Something to consider for new RS3 owners considering an ECU tune

[Fixeroh]

Took my 2018 RS3 in for it's 2 year maintenance today. Barely have 10K miles on the odometer however. About a year ago, went to APR Stage 1 93 octane tune. Extremely happy. 6 months later, got the TCU tune as well. I've always had a good communication with my Audi service guys. Like my previous S3 (tuned to Stage 2+) as well as this car, I remind them that the car has an ECU tune. They requested I tell them so they don't connect to the system and I don't get flagged. There is an air bag seat sensor wire recall out on the RS3. They could not do that during maintenance today because they would have to connect to the system and I would get flagged. So I declined the recall work. Seems the fix is to lengthen the sensor wire so when the passenger seat is jacked up to the highest setting, it won't disconnect itself. Not a worry for me. Point is to be aware that if you have any aftermarket ECU or TCU tunes done to your car during the normal warranty period, it may affect your ability to have recalls repaired. My PSA for the day.

[LJS5]

Whats the point? Even if they don't TD1 it now.. next time you go in for actual warranty work and they have to plug it in it'll be TD1'd.
Unless your hoping to sell it/trade it without a TD1

[r26372]

Whats the point? Even if they don't TD1 it now.. next time you go in for actual warranty work and they have to plug it in it'll be TD1'd.
Unless your hoping to sell it/trade it without a TD1

Exactly. Assume once you flash your car you will get no meaningful warranty work done without you paying out of pocket. I'd love to go stage 2, but hate the sounds of those cars and the Apr stage 2 is pointless as it's barely better on e85, so I'd need to spend $ on another tune. Waiting on ludicrous mode Tesla Model 3 and I'll probably ditch the Rs3 as tired of dealing with swapping parts and dealing with dealers charging way over normal for small issues


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[P5stunna]

Every time I take my RS3 in to the dealer for anything I flash it back to stock. I know it's not a guarantee against getting flagged but being able to flash it back to stock in a matter of 20 minutes is so easy to do myself it doesn't make sense not to. As far as that particular recall I've declined it every time. I'm not going to have them remove the seats and risk the car squeaking over such a trivial thing.

[Potatohead_RS3]

At least they didn't swap out your washer nozzles

[Leonitus86]

I got a random scare on my car today. Was stuck in traffic, and then shortly after I got playful with the car, was going above 100mph, then suddenly it quit accelerating and limited my rpm power to 4k. The car sounded ok and no odd noises. No cel on, only said, drive train malfunction, and maximum engine speed 4000 rpm. So I drove another 2 miles. Parked the car, turned it off, and turned it back on and no warnings of any kind. I got back on the highway to go to work, punched it and everything was back to normal. Something similar like this happened to me on my 16 s3 I had, except that one had some random misfire fault. Only happen once on the s3. I currently have 2500 miles on the 2020 Rs3 with apr stg 1 tune and forge turbo inlet pipe and hard pipe. I think it's some kind of weird glitch that happened with it. Not to overly worried. I haven't scanned the car yet to see if it has any stored codes.

[mezgermischief]

I got a random scare on my car today. Was stuck in traffic, and then shortly after I got playful with the car, was going above 100mph, then suddenly it quit accelerating and limited my rpm power to 4k. The car sounded ok and no odd noises. No cel on, only said, drive train malfunction, and maximum engine speed 4000 rpm. So I drove another 2 miles. Parked the car, turned it off, and turned it back on and no warnings of any kind. I got back on the highway to go to work, punched it and everything was back to normal. Something similar like this happened to me on my 16 s3 I had, except that one had some random misfire fault. Only happen once on the s3. I currently have 2500 miles on the 2020 Rs3 with apr stg 1 tune and forge turbo inlet pipe and hard pipe. I think it's some kind of weird glitch that happened with it. Not to overly worried. I haven't scanned the car yet to see if it has any stored codes.

This use to happen to me all the time with my car and it is stock. Highway aggressive driving and I would get that message.

[Leonitus86]

This use to happen to me all the time with my car and it is stock. Highway aggressive driving and I would get that message.

Really, ok so I'm not the only one. Did you just live with it? Or take it to get diagnosed?

[0000 RS5]

I got a random scare on my car today. Was stuck in traffic, and then shortly after I got playful with the car, was going above 100mph, then suddenly it quit accelerating and limited my rpm power to 4k. The car sounded ok and no odd noises. No cel on, only said, drive train malfunction, and maximum engine speed 4000 rpm. So I drove another 2 miles. Parked the car, turned it off, and turned it back on and no warnings of any kind. I got back on the highway to go to work, punched it and everything was back to normal. Something similar like this happened to me on my 16 s3 I had, except that one had some random misfire fault. Only happen once on the s3. I currently have 2500 miles on the 2020 Rs3 with apr stg 1 tune and forge turbo inlet pipe and hard pipe. I think it's some kind of weird glitch that happened with it. Not to overly worried. I haven't scanned the car yet to see if it has any stored codes.

Who’s tune? And what version?

[Leonitus86]

Who’s tune? And what version?

I have Apr stg 1 93 file. I did post that in my statement btw.

[S3DUDE]

Good post. I have done exactly what the OP has said in the past, we even had the same cars too. I told my service advisors, mechanics, salesman and sales managers all I do to my cars from day one, they know me for years from buying cars from them all the time from the same car chain of dealers that sells other brands. We do exactly what the OP is saying, do as much as they can as far is warranty or recalls without having to connect the OBD 2. I traded them 3 tuned cars (A3 with APR, S3 with APR and A6 with APR), the only "negative thing" is that they keep telling me that they couldn't certify my cars when they had to sell them due to the tunes. I even met people that purchased my cars, the sales people sometimes tells them who owned the car(me). My last S3 is now owned by an owner that loves the tune.

[0000 RS5]

I have Apr stg 1 93 file. I did post that in my statement btw.

My bad, you did. What version of the tune. This was fixed for me going from 1.3 to 1.6.

[Leonitus86]

My bad, you did. What version of the tune. This was fixed for me going from 1.3 to 1.6.

Honestly I don't know. I got tuned about 2 months ago. How can I check?

[0000 RS5]

Honestly I don't know. I got tuned about 2 months ago. How can I check?

If you have the mobile app (and Bluetooth module) then you can check it there. Otherwise you’d have to ask the shop you had it installed at. APR should be able to tell you as well.

[legacypgmr]

Good post. I have done exactly what the OP has said in the past, we even had the same cars too. I told my service advisors, mechanics, salesman and sales managers all I do to my cars from day one, they know me for years from buying cars from them all the time from the same car chain of dealers that sells other brands. We do exactly what the OP is saying, do as much as they can as far is warranty or recalls without having to connect the OBD 2. I traded them 3 tuned cars (A3 with APR, S3 with APR and A6 with APR), the only "negative thing" is that they keep telling me that they couldn't certify my cars when they had to sell them due to the tunes. I even met people that purchased my cars, the sales people sometimes tells them who owned the car(me). My last S3 is now owned by an owner that loves the tune.

So long as the salesmen tell the prospective new owner that the car has been tuned and would most likely NOT be covered under warranty of any kind I guess I'd have no problem.

Better still it should also be included on the sales agreement - for the dealer's protection. If not, that dealer would probably lose the ensuing lawsuit.

[legacypgmr]

By-the-by, I don't know how, or even if, Audi does it, but even without hooking up to their computer with the flash still there, whether you flash the tune back or not, it is incredibly easy for the car's computer system to "know" the tune HAD BEEN applied.

[5PotNewb]

By-the-by, I don't know how, or even if, Audi does it, but even without hooking up to their computer with the flash still there, whether you flash the tune back or not, it is incredibly easy for the car's computer system to "know" the tune HAD BEEN applied.

It's a read/ write counter and ask they have to do is annotate the number of times in their system. If they have 002 and you have 003. You're TD1.

[MarcusDubya77]

Dealerships can only deny warrantied repairs if it is a direct result of the modification. Having a modified car does not void the warranty. Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

[allerum]

Dealerships can only deny warrantied repairs if it is a direct result of the modification. Having a modified car does not void the warranty. Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

That doesn't really work when you take it to court unless you have a couple million to spend on lawyer fees and years in court. So Yes that exists but your unlikely to get ahead in costs.

[MarcusDubya77]

That doesn't really work when you take it to court unless you have a couple million to spend on lawyer fees and years in court. So Yes that exists but your unlikely to get ahead in costs.

Okay, believe what you want.

[allerum]

Okay, believe what you want.

I don't see how it goes any other way. If you complain that the tune didn't break it and they do. You take them to court and they are going to have corporate lawyers and they are going to state because of the tune such and such parts were over taxed. You will then have to prove that these parts are not overtaxed and it was a manufacturing defect. I would like to know how else that would go? If you prove the mechanical parts were defective then yes you would win in court and your warranty would be honored for that repair.

[r26372]

Dealerships can only deny warrantied repairs if it is a direct result of the modification. Having a modified car does not void the warranty. Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

Good luck with that. Meanwhile your car is sitting there unable to drive until the dispute is litigated and eventually you lose in court. Dealer will work on basic stuff under warranty so it's not that nothing is covered, but anything remotely related or even a small chance related to tune or parts will get denied. That should be the baseline assumption vs some Act someone thinks will scare Audi into covering your fix.


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[MXblau]

I'm tuned, had airbag recall done (twice) and didn't get flagged afaik.

[Jonnylaw]

I'm tuned, had airbag recall done (twice) and didn't get flagged afaik.

Did you check your service paperwork for TD1?

[MarcusDubya77]

Like I said, you all can believe what you want based off of your experience. I am not here to argue, just to tell the truth from my perspective. I have yet to be turned down warrantied work based on modifications. However, any work that had to be done was not tied to a modification. Also, I didn't try to fool the dealers by getting work done that could have been caused by modifications. I am more than willing to provide you examples if you can't figure that out. So, yeah, Magnuson Miss Warranty Act..

[Potatohead_RS3]

Like I said, you all can believe what you want based off of your experience. I am not here to argue, just to tell the truth from my perspective. I have yet to be turned down warrantied work based on modifications. However, any work that had to be done was not tied to a modification. Also, I didn't try to fool the dealers by getting work done that could have been caused by modifications. I am more than willing to provide you examples if you can't figure that out. So, yeah, Magnuson Miss Warranty Act..

Depends on what you're dealing with. If you're tuned and say, break an axle, it's not going to be covered. If the wiper motor fails, it should be, this is mostly common sense.

However there are grey areas and/or people that just don't want to believe it is possible their modification caused a problem. This is where Audi will say 'sorry about that' and now the onus is on you, which is where lawyers come into play. So what those other guys are saying is absolutely right.

[MarcusDubya77]

Wait.... I am pretty sure I explained that in my first post. I pretty much simplified something you all seem to be complicating. I thought this was a forum to help fellow owners, not scare them into unwillingness to take their cars in for warrantied work...

[Potatohead_RS3]

Wait.... I am pretty sure I explained that in my first post. I pretty much simplified something you all seem to be complicating. I thought this was a forum to help fellow owners, not scare them into unwillingness to take their cars in for warrantied work...

The thing most people are worried about is TD1 status, which can be triggered any time the vehicle is connected to the Audi system, whether warranty work is being performed or not.

[MarcusDubya77]

Then don't modify your car. You are not going to fool a dealership by trying to hide the fact that your car is modified. They know what these engines have been engineered to handle. However, don't spread false information about work that could still be covered under warranty. There are people on the forums that a lot of this is still new to.

[Potatohead_RS3]

Then don't modify your car. You are not going to fool a dealership by trying to hide the fact that your car is modified. They know what these engines have been engineered to handle. However, don't spread false information about work that could still be covered under warranty. There are people on the forums that a lot of this is still new to.

Are you talking specifically to me? Because my car is not modified, and I completely agree with you.

[MarcusDubya77]

Not at all. I am just trying to clarify any misinformation being spread around.

[trinite7787]

Got my airbag recall done while I was APR

No TD1, they have some way around it if they know what they are doing

I was honest and told them I was tuned and not to hook it up, and the service tech wrote a note and walked over and told the shop manager


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[noswalz]

Yeah i mean if you're in with the service guys they will not TD1 you for simple stuff like recalls or issues not related to the tune. If your engine has a major issue though you can bet they aren't just gonna look the other way and go "oh well he was never TD1 so we'll handle $20k worth of work free of charge under warranty".

[trinite7787]

Oh for sure

IIf something with the drivetrain goes it’s on me

But when my window was singing going up and down, I took it in and had it fixed no problem


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[MarcusDubya77]

One other thing to keep in mind when you take your car in for service and aske them not to scan it. I am about 99% sure that it will be annotated by the technician into the maintenace record to cover his ass. They will, most likely, be able to deduce that the car was tuned based off of that info alone or.... they could easily still pass blame to owner for not allowing them to scan the engine during prior visits. Its just easier to be forthcoming, and understand the risk, or just stay stock.

[Jonnylaw]

Small stuff like window regulators or items with lower cost I can see how it will be warrantied with tune. But if anyone expects their dealer or Audi to repair/replace high cost parts like an engine, transmission, Haldex. etc. with a tune, I think that's fantasy. That being said, I have heard of dealers even denying window regulator repair/replacement under warranty if you have tinted windows...

[Fixeroh]

Good post. I have done exactly what the OP has said in the past, we even had the same cars too. I told my service advisors, mechanics, salesman and sales managers all I do to my cars from day one, they know me for years from buying cars from them all the time from the same car chain of dealers that sells other brands. We do exactly what the OP is saying, do as much as they can as far is warranty or recalls without having to connect the OBD 2. I traded them 3 tuned cars (A3 with APR, S3 with APR and A6 with APR), the only "negative thing" is that they keep telling me that they couldn't certify my cars when they had to sell them due to the tunes. I even met people that purchased my cars, the sales people sometimes tells them who owned the car(me). My last S3 is now owned by an owner that loves the tune.

S3DUDE; we've conversed before. And we seem to think the same in some regards. I did not have luck your luck in trading my tuned S3 in with my dealer however. They informed me it would be difficult to resell due to the tunes. Even though the car had already reached the 4 year point and original warranty was basically over. Found a few offers on the S3 but they didn't pan out. My daughter actually bought the car from me in the end. And is in love with it! Makes her commute much more enjoyable. I can also answer any questions she may have about the car. Which brings me to another question, after the warranty period has expired, does a TD1 mean anything at all? Unless I get some kind of extended warranty, I see no reason why the Audi service guys can't connect to the network post warranty expiration regardless of tunes on the car. It is what it is at that point. I'm currently not worried about any non major recalls but would think there may be some MMi or other system updates for the car I'm not receiving because the car isn't connected to the Audi network.