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With the S cars, the badge on the back tells you far less than the engine underneath it. An S4 might be a 2.7 biturbo V6, a 4.2 V8 or a supercharged 3.0, three quite different cars wearing the same two characters, and which one you have decides everything that follows. The naturally aspirated V8s in particular respond far less to software than the forced induction cars do, and we would rather tell you that before you book than afterwards. Working out exactly what you have is the first thing we do.
Audi S3, S4 and S5 Tuning and ECU Remapping
S3, S4 and S5 – every generation
With the S models, the badge on the back tells you much less than the engine under the bonnet. An S4 might be a 2.7 biturbo V6, a 4.2 V8 or a supercharged 3.0 – three completely different cars wearing the same two characters. Working out which one you have is the first thing we do, and it decides everything that follows.
Audi S3
Four distinct eras, and they respond very differently:
- 1.8 20v turbo (1998-2001) – 209PS, later 224PS. Bosch ME7.5.
- 2.0 TFSI (2006-2008) – 265PS and 350Nm. Bosch MED9.1.
- 2.0 TFSI, MQB (2013-2014) – 280PS or 286PS, 380Nm.
- 2.0 TFSI, later MQB (2013-2018) – 301PS, and 310PS with 400Nm on the last cars.
The 301PS and 310PS cars look identical on paper to most owners but run different Simos ECU versions – 18.1 and 18.10 – and that matters for what can be read and written.
Audi S4
- 2.7 V6 biturbo (1997-2001) – 265PS manual, 254PS automatic, 400Nm. Bosch ME7.1.
- 4.2 V8 (2002-2005) – 344PS and 410Nm. Naturally aspirated, so gains are modest and honest expectations matter.
- 3.0 TFSI supercharged (2008-2016) – 333PS. This is the one most people mean, and the one that responds best.
Audi S5
- 4.2 V8 (2007-2011) – 354PS.
- 3.0 TFSI supercharged (2009-2014) – 333PS.
The V8 cars are wonderful engines but naturally aspirated, so software alone gives far less than the supercharged cars. We will tell you that before you book, not after.
The gearbox is half the car
Most of these run a DL501 seven-speed S tronic, or a DQ250 or DQ381 on the S3. Leaving the gearbox standard on a tuned car is the most common thing we see – sharper shifts, higher clamping pressure and revised shift points often change how the car feels more than the engine map does. See our DSG and S tronic gearbox tuning.
What we will tell you
We do not publish a single headline figure for “an Audi S”, because across these three models and their generations it would be meaningless. Send us the registration and we will tell you exactly what we hold for your car, what is realistic, and when the honest answer is that it is not worth doing.
Every car is mapped and verified on our own 2000bhp Mustang 4WD linked dyno at our workshop in Maidstone, Kent, with 30 years’ trade experience and 2,200+ reviews behind us. Stage 1 tuning is covered by our 30 day money back guarantee.
Looking for the RS instead? See Audi RS3 tuning or RS4 and RS5 tuning.
Send us your registration and we will tell you exactly what we can do for your car.
What Stage 1 typically gives
The figures below are typical Stage 1 results for each engine. Yours is confirmed on our own dyno before and after – that is the number that actually matters, and it is why we measure rather than quote.
| Engine | Standard | Stage 1 | Gain | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S3 1.8T 20v | 210PS | 260PS | +50 | 270 → 380Nm |
| S3 1.8T 20v | 225PS | 260PS | +35 | 280 → 360Nm |
| S3 2.0 TFSI | 265PS | 310PS | +45 | 350 → 410Nm |
| S3 2.0 TFSI | 300PS | 365PS | +65 | 380 → 480Nm |
| S3 2.0 TFSI | 310PS | 365PS | +55 | 400 → 480Nm |
| S4 2.7 biturbo | 265PS | 315PS | +50 | 400 → 480Nm |
| S4 4.2 V8 | 344PS | 364PS | +20 | 410 → 440Nm |
| S4 / S5 3.0 supercharged | 333PS | 400PS | +67 | 440 → 520Nm |
| S4 3.0 TFSI (B9) | 354PS | 400PS | +46 | 500 → 550Nm |
| S5 4.2 V8 | 354PS | 375PS | +21 | 440 → 465Nm |
| S5 2.9 V6 biturbo | 355PS | 400PS | +45 | 500 → 550Nm |
| S4 / S5 3.0 TDI | 347PS | 380PS | +33 | 700 → 840Nm |
This is the whole argument in one table. The naturally aspirated 4.2 V8 S4 and S5 gain around 20PS. The supercharged 3.0 in the same badge gains 67PS – more than three times as much, from the same work. If you have a V8 S4 or S5 and someone has quoted you big numbers from software alone, be sceptical.
The diesel S4 and S5 are worth a mention too: only +33PS, but +140Nm, which is what you actually feel on the road.
Questions we get asked
I have a V8 S4 or S5. Will a remap transform it?
No, and be wary of anyone who says it will. A naturally aspirated 4.2 V8 has very little to give from software alone, while the supercharged 3.0 wearing the same badge responds several times more strongly to identical work. If you have been quoted a large gain for a V8 on software only, ask where it is supposed to be coming from.
Should I tune the gearbox as well?
On these cars it is often the bigger change. Most run a DL501 seven speed S tronic, or a DQ250 or DQ381 on the S3. Leaving the box standard on a tuned car is the most common thing we see, and revised shift points, sharper shifts and higher clamping pressure often alter the character more than the engine map does.
How do I find out which S3 I have?
Send us the registration. The S3 alone runs across four distinct eras, and the later MQB cars that look identical on paper run different Simos ECU versions, 18.1 and 18.10, which changes what can be read and written. We confirm that before anything is agreed.
