Jump to content

Re-mapping


rterry
 Share

Recommended Posts

I'm considering a re-map for my S8, and having looked at a couple of different options so far, wondered what you're considered opinions are. The two I've looked at are Amd, who want £550 + the dreaded vodka and tonic for a remap, and Superchips, who only want £250 + VAT for theirs.

Any thoughts or other recommendations ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi, welcome to Tyresmoke! beerchug.gif

I've heard positive stories about the AMD chip (combined with a Miltek exhaust) for the S8. The result was a noticable increase in power and general driveability. Alledgedly it delivers about 400BHP with chip & Miltek.

I haven't heard about the Superchips remap, but that's more of a generic chip no? Whereas AMD tunes it on your specific car. Could be worth the extra money...

Also, Superchips doesn't list a chip for the S8, do they? confused.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Sven,

Thanks for the warm welcome ! I've read about the AmD conversion over on Audi-Sport.net and was suitably impressed (and which also got me thinking !). I've also been reading about your exploits with the quad-exhaust (nice pictures, very tempted !).

With regards to Superchips and AmD, having spoken to both, there aren't too many differences that I can detect, as both re-maps are tailored to the car and are not a "generic" programme for that model of car. The major difference seems to be that AmD put your car on a rolling road prior and post remap, whereas Superchips don't, but then again, Superchips come to you and do the re-map there in a couple of hours as opposed to you going to Bicester for 3 hours. The actual improvements seem to stack up similarly as well - AmD quote +20 bhp and +20 lb ft of torque, whereas Superchips are quoting +18 bhp and +10% improvement in torque. Personally it is the torque improvement that I am looking for, particularly lower down the rev range, as my car seems to almost suffer from turbo lag prior to 3000 rpm (at which point it goes ballistic !!).

As the Superchips remap is half the price of the AmD one, I'm tempted to go down that route. The car's booked in for a service and few other things next week, so I'll probably look to get it done after that. If anyone has had any experiences with Superchips (for any car), I'd be interested to hear about them.

Cheers

Richard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Richard,

In that case you may be right to go that route, as you probably read the AMD RR alledgedly doesn't handle Tiptronic too well. Odd, but anyway, that shouldn't be a deciding factor in this case.

If Superchips has a good reputation, and offer a decent warranty, why pay more indeed?

I've done some checking locally, and the results don't differ that much. So I think I'll go to Wetterauer, they know Audis really well, and they have international backup, a.o. from Germany and the US. So that should buy me some knowledge and experience, over other tuners who find it 'interesting' to work on an S8 for a change...

I'd be interested to hear your findings, as I see Superchips have a tuner in Amsterdam. A very reputable one as well, be it mainly as a BMW specialist.

Your 'turbo lag' feeling below 3k is odd, it's not supposed to do that. Mine doesn't anyway, she takes off and keeps going. Maybe a good idea to have your dealer (or a knowledgeable friend with VAG COM) do a read out to check for any possible faults. I figure that would improve any tuning results, esp. when tailor made.

Something else which may be interesting is a TCM remap, to remove the 'lazy' delay in the auto/tip gearbox. That should be a huge improvement me thinks...

beerchug.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The turbo-lag isn't too great, it's just that there is a noticeable step up when it hits 3k rpm, which is unlike the loaner S8 I had, or the 540 I had prior to the S8.

I've read about the TCM change in other places, but have yet to work out how to get it done in the UK - is it soemthing a dealer can do, or is there a "specialist" out there ?

How did you get on with your tints ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wetteraurer does this for one, but I'm not sure whether they have a tuner in the UK. Most tuners I talked to said it was doable, but Wetteraurer has it listed, so they're not new to it.

I suppose your dealer can do this, if they will is another thing. It wouldn't hurt to ask tho...

What build year is yours? I've heard that recoding it to std. 2002 spec should already make a big difference. That's something a dealer should be able to do. It's just a code they have to enter... I will ask my dealer to do this next time, they'll probably do this, as they're quite helpful. I'll let you know, but the service is planned mid March...

I'd have the 'lag' checked as said, esp. since you noticed a difference with the loaner yourself. Therefore you know it's specific to your car. Maybe a MAF issue or an injector? I'm sure a readout would clarify this.

As to the tints, the colour ('Titanium') is superb, not too dark, but it offers significantly more privacy. It looks sophisticated, opposed to the black ones, which make it look a bit 'gangsta' IMO. (A matter of choice, but I prefer the first).

From the inside you hardly notice it, the view is excellent. There are a few minor (finishing) details I'm not entirely satisfied with yet, but I have to go back monday anyway to fit the rear window. So I'll make sure they look at those points as well.

I'll post some pics when it's finished, when wether permits and the car is clean. (It's snowing here off and on lately, so the car looks like it hasn't been washed for ages in no-time after you cleaned it). crazy.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mine's a '99 car, and the loaner was a late 2002 car, so that would probably explain the difference to the feel of the car. As I said, mine's in for a service next week, so I'll ask the dealer if they can do the recode.

Hopefully over the weekend I'll get some pictures of mine and post them, but to give you a thumbnail sketch, my car is definitely "Gangsta" - Silver with dark tinted windows (armour tinted), and 20" 9 spoke alloys !!

It's funny, but the bigger wheels give the optical illusion of shrinking the size of the car when compared to one running on the standard 18's !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cool, I'll be looking forward to the pics! cool.gif

Amazingly the S8 doesn't feel big at all when you drive it, whilst it offers so much space! Compared to the Jag XJR I have much more headroom, legroom and basically anything else. And then that boot space... grin.gif Yet it's very 'chuckable'. You gotta love it... cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ QUOTE ]

Hi Sven,

Thanks for the warm welcome ! I've read about the AmD conversion over on Audi-Sport.net and was suitably impressed (and which also got me thinking !). I've also been reading about your exploits with the quad-exhaust (nice pictures, very tempted !).

With regards to Superchips and AmD, having spoken to both, there aren't too many differences that I can detect, as both re-maps are tailored to the car and are not a "generic" programme for that model of car. The major difference seems to be that AmD put your car on a rolling road prior and post remap, whereas Superchips don't, but then again, Superchips come to you and do the re-map there in a couple of hours as opposed to you going to Bicester for 3 hours. The actual improvements seem to stack up similarly as well - AmD quote +20 bhp and +20 lb ft of torque, whereas Superchips are quoting +18 bhp and +10% improvement in torque. Personally it is the torque improvement that I am looking for, particularly lower down the rev range, as my car seems to almost suffer from turbo lag prior to 3000 rpm (at which point it goes ballistic !!).

As the Superchips remap is half the price of the AmD one, I'm tempted to go down that route. The car's booked in for a service and few other things next week, so I'll probably look to get it done after that. If anyone has had any experiences with Superchips (for any car), I'd be interested to hear about them.

Cheers

Richard

[/ QUOTE ]

Go the AmD route, you won't regret it.

Ps. No Turbo lag on an S8, as there is no turbo wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ QUOTE ]

Hi, welcome to Tyresmoke! beerchug.gif

I've heard positive stories about the AMD chip (combined with a Miltek exhaust) for the S8. The result was a noticable increase in power and general driveability. Alledgedly it delivers about 400BHP with chip & Miltek.

I haven't heard about the Superchips remap, but that's more of a generic chip no? Whereas AMD tunes it on your specific car. Could be worth the extra money...

Also, Superchips doesn't list a chip for the S8, do they? confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Guessing thats my car you're refering to Sven wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Paul,

I read your reports about the AmD remap you had done, and am seriously considering the AmD route, it's just that I can't quite see why they want more than double what Superchips are asking for except for the before and after rolling road maps ! I also spoke to them about the exhaust and they said it did nothing to increase power, it just made the car sound better !!

I've also managed to get some technology working for a change and have attached a couple of images of my car - as you'll see, it's the full on Gangsta Special !!

Cheers

Richard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ QUOTE ]

Hi Paul,

I read your reports about the AmD remap you had done, and am seriously considering the AmD route, it's just that I can't quite see why they want more than double what Superchips are asking for except for the before and after rolling road maps ! I also spoke to them about the exhaust and they said it did nothing to increase power, it just made the car sound better !!

I've also managed to get some technology working for a change and have attached a couple of images of my car - as you'll see, it's the full on Gangsta Special !!

Cheers

Richard

[/ QUOTE ]

Richard,

I see your point about the cost of AmD vs Superchip. The only point i can make that may sway your decision, is that AmD have always specialised in the VAG Marque (although they cover more brands now). Having owned 2 TT's, most of the TT brigade that went down the modifying road chose AmD & i've never heard any bad stories about the quality of their work. Superchips on the other hand, use a more generic re-map & i have heard of problems with certain VAG cars, although never heard any reports about S8's.

As regards power gains, its more difficult to get huge gains from a normally aspirated engine than it is from a Turbo engine, but the AmD re-map gives more than enough & the zorst does give about an extra 5-10bhp, but its the note that makes it worth the money, plus it raises the torque a little further as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Paul,

Thanks for that - I haven't made up my mind yet which way to go, but will probably just stick with the re-map whichever company I choose (may also depend on how far the dealer wants to stick his hand in my pocket when the car's serviced on Thursday !). Shame none of them do a "try before you buy" scheme with a time limited install ...

Cheers

Richard sekret.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ QUOTE ]

Paul,

Thanks for that - I haven't made up my mind yet which way to go, but will probably just stick with the re-map whichever company I choose (may also depend on how far the dealer wants to stick his hand in my pocket when the car's serviced on Thursday !). Shame none of them do a "try before you buy" scheme with a time limited install ...

Cheers

Richard sekret.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Richard,

The only problem with a re-map on its own is that you won't notice much of a difference. An extra 20ish bhp in a car thats pushing out 360 standard is almost not noticable. In my 2nd TT, i went down the Jabbasport re-map route & that increased power by over 50bhp & the car was 233bhp standard, so the difference was like night & day.

If i were you, i'd wait until you're ready to go zorst & re-map, as bang for buck the difference is worth the £1400 it costs & the note from the engine / zorst is just sublime. cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...