QwaktastiK’s 2016 SQ5 Build Thread

[QwaktastiK]

Vossen HF-2 ordered:

8/30/23

Can’t wait to see how these look on the car. They’re my favorite wheel on RSQ8’s and RS6’s.











Here’s the spec I ordered:

Vossen HF-2
21x9.5 +13
Satin Black
Hybrid Forged Center Caps - Satin Black
Classic Valve Stem Caps
Black Conical Vossen Lug Bolts

[JMSP88]

anxious to see how they look.

[QwaktastiK]

A couple shots from Ambler Cars & Coffee:

9/17/23


9/17/23


9/17/23


9/17/23

[QwaktastiK]

Vossen’s have arrived:

10/2/23


10/2/23


10/2/23

[lumberwood]

Vossen’s have arrived:

10/2/23


10/2/23


10/2/23

[QwaktastiK]

New license plate:

9/28/23

The best pic from Europa Parts 2023 Fall Foliage Cruise:

10/22/23 📷 by: Alex Zappile

Another week or two with the summer setup and then the Vossen winter setup goes on:

10/26/23

[scsu]

New license plate:

9/28/23

The best pic from Europa Parts 2023 Fall Foliage Cruise:

10/22/23 by: Alex Zappile

Another week or two with the summer setup and then the Vossen winter setup goes on:

10/26/23

Your plate looks really cool. But, what's the deal with it? I don't see it on the PA DMV site.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Audizine Forum mobile app

[QwaktastiK]

Your plate looks really cool. But, what's the deal with it? I don't see it on the PA DMV site.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Audizine Forum mobile app

It’s not exactly street legal [insert Frank the Tank meme]. It’s from Etsy. It’s a reproduction license plate in black and white to take the place of my PA DOT issues one. I’m sure I’ll get ticketed if I get pulled over. But I have my actual tag in my glovebox to hopefully avoid a ticket and be let off with a warning. I don’t drive like an asshat, so I haven’t been pulled over in 10 years. If a cop wants to pull me over for the plate, they would likely ticket me for my tint as well. I’m cool with paying fines in the rare occurrence I do get pulled over. Hopefully that’s all it would be. 🤷🏻*♂️

[scsu]

Cool. Thanks.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Audizine Forum mobile app

[QwaktastiK]

[cheewy16]

That's one fine-lookin' winter setup!!!! What made you go with the Scorpions over others? I've used them in the past but switched to Wintrac Pros.

[QwaktastiK]

That's one fine-lookin' winter setup!!!! What made you go with the Scorpions over others? I've used them in the past but switched to Wintrac Pros.

Thank you. I’ve been very happy with the performance of these. I was between the Pirelli Scorpions and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta. Winter tires in 21’s can be a bit limited of a selection. The Scorpions are 29lbs vs the Hakkapeliitta’s being 32lbs. The speed rating on the Scorpions is 149mph whereas the Hakkapeliitta’s are 118mph. The compounds are different as is their performance goals. The Scorpions are more of a performance winter tire whereas the Hakkapeliitta’s are more of a studless ice & snow tire. With the way the winters have been going around here in Philly, we’ve been staying pretty dry, but with freezing temps. So I wanted something that would perform more like a performance tire on the dry cold days, corner well and can handle snow. These fit the bill nicely. We have them on both of our SQ5’s. This will be my third winter with them.

[QwaktastiK]

11/12/23


11/12/13


11/12/23

[lumberwood]

🤌!!!

Jealous that you have so many leaves still on trees down there. Looking pretty barren up here already

[QwaktastiK]

🤌!!!

Jealous that you have so many leaves still on trees down there. Looking pretty barren up here already

They’re still hanging on believe it or not. We haven’t had much rain, winds or storms. Loving the beautiful scenery.

[QwaktastiK]

Quick snap from the other day:

1/30/24

[QwaktastiK]

Ambler Cars & Coffee Season Opener:

3/10/24

Running errands:

3/11/24

Stage 3 update:
Jose Mercado has my kit complete and will be shipping soon. In preparation for the MRA1900, I’m going to upgrade my intake to the new Garage Autosport Omega 102mm titanium intake system. I prefer an airbox for heat shielding and to cut down on supercharger whine, so I’ve researched different airbox options. My favorite believe it or not is ECS Tuning’s Kohlefaser Luft - Technique Intake System. I hope to modify the airbox from this system to work with the GAS 102mm titanium intake. I’ve been told my APR 80mm throttle body will work just fine. We shall see. Also doing reading, it’s strongly recommended to upgrade the supercharge pump from the stock CWA50 to CWA100. So I acquired that already from Merc Racing. Install appointment is scheduled for April 8th. Although the ECS intake isn’t scheduled to ship until April 30th. I’ll be going with Jackal Motorsport for tuning.

CWA100 pump ready for install:


GAS Omega 102mm titanium intake ordered:
3/14/24

ECS Tuning Kohlefaser Luft - Technique Intake System ordered: (hoping to modify and use the airbox from this)
3/14/24


3/14/24

[cmil527]

Lookin good!

[JayCar]

Looking good as always! :-) Can’t wait to see the results.

[QwaktastiK]

MRA1900 in hand:

3/25/24


3/25/24


3/25/24

[QwaktastiK]

Saw an advertisement for Platemakrs on IG and was impressed with their product/services, so I figured I’d give them a try and retire my Etsy plate I got last year:


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24

Etsy plate for comparison:

9/28/23

[Clun9]

Shesh

[cmil527]

Saw an advertisement for Platemakrs on IG and was impressed with their product/services, so I figured I’d give them a try and retire my Etsy plate I got last year:


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24


3/21/24

Etsy plate for comparison:

9/28/23

Love it... keep wondering how long it would take me to get a ticket in jersey!!

[QwaktastiK]

Shesh

Thanks homie!

Love it... keep wondering how long it would take me to get a ticket in jersey!!

Lol. Since we have black DARE tags in PA, I think its not too big of a deal. Jersey is prolly tougher since the tags are yellow and you have front and rear tags.

[QwaktastiK]

Ordered a custom finish on the GAS 102mm Omega intake:

4/2/24

[QwaktastiK]

Stage 3 update:
Merc Racing Supercharger install began Monday April 8th. Running into some delays. A few missing parts for my kit were overnighted by Jose to get us what we need. And turns out the MRA1900 pretty much requires a divorced coolant system.

So I ordered the following…
Merc Racing’s B8/B8.5 S4 divorced coolant system reservoir:


Merc Racing’s Audi divorced kit DIY components:

I’m hoping we have everything to wrap up the install smoothly. Should be done this week and then I can swing up to RT Tuning to load the Stage 3 93oct map from Jackal Motorsports and they can test drive it and make sure everything is good to go.

Jackal just posted the Garage Auto Sport Multi Port Injection (MPI) system that they’ll be installing and running this week, using 750cc injectors. They said they’ll be offering a full kit of what they used, controller and all. So that’s exciting. I’ve never been interested in mixing ethanol and pump to get e40 but I do plan to give full e85 a try. Since I drive my car so infrequently, it won’t be too much of a hassle to fill up the SQ5 and 3 containers of e85. Prolly fill up once a month like that.

[Slow4]

Suspension:
KW Street Comfort Coilovers

Hi, I know ride comfort is subjective to each driver but just your thoughts on these when you had them on?

[Shorty01]

First of all, OMFG on this build.... amazing.....

Question.... I have the KW Street Comfort coil-overs installed on my SQ5. I also had the 034 rear sway bar installed and also bought the 034 end links to go with it. The end link bolts broke on me, twice. I contacted 034 about the issue, and after much back and forth they confirmed my car is too low to have their rear sway bar installed. I am curious how it has held up for you? My husband installed everything (Master Guild Audi Tech), but in the end we just took out the sway bar for now but would love to have him get it back in if I can.

[smf92]

Gorgeous build. This thing looks crazy!

A question for you on software. You started the build running APR with the HP tuners TCU from BG.SQ5. What was the reason for switching from APR to Jackal, and why not run the Jackal TCU with the ECU? I recently went APR stage 1 ECU on my B8.5 and eventually want to do the TCU as well. For APR folks, is BG.SQ5 the way to go?

[QwaktastiK]

Hi, I know ride comfort is subjective to each driver but just your thoughts on these when you had them on?

So they were a VERY comfortable ride. However, they have so much squat and dive under hard acceleration and deceleration, respectively. As well as, they lower the car to within two finger gaps from tire to fender, which is too low for how soft the spring rate is, and it rubs. You can buy KW suspension spacers to lift the height. But if you want to be on the lower side with a meaty flush setup with 295’s, you gotta go with V1, V2 or V3’s if you don’t wanna rub. SC’s are just too soft of a spring rate for the height most people set the KW Coilovers at. In my opinion, they’re perfect for like a 2.0T Q5 with the smaller engine and lower power numbers as like a touring suspension. But for the amount of torque the SQ5 puts out and how much squat that causes during WOT acceleration, I highly recommend V1’s or V2’s. Happy to expand on any of that further if needed.

First of all, OMFG on this build.... amazing.....

Question.... I have the KW Street Comfort coil-overs installed on my SQ5. I also had the 034 rear sway bar installed and also bought the 034 end links to go with it. The end link bolts broke on me, twice. I contacted 034 about the issue, and after much back and forth they confirmed my car is too low to have their rear sway bar installed. I am curious how it has held up for you? My husband installed everything (Master Guild Audi Tech), but in the end we just took out the sway bar for now but would love to have him get it back in if I can.

Hey Molly. Thank you so much. I remember your post on the FB forums from a few years back. In my opinion, it’s that the spring rate of the SC’s is too soft, not that the car is too low. My ride height is as low as or lower than where yours sits if memory serves correctly and I have not had any issue now that I’m on V2’s. My hypothesis is that the SC spring rates are too low and allow for so much weight to be abruptly transferred downward on the suspension components during bumps and large abrupt elevation changes in road surfaces putting the other components at a disadvantage. I’d venture to guess if you guys swapped out the SC springs for V1/V2 springs, you would no longer have an issue. With that being said, I don’t know how differently the shocks are calibrated from SC to V2’s. Both are the same design and offer damping adjustment. I just don’t know if the V2’s have a stiffer shock absorber calibrated for the stiffer spring setup. So you might have to adjust the damping according to match the spring rates of the V2’s if you ended up giving that a try.

Gorgeous build. This thing looks crazy!

A question for you on software. You started the build running APR with the HP tuners TCU from BG.SQ5. What was the reason for switching from APR to Jackal, and why not run the Jackal TCU with the ECU? I recently went APR stage 1 ECU on my B8.5 and eventually want to do the TCU as well. For APR folks, is BG.SQ5 the way to go?

I went from APR to Jackal because APR won’t be supporting tuning for the Merc Racing MRA1900 Supercharger. I was very happy with the APR tune. I preemptively switched to Jackal a few weeks before the MRA1900 install to get a feel for it as a means of an apples to apples comparison between the two. I’m a big believer in APR and was extremely happy with their ECU software. And yes, Berks is the way to go for ZF8 TCU tune paired with the APR ECU tune. You’ll be extremely happy.

[QwaktastiK]

Stage 3 update:


5/20/2024

• Merc Racing Superchager MRA1900 installed
• Jackal Motorsports Stage 3 base tune uploaded
• 034Motorsport 190mm crank pulley, Griptec 3” supercharger pulley installed
• GAS 102mm Omega Intake Kit installed
• GAS 80mm Throttle Body installed
• Merc Racing divorced coolant reservior installed
• Coolant system divorced
• Pierberg CWA100 Pump installed - yellow wire cut

So unfortunately the 034Motorsport Strut Brace doesn’t clear the MRA1900. Really bummed about that as it’s a beautiful piece. I found a company, Ultra Racing, that offers a Q5/SQ5 Strut Brace that sits higher and will clear. That’s on order, but has a two month preorder timeline.

I’m happy to report that the ECS Tuning Kohlefaser Luft-Technik Intake System finally arrived. I’m hoping to run just the airbox of that kit in conjunction with the GAS 102mm Omega Intake tube and filter.

Here a shot of it placed in the engine bay for mock-up purposes:

5/26/2024


5/26/2024

[QwaktastiK]

6/13/2024


6/13/2024


6/13/2024


6/13/2024

[Shorty01]

Hey Molly. Thank you so much. I remember your post on the FB forums from a few years back. In my opinion, it’s that the spring rate of the SC’s is too soft, not that the car is too low. My ride height is as low as or lower than where yours sits if memory serves correctly and I have not had any issue now that I’m on V2’s. My hypothesis is that the SC spring rates are too low and allow for so much weight to be abruptly transferred downward on the suspension components during bumps and large abrupt elevation changes in road surfaces putting the other components at a disadvantage. I’d venture to guess if you guys swapped out the SC springs for V1/V2 springs, you would no longer have an issue. With that being said, I don’t know how differently the shocks are calibrated from SC to V2’s. Both are the same design and offer damping adjustment. I just don’t know if the V2’s have a stiffer shock absorber calibrated for the stiffer spring setup. So you might have to adjust the damping according to match the spring rates of the V2’s if you ended up giving that a try.

Thanks so much for your reply. What you are saying makes perfect sense, maybe we will be switching to V2s in the future!

[QwaktastiK]

Been a little behind on updates…

Little photoshoot at Audi Warrington, PA:

6/26/2024


6/26/2024

Here’s some shots of the Ultra Racing strut brace powder coated desert wrinkle black and Dress Up Bolts gold titanium hardware:

8/12/2024


8/12/2024


8/12/2024

Of course the Dress Up Bolts gold titanium hardware arrived one day after VAG Fair 2024:
8/11/2024


8/11/2024


8/11/2024


8/11/2024

Took home 1st place 🏆 in my class (SUV):

8/11/2024


8/11/2024

[QwaktastiK]

Some shots from L’oe Show:

9/1/2024


9/1/2024


9/1/2024


9/1/2024


8/31/2024

[QwaktastiK]

Apologies for the out of order pics/posts, but here are some shots I forgot to post of both SQ5’s at RT Tuning:
7/16/2024


7/16/2024

[Slow4]

So they were a VERY comfortable ride. However, they have so much squat and dive under hard acceleration and deceleration, respectively. As well as, they lower the car to within two finger gaps from tire to fender, which is too low for how soft the spring rate is, and it rubs. You can buy KW suspension spacers to lift the height. But if you want to be on the lower side with a meaty flush setup with 295’s, you gotta go with V1, V2 or V3’s if you don’t wanna rub. SC’s are just too soft of a spring rate for the height most people set the KW Coilovers at. In my opinion, they’re perfect for like a 2.0T Q5 with the smaller engine and lower power numbers as like a touring suspension. But for the amount of torque the SQ5 puts out and how much squat that causes during WOT acceleration, I highly recommend V1’s or V2’s. Happy to expand on any of that further if needed.

Nope, explanation was fully received! I remember my days with the H/R Street Performance coilovers in the Avant and can relate to what you're saying about the squat/dive/rubbing. Thank you for the recommendations on the V1 or V2s, will look into those down the line.

Also thank you for your pics of the ECS Luft-Technik Intake System with that massive upgraded intake pipe....lol, I added the 034 intake to my ECS list but then saw your post and was like woa, the ECS is way sexier; swapping!

[STXA7]

those wheels are so beautiful i want some.

[QwaktastiK]

those wheels are so beautiful i want some.

Thank you! I’m gonna be selling them in a few weeks if you’re interested

[QwaktastiK]

BC Forged TD01 21x10.5 +25
Matte Bronze
Bead Knurling
Custom made to clear my S6/S7 brake setup:

1/8/24

Continental Extreme Contact DWS06+:
2/6/24