Factory Specs
2015 SQ5 Premium Plus
Sepang Blue Pearl
21" 5-double-spoke Star design wheels - SOLD
Black Optic
Black Nappa Leather
Technology Package
Bang & Olufsen
Carbon Atlas Inlays
Current Mods
XPEL Ultimate Front End (leeberbs)
CQuartz Finest (Signature Detailing)
Llumar Pinnacle 50 / Air Blue 80 (The Art of Tint)
H&R 29001-3 (Champion Autosports)
Kuat Trio Trays (Mops@SupremePower)
OEM Valeo Ecodes (drumnjuny, ONEighty)
Volk TE37 Ultra Diamond Black 20x10 ET25 / Continental DWS06 275/40R20 (Mops@SupremePower)
Bilstein B8s (Mop@SupremePower, Eurotech)
Opelika, AL Stage 2 DP (Eurotech)
Thule 7603B AeroBlade Edge (Cracks & Racks)
EuroCode Tuning ÜSS Adjustable Sway Bar Set and Billet Aluminum End Links (Eurotech)
THINKWARE F770 Dashcam (BlackboxMyCar.com)
EuroCode Tuning Alu Kreuz (Eurotech)
Satin Black Badges and Rear Valence; Gloss Black Exhaust (Eurotech)
EuroCode Transmission Mount (Eurotech)
APR Carbonio Stage 2 Intake (AZ Classifieds)
Fluidampr Crankshaft Pulley (iABED, Eurotech)
APR Coolant Performance System (Eurotech)
Brembo GT-1N-.9051A (Eurotech)
Past Mods
Morr FS77 Matte Gunmetal 20x9 ET30 / Continental DWS 06 255/45R20 (Champion Autosports) - SOLD
Volk G25 D-BK Limited Edition 20x9 ET29 / 5mm H&R Spacers / Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 N-Spec 275/40R20 (Mops@SupremePower, Tire Rack) - SOLD
Future Mods
Saving for preschool tuitions!
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Purchased From Audi Meadowlands (March 27, 2015)
I didn’t actually take any pictures when we took delivery as things were a bit crazy that day. The car was purchased from Audi Meadowlands through a dealer trade with Audi Albany in Latham, NY. I had a 6% corporate discount and got a pretty decent additional discount on top of that. Here is the factory configuration:
2015 SQ5 Premium Plus
Sepang Blue Pearl
21" 5-double-spoke Star design wheels
Black Optic
Black Nappa Leather
Technology Package
Bang & Olufsen
Carbon Atlas Inlays
Clek Fllo (March 27, 2015)
The most important mod to the car! I probably did more research on car seats than I did on the car itself before deciding on the Clek Fllo. There's no latch setup in the middle seat of the Q5, so we decided to install it rear-facing with the seat belt. There's enough room that we can move the front seats back as far as we need to sit comfortably (5'10" / 5'5").
XPEL Ultimate and CQuartz Finest (April 3, 2015)
I took the car to leeberbs and Signature Detailing in Hillsborough, NJ to get a full XPEL Ultimate front end wrap and CQuartz Finest ceramic coating. The dealer prep on the car wasn’t actually too bad as far as paint scratches, but given I live in the city and have limited resources to clean the car myself, I figured this would be a good investment. First XPEL Ultimate was put on the entire front end (most edges wrapped) and then CQuartz Finest was coated over everything afterwards. XPEL Ultimate has been extensively discussed, so I won’t rehash the self-healing properties and clarity here.
For the CQuartz Finest, if you have the time and resources to do your own detailing then it’s probably unnecessary. The stuff is amazing though, and it’s a breeze to clean the car now with a quick no-rinse wash even on the streets of Manhattan. The guarantee for CQuartz Finest is two years as opposed to five years for Opti-Coat Pro, but the finish of CQuartz Finest seems to be glossier and also a lot smoother. From the research I did, it also is put on a bit thicker and they are much more stringent in vetting authorized detailers. Keep in mind that you can only get the professional grade strength of either product by going through an authorized installer.
H&R 29001-3 and Morr FS77 20x9et30 + Continental DWS 06 255/45R20 (July 21, 2015)
My first real mods to the car! I had a hookup through a friend at Champion Autosports in South Amboy, NJ and decided to drop the car and also add a set of winter wheels.
For the springs, I read what felt like a million threads on whether the H&R 29001-1 or 29001-3 were the correct springs for the US-spec SQ5. I ended up speaking with a couple of H&R representatives, and they confirmed that the initial distribution of 29001-3 SQ5 springs had the springs for the TDI SQ5 and were therefore designed for a heavier front end (resulting in the reverse rake early adopters complained about). It appears they ultimately swapped the 29001-1 front springs into their 29001-3 set for the US-spec SQ5 while keeping the SQ5-specific rear springs. You shouldn’t have any issues with the 29001-3 set anymore, but you can confirm the part numbers on the springs themselves: 29001 VA (F) for front and 29001 HA (R) with yellow paint marks on the rears. Also, keep in mind that the advertised drop of 1” front and 0.8” rear is from the Euro-spec SQ5 ride height. In the US, you will get a 2” drop front and rear resulting in a 30.5” ground-to-fender ride height.
It was a little hard for me to form an initial impression on ride quality, since I switched from heavy (70 lbs) OEM 21” wheels to lighter (55 lbs) aftermarket 20” wheels at the same time that the springs went on. After putting my 21s back, the ride is only moderately harsher, but there is definitely bounciness, especially at highway speeds when there are dips in the road. If you’re particular about ride quality, I would recommend pairing the H&R springs with some aftermarket shocks like the Bilstein B8s (see AudiWorld: H&R 29001-3 and Bilstein B8/). That is definitely on the to-do list for me.
Llumar Pinnacle 50 and Air Blue 80 Window Tint (August 14, 2015)
The panoramic sunroof makes this car super hot in the summer even in the northeast. I finally decided to get all the windows tinted just to try and block some of the incoming heat. I went to The Art of Tint in Brooklyn and got Llumar Pinnacle 50 on all the sides and rear windows with Air Blue 80 on the windshield and sunroof. I would have loved to have matching tint front and back, but the legal tint level here in NY is 70% on the front windows, and I don’t want to give the police a reason to hassle me. And as mentioned, my priority was cooling down the interior of the car. Pinnacle 50 provides 49% total solar energy rejection and Air 80 provides 43% total energy rejection. I also had no idea tint shops had trade secrets to remove and re-use your inspection and registration stickers.
Kuat TRIO Fork Mount Bike Racks (January 31, 2016)
I really would prefer a tow hook mounted bike carrier, but there’s no way I’m spending the kind of money required to purchase and install the factory tow hook. I ended up buying two (barely) used Kuat TRIO fork mount bike trays from Mops@SupremePower. As expected, they were delivered by Mops in immaculate condition. I finally have a way to move my bike around, and as an added bonus, they look awesome!
OEM Valeo Ecodes (February 26, 2016)
This is probably the worst cost-to-value mod you can make, but drumnjuny got us a great deal so here they are. I was originally going to follow his DIY install instructions, but after a few weeks of them sitting in my trunk, I decided it was going to be easier just to have someone install them. I went to the headlight experts at ONEighty in Brooklyn, and let’s just say even they said that getting these things installed was a major PITA (requires the bumper to come off).
Volk TE37 Diamond Black 20x10et25 + Continental DWS 06 275/40R20 (March 4, 2016)
This is probably what most everyone cares about if you’ve made it this far in this post. I’ve wanted TE37s ever since I had my first car a 1995 Integra GS-R. It took me a while to finally get there, but Mops@SupremePower made it happen. Volk Racing TE37 Ultra M-Spec in Diamond Black 20x10et25 with Continental DWS 06 275/40R20 rubber mounted on them. The total combination weighs in at just under 53 lbs (wheels are 21.7 lbs), and the difference when compared to the 70 lbs stock setup is very noticeable when it comes to suspension responsiveness and acceleration. I suppose these are technically my winter wheels, but if I keep my stock 21s, I’m likely going to mount snows on them once the original Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT tires are worn out.
Bilstein B8 (April 16, 2016)
I ordered Bilstein B8 performance shock absorbers (parts #24-145992 and #24-145985) through Mops@SupremePower and had them installed at Eurotech in Mahwah, NJ. I got great pricing through SupremePower, and Eurotech provides impeccable service with very reasonable labor charges.
As for the Bilsteins, if you have lowering springs, IMHO a set of performance shock absorbers are a must-have (note: the Bilstein B8s cannot be used with KW HAS). I ran the H&R 29001-3 springs with stock shocks for a few thousand miles, and while they firmed up the ride, it was also pretty obvious that the stock shocks are way underdamped for the shorter springs. It was noticeable both on the highway, where the ride would get bouncy over undulating pavement, and in the city, where the car generally felt unsettled over rough roads. I think the stock shocks running outside of their optimal range also increased the harshness of impacts with road imperfections like potholes. The Bilsteins seem to have resolved both the bounciness and unsettled suspension feel with the added bonus of absorbing road imperfections much more smoothly. You can find additional feedback in the Bilstein B8 (or other aftermarket shocks) + H&R - Who's running this setup? thread.
EuroCode Tuning ÜSS Adjustable Sway Bar Set and Billet Aluminum End Links (July 25, 2016)
I took advantage of the EuroCode summer sale to get their adjustable front and rear sway bars and billet aluminum end links installed. I purchased and had them installed at Eurotech. If you're in the tri-state area, there really isn't a better shop out there for the quality of work, level of service, and fair pricing. I showed up at 9 am and was back on the road at 10:30 am.
I know there's been some comments that you only need a rear sway bar, but after driving a bit with this front and rear sway bar setup, I think it's been engineered perfectly for the platform. The front sway bar was set to 30% stiffness and the rear sway bar was set to full stiffness. The car is flatter throughout on turns, understeer is reduced with the stiffer rear bar, and turn in is noticeably more crisp which I think is partially due to the slightly stiffer front bar.
PSA: I also had boots installed over the end links. Danek mentioned that EuroCode found in regions with snow, the salt on the roads was destroying the end links after a couple of years.
THINKWARE F770 Dashcam (November 4, 2016)
I decided after seeing enough posts about accidents and hit-and-runs that it would be worthwhile to invest in a dashcam. I ended up purchasing the THINKWARE F770 dashcam with front and rear 1080p cameras. The install is straightforward if you plan it out and the camera itself is great with lots of cool features. Full review can be found in the Dashcam Recommendations and Installs thread.
EuroCode Tuning Alu Kreuz (November 9, 2016)
The improvement from this mod is definitely more subtle, I think especially if you've already got other suspension mods in place. The best way I can describe the change is greater precision in handling response, particulary in quick maneuvers (as quick as you can be in a 4,442 lbs CUV at least).
Satin Black Badges and Rear Valence; Gloss Black Exhaust (November 9, 2016)
EuroCode Transmission Mount; Volk G25 D-BK Limited Edition 20x9.5et29 + 5mm H&R Spacers + Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 N-Spec 275/40R20 (February 17, 2017)
This was way late in the winter season, but I got such a good deal from Mops on them that I couldn't pass them up. I'm almost tempted to run them in the summer, as they actually look larger than the TE37s because of the design. They did require 5mm spacers to clear the front brakes, so it ended up as effective et24. The Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 N-Spec are designed specifically for/by Porsche, but the size worked out well for this fitment.
The transmission mount is kind of an afterthought here, but great value for the price, especially if you're tuned. I immediately noticed a reduction of slop in the drivetrain under heavy load.
APR Carbonio Stage 2 Intake (May 17, 2017))
This looked great initially, but after putting some miles on it, I'm noticing that it's starting to yellow a bit. I'm trying to see if I can get some warranty coverage from APR on it.
From a performance perspective, I can't discern anything from seat-of-the-pants feel. I did do some logging though, and in similar conditions to pre-intake I'm seeing about 1 PSI more boost. It sounds good too!
Fluidampr Crankshaft Pulley; APR Coolant Performance System; Brembo GT-1N-.9051A (July 20, 2017)
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