APR Stage 1 ECU tune for 3.0T gas (2015)
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AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 42
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From: New Hampshire, USA
APR Stage 1 ECU tune for 3.0T gas (2015)
Thinking of doing this: APR
Anyone have experience with this? I'd love to see just how much more it opens up. I'm not planning on doing it right away or anything, just considering my options for the future.
Anyone have experience with this? I'd love to see just how much more it opens up. I'm not planning on doing it right away or anything, just considering my options for the future.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 112
Likes: 36
From: Barto, PA
I believe JHM is the only company that offers a TCU tune along with their ECU tunes for the 4L Q7's. It's not the cheapest on the market, but for what you get I believe is most worth the money. They also offer free upgrades to the next stage as well. Be warned though, it takes some getting used to if you want to drive your car "normally" haha. The shifts become very snappy and it wants to just send you through the gears with minimal throttle input, so it may not be for everyone. Took me about 2 weeks to alter my driving habits to adjust to this, but it can be done. When you want or need the car to move though, it'll take off like no-ones business after getting this tune. Using Sport mode is quite a hoot too, bumps the redline to 7200 I believe and will rip through every gear if you mash it.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
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I have APR installed and from a drivability perspective it's been great. I've run it for about 8yrs now and have never had an issue. I purchased JHM's stage 2 tune a few years back but never got around to installing maybe I'll get to it one day.
The reason I never did install the JHM tune was due to JHM recommending I flash back to OEM before upgrading and I've been to two APR dealers and two online remote sessions with APR and one of their resellers and none were able to successfully flash back to stock and all suggested I remove and mail out the ECU to have it done. I haven't found a window in time where I have the time to be without the car so I've just not done it yet.
The reason I never did install the JHM tune was due to JHM recommending I flash back to OEM before upgrading and I've been to two APR dealers and two online remote sessions with APR and one of their resellers and none were able to successfully flash back to stock and all suggested I remove and mail out the ECU to have it done. I haven't found a window in time where I have the time to be without the car so I've just not done it yet.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 561
Likes: 233
From: Virginia
I believe JHM is the only company that offers a TCU tune along with their ECU tunes for the 4L Q7's. It's not the cheapest on the market, but for what you get I believe is most worth the money. They also offer free upgrades to the next stage as well. Be warned though, it takes some getting used to if you want to drive your car "normally" haha. The shifts become very snappy and it wants to just send you through the gears with minimal throttle input, so it may not be for everyone. Took me about 2 weeks to alter my driving habits to adjust to this, but it can be done. When you want or need the car to move though, it'll take off like no-ones business after getting this tune. Using Sport mode is quite a hoot too, bumps the redline to 7200 I believe and will rip through every gear if you mash it.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 112
Likes: 36
From: Barto, PA
I'm considering switching to Jackal this year. The only downside I've found with the JHM (on Stg2+ at least) is my fuel economy on highway cruising dropped 3-4mpg. BUT, having said that, there is POWER-O-PLENTY! I've also found that (especially when towing) that 3200rpm is like a lightswitch, power-wise.. LOL
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 561
Likes: 233
From: Virginia
**** really? So like 17-18 mpg on the highway or worse haha? I just bought an IE 207mm crank pulley over the holidays to get installed when I have the shop flash me to Stage 2. I also have a step colder spark plug set to install too. I was hoping with the pulley, it would help improve mileage a bit since it's nearly half the weight of the OEM one and takes much less effort from the engine to spin. I'm not going Stage 2+ but I'm sure it's not that far off. May need to rethink things if that's the case, I do use this vehicle for vacation trips sometimes and wouldn't like my mileage dropping by that much just cruising.
Post Stg2+, I'm at around 20-22 at best.
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 112
Likes: 36
From: Barto, PA
Ok, that's about what I usually average now. But I'm pretty sure my mileage has been dropping because I have a bad spark plug that needs to be replaced causing misfires from time to time. I also have roof racks that NEED to come off, I just don't have the keys for them cause they came on the car when I bought it. That should definitely help.
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
I have the APR and have driven both APR and the final version Audi updated program on our car. It's not really noticeable around town, but a bit smoother on the highway above 70. i had hoped for a bit more with either power or fuel economy. Some say the Malone provides a better Stage 1 tune. With APR, the DEF fluid consumption is a bit lower compared to the Audi revised tune.