looking to add to stage 1+

[eclimax13]

i know theres tons of threads..but i dont know which way to go on this one....i went today to drive a new 09 a4 sure as hell i would be buying one and i was disappointed..so after testing a few more brands ive decided theres nothing worth buying since my car is fine...so im going to put some money into my a4...im stage 1+, i dont want to have to replace the clutch...best way to add some more performance?...stuff that actually makes a difference in my seat, not just paper...nothing that alters the cars appearance like front mounted ic's...k04's worth it?...i dont need big power,...just something to take away the boredom...thanks

[demea]

FMIC is almost neccesary to take the next step, though. A GTRS elim turbo maybe? For the $$$, a K04 really isnt worth it.

[doublezero30]

yea lol why wouldnt you want a fmic? you cant even tell my racetec is there unless you pop the hood and see it. that would help. i know you said you didnt want to do a clutch, but that would help too. full turbo back exhaust(test pipe included). from what i read, K04s arent worth shit but a smoother powerband. which IMO isnt worth the money.

getting revo would help too since you can play with the settings. (to my knowledge you cant play with APRs settings.)

and fyi, revos stage 1+ requires a fmic, turbo back exhaust(could use HFC though), injectors(duh) and DV.

[A4 KiDD 810]

Even though it's a bitch of a job, an upgraded clutch will help with your performance for launching, which affects your 0-60 times and 1/4mi times. My stock one is on the way out but I dont wanna replace it with stock so I'm going southbend stage 1, not too expensive, and a good clutch up to 300hp(although anyone with 300hp would just get stage 3 or 4 anyway, I know i'll never get or want that high hp so i'm fine with stage 1 clutch). Anyway, here are some performance things you can add: FMIC, TIP, Downpipe, Test pipe or High Flow Cat(idk if that adds power but some people wont be able to add a Test pipe due to their local laws.) If you have all those you can probably get around 250hp (my estimate anyway). That is what you can do before you have to do an expensive turbo upgrade.

[doublezero30]

^^more like 230-240hp at the crank. and test pipe will add a few HP, HFC not really.

[A4 KiDD 810]

^what about downpipe ? APR 1+ numbers are already 235 crank so I was just adding based on that. I talked to the guy who flashed me with 1+ and he said he knows the founders of APR personally and he said they are not exaggerated despite the controversies, and that is without FMIC or exhaust although they will add to it. FMIC is good for 10-15hp I think, and TIP is good for 5hp(although I've heard it feels like 15), and downpipe I dont really know - i've heard some estimates but that was from a wrx owner so obviously it wont be the same gains on our cars.

[doublezero30]

^what about downpipe ? APR 1+ numbers are already 235 crank so I was just adding based on that. I talked to the guy who flashed me with 1+ and he said he knows the founders of APR personally and he said they are not exaggerated despite the controversies, and that is without FMIC or exhaust although they will add to it. FMIC is good for 10-15hp I think, and TIP is good for 5hp(although I've heard it feels like 15), and downpipe I dont really know - i've heard some estimates but that was from a wrx owner so obviously it wont be the same gains on our cars.

depends on the size of the exhaust you are running and how much backpressure there is. ive got 2.5inch exhaust with k03, stock downpipe is almost that big, so i just left it. wouldnt be gaining much of anything in my case. 3" with a BT would be a different story. also, apr claims 235. if you dont have a fmic and the rest im sure its not actually 235. thats why revo says 10-15% over their stage 1 numbers and not a specific amount of HP. it all depends on what youve got done to your car.

[pondside36]

and the stock clutch is fine... the AWE guys had a stock clutch on there GT28R kit for around 40k.. it all depends on how you drive.. why not upgrade when it is time is how I'll go..

[doublezero30]

my stock clutch is going out on my revo software. its been slipping for a week. ive been revoed for about 3k maybe. at about 73,500 miles now.

[A4 KiDD 810]

Lol i guess i've been lucky that i've gotten 90k out of my stock one then. Still not slipping though, I can start off without having to baby it I just cant launch it like a moron

[doublezero30]

^you cant really launch like a moron with a stock clutch. actually, if you try...that is exactly what youll look like. a moron. haha

[eclimax13]

thanks for the good suggestions...heres my situation...im certified to 100k, have 52k now...i dont launch or race my car as i cant afford to lose my license...the fmic might bring up questions if something goes wrong about warranty coverage...also i want to be able to keep or increase gas mpg which i can do by opening up the exhaust but i dont want to be louder than stock...cant remember the name but someone a little while back came out with a pretty good smic..maybe you can tell me...i dont mind getting whistle but as far as adding volume to my exhaust, id like to stay away from that....tip's really make a difference?...i have the diverter valve already..if i could get to 250 on a k03 id be happy..

[pondside36]

The exhaust and FMIC won't void you warranty if you have a good dealer and are confident in your rights within.. chipping your car however can if the failure is engine related and attributed to the added HP and torque...

[eclimax13]

are fmic's hard to install?...
another quick question....which plugs should i be running for stage 1+

[Amze]

You got a bad car for your situation.

Getting away from boredom isn't really possible within your guidelines.

But that's just my opinion. Good luck.

[doublezero30]

fmics arnt hard, just take time and patience. ive done it twice. first time took me 6 hours, 2nd time 4 hours. im not sure what the sidemount ic is because i never looked into them. you can do a full exhaust with a HFC and 2 resonators and it should be real quite. ide say APR stealth exhaust would do the trick. i had just the mufflers installed on my car with 2.5" pipes and 2 resonators and it was silent. for plugs, it doesnt make too much of a difference. i spent $55 on some denso IK24s with my old car, and $20 something on some autolites in my new a4. dont really notice a difference. ive read gapping them to .028 when chipped is better than the .030 stock gap(i think) too, but not sure about that either (i still did it though haha)

honestly, if youre not willing to do at least exhaust and fmic than youre pretty SOL in terms of geting more out of the K03. ide say you NEED the fmic, since youre trying to push more than double the boost out of the K03. that things getting red hot. FMIC would deffinatly help in that department.

[eclimax13]

You got a bad car for your situation.

Getting away from boredom isn't really possible within your guidelines.

But that's just my opinion. Good luck.

actually i think i have the perfect car for me...enough power for fun...mpg combined 25...and awd...im just looking to see if i can add more power for when i want to use it....

[eclimax13]

ok so fmic...and ive read we should go 1 step colder plug with chipped cars...i like the look of a fmic i just didnt want my balls busted....can you notice the difference when adding one?

[zemun2]

Both APR and REVO make similar power with the exception that APR is much smoother. This can be specially noticed in 1st gear when tapping the gas and then letting off.
REVO tends to jerk where APR is butter smooth..
APR's timing can be altered but not boost.

[eclimax13]

im already chipped...looking to add to it

[zemun2]

Then heres the list..

FMIC
TIP
TP
Exhaust
WAI

and on

[eclimax13]

ill do the fmic and the tip..just want to make sure it will make improvements, not just on paper...ive spent money on things for other cars and havent noticed a thing...so add these two and ill feel it?...also what is the last one u mentioned?

[zemun2]

ill do the fmic and the tip..just want to make sure it will make improvements, not just on paper...ive spent money on things for other cars and havent noticed a thing...so add these two and ill feel it?...also what is the last one u mentioned?

WAI is water alky injection. It's like running race gas when in boost..

Yes you will notice the difference for sure.

[doublezero30]

ok so fmic...and ive read we should go 1 step colder plug with chipped cars...i like the look of a fmic i just didnt want my balls busted....can you notice the difference when adding one?

ive had my FMICs on both of my a4s before i got chipped haha. so im not sure if you can feel it. if you saw the size of the stock smic youde know that it must do nothing but positives. the denso ik24 plugs are 1 step colder than stock, and like i said above i didnt really see much of a difference.

[eclimax13]

its not for a difference...its to smooth out the highway jitters...from what im told...where are you in ri right now?

[zemun2]

ive had my FMICs on both of my a4s before i got chipped haha. so im not sure if you can feel it. if you saw the size of the stock smic youde know that it must do nothing but positives. the denso ik24 plugs are 1 step colder than stock, and like i said above i didnt really see much of a difference.

You might not but your EGT's will go down for sure..

[doublezero30]

its not for a difference...its to smooth out the highway jitters...from what im told...where are you in ri right now?

hmm i dont know? i havnt noticed any highway jitters. i drive the highway daily too. now youre making me want to switch back to see if its smoother lol

[eclimax13]

^^^for the guy above you ..which plugs are you using with ur apr?...sorry for all the questions...i got out of tuning this car...i was dead set on getting the b8 but like i said...i was very very disappointed

[eclimax13]

hmm i dont know? i havnt noticed any highway jitters. i drive the highway daily too. now youre making me want to switch back to see if its smoother lol

where in rhode island are you?

[doublezero30]

rhode island? i live in mass....haha, im from marblehead.

[doublezero30]

WAI is water alky injection. It's like running race gas when in boost..

Yes you will notice the difference for sure.

theres a guy in my group running that stuff in his BT gti and he said its basically like boost kicks in again. makes me very interested lol i dont know anything about it though.

[zemun2]

theres a guy in my group running that stuff in his BT gti and he said its basically like boost kicks in again. makes me very interested lol i dont know anything about it though.

I had it on for 2 years. One of the best mods out there...

[eclimax13]

oh sorry...i thought i read in your gtg thread you were in ri right now...nvm

[eclimax13]

I had it on for 2 years. One of the best mods out there...

so what plugs are you using?

[gdawg'05a4]

Like everyone else says, FMIC for sure to alleviate the heatsoak. BIG difference when I went from the SMIC to my RaceTec. It just pulls hard EVERY TIME when asked. I was like you with injectors but on the stock side mount. Worth every penny.

Keep in mind about the clutch at some point. The added power definitely puts more wear on the stock one. Some people have had their clutch go sooner than others. I got the GIAC flash at 14,500 miles then went big injectors at 82,000 miles. Currently still on the stock clutch at 99,000 miles.

I'd recommend either the BKR6Es or BKR7Es (which is what I'm running). They're copper so you'll have to change them out every 5k or so.

[eclimax13]

thanks..ill grab those sparks today...i have no problem replacing the clutch when the time comes...but i want the clutch to die "naturally" and not instantly from the power ive added...i also didnt know if a fmic would be too big for the k03

[doublezero30]

since youre stage 1+ fmic wont hurt. youll be fine. if you were stock than it might. fyi, racetec is the only one fit behind the bumper without any cutting.

[eclimax13]

ya..im going to look into them