The first 5 modifications every new S4 owner should do

[JD S4]

EDIT!!

I have tallied the votes from about 40 different voters in this thread. Essentially what I did was went through the entire thread and copied all of the responses (that weren't one off) into a spreadsheet. I then took the modification recommended and put them into a modification "bucket". For ease of use - I grouped like/similar modifications into buckets (removed brand preferences, etc).. The results are pretty cool. I've visualized them into a chart for easy reading. Essentially - AZ members believe that you should 1. Stage 2 then 2. Intake then 3. Coilovers / Springs then 4. Exhaust then 5. Drivetrain inserts. I've removed a lot of the onesy twosy options and left only modification recommendations that had more than a couple of votes. It's pretty cool to see this trended out..

So - if you're new to the B8/B8.5 and are looking for the mods that are proven and AZ members love the most, here they are.




END EDIT - Back to your original post


Original Post
Let's keep this fun and light. I know this type of thread has been done before (yes, I searched) but this platform is continuing to improve and so many tuners are continuing to push out new products.

What are those top 3-5 modifications you've done that every new S4 owner should consider. Post the mod, the rough price and what the outcome was.

Example only
Intake ~$250, SC whine makes spiriting driving more enjoyable
Rear Sway Bar ~$250 locks in the understeer and nose push
VAGCOM ~ etc etc etc
X-Brace etc etc etc

What are those 5 first things that Audi should have added from the factory, etc..


And yes, I know. Everyone would love dual pulley type performance from the factory. :-)

[brunogomes]

1. Suspension/Spacers (Lowering a bit and sitting flush)
2. Wheels
3. VAG-COM
4. E-codes (if US spec)
5. RS mesh grille

and of course stage2+ but since you left that out I will also leave it out.

[DontHait]

1. Drivetrain inserts
2. Rear sway bar
3. Intake for fun sounds

[yjypm]

1. Drivetrain inserts
2. Rear sway bar
3. Intake for fun sounds

Agree with 1 and 2
Also,
3. CR15
4. Car should sit a bit lower, too much is not needed, just be like rs5
5. Definitely a louder and deeper exhaust note, the stock exhaust is too boring

I think these are the things Audi should do from the factory

[plev72]

1. short throw shifter
2. cai
3. cat-back exhaust
4. drivetrain inserts
5. pulley and stage 2+ tune

[DontHait]

Agree with 1 and 2
Also,
3. CR15
4. Car should sit a bit lower, too much is not needed, just be like rs5
5. Definitely a louder and a deeper exhaust, the stock exhaust is too boring

What is a cr15?

I agree that it should be lower, I was thinking sub $500 mods. Good coil overs costs 600+, same goes with exhaust.

[Seattle996]

Best bang for the buck top 5.. IMO

1. Chipwerkes Software (Most bang for the buck!)
2. ECS Intake (My personal preference)
3. Exhaust Mod (Resonated Xpipe for Baby DPs and straight pipe Center Resonator)
4. Bluetooth Dongle (if you cant stream music with stock MMI)
5. H&R OE Springs (Dont need new shocks but others would disagree, mine drives just fine)

Enjoy!!

[yjypm]

What is a cr15?

I agree that it should be lower, I was thinking sub $500 mods. Good coil overs costs 600+, same goes with exhaust.

It's a upper tower bar, forum member U2Nelson makes it for a very reasonable price. Everyone loves it, be sure to check it out.
I can't say much about coils, but you can go for custom exhaust, which might cost below $500

[AudiSTL]

1. get rid of the chrome!!!!!!!!!!
1. Suspension
2. Wheels
3. rs mesh grille. if you dont have black optic grille or exhaust if you have black otic grille
4. stage 1 or 2
5. intake

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

You have understeer with the rear sport diff? In my opinion, an AK is about the only thing Audi should have done stock. That and Stage 1 flash... lol

Mine:
AK
Trans/Diff (top/bottom/carrier) Inserts
AWE Intake hose w/AFE filter in modified OEM box
Stage 1

[Silverbullet S4]

1. Stage II (any vendor - don't waste your time/$ with Stage I)
2. Intake
3. Exhaust
4. Coilovers
5. Cosmetic (RS grill, wheels, diffuser, tasteful spoiler, etc.)

[DontHait]

You have understeer with the rear sport diff? In my opinion, an AK is about the only thing Audi should have done stock. That and Stage 1 flash... lol

Mine:
AK
Trans/Diff (top/bottom/carrier) Inserts
AWE Intake hose w/AFE filter in modified OEM box
Stage 1

I have the sports diff and the rear sway made it even more fun. Yes there's still some understeer stock

[BaumerS4]

1. APR "Ultra"
The End

[Silverbullet S4]

1. APR "Ultra"
The End

Oooh, do tell! What is it, where can we buy it, dyno, 1/4 mile, how much? Oh yeah...nevermind.

[DBL R]

1. APR "Ultra"
The End

Lol

[JD S4]

Damn!! It was an Audizine miracle.. We were on track, no flaming, good nature.. and BOOM.. Gotta drag APR's dick in the dirt..

in 2 weeks

[golfinz]

1) Coilovers
2) Wheels
3) BO grill
4) Intake
5) Exhaust

Can flip 4/5 around.

[dls11b8]

1. Dipstick
2. Brakes (I hated the feel of stock pads)
3. Intake
4. CR-15
5. Tune

At least, that's my plan. I'm patiently waiting for #4.

[chopz33]

these were the first 5 i did in order

1. lower
2. intake
3. RS4 grille
4. LED interior
5. AWE exhaust/transmission mount

[TexasDfwS4]

Good Friday humor

1. Tune
2. de-badge
3. CAI

[DBL R]

1. Window tint
2. Intake
3. Cr-15
4. Tune of some kind
5. Change interior/exterior lights to LED.

[gottlobfrege]

Interested to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Of the mods I've done, my five favorite (not considering cost, so this is not necessarily "bang for the buck") are:

(1) Stage 2 Tune + Pulley
(2) Exhaust
(3) Wheels
(4) Short-throw Shifter
(5) Rear Sway Bar

[S4Flyer]

My 5:

- 35% ceramic tint ($300)
- Black out red sections of badging and grey strips on front grill ($40-80)
- Swap Peelers and Conti's for Rotors and PSS' ($1000)
- Replace OEM squealer brake pads with silent Akebono's ($200)
- Sub upgrade ($80 w/dynamat)

$1,650.00 total

[JD S4]

Great thread! Let's clean up the APR bashing, keep it on topic and make it a sticky!!

[soptic425]

(1) Stage 2 Tune + Pulley

(2) S-Flo intake (got it cheap off a friend)

(3) HR OE springs

(4) AWE Track exhaust

(5) AMS cooler (should've done before tune)


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[jmeenach]

1. RS4 badge
2-5. See #1.

Hahaha I kid I kid

[ptper]

1) Save your mod money and get into an M, AMG, or P-car


/thread


But, if you're going to stay, IMHO:

1) Tint
2) Suspension (lower)
3) Wheels
4) Intake / Stage 2 Tune / Exhaust (*cause once you start modding, there is no such thing as 'first five', lol)

[na_v]

Best bang for the buck top 5.. IMO

1. Chipwerkes Software (Most bang for the buck!)
2. ECS Intake (My personal preference)
3. Exhaust Mod (Resonated Xpipe for Baby DPs and straight pipe Center Resonator)
4. Bluetooth Dongle (if you cant stream music with stock MMI)
5. H&R OE Springs (Dont need new shocks but others would disagree, mine drives just fine)

Enjoy!!

1 & 3
1) Supercharge Badges
2) Black Optics Grille or RS4 Grille
3) Coilovers

[darkstarghost]

1)tint
2)supercharged badges
3)intake
4)exhaust
5)radar detector and laser jammers.

[skiptowncat]

1) fluffy dice
2) neon underfloor lighting
3) stretch tyres
4) mad camber
5) straight through exhaust

[Victor Newman]

what i did in order:

1) brakes
2) wheel spacers
3) SRP pedals for heel / toe
4) rs grille
5) tint / taillight tint / black out side trim

planned:

1) delay valve delete clutch line
2) x-pipe mod
3) wrap mirrors
4) re-finish wheels

[jsh139]

Here are my 5:

1. Roc Euro intake
2. Carista mods
3. Stage 1 software
4. CTS S/C Pulley and Stage 2 software
5. Akebono brake pads

[DEEZ]

1. Stage II (any vendor - don't waste your time/$ with Stage I)
2. Intake
3. Exhaust
4. Coilovers
5. Cosmetic (RS grill, wheels, diffuser, tasteful spoiler, etc.)

This.

[DFS4]

My 1st 5
1) Brake pads & Fluid
2) Tires
3) ChipWerke Pro
4) CR-15
5) Coilovers

Its a toss-up for the fluffy dice vs the underbody neon as next!

[absolutarin]

Subbed!!
My car is 3 months old & stock (didn't want to touch anything before 5k). Thank you for starting this thread...I'll definitely need some help with the upgrades very soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

[will13k7]

haha, damn, everyone's different. here's my order:

1. Stance: coilovers + spacers.
2. Power: stage2.
3. Stopping: front BBK.
4. Noise: Intake and Exhaust.
5. Further reduction in body roll: sways, end-links, drivetrain stabilizer, diff/trans inserts.

[onlyaudis]

You have understeer with the rear sport diff? In my opinion, an AK is about the only thing Audi should have done stock. That and Stage 1 flash... lol

Mine:
AK
Trans/Diff (top/bottom/carrier) Inserts
AWE Intake hose w/AFE filter in modified OEM box
Stage 1

Too funny, my car is set up nearly exactly like yours. you are like the only other poster here that thinks these cars with the sports dif do not need a rear sway bar besides me.

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

Too funny, my car is set up nearly exactly like yours. you are like the only other poster here that thinks these cars with the sports dif do not need a rear sway bar besides me.

That's because people don't push it enough. They go into a turn what they think is too hot and then let off and of course the car will feel like it's going to push... it's heavy. But if you'd just keep on pressing the accelerator even more, you'll feel this weird rotation sensation from the back and you just go right around the turn without an issue, but you do have to have the balls to do it the first time because the car will hold a turn a lot faster and if you have PSS tires on it, it'll hold an even higher speed than you think it can. I don't think most people push the sport diff enough for it to really kick in.

[roadkillrob]

Didn't see anyone mention this, but #1 on my list if you have a B8 DSG is to replace the pontiac shift knob with a B8.5 one!

[Wiredin]

my 5...

already tuned when I bought it to stage 2+. already have new alloys


1. Tint
2. LED Lighting kit from deautokey
3. lowering springs

planned:

4. black optics grill (or RS style grill)

5. change shift knob from B8 to B8.5

6. Flat bottom wheel