Stasis ECM & exhaust...done
10-02-2011, 07:35 PM
#1
Audi Forum - Posts like an A3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: VancouverBC
Posts: 57
Stasis ECM & exhaust...done
Hi folks.
I finally have my Q5 back after having the StaSiS ECM tune and exhaust installed. There was interest from a few here on hearing more about it so I thought I would post some initial observations, though I have had the Q back for only a few days and have not put a great deal of mileage on it in that time. The results, though, feel pretty good. I will stress that these thoughts are from a rank amateur, so you won't see a lot of concise tech info here.
Installation:
As I am sure many of you know, the ECM needs to be pulled and is sent to the Stasis shop in West Virginia for the tune mapping...it can't be done at your dealer. Good turn around time if you are in the States (4 -5 days), but out of country service is obviously hampered by Customs. The Stasis sales guys are good to deal with and seemed knowledgable about the product (not always the case), though I never could get a clear answer on whether performance gains from the exhaust were included with or in addition to the 50hp gain posted for the ECM tune. Their website is unclear, and there were different answers depending on who you talked to.
I had Capilano Audi in North Vancouver do the work. Great service there, and I would recommend them to anyone thinking about the work in this area. They charged the same prices as posted on the Stasis site (CA$) as opposed to the other certified Stasis dealer in Vancouver whose quoted prices were much higher for reasons I cannot begin to explain...though my quote was from some time ago so I suppose it's worth checking again. My Q was dropped off on a Monday and picked up the following Wednesday. The time should have been the quoted 5 days but was stretched out by the good, thorough, bomb-checking people at Customs during transit, and by Stasis obviously being confused by Canadian geography and sending my ECM to Calgary (?) before it arrived here...lost a day there. CapAudi had given me a new A3 as a loaner so the wait was just fine. The exhaust was delivered immediately so it conveniently got installed while the ECM was in W.Virginia. This was the first Q5 they have done so my fingers are well crossed.
ECM tune:
Beyond any technical jargon...that i'm not qualified to give...it feels good. Performance gain? Well yes, I believe so, though being in the city I haven't had opportunity yet to really push it. It feels stronger (if a bit less abrupt) off the line and the upper end pull feels better, though we all know that this is not transforming the Q into a Cayenne Turbo or anything. I have ADS and, if anything, the difference in throttle response and shifting (between Auto & Dynamic settings, say) seems less pronounced after the tune. Not sure if this is a software mapping thing or what, but it may mean that those who spent the cake on ADS will be less pleased. Not sure yet. Does the tune mean that previous adaptation is lost? Don't know. Maybe this is part of it. I'm going to try some rogue (but safely located) 0-60 times this week to see what I get. Not a big deal to me as the difference between the two engines and the tune are not massive, especially in my day-to-day driving course, but I'd like to know.
I haven't tried an AWD dyno test to see what the actual numbers are, but this would be more of a test for interest's sake. The new Q feels good, though I think I may find out where I can get this done so I can compare against published numbers.
Post-tune shifting was asked about: that stock jerkiness at low speeds. Has the tune helped? I would say yes. Feels smoother, though it is still there. I never found it to be an issue, or particularly bad in the first place. Does the tune even include code for the transmission behaviour? I realize as I write this that I should have asked.
No comment on the reputed improved fuel efficiency yet.
Exhaust:
This was a big gamble...for me, anyway. I have no experience in these things (first mods ever) so I searched around beforehand for sound clips from the various manufacturers that would allow me to compare. I did NOT want a boom-boom-look-at-me result, I just wanted something a little deeper and more satisfying than the stock 4-banger exhaust sound. There is not much in the way of useful info or clips out there, it is all very subjective (or ***-quality), and I had nowhere to go to listen to modified exhausts for comparison purposes. Everything I did come across online (and elsewhere) indicated that the Stasis exhaust note was the most subtle of the lot, so there I went and held my breath.
In short-term summary, the results seem good. I am getting used to the difference and first thought I'd made a big mistake, but after a few days I'm liking it more and more. The exterior noise is not obnoxious and certainly deepens the note nicely. There is a bit of resonance in the cabin but this is mostly when the engine fires up...once it warms up it settles down well. There is a bit of drone when you pull off the gas at low speeds, but little. I saw many complaints about this "drone" from S4 owners but have no way to compare...I'm guessing they mean cabin resonance. A bit of added vibration under certain circumstances as well. Whether it takes time for the parts to "settle in" I have no idea. I might just be getting used to it over the relatively quiet stock system. I remember seeing that tridentnyc was a sound engineer of some kind so to you, trident, I would suggest that you find an installed system and check it out before you buy...though you might be going only for the ECM tune. Check it out if you can, though, and I hope it doesn't bother you as much as the side mirrors: the tune doesn't affect these.
I know this mod is a bit superficial (though you do get some small performance gain...5 - 8hp, I believe), but it was the one regret from my decision to go with the 2.0T...the stock exhaust note was just not satisfying to me.
The other lack of clarity on the Stasis website is that, if you go to the Q5 exhaust "more info" section, they talk about tunable resonators that allow customization of the sound. Since I confirmed with Stasis that they have only one exhaust package for the Q5, I made the assumption that this came as part of the package. Duh. It doesn't. Too bad, as I would have really liked this as I was looking for some subtlety in the exhaust note that could be tweaked to my liking. Stasis admitted that this is an unfortunate lack of clarity and they should update their site. Gee, thanks Stasis. The tunable exhaust is available on only some models like the S4 package.
I wonder if there are alternate isolation hangars or something else that could reduce the cabin resonance. It's not bad, but I would take it if i could get it. As I said, a raw rookie is typing here so comments are welcome.
Cost:
Higher than most comparable options out there...due to warranty, etc. I assume. $1495 each for the tune + exhaust. Factoring in dealer install time, freight, customs duty, tax, etc. My final invoice was about $4200. That is, as I am sure everyone will agree, a LOT, but I knew that going in so no real surprises.
Regrets?
Nope, not today. I like how it all feels, price notwithstanding, and liking it more as the days go by. Happy that I don't have to hide the tune from my dealer, and that the warranty is what it is. There have been comments about the value of the warranty if something becomes a finger-pointing exercise between Stasis and Audi, but it seemed worth it. We'll see. If I did this again I would have split the work: get the ECM tune first (that was the primary thing for me), then go for the exhaust (or anything else) after if you feel the need. The exhaust is a good result for me, not great, and the performance gain, as we know, is small...so this should not be a big first-off consideration. That's about all I can say at this early point.
Hope these comments are of some value to those out there considering the work. For me, I will now be resisting the urge to have more work done...as many here have said, this mod thing is addictive. Do I need the suspension pack with sway-bar? Oh, I know I don't need it, but am I suddenly thinking about it now that the can is open? Yep. Is it a waste of money until such time as I don't need the extra stroller space and get an S4? Probably. We'll see about that, too.
I'll post more as I experience more if anyone is interested. Oh, and dear Audi, if you would just drop the 3.0T in there it would make the work I just paid for, and this review, and any important points i missed, and my sore typing fingers, unnecessary.
Sheesh.
I finally have my Q5 back after having the StaSiS ECM tune and exhaust installed. There was interest from a few here on hearing more about it so I thought I would post some initial observations, though I have had the Q back for only a few days and have not put a great deal of mileage on it in that time. The results, though, feel pretty good. I will stress that these thoughts are from a rank amateur, so you won't see a lot of concise tech info here.
Installation:
As I am sure many of you know, the ECM needs to be pulled and is sent to the Stasis shop in West Virginia for the tune mapping...it can't be done at your dealer. Good turn around time if you are in the States (4 -5 days), but out of country service is obviously hampered by Customs. The Stasis sales guys are good to deal with and seemed knowledgable about the product (not always the case), though I never could get a clear answer on whether performance gains from the exhaust were included with or in addition to the 50hp gain posted for the ECM tune. Their website is unclear, and there were different answers depending on who you talked to.
I had Capilano Audi in North Vancouver do the work. Great service there, and I would recommend them to anyone thinking about the work in this area. They charged the same prices as posted on the Stasis site (CA$) as opposed to the other certified Stasis dealer in Vancouver whose quoted prices were much higher for reasons I cannot begin to explain...though my quote was from some time ago so I suppose it's worth checking again. My Q was dropped off on a Monday and picked up the following Wednesday. The time should have been the quoted 5 days but was stretched out by the good, thorough, bomb-checking people at Customs during transit, and by Stasis obviously being confused by Canadian geography and sending my ECM to Calgary (?) before it arrived here...lost a day there. CapAudi had given me a new A3 as a loaner so the wait was just fine. The exhaust was delivered immediately so it conveniently got installed while the ECM was in W.Virginia. This was the first Q5 they have done so my fingers are well crossed.
ECM tune:
Beyond any technical jargon...that i'm not qualified to give...it feels good. Performance gain? Well yes, I believe so, though being in the city I haven't had opportunity yet to really push it. It feels stronger (if a bit less abrupt) off the line and the upper end pull feels better, though we all know that this is not transforming the Q into a Cayenne Turbo or anything. I have ADS and, if anything, the difference in throttle response and shifting (between Auto & Dynamic settings, say) seems less pronounced after the tune. Not sure if this is a software mapping thing or what, but it may mean that those who spent the cake on ADS will be less pleased. Not sure yet. Does the tune mean that previous adaptation is lost? Don't know. Maybe this is part of it. I'm going to try some rogue (but safely located) 0-60 times this week to see what I get. Not a big deal to me as the difference between the two engines and the tune are not massive, especially in my day-to-day driving course, but I'd like to know.
I haven't tried an AWD dyno test to see what the actual numbers are, but this would be more of a test for interest's sake. The new Q feels good, though I think I may find out where I can get this done so I can compare against published numbers.
Post-tune shifting was asked about: that stock jerkiness at low speeds. Has the tune helped? I would say yes. Feels smoother, though it is still there. I never found it to be an issue, or particularly bad in the first place. Does the tune even include code for the transmission behaviour? I realize as I write this that I should have asked.
No comment on the reputed improved fuel efficiency yet.
Exhaust:
This was a big gamble...for me, anyway. I have no experience in these things (first mods ever) so I searched around beforehand for sound clips from the various manufacturers that would allow me to compare. I did NOT want a boom-boom-look-at-me result, I just wanted something a little deeper and more satisfying than the stock 4-banger exhaust sound. There is not much in the way of useful info or clips out there, it is all very subjective (or ***-quality), and I had nowhere to go to listen to modified exhausts for comparison purposes. Everything I did come across online (and elsewhere) indicated that the Stasis exhaust note was the most subtle of the lot, so there I went and held my breath.
In short-term summary, the results seem good. I am getting used to the difference and first thought I'd made a big mistake, but after a few days I'm liking it more and more. The exterior noise is not obnoxious and certainly deepens the note nicely. There is a bit of resonance in the cabin but this is mostly when the engine fires up...once it warms up it settles down well. There is a bit of drone when you pull off the gas at low speeds, but little. I saw many complaints about this "drone" from S4 owners but have no way to compare...I'm guessing they mean cabin resonance. A bit of added vibration under certain circumstances as well. Whether it takes time for the parts to "settle in" I have no idea. I might just be getting used to it over the relatively quiet stock system. I remember seeing that tridentnyc was a sound engineer of some kind so to you, trident, I would suggest that you find an installed system and check it out before you buy...though you might be going only for the ECM tune. Check it out if you can, though, and I hope it doesn't bother you as much as the side mirrors: the tune doesn't affect these.
I know this mod is a bit superficial (though you do get some small performance gain...5 - 8hp, I believe), but it was the one regret from my decision to go with the 2.0T...the stock exhaust note was just not satisfying to me.
The other lack of clarity on the Stasis website is that, if you go to the Q5 exhaust "more info" section, they talk about tunable resonators that allow customization of the sound. Since I confirmed with Stasis that they have only one exhaust package for the Q5, I made the assumption that this came as part of the package. Duh. It doesn't. Too bad, as I would have really liked this as I was looking for some subtlety in the exhaust note that could be tweaked to my liking. Stasis admitted that this is an unfortunate lack of clarity and they should update their site. Gee, thanks Stasis. The tunable exhaust is available on only some models like the S4 package.
I wonder if there are alternate isolation hangars or something else that could reduce the cabin resonance. It's not bad, but I would take it if i could get it. As I said, a raw rookie is typing here so comments are welcome.
Cost:
Higher than most comparable options out there...due to warranty, etc. I assume. $1495 each for the tune + exhaust. Factoring in dealer install time, freight, customs duty, tax, etc. My final invoice was about $4200. That is, as I am sure everyone will agree, a LOT, but I knew that going in so no real surprises.
Regrets?
Nope, not today. I like how it all feels, price notwithstanding, and liking it more as the days go by. Happy that I don't have to hide the tune from my dealer, and that the warranty is what it is. There have been comments about the value of the warranty if something becomes a finger-pointing exercise between Stasis and Audi, but it seemed worth it. We'll see. If I did this again I would have split the work: get the ECM tune first (that was the primary thing for me), then go for the exhaust (or anything else) after if you feel the need. The exhaust is a good result for me, not great, and the performance gain, as we know, is small...so this should not be a big first-off consideration. That's about all I can say at this early point.
Hope these comments are of some value to those out there considering the work. For me, I will now be resisting the urge to have more work done...as many here have said, this mod thing is addictive. Do I need the suspension pack with sway-bar? Oh, I know I don't need it, but am I suddenly thinking about it now that the can is open? Yep. Is it a waste of money until such time as I don't need the extra stroller space and get an S4? Probably. We'll see about that, too.
I'll post more as I experience more if anyone is interested. Oh, and dear Audi, if you would just drop the 3.0T in there it would make the work I just paid for, and this review, and any important points i missed, and my sore typing fingers, unnecessary.
Sheesh.
10-04-2011, 09:16 PM
#2
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 1
Re: Stasis ECM & exhaust...done
I am glad you posted your report. I've been wanting a Q5 with Stasis upgrades for almost a year and there is very little information on whether or not the improvement is significant. I finally ordered a Q5 with the 2.0T so that I could upgrade. It will be here in 9 weeks so I'd love to see any more observations you have as time passes. Upgrading is difficult for me as nearest Stasis is 3 hours.
bfrankindy@gmail.com
bfrankindy@gmail.com
10-05-2011, 08:02 AM
#3
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 145
Re: Stasis ECM & exhaust...done
Thanks for the update! Was wondering how things turned out. Glad to see you're happy with it!!
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