EPL Stage I / Stage II / TCU Review - High Level - No Data

[ENG]

This is just opinion/butt dyno but I wanted to put a shameless plug out there for this mod/EPL. I recently did the Stage I flash, then TCU then installed the CTS pulley and Stage II flash.

Tony & Chris @ EPL have been great to work with and answer any questions I had about the process, flashing from home is very easy and in my mind a must in the 21st century. That said, It complicates the life of those at EPL having to answer so many folks questions/concerns/hardware activation etc etc. I can certainly understand why many tuners require a "dealer" visit. My heart sunk for about 10seconds after Stage I flash and the car wouldn't start right away (knew that this happens at times yet still was disheartening).

Stage I: As expected very noticeable up top, couldn't tell much of a difference down low

TCU: Most noticeable improvement was 4k launch control, everyone raves about shifts but I was already blown away by the stock DSG speed, not as much of a "step change" as the 4k launch and higher shift point

Stage II: Just wow, really changes the performance of the car, I understand for some warranty is a concern and its not the cheapest thing to do but I would bet the best bang for buck modification you can do.

Car is a 2015 S4 with 18k miles on it, aside form the above mods & P3 / CR15, is stock.

If anyone in the Twin Cities needs to borrow the pulley installation kit or EPL Flash cable you are welcome to them.

Blower Pulley Install: Worst part was living in an apartment my oven was to far away, I tried 2x with no luck so I needed up using a camp stove/icing the shaft/2000grit sand paper and it slipped on without issue. You only have a few seconds before it cools so make sure you get the position right otherwise you are getting the puller back out. Following some of the DIYs here it wasn't a bad job and did not require jacking the car up or removing wheels.

[jimrobbington]

Nice! I'm seriously considering EPL when I have the money available!

[onlyaudis]

I have question for you and other stage 2 users: do you find the car to be as smooth under normal driving in traffic and such with the stage 2 pulley upgrade? I know at soime point in tuning their are trade offs that some gladly make, but my stage 1 car with the dsg tune actually improved it as a daily driver IMO from stock.

I have been happy with my stage 1 EPL tune with some added E85 and their DSG tune and will likely stay at that level as the best combo for reliability, day to day driving smoothness, gas mileage, and power gain per dollar.

I have read some comments that stage two tunes can lose some refinement in day to day driving as a trade off for more bottom end boost and grunt. Curious what your experience of this is. Still also wonder about long term reliability with the DSG and sports dif dealing with the extra torque and boost day in and day out that the smaller pulley produces. Also, if you end up with more of the older V8 S4's low to mid teens gas mileage afterwards, as you will be on boost way more than a stage 1 tune will under regular driving.

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

This is just opinion/butt dyno but I wanted to put a shameless plug out there for this mod/EPL. I recently did the Stage I flash, then TCU then installed the CTS pulley and Stage II flash.

Tony & Chris @ EPL have been great to work with and answer any questions I had about the process, flashing from home is very easy and in my mind a must in the 21st century. That said, It complicates the life of those at EPL having to answer so many folks questions/concerns/hardware activation etc etc. I can certainly understand why many tuners require a "dealer" visit. My heart sunk for about 10seconds after Stage I flash and the car wouldn't start right away (knew that this happens at times yet still was disheartening).

Stage I: As expected very noticeable up top, couldn't tell much of a difference down low

TCU: Most noticeable improvement was 4k launch control, everyone raves about shifts but I was already blown away by the stock DSG speed, not as much of a "step change" as the 4k launch and higher shift point

Stage II: Just wow, really changes the performance of the car, I understand for some warranty is a concern and its not the cheapest thing to do but I would bet the best bang for buck modification you can do.

Car is a 2015 S4 with 18k miles on it, aside form the above mods & P3 / CR15, is stock.

If anyone in the Twin Cities needs to borrow the pulley installation kit or EPL Flash cable you are welcome to them.

Blower Pulley Install: Worst part was living in an apartment my oven was to far away, I tried 2x with no luck so I needed up using a camp stove/icing the shaft/2000grit sand paper and it slipped on without issue. You only have a few seconds before it cools so make sure you get the position right otherwise you are getting the puller back out. Following some of the DIYs here it wasn't a bad job and did not require jacking the car up or removing wheels.

Say what? Please, do explain this one further...

[TexasDfwS4]

I have the Unitronic stage 2 tune but probably the same as far as dd, it's great. Gas mileage is the same and better if your driving your mother around.

[ENG]

I have question for you and other stage 2 users: do you find the car to be as smooth under normal driving in traffic and such with the stage 2 pulley upgrade? I know at soime point in tuning their are trade offs that some gladly make, but my stage 1 car with the dsg tune actually improved it as a daily driver IMO from stock.

I have been happy with my stage 1 EPL tune with some added E85 and their DSG tune and will likely stay at that level as the best combo for reliability, day to day driving smoothness, gas mileage, and power gain per dollar.

I have read some comments that stage two tunes can lose some refinement in day to day driving as a trade off for more bottom end boost and grunt. Curious what your experience of this is. Still also wonder about long term reliability with the DSG and sports dif dealing with the extra torque and boost day in and day out that the smaller pulley produces. Also, if you end up with more of the older V8 S4's low to mid teens gas mileage afterwards, as you will be on boost way more than a stage 1 tune will under regular driving.

I have not noticed anything that would effect daily driving, if you keep your foot out of it it feels stock. Gas mileage, I just don't have enough miles to comment on. I wouldn't let daily drivability hold you back but if your concerned about warranty thats fair. As far as long term, we are not exactly blazing the trail with this platform and there are many who have put tens of thousands of miles with stage II and no major issues. I think DSG problems in older models seem to be present in both stock and tuned cars and not heard of any sports dif. failures ( granted I am new to this world and don't spend much time on the forum other then looking up info) I think the only thing that seems effected is I am seeing more crank pulley failures on tuned cars......again this is all gut feel, no numbers behind the logic

[ENG]

Say what? Please, do explain this one further...

The blower shaft had some "scratches" if you will from removing the stock pulley. I couldn't feel anything with my fingers but I could see it so after my 1st failed attempt I used the sandpaper to smooth out the shaft. Doubt it was needed but got all the marks off and shined up fine. I did use lube on the shaft prior to removing pulley a recommendation somewhere. Maybe it helped maybe it didn't.

[jsh139]

I have question for you and other stage 2 users: do you find the car to be as smooth under normal driving in traffic and such with the stage 2 pulley upgrade? I know at soime point in tuning their are trade offs that some gladly make, but my stage 1 car with the dsg tune actually improved it as a daily driver IMO from stock.

I have been happy with my stage 1 EPL tune with some added E85 and their DSG tune and will likely stay at that level as the best combo for reliability, day to day driving smoothness, gas mileage, and power gain per dollar.

I have read some comments that stage two tunes can lose some refinement in day to day driving as a trade off for more bottom end boost and grunt. Curious what your experience of this is. Still also wonder about long term reliability with the DSG and sports dif dealing with the extra torque and boost day in and day out that the smaller pulley produces. Also, if you end up with more of the older V8 S4's low to mid teens gas mileage afterwards, as you will be on boost way more than a stage 1 tune will under regular driving.

Both Stage 1 and Stage 2 feel exactly the same as when my car was stock as far as smoothness and driveability go. I have a good amount of crawling traffic to and from work and you would never know that anything was different.

I gained about 1 mpg average per tank with Stage 1. Went Stage 2 a couple weeks ago so still too early to tell if gas mileage has been affected, but all signs point to it being the same as Stage 1. My car is a manual, though so YMMV (literally).