If you were to re-mod your car, how would you do it ?

[AdamS4]

If you could start fresh again, how would you do it ? What would you do 1st ?

I'm trying to get an idea how to go about modding mine.

So far i got to this....

Alloys
Suspension
Brakes
????

[CliveH]

1. brakes
2. health check for boost leaks, etc - TBB, f-pipe, DVs, MAF
3. suspension (coilovers & ARBs)
4. short-shifter & DTS
5. remap & exhaust
6. wheels
7. cosmetics (steering wheel, gearknob, RS4 front bumper)
8. MRC 400

That's the way I would have done it, knowing what I know now.

[Blue_Thunder]

Honestly, if I'd have known how much I'd end up forking out, I'd have bought an RS4 in the first place! I could have had a very nice and much newer example for what i've spent on my 98 S4.

I think the question depends a lot on knowing how much you are willing to mod upfront.

If you are wanting to go for big power gains, you want to sort out the handling first. No question. As soon as I had my generic remap on my K03's, I really wished I had thought about brakes first! (well in actual fact I had, but ended up having to wait 7 months to have them fitted to my car!). If you want to go for big brakes, you have to get 18" wheels first.

I bought a DTS before i'd had my remap and honestly didn't think it was worth it. Having had it since i've had the 400 treatment, I can't comment because i've not had a before and after at this power. Probably wouldn't bother with on unless I felt it was a problem without.

Going with Clive's list, here's what I would have done:

1. Health Check
2. New hoses, DV's, etc.
3. Short shifter and personal touches(might as well do it now while you still have the money): aero wipers, luggage net, furry dice, wooden beaded seat cover, etc.
4. 18" Wheels and decent tyres
5. Brakes
6. Remap (exhaust isn't essential. I had 315 bhp with a standard exhaust and much preferred the subtle OEM sound to the Milltek)
7. ARBs

This next bit is not for the faint hearted (or heavily overdrawn like me)

8. Exhaust - you'll need it for what lies ahead
9. Suspension (still haven't done mine yet. With 400bhp, it can be a bit scary at times!)
10. Intercoolers
11. Bigger turbos + remap - This should see you around 380bhp I think???

If you are still hungry for more, you'll need injectors to bring you up to 400.



Are you still here? I'm not. A Fuel pump will take you up to 420.
Anything more than this, you will need to wait for a response from the big boys.

[GrahamS4]

I'd have got the ARBs done sooner, happy with the rest.

[Nige_RS4]

My list would be;

1. Health check
2. 710N BPV's
3. Airbox mod
3a. After-run pump mod
4. Short-shifter
5. H&R ARB's
5a. Sprint Booster
6. Brakes (Porsche for 17" rims / B7 RS4 for 18" rims)
7. RS4 down-pipes (gutted pre-cats)
8. Custom remap
9. RS4 IC's
10. Recaro shells
11. Coilovers

[S2tuner]

Sprint booster? That can be done in a remap too, but honestly, the best way to do the sprint booster mod is to simply apply more pressure on the loud pedal, it does exactly the same thing (logged for proof).

[CliveH]

I missed out ICs - I would have done that as part of #8 (last step).

I forgot to say, in case it isnt obvious, that my list is the order in which I would have done them.

[Blue_Thunder]

Nice one Nige, forgot about after-run pump mod. Would have got that done for my point 2.

[Peakz]

As Blue Thunder says it helps to know how far you're willing to go and the kind of driving you do.
I plan to keep my car running on K03's because I'm not after huge horse power (famous last words!), still learning what my S4 is capable of and having done one trackday I'd like to do many more.

Anyway here's my list:

1. Health check (with relevant replacement parts).
2. After-run mod.
3. H&R Anti roll bars.
4. Suspension kit.
5. Brakes (and wheels if you decide to go with bigger brakes).
6. Exhaust.
7. Custom remap.
8. Oil cooler (if you intend to do trackdays).
9. Uprated intercooler(s).

[Nige_RS4]

Sprint booster? That can be done in a remap too, but honestly, the best way to do the sprint booster mod is to simply apply more pressure on the loud pedal, it does exactly the same thing (logged for proof).

Minhea, I was as sceptical as you and even though I only had a play for 10 mins this morning, it put a huge smile on my face - I haven't had so much fun in ages! The loud pedal has soooo much travel, that it does make a difference and on the B5 2.7t engine it's not as jerky as you might think.

Will I keep it? Dunno, I need to get it on the motorway, but it does work and if you can offer it as part of a remap, then you should do (esecially if you can find a way to switch it on / off).

I'm even tempted to fit a 'sport' button now and make it switchable!

Sorry for going off-topic ever so slightly

[dummi]

aslong as you don't do any 'while its apart i'll do...' business you'll be fine

[S2tuner]

Honestly Nige, I think it'll f@#¤$£ up the fuel consumption big style.... if I want more go, I press more on the pedal. that's exactly what the sports mode does on the B7 RS4, apart from the exhaust valves...

[s4woody]

i love my sport button...tightens up my steering and makes my load pedal much loader..

[william64]

On topic,
I think I would be tempted to buy a RS4 in the first instance but then doing the mods is part of the fun.
anti-rollbars
Brakes
Bi-pipe
Intercoolers
exhaust
re-map

Off topic,

The Sprint Booster I fitted makes no effect on the fuel comsumption. In normal driving it tends to give a better reading on the trip computer.

[S4TAN]

Sorry - gonna go OT for a bit:

it put a huge smile on my face

Yes - it DOES do this. Although this little box is just a "trick" and simply gives you 100% throttle at 50% pedal travel (or something like that) the fact remains that if you're the type of person that likes a really fast attack/fast response throttle then the SB kinda re-invigorates the car .... no doubt many wouldn't like it (for example Doug had a go in my car and didn't like it) - but personally speaking I found it to be great at low/mid revs: the response was instant with just a little blip of the throttle pedal. (at higher revs the throttle is already fully open so the pedal, and therefore the SB, does nothing beyond this point)

The loud pedal has soooo much travel, that it does make a difference

I also agree with this - IMHO there is a lot of travel on the pedal and the booster gives the effect of tightening it up a treat.

but it does work and if you can offer it as part of a remap, then you should do

Totally agree with this - if you can cut a throttle map that does say 70% of the trick that the SB plays then (for those that like snappy throttles) I think you're onto a winner.

As I say: this won't be to many people's tastes, no doubt it may even be sneered at by the purists - but each to their own ... after all: different strokes for different folks