Short quick review of the EPL stage 1 ECU/TCU tune

[AS6]

So far I'm loving the tune had it installed for just over a week now. I haven't been able to do any extensive testing yet unfortunately, I live in the city (Houston) and traffic is real bad most (all) of the time. I did manage to try out LC today for the first time since I tuned it, my p3cars digital vent gauge clocked my 0-60 time at 3.5 seconds and that's a bone stock car no intake no nothing not even a new filter. The temperature at the time of the run was 92 degrees and the car was already very hot, I'd been driving around for along time so I think that time could be quite easily be beaten.
The cars is most definitely much faster and nicer in everyday driving.
The TCU tune is fast and smooth although not "quite" as smooth as it could be IMO but smooth none the less, a little room for improvement there I think (maybe an update at some point) but I'm still happy with it.
Overall I am impressed with the package and very, very happy with the cars power it no longer feels underpowered.

As a side note someone asked me if I thought the p3 gauge is accurate and I have to say I think it is extremely accurate (it's plugged into the cars OBDII port) it starts timing as soon as the car starts to move (not when just reving the engine) and stops as soon as the speedo hits 60 so I have to believe it is indeed accurate.

Cheers
AS6

[Avned]

Nice review. Thanks for sharing.

[Djpeaksd]

Awesome! Can't wait to get my cable on Tuesday! I'll post up a video once I install.

[luv2sleep]

So far I'm loving the tune had it installed for just over a week now. I haven't been able to do any extensive testing yet unfortunately, I live in the city (Houston) and traffic is real bad most (all) of the time. I did manage to try out LC today for the first time since I tuned it, my p3cars digital vent gauge clocked my 0-60 time at 3.5 seconds and that's a bone stock car no intake no nothing not even a new filter. The temperature at the time of the run was 92 degrees and the car was already very hot, I'd been driving around for along time so I think that time could be quite easily be beaten.
The cars is most definitely much faster and nicer in everyday driving.
The TCU tune is fast and smooth although not "quite" as smooth as it could be IMO but smooth none the less, a little room for improvement there I think (maybe an update at some point) but I'm still happy with it.
Overall I am impressed with the package and very, very happy with the cars power it no longer feels underpowered.

As a side note someone asked me if I thought the p3 gauge is accurate and I have to say I think it is extremely accurate (it's plugged into the cars OBDII port) it starts timing as soon as the car starts to move (not when just reving the engine) and stops as soon as the speedo hits 60 so I have to believe it is indeed accurate.

Cheers
AS6

Thanks for the review. Is yours a C7 or C7.5? I got my cable 2 days ago but EPL says that they don't have the OEM file for my ECU (C7.5/'16 S6), thus no tune for me, yet. I'm waiting patiently for now but my patience is running thin quickly.

[luv2sleep]

Just curious... would a cold air intake produce noticeable increase in performance in conjunction with a stage 1 tune?

[AS6]

Thanks for the review. Is yours a C7 or C7.5? I got my cable 2 days ago but EPL says that they don't have the OEM file for my ECU (C7.5/'16 S6), thus no tune for me, yet. I'm waiting patiently for now but it's running thin pretty fast.

My car is a C7 its a '13 S6
Hope it's gets sorted out for you soon

[AS6]

Just curious... would a cold air intake produce noticeable increase in performance in conjunction with a stage 1 tune?

If you look at the roc intake or the AWE then there numberes suggest a fairly decent HP gain in Conjunction with a tune

[luv2sleep]

If you look at the roc intake or the AWE then there numberes suggest a fairly decent HP gain in Conjunction with a tune

Cool, thanks for the info!
"Roc Euro sucks" thread is pretty entertaining and is veering me away from their product. I know I know...take it with a grain of salt, right? A CAI maybe my next project once I get the tune.

[AS6]

Cool, thanks for the info!
"Roc Euro sucks" thread is pretty entertaining and is veering me away from their product. I know I know...take it with a grain of salt, right? A CAI maybe my next project once I get the tune.

Personally I like the look of the USP Motosports intake, no hp numbers given but looks like a nice option to me.

[luv2sleep]

http://www.uspmotorsports.com/images...7-carbon-1.jpg
$915. They claim 20hp and 21 ft-lbs. torque gains. I wonder if I just slap on their S-flow filter into the OEM box, I'll get similar gains...hmmmm.

[AS6]

http://www.uspmotorsports.com/images...7-carbon-1.jpg
$915. They claim 20hp and 21 ft-lbs. torque gains. I wonder if I just slap on their S-flow filter into the OEM box, I'll get similar
gains...hmmmm.

Got to say I'm a believer in just adding a high flow filter to the factory air box. For all the claims of larger pipes and a bigger air box air etc. the fact still remains that the opening to the turbos remains the same regardless, and those Openings can only suck in a certain amount of air at any given time, so you might have a larger air box and bigger pipes but the turbos can still only take in a set amount of air through there openings.
That's just my opinion, I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will chime in and set me straight.

Cheers
AS6

[MadAboutCars]

Thanks for the review. Is yours a C7 or C7.5? I got my cable 2 days ago but EPL says that they don't have the OEM file for my ECU (C7.5/'16 S6), thus no tune for me, yet. I'm waiting patiently for now but my patience is running thin quickly.

Sorry to rub it in, but I had no problem with Unitronic with my C7.5. That's the advantage the bigger companies have. More sales more ECU versions available.

Unitronic has even offered to send a cable to read my TCU. Unfortunately this hasn't gone smoothly, though.

[Bassler]

Thanks for the review. Is yours a C7 or C7.5? I got my cable 2 days ago but EPL says that they don't have the OEM file for my ECU (C7.5/'16 S6), thus no tune for me, yet. I'm waiting patiently for now but my patience is running thin quickly.

Same for me but C7 '14 S6. Hoping I get the email I've been waiting for today... I sent my ECU/TCU data in 10 days ago.

[AS6]

Same for me but C7 '14 S6. Hoping I get the email I've been waiting for today... I sent my ECU/TCU data in 10 days ago.

Wow I got an e-mail within 10 minutes of sending in my ECU/TCU data, maybe call them up an make sure there got your e-mail?

Cheers
AS6

[SubaruSTI8]

Installed mine yesterday to. Right off the bat you can feel a difference. I love it and can't wait to go stage 2 with this beast.

[Chris@EPL]

Glad you are happy. And yes we are working on a new TCU version with some added smoothness that should be up shortly.

[AS6]

Glad you are happy. And yes we are working on a new TCU version with some added smoothness that should be up shortly.

That's great news Chris look forward to that, any ETA?

Cheers
AS6

[Djpeaksd]

Same for me but C7 '14 S6. Hoping I get the email I've been waiting for today... I sent my ECU/TCU data in 10 days ago.

Wow, you have been waiting 10 days??? They say 24 to 48 hours. I would definitely call.

[Tony@EPL]

Wow, you have been waiting 10 days??? They say 24 to 48 hours. I would definitely call.

The stock calibration files are incredibly ( repeat incredibly) difficult to obtain. We are making every effort to have ALL the OEM versions for the file before we release a tuned versions. This is critical to avoid TD1 issue. Anyone currently waiting for a file (I think there are 3 of you guys) if you would like to flash the incorrect file with out the abbilty to go back to your true stock file, we can achieve this today! Currently this is how several of our competitors are treating these file uploads when returning to stock....

That is not how we do things here. Yes, there has been a wait for a few of you, but in the end its worth it. Being able to go back to TRUE oem it the most import part of the home flashing ability.

I know Chris has been in contact with those waiting, so no one has been in the dark.

Thank you guys for your patients and your support in entering this market. We are extremely excited to be here!

[Bassler]

It's all good with me aside from being anxious to get this thing tuned! Chris has been communicating throughout and I get that it is a process. To Tony's point, I want the correct OEM file to be available for flashing back to stock before I do anything. If i had some spare time, i'd head down to EPL so they could have direct access to the ECU but that is not the case at the moment so i'll just have to wait a bit more. Until then, it's like i'm 9 and Christmas is a few days away...

[luv2sleep]

it's like i'm 9 and Christmas is a few days away...

I'm with you, broah!

[flyfishing]

wait epl can read your ecu and provide the exact flash back to stock?

how is this different from say APR and how does it avoid the TD1 flag? can EPL clarify?

[Tony@EPL]

wait epl can read your ecu and provide the exact flash back to stock?

how is this different from say APR and how does it avoid the TD1 flag? can EPL clarify?

Correct, your ecu will be identical to stock if you flash the same version back into it.

Prime example.... ecu code 4G0906014E -0003 which 1-2 of you guys are waiting for... we have 4G0906014E -0001, 0002, 0004, 0005 currently. If you are 0003 and flashed stock 0005, you would be TD1'd.

Without geting into drama... using version interchangeably is unfortunately common place and is happening now.

[Djpeaksd]

Correct, your ecu will be identical to stock if you flash the same version back into it.

Prime example.... ecu code 4G0906014E -0003 which 1-2 of you guys are waiting for... we have 4G0906014E -0001, 0002, 0004, 0005 currently. If you are 0003 and flashed stock 0005, you would be TD1'd.

Without geting into drama... using version interchangeably is unfortunately common place and is happening now.

Tony is there a way to go out to my car and see what version I have? Or do I have to have Vag-com? I do have an OBD2 scanner

[Dguth]

Can someone confirm this is how APR tune flashing works or is it different?


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[Djpeaksd]

Can someone confirm this is how APR tune flashing works or is it different?


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

Not sure if you get the same code # when flashed back to stock with APR (I think so though) But I do know that APR resets the flash counter as EPL does not.

[Chris@EPL]

Tony is there a way to go out to my car and see what version I have? Or do I have to have Vag-com? I do have an OBD2 scanner

You may be able to. Some can read the ECU box code and version.

[MVcycleart]

Thanks for the review.

I am one of those waiting on the newer ECU stock tunes and will be taking a look to send my ECU to them when i am back in town next week. For those that have sent their ECU in, any major issues? I have always done APR and been able to go into a shop, so this is a new territory for me. I am willing to wait as i feel it will be well worth the time and money.

[Clipse3GT]

Any updates on the tune? Quirks or issues?

[AS6]

Any updates on the tune? Quirks or issues?

Waiting on a new TCU update the current TCU tune is not the smoothest (as of now) but I understand that EPL is working on one hoping it's ready sooner rather than later.
Cheers
AS6

[Djpeaksd]

My cable should be here on Tuesday, can't wait! Im guessing since my car is a 2016 I will be waiting on the ECU version.

[Sean@APR]

Not sure if you get the same code # when flashed back to stock with APR (I think so though)

Sorry to intrude.

Yes you do.

[Chris@EPL]

For almost everyone waiting on the a tune, we have obtained the new OEM file and Tony is putting the tuned file together. And the new updated TCU tune should be ready by the end of the week as well.

[AstleyJ]

My cable should be here on Tuesday, can't wait! Im guessing since my car is a 2016 I will be waiting on the ECU version.

What is making you go this route instead of the VR PiggyBack? TCU tune? Or this producing that much more power? I am excited to hear your thoughts on the comparison of the two. This EPL tune seems too good to be true but if we are talking no TD1 and 3.5 0-60 times.. IM IN! Being able to flash at home is such a huge advantage of this as well.

[Djpeaksd]

After going for my 5k service and talking to my advisor about a tune I felt a lot more comfortable with a flash. EPL's numbers look really good on the mustang dyno to me, the ability to flash at home, others feedback through PM, price, TCU tune, and going through a bunch of the EPL threads over on the B8 forum. Those are my reasons, hahaha. Ill keep you posted once its flashed for sure!

[XLR8 Craig]

What is making you go this route instead of the VR PiggyBack? TCU tune? Or this producing that much more power? I am excited to hear your thoughts on the comparison of the two. This EPL tune seems too good to be true but if we are talking no TD1 and 3.5 0-60 times.. IM IN! Being able to flash at home is such a huge advantage of this as well.

In my opinion, any flash that modifies the tables in the actual ECU to make the necessary changes is safer, and more efficient than fooling sensors. Its a clear way of gaining actual control what the car is doing instead of relying on only a few sensors.

The plug in boxes have their place, but when the real deal is available, there is no substitute in my opinion.

[Djpeaksd]

[AS6]

Haha, hang in there Dj it's not quite the end of the week yet.

[Bassler]

(i got mine this morning only after having the dealer update the ECU/TCU versions. very early impressions are it is well worth the wait!)

[Djpeaksd]

Haha, hang in there Dj it's not quite the end of the week yet.

Hahaha I know I'm just messing around. But I do feel like a 7 year old on Christmas Eve! "Why can't Christmas be here already"

Also Im not just waiting for the TCU update. We don't even have a ECU file yet. It will come though, I know.