35]

Thanks jdm-v35. Can't wait to get mine. Did yours come with IE's new Powerlink mobile tuning? or the old one where you need a laptop?

As long as you have or bought the new V4 powerlink you can do mobile tuning. I bought a brand new one with the tune and did not need to use a computer at all. Just connected/linked it to me and the App and started the flashing process. I would connect it to a power supply though as ECU tune took about 20-25 min. TCU took about 10-15 min. and it seems to suck some power as various systems activate/deactivate during the process.

[Dan99]

As long as you have or bought the new V4 powerlink you can do mobile tuning. I bought a brand new one with the tune and did not need to use a computer at all. Just connected/linked it to me and the App and started the flashing process. I would connect it to a power supply though as ECU tune took about 20-25 min. TCU took about 10-15 min. and it seems to suck some power as various systems activate/deactivate during the process.

Once installed, do changes take that long?

Sent from my SM-S901U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

[jdm-v35]

Once installed, do changes take that long?

Sent from my SM-S901U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

Not sure as I have not tried to change maps yet. I wonder if the OP has tried and is able to comment on it? I would assume it takes that long every time since it would need to do an erase/rewrite.

It goes through a download stage of downloading the map first(0-100%), then goes through a stage of actual flashing(0-100%). Watching the videos of 034 tuning via PC, their % progress bar seems to go at about the same speed.

I also finally found out the difference between TCU stage 2 and Stage 2 Plus. I guess stage 2 PLUS is to power the shift points lower to match stage 1/2 plus ECU tunes(e85/e60). It says it in a small comment at the bottom of a paragraph on their TCU tune page for this platform.

I am also wondering if the different stage 2 TCU launch control flashes(Street, aggressive and race) only affect launch control, or if the tunes themselves have other tweaks. I don't launch the car so my curiosity is the main tune itself.

[BlackOctopus]

Not sure as I have not tried to change maps yet. I wonder if the OP has tried and is able to comment on it? I would assume it takes that long every time since it would need to do an erase/rewrite.

It goes through a download stage of downloading the map first(0-100%), then goes through a stage of actual flashing(0-100%). Watching the videos of 034 tuning via PC, their % progress bar seems to go at about the same speed.

I also finally found out the difference between TCU stage 2 and Stage 2 Plus. I guess stage 2 PLUS is to power the shift points lower to match stage 1/2 plus ECU tunes(e85/e60). It says it in a small comment at the bottom of a paragraph on their TCU tune page for this platform.

I am also wondering if the different stage 2 TCU launch control flashes(Street, aggressive and race) only affect launch control, or if the tunes themselves have other tweaks. I don't launch the car so my curiosity is the main tune itself.

I'm getting the IE intake, 034 HPFP, and bluetooth Fuel-it kit installed next week. Once I've got those taken care of I'll go to stage 1+ E85 (currently on 91). I believe that switching octanes only takes a few minutes when staying on the same stage tune. I will have to update when I can confirm it since I don't know how the IE coding differs between octanes, tunes, or stock. If I had to guess, going between stock and stage 1/2 is a full rewrite of the ecu coding, while going between stages just plugs in a few different numbers instead of rewriting the entire stack which is why it could only take a few minutes in comparison.

[iReminisce]

So to add to BlackOctopus and jdm-v35's posts, my IE tuning kit came in early, literally shipped out Tuesday and got here Wednesday. I had some time between meetings so I went outside and got busy. I plugged the battery up to my charger and put it at 15A and let that run while I got set up.
First let me say both 034 and IE take packaging and branding seriously. Which I think says a lot about how a company wants their brand to be perceived and the experience for the customer to feel premium. Anyway, I did indeed get the new Powerlink V4 tuning module which has a USB-C port in back for connecting to a laptop, or has built in bluetooth for connecting to your phone. I decided to do both since I had two tunes to do and would test out both experiences. I downloaded the Powerlink IE software on my laptop and the app on my Fold 4 while sitting in my car. Popped the hood up (says this is required) and plugged in the OBD2 connector with the USB cable attached and connected that to my laptop.

When you start the app on the computer it detects the cable and module and you have to go through a quick process of registering the cable to the account and to the VIN. Once you do that, you're good to go. You go through a couple screens of a visual How-To and then you're ready to select your Tunes to download. IE uses a Credits system, similar to OBD11, and its tied to your account. So I had the credits to "purchase" the Stage 1 93 Octane ECU tune and the Stage 2 TCU tune with the different launch control files. I started off with the ECU tune and let it rip.
Heads up, if you've never tuned a B9 before, make sure you are calm and relaxed and have had a drink or two first. The sounds, the warning lights, and all the errors popping up on the dash will make you lose your s--t in a panic if you're not ready for it. Every malfunction error you can think of will flash on the digital display.
The process took about 24 minutes from start to finish, downloading the proper file, and then writing to the ECU. Once its done, the laptop gave me a Congratulations and told me to turn the car off and then start it. I did so, and all warning lights were cleared. I let it run for a little bit and powered it off to start the TCU tune install.

For the TCU tune, I removed the USB cable and connected it to my phone. When you run the app, first thing you do is scan for nearby devices, and it found the module in a couple seconds. Go through a similar registration process and you're in. The mobile experience is SO MUCH BETTER than the computer process from IE and even 034. Just stay near it and select through all of your options. Process is similar but much more visually appealing due to being right there on your phone and just tapping and sliding through screens. TCU tune upload as mentioned was quite a bit faster but still took a while, at about 16 minutes for me more or less. During the process, the dash went nuts again and the maximum engine speed was actually limited to 1500.

Once everything was done, it cleared the codes and I powered off the car, disconnected my charger and fired it up. Started up as normal, and let it run a little bit just to make sure. After I put everything away I took it for a drive to run some errands.

This is a different car. No, its the car it should have been if Audi updated the power output to match the new updates from its competitors. As BlackOctopus put it, throttle response is smoother, but not a dramatic change when not under heavy load. You can tell there is just MORE of what was there before. The turbo mapping is different, I have to figure that out, but the turbos kick in at different times now, and the torque is the thing I noticed the most in any gear at any speed. I didn't launch it at first but could immediately tell I am going to need some time relearning this new engine. Its extremely peppy and it just wants to go, even in D mode now. Matter of fact D is more assertive and less lethargic. D mode is FUN now. Its kind of a notch below what S is stock, there is less throttle delay and turbo lag and the exhaust sounds great without the exhaust overrun when you come off the throttle.

The TCU is, as mentioned, the biggest difference here. TCU tune stage 2 is definitely where its at. S mode is exactly what it should: lets-go-mode. It wants to rev high, it wants you to push it, but if you don't, it will shift to the next gear faster than before. Also, stock, I would downshift when coming up to a stop or a light, to get some engine sounds and exhaust pops. Now it will do that for you and downshift at a higher shift point to get more of that by itself.
Double taps are faster. Mash the pedal and downshift with the paddles, and the turbos are already spooled up for the next gear instead of waiting. The TCU now wants to keep you in the powerband and the engine is more urgently ready to go than before. Just gunning it from a red light with no launch control is insane, this car just has more pull, not just more power.

I have the front resonators removed, and I've noticed that (and so did a friend when I pulled up to her house) that in S/Dynamic, it just sounds louder in idle and the low speed grunt is much more profound. To me, there is zero reason to get the added pops and gurgles that come with the stage 2 tune, because right now it just sounds so perfect and its just enough and not that 3-5 second overrun BlackOctopus mentioned, that I also had on my S5 from the 034 tune.

Cool Bonus:
The digital gauges in the IE Powerlink app are really cool. If you have used the JB4 before, its that x3. There are 3 pages of customizable gauges you have live data from when you keep the Powerlink plugged into the OBD2 port. It will also read and clear codes with a couple other features. I haven't played with it much yet but its definitely great to get a visual readout of how much boost you're pumping out, water temps, IATs, ignition timing and much more right on your phone.



Downsides:
Thermal management will become a thing moreso than it was stock. More boost, more power, more engine work equates to more heat. My oil temps get hotter faster now. Living in Miami doesn't help, but the temps stay in the 209-220 range for me now in the 2 days since i've had my tune. I'll be investing in some cooling sooner than later and a better intake than the open CTS turbo one I have now.
If you're driving in D mode and moving, switching to S is going to give you a possibly erratic downshift due to what I mentioned above, that in S the TCU now wants to shift higher and later. You might be in D at 3krpm and switch to S and it'll downshift you to a gear putting you at 5k right in the powerband. Thankfully you can just tap the paddles out of it, but thats happened to me a couple times.

Overall I am extremely happy with this tune, its frankly more than I thought or could ask for from what I wanted.

[Damian82]

So to add to BlackOctopus and jdm-v35's posts, my IE tuning kit came in early, literally shipped out Tuesday and got here Wednesday. I had some time between meetings so I went outside and got busy. I plugged the battery up to my charger and put it at 15A and let that run while I got set up.
First let me say both 034 and IE take packaging and branding seriously. Which I think says a lot about how a company wants their brand to be perceived and the experience for the customer to feel premium. Anyway, I did indeed get the new Powerlink V4 tuning module which has a USB-C port in back for connecting to a laptop, or has built in bluetooth for connecting to your phone. I decided to do both since I had two tunes to do and would test out both experiences. I downloaded the Powerlink IE software on my laptop and the app on my Fold 4 while sitting in my car. Popped the hood up (says this is required) and plugged in the OBD2 connector with the USB cable attached and connected that to my laptop.

When you start the app on the computer it detects the cable and module and you have to go through a quick process of registering the cable to the account and to the VIN. Once you do that, you're good to go. You go through a couple screens of a visual How-To and then you're ready to select your Tunes to download. IE uses a Credits system, similar to OBD11, and its tied to your account. So I had the credits to "purchase" the Stage 1 93 Octane ECU tune and the Stage 2 TCU tune with the different launch control files. I started off with the ECU tune and let it rip.
Heads up, if you've never tuned a B9 before, make sure you are calm and relaxed and have had a drink or two first. The sounds, the warning lights, and all the errors popping up on the dash will make you lose your s--t in a panic if you're not ready for it. Every malfunction error you can think of will flash on the digital display.
The process took about 24 minutes from start to finish, downloading the proper file, and then writing to the ECU. Once its done, the laptop gave me a Congratulations and told me to turn the car off and then start it. I did so, and all warning lights were cleared. I let it run for a little bit and powered it off to start the TCU tune install.

For the TCU tune, I removed the USB cable and connected it to my phone. When you run the app, first thing you do is scan for nearby devices, and it found the module in a couple seconds. Go through a similar registration process and you're in. The mobile experience is SO MUCH BETTER than the computer process from IE and even 034. Just stay near it and select through all of your options. Process is similar but much more visually appealing due to being right there on your phone and just tapping and sliding through screens. TCU tune upload as mentioned was quite a bit faster but still took a while, at about 16 minutes for me more or less. During the process, the dash went nuts again and the maximum engine speed was actually limited to 1500.

Once everything was done, it cleared the codes and I powered off the car, disconnected my charger and fired it up. Started up as normal, and let it run a little bit just to make sure. After I put everything away I took it for a drive to run some errands.

This is a different car. No, its the car it should have been if Audi updated the power output to match the new updates from its competitors. As BlackOctopus put it, throttle response is smoother, but not a dramatic change when not under heavy load. You can tell there is just MORE of what was there before. The turbo mapping is different, I have to figure that out, but the turbos kick in at different times now, and the torque is the thing I noticed the most in any gear at any speed. I didn't launch it at first but could immediately tell I am going to need some time relearning this new engine. Its extremely peppy and it just wants to go, even in D mode now. Matter of fact D is more assertive and less lethargic. D mode is FUN now. Its kind of a notch below what S is stock, there is less throttle delay and turbo lag and the exhaust sounds great without the exhaust overrun when you come off the throttle.

The TCU is, as mentioned, the biggest difference here. TCU tune stage 2 is definitely where its at. S mode is exactly what it should: lets-go-mode. It wants to rev high, it wants you to push it, but if you don't, it will shift to the next gear faster than before. Also, stock, I would downshift when coming up to a stop or a light, to get some engine sounds and exhaust pops. Now it will do that for you and downshift at a higher shift point to get more of that by itself.
Double taps are faster. Mash the pedal and downshift with the paddles, and the turbos are already spooled up for the next gear instead of waiting. The TCU now wants to keep you in the powerband and the engine is more urgently ready to go than before. Just gunning it from a red light with no launch control is insane, this car just has more pull, not just more power.

I have the front resonators removed, and I've noticed that (and so did a friend when I pulled up to her house) that in S/Dynamic, it just sounds louder in idle and the low speed grunt is much more profound. To me, there is zero reason to get the added pops and gurgles that come with the stage 2 tune, because right now it just sounds so perfect and its just enough and not that 3-5 second overrun BlackOctopus mentioned, that I also had on my S5 from the 034 tune.

Cool Bonus:
The digital gauges in the IE Powerlink app are really cool. If you have used the JB4 before, its that x3. There are 3 pages of customizable gauges you have live data from when you keep the Powerlink plugged into the OBD2 port. It will also read and clear codes with a couple other features. I haven't played with it much yet but its definitely great to get a visual readout of how much boost you're pumping out, water temps, IATs, ignition timing and much more right on your phone.



Downsides:
Thermal management will become a thing moreso than it was stock. More boost, more power, more engine work equates to more heat. My oil temps get hotter faster now. Living in Miami doesn't help, but the temps stay in the 209-220 range for me now in the 2 days since i've had my tune. I'll be investing in some cooling sooner than later and a better intake than the open CTS turbo one I have now.
If you're driving in D mode and moving, switching to S is going to give you a possibly erratic downshift due to what I mentioned above, that in S the TCU now wants to shift higher and later. You might be in D at 3krpm and switch to S and it'll downshift you to a gear putting you at 5k right in the powerband. Thankfully you can just tap the paddles out of it, but thats happened to me a couple times.

Overall I am extremely happy with this tune, its frankly more than I thought or could ask for from what I wanted.

Great review, any reason why you went with the stage 2 TCU vs stage 1 since your ECU is stage 1.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

[iReminisce]

Great review, any reason why you went with the stage 2 TCU vs stage 1 since your ECU is stage 1.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

One good thing about 034 is they did extensive research on this ask since a lot of us were wondering why no company has an official Stage 2 ECU tune for the B9 RS5. Truth of the matter is there is no clearcut stage 2 for this engine because of how efficient and effective the stock breathing components are. So you'll see for example that 034 and IE have Stage 1 for different octanes, then a Stage 1+ to include downpipes and/or HPFP, and then a stage 3 for hybrid turbos. You can already get to about 600+ HP on this platform with Stage 1 if you go E85, and you're looking at a 2 second car.
For IE, their Stage 2 TCU tune makes all the dramatic changes to the transmission that accompany the increased power. Stage 1 essentially raises the torque tolerance limits of the TCU but otherwise the transmission will behave like it does stock. Stage 2 does a laundry list of things to change the entire driving experience and performance of the car like changing the shift points, removing throttle lag on launch, adding the multiple launch mode files, etc.. You can see the list of changes here and going to TCU
https://performancebyie.com/collecti...9-2-9t-rs4-rs5

You could make the case that TCU Stage 2 is "basically" stage 2 for these cars, because of how docile and tame the stock TCU tune is. Stage 1 ECU is enough for me because I have access to 93 octane, and no intentions of going E85 anytime soon since I daily this car.

[Empire55]

Can someone please explain or direct me to a video on how IE's "user-adjustable launch control" or multiple launch mode files, works and what exactly this enables over the factory launch control?

[BlackOctopus]

Can someone please explain or direct me to a video on how IE's "user-adjustable launch control" or multiple launch mode files, works and what exactly this enables over the factory launch control?

Essentially, they are different flashes for the tcu. Each one will set the rpm limit for the engine during launch, with race launch being the fastest. Where a city street will have different traction than a drag strip, you might want a lower rpm at launch to avoid spin and get that 60ft time down. On the strip there is no limit to grip and race launch will give you all the juice the differential can handle that would be wasted on a city street.

[Dan99]

...Its extremely peppy and it just wants to go, even in D mode now. Matter of fact D is more assertive and less lethargic. D mode is FUN now. Its kind of a notch below what S is stock, there is less throttle delay and turbo lag and the exhaust sounds great without the exhaust overrun when you come off the throttle.

The TCU is, as mentioned, the biggest difference here. TCU tune stage 2 is definitely where its at. S mode is exactly what it should: lets-go-mode. It wants to rev high, it wants you to push it, but if you don't, it will shift to the next gear faster than before...

Can you elaborate on the IE Stage 2 TCU regarding daily driving? More specifically...

The issue that I have with the stock TCU is that Drive allows rpms to drop as low as 1200 in 8th gear around 45 mph, which is too low in the power curve to do anything but lug the engine. Sport corrects this by dropping down 2 gears (8th to 6th) to keep the minimum rpms around 1900 to 2000 and avoids lugging. When you say that D mode is more fun, does it keep the rpms higher, like stock Sport mode, or does it still allow rpms to drop that low?

Also, with the IE Stage 2 TCU tune, if you are driving at a steady speed in Drive mode (around 50 to 60 mph) and pull the shift lever back to put the transmission in Sport, does it still go down 1 or 2 gears, or does it downshift more gears?

You said that it up-shifts faster than before. If you are driving more aggressively and brake for a turn, the TCU should downshift to a lower gear as you are braking, but it should hold that gear through the turn. Does it hold that gear through a turn, or does it up-shift too soon (in the turn)?

One issue that I have with the 034 Stage 2 TCU tune is that occasionally shifts are inappropriately hard when driving in Sport. For example, when driving briskly, but not really trying to go fast, I'll get shifts that are too hard for how I am driving. Does the IE Stage 2 TCU have rough edges like this? What sort of unexpected things do you encounter in daily driving?

[iReminisce]

[QUOTE=Dan99;14946072]

Can you elaborate on the IE Stage 2 TCU regarding daily driving? More specifically...

The issue that I have with the stock TCU is that Drive allows rpms to drop as low as 1200 in 8th gear around 45 mph, which is too low in the power curve to do anything but lug the engine. Sport corrects this by dropping down 2 gears (8th to 6th) to keep the minimum rpms around 1900 to 2000 and avoids lugging. When you say that D mode is more fun, does it keep the rpms higher, like stock Sport mode, or does it still allow rpms to drop that low?

Those were the same frustrations I had with the stock TCU tuning, I actually spent a lot of time manually shifting to correct that, or on the highway, leave it in full manual and shift accordingly on long drives.
The TCU Stage 2 tune from IE changes how both drive modes act. So as mentioned, D is a lot more "fun", but what I mean is, D is not as lethargic as it is stock. Off the line with gentle throttle, you will get a 1st gear run over 3krpms, 2nd gear same thing, and by 4th it will start to taper down some depending on your input. But I noticed it does not upshift to drop the RPMs below 1500, matter of fact, in D today running an errand and hopped on the highway for one exit, I noticed at 70mph I was still in 7th gear in D. I had to manually shift to 8th, and then it would sustain it. Its MUCH more versatile and flexible and doesn't make a high-performance car feel like a toyota camry anymore. There is power everywhere. It really behaves a little less like S does stock. You can forget about getting close to 30mpg though unless you're running the gears though. Its not going to try and get you into 8th gear so quickly anymore to try and save fuel.

Also, with the IE Stage 2 TCU tune, if you are driving at a steady speed in Drive mode (around 50 to 60 mph) and pull the shift lever back to put the transmission in Sport, does it still go down 1 or 2 gears, or does it downshift more gears?

So this is something I am still learning to get used to. S mode is far more feral with TCU 2. You can't drive around in traffic in pure S comfortably like you can stock. It is going to drop you right into the power band. So using your example, if I am in 7 or 8 in D mode at 70, if I pop it into S, its going to drop me into 4th most likely and I am sitting at 4k+ RPMs and the engine is whining for you to mash the throttle. The thing now is, that downshift happens a bit faster than before, and you really get to see how quickly this engine and drivetrain can jump RPMs. Anyway, this isn't the 'always' behavior, I've noticed its based on where my throttle input is mostly. So if you're still holding the gas when you downshift, S is going to think you're ready to gun it, and drop the gears so low to get you in full power and boost range it seems. Again I need to play with this more.

You said that it up-shifts faster than before. If you are driving more aggressively and brake for a turn, the TCU should downshift to a lower gear as you are braking, but it should hold that gear through the turn. Does it hold that gear through a turn, or does it up-shift too soon (in the turn)?

Glad you asked this, this is one thing I really paid attention to as I plan to get on a road course track day in the next couple weeks. It holds and will hold and won't shift until the car is straightened up. Much like it is stock in S mode when you engage in a turn.

One issue that I have with the 034 Stage 2 TCU tune is that occasionally shifts are inappropriately hard when driving in Sport. For example, when driving briskly, but not really trying to go fast, I'll get shifts that are too hard for how I am driving. Does the IE Stage 2 TCU have rough edges like this? What sort of unexpected things do you encounter in daily driving?

I've never experienced the 034 stage 2 tune, but I will say that S is pretty aggressive now. The way it behaves is its going to downshift earlier than before, so instead of slowing down and the downshift happens at say 1700 to get you back in the mid 2000s, its going to happen at 2k. Because of that, it may be a little jerky, and thats when I drop it into D OR may lightly press the pedal a little. S mode is not a smooth place to be anymore, its particularly changed its mind to be a "point-and-fire" type of transmission mode now with D more like 'ready to rumble' at a moment's notice. So it may be the same behavior as the 034 TCU stage 2 tune, but I haven't experienced that one so can't really say.

I'm planning on getting some videos this weekend and if I do, I will post here.

[Dan99]

Those were the same frustrations I had with the stock TCU tuning, I actually spent a lot of time manually shifting to correct that, or on the highway, leave it in full manual and shift accordingly on long drives.

The TCU Stage 2 tune from IE changes how both drive modes act. So as mentioned, D is a lot more "fun", but what I mean is, D is not as lethargic as it is stock. Off the line with gentle throttle, you will get a 1st gear run over 3krpms, 2nd gear same thing, and by 4th it will start to taper down some depending on your input. But I noticed it does not upshift to drop the RPMs below 1500, matter of fact, in D today running an errand and hopped on the highway for one exit, I noticed at 70mph I was still in 7th gear in D. I had to manually shift to 8th, and then it would sustain it. Its MUCH more versatile and flexible and doesn't make a high-performance car feel like a toyota camry anymore. There is power everywhere. It really behaves a little less like S does stock. You can forget about getting close to 30mpg though unless you're running the gears though. Its not going to try and get you into 8th gear so quickly anymore to try and save fuel.


So this is something I am still learning to get used to. S mode is far more feral with TCU 2. You can't drive around in traffic in pure S comfortably like you can stock. It is going to drop you right into the power band. So using your example, if I am in 7 or 8 in D mode at 70, if I pop it into S, its going to drop me into 4th most likely and I am sitting at 4k+ RPMs and the engine is whining for you to mash the throttle. The thing now is, that downshift happens a bit faster than before, and you really get to see how quickly this engine and drivetrain can jump RPMs. Anyway, this isn't the 'always' behavior, I've noticed its based on where my throttle input is mostly. So if you're still holding the gas when you downshift, S is going to think you're ready to gun it, and drop the gears so low to get you in full power and boost range it seems. Again I need to play with this more.


Glad you asked this, this is one thing I really paid attention to as I plan to get on a road course track day in the next couple weeks. It holds and will hold and won't shift until the car is straightened up. Much like it is stock in S mode when you engage in a turn.



I've never experienced the 034 stage 2 tune, but I will say that S is pretty aggressive now. The way it behaves is its going to downshift earlier than before, so instead of slowing down and the downshift happens at say 1700 to get you back in the mid 2000s, its going to happen at 2k. Because of that, it may be a little jerky, and thats when I drop it into D OR may lightly press the pedal a little. S mode is not a smooth place to be anymore, its particularly changed its mind to be a "point-and-fire" type of transmission mode now with D more like 'ready to rumble' at a moment's notice. So it may be the same behavior as the 034 TCU stage 2 tune, but I haven't experienced that one so can't really say.

I'm planning on getting some videos this weekend and if I do, I will post here.

Thanks!

Sent from my SM-S901U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

[Brazeagle]

Still wondering when and how IE and 034 will put out a REFRESHED tune for the 2023 RS5.

[034Motorsport]

This video review is pretty telling between 034 and IE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtKyTp0JUvM

When calibrating our launch control on stock turbo cars, we have the leave a bit softer to allow for solid, consistent launches in a myriad of grip conditions and tire setups. This has still allowed for some strong 60fts in good conditions (such as our 1/4 mile record run https://youtu.be/pHUv0TZhUvI), but in less than optimal conditions, can be slower than full output. This gentleman appears to have a strong launch grip, so our limited launch file at the moment is leaving some power on the table at the line compared to the IE file. Rather than making multiple transmission files or making it too aggressive out the gate, we've switched our focus towards our Advanced Launch Control features, allowing you to select the exact amount of torque you want to leave the line at. Once this update is released (free of charge) to our RS5 files (1-2 months max), you'll see 034 cars able to leave with even more aggressive launches.

https://youtu.be/-06zi44V-wI

As others have spoken about in this thread here, we spend a lot of time working on thermal safeties to keep these cars running cool and safe. The factory cooling on these cars is subpar to say the least, and takes a good bit of time to come back down in temps. As the heat rises, we pull power to preserve the integrity of the engine components, as well as to prevent heat from creeping up into seriously dangerous territories. I cannot speak towards the competitions products and what they do, but in a general sense, you can have higher performance metrics sporadically by reducing the aggressiveness of those safety strategies or resetting the thresholds for engagement. We air on the side of caution, as an extra .05s or .5mph is not worth the integrity of your engine or driveline.

Lastly, the general feedback from our customers has been that they prefer our refined throttle mapping over the factory mapping, as it provides more control in all aspects of use (want more acceleration, use more pedal). That being said, we are a company built by our customers, and will make our products to the desires of the customer base. If anyone in this thread here is a 034Motorsport tune owner and have feedback they'd like to provide towards drivability adjustments, please do not hesitate to contact us with it. We have made revisions in the past based upon customer feedback, and will continue to do so as we receive feedback. Simply email [email protected] and our team will gladly take the feedback.

It's a good time to be an RS5 owner, and you can't really go wrong with either option for tuning at the moment. I certainly have my biases as to what I feel is the best option, but that's likely expected. Let me know if there are any other comparative concerns that you all would like addressed.

-Nick@034

[Brazeagle]

When calibrating our launch control on stock turbo cars, we have the leave a bit softer to allow for solid, consistent launches in a myriad of grip conditions and tire setups. This has still allowed for some strong 60fts in good conditions (such as our 1/4 mile record run https://youtu.be/pHUv0TZhUvI), but in less than optimal conditions, can be slower than full output. This gentleman appears to have a strong launch grip, so our limited launch file at the moment is leaving some power on the table at the line compared to the IE file. Rather than making multiple transmission files or making it too aggressive out the gate, we've switched our focus towards our Advanced Launch Control features, allowing you to select the exact amount of torque you want to leave the line at. Once this update is released (free of charge) to our RS5 files (1-2 months max), you'll see 034 cars able to leave with even more aggressive launches.

https://youtu.be/-06zi44V-wI

As others have spoken about in this thread here, we spend a lot of time working on thermal safeties to keep these cars running cool and safe. The factory cooling on these cars is subpar to say the least, and takes a good bit of time to come back down in temps. As the heat rises, we pull power to preserve the integrity of the engine components, as well as to prevent heat from creeping up into seriously dangerous territories. I cannot speak towards the competitions products and what they do, but in a general sense, you can have higher performance metrics sporadically by reducing the aggressiveness of those safety strategies or resetting the thresholds for engagement. We air on the side of caution, as an extra .05s or .5mph is not worth the integrity of your engine or driveline.

Lastly, the general feedback from our customers has been that they prefer our refined throttle mapping over the factory mapping, as it provides more control in all aspects of use (want more acceleration, use more pedal). That being said, we are a company built by our customers, and will make our products to the desires of the customer base. If anyone in this thread here is a 034Motorsport tune owner and have feedback they'd like to provide towards drivability adjustments, please do not hesitate to contact us with it. We have made revisions in the past based upon customer feedback, and will continue to do so as we receive feedback. Simply email [email protected] and our team will gladly take the feedback.

It's a good time to be an RS5 owner, and you can't really go wrong with either option for tuning at the moment. I certainly have my biases as to what I feel is the best option, but that's likely expected. Let me know if there are any other comparative concerns that you all would like addressed.

-Nick@034

Great insight Nik,

Appreciated it, waiting on 034 tune for the 2023 RS5 to be released...
Keep us updated please Nik.

All the best
Luiz

[Dan99]

...So this is something I am still learning to get used to. S mode is far more feral with TCU 2. You can't drive around in traffic in pure S comfortably like you can stock. It is going to drop you right into the power band...

This seems odd. When you put the car in Dynamic it automatically activates Sport mode. Are you saying the car is not drive-able in traffic in Dynamic?