ACHTUN!NG | Shop Life

[Dion@Achtuning]

Chris brought back his e92 M3 to have us bring it closer to the ground a touch using H&R springs...



The final stance is perfect!

[Dion@Achtuning]

We dropped off the Votex kit for the Achtuning A3 Project at Dreamwerks yesterday! Known for their excellent quality and passion for everything European, we knew our OE body kit was in good hands...

[GQ//S4]

Mons came by with his B5 Audi A4 1.8T. He purchased the car with a set of after market wheels that did not suit his A4 and since new tires were needed, what better opportunity to get into something a bit more Audi-style specific!



The Hartmann DTM Wheels are 18x8.5 with a 38mm offset. With a mild drop the stance for this Audi A4 should be just right.

Just a set of these from you guys mounted on my b5 S4 down at University Audi a couple weeks ago to replace my last set of b5 Rs4's (Achtuning Reps), and LOVE them!

[Skyler@Achtuning]

The RS4 DTM is my favorite wheel on the B5 S4 :) I'd love to have your car join the others on our gallery if you can send in some pics sometime!

[Dion@Achtuning]

For you 5x100 (Mk1 TT) guys shopping for some 19s...



Please call to order as we do not have this package offer available online. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to post up or contact us directly.

[Dion@Achtuning]

Selective Motors ended up with Nate's Audi A3 after it was traded in. (Nate needs AWD for our winters apparently =P) This pristine A3 needed just a bit more to catch the right kind of attention as it sat on the lot so they had us swap out the stock rollers with 19x8.5 Hartmann HRS4-252-SS Wheels styled after the B7 RS4.







Equipped with STaSIS Streetsport Coil-Overs , an APR Stage 2 ECU Upgrade , and APR down-pipe this A3 will be tough for many to pass up!

[h4robkr123]

I love that MKIV Gti with the G5s. Nice job guys, keep up the great work!

[Dion@Achtuning]

It was an absolute pleasure to see the Audi R8 return after the STaSIS exhaust installed a week ago. Roman brought it back to us after we ordered in some lowering springs from H&R for him.





H&R's lowering springs bring the R8's front down .8" and .9" out back. Doesn't sound like much but it's not like the R8 has much room to come down as it is, however it's just the right amount to bring the center of gravity down where it belongs.



The springs complement the factory magnetic shocks and the combination retains much of the stock comfort on surface streets. We'll leave it up to Roman to report back about his track experiences and new handling characteristics with his new stance - absolutely STUNNING!!

[Dion@Achtuning]

Chris' "Edition 30" VW Mk5 GTI just received APR's Inter-cooler Upgrade, the last item that completed the conversion to S3-engine specs. The inter-cooler is quite a bit larger than the factory unit, 3 times the size in fact at 16.25" x 2.25" x 23.2" wide - but a few minor modifications allow this inter-cooler to sit exactly as the original piece sat.

[sambrody44]

Any plans for wheels for the R8?

[Dion@Achtuning]

Any plans for wheels for the R8?

He's got some 20" HRE monoblocks on the way.

[sambrody44]

What color?

[Dion@Achtuning]

What color?

Silver IIRC.

[Dion@Achtuning]

Dreamwerks completed the Votex kit for the Achtuning A3 Project and we couldn't be happier with the results!





The kit will go on the car within the next couple of weeks as they will likely be the last itmes to go on the car but we're confident the look will be just right! Thanks Hans and Andy for your diligent and quality work!

[chadb2434]

That R8's drop is absolutely amazing! Can't wait to see the new wheels on it!!

[Dion@Achtuning]

Jerry's Mk5 R32 is finally sittin' proper now that it's got a set of 19x8.5" Hartmann Mesh 305 Wheels underneath it. With the car already lowered on Koni coil-overs, the final stance is truly perfect!







Congrats on the new wheels, Jerry!

[Dion@Achtuning]

Here sat the Achtuning A3 project as we had pulled it out for its maiden voyage with the completion of the S3 Conversion to the 2.0T engine. We wanted to make sure it was properly warmed up before seeing how much power the turbo upgrade would produce.



Unfortunately our test-run didn't last long... It seems the high-mileage motor in the A3 we picked up wasn't a clean-slate, "blank canvas" as we had hoped after all as it gave up on us within 5-minutes of our run. As we knew there had to be underlying issues with the motor in our A3, we decided to pull it.



We found unusually excessive carbon build-up on the valves along with a few other things we noticed indicating this motor had been tampered with before - and not necessarily in a good way.



Despite the small hiccup, we're moving forward with the A3 project but with a slightly different direction this time...



We're building up two motors for this A3 now, one to continue our "Edition 30"/S3 Conversion and another, more powerful motor. We'll keep you updated but the project had been set aside for a very busy week of customer installs. Check back soon!

[Dion@Achtuning]

Jason stopped in to get a set of updated wheels for his B5 Audi A4 1.8T. This A4 had once adorned the TSW catalogs in full ABT gear when the B5 Audi A4 first came out and was show-cased with a set of Imola Wheels. Ten years later, albeit without the full kit, Jason reports this car has proved to be quite a reliable daily for him and his family.

18x8" Hartmann HR8-GS:M Wheels were Jason's choice and within minutes, the new shoes were on!





The 32mm offset pushes the face of the wheel pretty close to the fender's edge, giving this A4 the right stance with its sport drop. No rubbing issues or anything either as long as the recommended 235/40-18s are used.



Hartmann HR8-GS:M Wheels

[Dion@Achtuning]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQxkqny_THg

A big "thank you" to local photography (and now film) crew snapRIOT as they covered the Audi R8 exhaust install a few weeks ago. We will be working with these guys again in the near future to provide more video coverage of Shop Life here at Achtuning!

(be sure to watch the video in HD!!)

[Dion@Achtuning]

StopTech's " Sport Kit Brake Upgrade " is the perfect option when it comes to having your brake rotors and pads replaced! A "Sport Kit" kit consists of front and rear StopTech slotted rotors, StopTech Street Performance brake pads, and StopTech stainless-steel braided brake lines, so you have everything needed to add fresh brakes to your car.



John dropped off his B6 Audi A4 1.8T to have StopTech's Stage 2 kit installed - by the end of the day he will be picking his car up with some fresh stopping power which should go well with the APR ECU upgrade we're performing...

[Dion@Achtuning]

6 months is a long time when you're anticipating the delivery of a new car purchase but Joel knew what he wanted and was willing to do what it took to get into this 2009 Jetta Wagon TDI. He was the first to receive a manual version of the TDI Variant in Washington State and we are very happy for him!





Joel dropped off his TDI this morning for a STāSIS Streetsport Coil-Over Kit install which he intends to follow later with a 19" wheel purchase when funds permit. In the meantime, the coil-overs bring the center of gravity down so Joel can take some "spirited" turns with confidence and reduced body roll. Much of the factory comfort is still retained despite the performance suspension upgrade.





With its new stance this Jetta Variant TDI is sittin' proper! We can only imagine how much better it will look once we have some of our 19s on there...

[Dion@Achtuning]

Barrier once again graciously stopped by with the latest addition to the North American Audi fleet, the new Audi Q5. Little brother to the full-sized Audi Q7, this 3.2 V6 SUV offers quite an abundance of amenities and packs quite a punch!







What surprised me was the A3-like "open sky" feature that I read a while back was not going to be available on the Q5, an excellent feature when you want to bring in as much of the outside-in on those gorgeous days.





Based on the B8 body, the interior sports much of the same styling ques that other B8s are now adorned with - a combination of wood grain, brushed aluminum, and leather. Technological advances on this fully-loaded version include key-less start, back-up camera, and even an adapter in your glove box that will allow you to hook up your iPod, Zune (wow, Microsoft... really??), or other media player (you can get up to 5 different connections) - not to mention the 40gb internal memory of the improved, in-dash factory MMI, or Multi-Media Interface with voice recognition software and DVD player. The complete 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system even includes a factory-installed sub in the spare tire well!





The 3.2L V6 FSI is the current power plant available in the Audi Q5, with a 3.0L TDI version supposedly being available next year. Too bad a 2.0T option wasn't available, or we'd see APR Stage 3 versions similar to the VW Tiguan!



Of course, LEDs in the headlights and that massive grille are key signatures of the new Audi brand and it's refreshing to see more and more LED tails spread through their line-up. Too bad the B8 A4 didn't get the LED tails though...







Expect to see 19 and 20" Hartmann Wheels on these Audi Q5s soon!

[Dion@Achtuning]

It's been (thankfully) a busy couple of weeks and despite our hectic schedule, we're pleased with the progress of our Achtuning A3 project. Everything that was added to engine number-one as far as the S3-Conversion has been reinstalled on engine number-two.



Today we've got the front end all wrapped up and we'll begin to work on other areas of the car. We also had to take our Neuspeed P-Flow and modify it due to the relocation of the electronic DV (diverter valve) on the S3-conversion.





Then some wrinkle-finish paint to touch up the new addition...



And the final product!





We still have quite a ways to go but considering circumstances we couldn't be in a better position.

[Dion@Achtuning]

APR announced the release of software upgrades for the the new 3.2L Engine as found in the VW Mk5 R32, Audi (8P) A3 and Mk2 TT!

Features Included:
* APR's Patented Directport Programming Technology APR Software is loaded directly from APR onto your vehicle via an internet connection. This can be performed right here at Achtuning!
* APR's EMCS Functionality
Program switching and features are available to the end user without the need for external hardware. The user can easily cycle though programs using their cruise control stalk. Your cruise control stalk will operate normally while driving.
* Exact OEM Calibration Stock Mode For whatever reason, if you ever need to run your vehicle with the stock calibration that came with the car, it's right at your finger tips.
* 91 Octane Performance Mode
APR Performance calibration designed to run on a minimum of 91 octane fuel
* 93 Octane Performance Mode
APR Performance calibration designed to run on a minimum of 93 octane fuel
* 100 Octane Performance Mode
APR Performance calibration designed to run on a minimum of 100 octane fuel
* Valet Mode
A significantly detuned operating mode. Valet mode will prevent unwanted people from joyriding in your vehicle while it's out of your care.
* Fault Code Erase/Throttle Body Alignment Throw a check engine light when unplugging a sensor? Need to do a throttle body alignment after working on your car? With these options at your fingers, it's now possible w/o a trip to the dealership or the need for external hardware.
* Security Lockout
Using a unique security code, when locked out, it's impossible to switch programs or detect you are running modified software. Further more, when in stock mode it's impossible for diagnostic tools to detect our software. All flash counters and other settings are reset to the values they were prior to reflashing with APR software.
* Anti-theft
Disables throttle input when enabled. Even if your keys are left in the vehicle, this extra layer of protection will help deter theft.


Each performance mode listed above is also available in the following configurations:
* Stage 1
* Stage 1 with Testpipes
* Stage 1 7200 RPM Rev Limit for HPA DSG Compatibility
* Stage 1 7200 RPM Rev Limit with Testpipes for HPA DSG Compatibility

APR's ECU Upgrade is available in three configurations: *Fully Loaded - $599 You will receive all the features above with your choice of four of the calibrations above: [Stock/91/93/100/valet] *Single Program Only - $399 You may choose a single calibration: [91/93] *Trial Software - FREE Any APR dealer is able to flash your vehicle with free trial software. You're fully able to test out the software for free before buying. Regardless, all APR software comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.

Free Updates/Reflashes:
If APR ever makes a revision to the software, or if you ever lose your software through a dealership software update, feel free to contact APR for a free reflash.


Dyno Performance:
All testing was conducted on a stock vehicle with stock hardware and stock TCU software. Increases in power can be seen with hardware modifications.



93 Octane Performance Charts:
* 93 Octane - APR vs Stock
* 93 Octane - APR TQ vs Stock TQ
* 93 Octane - APR TQ Gains Over Stock
* 93 Octane - APR HP vs Stock HP
* 93 Octane - APR HP Gains Over Stock


100 Octane Performance Charts:
* 100 Octane - APR vs Stock
* 100 Octane - APR TQ vs Stock TQ
* 100 Octane - APR TQ Gains Over Stock
* 100 Octane - APR HP vs Stock HP
* 100 Octane - APR HP Gains Over Stock

[03CrysBlueB6]

man that q5 is nice!! im going to have to stop by barrier to bug them and take a peak! glad to see you guys keeping busy..

were (i work at issaquah car toys) doing a lot of vw's audis recently and i try and talk them all into software and tell them to come see you guys.. havent done much business with you guys mysel (unfortunately) but i should stop by and grab some cards .. never hurts to get some referals in there

[Dion@Achtuning]

We always appreciate referrals! Help us keep track of the ones you send over and we'll be happy to repay the favor.

[Dion@Achtuning]

Last Friday we threw on the H&R Premium Coil-Over Suspension on each corner of the Achtuning A3 project, bringing the car closer to the ground where it belongs. More importantly of course, we'll be able to handle local roads and tracks with ease and hug our 19" Hartmann Forged Split-7 Wheels with the better performing suspension.



We've also got a new rear sub frame brace we're testing out. This triangular piece mounts between the rear control arms with no extra drilling or modification and offers better handling and steering response in cornering. We'll add a rear anti-roll bar the next chance we get to further eliminate body roll and try to neutralize some of the A3's under-steer characteristics.



We took her out for a spin and the motor is putting down some good power! Clearly the stock 17s with all-season tires weren't going to cut it and we immediately noticed severe brake fade after a few hard runs so brakes were definitely going to be the next order of business.

The StopTech 328x28mm, 4-piston Big Brake Kit ended up on the car yesterday and look fantastic with the red and black H&R suspension components!







Brake clearance was tight with the new 4-piston calipers but it was just enough to make things fit the way it needed...



We're still undecided on the final wheel finish so for now we'll keep them polished. Front bumper is also back on and a Votex kit might be the next thing added to our Achtuning A3 project.

[sambrody44]

My vote goes to polished!!!

[Dion@Achtuning]

A couple of video clips were forwarded to us from this last weekends track event which includes the Audi R8 we recently lowered and had a STaSIS exhaust installed on...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI4xXp1Lr7I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2qad1vwo7k

[03CrysBlueB6]

yeah deffinetely i will stop by and get some cards from you. and you are more than welcome to send some referals our way.. we give wholesale discounts for referals from other car shops (were currently doing quite a bit for speedware) so let us know if you need anything done on your cars there or any customers!! ill drop by some cards as well as pick some up late this week

[Dion@Achtuning]

[Dion@Achtuning]

While we still have some changes to make to the exterior and interior of our Achtuning A3 project, the majority of the engine upgrades are complete and she's ready to hit the road! The APR upgrades should put us over the 300hp-mark and with the torque the K04 kit produces, it's more than enough to keep smiles on our faces. We rolled it out last night for some quick shots to celebrate this exciting moment for our shop project.

[Dion@Achtuning]

This just in from APR...



Thanks to everyone in the Pacific Northwest community for their continued support and faith in the APR product line! Also, a big "thank you" to our APR sub-dealers (Redmond Werkshop, Redmond European, and Fine Tuning) for helping us get to be the top distributor for APR world-wide in 2008!

[Dion@Achtuning]

We wrapped up the Votex kit installation last Friday and snapped some pictures while we were waiting for some of the adhesives to cure...









Today the front bumper is back on and the Votex front lip really transforms the front-end of the car - looks a bit more aggressive! We'll get pics of that later on when we're done doing some work to the OEM grille.

[Dion@Achtuning]

Considering the factory grille is in good shape, there was no point in adding an additional, unnecessary expense and picking up a new one. Instead, we're taking our's apart and adding our own finishing touch. The chrome trim was the first to go...



Then we sprayed some dupli-color flat black on the entire grille and trim to restore their look...





Still waiting for a plate delete to complete the grille and we left the Audi rings chrome. Turns out the polished finish on the Hartmann Forged Split-7s are growing on us so we might just keep them as-is for now, which help tie in the badging and other polished parts on the car.

[Calabria]

ECODES

[Dion@Achtuning]

New style Achtuning Flex-Fit cap: $15



We should have these on our website soon.

[Dion@Achtuning]

Nick took advantage of APR's "Spring Into Power" Sale and picked up the RSC turbo-back exhaust for his Mk5 GTI.





It also gave us a chance to get better profile pictures of his car since his last visit when we had mounted a set of the Hartmann HRS4-252B Wheels in 19", a great addition to our Achtuning gallery!





We hear the Zender kit is no longer available so it will be interesting to see what front lip and skirt Nick will come up with to complete the look of his GTI. When he does, we'll let you know!

[Dion@Achtuning]

Last summer, Ben picked up a set of the Hartmann Evolution R5 Wheels for his B5 Audi S4. He finally got around to getting us some pictures and all I can say is, "Wow!"... I'm not particularly a fan of bronze on red but I think Ben pulled it off nicely!

[Dion@Achtuning]

STāSIS Engineering sent us pictures of their B8 A4 rockin' the new STāSIS SE08 Wheels...









STāSIS SE08 Wheels are cast aluminum and are available in 20x9 with appropriate fitments for B8 A4s, A5s, and S5s and are $450 per wheel.