oc63rag

I'm picking up an 01 A8L later this week after searching for about one month. I also looked at a few S8's. After driving both models I realized the "feel" of the car is quickly apparent. My understanding is that the differences are: brakes, engine, slightly different trans ratios and suspension. Are there relatively simple mods that can be done to close the gap in feel between an A8 and an S8? When driving the S8, the throttle response and transfer to the wheels seems instant where the A8 seems to have a slight lag. Is this due to the trans ratios?

PaulW

You bought a luxury cruiser. The S8 is a large car that thinks it's a small ricer, and it will beat almost anything out there.

Gear ratios - Can't be done.

Brakes - Expensive to do

Engine - Can't be done (it could but would be cost prohibitive)

There is one mod that you could do....I think it is Mpollen that bought a transmission control unit from an 02, he is selling it for $200, and it would give you "Sport" mode. It will only work on an A8, he has an S8.

I suggest that you contact him.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/147177.phtml">My 01 S8 Sport Mode Upgrade</a></li></ul>

PaulW

<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/147246.phtml">Get it from Ed, I was wrong.</a></li></ul>

oc63rag

Thanks for the reply. That is exactly what I was looking for. Just for clarification, that TCU will work in an A8, correct?
I just looked up the TCU information. Would using the ross-tech software to recode the trans provide the same effect?

PaulW

I know somebody bought one for their S8, but it won't work in the S8. The A8 will work in the earlier A8 (not known to be tested, but I will bet you it will work in an 01 with no problem.

I can't remember for sure who it was, but the link above was for somebody who bought an ECU. I'm sure they will chime in....they wanted to sell it.

Best bang for the buck.....and just so you know, there is a group of guys with 01 S8's buying new TCU's to do the upgrade right now....list price is $1340, they are paying $900 from Carsen at Riverside Audi. I would jump on a TCU from an 02 or 03 for $200.

oc63rag

If I'm asking a question you've already answered, I apologize ahead of time but I want to make sure I understand this correctly.
Buying the ross-tech software and recoding the stock A8 tcu will not give me the result I'm looking for. I do need to get an S8 tcu with sport mode?
I found this link which seems to say it can be done with just the recoding of the A8 tcu:http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/auto_transmission/codingtransmission.html

PaulW

You need an A8 TCU from an 02 or 03. They all came with sport mode.

Once you get it, you recode it for an 01. See my link above with all the pictures.

There is somebody here who bought one for his S8, but since it was from an A8, it wouldn't work. You have an A8, so you need one from an A8....

The reason being is that they have different rev limits, different gearing, etc. So you get an 02 or 03 TCU from an A8 or A8L, and put it in your A8L.

oc63rag

Got it now. Thanks for the clarification.

ohbw

Agree with Paul about engine and gearing -- no can do. But I made a huge improvement in the feel of my car changing the front rotors to the ECS floating rotors, the pads to PBR ceramics, and the suspension to H&amp;R coilovers. This all cost less than $2K.

None of those will make your A8 faster off the line. All will make it a more high performance car than the Lincoln Continental Audi delivered us in the stock A8.

PaulW

To disagree....

:-)

Just saying if you get an A8L, do you really want H&amp;R's? If that was the case, why not get a S8 from the get go?

On your sub woofer enclosure, did you taper the front of it so it sits flush with the seat back?

Did you secure it in place? If so, how is it secured.

Thanks Brian!