PHILOSOPHY ON MODIFICATIONS:

If you use information from my site to influence a decision read on to know where I am coming from.

1. I have accepted that making modifications to my S4 could lead to warranty claim denial should some of these modifications lead to component failure. If you want to play you have got to be willing to pay.
2. My goal is to safely improve the qualities of the S4 without unduly risking reliability. Therefore some of my choices have intentionally not pushed the performance envelope.
3. I do not like a harsh riding car.
4. I do not like a loud sounding car.
5. I do not like a car that screams “Look at me.”
6. Some of these modifications were done to set my car apart from the other S4’s out on the road.
7. I am generally unable to notice minute changes in performance of the car.
8. My S4 is a daily driver. I do not drag race, unless provoked. I do not autocross. I have attended a driving school. I value having four doors and a large trunk. I own an S4 because I wanted a 4-door sport sedan with exceptional safety features.
9. I have made some mistakes while modifying my car, learn from these.

What mod comes first?

I just bought a stock S4, I want to do some upgrades, what should I do first?

This is a pretty common question. Here are my recommendations based on my 3+ years of ownership and upgrading experiences.

First protect your car. Window tinting, a clear bra, and mud/splash guards will go a long way towards keeping the material condition of your car good. Use high quality synthetic oil, that engine compartment gets hot.

Install a boost gauge, this handy little device will give you great insight into how often you are calling upon your turbos.

But what about performance modifications? This is an area that everyone will have a different take on, but here are the things that I have found to impart the most noticeable change. 1. An upgraded suspension. 2. A different exhaust. 3. A performance ECU.

1. The suspension change is felt all of the time. Cruising on the open roads you feel much more of the imperfections of the road you are driving on as a result of the stiffer suspension. During cornering there is less body roll and the car feels more solid. The car doesn't dive as much as with the stock suspension during hard braking.
2. Depending upon the exhaust you get you may hear this all of the time, which could become annoying. There is probably little performance change in the car with the exhaust, but the sound that it makes when it is running can change dramatically. Be sure you can live with the exhaust you get.
   
3. A 'chip' will give the car some added power that you will notice under moderately hard acceleration. The car already accelerates well with the stock chip, but it is when you stomp on the pedal that you can tell the difference that an aftermarket chip brings.

FlyBoy@MyAudiS4.com