Originally Posted by
MWilburn
Thanks for the information Dan, were you happy with the impact it had on the car?
I could just give you a simple "yes", but that runs against my nature. I don't want to be responsible for you choosing the wrong tune for your needs, so I'll share some details that aren't readily apparent if you just look at promotional materials.
034 and APR have credible tunes for the B9 RS5, but they are not the same. And, what you want from a tune may be different than what I want, so it's possible that another tune could be the right fit for you. But, I'll compare the 034 and APR tunes for the B9 RS5.
First, I had an APR Stage 2 ECU tune & TCU tune on my previous B8.5 S4 and was very happy with it. One of the reasons I went with APR at the time was they had tunes for both the ECU and TCU in the B8.5 S4. The TCU tune modified shift points, increased the speed and quality of the shifts, and provided added protection for the additional power provided by the ECU tune. It made a big improvement in the transmission, and it was one of the things I missed the most when I moved from the S4 to the RS5.
Despite that positive experience with APR, I chose the 034 tune for the RS5 (Stage 1 ECU, Stage 2 TCU) and would do so again. One of the main reasons I did this was APR does not provide a companion TCU tune for the RS5. They only provide an ECU tune. I believe the transmission in the RS5 could be a lot better, so I wanted any changes that might help the transmission improve its overall shifting behavior, and safely handle the additional power. As far as I know, 034 is the only company producing a TCU tune for the B9 RS5, so that was a major factor for me.
But, there are other differences as well. Ignoring the TCU tune for the moment, the ECU tunes are not the same in some significant ways. I'll pass on what I know so you can better decide which tune is a good fit for you.
Throttle Mapping. The throttle map is the relationship between gas pedal movement and the engine throttle opening. The throttle map on a stock RS5 gives you a lot of engine throttle early in the movement of the gas pedal. I don't know the actual number, but you get something like 70% of the throttle in the first 25% of gas pedal movement. This gives you the impression of more power, but there is little throttle left after that first 25% or so of pedal movement. Some people view it as a feature and others as a problem, so it kinda depends on what you like.
The APR throttle map mimics the stock approach, but the 034 tune does not. The 034 throttle map is linear and gives you 25% of the throttle at 25% of the gas pedal movement, 50% at 50%, and so on. You just have to press the gas pedal farther to get the same throttle opening. 034 did this because it gives you a finer level of control when driving aggressively in corners, making it less likely that a small movement of the gas pedal would cause an unexpected downshift in the middle of a turn and negatively affect handling. Regarding daily driving with the 034 tune, I find that it's easier to reliably down-shift 1, 2 or more gears with only the gas pedal. With the stock throttle map, I sometimes resort to the paddles for a temporary down-shift, but I rarely need to do that with the 034 tune as the 034 throttle map gives you better control of the transmission. But, if you drive in Manual and/or shift manually on your own, controlling down-shifts with the accelerator may not be important to you.
Due to the throttle map, the APR tune gives you a lot of the available power early on, but you don't have much additional power left as you continue to press the gas pedal farther down. Some reviewers have described it as similar to an on-off switch because so much power comes on strong with relatively little movement of the gas pedal; yet, others prefer it. So, if you like that feeling of instant response to little pedal movement, the throttle map in the APR tune may be more to your liking. Or, you could get the 034 tune and add a pedal box, which can modify the throttle map independent of the tune, if that is important to you.
TCU Tune. The stock transmission has safety protocols and it communicates with the ECU tune on the power level needed, and when to cut power for safety reasons. ECU tunes without a companion TCU tune have to work around the stock TCU to get it to deliver higher power levels, by-passing safety protocols in the process. The 034 TCU tune works directly with Audi's safety mechanisms and adjusts them to fit the new power level of the ECU tune. In addition, the TCU tune also modifies clamping pressures to increase the efficiency of the power train, getting more of the engine's power to the wheels. An ECU-only tune cannot do that.
The 034 ECU tune comes with Stage 1 TCU tune, but I found the Stage 2 TCU tune to make a significant contribution to the performance. The shifts are faster, the clamping pressure is increased so there is less power loss, and the shift points are modified to fit the new power curve of the ECU tune. It's also docile when you are driving casually, and it shifts more aggressively when you are driving more briskly. It's extra cost, but I would recommend the Stage 2 TCU tune if you want to get the most out of the 034 ECU tune. There is more information about this at 034motorsport.com.
Dyno Results. When comparing the power output of different tunes, all of them provide some type of dyno results, but it's not valid to just compare the peak horepower or torque from different dynos. This is because each dyno may be calibrated differently. For example, Audi says the stock engine has 444hp and 443tq; APR says the stock engine has 458hp and 469tq; and 034 says the stock engine has 441hp and 467tq. Either they all tested radically different engines, or their dynos were not calibrated the same. If they are not calibrated the same, any comparison of the peak numbers is meaningless. What you have to look at is the delta - the difference between the stock numbers and tuned numbers on the same dyno at the same time.
If you only look at the maximum power reported for the 93 octane tunes, APR measured 498hp and 556tq, and 034 measured 514hp and 537tq. This makes it appear that the 034 tune provides 16 hp more than the APR tune (514-498 = 16hp), and the APR tune provides 19 ft lbs more torque (556-537 = 19).
However, if you also consider the calibration differences between the dynos, APR increases peak hp over stock by 30 (498-458 = 30); 034 increases it by 73 (514-441 = 73). So the difference is actually 43 hp (73-30 = 43), not 16. This gives the 034 93 octane tune a 43 hp advantage over APR's 93 octane tune. Conversely, APR increases torque by 87 (556-469 = 87); 034 increases tq by 70 (537-467 = 70), giving the APR tune a 17 ft lb advantage in torque (87-70 = 17), not 19.
So, the APR tune has a bit more torque (17 ft lbs) and the 034 has more horsepower (43 hp), which translates into a somewhat different driving experience. In addition, the shape of the power curves is different. The APR tune hits its maximum torque at about 2900 rpm (goapr.com) and the 034 tune reaches its maximum torque at about 3500 rpm (034motorsport.com). The 034 tune hits its peak horsepower at about 6700 rpm whereas the APR tune does so at about 5700 rpm. So, the APR tune provides a bit more low end grunt and the 034 tune provides a stronger high end. The 034 tune likes to rev, but the APR tune does not.
Daily Driving. Combine the different power curves with the different throttle maps, and the APR tune delivers a lot of torque early, with relatively little movement of the gas pedal. In contrast, the 034 throttle map provides a more linear power delivery. So, this could be a deciding factor for you. If you like that instant surge of power the APR tune may be more to your liking, but the 034 tune provides more overall performance and is easier to control.
Personally, I like more low end grunt for driving around town, but I also wanted a transmission tune to accompany the ECU tune, as it implements safety features and adjusts the shift points to take advantage of the new power curve and extended redline. But you may feel differently. Do you want the car to be really responsive at low speeds with little gas pedal movement (APR); or, do you want the car to be more docile in daily driving but able to deliver more when you want it (034)? Decide what's most important to you and consider taking both for a test drive. I believe 034 and APR both have a 30 day trial period (double-check that before ordering), so you can experience the differences for yourself.
DYI Capabilities. The tunes are octane-specific. APR requires you to go to a dealer to install, modify or remove the tune. 034 does not. So, for example, you might install the 93 octane tune for daily use, but if you drive out of your area to one that only has 91 octane gas (e.g., traveling out West), you have to remove the 93 octane tune and install a 91 octane tune. Then, when you return to your area you will want to remove the 91 octane tune and go back to the 93 tune. 034 lets you make any change for no additional cost beyond the cable using a PC, an Internet connection, and their optional cable. APR requires you to go to a dealer, who will charge you to make each change. The 034 cable costs less than two such changes at my APR dealer.
Finally, 034motorsport.com has a lot of information and they post weekly videos on their youtube channel that discuss a wide range of topics. The link below is about a half hour long and it was posted when the RS5 tune first became available. But you should also visit their youtube channel as it covers a wide range of topics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFuHXCshxP8
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1NygCJwbcvo
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