Next upgrade? Help me choose...Exhaust or FMIC

[rxer311]

Right now my 2.0t only has a Revo Stage 1 flash and a set of ABT springs. I have some extra cash comming and I am trying to decide what my next mod should be. My goals are to retain drivability and comfort but get a few HP gain. I am going to retain my stock cat and do not plan on going "stage 2". I was thinking of these options...

1. AWE exhaust, claims 12hp and 8ft/lbs
2. AWE FMIC, claims 14 hp

What would my pros and cons be for each mod? Where am I going to get the most gains. Also, warranty issues?

Thanks

[bartles]

I would go FMIC, but thats just me. I think gains are in the 20+ HP.

[NastyNate]

I would go FMIC, but thats just me. I think gains are in the 20+ HP.

Really? I haven't heard that. For the $$ you're about to spend I don't understand why you wouldn't go Stage 2.

Either way, it depends on your goals... FMIC is all about performance, while exhaust is more about sound at a Stage 1.

[rxer311]

Really? I haven't heard that. For the $$ you're about to spend I don't understand why you wouldn't go Stage 2.

Either way, it depends on your goals... FMIC is all about performance, while exhaust is more about sound at a Stage 1.

Basically I don't want to remove my cat. Only reason for not going stage 2. Those gains on the FMIC were on a stage 1 car by the way...

[B72.0T]

Why dont you wanna remove your cat... the gains are good. Plus its cheaper than a FMIC

[rxer311]

Long story but didn't plan on doing any other mods. May have some dealership credit comming to me. Dealership is an AWE dealer. So, have some extra to spend on AWE parts. AWE does not make a HFC so I am not interested at the time. I won't go catless either...

[B72.0T]

I see... Im buying a HFC soon but wont be putting it on till warranty is up either.

[jimrobbington]

I personally would do exhaust. Hands down. A FMIC is hardly necessary with a stage 1 car. You will be able to do a turbo back exhaust for about the same cost as an AWE FMIC. Now that I am stage 2, I want one. But wouldn't need one before exhaust.

[bloodstar57]

Water meth injection FTW!!! Intercoolers only cool to ambient. Water/meth cools below ambient plus ups your octane.

[Azeroth]

why don't you just wait for a bit and get both a hfc and awe exhaust and have them install both? im sure the awe shop will also install the hfc. then upgrade your flash to stage 2 for like $50 or whatever. then you get sound and performance gains. then after that save up for a fmic, as it is not at all necessary for a stage one flash, and more beneficial on stage 2. the route i would go anyways

[rxer311]

why don't you just wait for a bit and get both a hfc and awe exhaust and have them install both? im sure the awe shop will also install the hfc. then upgrade your flash to stage 2 for like $50 or whatever. then you get sound and performance gains. then after that save up for a fmic, as it is not at all necessary for a stage one flash, and more beneficial on stage 2. the route i would go anyways

I install stuff myself. I have no issues with my ability to install a HFC...just don't want to go that route right now. I have some stuff to work with so I figured I might as well play a bit.

Looks like I will be going with a Catback exhaust. Wonder if I should go Quad tip or just dual tip...

[RedS-line]

Their FMIC is worth about 50hp if you look at HP lost due to heatsoak. read the eurotuner article about their FMIC i think its on their site. For the exhaust when i had it i felt an increase in top end at the EXPENSE of a small loss of torque down low. obviously i say go fmic especially since its getting hotter out.

[Yarrus]

I don`t know ecological norms in US.So i`d offer to install downpipe and Magnaflow cans on the tail...
I have the same mods!)

[colt45]

get the AWE FMIC.

[Q-Ball]

subscribed...

[paden501]

Does the HFC do you any good without a better flowing exhaust behind it?

Does a better flowing exhaust really do you any good without a HFC?

I would think (and I really have no basis for this reasoning other than logic) that HFC and exhaust would be best done together. Since you don't want to do HFC right now, I'd say do FMIC instead.

[elwigglero]

Does a better flowing exhaust really do you any good without a HFC?

Nope. The cat is the bottleneck.

[Buzzatron]

GO with a carbon fiber hood/ trunk and lambo doors.

[CKYmike]

I'm running test pipe, awe fmic, and chip and the car is running amazing. The only disadvantage with having the stock exhaust is the weight.

[Matt@EuropaParts]

The AWE FMIC is a great product, as is the exhaust, but I know some have complained that it's a bit loud. The Stasis exhaust is a nice blend of performance and noise, while not having any drone at all. I have two manual (http://www.europaparts.com/stasis-exhaust-a4-b7-2-0l-quattro-manual.html) and one Tiptronic (http://www.europaparts.com/stasis-exhaust-a4-b7-2-0l-quattro-tiptronic.html) exhausts in stock:


I'm running test pipe, awe fmic, and chip and the car is running amazing. The only disadvantage with having the stock exhaust is the weight.

Cough cough (http://www.europaparts.com/stasis-exhaust-a4-b7-2-0l-quattro-manual.html)...it has your name written all over it :-)

[CKYmike]

Matt I'm def considering it. I just need to get my 4000 up and running first[evilsmile]

[wootwoot]

Water meth injection FTW!!! Intercoolers only cool to ambient. Water/meth cools below ambient plus ups your octane.

Agreed!

[marty was here]

Water meth injection FTW!!! Intercoolers only cool to ambient. Water/meth cools below ambient plus ups your octane.

you still get heat soak when running a meth. you stock intercoolers just cant keep up. ive got a k04, meth, etc, and im still getting heat soak after 5 hard runs

and ps

ANOTHER FUCKING INTERCOOLER THREAD?

[paden501]

ANOTHER FUCKING INTERCOOLER THREAD?

Intercoolers seem to be the 'hot' topic around here as the summer weather arrives (no pun intended)

Regarding Exhaust (and sorry for the threadjack), what modifications need to be made to aftermarket exhaust systems to make them fit to B7 A4 convertibles?

Thanks.

[rxer311]

Nope. The cat is the bottleneck.

Not what the dyno says from AWE...
http://www.awe-tuning.com/media/dynosheets/b7_a4_awe_exhaust.jpg

[rxer311]

FYI...dynos for the FMIC
http://www.awe-tuning.com/pages/info/content_window.cfm?content=59

[rxer311]

Their FMIC is worth about 50hp if you look at HP lost due to heatsoak. read the eurotuner article about their FMIC i think its on their site. For the exhaust when i had it i felt an increase in top end at the EXPENSE of a small loss of torque down low. obviously i say go fmic especially since its getting hotter out.

Read that article...WOW!!!

[CystmX]

Not to thread jack or anything but I'm sort of in the same boat you are in. All I have on my car is a chip as well. I do plan on going to Stage 2 in the future but not just yet. I would like to get a RAI exhaust but that might be out of my price range. Would a FMIC and a chip even be worth it right now?

[vdubjetta02]

FMIC do not yield horsepower UNTIL you start to heatsoak.....the 15 hp claim come from :
(this is an example)
Car 1.) has stock intercooler, after drving for 1 hr starts to lose power due to heat soak
Car 2.) after 1 hour now has 15 more hp than car 1 due to upgraded intercooler

there are tons of threads and vendors out there that stand behind that claim ^^^^...

... but before FMIC you should really be buying a HFC or TP

[NastyNate]

Not to thread jack or anything but I'm sort of in the same boat you are in. All I have on my car is a chip as well. I do plan on going to Stage 2 in the future but not just yet. I would like to get a RAI exhaust but that might be out of my price range. Would a FMIC and a chip even be worth it right now?

In Louisiana you probably heatsoak pretty quickly at this time of year, so a FMIC would be worth it. But to vdubjetta02's point, you'll get better gains from a HFC/TP if you're solely after the HP gains.

[rxer311]

FMIC do not yield horsepower UNTIL you start to heatsoak.....the 15 hp claim come from :
(this is an example)
Car 1.) has stock intercooler, after drving for 1 hr starts to lose power due to heat soak
Car 2.) after 1 hour now has 15 more hp than car 1 due to upgraded intercooler

there are tons of threads and vendors out there that stand behind that claim ^^^^...



... but before FMIC you should really be buying a HFC or TP

I agree with you to a point, but this is only half true. The AWE also has less pressure drop than stock and flows better. This will decrease lag time and the turbo won't have to work as hard to create the same amount of boost. There are still gains when the car is not heatsoaked.

[eskimopunk]

fmic, it's summer.

[elwigglero]

Not what the dyno says from AWE...
http://www.awe-tuning.com/media/dynosheets/b7_a4_awe_exhaust.jpg

So that's 9 HP and ~6 ft lbs. The TP/HFC are both well beyond that. 034 has a much more interesting Dyno.

http://www.034motorsport.com/product_info.php?cPath=28_112&products_id=19185

It's all about bang for the buck.

[rxer311]

So that's 9 HP and ~6 ft lbs. The TP/HFC are both well beyond that. 034 has a much more interesting Dyno.

http://www.034motorsport.com/product_info.php?cPath=28_112&products_id=19185

It's all about bang for the buck.

Please go back and read the entire thread. There is a reason I am between these two parts. Best bang for buck is $0.

[CystmX]

FMIC do not yield horsepower UNTIL you start to heatsoak.....the 15 hp claim come from :
(this is an example)
Car 1.) has stock intercooler, after drving for 1 hr starts to lose power due to heat soak
Car 2.) after 1 hour now has 15 more hp than car 1 due to upgraded intercooler

there are tons of threads and vendors out there that stand behind that claim ^^^^...

... but before FMIC you should really be buying a HFC or TP

Ok, I must not be understanding this right because from what I am getting out of that is basically the gain you get is from what you have already. For example lets say your car has 300HP after an hour of driving you will loose 15HP so it will then be 285HP. With a FMIC it lets you keep the 300HP you had before because it can cool faster...?

[rxer311]

Ok, I must not be understanding this right because from what I am getting out of that is basically the gain you get is from what you have already. For example lets say your car has 300HP after an hour of driving you will loose 15HP so it will then be 285HP. With a FMIC it lets you keep the 300HP you had before because it can cool faster...?

It really isn't that simple...though that is the basic premise.

[CystmX]

Well when it's put that way. I would rather get a HFC first. It's cheaper and you will see more gains.

[rxer311]

Well when it's put that way. I would rather get a HFC first. It's cheaper and you will see more gains.

Again, if you read the entire post you will see why I have selected these 2 options. $0 is cheaper than >$0.

[elwigglero]

Please go back and read the entire thread. There is a reason I am between these two parts. Best bang for buck is $0.

I read it. I just don't comprehend the reasoning behind not spending $200 for a TP or $300 for a HFC, when you're getting the rest of the set up for free. You're already going to have the exhaust off of the car. Just bolt up a replacement to the stock cat and enjoy twice the horsepower that the exhaust would give you. The smartest option would be to get the free AWE exhaust and sell it, install a TP/HFC and pocket the difference. You'll get more power and you'll actually make money.

Reasoning is fun.

[CystmX]

Again, if you read the entire post you will see why I have selected these 2 options. $0 is cheaper than >$0.

I'm not talking about for you. I was talking about for me. I am in the same boat as your in. Want to get either exhaust or FMIC. If I get most of the HP gain from the HFC, I would get that for now and then save up for FMIC then rest of exhaust. Unless that would be retarded....?

[rxer311]

Yes, for you, power gains are great with the HFC. I would go that route first if I was in your situation and not mine ;-).

[Sal_B7]

Go for the exhaust. I would say quad tip cause it looks sweet! You will have to get a S4 rear valance though. So that will be more money. Unless you want to be ghetto and cut out your valance. Save you some money there.

[rxer311]

Yes, I would love the quad tip. I could also get the S4 valence.

[Sal_B7]

^there you go!

[DocJ]

FMIC! everyone without is getting heatsoaked the f*ck out! including me... [:(]