APR stage 2 question

[jmaneyapanda]

I have been talking to the local tuner about taking my stock B7 to an APR stage 2. In as much, he quoted me the cat back exhaust, cold air, and ECU. I questioned him on the HFC, and he said it, or a test pipe weren't needed, but the APR site says that the air intake and exhaust are optional, with the HFC or test pipe required. What gives?

[Gil2.0T]

There is no OFFICIAL stage "numbers"
It has just been known to make things easier, like slang
The tune is actually made to accomodate the mods that you have already. So do what you can to your car then theyll flash it accordingly. You need a test pipe\ hfc no matter what to go to the "stage 2" though

[Kipper984x]

Gil 2.0T is right. You are basically at "Stage 2" once you change from the OEM cat to a test pipe or HFC. If your already at stage 1, ur software is good to go for stage 2. HOWEVER, if you get a test pipe or HFC your going to throw a CEL. When that happens, you need to get your car reflashed to delete the CEL so you can pass inspection and stuff.

[vbrad26]

i second all that
i have apr "stage 2" and all i have is a test pipe
no exhaust, no CAI

[crazytex21]

yeah, i had the CAI and test pipe at stage 2. i have the HPFP now and i am Stg 2+, but without full exhaust.

[jmaneyapanda]

Ok, but to the guts of the question, do I "need" a HFC to run the cat back exhaust and air intake? Remember, my car is going from stock. I just assumed I would.

[Gil2.0T]

you dont NEED to run anything with anything really. It only makes sense to do a TP or hfc before exhaust since just the tp or hfc is more beneficial than full exhaust. The cat is the most restrictive part of the exhaust. So no you dont NEED to do anything before anything really. You would see more gains with just a TP and for a fraction of the price. I would say to do your CAI and a TP and youll be hapy with those 2 and a tune to "stage 2"

[B7Daily]

just an fyi APR says to run a Stock airbox they have been tested good up to 500HP

[Gil2.0T]

yeah thats the other thing, there is not problem with the stock airbox. The only gain would be sound wise. Check out the intake inlets by 034.

[spector]

There is no OFFICIAL stage "numbers"
It has just been known to make things easier, like slang
The tune is actually made to accomodate the mods that you have already. So do what you can to your car then theyll flash it accordingly. You need a test pipe\ hfc no matter what to go to the "stage 2" though

No.

http://www.goapr.com/products/ecu_upgrade_20tfsi_long.html

There are official stage numbers on APR's site.

Stage II is a flash that removes the potential CEL you get from a HFC or TP. Stage II+ involves upgraded fueling, designated by the "+". For B6 cars, Stage II provides NO performance gain over stage II ** it only deletes the 02 sensor feedback from the cat allowing you to run a HFC or TP. The files are otherwise identical. As I understand it, B7 is the same way.

[Kipper984x]

No, you dont need a HFC to get either a cat back exhaust or coldair intake. I have both and have the OEM cat right now. Remember "cat-back" means from the catalytic converter back, so you can use ur stock cat (make sure thats OK depending what exhaust you have, I have AWE). The intake is fine to install without any software or other mods; you could install that by itself. IMO, intake and exhaust may give you a small performance boost, but are mainly for sound.

[Gil2.0T]

No.

http://www.goapr.com/products/ecu_upgrade_20tfsi_long.html

There are official stage numbers on APR's site.

Stage II is a flash that removes the potential CEL you get from a HFC or TP. Stage II+ involves upgraded fueling, designated by the "+". For B6 cars, Stage II provides NO performance gain over stage II ** it only deletes the 02 sensor feedback from the cat allowing you to run a HFC or TP. The files are otherwise identical. As I understand it, B7 is the same way.

Yes they use the numbers on their web site to make it easy to understand and have a way to talk about the different files. Go call your local APR retailer and ask them. That info i shared is exactly what Cars and Concepts explained to me. Why do you think they ask you what mods you have before they flash it.

[F1Tod]

Help me follow along.

Stg 1= intake/exhaust. No mods needed
Stg 2= Intake/exhaust/ECU modified

Thanks, this has been a very helpful thread. My 06 S-Line is stock and I'm ready for some changes.

[B72.0T]

Help me follow along.

Stg 1= intake/exhaust. No mods needed
Stg 2= Intake/exhaust/ECU modified

Thanks, this has been a very helpful thread. My 06 S-Line is stock and I'm ready for some changes.

Stage 1 = Chip/Reflash
Stage 2 = Chip w/ Testpipe/HFC OR full exhaust (can have an intake obviously)

[Gil2.0T]

Yeah B72.0T is right.

You can have exhaust, intake, DV, Catch can, and everything else thats on the market and if you dont have a TP or HFC your "stage 1"

You can be completely stock and just have a TP or HFC and be "stage 2"

Maybe that will help with understanding

[aaron1085]

the fuel pump is such a killer to the budget! I mean...ugh

[bmc333]

^ that's all relative. Stage III was the real budget killer for me.

[spector]

Yes they use the numbers on their web site to make it easy to understand and have a way to talk about the different files. Go call your local APR retailer and ask them. That info i shared is exactly what Cars and Concepts explained to me. Why do you think they ask you what mods you have before they flash it.

The question is about APR software, so APR's nomenclature is relevant. The mod community has its own scale for what constitutes various "stages" but that has nothing to do with APR's software, which is what the OP was asking.

APR Stage II is just a file that plays nice with certain hardware, particularly eliminating the CEL that comes from having a TP or HFC due to faulty data from the 02 sensor. Performance wise, it should be no different from Stage I, except that it removes the potential CEL triggered by having a TP or HFC. That is why the only "Required" hardware for Stage II is a TP/HFC and there is NO required hardware for Stage I.

For APR:
Stage 1: Software flash
Stage 2: Same software flash, but deletes potential CEL triggered by installing a TP/HFC
Stage 2+: More aggressive flash utilizing a high-flow fuel pump

[jmaneyapanda]

So adding a CAI and cat back exhaust will have no effect on performance without a HFC? I am avoiding the TP as I need to pass emissions and want to avoid the cabin "smell".

[Soul Kitchen]

So adding a CAI and cat back exhaust will have no effect on performance without a HFC? I am avoiding the TP as I need to pass emissions and want to avoid the cabin "smell".

The CAI and the cat back exhaust will not have gains of much more than.. about 5-10hp imo

[VegasAIV]

if youre undecided on going stage2, then go with a HPFP. I was stage 2 for a while before i got the HPFP and when i made the jump to a it, it felt like a completely different car.

[spector]

The CAI and the cat back exhaust will not have gains of much more than.. about 5-10hp imo

Exactly. But those gains are independent of a software flash. Call APR directly and ask them. I believe b7 is the same as b6 software, in that going from stage I to stage II flash offers NO performance gain ** only removes the CEL. Call them to verify. 2+ ** with upgraded fueling ** will be a bigger jump.

[Kipper984x]

Im pretty sure spector is correct, specifically talking about software going from stage 1 to stage 2 offers no gain in performance, the gain in performance comes the hardware you installed (HFC or TP). The software can "learn" what mods you have on the car and adjusts accordingly. Reflashing your car to "stage 2" just eliminates the CEL, nothing more. Basically if you get flashed for stage 1, u already have the software for "stage 2" as well.