TT-RS Unitronic Stage 2 w/ IE hardware impressions + audio clips

[DKo5]

I recently went stage 2 using IE's downpipe, turbo inlet, and intake along with Unitronic ECU+TCU tunes on my 2018 TT-RS. There's a ton of videos out there of various setups, but I had a hard time finding more than a handful with IE hardware so I thought I'd share some audio of what it sounds like. I'm not a professional Youtuber and just used the equipment I had on hand for when I go to the track, but I'm fairly pleased with how the recordings turned out (outside of some gross clipping a couple times). This is NOT an in-car example of what it sounds like, as I used an external mic run to the rear of the car just above the license plate.

Here's the video showing a warm start, revving in Dynamic and Comfort (flaps open + closed), a 0-60 run using launch control, a leisure canyon run (will be getting on-track footage in a few weeks), and some low speed cruising in Comfort to show wastegate rattle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ60ZtHKQAo

I've got a Dragy but haven't done thorough before/after testing yet - but there's a wealth of information online for what to expect when going Unitronic stage 2. I did some stock vs Stage 1 (91 octane tune) 0-60 and 1/4 testing earlier, hitting 60 in 3.6 seconds when stock, 3.0 on Stage 1 (with everything below installed outside of the downpipe, turbo inlet, injectors, and spark plugs). Quarter mile was 11.6 stock, 11.0 Stage 1. I'm expecting Stage 2 E85 to be in the ~2.7 second range and the quarter somewhere in the mid to high 10s. I don't drag race, more of a road track kind of guy. All tests done on non prepped surfaces with PS4S tires - not ideal for drag racing.

Overall I'm incredibly pleased with the Integrated Engineering intake and downpipe setup combined with the Unitronic Stage 2 tune on E85. The amount of power is dangerous on the street and the soundtrack that comes along is 🔥🔥🔥. The only downside that I have found, and it is not unique to this tune or hardware, is the dreaded wastegate rattle. I was hoping that going with a catted downpipe it wouldn't be too bad, but there's just no helping it. Outside of that, this is a great setup. The car can be quiet and docile when leaving my neighborhood yet flip it to Dynamic and it's like an entirely different car comes alive. I'm dying to get it on the track to really stretch it's legs!

Previously, when tuned with Custom Code a couple years ago, I had the CTS intake and Milltek midpipes and I much prefer the intake and exhaust noises from the IE hardware. The CTS intake was fun for a week, but the constant turbo noises (as lovely as they are) became tiresome. I can still hear a little turbo whoosing and flutter with the IE intake, but it isn't overwhelming. I loved the extra audio from the Milltek midpipes compared to stock, but they can't hold a candle to an aftermarket downpipe with decatted mids.

I was originally planning on going built motor with a hybrid turbo (either TTE777 or IMH780HS) within the next year or so, but honestly outside of a closed track I don't know where I'd use the power. I'm already finding that I'm a little more "bored" on surface streets because anytime I plant my right foot I'm instantly in lose-your-license territory of speed, and more power would just make that happen more often. I've loudly cackled at the acceleration and noises multiple times, so as far as I'm concerned this is the ultimate smiles per dollar setup on these cars.

Current Setup:

Integrated Engineering Downpipe w/ Y-Pipe Adapter
Integrated Engineering Carbon Fiber Intake
Integrated Engineering Turbo Inlet
Unitronic MPI Injector Upgrade Kit
Unitronic Stage 2 ECU Tune (E85 and 91)
Unitronic Stage 2 TCU Tune
Unitronic Wastegate Line Upgrade Kit
Iroz Motorsport DSG Catchcan
Iroz Motosport Intercooler (800hp version)
NGK R7437-9 Spark Plugs
AP Racing J Hook Rotors
Ferodo DS2500 Pads F/R
Spriegler Stainless Brake Lines F/R
Neuspeed RSe102 (Bronze) 19x9 et45
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S XL 255/35ZR19
H&R Sway Bars F/R
DSC Sport Adaptive Suspension Controller
034 Lower Dogbone Mount Insert, Rear Subframe Mounts, and Spherical Dogbone Mount
TAG Motorsports Painted Front Reflectors, Blackout Package, and Black Painted Gas Door
Ceramic coated with Gtechniq Crystal Serum
SA Performance Parts Carbon Fiber Clubsport Kit
Fuel-It! Ethanol Analyzer
Clearmount Dashboard Phone Mount
Custom Autostyle.co.uk Mats w/ RS logo

Hardware used for audio/video/photos:

GoPro Hero 6
Canon Rebel T4i w/ various lenses
Olympus ME-51S Stereo Mic
Movo WS1 Furry Microphone Windscreen

And since I had just done a detail on the car, figured some nice glamour shots were in order. Enjoy!

https://i.imgur.com/1kqzG6s.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HpmIkOR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nZDo9Js.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MMinqTt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KT7pfxy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/t1tssvu.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Apq1IJM.jpg

[kevin#34]

nice car, sound and video!
about the wastegate rattle noise, which is the cause? Any possible solution?

[DKo5]

It's common and a result of how the stock turbo is set up. Only 100% guaranteed solution is to go big turbo. There are tuners who can reduce it, but it's just a byproduct of normal operation. All the current 5cyl cars have it, you just don't hear it as much when stock because the OEM DP muffles it much better.

[kevin#34]

ok, clear, thanks

[Auditude437]

Wow nice looking car. Can I ask how you blacked out the fuel cap? Any suggestions on how I'd be able to do it on mine (Daytona gray). Thanks!

[DKo5]

Thanks!

You could remove yours and paint it, or spend the $$$ and get a pre-painted one: https://tagmotorsports.com/audi-tt-ttrs-painted-gas-door-8s-mk3

[BeTTo RS]

Amazing car and nice video.

I was only wondering why does the video refers to CTS intake and Milltek pipes?

Thanks and keep the good work!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum

[DKo5]

Weird, that's an old video of my previous setup.

[nardoRS]

Nice setup!
What are your impressions on the DSC controller?

[DKo5]

Haven't given it a proper workout yet, but initial impressions are that it doesn't immediately transform the car into a track rat on the street. There's something very interesting going on with it, in that I can feel every little bump and crack on the road yet there's a floatiness to the overall suspension feeling. At first, I thought I had made a terrible mistake as right away it felt like I had installed far too harsh springs like a highschool kid with a Civic as I was feeling everything on the road -- but you know that lazy up/down bobbing you get in a Lexus or Cadillac? That happens on larger undulations in the road, while simultaneously feeling all the imperfections of the road. Very different feeling than, say, a quality set of coilovers. I definitely feel more connected to the car/road, but not in a harsh way. In general, daily driving with the suspension in Dynamic is overall more comfortable than the stock controller was in Comfort mode. Really looking forward to a proper track day or canyon run to really feel it out. I suspect I'll fall in love with the car all over again at that point, but for a street driven car I don't think it's worth the money as it is quite expensive. I'm still wanting to fit a set of MSS sport springs, will be interesting to see the difference then as well.

[RSpeeds]

I recently went stage 2 using IE's downpipe, turbo inlet, and intake along with Unitronic ECU+TCU tunes on my 2018 TT-RS. There's a ton of videos out there of various setups, but I had a hard time finding more than a handful with IE hardware so I thought I'd share some audio of what it sounds like. I'm not a professional Youtuber and just used the equipment I had on hand for when I go to the track, but I'm fairly pleased with how the recordings turned out (outside of some gross clipping a couple times). This is NOT an in-car example of what it sounds like, as I used an external mic run to the rear of the car just above the license plate.

I've got a Dragy but haven't done thorough before/after testing yet - but there's a wealth of information online for what to expect when going Unitronic stage 2. I did some stock vs Stage 1 (91 octane tune) 0-60 and 1/4 testing earlier, hitting 60 in 3.6 seconds when stock, 3.0 on Stage 1 (with everything below installed outside of the downpipe, turbo inlet, injectors, and spark plugs). Quarter mile was 11.6 stock, 11.0 Stage 1. I'm expecting Stage 2 E85 to be in the ~2.7 second range and the quarter somewhere in the mid to high 10s. I don't drag race, more of a road track kind of guy. All tests done on non prepped surfaces with PS4S tires - not ideal for drag racing.

Overall I'm incredibly pleased with the Integrated Engineering intake and downpipe setup combined with the Unitronic Stage 2 tune on E85. The amount of power is dangerous on the street and the soundtrack that comes along is 🔥🔥🔥. The only downside that I have found, and it is not unique to this tune or hardware, is the dreaded wastegate rattle. I was hoping that going with a catted downpipe it wouldn't be too bad, but there's just no helping it. Outside of that, this is a great setup. The car can be quiet and docile when leaving my neighborhood yet flip it to Dynamic and it's like an entirely different car comes alive. I'm dying to get it on the track to really stretch it's legs!

Previously, when tuned with Custom Code a couple years ago, I had the CTS intake and Milltek midpipes and I much prefer the intake and exhaust noises from the IE hardware. The CTS intake was fun for a week, but the constant turbo noises (as lovely as they are) became tiresome. I can still hear a little turbo whoosing and flutter with the IE intake, but it isn't overwhelming. I loved the extra audio from the Milltek midpipes compared to stock, but they can't hold a candle to an aftermarket downpipe with decatted mids.

I was originally planning on going built motor with a hybrid turbo (either TTE777 or IMH780HS) within the next year or so, but honestly outside of a closed track I don't know where I'd use the power. I'm already finding that I'm a little more "bored" on surface streets because anytime I plant my right foot I'm instantly in lose-your-license territory of speed, and more power would just make that happen more often. I've loudly cackled at the acceleration and noises multiple times, so as far as I'm concerned this is the ultimate smiles per dollar setup on these cars.

Current Setup:

Integrated Engineering Downpipe w/ Y-Pipe Adapter
Integrated Engineering Carbon Fiber Intake
Integrated Engineering Turbo Inlet
Unitronic MPI Injector Upgrade Kit
Unitronic Stage 2 ECU Tune (E85 and 91)
Unitronic Stage 2 TCU Tune
Unitronic Wastegate Line Upgrade Kit
Iroz Motorsport DSG Catchcan
Iroz Motosport Intercooler (800hp version)
NGK R7437-9 Spark Plugs
AP Racing J Hook Rotors
Ferodo DS2500 Pads F/R
Spriegler Stainless Brake Lines F/R
Neuspeed RSe102 (Bronze) 19x9 et45
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S XL 255/35ZR19
H&R Sway Bars F/R
DSC Sport Adaptive Suspension Controller
034 Lower Dogbone Mount Insert, Rear Subframe Mounts, and Spherical Dogbone Mount
TAG Motorsports Painted Front Reflectors, Blackout Package, and Black Painted Gas Door
Ceramic coated with Gtechniq Crystal Serum
SA Performance Parts Carbon Fiber Clubsport Kit
Fuel-It! Ethanol Analyzer
Clearmount Dashboard Phone Mount
Custom Autostyle.co.uk Mats w/ RS logo

Hardware used for audio/video/photos:

GoPro Hero 6
Canon Rebel T4i w/ various lenses
Olympus ME-51S Stereo Mic
Movo WS1 Furry Microphone Windscreen

And since I had just done a detail on the car, figured some nice glamour shots were in order. Enjoy!

Not sure if you had a shop perform the work or if you have done it yourself. Any comments on the fitment of the IROZ 800hp intercooler? I have one headed my way and I am looking to see if there are any modifications needed to make it fit.