Audi Tuning | VW Tuning

We just added a new VW to the ACHTUN!NG line-up!!

Soon to be ACHTUN’D…

Audi’s (B8) A4 2.0T was appropriately the next best vehicle to add to the Achtuning line-up. While we had been considering another vehicle purchase for the shop for quite some time, the stars aligned again just a few days before the 2010 WaterWerks event and we took delivery of this Premium Package, Ibis White Avant. Someone must have told Audi we work best under pressure!

This A4 will be the platform we use to launch our new “Hartmann GT Performance Series” tuning program which we hope to be able to roll out very soon. In short, Hartmann Performance Products including brake, suspension, exhaust, ECU, and engine upgrades will be available in 3 separate packages.

With only two days to prepare for the 2010 WaterWerks event, we figured we’d start small and go with the Hartmann GT-1 Series Performance Tuning Program – an APR ECU upgrade, sport springs, 20″ Hartmann Wheels, and performance brake pads with stainless-steel brake lines. While the GT-1 Series mod list is short, it’s easy to see how small subtle changes can make such a big improvement!

Stay tuned for details later as we roll out more information on the Hartmann GT Performance Series Tuning Program!

It’s been a crazy, hectic couple of weeks! With a very successful WaterWerks weekend behind us, we are now focusing on our move (yep, still going on) as well as getting ready for the next 5, yes FIVE wheel containers – all expected to arrive within the next month or so. But first, let’s rewind a sec and let you know what we’ve been up to these last couple of weeks. Some of our in-house projects were kept under wraps until the WaterWerks event so those of you who attended this last weekend’s show will know exactly what projects we’re talking about.

One week prior to the WaterWerks show, the stars aligned and we were able to get our hands on Audi’s V8-FSI R8. The car arrived with only 2000 miles on the clock and looked stunning with it’s Meteor Gray paint and color-matched side blades. The first order of business was taping up the rear-end to protect the paint surface from our dirty hands and get that rear end off.

We removed the factory exhaust system to make way for the STaSIS version which replaces the single muffler setup used on the OEM system with a with a dual muffler design incorporating a “X” style crossover. This allows a small portion of the exhaust pulses from opposing cylinder banks to cross over and create a pressure depression for the next pulse coming through the exhaust. This effect helps create power by reducing back pressure pulses behind the engine to negative levels. Tubing diameter on the STaSIS exhaust is 10mm larger than the factory system reducing back pressure and enabling greater flow capability than stock. Minimizing back pressure and increasing flow allows the engine to “breathe” easier resulting in peak gains of 18HP and as much as 40HP at other areas in the power-band according to STaSIS. And the sound… It’s just incredible!

As well as increasing the flow of exhaust gases, allowing the engine to take a deep breath by way of a high performance intake system was a must so we made a call to Carbonio and asked them to over-night us their carbon intake. Installation was a breeze and very straight forward. Not only are we adding a few more horses with this upgrade but we’re further dressing up the already gorgeous engine bay.

We decided we wanted to continue the carbon fiber theme outside the car so we swapped out our color-matched side blades for a set of carbon blades. Just two-days before the WaterWerks event, we were ready to show it off front and center for our booth.

Completion of Jon’s “RS4 Conversion” project is in sight, with the VF Engineering supercharger kit installed and the car running. Over the next few days we will be doing some data-logging for VF to make sure everything is running as it should. Some other minor tweaks are being worked out and then Jon should be ready to drive this to his new home in Santa Clara, CA.

The stock intake manifold is completely replaced with the roots type MP90 Eaton supercharger, mounted with VF’s in-house CNC machined aluminum bracket system. The unit is positioned in line with the original serpentine belt which is replaced with a longer OEM belt. The key to this design is that the OEM active-spring belt tensioner remains fully functional and eliminates belt slip or the need to manually tension the belt.

While we ran into a few small snags during the installation process, over-all we are very happy and impressed with the quality of the parts included in the kit, and from the support we’ve received from VF Engineering.

An order was also just placed to Status Racing for a set of carbon kevlar backed Ring seats which come with FIA approval since Jon intends to track this car regularly. We’ll see if we’ll have this ready for Son of Quattrofest!

Wrapping things up as I type this. Details to come very soon.

If you’ve been following Jon’s “RS4-Conversion” build then you will be pleased to see it getting closer to its final stages of completion. For those of you who are just tuning in, here’s a small re-cap of what Jon’s been up to with his 2004 Audi S4.

Last winter, Jon’s Imola Audi S4 sat in our parking lot in stock form on Hartmann HRS4-252 Wheels. The B6 S4 was a “dream car” for Jon but at this point, he had no clue what he was about to get himself into…

Seven months later and by the time WaterWerks 2008 rolled around last summer, Jon had added European-spec headlights, Stasis/Ohlins Motorsport coil-overs, a Stasis differential, APR exhaust, H-Sport rear sway bar, and a new Oettinger front bumper with Audi S6 LEDs grafted into them. The Hartmann rollers were also swapped out with a forged version of the same style.

With all the exterior changes being made, Jon wanted to do something about the interior’s wood-grain that he hated so much. After removing most of the interior trim pieces, Jon sent them out to get custom-wrapped in carbon fiber. The finish product is an absolute stunner and compliments the motor sport theme Jon is striving for.

Tragedy struck in February of 2009. Just when everything seemed to be moving forward with Jon’s project, he came out one morning to find his car had been vandalized! Every exterior panel of the S4 would have to be re-painted if not replaced altogether due to key marks, scratches, and dents. One of the rear quarter panels had so much damage that since a section of the body would need to be cut to accommodate a new rear quarter panel, the decision to go wide body came across Jon’s mind. At this point, most would just start over with a clean slate, tearing apart their project to recover most of the additions the car received during ownership, and either sell them off to begin work on a completely different car or pick up another, cleaner version of the previous… Remember, this is Jon’s dream car so letting it go was tougher than he could imagine. But unlike most, Jon decided to use this incident as a stepping stone to begin what most would say is a waste of money, time, and energy – enter the decision to completely transform this 2004 Audi S4 into a B7 (2007+) Audi RS4!!

Body panels are relatively interchangeable from B6 to B7 chassis, but not a 100% direct fit. That’s why Jon’s S4 ended up at JMI Motoring in Arlington, WA. Known for their quality body work, including a couple of past Achtuning B5 S4 wide body conversions, Jon’s S4 had been at JMI for the last few months getting a complete body make-over! Rear quarters were cut out and new RS4 wide body versions were welded in place. All four doors were swapped out for the newer versions off the RS4 and the front, wider fenders were a bolt-on affair. An aluminum RS4 hood, front and rear bumpers, grille, trim, and lighting were also updated from the newer bodied Audi RS4.

After a 4-point cage found its way in the back-half of the car, JMI finished up the build with a full Porsche Speed Yellow respray. They re-installed the S6 LEDs in the factory RS4 bumper and shaved all the door locks and bumper markers to achieve a smooth, final look.

Jon didn’t want to just look the part with this extreme exterior transformation of his car. He also wanted to make sure that the car performed as well if not better than the car it emulated – with performance modifications already in place to give Jon a good start, a few extra “goodies” were needed to really set the tone and put any naysayer in their place… That’s where we come in.

JH Motorsport’s equal-length, coated headers and down-pipe are a complete replacement of the restrictive factory components and will allow the 4.2L V8 to breathe freely.

… And JHM’s Stage 4 ceramic/kevlar hybrid clutch disc and aluminum light-weight flywheel will shave half the weight from factory components and allow severe beatings under pressure, which we expect Jon will be putting this car through!

With those components in place, we were able to begin the final stage of this extreme project and look forward to its completion. Enter the VF Engineering roots type Eaton MP90 supercharger. Reported to push the S4′s V8 to the limits, we hope to see just under 500 whp!!

Updates to follow as we continue the VF Supercharger install…

It certainly won’t be as quick a build-up as our A3 project but we anticipate this to be a fun endeavor nonetheless! A big thanks go out to the Pignataro VW guys for taking good care of us.

Delivery!

With a very limited allotment of TDI Golfs in the US, unfortunately not all the bells and whistles were available to us, factory xenon lights for example being one of the options we were sad we couldn’t get. Despite that, what is provided in this two-door, fuel-economic package is more than we bargained for and we couldn’t be happier with what we ended up with.

First order of business: (Note he’s still busy on the phone!! And thanks Pignataro for not drilling into the bumper!!!)

The interior is money! “Beefy” bolsters and a “grippy” fabric really keep you in place. The updated dash and steering wheel have a nice look and feel to them. And a plug n’ play iPod (with Zune option at dealer) dock lets you immediately play tunes from your personal library without any programming whatsoever.

No plans as of yet for the TDI engine. We’re breaking it in mildly with a short daily commute while we get used to the (more mild then we are used to) power delivery. 60-miles in and we’re easily keeping mpg’s in the mid-40s.

Wheels, suspension, and a few european-spec accessories will likely find their way on the car in the coming weeks. As always, stay tuned here or on our website (and now Facebook) for updates.

Jon continues to accumulate parts for his “RS4-Conversion” project. With a huge exterior transformation and interior upgrade behind him, the B6 S4′s power train will now get some much-deserved attention!

Details about the build will be shared once we begin work in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, we’ll continue drooling over these parts…

Bob was back in town, and with the changing weather it was time to outfit his Audi B5 RS4-conversion with a set of winter wheels and tires. Taking advantage of an easy-to-clean style, as well as one that will still show-off those massive Alcon brakes, it was decided Hartmann’s brand-new HTT-256-GS wheel would be the winter gear of choice.

The Hartmann HTT-256-GS Wheel is 19×8.5″, with a wheel offset of 38mm. The widebody required the use of H&R 15mm spacers front to back to get the wheels positioned correctly beneath the car.

Introductory sale pricing is exclusive to VWVortex, Audizine, and Achtuning.com subscribers so be sure to mention “introductory 10% off sale pricing” when you call to order the new Hartmann HTTRS!

Hartmann HTT-256-GS
* 19×8.5 et38 – List Price: $285 | Introductory Sale Price: $256

Jon and I went up to JMI to pick up his S4 now that the majority of the exterior work is complete. Jon’s 2004 Audi S4 has been completely transformed and now takes on the shape of the B7 Audi RS4. This transformation took on the look of the bull-dog-stanced, newer generation Audi RS4 by replacing both front and rear fenders, front and rear bumpers, all-4 doors, hood, trunk, headlights, and tail lights – all of which can ordered right over your local Audi parts counter. Much credit goes to JMI for an incredible job making everything fit right!

This close-up picture of the front bumper shows careful, clean integration of S6 LED driving lights on the B7 Audi RS4 front bumper.

H&R wheel adapters allow Jon to fit the Porsche-fitment Work VS-XXs he picked up at a steal.

Front bumper installed and fits nicely!

Jon also has a set of 18×10 Volk Racing Wheels he intends to run both front and back, and having the car on the lift made test-fitting that much easier. Clearance is going to be super tight back behind the wheel up front but we’re happy to see it’s going to work!

Despite it’s “almost finished” appearance, there’s still plenty to do to complete what Jon has in store for this incredible project. Alcon big brakes are next and some tires are enroute for the Volks. There’s even a new surprise planned for under the hood… We’ll of course keep you posted.