D3 A8 Handling / Brakes

[Somerandomguy]

Mines the same model (2004) and I have been very pleased with the handling, but it does have sport suspension. It will happily buzz round the local roundabouts at speed with a feeling of confidence.

The only time I had cause to be concerned was actually driving slowly in the rain in Belgium. A turbo fault kept me in the slow lane bouncing between the deep puddles made from the lorry grooves, but even then it managed very well.

I would love to hear more about the re-map as I am tempted to have one done on mine if I can get the turbo to behave?

[PsYcHe]

Not a huge amount of difference between the sport and standard suspension I thought (my PF D3 had it,FL doesn't), but that may just be me

[Norrs2]

Originally Posted by Somerandomguy

Mines the same model (2004) and I have been very pleased with the handling, but it does have sport suspension. It will happily buzz round the local roundabouts at speed with a feeling of confidence.

The only time I had cause to be concerned was actually driving slowly in the rain in Belgium. A turbo fault kept me in the slow lane bouncing between the deep puddles made from the lorry grooves, but even then it managed very well.

I would love to hear more about the re-map as I am tempted to have one done on mine if I can get the turbo to behave?

I have established mine does have the sport suspension, although with have air suspension, not sure what that means. So glad to hear all the good reports about the handling.

I've driven an A4 and A5 3.0tdi's that have been remapped and they do make a big difference. The mapper I use gives at least another 50bhp, but obviously it's the torque and power delivery that makes the biggest difference and especially complements the auto box.

What's up with your Turbo (Vains coked up?)

[PsYcHe]

All D3s have air suspension. Not sure if it's just a controller difference, or if the actual struts are different between sport and standard.

[sloss]

Originally Posted by Norrs2

I've driven an A4 and A5 3.0tdi's that have been remapped and they do make a big difference. The mapper I use gives at least another 50bhp, but obviously it's the torque and power delivery that makes the biggest difference and especially complements the auto box.

I just don't believe these extravagant claims for re-maps

[HPsauce]

I don't know what you can do with the more recent Audi diesels, I'd expect them to be more highly-tuned anyway, but I had a diesel remapped a few years ago and the results were extraordinary!

It was a lowly Rover 75 2.0 diesel estate, automatic. I think that's a BMW engine of some sort, fairly pokey in standard form and not at all sluggish even with the auto box.

I had it done by Van Aaken (long gone I think) who did an add-on box that is actually (for that car anyway) a relatively simple home user job, effectively "plug and play". But they give you the choice of sending it to you with "standard" setting or letting them fit and "adjust" the settings to best suit your car. I drove down to their place in Crowthorne which was well worth it!

The power and torque increase were massive, nearly 50%. It worked superbly well with the auto box - the power/torque curves matched the gear ratios very well. I could give many a 3-series boy racer a serious surprise at the lights!

Driveability was hugely improved of course. And the most surprising thing: in normal use fuel consumption actually dropped.

You could very easily bypass/disconnect or even fully remove the box when required. And when the car went I sold the box on to another R75 user who had a caravan. He was well pleased with the effect too.

[Norrs2]

Originally Posted by sloss

I just don't believe these extravagant claims for re-maps

No problem with that. But it's a pretty standard stage one increase for the 3.0tdi, whoever maps it, it's just that some deploy cruder methods of achieving it, and results can vary a bit, but 40-50 increase is not 'extravagant' from the cars I've sampled.

[ainarssems]

25-40% increase in turbo diesel is normal depending on engine and tuner.

[HPsauce]

That's what I was told to expect by Van Aaaken. It actually went from about 115 to over 170hp. They did try various levels of tweak and it seemed happy at the top end.

[The_Laird]

Originally Posted by PsYcHe

Well.. I'm sure most of the Scottish contingent can confirm that my D3s have both handled more than adequately when vanishing into the distance.

And even when there's no contact with the ground! There's no doubt that Richrd's D3s handle well enough and often loose the rest of us on a run.

BTW - just realised that my car isn't quite the standard 'poverty spec' FE (see new signature) and, with Richard's help, it should have another toy working this weekend (solar sun roof).