UM vs IE vs APR ECU/TCU Tune

[Nardo Grey]

Hello Audizine!

I hope you are all doing well!

I'm starting to look at tunes Stage 1 for my B8.5 S4 again, and as the title states, I am really stuck between the three. I like how I can flash at home with IE, but I also hear great things about UM and APR as well. If anyone has any input here, that would be great. I will continue to read up on the three and will come back and reply if I find anything noteworthy. My car is bone stock right now. I'm also looking at TCU tunes. I was happy to see that on APR's website, they say that they make the transmission shift as fast as mechanically possible. I wonder how the APR stacks up against the UM and IE tunes.

There was one nasty thread on UM, but I don't think that that is representative of the company, and I haven't really let it sway me.

I want my S4 to be a more handling based car, so I think this is the only thing besides an intake that I will do to my engine.

As far as suspension goes, I am looking at both coilovers and springs. I hear great things about H&R and Bilstein. I will continue to look around on that here.

Thank you, and I hope you all are well!

Respectfully,

Charlie

[MSq5]

Hello Audizine!

I hope you are all doing well!

I'm starting to look at tunes Stage 1 for my B8.5 S4 again, and as the title states, I am really stuck between the three. I like how I can flash at home with IE, but I also hear great things about UM and APR as well. If anyone has any input here, that would be great. I will continue to read up on the three and will come back and reply if I find anything noteworthy. My car is bone stock right now. I'm also looking at TCU tunes. I was happy to see that on APR's website, they say that they make the transmission shift as fast as mechanically possible. I wonder how the APR stacks up against the UM and IE tunes.

There was one nasty thread on UM, but I don't think that that is representative of the company, and I haven't really let it sway me.

I want my S4 to be a more handling based car, so I think this is the only thing besides an intake that I will do to my engine.

As far as suspension goes, I am looking at both coilovers and springs. I hear great things about H&R and Bilstein. I will continue to look around on that here.

Thank you, and I hope you all are well!

Respectfully,

Charlie

It would be better to read the threads and make your choice based on those cumulative experiences rather than relying on a poll with the first few people who respond. Also, what is UM? More than one company use names that could fit those initials. Also there are several great tunes with great performance and customer service that are not in your poll.

[Hamsteak]

MSq5 makes a good point id be a good idea to check around the thread and see other people experiences with these tunes and how they work.

034 is also a good brand to consider when looking into a stage 1 tune, their TCU tune and advanced launch control is (in my opinion) on top, if I were to turn back the clock I might have gone with them instead of IE, or at least consider them a close second to IE.

If you haven't heard already APR has moved on from the b8/b8.5 s4 so their will be no more updates to their tunes or product. While that may be a bit of a bummer the cost for their tunes has gone down considerably, on top of that they are in no way considered a "slow" brand, I just wouldn't place them at the top of the food chain. If your looking for a good tune that's a little lighter on your pockets I would go with APR.

From personal experience I can tell you that IE is a good brand that has yet to let me down, I've been running their 93 tunes basically the entire time I've owned my b8.5 and haven't had any problems with any of the tunes I've downloaded from them. On top of that the at home tuning is simple and convenient if you ever want to change anything up.

Don't know much about UM so.....

Just do the research you needa do and find what suits you best, in my opinion there's no wrong answer when it comes to tunes as long as your happy with the end result.

I'd also refer to this if it is speed your after ----------> https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/712837-**NEW**-1-4-mile-spreadsheet-Submit-your-time-here

[SForePlayin']

Look into EPL (https://www.facebook.com/EPLabs/). They are still innovative on this platform and are well represented in this B8 forum, and others, including the B9. They post almost daily and have arguably the best customer service in the business. They are flash at home also.

[Ford Prefect]

If you focused more on handling it doesn’t matter what you get. In fact, if your focused on 1/4 it doesn’t matter what tune you get, it only matters who you talk too.

Pick based on opinions already on the forum, price, ease and cost of install, etc

You won’t be able to tell the difference of someone tuned your car for you and didn’t tell what tune it was. Personally I went for EPL for price and ease of tuning at home. I don’t give a shit if the guy down the road has 10 more peak horse power or a slightly better torque curve in IE.

It just doesn’t matter. It might feel like it does right now, but it just doesn’t.


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[Ford Prefect]

And WTF is UM??


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[bandit]

United Motorsports

I had a tune from them when I had my mk4 R32. I went EPL this time around. EXCELLENT customer service and very happy with the tune.

[BEight SFour]

I have EPL. Easy transfer of sale, got my cord and software and did it myself from home. Chris gave me an easy install checklist. No issues with my EPL on a B8 6MT. Plus it pulls plenty hard in dynamic mode.

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[Ashtonts]

Another vote for EPL. Awesome guys and the tune has been great for me

[weave]

i chose 034 for their TCU reputation, it couldnt be better imo. It's been update many times just this year when other Tuner abandonned our platform. You'll find many people who switch from other tuner to 034 based on their TCU alone. Very smooth in D for your commutes and Manual mode for your more fun times all i can say its very fast and enjoyable. They have 2 files for TCU, the 1st one is an OEM update which fixes few flaws including the famous WOT needle bug-down hesitation that we know on the b8.5 dsg oem software. I cant speak for other tuners but my conclusion at the time only 034 had that feature included.

happy shopping.

[ANMS4]

I had EPL and wasn’t happy ,and switch to IE could be more happy with the tune. I’d vote IE.

[Nardo Grey]

Hey Hamsteak!

Can I use 034's Stage 1 tune on the road? Their website said that I couldn't use them for on road use. Is this true? Thanks for your reply!

Edit: I looked at their website for the ECU tune, and it it says "I understand that this product is sold for racing use as well as use on vehicles not registered for on highway use. It is not legal for use on emissions controlled highway vehicles or street vehicles." For the DSG tune it says "I understand that this product is sold for competition use and is not legal for use in highway or street vehicles."

What do I do with this? Are their products only for racing use? Any clarification on this would be super helpful! Thanks again!

[Nardo Grey]

i chose 034 for their TCU reputation, it couldnt be better imo. It's been update many times just this year when other Tuner abandonned our platform. You'll find many people who switch from other tuner to 034 based on their TCU alone. Very smooth in D for your commutes and Manual mode for your more fun times all i can say its very fast and enjoyable. They have 2 files for TCU, the 1st one is an OEM update which fixes few flaws including the famous WOT needle bug-down hesitation that we know on the b8.5 dsg oem software. I cant speak for other tuners but my conclusion at the time only 034 had that feature included.

happy shopping.

Thank you! I also like how 034 is pretty local to me. I could also head over to Fremont and get my car tuned there. Thanks for the input, and I will definitely look into them more.

[Hamsteak]

Hey Hamsteak!

Can I use 034's Stage 1 tune on the road? Their website said that I couldn't use them for on road use. Is this true? Thanks for your reply!

Edit: I looked at their website for the ECU tune, and it it says "I understand that this product is sold for racing use as well as use on vehicles not registered for on highway use. It is not legal for use on emissions controlled highway vehicles or street vehicles." For the DSG tune it says "I understand that this product is sold for competition use and is not legal for use in highway or street vehicles."

What do I do with this? Are their products only for racing use? Any clarification on this would be super helpful! Thanks again!

There should be no issue using 034's tunes on the road, they are based in California so the warning on the site is mainly for their safety as to protect them legally. It's like how you see a warning on basically every other car website talking about Cali's emission laws. Even if you yourself are from Cali, tunes don't have a bad effect on emissions and can actually increase your fuel efficiency.

However if you ever look into higher tunes down the road such as stage 2, dual pulley, etc, your catalytic converters will start to fail at a varying rate. I've have Dual Pulley and over for a few thousands miles now with no bad cats so far, but others have had theirs fail within a few hundred.

Also While your looking into tunes, i'd also pick up an intake while your at it so you can finally hear that supercharger whine!

[BEight SFour]

I live in CA and have EPL stage 1 with no issues if that explains being road legal to you as well


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[thefleshrocket]

I have EPL. Easy transfer of sale, got my cord and software and did it myself from home. Chris gave me an easy install checklist. No issues with my EPL on a B8 6MT. Plus it pulls plenty hard in dynamic mode.

FYI, only the original purchaser of the tune can sell it, and only within two years of purchase. Also, if you sell the car with the tune on it and the new owner wants updates, they'll need to pay $250 to EPL to set them up a new account. A few caveats that are apparently not well known.

[ModItNow]

034 Motorsports and don't look back. Their TCU is the best out there

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[Nardo Grey]

034 Motorsports and don't look back. Their TCU is the best out there

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How fast does the trans shift with the 034 TCU tune? Are there any videos out there that can give me a sense of what it's like? I briefly ended up talking to the guys at 034 on their Instagram, and they actually got back to me. That means a lot. FYI they are running a Mustang 4WD linked dyno. They also said that all of their dyno charts are from that dyno. I also like that I can drive my car into their shop in Fremont, so I don't need the cable. They can also clear any codes that are thrown as well. Thanks for your reply!

[04lss]

Id throw IE out there as an option their customer service has been great about answering my questions. Im deciding between them and 034 , but im leaning IE. Also if you look at the fastest 1/4 mile times theyre from one of the two brands.

[ModItNow]

How fast does the trans shift with the 034 TCU tune? Are there any videos out there that can give me a sense of what it's like? I briefly ended up talking to the guys at 034 on their Instagram, and they actually got back to me. That means a lot. FYI they are running a Mustang 4WD linked dyno. They also said that all of their dyno charts are from that dyno. I also like that I can drive my car into their shop in Fremont, so I don't need the cable. They can also clear any codes that are thrown as well. Thanks for your reply!I have a 6MT but check out my boy RodizzleS4 on YouTube or instagram. His car hauls serious ass with the DSG

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[timmyzr1]

i chose 034 for their TCU reputation, it couldnt be better imo. It's been update many times just this year when other Tuner abandonned our platform. You'll find many people who switch from other tuner to 034 based on their TCU alone. Very smooth in D for your commutes and Manual mode for your more fun times all i can say its very fast and enjoyable. They have 2 files for TCU, the 1st one is an OEM update which fixes few flaws including the famous WOT needle bug-down hesitation that we know on the b8.5 dsg oem software. I cant speak for other tuners but my conclusion at the time only 034 had that feature included.

happy shopping.

So you are saying that B8.5 DSG wobble went away with 034 TCU tune?