RE: Litchfield Audi RS3: Driven
Discussion
A 25% increase in power and more importantly torque, no chance on Audi honoring the warranty.
Initially it seems like 500hp+ is a bit excessive for a 'compact saloon' but looks bigger to me than an original B5 A4. So a rough 130hp more than the B5 RS4 is not exactly a huge increase I guess.
And it needs bigger exhausts, 8" across twin exhausts for a transverse 2.5L 5Pot isn't enough.
Initially it seems like 500hp+ is a bit excessive for a 'compact saloon' but looks bigger to me than an original B5 A4. So a rough 130hp more than the B5 RS4 is not exactly a huge increase I guess.
And it needs bigger exhausts, 8" across twin exhausts for a transverse 2.5L 5Pot isn't enough.
Paracetamol said:
I had serious issues shaking off a standard 400 bhp RS3 on Yas Marina Circuit at this week's track day (in my SLS GT). saying that the Audi brakes soon gave up the ghost and the driver had a massive off...he felt that the standard fit Pirellis and brakes were not up to 400bhp..so never mind 500bhp!
So do think about a brake update before adding this mod
Did he have the ceramic brakes? I think that sounds like an essential (factory fit) upgrade for a RS3 or TTRS if you plan on tracking them and/or upgrading.So do think about a brake update before adding this mod
. . warranty well and truly voided . . also the twin clutch gearbox will not take the power . . that is why more powerful Audis now use the 8 speed auto . . how do I know? . . I had a gearbox error after 1 month then a full fail which required all out and new plates in my last RS3 within 3 months of brand new . . engineers admit its close to the limit . . I could not trust the gearbox again so traded it in straight away when an RS6 came in . .
fido said:
gofasterrosssco said:
Excellent value in comparison the £2,200 + vat M135i Birds remap from last week 
On the contrary I'd prefer the peace of mine you get with the Birds warranty - not really that keen on paying for new engines and gearboxes.wideangle852 said:
. . warranty well and truly voided . . also the twin clutch gearbox will not take the power . . that is why more powerful Audis now use the 8 speed auto . . how do I know? . . I had a gearbox error after 1 month then a full fail which required all out and new plates in my last RS3 within 3 months of brand new . . engineers admit its close to the limit . . I could not trust the gearbox again so traded it in straight away when an RS6 came in . .
Is the ‘box in an RS3 hugely different to that in the R8?RumbleOfThunder said:
It bloody obvious Audi won't cover the mods so not necessary to state this in the article.
Why? Mountune don't invalidate the Ford warranty on their Fiesta upgrade, Brabus is fine for Mercedes? Hirsch didn't invalidate the SAAB warranty with theirs either. You're missing the point. If Audi invalidate your entire warranty, will Litchfield pick it up instead? I mean the whole thing, not just the bits their mods are attached to. It's important to know that your £45K+ car could be effectively in free-fall if you have any issue at all with it, which would normally be covered by the manufacturer. Also important was the comment in the article that you could pay £1600 and get a potential 172mph car which still retains the manufacturers warranty and service intervals.
RacerMike said:
The reality is, being a Lichfield remap, it’s probably only recoded 509bhp on their dyno. On anyone else’s it’s probably ‘only’ about 470 which would be a bit more realistic. Even so....that’s a lot in an A3....
Are they renowned for over exaggeration? I thought they were one of the most respected aftermarket tuners.It's a good point on warranties.
There are different levels of cover e.g.
1. Standard remaps with no warranty at all (usually £500-£700)
2. Remaps / Tuning boxes with supplier warranty (£500-£2000) e.g. Superchips, AC Schnitzer, Birds etc
3. Remaps with manufacturer warranty e.g. Mountune, Brabus, BMW M Performance (MPPSK and MPPK as in my car)
Worth checking on all options before committing.
507bhp feels like Litchfield are taking the engine quite far, but look at the RS6 stage 1 remaps to 700+ bhp!
There are different levels of cover e.g.
1. Standard remaps with no warranty at all (usually £500-£700)
2. Remaps / Tuning boxes with supplier warranty (£500-£2000) e.g. Superchips, AC Schnitzer, Birds etc
3. Remaps with manufacturer warranty e.g. Mountune, Brabus, BMW M Performance (MPPSK and MPPK as in my car)
Worth checking on all options before committing.
507bhp feels like Litchfield are taking the engine quite far, but look at the RS6 stage 1 remaps to 700+ bhp!
wideangle852 said:
. . warranty well and truly voided . . also the twin clutch gearbox will not take the power . . that is why more powerful Audis now use the 8 speed auto . . how do I know? . . I had a gearbox error after 1 month then a full fail which required all out and new plates in my last RS3 within 3 months of brand new . . engineers admit its close to the limit . . I could not trust the gearbox again so traded it in straight away when an RS6 came in . .
Well this was bad luck rather than the gearbox not being able to cope.I had between 250-300 dragstrip launches in my 450hp TTRS over 30 months of ownership from new. 335hp upto 450hp and abused from day 1. Quite a few owners started fitting hybrid turbos to the engines with power up at 525-550 with no gearbox issues either. 550hp (From a baseline 335) seemed to be the threshold for the S-tronic box on the first Gen TTRS/RS3's.
This car is a 400hp designed engine and has been strengthened again over the outgoing model, tuners in the States are already running 575-600hp through the engines and S Tronic boxes on the standard turbos and E85 fuel without any issues. Some cars are already doing 10.5 1/4 mile times with just merely a tune, intercooler, downpipe and some E85. As Iain says in his article, this new engine is on another level.
I'd say a 50% increase in power would be no problems at all on this new engine. Look at the 2.0t Golf R's and S3's, 295hp engines up at 525hp without the need for upgrading. For those mentioning warranty with respect to Litchfield's tuning package, it's the risk you take. A 25% increase in power and you would fully expect Audi's engineering tolerances in all mechanical components to tolerate that easily.
I'd say this RS3 even at 600 will be fine, 507hp no problems at all. In addition, there are ways around the TD1 warranty flags incase you're unlucky and you blow your engine or gearbox.
Edited by Leo-RS on Wednesday 20th December 11:32
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