Under powered

4.2 V8 32v Naturally Aspirated - 414 bhp
Shaners4
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Under powered

Post by Shaners4 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 7:35 pm

I have a feeling my RS4 saloon is under powered.. Its an 06 plate with 75k on the clock and my friends box standard e46 2004 convertible with 60k seems to keep up no problem!! Also I had a little play with a 535 bmw the other day and I beat it but wouldn't say it was by much..!

I did hear someone say that quite a few RS4s when made and left the factory wasn't performing the way they should and it was down to a blocked valve or something!!! I'm yet to get it on a dyno machine and see my read out but before I do I thought I'd cast my concern here to see if anyone has a solution or experienced a similar problem!!!

:rant:

RIV
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Re: Under powered

Post by RIV » Sun Jan 26, 2014 7:39 pm

This is old news,most standard cars suffering from carbon build up struggle to make decent power,put it on the rollers or do the Arthur test, search is your friend, loads of info on here
Or vac leaks before someone jumps down my neck

Stevec33
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Re: Under powered

Post by Stevec33 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 7:49 pm

Ive heard there only slightly quicker than m3's anyway, ive had both and theres not loads in it imo. Out of interest is there an easy way to tell if you have vacum leaks?

adsgreen
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Re: Under powered

Post by adsgreen » Sun Jan 26, 2014 8:12 pm

Really hard to tell with similarish cars.
If you take 0-60 times, the rs4 has the obvious 4wd traction advantage and can pretty much get a quick advantage so it flatters the rs4's time. Once up and moving you need a big power difference between cars to show up decent distance.

Sonnyjim
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Re: Under powered

Post by Sonnyjim » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:17 pm

Put mine on the dyno the other day just out of nosiness more than anything else, standard car 60k, never been carbon cleaned as far as the previous owner knew.

394bhp, which I thought was not bad considering the above. Was worth the money just to hear the noise inside!

Sonnyjim

wrekka
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Re: Under powered

Post by wrekka » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:28 pm

This was my age old main problem with the standard rs4 - not fast enough as it should be. Still love it though for everything else it offers.
Sold: 2012 RS3 APR St2 exclusive buckets!
Sold: 2014 Audi S4 Avant Black Edition (too slow as a stock car-doesn't sound good);
2016 RS6 performance with Non-res milltek (gutted to sell it) ;
2014 C7, Misano c6 mrc stage 2. AAS Custom Exhaust, cat bypass, itg filters. 731ps 1058nm. Superrbike quick!
TTS RS4 -amazing machine,
Previous:
many, many cars; all great and well-remembered!

RIV
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Re: Under powered

Post by RIV » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:33 pm

394bhp, which I thought was not bad considering the above. Was worth the money just to hear the noise inside!
That's very good, not the norm I would say, they never made the rated power from out the box, I think the MRC stage 2 inlet manifold, gutted cats and map make it more as it should have been from day one

Sonnyjim
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Re: Under powered

Post by Sonnyjim » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:56 pm

Silas wrote:
394bhp, which I thought was not bad considering the above. Was worth the money just to hear the noise inside!
That's very good, not the norm I would say, they never made the rated power from out the box, I think the MRC stage 2 inlet manifold, gutted cats and map make it more as it should have been from day one
That's the 3 things on my list, just a pity I stay 500 miles from MRC!

Sonnyjim

Stevec33
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Re: Under powered

Post by Stevec33 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:04 pm

I think thats a lot of the power thing with them, because there sposed to be 414 from new you expect them to feel quicker than they are, and much quicker than an e46 m3 for example. But there 4wd and heavier so i guess it makes sense that their only slightly quicker, especially seen as most arent even making 400.

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toyneg
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Location: Hampshire

Re: Under powered

Post by toyneg » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:17 pm

Mine was pushing 340 something before MRC got their hands on it and after a carbon clean, stage 2 and pre cats it dyno'd 431 and that made the car feel like I always thought it should have done.
Glacier White 2017 S3 Saloon with all the Tech.
Gone but not forgotten - B7 RS4 Saloon Black - H&R spacers, Tints, Gun Metal Alloys, MRC Stage 2, Pre Cats, Milltek Non Res, K/W Springs, MRC Full Carbon clean - 431ps
previous - B6 A4 1.8T S-Line 215PS

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22B
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Location: NE Scotland

Re: Under powered

Post by 22B » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:31 pm

Sonnyjim wrote:
Silas wrote:
394bhp, which I thought was not bad considering the above. Was worth the money just to hear the noise inside!
That's very good, not the norm I would say, they never made the rated power from out the box, I think the MRC stage 2 inlet manifold, gutted cats and map make it more as it should have been from day one
That's the 3 things on my list, just a pity I stay 500 miles from MRC!

Sonnyjim
I've sent mine down to MRC a couple of times via 5 star transport, think they've got a branch in Aberdeen now but their main place is in Ayrshire. They do a very good service for an unbeatable price. Get it down there, you won't regret it.
:)
Current;
Porsche 997.1 GT3RS. Pure Orange, ceramics, etc, Sharkwerks exhaust
BMW 2002 restomod; Turbo body kit, S14 M3 Evo engine and lots more
Audi Q3 Black edition Quattro

Previously enjoyed;
Ibis White B7 RS4 Avant : TTS Supercharged 615ps/614 nm
Subaru Impreza 22B
Noble M400
TVR 400SE
Lotus Sunbeam Avon

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Graeme4130
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Re: Under powered

Post by Graeme4130 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:47 pm

Stevec33 wrote:I think thats a lot of the power thing with them, because there sposed to be 414 from new you expect them to feel quicker than they are, and much quicker than an e46 m3 for example. But there 4wd and heavier so i guess it makes sense that their only slightly quicker, especially seen as most arent even making 400.
A healthy B7 should annihilate an E46 M3 in a straight line
I came up against one in my old B7 and even considering the traction advantage, mine definitely had the legs over it (mine rollered at 409bhp)

Fwiw, 5th gear tested both and dragged them - the RS smoked it by miles if I remember correctly
-------------------------------------------------------
Gone - 11/06 B7 RS4 Avant - black/black (Daily drive & kids taxi)
Gone - 05/13 B8 RS4 Avant - Suzuka grey (Daily drive & kids taxi)
Gone - 01/14 B8 RS5 Coupe - Short term car
Gone - 09/14 B8 RS4 Avant - Misano Red/Ceramics (Daily drive & kids taxi)

Current - 04/18 B9 Rs4 Nardo Grey
ZX10R Race bike - 210bhp and a few skid marks on the seat ;)

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ArthurPE
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Re: Under powered

Post by ArthurPE » Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:13 am

hardly
a laden car that weights >4100 lbs that can run 12.8/109 range is making at least 420 HP
in 3rd gear from 3000 rpm / 35 mph and can accelerate to 8000 rpm / 95 mph is making at least 420 HP

there is a problem with your car, vacuum leak or something

although from a roll the delta between an e46 M3 and an RS4 is not as large as you think it would be
both starting at 40 and running to 100, maybe a car length
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe...Albert Einstein

Sonnyjim
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Re: Under powered

Post by Sonnyjim » Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:46 am

That's very good, not the norm I would say, they never made the rated power from out the box, I think the MRC stage 2 inlet manifold, gutted cats and map make it more as it should have been from day one[/quote]

That's the 3 things on my list, just a pity I stay 500 miles from MRC!

Sonnyjim[/quote]

I've sent mine down to MRC a couple of times via 5 star transport, think they've got a branch in Aberdeen now but their main place is in Ayrshire. They do a very good service for an unbeatable price. Get it down there, you won't regret it.
:)[/quote]

Cheers 22B, I had heard of them before but couldn't remember their name. Out of interest how long a waiting time do MRC usually have?

Sonnyjim

adsgreen
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Re: Under powered

Post by adsgreen » Mon Jan 27, 2014 8:49 am

ArthurPE wrote:hardly
a laden car that weights >4100 lbs that can run 12.8/109 range is making at least 420 HP
in 3rd gear from 3000 rpm / 35 mph and can accelerate to 8000 rpm / 95 mph is making at least 420 HP

there is a problem with your car, vacuum leak or something

although from a roll the delta between an e46 M3 and an RS4 is not as large as you think it would be
both starting at 40 and running to 100, maybe a car length
That's the point I was making - you either need a large power difference or run to license losing speeds.
Side by side is one thing but if you are being followed then one car length is really hardly to differentiate.

Works both ways though as plenty of faster cars I've kept up with and felt good but them plenty slower cars appeared to keep up... Karma :)

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