2005 S4 tuning and exhaust options

[SCBN3]

Hi all

I have had my S4 for a month now and am looking at options for the future. I love the V8 sound but can't help thinking that it needs "liberating"!

I understand that a Milltek is the best way to go and have had a quick look and become a little confused on the options - if someone could recommend a good balance between noise/power increase/cost I'd be grateful.

Also, is it possible to remap the engine for more power and better fuel consumption? If so what kind of ballpark cost?

I'm based in Brighton so any recommendations on local specialists for the above (and servicing!) would be appreciated.

Thanks all
Scott

[ShaneyB]

Hi Scott,
Speak to MRC Tuning in Banbury http://www.mrctuning.com/
Well worth the trip. Unfortunately the power gains on the V8 with a remap and exhaust aren't as good as the old Bi Turbo models but I'm sure it will still put a smile on your face. You'll be looking at just under £2k for a custom remap and Milltek and get a 20bhp gain which to me isn't great which is why I haven't pursued this. Compare that to the 60bhp I gained with a remap alone on my B5 and you'll get my drift.

Good luck mate.

[BlingBling]

The most cost effective exhaust performance upgrade option is just to get the OEM downpipes gutted. I.e. remove the cells from inside the precats, which are at the top of the downpipes. In the B5 world they are known as piggies. A search of this forum, audizine, audiworld will provide a wealth of information. Piggies will give similar performance gains as a full Milltek or custom exhaust setup. Depending upon your mechanical, welding ability and time this mod would cost you zilch….

If you want performance and more acoustics then I would say piggies and a catback setup is a very good compromise cost wise.

A remap will improve the engines characteristics but will not necessarily yield any noticeable power gains. Re-maps cost approx. £500. As for improved fuel economy? Forget it. It’s a V8. Or buy a soot chucker……

A full Milltek set up, downpipes and a catback, will costs £2000-£2500 depending upon where you buy it.

What are the end results? Members who have had a full exhaust setup, as above, and a map have seen increases of up to 40bhp.

I currently run straight downpipes and a 100 cell catback setup. In total this cost approx. £1000. The car also has a map, £500. The exhaust work was carried out by MIJ based in Walsall. The map by JD Engineering in Holland. I do not know the bhp. All I know is the car is definitely quicker and feels stronger up to the redline. I should pull my finger out and do a few 0-60 logs and calculated the bhp. All in all my setup is roughly half the price of an AMD Stage 3 setup and I am thoroughly happy.

[SCBN3]

Thanks all. Think I'll leave the remap and save my pennies for an exhaust upgrade!

[stumpyrs4]

Don't forget the remap should also settle the twitchy throttle on the S4... thereby making it smoother/easier to drive. For £500 and c15-20bhp it's not a massive cost is it? Depending on how you drive day-to-day you will get mpg gains too on maybe 2-3. Not alot but you never will on a NA engine. But over a year will make some difference...

Defo go for the the zorst though !

[chunky79]

When you guy's go for the exhaust options, are you having a full system plus down pipe's gutted?
Dunc

[spikey]

I had the full AMD stage 3 upgrade to my S4 and you DO notice the difference - it may only be 30 - 40 bhp more, but dont forget you also get a healthy increase on torque.

Not to mention that from around 2,500 rpm you are putting out at least 20 bhp more than standard - which in % terms is a big increase over standard.

The car is easier to drive, pulls a lot harder up to the red line.

Was it worth £2,300 - Yes with no doubts at all - only wish i had had it done sooner

[xyber]

has anyone tried the gutted/deleted precat route?

Im considering millteks but if gutting the OE's does that same ill save my cash

[chunky79]

i'm planning on gutting the down pipe's but just not had the time to do it yet. When i spoke to MRC about the miltek they said it would be best to get the down pipes done aswell to get the best gain.

[xyber]

i'm planning on gutting the down pipe's but just not had the time to do it yet. When i spoke to MRC about the miltek they said it would be best to get the down pipes done aswell to get the best gain.

What was there view about gutted DPs Vs Millteks if it was mentioned?

Im still in 2 minds, gutted for cash savings vs millteks for tried and tested and just a straight swap over

[chunky79]

i'm planning on gutting the down pipe's but just not had the time to do it yet. When i spoke to MRC about the miltek they said it would be best to get the down pipes done aswell to get the best gain.

What was there view about gutted DPs Vs Millteks if it was mentioned?

Im still in 2 minds, gutted for cash savings vs millteks for tried and tested and just a straight swap over

It was never really mentioned as an instead of, it was an as well as. I think the down pipes are very restrictive so you should get some benefit with just those done.

[xyber]

Im considering getting custom DPs fabricated as I have a mate in the trade, just weighing up if its worth doing price wise. They would be similar to Milltek DPs but with 200cpi main cats as far down stream on the DPs as possible, rather than having smaller 200cpi's right up next the the exhaust mani, the only problem being decent sports cats are proving very pricey so It could just be easier to just buy of the shelf performance DPs

Im basically, if a little optimistically aiming for the magic 400bhp, so doing lots of research and exploring the get the 'biggest bang for my bucks' as I can

[BlingBling]

Yuo'll struggle to get 400bhp from the V8. Gut the pre-cats and maintain the main cats will be just as good a the milltek setup.

[xyber]

Yuo'll struggle to get 400bhp from the V8. Gut the pre-cats and maintain the main cats will be just as good a the milltek setup.

Thats why im looking at allsorts of options. Im thinking polishing the inlet mani etc is worth a shout, I did it on my supercharged golf VR6 and managed to screw more than the average out of it, I was aiming for 300bhp running minimal boost with standard internals and managed 295.0bhp