Prices quoted on AMD website??

[TWH]

Just wanted to check for clarification, the prices on the AMD website http://www.auto-amd.com/rs4.asp say that all prices are +VAT and +fitting unles stated. I'm assuming that they mean that the prices are in fact exclusive of VAT so it still needs to be added, or am I reading it wrong and the prices are infact inclusive of VAT?

Sorry to be so thick guys, just seems a bit ambiguous to me?! Thinking about a full miltek exhaust system and some H&R adjustable suspension as a little pressie to myself!! Anyone any tips good/bad! And is it better to go through AMD or QST, or someone else entirely?!

[Golfather]

ALL Prices EXCLUDE VAT....
If you want a drive in, drive out service then AMD arent bad
However I would order the parts directly from the importers, and get them fitted yourself, you'll make a lot of saving.
I say this with experience - AMD can't fit and seal an exhaust to save their life, and their labour rates are higher than most normal garages.
And exhaust and suspension is something which doesnt require a Audi Tuner to carry out, any competant garage can do these...
Just remember to get your car tracked 4wd from a tyre fitter.

[TWH]

Cheers for that. Where's the best place to start looking if I'm gonna get the parts direct?

Also anyone any recommendations as to a decent fitter for suspension/exhaust in the Reading/Guildford area?!

[Dippy]

AmD labour rates are cheaper than Audi dealers.

Of course a 'normal garage' may be cheaper, but a 'normal garage' is only able to provide basic fitting, not proper set-up.

H&R adjustable suspension needs to be properly set-up.
To gain proper advantage of a full miltek exhaust system, you need a remap.

Of course you may not care about getting full advantage of your mods, but if you do, try discussing a discount with AmD...

[DaveP]

Hehe...properly setup indeed...AMD certainly didn't set my H&R kit up properly. Ride height was way off optimum and the rollbar settings weren't right either.

Having said that, I'm sure if you asked them for specific settings they would do it. I just wasn't wise enough about setup at the time to ask for specific settings. Doh!

[johneroberts]

H&R adjustable suspension needs to be properly set-up

Hmm very few people who can do this
Suggest a racing team or Parr Motorsport
Cheers
jr

[TWH]

Cheers guys. JR, I'm assuming you mean these guys - http://www.parr-uk.co.uk/ - to get the suspension set up. I'll have a word with them and with AMD about discount, and I'll probably drop you a line at the time Dave (gotta move house first!) if you've got a good set up now. Still haven't had too much success in sourcing the parts myself.

[sash]

This is great, car is booked into amd who are meant to be sorting out my ride height and fitting a new exhaust. Great, the 2 things people say they are no good at!!!

Dippy, i asked amd about a new remap for a new milltek exhaust and they said there is no need for a remap, even for the full system???

[DaveP]

I'd imagine they'll be fine setting your ride height as long as you tell them what you want it setting at. Take a tape measure and check it after they've finished.

Interesting what they say about the remap+exhaust though...

[sash]

I suppose my suspension is 90% setup. 2 corners are slightly lower than they should be (now that the springs have settled) so i just want them taken up to the same height as the opposite corner.

It is interesting about remaps and exhaust. When i ask AMD i get the impression they dont offer this service anymore, they just say there is no need for a remap, even with the full cat back/downpipe £2000 system????

May be they only do it for the stage 2&3 upgrade

[DaveP]

Indeed, but they're 'stage 3' upgrade is exactly that...the full exhaust + a remap (according to the website at least)...it probably means that they're stage 1 code is identical to their stage 3 code, which as I understand it isn't harmful, but may not exploit the full potential of the full exhaust system.

[sash]

its a bit gutting knowing you can probably squeeze a bity more torque out of the engine with a tweak to the remap. I suppose by saying there is no need to remap for an exhaust system they are covering themselves if they offer it as a service and someone turns around and says hey, i dont notice anything different! Actually feeling a difference of 50 BHP (stage1) output is absolutely noticeable whereas a slightly better torque curve will probably not be. Saying its not necessary probably doesnt mean that they wont do it if asked though.

[DaveP]

What would be interesting is to get a dyno plot pre and post exhaust installation...

[Dippy]

I guess things have changed since I had my work done. I talked with Scott about my mods and I believe he was involved when they were done: He talked through the suspension setup with me, and IIRC explained that it was based on the experiences he had with his own S4. We all know how good a tech he was when he worked for Audi, and a lot of people have told me he is a <beep> hot driver too. Anyway I am extremely pleased with the handling of my car, and a lot of that is to do with how AmD set up the suspension.

Regarding my cat remap, again this was back when Geoff (or is it Jeff?) was doing the remaps himself. Basically they fitted my cats on a Friday, and he left early for the weekend. They booked me a slot to come back about a week later, specifically for a remap.

Now at the time, the reason for needing a remap was due to the intake mods I had done - i.e. the APR bipipe. But when I went back for the remap, Geoff talked through what had been done (actually not by himself as he had got one of the techs doing maps by then). He made it clear that the fuel map had been changed to increase fuel at the top end to take advantage of increase airflow, and to cool the turbos.

Make of that what you want. I wish I had discussed it in a bit more detail now, however I cannot believe that the changes were done just because of the bipipe.

Anyway, it is clear that AmD have a different perspective on tuning now, and I'm not surprised. They have been very successful over the past few years, and always busy. Just like other growing companies, this would bring a tendency to giving less of a 'personal touch' and certainly less customisation. From the conversations I have had with certain other AmD customers, this seems to be the case.

Whilst my comment about asking for a discount when getting a lot of work done still holds (and I would apply that to ANY company), maybe it is harder now. Perhaps new customers have to pay for a new remap.

Although I am still more than happy for AmD to service my car and do some 'off-the-shelf' modding and tuning, I now believe that they are not really interested in major modifications any more (and I am not blaming them for this). So if I go for any such mods (such as putting in an RS4 engine for example), then I would approach some of the enthusiasts who have demonstrated their enthusiasm and expertise on this forum.

However my family/financial situation would need to change first...

[Dippy]

What would be interesting is to get a dyno plot pre and post exhaust installation...

That is EXACTLY what I asked for. I didn't get it, but I believe that was for the reasons I gave above, not because they were trying to hide anything.