141 Audi A3 Saloon 1.4 remap potential?

Comhrá

I have a 141 Audi A3 Saloon 1.4 TFSI 138 bhp petrol.

Car is nippy enough but low down torque isn't great - lots of gear changing at town driving speeds and under 2000 rpm.

Anyone know what a remap could yield in terms of extra power & torque?

Is remapping straightforward? (assuming a professional does the work)

Any hidden downside? Warranty voiding, insurance issues etc?

Is it reversible if trading in the car in the future?

Thanks for any info.

Bpmull

But surly if it's a petrol you shouldn't be changing gears to keep it under 2000 rpm. Any petrol I've been in will be fairly underpowered at those revs as there full torque band is higher up the rev range. Whereas with a diesel you will get full torque from about 1600 rpm but they run out of power quicker than the petrols in terms of higher revs.

Chimaera

Insurance is going to be a hassle if you remap. A good few insurers will run a mile from remapped cars, others you're going to have some work to do to get cover.

Comhrá

But surly if it's a petrol you shouldn't be changing gears to keep it under 2000 rpm. Any petrol I've been in will be fairly underpowered at those revs as there full torque band is higher up the rev range. Whereas with a diesel you will get full torque from about 1600 rpm but they run out of power quicker than the petrols in terms of higher revs.

Probably didn't explain myself well - when I'm driving at just under 50 kph (which is most of the time as I'm living in suburbs) the engine is at around 1800 rpm and needs changing down to 3rd gear at or under 50 kph to maintain smooth driving. I'd like to be able to drive at 50kph in 4th gear without the engine labouring - if that's possible with more bhp on tap?

Special Circumstances

tippman1 wrote: »

Probably didn't explain myself well - when I'm driving at just under 50 kph (which is most of the time as I'm living in suburbs) the engine is at around 1800 rpm and needs changing down to 3rd gear at or under 50 kph to maintain smooth driving. I'd like to be able to drive at 50kph in 4th gear without the engine labouring - if that's possible with more bhp on tap?

How many gears do you have?
manual or dsg? There was a lad on here recently saying that his 1.4 passat could pull from about 1200 rpm. 7speed DSG in that case.

Comhrá

Special Circumstances wrote: »

How many gears do you have?
manual or dsg? There was a lad on here recently saying that his 1.4 passat could pull from about 1200 rpm. 7speed DSG in that case.

6 speed manual. doesn't pull well under 2000 rpm. I had a DSG Mk. V GTI once and that was a different beast. 2.0L and 197 bhp.

Special Circumstances

tippman1 wrote: »

6 speed manual. doesn't pull well under 2000 rpm. I had a DSG Mk. V GTI once and that was a different beast. 2.0L and 197 bhp.

He reckoned his 1.4 would pull a passat in top gear from 60km/h. I was more than a little surprised tbh.
Doesn't sound like you're experiencing anything like that though.

bazz26

I'd wait until after the warranty runs out.

Comhrá

He reckoned his 1.4 would pull a passat in top gear from 60km/h. I was more than a little surprised tbh.
Doesn't sound like you're experiencing anything like that though.

Well, I do notice a big difference between 50km/h and 60 km/h.

I can change into 6th after hitting 60 and there's reasonable pulling power when driving on the level but it's when speed drops to just under 50 (around1800 rpm in 4th) - it requires a prompt change down from 4th to 3rd.

Overall it's a very nice car to drive and pretty quiet and responsive - it's just this need to change down frequently at slower speeds that bugs me a bit. Otherwise I love the car.

wonski

Leave it in 3rd when driving in town.

I don't understand why you want it to be in 4th when doing 50?

Special Circumstances

tippman1 wrote: »

Well, I do notice a big difference between 50km/h and 60 km/h.

I can change into 6th after hitting 60 and there's reasonable pulling power when driving on the level but it's when speed drops to just under 50 (around1800 rpm in 4th) - it requires a prompt change down from 4th to 3rd.

Overall it's a very nice car to drive and pretty quiet and responsive - it's just this need to change down frequently at slower speeds that bugs me a bit. Otherwise I love the car.

65+ is ok for top gear (6th), but 25 needs 3 gears down (3rd)?

Sounds like either first or second is redundant, and also one or both of fourth and fifth?

Sometimes there's a "recommended road speed and gear selection" table in the manual, any info there for the audi?

Comhrá

Back to my original question.....would the extra bhp from a remap change the torque and low-revs pulling power, or would it just give better performance at high revs?

MuppetCheck

The newer models aren't all that easy to remap - I don't think there's anyone in Ireland even doing them yet as the ECU is locked down in them.

Bigus

tippman1 wrote: »

Back to my original question.....would the extra bhp from a remap change the torque and low-revs pulling power, or would it just give better performance at high revs?

Look at the dyno graphs of the remap suppliers, more torque is an option, are you coming from a Torquey diesel ?

I'd try a good octane booster first , to release you current set ups potential, as no super unleaded available here.

18MonthsaSlave

I had a new 1.4 TFSI A3 Manual Sportback on hire for three days last week.
Nice car but I really yearned to get back in to my car with auto-transmission as I was constantly searching for gears. It was worse than driving superminis or citycars as the ratios just didn't suit driving at low speed and the 6 speeds instead of 5 meant that I had to change cogs more often. According to the indicator on the dashboard I was in the wrong gear more often than I was in the right one.

I don't see how a remap is going to dramatically change the torque curve on the engine. It might give you some top end in each gear but that's not what you are looking for.

Comhrá

18MonthsaSlave wrote: »

I had a new 1.4 TFSI A3 Manual Sportback on hire for three days last week.
Nice car but I really yearned to get back in to my car with auto-transmission as I was constantly searching for gears. It was worse than driving superminis or citycars as the ratios just didn't suit driving at low speed and the 6 speeds instead of 5 meant that I had to change cogs more often. According to the indicator on the dashboard I was in the wrong gear more often than I was in the right one.

I don't see how a remap is going to dramatically change the torque curve on the engine. It might give you some top end in each gear but that's not what you are looking for.

You've put it in a nutshell. I regret I didn't get the auto version. I recall it is a 7-speed box that has gotten a lot of bad press worldwide and had it been the 6-speed box that's available in the 2.0 Diesel, I would have probably gone for that option.

The 7-speed box has so many horror stories I got cold feet and settled for manual as I wanted a petrol car.

http://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-news/vw-recalls-dsg-gearbox-woes-continue/

I believe it's the same box as used by Audi


As a remap doesn't seem feasable or practical, I'll stay with what I have and next time, it will probably be a VW or another Audi, but definitely a 6-speed DSG box. We live and we learn I guess

Larbre34

Audi know better than you. Its why they offer different engines for different driving demands.

YbFocus

With your car being a turbo petrol no part can really be gained low down.
Your turbo needs exhaust gas flow to generate power and that will only start at 2k plus and only get into its stride after 3k.

Your dealing with your NA bit down low and there's feck all to be gleaned from a 1.4 that's probably fairly stressed already.

I think you may get very little for your money.
Change down earlier and have fun with that engine

Comhrá

Larbre34 wrote: »

Audi know better than you. Its why they offer different engines for different driving demands.

Thank you Larbre34. I'm sure they do.

kooga

went onto the superchips website to check your model, no sign of a 1.4 tfsi 138 bhp

so went onto audi ireland website and the 1.4 tfsi variants are 125bhp and a 150bhp

are you sure its 138bhp?

wonski

kooga wrote: »

went onto the superchips website to check your model, no sign of a 1.4 tfsi 138 bhp

so went onto audi ireland website and the 1.4 tfsi variants are 125bhp and a 150bhp

are you sure its 138bhp?

There were 3 variants - 125, 140 and 150. 150 came in this year .

Comhrá

kooga wrote: »

went onto the superchips website to check your model, no sign of a 1.4 tfsi 138 bhp

so went onto audi ireland website and the 1.4 tfsi variants are 125bhp and a 150bhp

are you sure its 138bhp?

Well,according to Autocar.co.uk and other publications it's 138 bhp:

The Audi.ie website configurator says 140 but I'm inclined to believe the various UK sources.They're usually correct with these things.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/audi/a3-saloon

18MonthsaSlave

Pferdestärke and BHP are almost the same but not quite.

fletch

MuppetCheck wrote: »

The newer models aren't all that easy to remap - I don't think there's anyone in Ireland even doing them yet as the ECU is locked down in them.

Joe Power @ tdr.ie did mine (1.4tsi 180bhp (stock) 7sp dsg) recently. He did say it was difficult and had to remove the ECU. The car pulls a lot stronger now particularly in the midrange...as others have said though, I don't think much can be done below 2000rpm

Special Circumstances

fletch wrote: »

as others have said though, I don't think much can be done below 2000rpm

Is there some shift up/down light that encourages you to shift up before 2k? Or does it tell you shift down if you're lugging it? (may not apply in dsg land)

When another user was saying last week that they would pull 7th gear from 60km/h 1200rpm to 100k 2000rpm, I was prepared to believe some serious variable geometry wizardy was helping the turbo spool up that low. But other people's experiences suggest otherwise.

What rpm is the dsg happiest with around town?

Special Circumstances

OSI wrote: »

If you're taking it very handy, the DSG will shift up at around 2k. In my 6Spd Mk5 GTI, it's all out of gears by the time it hits 60km/h if I'm just grannying it around.

Grand if someone/thing else is doing the shifting ha!

Zubeneschamali

tippman1 wrote: »

I'd like to be able to drive at 50kph in 4th gear without the engine labouring

Back to diesels for you!

fletch

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Is there some shift up/down light that encourages you to shift up before 2k? Or does it tell you shift down if you're lugging it? (may not apply in dsg land)

When another user was saying last week that they would pull 7th gear from 60km/h 1200rpm to 100k 2000rpm, I was prepared to believe some serious variable geometry wizardy was helping the turbo spool up that low. But other people's experiences suggest otherwise.

What rpm is the dsg happiest with around town?

The DSG will drop into 7th just above 60 kph. With a gentle throttle it'll stay in 7th accelerating...a medium throttle it might drop a gear or two...If I floor it it'll drop 5 gears down to 2nd. There's no shift lights or anything, DSG just looks after it all.

braddun

APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade with 91 octane takes stock 220 HP / 258 TQ all the way to 305 HP / 371 TQ.


with the APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade is exactly as fast as a 2015 Audi S4/S5 with the APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade


APR offers "special software designed to deliver the same peak horsepower with a cap on low end torque to reduce or eliminate slipping. These specific files are available with various torque caps set lower than the standard Stage I ECU Upgrade

colm_mcm

If you're gonna copy and paste something, at least credit the author or make sure its relevant