Initial review, upgraded TVS clutchpack for DL501 transmission (S6/S7)

[OlyS6]

Edit: Prices updated to show true price without the VAT tax

So, I just had the new upgraded clutchpack from TVS Engineering in the Netherlands installed on my 2016 S6 this past week. I had significant clutch slippage in 4th gear during 4th gear pulls, which is why I had it done. TVS alsp has a good track record with DSG clutches for VW/Audis, a reason why I went with them.

This clutch pack is rated for 1000 nm (737 ft-lbs of torque), compared to OEM, which is rated for 800 nm (589 ft-lbs).

I also had the TVS TCU tune remotely installed, as they will warranty the clutch pack if you have a TVS dealer do the installation and if you use their TCU tune.

First, off, driveability during normal driving is outstanding- I'd say even better than OEM- none of the jerkiness I'd often experience in the lower gears.

Like most TCU tunes, you can have custom shift points made for any of the gears and even have them separate from manual vs automatic gear shifts. You can also have them change launch control rpms easily.

Just as important to me, I'm not experiencing any clutch slippage during 4th gear pulls.

I still need to have custom ECU tuning completed now that I can actually log 4th gear pulls.

I had Achtuning, in Redmond WA do the work, as they are a TVS dealer and are great to work with.

The clutch pack itself is expensive, (right at about $3,020), and the TCU software is extra ($1502).

Labor depends on whether you are also adding anything else. I also had a new mechatronic unit installed, so total labor came out to 17hours.

I'll post back more when I get a chance to do more pulls and get the ECU tune dialed in, and also have a chance to see how launches go as well as 1/4 mile times. I currently only have OEM RS7 turbos, but plan on upgrading these in the future. I have DS1, upgraded inlets and air intake, as well as AMS intercooler and downpipes, Tial wastegates, upgraded fuel lines, 4 bar MAP sensors, and currently running e50.

I know several users on here have had tough experiences with DEKA clutch packs, and I know SRM (where I've sourced many of my upgrades, and who is working on my ECU tune) has an upgraded clutchpack in development, although I don't think yet ready for retail just yet.

I'm not looking to set any records, just looking to make the car both repeatedly and reliably powerful/fast, and hoping to have hp in the 700's and torque in the 700's, but still have the car with good driveability on the roads in normal conditions.

https://tvsengineering.com/en/perfor...rbox-hardware/

[dealermaintnd]

So, I just had the new upgraded clutchpack from TVS Engineering in the Netherlands installed on my 2016 S6 this past week. I had significant clutch slippage in 4th gear during 4th gear pulls, which is why I had it done. TVS alsp has a good track record with DSG clutches for VW/Audis, a reason why I went with them.

This clutch pack is rated for 1000 nm (737 ft-lbs of torque), compared to OEM, which is rated for 800 nm (589 ft-lbs).

I also had the TVS TCU tune remotely installed, as they will warranty the clutch pack if you have a TVS dealer do the installation and if you use their TCU tune.

First, off, driveability during normal driving is outstanding- I'd say even better than OEM- none of the jerkiness I'd often experience in the lower gears.

Like most TCU tunes, you can have custom shift points made for any of the gears and even have them separate from manual vs automatic gear shifts. You can also have them change launch control rpms easily.

Just as important to me, I'm not experiencing any clutch slippage during 4th gear pulls.

I still need to have custom ECU tuning completed now that I can actually log 4th gear pulls.

I had Achtuning, in Redmond WA do the work, as they are a TVS dealer and are great to work with.

The clutch pack itself is expensive, (right at about $3,650), and the TCU software is extra ($1817).

Labor depends on whether you are also adding anything else. I also had a new mechatronic unit installed, so total labor came out to 17hours.

I'll post back more when I get a chance to do more pulls and get the ECU tune dialed in, and also have a chance to see how launches go as well as 1/4 mile times. I currently only have OEM RS7 turbos, but plan on upgrading these in the future. I have DS1, upgraded inlets and air intake, as well as AMS intercooler and downpipes, Tial wastegates, upgraded fuel lines, 4 bar MAP sensors, and currently running e50.

I know several users on here have had tough experiences with DEKA clutch packs, and I know SRM (where I've sourced many of my upgrades, and who is working on my ECU tune) has an upgraded clutchpack in development, although I don't think yet ready for retail just yet.

I'm not looking to set any records, just looking to make the car both repeatedly and reliably powerful/fast, and hoping to have hp in the 700's and torque in the 700's, but still have the car with good driveability on the roads in normal conditions.

https://tvsengineering.com/en/perfor...rbox-hardware/

The price on that clutch pack is unbelievable. Oem clutches can hold much more than that rating if their fresh and properly maintained with a tcu tune (1000$is the standard price) plenty of people making close to 800 ft lb of torque on stock clutches including myself.

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[OlyS6]

The price on that clutch pack is unbelievable. Oem clutches can hold much more than that rating if their fresh and properly maintained with a tcu tune (1000$is the standard price) plenty of people making close to 800 ft lb of torque on stock clutches including myself.

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So far... OEM clutches are only rated for just under 600 ft-lbs. Glad you are getting more out of it, but clutches do fail. Mine was slipping, so I decided to go with an upgrade. If it's not for you, that's fine.

[dealermaintnd]

So far... OEM clutches are only rated for just under 600 ft-lbs. Glad you are getting more out of it, but clutches do fail. Mine was slipping, so I decided to go with an upgrade. If it's not for you, that's fine.

I upgraded mine by putting in fresh oem clutches and taking care of them. Audi service intervals are a joke.

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[Dasquade]

Much appreciate your input OlyS6, since i'm nearby (Belgium) that was indeed my plan in case needed :).

[Alabama]

I also had the TVS TCU tune remotely installed, as they will warranty the clutch pack if you have a TVS dealer do the installation and if you use their TCU tune.

Looks like only two US dealers per the website, both on the west coast. So if I forego warranty, should a competent mechanic be able to install this?

The clutch pack itself is expensive, (right at about $3,650), and the TCU software is extra ($1817).

You got their "race" version, not their "OEM" version. They only list the race version price on their website. I'm mildly confused though. It looks like you were charged VAT; I thought parts shipped from the Netherlands to US were exempt from VAT? Also, did you source the mechatronic also from TVS?

I'll post back more when I get a chance to do more pulls and get the ECU tune dialed in, and also have a chance to see how launches go as well as 1/4 mile times.

Good luck; should be fun.

[orphancrippler]

ECS sells the TVS race clutch, and makes it very clear that if you choose to forego their (very expensive) TCU software and a dealer install, no warranty.

I have spoken to one or two shops that are familiar with DSG work, and both have said that the swap shouldn't be an issue. There are additional parts you need, or should have, such as the bearing cap seal and o-ring/gasket. These may be able to be reused, and I located a kit that has the necessary parts, but it's a bit on the pricey side for what you're getting. Have to search around and find the link. Otherwise, I'm sure getting individual VAG part #s for those parts and sourcing them individually would work as well.

I am personally holding off for now, giving SRM some more time to get their product on the market, or at least in limited availability so that I, or someone else, can actually get one and see what's what. While I agree the TVS kit is very expensive, if it works like they say it does, and it enables one to run massive torque without fear of grenading the clutches, it's potentially worth it in my opinion.

@OlyS6 thanks for the write-up, I'm looking forward to how it works out for you in the coming weeks!

Sent from my Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

[Alabama]

ECS sells the TVS race clutch, and makes it very clear that if you choose to forego their (very expensive) TCU software and a dealer install, no warranty.

Thanks, shipping and core cost apparently explains the price difference. Still less expensive than an entire new DSG, but a lot more than the old days of replacing a manual clutch.

[Alabama]

I also had the TVS TCU tune remotely installed

The TVS website lists an option to their TCU tune of "Coasting disabling". Apparently some Audis have a feature called "intelligent coasting" where the DSG disengages both clutches and coasts. I've been curious if this was a VCDS feature, but maybe it's a TCU feature, though maybe not for US market vehicles. Did that come up when you were getting the tune?

[OlyS6]

A few things- I misquoted the price- I listed the amount including the VAT (European tax), rather than the base price which I paid. Still expensive, but less so than what i quoted above. I'll edit the original post to include correct pricing.

Not sure how much the warranty matters, as far as an aftermarket clutch and TCU tune goes. May be just as good to use the TVS clutch with someone else's TCU tune. My rationale is that they know their own clutch pack better than anyone, and have a good reputation with making their upgraded clutches very 'driveable'. I'm not certain how much their TCU tune plays into this. But I figured I'm lucky enough to live not too far from a TVS dealer, so I decided to go the full TVS route. I have never heard of intelligent coasting or coasting disabling, and did not come up as an option in the form I had to fill out for TVS. I simply let them know all the mods that I have, and also let them know that I wanted to have maximum torque while also being very driveable during normal conditions. Otherwise, you can choose exact rpm shift points for every gear in both S and M modes, as well as your launch rpm. I'm told they are also very responsive about adjusting shift points if you want to after you've had a chance to drive the car for awhile and think you'd be happier with some changes.

Also, there are some decent youtube videos out there on swapping out the DL501 clutchpack in our cars. Appears as though any competent mechanic should be able to do it without much trouble. Specialized tools are helpful in cradling the transmission when lowered from a lift and for pulling the clutchpack from the transmission. I gladly paid for the labor in this instance given that they were also performing the TCU flash, and since Achtuning is a TVS dealer, TVS will warranty the clutchpack on my car, which is nice. I also only have a scissor lift, which would make yanking out the transmission that much more difficult (but doable).


I sourced my mechatronic unit from audiusaparts.com based out of Oregon. very responsive outfit, and often has free shipping available. In retrospect, it may have been smarter to source the mechatronic though TVS as well, but I didn't think much about it at the time, as I made the mechatronic decision a few weeks after ordering the clutch pack.

[orphancrippler]

The TVS website lists an option to their TCU tune of "Coasting disabling". Apparently some Audis have a feature called "intelligent coasting" where the DSG disengages both clutches and coasts. I've been curious if this was a VCDS feature, but maybe it's a TCU feature, though maybe not for US market vehicles. Did that come up when you were getting the tune?

I'm fairly certain that is a non-US option, possibly only EU, as I haven't heard any reference to it from elsewhere. You're spot on about what it does, and I'm fairly certain it's for a marginal improvement in fuel economy, and at that it probably only matters in government testing.

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[AudBoost]

The TVS website lists an option to their TCU tune of "Coasting disabling". Apparently some Audis have a feature called "intelligent coasting" where the DSG disengages both clutches and coasts. I've been curious if this was a VCDS feature, but maybe it's a TCU feature, though maybe not for US market vehicles. Did that come up when you were getting the tune?

I know this feature is available on most ZF transmissions, but have never heard of it for a DSG. Would be interesting if it could be done with a TCU tune.

[B8S4OZ]

I know this feature is available on most ZF transmissions, but have never heard of it for a DSG. Would be interesting if it could be done with a TCU tune.

I would also be interested in hearing more about this if possible?

Is there anyway to test manually or via VCDS etc to check clutch wearing / if they are slipping?