Think my S4 is broken...

[B6S4John]

However, the only thing that seems to switch it from a fast car into a super car is the left foot braking trick.

Please give it a try and let me know how you get on.

When I read this, I was very sceptical, but having tried it a few times, bloody 'ell !!! it makes a hell of a difference, the car seems to growl, like it's possessed.

[S25MRS]

Still doesn't make any difference to my car, that I can tell, this left-foot thing maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Only thing that seems to make a difference is switch off the ESP

[chunky79]

I have tried this aswell but not really noticed any difference either. I only drive it on weekends so find it hard to notice things. Will be going to scotland next week for 4 day's for a good blast so will report back if i manage to do this.
Dunc

[elise135]

Spoke to a long term Audi mechanic who is now working offshore making more money servicing lifeboats...

This Adaptive module is a real issue on the car. It has a significant effect on performance as it learns the habits over the last 40 miles of the driver and can cut up to 100bhp off the engine output... He claims that there are several companies that claim to tune them and all they do is reset the factory settings so the driver feels the car is quicker.. and after the initial surge as the power drops off after a while he believes he has become acustomed to the extra power and believes its still quicker...

His advice... use the highest octane fuel you can... then throw in some octane booster.. then rag the nuts out of it....

Cant say fairer than that.

[tweek]

that's what Bexley Audi were doing...

Still is there anyway of disabling the adaptive module to stop it crashing the party, is it worth investing in vag-com to be able to reset it or can it be reset without vag-com. If vag-com only, is there a parameter that can be checked to see how much fun you're losing.

Pete

[nihc]

I have tried this aswell but not really noticed any difference either. I only drive it on weekends so find it hard to notice things. Will be going to scotland next week for 4 day's for a good blast so will report back if i manage to do this.
Dunc

What octane rating is the fuel you're using? With standard 95 octane fuel the engine knock sensors will be retarding the ignition timing quite a bit, reducing power. You won't notice such an effect. I use Tesco's 99 rated fuel.
After the left foot braking trick do you then blast the car or just potter around?

Regards, Chris.

[B6S4John]

It has a significant effect on performance as it learns the habits over the last 40 miles of the driver and can cut up to 100bhp off the engine output...

This makes a lot of sense to me. I have done a bit of plodding about, just lately, so it had probably gone into the slow mode, that's why it has made such a difference.

PS, I always use V Power.

[tweek]

makes sense but why? If I wanted 250bhp I'd have bought a 2.0T and a re-map with a big wedge left in the bank account.

[B6S4John]

Makes sense, but why?

It makes sense, as to why it has made such a difference to mine, and not others.

I'm not saying what Audi get the ECU to do, makes sense.

[tweek]

When I bought the B7, it never felt as quick as my B6 or sounded the same. The left foot braking trick changed the sound substantially (more like the B6) but not 100% convinced the engine produces any more oomphh. The ECU adaptive learning feature would adjust engine performance to driving style, as I don't rag the car everytime I drive it the setting is closer to slippers and smoking jacket rather than fire breathing monster setting.

I guess the left foot braking trick doesn't reset the adaptive learning so fits with my experience do far, hence makes sense.

[TiggerS4]

I read this with a large degree of scepticism - however working on the nothing ventured, nothing gained method I tried the left foot brake/full throttle method on my stage 3 S4 yesterday afternoon...... now it feels like a real 385 bhp and sounds absolutely possessed!!

I had a new starter motor a few months ago and know the battery had been disconnected and had felt that maybe I'd got used to the power - now I know differently.

Despite the increase in performance I've also noticed a 1.5 mile decrease in my fuel consumption - quite possibly because I don't need to use as much throttle to charge along?

Great result, and free too!

[jamess4cab]

Can anyone offer some insight or instructions as to exactly what to do once I have plugged my vagcom cable in please?

[BlingBling]

No vagcom is needed. With the car in say 3rd with about 5000rpm. Brake and then immediately floor it. Job done. If you are talking about the throttle body alignmentthen vagcom is needed but I have no idea what parameters need ot be set.

[nihc]

Hi,

Here is all of the information to do a Throttle Body Alignment ( TBA) with the vag-com software:
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/throttlebody.html

Regards, Chris.

Can anyone offer some insight or instructions as to exactly what to do once I have plugged my vagcom cable in please?

[jamess4cab]

Hi,

Here is all of the information to do a Throttle Body Alignment ( TBA) with the vag-com software:
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/throttlebody.html

Regards, Chris.

Chris - thanks for the link - much appreciated!!