Re-Mapping and gearbox probs

[Paulm]

Size is my limting factor.

The Bm is going to have as much torqur as the RS so in normal driving / passing on A roads there wont be much in it. When you start to really use thr RS I would expect it to toast the BM but then how often do you really use the top of the rev range.

I can't buy a bigger car than a A6, BM 5 etc. I would really love the A8 4.2 TDI but there is now way it would fit up the back of my house.

I know it is a strange choice RS6 or 535d but I have run out of options.

[RSVI]

[quote="Paulm"]but then how often do you really use the top of the rev range.
quote]

A lot

Bit of an addiction these days.

[GardinerG]

The difference in 0-60mph between the two is about 1.8 seconds (6.5 vs 4.7). From someone who's last car was 5.9s believe me when I say the RS accelerates in such an exhilarating and all consuming way, that it is just gorgeous. And the noise is sublime. You don't buy an RS to pootle around A and B roads. You would buy a standard A6 if that's what you wanted, and if you are worried about fuel consumption, don't buy one.

As RSVI says, it's addictive and we do use the top end of the RPM range, perhaps too much! With the gearbox in the '6 you hardly even feel the gear change especially when accelerating hard.

RS means racing, and they are not wrong (IMHO).

[GardinerG]

Oh and in sports mode, we use the upper rpm all the time

[BigMo]

I would have thought the A8 was about the same size as the RS6 or am I wrong? Going back to your original question - as you are probably aware, any tuning will in some way effect reliability. The more you modify the engine to increase the wow factor, the more the gamble on the reliability. True enough, the standard RS6 engine can take tune ups quite easily as it's innards have a hi tolerance level. There are some chaps here who have mod the rocks off their RS6's and haven't had a problem. There are those who have mildly gone this rute but have never owned up to losing their big end.

As for the gear box, even with remaping, there really isn't much cop. I've tried to get the tuner to remap mine in such a fashion s that in flappy mode I really can command the gears but without success.

Needless to say, my 6 has been modestly modified in all those areas and is banging dudes.

[SteveH]

rolling road'd my standard RS6 and got a peak value of 450lb-ft, admittedly though I don't reckon any of these rolling roads are much cop... far too much deviation in results for them to be reliable.

[Gavc500]

Paulm, just go drive the Bm and RS back to back, then post again on the forum and tell us the RS is not more fun, and thats just the std RS!!

Always drive in sport mode when not cruisin.

Oh and while testing be sure to test the 80 to 140 acceleration whilst sitting back comfortably with one hand on the wheel and meditating whilst passing a porker, thinking hmmnn who needs normal aspiration when you've got turbo's!

I'd be interested in your report, as the BM 535d when chipped will deliver 0.60 in 5.5 secs with stonking torque, which is not far from the RS6, but still behind the porker I was just passing in my haze of meditation!

[SteveH]

RS all the way... Why not contact W8PMC via a pm as he's had both cars.

[Paulm]

8 is around 2" wider. My 5 is less than 1/2" from hitting the wall when going up the back of my house. When i am offshore my wife need to put it up the back of the house so cant go any bigger.

I will drop W8PMC a pm see what he says.

[skiwi]

there is little difference in size. my old s8 was bigger externally, but had the same internal width and size as the rs. the lack of a folding rear seat was a negative, although the boot was bigger. much better quality though...

[W8PMC]

Running 536BHP and 600 lb of torque .... no problems and gearbox still smooth as silk.

600lbs how did you get that much. A chipped RS has only around 480ish

What boost are you running?

I am not knocking it just sounds awesome if I can get 600 lbs of torque

Tis a very high Torque figure. My RS6 was Stage III both AmD & Sportec & was running at IIRC 553BHP & 554lbsft & i recall for sure that the Power & Torque were virtually identical. You must be ruuning hybrid turbos to get 600lbsft??

[W8PMC]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news folks, but the 535D is not that far away in performance terms from a standard RS6, assuming the 535D has been fettled as the Bimmer has more Torque out of the box. Their is light between them, but the BMW has a tricker chassis & TBH if you ignore the RWD fact, the feel of the suspension & handling is better stock vs stock.

Far from wanting to go down the Diesel vs Petrol debate, if i'd had a £ for everytime i'd seen someone mouth "it's a feckin diesel" as i blew them away, I couls probably have bought a 2nd car.

That said, the RS6 Quattro system is sweet & although it does wallow, the overall handling in normal conditions does give it the edge.

Final point is VFM. For £30K you'd get a nearly new 535D but you'd be considering a 4yr old RS6. The Bimmer looks alot fresher & will depreciate at a far lower rate, plus the 4yr old RS6 will be well out of Audi Warranty & "could" become a money pit if it needed a new gearbox or the DRC replacing.

All food for thought & if i had my time again ti would be a tougher decision than you might think between the 2. Although i went from the Stage III RS6 to a DMS 535D M-Sport, i did miss the noise & grunt, so only kept the diesel for about 4months before being seduced by a shiny new M5 & that was a bitch to handle.

[SteveH]

How long you looking to keep the RS4 paul, since i've been on this forum in a little over a year you've worked your way through 5 premium motors... fair play! also how does the rs4 compare to the rs6 as i've given this serious consideration but my concerns are:

~ Pence per grin... worth the value of difference in £'s?

~ Interior space... a major concern for me as i'm a tall bugger?

~ Normally aspirated Vs turbocharged... I love the punch of the RS6 and was dissapointed driving the NA AMV8

~ Boys toys... RS6 heated everything, stereo quality, folding mirrors, tv etc Vs RS4 standard stuff?

~ Autobox... can't believe that i'm saying this, considering i bought my rs6 when in my 20's, but its bloody good such as when in queing traffic not to have a clutch, i admit that the tiptronic and sport mode is not as involving as a manual box, but I'd say 70% of my driving is the more standard stuff and the tip is more than acceptable to me when having a bit more of a spirited run.

~ Saloon or Avant?? RS6 avant was way too big for me as a batchelor boy with no kids, but saloon just right for my adventures (rally, surf, bike, hike, tent, general travel & weekend stuff etc). In rs4 guise i reckon i'd need an avant for all my boys toys n tat??

~ Running cost... suppose brakes and cam belt are the significant differences? also still every 10k miles service?

~ Overall ownership experience... RS6 has a bit more road presence and almost cult status, RS4 is much fresher inside and out but i'm a bit dissapointed that they've not distinguished it as much as they did in b5 guise

cheers

steve

[Paulm]

After speaking with Paul and reading other threads I must admit I am leaning towards the BM

I would say now 80% of my driving is with the wife and kids so normal driving. i wonder how much I would really use the RS to its full

[Wolverine]

I think its unfair to compare a modded 535d with an standard RS6. If you compare modded versus modded, or standard versus standard, I think then the difference in performance and delivery will be very noticable.