08 Audi S8 Upgrades / Discussion
 

hello all,

just picked up myself a nice 08 Audi S8 5.2L V10 . Now i am one of those people that can't leave anything stock . so what i am wondering was recommended upgrades others have done . Phaff motors down here in Ontario Canada can do custom ECU tuning for it , wanted to definitively do a custom exhaust system . I also can not seem to find much for intakes other than K&N performance filters and then getting some custom intake piping instead of stock maybe silicone . any recommendations for this ? As well i picked up myself a set of Staggered Vossen Rims... i know i will get flamed hard for staggered on AWD but oh well . i was wondering biggest size i can fit. i know factory size is 265 35 20 . the rims are 20" and i was thinking of going with 265 35 20 on front 9.5" rim with a 295 30 20 on rear rim that is a 20x10.5 . let me know your thoughts. don't flame me to bad :)

Here are a couple shots of the car right now.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...e02549eda7.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...99897c67d7.jpg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...2b76f7e26a.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...161f963e8a.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...ffa7e81eab.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...90f90c27b3.png

We are all different so do what you see fit
 

The above said I would personally leave the intake alone and stay away from fitting oiled filter elements as the mafs don't like it, I wouldn't bother with fitting air filters in place of the air filter boxes either as its a hot environment.

As for the exhaust I would fit something along the lines of the un resonated milltech.

Ecu downgrades are imo a waste of time and money, if you can find a tuner that guarantees increase or your money back then go for it otherwise don't bother, the gains if any are just not worth the expense.

Vossen rims yes please 😄

thanks for the input appreciate it. i want to try to make a really clean car. i was not going to get rid of the air boxes i was just going to change up the two intake pipes that run to either air filter with silicone ones or aluminium ones . the ECU upgrade is a custom tune they do and dyno test to get you the best results they specialize in tunes for Audi , Porsche etc . i was thinking for exhaust to take it to a buddies shop get a full custom Stainless setup , not sure what mufflers i want tho want it to look OEM and clean but sound dirty .

Welcome. I deal with Pfaff in Vaughan for my S8 as well. All mine has done is tint, painted front corners, wheels, painted calipers. May do some VagCom tweaking when I get the cable

Here's mine the day I picked it up


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.aud...3b19673a77.jpg

As of this post you are talking about upgrades but actually plan for downgrades. Starting with ECU programming that on an naturally aspirated engine can bring just a few horses in exchange for worst fuel consumption. You will use those horses very rarely and burn more fuel all the time. You will not be able to measure any performance difference, so it will be the same effect as sticking SUPERCHARGED sticker and believing that it works.

K&N filters are downgrade too. Less filtering power, hot air intake meaning less power, noise and MAF's at risk to be oiled and damaged.

As far as staggered wheels go you obviously know that they are ridiculous on Audi with heavier front than rear. So no need to flame you. Just a question: why don't you agree with your own opinion?

well the car is a summer only "show car" and i like the look of the staggered wheels but i don't want to get a tire that won't fit in the rear wheel well. i can not seem to find much information about what people are running . i have seen people say 305's even fit but i am not going that big . the K&N filters i am not big on i was hoping someone else knew of another manufacture who makes a proper kit for vehicle . the ECU upgrade i was told by Phaff is probably the best upgrade for power upgrade for the buck , other than exhaust. I use to be a technician at Audi so i have the software to tweak other things. When it comes to parts though these cars its alittle harder to find , but i love the S8 by far my favourite nothing sounds like that V10

"Show car" is fine if you can afford it, but what is it showing? Ignorance? No. You know that staggered is no go for S8. Than why?

Guys selling ECU "upgrade" told you its the best, besides exhaust. Are they selling exhaust too? Because that won't bring any power either.

Read the sticky on top of p 1 and do some searching. Headed for -'s.
 

Stagger = performance subtract. But have at it; as usual put the big ones on the front to actually increase handling performance but so we can laugh and point Citroen style. It's not that it damages something; it is that any non R8 set up has the motor hung completely in front of the front axle line, and it is a front heavy FWD biased set up in general as an Audi, quattro or not. Inherently a set up for a lot of front push, and reducing relative front tire size is just hurting car's ability to deal with it, even with the S8's 60:40 basic rear re-jiggered split.

K&N = insidious performance subtract. Both posted on extensively and latter debated about 20x. Bosch and Hitachi will appreciate your eventual business, if you find the subtract. Any underhood air idea is a sure fire subtract. It is very warm in there! Model D, M, Charger and a long list of Asian brand V6 owners will appreciate your self handicapping too.

Exhausts: a variety posted on over the years. Easiest is just playing with the exhaust baffles that you haven't identified so far. ...Search... Those are probably a low RPM performance subtract too--as in any typical back pressure reduction on an N.A. motor--but some do nonetheless. Of course they open at higher RPM as designed to increase flow through and high RPM performance. The R8 guys know the trick as well, but a fair number have undone it and found some power return.

Alternate subtract for way less $$: I suppose you could just skip the K&N, pour about 3" of concrete in the trunk and the whole spare well to assist in the stagger handling, slow it down same as the L.T. K&N's and low end exhaust result, and call it good. Way cheaper too for maybe $40 at Home Depot; just do it with dry bags if you want it reversible.

Net and back to serious mode, nothing really known to work for bona fide performance...other than saving the $ to buy a D4 4.0T or S8. Enjoy the car as it stands; already a great ride!

An Audi S8 is to nice of a car in my opinion to be on the road during winter months here in Ontario. What would the point be it would just get coated in salt and **** . Summer only / Show Car i was saying . Why a show car because its a damn nice car and should be shown off whats the issue with this ? And Staggered is personal preference , i worked at Audi for 3 years before my new job. I have been in the trade for over 10 years now. I have seen a lot of "Custom built" and "fully built" cars. With and Without staggered wheels. I have yet to see even 1 car in all my time of being a technician, with an issue due to staggered wheel setups. Not one car had any damage to any bit of the drive line. ECU tuning if done right even on a NA vehicle can be beneficial i have personally seen , driven , and dyno'ed vehicles with this done . I understand you might be trying to help but was that abit rude. Nothing nice to say don't say it ... this is why i usually don't go on forum's alot of **** talkers. Thought this being a Audi Forum would be a bit more refined....

sorry message was not for MP4.2+6.0 thanks for the input