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Thread: the modifications are beginning!

  1. #1
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    the modifications are beginning!

    just got my Hotchkis sway bar kit today. I'm pretty stoked as it'll take care of the suspension side until my DRC decides to pack it in. So that has me thinking about the overall picture of where I want the car to end up, and if I can get some advice and answers on the benefits of each step...?

    The car came with a Eurocharged ECU and MTM TCU, so that's good. A nice touch was the Level 10 valve body upgrade, and the K40 integrated radar detection is very nice; I've never seen a radar detection system integrate so seamlessly into a car's instruments.

    I'll break it down into sections - there are threads for all this scattered about but I'm trying to organize everything into stages:

    suspension:
    - start with Hotchkis roll bars.
    - H&R lowering springs, if you have complete faith in the DRC, or
    - wait and do coilovers (which I'll do - I like being able to fine-tune ride height and set corner weighting)

    exhaust and intake:
    the stock SE exhaust is good, for stock. I want more rumble though :P
    - Milltek non-resonated cat-back, then get an ECU remap..?
    - Milltek or comparable bespoke downpipes, then remap again
    - no way I'm touching that carbon fiber airbox! Is it worth getting aftermarket air filters?

    interior:
    - K40 already installed
    - Dension iPod adapter just installed, and I finally figured out how to work it. While I've always done fairly involved stereos in my cars, usually running about 800 watts, the Bose is good enough to make spending the time and effort to chop up the dash and the labor involved in adding subs a case of diminished returns.
    - I've decided to add a Stack boost gauge, just next to the A-pillar. Should be unobtrusive and not too ricey.
    - I'd like LED indicators installed somewhere to indicate if a meth system is flowing correctly or not. Probably in the unused switches next to the ESP switch.
    - I'm going to throw some darker tint on the windows - the 50% that's already on the car is excellent tint quality, but I'm going with 20% on all side windows, 35% on the rear, and maybe 70% on the windshield, although...is it my imagination or is there some kind of reflective film/treatment on the windshield already?

    ECU and power tuning:
    - since the car came with a Eurocharged map, I'll work with them with maps as I alter the breathing of the engine in stages - first with a catback, then the downpipes.
    - unless my intercoolers start leaking, I won't go with Wagners. They might have twice the flow capacity, but I'm of the school that intercoolers must be matched to the turbos - bigger isn't better. As long as it's a quality bar and plate construction, that's good enough. Too big and during the winter you'll start getting throttle lag as the intercoolers have to fill and pressurize. Unless it's a known fact that Audi used undersized intercoolers? Did they??
    And the other reason is...
    - meth injection. I'll start shopping for a system, but since I did a water injection system in my Skyline, I'm familiar with the different brands. One thing - everyone seems to use the term "meth", but are people using 100% methanol injection?? If so, a remap is required to run properly. In any event, an intake charge cooling system, whether it's water, ethanol, methanol, or...windshield washer fluid god forbid, serves the same purpose as a larger intercooler.

    wheels:
    - I'm doing what Elevens did: OZ 19" wheels, 275/30R19 tires. I used OZ on my Skyline and was pleased with them, and I think they'll also go well on the RS6.

    exterior:
    - the RS6 shape is just about perfect, and I can't think of a single thing to change, except to change the rear taillights to LED units and get rid of the amber insert in the headlights.
    - I'm planning something else I haven't seen on an RS6 yet, but won't spill the beans until I get it done

    brakes:
    - the system had been flushed recently, but I will get around to flushing it again and putting in my favored brake fluid, Castrol SRF.
    - my pads are also new, so it'll be awhile before I start shopping for new ones.
    - otherwise, I'm sticking with stock. No need to spend big money on fixed rear calipers, and the fronts are...well, who really NEEDS more than an 8-pot Brembo caliper???
    - I don't know if my brake lines have been upgraded; I'm going to take a look this weekend, and if they're stock, they won't be for long.

    questions:
    - with a full exhaust and meth injection, properly mapped, will I be over the 550bhp mark? How close to 600bhp can I get to without messing with anything else?
    - I've tried (halfheartedly, I can't bring myself to give lots of throttle with the brakes applied) the duck-rat-foot launch, and I can't get the car to rev over 2000rpm. Will MTM or someone else program in the ability to hit 2500rpm when stopped and revving up the engine, without having to rev three times? I know it's a protection mechanism, but I do like to think I have enough sense to not press both pedals at the same time unless I am going to launch the car. And if I'm going to launch the car, I would like to be able to do so on the spot!
    Das Silberkugel - Eurocharged Stage 2/MTM/Level 10/Hotchkis/Koni/H&R
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  2. #2
    Registered User kilian tuning's Avatar
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    i think 600 bhp will destroy your box...
    Mugello Blue C5 RS6 Avant Viper Tuning ECU/TCU
    MTM Bimoto wheels 9,5 x 19 ET 30 LK 5x112 with 275/30/19 tyres
    MTM exhaust system cat back 4-pipe with throttle valves in 2 pipes, control

  3. #3
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    Remind me again. Which RS6 did you purchase?

    Need to know if you have the latest RS6 EC remap.

    Vag Com or die.

    Stock ICs are fine if not leaking.

  4. #4
    Registered User skribe's Avatar
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    RNS-E is worth every penny IMO, much more modern interior, and sound quality is noticeably better.
    I also disconnected the stock sub (which is a pile of shit), spliced into the Bose amp input, and added a small JL amp and sub box, also hard-wired an iPod input into the RNS-E. To me, the audio is now good enough. Not great, but good enough.

    I think with your mods you could expect mid 500's for horsepower, but I agree with kilian your tranny will tap out even at that level if you're not careful.

    I think the APR tune has a 2-stage rev limiter? Or was it REVO? Somebody will correct me. Maybe eurocharged could program that if you really want your tranny to go bye-bye.

  5. #5
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    This will surely be an interesting project to follow... keep up the updates.
    Good luck.

  6. #6
    Registered User yokust's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DHall1 View Post
    Stock ICs are fine if not leaking.
    Yeah Sure

    They are fine for the first dyno pull, and then keep watching power drop while they heatsoak. So if you are actually looking for 550-600hp, they are not fine

  7. #7
    Registered User JSRS6's Avatar
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    I agree here. While stock ic's may not leak, they do have amazing heat soaking properties during the last dyno day, on the cars with wagners, I didn't notice any heat soak in-between pulls. Even on back to back pulls, cool to the touch. I will be getting a pair for my post Afghanistan build.
    Avus RS 6, RNS-E/BT/RVC, Eurocharged/MTM, SuperSports, PSS9/Hotchkis, SS Lines/EBC Reds, FMU/BMC, Sportec vents, 007's, 9500ci, Black Optics/Headlights/Trim/Rims, CC; coming soon: stage 3 snow meth

  8. #8
    Registered User speedtrapped's Avatar
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    I have the wagners, with upgraded turbos, amazing quality. Just a milltek catback won't require new tuning, and I may get flamed, but the sound even with non resonated is pretty close to SE. Ask me how I know, even better, I have dahlback 3" DP's mated to dahlback 100 cell racing cats, finished with milltek non resonated, throatier but not by much. Def get meth, and spend the $ money for gutted DP into milltek, Jerry has a nice stage 2, that when I dis an earlier dyno day with Josh on the set up, made 424/506 at wheels(at time everything else was stock)
    Ebony/Black, DBR Stage 3 race kit, -SOLD :( 996TT Proto 650 basically a sardine can with a rocket attached to the back...11' CTS-V, 540/579RWP hehehehe ;)

  9. #9
    Registered User speedtrapped's Avatar
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    I run 50/50 meth, not tuned just insurance
    Ebony/Black, DBR Stage 3 race kit, -SOLD :( 996TT Proto 650 basically a sardine can with a rocket attached to the back...11' CTS-V, 540/579RWP hehehehe ;)

  10. #10
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    interesting notes about the ICs. It's possible to take the route that Subaru has done (their IC is mounted on top of the engine, talk about heat soak galore!!!) - water spray onto the IC. Meth injection is supposed to cool down the intake charge anyways, and you can tune for the fuel properties of methanol (stoich for meth is 6:1, it doesn't require much oxygen), although you have to know exactly how much you're injecting.

    My car's VIN is 904912. The Eurocharged reflash was done last summer; I have Jerry's number which the last owner gave me. I have a Rosstech but need a Windows computer, which is being shipped to me from Korea. I need to get the handheld programmer so I can upload reflashes without yanking the ECU and mailing it out.

    It's very interesting to hear the opinion that the Milltek catback isn't much different than the SE! Maybe I'll look into straight pipes, the E39 M5 crowd often leaves the stock downpipes and cats, and then do straight pipes for a catback.

    How much does the Level 10 valve body rebuild help in terms of handling power? That will be the limiting factor. People have done 6-speed swaps; I wonder why no one has looked into swapping a C6 auto transmission - that unit is apparently good enough to handle 700bhp.

    I don't think I'll end up with anything significantly better than what most people here have done; I have no plans to upgrade turbos, fuel system, etc to go for serious power - I spent the better part of three years doing that on my Skyline, and I think I got that out of my system. I want to work on the handling mostly, extract a bit more power, and get the car looking and sounding mean

    In addition to my exterior mod ideas, I just came up with another one - a battery relocation setup without doing the tray, etc....a custom LiFePO4 battery wired into a donut shape that will plop into the stock spare tire well. Just need to calculate how many cells I need.

    Well, it's a beautiful Saturday; going to go get the car detailed, then get the Hotchkis bars installed and do the DRC suspension fix so that my rear doesn't sit up so high anymore. A car just isn't mine until I've added my personal touch to it!
    Das Silberkugel - Eurocharged Stage 2/MTM/Level 10/Hotchkis/Koni/H&R
    2015 Ducati 1299S Panigale
    2014 Ducati Multistrada Granturismo

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    Registered User mi021le's Avatar
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    welcome. dude ur in for a ride if u just start buying things. replace what brakes and slowly build. a rs6 can get expensive wen u dont expect whats coming. ie.. might be why ur trans has work done wen u only have a chip.. eurocharged although make nice power. everyone ive known personally whos had it had to pull the trans to fix it.. the best way to change the dp's is to pull the motor. u can tilt it back.. but its the upper screw thats the culprit. whas ur plan anyway? make it fun or spend $30k and the baddest one here? lol.
    03 rs6 dahlback 461 awd hp 530 tq. 12.2 118 gone
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  12. #12
    Registered User hahnmgh63's Avatar
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    Any mod is possible with enough money but for the price it is probably better to use what has already been developed and other are using with success (Intercoolers, transmission, etc...). In my Cayenne Turbo S I also have the integrated K40 with Laser jammer in the front plate surround, I also agree that it is a beautifully integrated install, but I would also have to say that compared to my Valentine 1 or Escort 9500ix the K40 sucks on range and false alerts. It came on my Cayenne, dealer installed w/ the Laser Jammer for $1500. I would have never paid that much for something that doesn't work as good as a under $500 Escort or Valentine 1 though.
    2003 White RS6 2013 Midnight Blue S5
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  13. #13
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    I'm not going to do anything outlandish - been there done that. There's well over $100,000 in my Skyline engine alone, and when you've sunk that much into an engine, every little odd noise makes you nervous!

    Just going to start the mod route down to where a lot of member's cars are at now. The car has a bit of roll in long sweeping curves - not nearly as much as most cars, but enough so that I ordered the Hotchkis kit. Need to get the rear suspension settled per the DRC fix thread. Then on to the exhaust, etc. The RS6 is interesting because it's not a car you really want to radically change, but there are enhancements, and although Elevens' car is closest to what I have in mind, I'd rather do something that's truly unique, if it really only means a couple different things.
    Das Silberkugel - Eurocharged Stage 2/MTM/Level 10/Hotchkis/Koni/H&R
    2015 Ducati 1299S Panigale
    2014 Ducati Multistrada Granturismo

  14. #14
    Registered User mi021le's Avatar
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    ok well for just driving enjoyment without spending to much... sway bars and down the line coil overs, shell drive amazing. just go strait to coil overs.. brakes are fine. but get red pads. the rns-e is a must. exhaust comes before all power mods. intakes are cool and great to hear, but finding a tuner to tune them is hard. and the intakes do change ur fuel curve just enough that ull get slower till u re tune for them and get the power it unleashes. heat rap EVERYTHING. lol. intakes and exhaust. and if u want instead of coolers just get the Wagner vents or something and dump the fogs. i like it better without them but to each his own. the stock inter coolers are good until ur upgrading turbos... or if u live in the middle east. lol. thats what id do if id have to start again. hope it helps.

    and def dump the ambers and get euro tail lights or leds.
    03 rs6 dahlback 461 awd hp 530 tq. 12.2 118 gone
    01 rs4
    Rs6 avant loba 6sp

  15. #15
    Registered User Brav's Avatar
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    the pressure lag from larger ICs would be immeasurable..
    03 RS6 | Daytona Gray on black | KW V3 | Rotiform 19x10 Wheels | REVO ECU | MTM TCU | 170k miles and counting..
    "Some people play hard to get... I play hard to want."

  16. #16
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    The Milltek catback is way louder than the SE exhaust. Way

    Quote Originally Posted by speedtrapped View Post
    I have the wagners, with upgraded turbos, amazing quality. Just a milltek catback won't require new tuning, and I may get flamed, but the sound even with non resonated is pretty close to SE. Ask me how I know, even better, I have dahlback 3" DP's mated to dahlback 100 cell racing cats, finished with milltek non resonated, throatier but not by much. Def get meth, and spend the $ money for gutted DP into milltek, Jerry has a nice stage 2, that when I dis an earlier dyno day with Josh on the set up, made 424/506 at wheels(at time everything else was stock)

  17. #17
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    1. Is this "Nistas" old car?

    2. I have had my RS6 for over 3 years. The Milltek non-res is way louder than the SE exhaust. No question at all. Its almost too loud for me.



    Quote Originally Posted by kismetcapitan View Post
    interesting notes about the ICs. It's possible to take the route that Subaru has done (their IC is mounted on top of the engine, talk about heat soak galore!!!) - water spray onto the IC. Meth injection is supposed to cool down the intake charge anyways, and you can tune for the fuel properties of methanol (stoich for meth is 6:1, it doesn't require much oxygen), although you have to know exactly how much you're injecting.

    My car's VIN is 904912. The Eurocharged reflash was done last summer; I have Jerry's number which the last owner gave me. I have a Rosstech but need a Windows computer, which is being shipped to me from Korea. I need to get the handheld programmer so I can upload reflashes without yanking the ECU and mailing it out.

    It's very interesting to hear the opinion that the Milltek catback isn't much different than the SE! Maybe I'll look into straight pipes
    , the E39 M5 crowd often leaves the stock downpipes and cats, and then do straight pipes for a catback.

    How much does the Level 10 valve body rebuild help in terms of handling power? That will be the limiting factor. People have done 6-speed swaps; I wonder why no one has looked into swapping a C6 auto transmission - that unit is apparently good enough to handle 700bhp.

    I don't think I'll end up with anything significantly better than what most people here have done; I have no plans to upgrade turbos, fuel system, etc to go for serious power - I spent the better part of three years doing that on my Skyline, and I think I got that out of my system. I want to work on the handling mostly, extract a bit more power, and get the car looking and sounding mean

    In addition to my exterior mod ideas, I just came up with another one - a battery relocation setup without doing the tray, etc....a custom LiFePO4 battery wired into a donut shape that will plop into the stock spare tire well. Just need to calculate how many cells I need.

    Well, it's a beautiful Saturday; going to go get the car detailed, then get the Hotchkis bars installed and do the DRC suspension fix so that my rear doesn't sit up so high anymore. A car just isn't mine until I've added my personal touch to it!

  18. #18
    Registered User JSRS6's Avatar
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    You don't need a windows computer.
    Avus RS 6, RNS-E/BT/RVC, Eurocharged/MTM, SuperSports, PSS9/Hotchkis, SS Lines/EBC Reds, FMU/BMC, Sportec vents, 007's, 9500ci, Black Optics/Headlights/Trim/Rims, CC; coming soon: stage 3 snow meth

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