[Tvk1991]

Originally Posted by veezhun

The car looks awesome! Have you done the tyre upgrade already? What specific tyre models are you looking for?

Thank you, the tire upgrade has been done with 235/45/18 from Continental Premium Contact 6, it was a quick purchase as my front tires were completely worn out due to this car being FWD oriented AWD. The stock setup was 235/40/18 Continental sport Contact.

[veezhun]

Originally Posted by Tvk1991

Thank you, the tire upgrade has been done with 235/45/18 from Continental Premium Contact 6, it was a quick purchase as my front tires were completely worn out due to this car being FWD oriented AWD. The stock setup was 235/40/18 Continental sport Contact.

Thank you for sharing the details! It would be great if you could post a pic with the new tyres please. How has been the experience so far? Any real ground clearance improvement and any issues faced at all?

[megazoid]

Originally Posted by Tvk1991

Enrolled myself for the KUN Track day this month at MMRT.
I was the only AMG in the morning session joined by GLC43 AMG later on the day.
The session started at 10:00 am and spotted lot of exotic cars like Aventador SVJ, Huracan Sterrato, Porsche 911 Turbo, Urus and Cayman GT4.

Did close to 9-10 laps along with lot of 340i.
My first time in track and the experience was exhilarating and motivated me to buy a Porsche or a BMW M car in the near future.

Will look forward for more track days in the near future.

Great to see the car on track. Saw one being driven at an autocross recently and have been a fan ever since. What lap times were the cars doing at MMRT? Especially the A35 and the 340is? btw, your car looks smashing in white.

[Tvk1991]

Originally Posted by megazoid

Great to see the car on track. Saw one being driven at an autocross recently and have been a fan ever since. What lap times were the cars doing at MMRT? Especially the A35 and the 340is? btw, your car looks smashing in white.

I did not check the lap timing done by the car, but it was a fun event compared to AMG drive which I participated in COASTT. I was able to do multiple laps but at a point after 6+ laps I felt slight brake fade so rested and again went for 4 more laps.

In few places I was able to constantly be behind 340i but the M2 and M4 were able to easily go past us.

[Tvk1991]

Seeing the complexity on working with the newer generation cars for tuning, I was desiring to have a car which is more mod friendly on the performance aspect.

Budget: 15-20l

The cars considered were :

E89 Z4 (N54) - first consideration

N54 with a stage 3 turbo upgrade can see will push upto 550hp, but spoke to several tuners they all told the engine is not reliable and could not see much people doing an stage 2 or 3 for the N54 engines in India.
I can see in overseas there is a huge community in tuning these N54 engine (particularly 335i E90).

Audit TT or the VRS:

This was suggested by most people due to plenty of support and parts availability in this platform. Was able to see many TT cars with AWD achieve 10-11s 1/4 mile timing in Dragy app.

I was slightly hesitant to go for one more 4 cylinder car and made up my mind to look for V8, I6 and V6 cars.

Saw few RS5 V8 l, the cars were priced between 30-35l but offered good VFM according to me seeing the fact the extinction of NA cars.

Concerns were not much power can be extracted from the NA cars only way is the supercharger route. The cost of brake pads and rotors were too expensive for my expectations.

So decided to miss it and started looking for anything interesting.

Audi A6 3.0TFSI:

Few threads in Team-BHP made me more interested in the supercharged V6 and their potential. Found couple of cars but the air suspension scared me a lot to take a call on this. The cars were price between 9-12l and the past owner history in most cases was not very clear. But other wear and tear parts are priced reasonably and easily available.

One day while casually browsing Team-Bhp found an Audi S4 for sale in Banglore with TN number plate. Immediately had a long discussion and being a fellow enthusiast he was very transparent and the deal was finalised before I saw the car. Fixed a date (1 week after) flew to Banglore did the transfer and took delivery of a less driven Audi S4 2014.

Advantages: 2x+ price of Audi A6, but no concerns of Air suspension. Damage of Air suspension replacement itself was roughly 3-4l.

Spoke to a acquittance (now a good friend) who owns an S4 before the purchase decision on what to look out for and the price. He gave me good tips on what should I see in the car and rough idea on the pricing.

ODO:49k kms
Additional add ons: CF interiors and optional sports differential.
Immediate concerns: Tires has to be changed before driving to Chennai. The owner told this very clearly in the initial call we had that all tires had bumps due to very less usage.

Left headlight(bulbs) was kaput and was not working.

Spare tire torn completely due to age I believe.

It seems the owner did not use the car much for the last 2+ years (seeing the last tire alignment sticker on the windshield) and only take it out once a week for short drives.

Called several tire dealers in Banglore based on google reviews and found the store Tyre Empire had Conti SC 6 for the size 245/45/18 the stock ones were 245/40/18 I upgrade it to a profile higher as told by a fellow owner he has been running with the upgrade for a long time. The price of the tires was the best when compared to Chennai (top tire shops). Rs.65,000 (for 4 tires with balancing, 2024 YOM).
The tire shop guy told I need to replace all 4 struts for alignment, I found the suspension to be manageable. He offered to replace it himself seeing I just purchased the car used (slightly felt he tried to upsell as they were pushing for decarbonisation immediately when I refused Suspension change). Told him I do not need alignment and did the replacement and balancing alone and was out in 1 hour.

Due to no spare tire, selected a better ones of the 4 old tires and took it for safety till I replace the spare donut wheel.

By the time I took delivery (4:30pm) and did the replacement the time was (7:00pm). Decided to stay in Hosur due to non functional left headlights and tiredness of driving in Banglore traffic.

Drove slowly to Hosur and reached the hotel by 9:30 pm, thanks to Banglore traffic and me not able to take the Electronic City flyover had to crawl through to reach the hotel in Hosur.

Had a nice dinner at 10:00 PM and went to sleep and planned to start at 5:00 am. Woke up at 6:30 am and started the drive back home, reached home by mid day 12:30.

The car was different to whatever I have driven before it pulls like an NA car with a whine above 4k rpm till redline the whine sound is addictive and exhaust note was quite good for a stock car compared to the current stock cars sold in the market . Each shift in higher rpm is with a slight burble from the exhaust if shifted in redline.

The suspension was in a more softer side when compared to the ones found in my A35. The seats were similar to the Alcantara types seats offered in my A35.

Initial assessment:

Waited for an auspicious day to finish Pooja and get blessing from temple used it for couple of days before sending the car to VAGMASTERS in Chennai to check the car.

They gave me a feedback that few suspension parts has been replaced by the previous owner and the suspension (struts) and rotors can last another 1 year (<10k kms) understanding my very less usage.

They told the car is well maintained and less used for its age. Did general service with all filter change and oils with the change of headlight bulbs both side the total damage was 28k.

Been using the car for 600km after the service and enjoyed driving it. This car has better ground clearance when compared to the A35 AMG and handles bad roads better due to softer suspension.

Did a 0-60 time in Draggy and got 5.0 s. Could not do multiple runs and was happy to see this time in my first launch itself.

Mods planned:

I have decided to focus minimal on the exterior mods and to do stepwise for the stage wise engine mods. I believe the total budget for max and easier mods possible in this car is around 5-6l (480-520bhp) maximum not including good suspension and brake upgrade . Few threads in team-bhp itself explaining the mods done 3.0 TFSI engines, I plan to go with the same path.

With all my money spent on going above my budget in buying the car, decided to wait for few months before I spend anything on the car.

Thanks to my family for being supportive in my crazy decisions.

[ChargedGarage]

Congrats on your purchase! Little surprising that you have purchased an S4 when you already own a sporty AMG sedan but of course nothing can match the instant torque of a supercharged car.

Having owned an S4 in the past for 2 years, would suggest that you look into a few maintenance items before you set off on modifying it.

Considering that the car is already 11-12 years old at this point, it would be a good idea to change fluids such as differential, haldex and the most rare but quite important one is the supercharger oil. Most of these fluids are considered lifetime fill as per Audi but the tropical conditions we live in subjects the car to some real torture and if you plan to enjoy the car for another 3-4 years then it will be necessary.

The intercoolers inside of the supercharger are a common failure point and will start to leak coolant. Would recommend to take them out and get them tested for leaks and replace them as necessary. If they've never been changed since new then it will most definitely be screaming for a replacement at this age.

Would recommend upgrading to a better cooling system from AMS or Merc Racing before doing any mods as the car will overheat easily even in stock form and doing any power increasing modification will just overwhelm the car and the car will start to perform worse than stock due to overheating.

Finally, the gearbox is a known point of failure as age and kms increase so make sure that you get it repaired once the symptoms are there instead of waiting for complete catastrophic failure.

Other than requiring extensive maintenance, the S4 is an amazing car and the torque down low is quite addictive. Best of luck for your ownership and feel free to connect with me if you want any other advice

[Tvk1991]

Originally Posted by ChargedGarage

Congrats on your purchase! Little surprising that you have purchased an S4 when you already own a sporty AMG sedan but of course nothing can match the instant torque of a supercharged car.

Having owned an S4 in the past for 2 years, would suggest that you look into a few maintenance items before you set off on modifying it.

Considering that the car is already 11-12 years old at this point, it would be a good idea to change fluids such as differential, haldex and the most rare but quite important one is the supercharger oil. Most of these fluids are considered lifetime fill as per Audi but the tropical conditions we live in subjects the car to some real torture and if you plan to enjoy the car for another 3-4 years then it will be necessary.

The intercoolers inside of the supercharger are a common failure point and will start to leak coolant. Would recommend to take them out and get them tested for leaks and replace them as necessary. If they've never been changed since new then it will most definitely be screaming for a replacement at this age.

Would recommend upgrading to a better cooling system from AMS or Merc Racing before doing any mods as the car will overheat easily even in stock form and doing any power increasing modification will just overwhelm the car and the car will start to perform worse than stock due to overheating.

Finally, the gearbox is a known point of failure as age and kms increase so make sure that you get it repaired once the symptoms are there instead of waiting for complete catastrophic failure.

Other than requiring extensive maintenance, the S4 is an amazing car and the torque down low is quite addictive. Best of luck for your ownership and feel free to connect with me if you want any other advice

Thank you for your advice, I was not aware of the superhcharger oil.

I have already decided to change the Heatexchanger (High capacity one from Mercracing), X34 intake, Water pump upgrade from Mercracing, PCV Valve complete repair kit with replacement (upgraded ones) before tuning the car.

Initial plan was to go for the max pulley upgrade ratios but seeing our climatic situation and heating issues thinking to go for the mid size upgrade in the future.

The main reason for buying the car is to tune it to safe limits and enjoy the car as the A35 AMG was very complicated to tune.

Yes you are right on the power delivery, The AMG is more fun in city roads but the S4 is more suited for highway runs.

[Tvk1991]

19,000 kms update:

Service & Repairs:

As mentioned in my previous update, the windshield had developed a crack during my summer road trip. I had it replaced at Sundaram Motors. The total bill was around ₹72,000 for the windshield itself and under ₹20,000 for the labor. Insurance covered everything except ₹3,000, which I paid out of pocket.


Annual Service

Routine oil service was completed and I wanted them to check the brake pads, was informed that the pads have life for 5000 kms at least. However, just four weeks later during my solo road trip Chennai to Tiruchendur back and forth, I got a brake wear warning. I was 200kms away from home and continued my trip with sedate driving for the last leg.

The front brake rotors and pads had to be replaced. Slightly surprising, considering this is my second pad change and first rotor replacement in just 16,000 km. Interestingly, the rear brake pads are still original—no replacements yet. I’ll double-check my previous bills to confirm this.

To and Fro Trips done:

Chennai-Pondy (Twice in the last 1 year)
Chennai-Sivakasi (Twice)
Chennai -Banglore (Once)
Chennai - Tiruchendur (Once) - Solo drive
Sivakasi - Cochin













Tire Upgrade review:

After my Stage 2 tune, I upgraded the front tires from the stock Conti SportContact 6 (235/40/18) to PremiumContact (245/45/18). Since the switch, I’ve been experiencing excessive slip and torque steer, especially under full throttle in Sport+ mode. I regret not sticking with SC5/SC6 or trying out Michelin PS4s or PS5s instead.
It’s hard to say if it’s entirely the tires or partly the tune that’s causing the instability.

I still have two unused 235/45/18 PremiumContacts, and I’m seriously considering selling them off to invest in something better suited for the power.

Made a stupid decision in hurry to replace the tires with no proper research. Lesson learnt good tires are mandatory to put down the power. To wait/ search around/ speak to multiple dealers in different state to get the right tires for the best experience. Blindly went with the dealer recommendation. Was focusing more on the increased ride height then performance


Detailing session:

It’s been two years since I took delivery, and there are a couple of minor scratches on both bumpers. I’ve never been a fan of full-body PPF, especially on a white car due to the risk of yellowing. I prefer feeling the car’s metal and opted for ceramic coating when new.

Recently, I got the front bumper repainted and had a Graphene Coating applied with a 5-year warranty by my regular detailer for last 5+ years - CarCares. They shared a short video after the job—looked great.

Door handles has lot of nail marks currently it was removed a bit during the last detailing session, and I plan to apply PPF only on the handle areas going forward.






CPC upgrade:
I sourced two CPC units—one identical to the original, and another recommended by a European tuner for remote tuning. Each cost about USD 270. I now have a backup unit ready, and I’m planning to proceed with the tune within the next 3 months.

Happy to see a fellow BHPian’s beautiful thread for A35. At last got come company in Team-BHP for the baby AMG. @iliketurtles looking for more updates on your ride on regular basis.



Audi S4 Update:

Have driven 3k kms since delivery and no niggles are issues period. The Sport Contact 5 in Audi is excellent and I personally feel more confident in pushing the car when compared to the A35.
Other major reason could be the rear wheel biased AWD setup in the S4 compared to the A35.

Performance and cosmetic upgrade parts collection under progress currently.

Procured:

1. Jackal Motorsports Tuning module with all stage maps.
2. 034 carbon fibre intake kit -
3. Merc racing V2 heat exchanger
4. German performer solution-Supercharger service kit contents attached as picture
5. Supercharger compressor OIL OEM
6. Carbon fibre diffuser with brake light
7. Rs4 Quattro grill aftermarket - awaiting delivery.















Parts planned:

1. Updated dual pulley with belt (pulley size and ratio not recommended) - tuner recommended size- 192/57.
2. Throttle body upgrade 80mm 034 motorsport
3. Upgraded water pump 100/150- this was ordered along with the heat exchanger but got cancelled due to non-availability.
4. Downpipe upgrade and decat
5. Alloy wheel upgrade (the current wheels have some bend as per the last tire store where I got the tires replaced)

Will install all the procured parts and run a stage-1 tune for 1 years and will slowly collect the parts as above for the next 1 year to go for stage 2+ dual pulley setup.

Cosmetic mods are to go with Front grill replacement with Rear carbon fibre diffuser and full repaint to remove all the wear and tear marks around the car.

Looking forward to see the reaction of my son after the tune in the S4 as he always believes A35 is more faster and superior compared to S4 when we go for fun rides with both the cars.

During friendly pulls the A35 mostly used to outrun the S4 due to better gearbox and early power delivery.




Final Thoughts (Supercharged vs Turbocharged):

The S4 continues to perform brilliantly and fits my driving style perfectly.
I genuinely enjoy its character—much more than the A35 AMG in Highways.

That said, the A35’s newer interior and upgraded audio system win over the family every time. So, it’s become the go-to car for family drives, while the S4 remains my choice for solo runs.

[iliketurtles]

Originally Posted by Tvk1991

Routine oil service was completed and I wanted them to check the brake pads, was informed that the pads have life for 5000 kms at least. However, just four weeks later during my solo road trip Chennai to Tiruchendur back and forth, I got a brake wear warning. I was 200kms away from home and continued my trip with sedate driving for the last leg.

The front brake rotors and pads had to be replaced. Slightly surprising, considering this is my second pad change and first rotor replacement in just 16,000 km.

Lovely write-up, TVK! Slightly surprised to see that you’ve had two brake pad replacements in 16,000 kilometres. Could be that your right foot is heavy How much did the front pads and rotors cost you?

Originally Posted by Tvk1991

After my Stage 2 tune, I upgraded the front tires from the stock Conti SportContact 6 (235/40/18) to PremiumContact (245/45/18). Since the switch, I’ve been experiencing excessive slip and torque steer, especially under full throttle in Sport+ mode. I regret not sticking with SC5/SC6 or trying out Michelin PS4s or PS5s instead.

It’s hard to say if it’s entirely the tires or partly the tune that’s causing the instability.

I’d wager a bet and say it’s the tyres for sure. I still have the factory SC5 and I’ve had zero slippage under hard acceleration. My only grouse with the tyres is that it’s noisy as hell. But for sure, Pilot Sports 4S/5’s are the way to go with this. Gotta have tires capable of putting down the power.

Originally Posted by Tvk1991

I still have two unused 235/45/18 PremiumContacts, and I’m seriously considering selling them off to invest in something better suited for the power.

Do it. It’ll not just add some surefootedness to the way the car delivers power, but increase your own confidence in the car when you’re going for it. The longer you allow that lack of confidence to ferment in your mind, the more it’ll become a permanent thought in your head.

Originally Posted by Tvk1991

Looking forward to see the reaction of my son after the tune in the S4 as he always believes A35 is more faster and superior compared to S4 when we go for fun rides with both the cars.

I like your son, he’s my kinda guy. I’m rooting for him!

Originally Posted by Tvk1991

That said, the A35’s newer interior and upgraded audio system win over the family every time. So, it’s become the go-to car for family drives, while the S4 remains my choice for solo runs.

Good that you’ve got that duality of choice. As long as the family is happy, that’s all that matters. The S4 looks very tasty as well, and I’m sure both these rides will serve you very well for years to come. I’m just glad there are enough nutty people deliberately opting for sedans in a sea of SUVs.

[Tvk1991]

Originally Posted by iliketurtles

Lovely write-up, TVK! Slightly surprised to see that you’ve had two brake pad replacements in 16,000 kilometres. Could be that your right foot is heavy How much did the front pads and rotors cost you?

Thank you the damage was 50k+20k roughly including taxes.

Originally Posted by iliketurtles

The longer you allow that lack of confidence to ferment in your mind, the more it’ll become a permanent thought in your head.

You are right, will do it before the CPC tune to really feel the increase in power.

Originally Posted by iliketurtles

I like your son, he’s my kinda guy. I’m rooting for him!

Will post a reaction video on this.

Originally Posted by iliketurtles

Good that you’ve got that duality of choice. As long as the family is happy, that’s all that matters. The S4 looks very tasty as well, and I’m sure both these rides will serve you very well for years to come. I’m just glad there are enough nutty people deliberately opting for sedans in a sea of SUVs.

I've always been a sedan person, but I'm gradually leaning toward powerful SUVs. With frequent road dig-ups in the city, getting to the smoother roads often means going through rough patches—and that's becoming increasingly tiresome.