The path to 400bhp

[Error404]

A 3B with 280hp and some better brakes is a really fun car

[s2driveruk]

A 3B with 280hp and some better brakes is a really fun car

Worked for me for years

[LHD_Kid]

For me too... Was great fun...

[simons2]

Still working for me

[hilly82]

maybe thats the way forward, need to sort this pin swap first ..... hate playing with wires!

[AndyP]

Agreed. Get a chip for it first, and then start saving! I ran my 3B with a 260hp chip for years, it not much of an increase but it tranforms the car. Do a health check first though, the chances of it being leak free are slim.

[Monkeymagic]

I'm looking at 270 in my 3b and although I haven't really tested it yet, it instantly feels better. Throttle response is significantly better and gets through to red line smoother.
I've got bigger brakes throughout and polys all round and running on KWs the car feels very together now.

Sent from my MRD-LX1 using Tapatalk

[newsh]

maybe thats the way forward, need to sort this pin swap first ..... hate playing with wires!

You don’t need to do the pin swap to run a stage 1 3B chipset.

[hilly82]

I think im going to try the chipset...... need to sort brakes and suspension and health check as well..... next question where to get chipset?

[stocious]

I think im going to try the chipset...... need to sort brakes and suspension and health check as well..... next question where to get chipset?

Talk to spink , I ran his chips needed a new map sensor also, was very happy , just don’t touch the pins on the chips , static messes them up

[M_GORDON]

Yesss. 280hp lightly 3b with good suspen and brakes, is a funny car.
not otherwise an aby...

[A1quattro]

hi all im looking into getting stage 1 remap ,i own a RR 20V its currently totally standard car ,milage 158k all runs sweet. i feel that it needs [i want ] a few more bhp and poss a decent exhaust system poss milltek [but dont like the idear of drilling 4 holes threw boot floor to fit there system ] incl de-cat this i beleave adds around 20bhp i will be happy with around 280bhp with the remap / chip like many of you guys have said ,nice usable power .. . ive owned many quattros overs the years also i rallied one for over 10 years. i have recently 2025 finished restoring a p1 impreza took 3 years .Late 2024 i was offerd the quattro so now own 2 real classics, the impreza and audi are simular weights , p1 1300kg /280bhp RR around 1350kg/220bhp .comparing the 2 cars p1 feels much more lively ,the throttle is lighter steering more agile gear change quick and tight ,brakes beter ,also of coarse has the classic boxer exhaust note [but not loud].i love both cars and yes the audi was designed in the very late 70s the impreza early 90s i just want to give the RR a helping hand ,also i plan on sorting out the gear change,brakes and hopfelly the stiffer throttle . looking for advise on best place to buy the parts for st1 remap

[K Simmonds]

hi all im looking into getting stage 1 remap ,i own a RR 20V its currently totally standard car ,milage 158k all runs sweet. i feel that it needs [i want ] a few more bhp and poss a decent exhaust system poss milltek [but dont like the idear of drilling 4 holes threw boot floor to fit there system ] incl de-cat this i beleave adds around 20bhp i will be happy with around 280bhp with the remap / chip like many of you guys have said ,nice usable power .. . ive owned many quattros overs the years also i rallied one for over 10 years. i have recently 2025 finished restoring a p1 impreza took 3 years .Late 2024 i was offerd the quattro so now own 2 real classics, the impreza and audi are simular weights , p1 1300kg /280bhp RR around 1350kg/220bhp .comparing the 2 cars p1 feels much more lively ,the throttle is lighter steering more agile gear change quick and tight ,brakes beter ,also of coarse has the classic boxer exhaust note [but not loud].i love both cars and yes the audi was designed in the very late 70s the impreza early 90s i just want to give the RR a helping hand ,also i plan on sorting out the gear change,brakes and hopfelly the stiffer throttle . looking for advise on best place to buy the parts for st1 remap

I ran a very early (1990) S2 in various states of tune for nearly ten years and did all my own work so am very familiar with tuning 3B's and what's required, 15 years ago the parts were still simple to find used, unfortunately it's not quite so easy now.

First I would seriously consider getting a nice quality light weight 2.75" SS turbo back exhaust system fabricated from scratch for any of the K24 turbo options, you could even go 3" but there's not much point unless you want the car future proof for say a K24 7200. Make it as simple as possible, just one pipe with no Y sections or cats and a simple straight through back box will help the engine breath more freely.

You won't gain a massive amount of power without getting into custom remaps but it will help the turbo spool up quickly and perhaps free up 10bhp using generic 1.4 Bar peak software. It'll also help reduce EGT's which will extend the life of the turbo and oil.

I went 3" as far as the 2.75" Jetex back box on my 3B as I ended up running full RS2+ spec, the car was surprisingly quiet but you could add another straight through box in the tunnel if you're worried about noise or booming.

Bare in mind old Audi exhausts are seriously heavy so you'll gain a healthy weight reduction by keeping it a simple, I probably saved at least 30kg on my car just on the exhaust, got the weight down to 1330kg's wet using every weight saving dodge I could come up with. While we're on exhausts the stock 3B EM is poorly designed and really quite restrictive, try and find an RS2 EM or good copy, they are out there I got a well used decent quality crack free copy for £100 last year off eBay as a spare.

Then all you need is a well serviced fault code free engine along with an ECU fitted with a 2.5Bar MAP sensor and a 1.4bar chip set. Personally, I'd leave your current ECU alone and look out for someone selling one ready to plug in. Perhaps stick a wanted advert up, who knows what people on here have knocking about.

Avoid oiled air filters like the plague, they kill MAF's and don't gain anything other than fault codes. I'd use an OE paper filter in the air box to try and keep heat soak down to a minimum, it's perfectly adequate for the K24 7000. Though if you can find an ABY air-box and make it fit under the bonnet I'd go that route, they flow very well indeed.

I'd keep the old ECU and exhaust system stashed in case you want to sell the car in future as stock.

Fitting a wideband AFR gauge isn't a bad idea to keep an eye on the mixture, I'd never have gotten my car right without one, small changes can make a big difference as I'm sure you're well aware of if you've rallied.

That reminds me, fit a new fuel pump unless you're is low mileage or fairly new, same applies to the Llambda sensor, if it's condition is unknown then it's £80 well spent IMO.

Finally make sure the MAF connections are all spotless and treat it with great care, new genuine ones are now NLA and I don't trust Chinese copies.

I'm surprised Newsh hasn't chimed, he's got a 3B and an RR as well as a wealth of knowledge. Perhaps drop him a polite PM.

MRC might still sell generic software, it's also worth asking Will at VRS what he can offer.

Also Vidar from Norway on here makes some really tasty K24 hybrids and I think can help with software. I know he offers a modern blade pattern billet wheel K24 7000 hybrid that's good for over 350bhp.

3B injectors are getting close to their limit at 280+bhp with the stock 3Bar FPR, but with a 7A 4Bar FPR they'll support 340-50bhp.

Just to reiterate what a couple of folk pointed out five years ago on this thread, the stock 3B paper head gasket must be replaced, most will have been changed by now anyway but please do check to see what your car is fitted with.

A boost gauge is essential on these cars once chipped and boost leak's probably the cause of at least half the problems folk have with these old Audi's especially once the boost is increased by over 50%. So check out the condition of the pipework. I'd replace every bit of small bore pipe on a car that age if it's not been done, only use stock throttle body hoses, silicone ones lack an internal ridge and will come off eventually.

Obviously only use decent fuel, really V-power is the best bet by a mile due to zero ethanol content but Tesco momentum is a good back up.

And I think Spink can still do chip sets.

HTH

Anymore questions feel free to fire away.