primetime

I insured mine for $1500 when I sent it to APR each time... I don't remember where I got that figure, either on one of the boards or I called the dealer... I need to order some gaskets and such for the blower in the next week or so, I'll ask while I am there...

GR8-LIFE

wow, $2K to flash a chip?

primetime

I beleive they give you lube, err I mean a loaner as well... LOL

FINA4

I paid $1740 out-the-door for my local STaSIS dealer. Most of the other STaSIS flash owners have paid about the same price, so $2000 sounds a bit deep.

NWS4Guy

If flashing chips is so easy, feel free to start up your own business

helix139

Let's be clear. You can't void your warranty by having your ECU reflashed by APR or Stasis. Your dealer can refuse warranty coverage if a part fails as a result of the tune, but they can't deny you coverage on, say, a defective suspension component because of an ECU tune.

That said, even a Stasis tune is not covered by Audi. The warranty on that is through Stasis. If you get the Stasis tune at a Stasis dealer and Audi denies coverage on a problem, Stasis should step in and foot the bill for the repair. A couple of key things, though:

1) When getting the Stasis tune, Audi has knowledge of it.

2) If Audi blames the Stasis tune and Stasis blames Audi parts, neither of them will be the ones left holding the bag while it is hashed out.

3)If Stasis goes belly up, the Stasis warranty means nothing.

Just a few things to consider.

GR8-LIFE

actually, flashing ROM chips is part of what I do as a Software engineer

I dont know about AUDI but Its not difficult to flash a corvette chip for octane levels, Compression ratios for FI applications or whatever you are looking to do. The equipment isnt expensive either, probably around $300-$400. A know many who have played around with it after the warranty period. And you dont remove chips to reprogram them unless you outsource the work which in this case, the dealer seems to be doing

Chip reconfiguration data for vettes is widely available on many of the forums. Ya I know, this is an audi forum, not corvette, But I'm just saying . . .

primetime

You can really change the compression ratio with a tune?

helix139

Audi's ECU is significantly more sophisticated. There's 1024-bit encryption between the ECU and the OBD-II that won't allow a flash using the traditional tools. All of APR's flashing tools had to be developed and built in-house and the ECU cracked for this and there is no way to do the initial flash other than to pull the ECU and bench flash currently. There's a high initial investment for APR and that is where the cost comes from. That, and lack of any competitors.

Yes, in this case the dealer is outsourcing it to Stasis, and APR is the only company to have cracked the ECU for the 3.0TFSI, so Stasis is outsourcing to them.

S4PNW

My Stasis Tune was $1620 out the door and I did get a loaner from Monday PM to Friday PM