Has anyone had a new tune flashed for the removal of the intake flaps? My intake is shot and the going rate is 4k+ from Audi. I've tried going the used route but the outcome was the same, broken flaps. I have a spare gutted intake and want to give it a shot with a tune. Apr and jhm are the most common although they don't have anything specific for flap deletes. Any first hand experience would be appreciated.

 

I don't own one, but honestly this feels like you are headed performance subtract route. I doubt there are any tunes for flap deletes either. Too small a market, and that is still a performance minus. The flaps are there fundamentally to widen the torque band. Long runners for low RPM's, short for high. Sure if you want to max ultimate speed, short runners are it. And, you will be walked by many a ride in those low RPM's. W12's do it without flaps stock, but they have more cubes, and they only rev to around 6K so would set up manifold lower in RPM range anyway. How they drive too--torque is right there, right now, but then fast to its modest redline. Recall too S6 V10 is down at 420HP, at least rated (if not sandbagged). So those might be detuned a bit stock, but not the S8 flavor. Figure if power was there, factory would likely do it. To find it, likely has to be at yet higher RPM's, but then this really is not the true R8/Lambo V10 either crank set up wise.

Audiusaparts is about $3300 BTW, though shipping may be a factor for this kind of stuff. A 4.2 one I bought back at a grand + (flap issues...) came on a mini pallet. I found two quickly on Ebay used, both with what looked like flaps complete, for under a grand. They say S6, but audiusaparts says S6 and S8 are same part #. Honestly, first just find listings and put on your watch list. I find the D3's are now old enough that within a few days I often get a preemptive lower sale offer for D3 or W12 items. Anyway, they are there, less than a grand before any haggling, price cuts, etc. Be sure it is warrantied briefly so you can get it and check flaps thoroughly with it loose.

 

Ive already bought two used intakes, even the updated M or P variant, in both cases the flaps were broken. Just flushing money down the toilet. In essence I screwed up big not buying one new for 1500 years back when I first heard some rattling. I don't have any flap codes currently but that rattle has intensified and I won't wait till a plastic chunk gets stick in a valve. And a new intake at 4k all in is a bit too much to swallow considering I just did new HPFP's, injectors, front strut, control arms and still need to remedy a CAT issue and an oil pan leak.

In all honesty I would gladly sacrifice some performance in the mean time for motor health and longevity. Flap delete is fairly common in the S6 community, and I'm only considering it because that money could be better spent on my W12 or the slew of broken Audi and BMWs I have.