GIAC Software for the Simos 8.51 ECU in the B8.5 S4/S5 models is nearing completion!

[Austin@GIAC]

I’ve seen a bit of buzz around various forums (partly from one of our testers) and wanted to provide everyone with an official update. GIAC is proud to announce that calibrations for the Simos 8.51 have been completed. We are placing the final touches on our in-house flashing and program switching systems. After which, stage 1 software will become available to the public. As with our Simos 8.4 3.0T software, this calibration yields dramatic power gains of 65-70hp and 28-35 ft. /lbs. of torque at the wheels on our tester A7, while retaining smooth and seamless drivability. We should be performing final dyno testing on one of our test S4/S5s in the next couple of days, so I can update this thread with those tests when I have them. I have our A7 dyno tests below in the meantime.

Switching options upon release will include:

• 91 or 93 octane pump performance mode
• 100 octane race mode
• stock performance mode
• valet mode

When released, ECUs will need to be removed and shipped to GIAC for programming. I should have some more formal information. Stay Tuned!

Here are the numbers we saw with our tester A7:

[motorboatingsob]

you will be making a lot of people happy with this. Get as many sold as possible before the other tuners get this done :-) great work guys.

[Auditude2.0T]

Awesome tune. I run the tune on my B8 and the car is an animal. Very similar performance to Revo Stage 1 and APR Stage 2 V2.

[well_armed]

Looks like you have solved the redline/boost bleed issue with the new cars. Looks awesome!!

[Ray Khan]

Does the B8 software come with Valet mode? Mine doesn't seem to go to that program. Sorry to threadjack.

[Austin@GIAC]

Does the B8 software come with Valet mode? Mine doesn't seem to go to that program. Sorry to threadjack.

More on that very shortly for the Simos 8.4 folks.

[ENV²]

Wow! GIAC ahead of APR this time? Must be cause APR has tons on their plate with the new V8Ts, RS5, Stage 3 for us, Stage 4 for TTRS, etc etc etc

But nice at least the B8.5 guys can do something with their ECUs now.

[madmadS4]

Awesome.

I think GIAC's method is more hack (bypass security), less brute force (trying every possible code to break in) which makes it quicker. This is speculation of mine though based on what I saw when I got chip'd.

Looking forward to the pulley also!

[Austin@GIAC]

Wow! GIAC ahead of APR this time? Must be cause APR has tons on their plate with the new V8Ts, RS5, Stage 3 for us, Stage 4 for TTRS, etc etc etc

But nice at least the B8.5 guys can do something with their ECUs now.

We support Porsche and BMW as well as the new VW/Audi models who are all bombarding us with new ECUs (think new F30 2.0T, 2 new N55 ECUs, N63 twin turbo V8 family which has 3 different ECU types, for porsche 991, cayenne TDI, etc...), so I don't believe that is the case. We are very familiar with Siemens ECU families and that alone was what made this one relatively straight forward for us. It's the beauty of developing all of our own flashing tools in-house. It was keeps us the only software company supporting both Panamera and Cayenne Turbos (both siemens DMEs) with software for almost 2 years now (some companies flash in Panamera Turbo S software into Non-S vehicles which isn't a true aftermarket flash).

[Austin@GIAC]

Awesome.

I think GIAC's method is more hack (bypass security), less brute force (trying every possible code to break in) which makes it quicker. This is speculation of mine though based on what I saw when I got chip'd.

Looking forward to the pulley also!

We don't hack ECUs as that is technically illegal. The fashion in which we program these is perfectly legal.

[well_armed]

I believe the legal term is reverse engineer.

[MrFunk]

Great news! & Congratulations! First to market is a huge advantage on other tuners. With no ETA from competitors you have the entire market of B8.5 owners who are anxious to get tuned!

[dparm]

GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE

[S4morris]

I'm 100% in once available!!! Awesome news.

[jfabes]

why is the power so much lower than the giac published graphs (in the 390's) for the tune when it was released for the B8? is it because of the new ecu? or because its an A7? Or will the B8.5 tune be different? or is this part of the "variability" you get with dynos, cars, etc? just curious.

[Austin@GIAC]

I believe the legal term is reverse engineer.

Sure, if what you were trying to reverse engineer had bank strength encryption on every facet that you couldn't hack or crack.

[Austin@GIAC]

why is the power so much lower than the giac published graphs (in the 390's) for the tune when it was released for the B8? is it because of the new ecu? or because its an A7? Or will the B8.5 tune be different? or is this part of the "variability" you get with dynos, cars, etc? just curious.

This is a 100% factory stock car with a tiptronic transmission that shifts at 6200 RPMs. Apples and Oranges comparison. The calibration for this car is the same as Simos 8.4 cars.

[well_armed]

why is the power so much lower than the giac published graphs (in the 390's) for the tune when it was released for the B8? is it because of the new ecu? or because its an A7? Or will the B8.5 tune be different? or is this part of the "variability" you get with dynos, cars, etc? just curious.

The A7 is rated at 310hp stock (S4= 333).

[Ynnekdude]

The A7 is rated at 310hp stock (S4= 333).

Drivetrain loss...

[Vi112]

Great news!

Do you think tune will be available at your European dealers around Cristmas time? What about pulley/Stage II?

Also, can you do something with B8.5 short-shifting at 6300-6400? I guess power will be significantly lower with this short-shifts, should be very like the posted A7 graph?
Maybe, even smaller pulley that can spin supercharger to its max already at 6500?

[QuattroRocket]

Great news!

Do you think tune will be available at your European dealers around Cristmas time? What about pulley/Stage II?

Also, can you do something with B8.5 short-shifting at 6300-6400? I guess power will be significantly lower with this short-shifts, should be very like the posted A7 graph?
Maybe, even smaller pulley that can spin supercharger to its max already at 6500?

Ditto, any changes in systems like transmission response, speed limiter removal and launch control rpms ?

Oh and does it work with the older GIAC flashloader ?

[Austin@GIAC]

Great news!

Do you think tune will be available at your European dealers around Cristmas time? What about pulley/Stage II?

Also, can you do something with B8.5 short-shifting at 6300-6400? I guess power will be significantly lower with this short-shifts, should be very like the posted A7 graph?
Maybe, even smaller pulley that can spin supercharger to its max already at 6500?

On site flashing is significantly more complicated with this platform, so I cannot confirm that we will have on-site available by then.

All shifting points are ultimately set by the transmission itself, not the ECU. Adjusting those items would require a flash to the DSG's mechatronic. Further, the gearing in the B8.5 is longer than the B8. At 6800 RPM, we see about 108mph on a B8, while the B8 tops out at almost 119 mph at 6200 RPM.

Stage 2 software for this platform will become available as soon as the stage 2 software is released for Simos 8.4.

[adamkb26]

Wow that's awesome! I just moved to the Indianapolis area. Can you tell me the closest best place to get this done when it's available?

[jeffc31337]

why is the power so much lower than the giac published graphs (in the 390's) for the tune when it was released for the B8? is it because of the new ecu? or because its an A7? Or will the B8.5 tune be different? or is this part of the "variability" you get with dynos, cars, etc? just curious.

The A7 hits redline at 6200 RPM which comined with the extra drive train losses from the conventional auto explain the difference.

Also interesting is Austin's note that the gearing in the B8.5 is longer. I'm interested to see the gear ratios; longer gears may help 0-60 if it allows only 1 shift to get there but will hurt trap speed and ET on a 1/4 mile.

[AwdPwns]

All the other tuners reaction that they didnt get to this first.....

[AwdPwns]

besides that thats sick! i gotta get my b8 tuned soon....

[autoluxe]

So excited for this...look like i'll be saving up over winter lol stage 2 at the same time, as well?? :D

[QuattroLife]

..You guys have been very quiet about this. Awesome job! Super interested in Stage 2 software and dyno plots. We've been waiting for a very longgggg time.

Btw, I was roaming the "other" forum and saw this with GIAC A7's beta tester..

I wanted to let you know I tested my car against a friend's c63 today, I literally destroyed him in every single run, like 2-3 lenghts, the most when standing still, it was more close when we did it from rolling like around 30mph but still the Audi won every single time, I could see the c63 approaching little by little like above 80-100mph, I guess the v8 power is more noticeable in higher speeds, but still no contest there, I was really surprised, my friend tried with paddles, in sport, sport plus, and nothing no contest.
The A7 with the Giac is really really fast, the guy at the shop tested it yesterday and he said it pulls harder than any s4-s5 he has chipped with Stasis.

Source: http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2835086
Post #21

Freakin win.

[jfabes]

^^^I would literally have to be in the C63 to believe this. Stage 2+ S4's aren't walking C63's (maybe barely beating) and they put down way more power to the wheels than these graphs and are lighter than an A7. it would take a whole lot more than a tune to get that big heavy sedan-hatchback to pull on a stock C63.

[QuattroLife]

^^^I would literally have to be in the C63 to believe this. Stage 2+ S4's aren't walking C63's (maybe barely beating) and they put down way more power to the wheels than these graphs and are lighter than an A7. it would take a whole lot more than a tune to get that big heavy sedan-hatchback to pull on a stock C63.

Heh, yeah when I read it I was like wtf? That's insane..especially with the A7 weighing 600 pounds more than the C63. Then again I'd refer to Auditude's post above..

Awesome tune. I run the tune on my B8 and the car is an animal. Very similar performance to Revo Stage 1 and APR Stage 2 V2.

It's tough to judge though since both cars are both automatic and that the C63 tried multiple methods (paddles, sport, etc.).

[Austin@GIAC]

I won't be telling people that they will instantly be crushing C63s with a flash. However, our dyno is much more conservative than most. So I don't know that sheer numbers are going to tell the story.

[htoudiee]

I'm super excited!

[EVO2MAD]

What do you meen, what gen b8,5 or b8 faster with your tune? And top speed?

[Wah]

Great news for B8.5 owners and quite an impressive jump in hp but tq numbers are quite low imo.

[BzzzBom]

Great news from GIAC - I hope we will be hearing from APR and Revo soon. As soon as I can compare the efficacy, safety and cost of the comparative tunes, I will jump in.

[AQuattro]

tq numbers are quite low imo.

Why do you say that? GIAC is achieving a gain of almost 10%. I haven't seen better from anyone else without a pulley upgrade. Am I missing something?

[Austin@GIAC]

Great news for B8.5 owners and quite an impressive jump in hp but tq numbers are quite low imo.

The blower is at 100% everywhere so additional torque would need to be made through other avenues. I don't find that to be a low torque gain on 91 octane fuel (95 RON), though. 93 octane torque gains will be higher than that.

[Austin@GIAC]

Great news from GIAC - I hope we will be hearing from APR and Revo soon. As soon as I can compare the efficacy, safety and cost of the comparative tunes, I will jump in.

The performance calibration we use for the B8.5 is the same as what is in the Simos 8.4 S4s. What you see now is what you will eventually get.

[DannyDeez]

Great news! How could you not post this in the S5 section!?

[richib86]

no room to post with all those cat games going on

Great news! How could you not post this in the S5 section!?