Audi S3 8YStage 1 to Stage 3 tuning guide

A flash tune on the 2020–2024 car claims about 385–427 hp on 95–98 octane, with torque rising from 400 Nm to 480–550 Nm. The Simos 19 engine computer is flashed through the diagnostic port. Since early 2025 APR's file gives full torque without a gearbox tune (its release); other files are limited unless the gearbox is tuned too.

Typical cost: flash tunes $519.99–$650 (IE, APR, RacingLine on sale, Unitronic) or €690 (BR-Performance); gearbox tune $600–$649.95 or €400, plus a bench unlock on locked gearboxes; plug-in boxes €249–€549 (RaceChip), $629 (JB4) or $829.78 on sale for the facelift (RacingLine PCM).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 1 tunes compared (2020–2024 car)

The 2024 facelift (333 PS)

RacingLine says the late-2024-on engine computer "cannot yet be tuned via the traditional methods" (its page), and Unitronic and BR-Performance list their facelift files as in development. What works today are plug-in boxes: RacingLine's PCM claims 393 PS and 491 Nm ($829.78 on sale at UroTuning, with a free upgrade to a full tune later), ABT claims 400 PS and 470 Nm from €2,990.01, and DTE claims +32 hp.

The gearbox may be locked

Unitronic says "some 2022 and many 2023+" cars have a locked "401" gearbox computer that can't be flashed through the port (its note). It can be unlocked with a bench harness from APR or 034, or RacingLine can swap the board (its page). Gearbox tunes cost $649.95 (APR), $600 (Unitronic) or €400 (BR-Performance).

Unitronic says the factory intercooler "quickly heat soaks" and the engine pulls power as the intake air gets hot, so Stage 2 starts with a bigger intercooler and an intake. With both and the particulate filter kept, APR claims 410 hp on 95 and 416 on 98, and RacingLine's Stage 1+ claims 439 PS. RacingLine's full Stage 2 claims 454 PS, but it needs the filter removed, which RacingLine says is only for places where that's legal.

Typical cost: intercooler €999 before VAT (Wagner), £861.23 (Forge) or $958.95 on sale (APR); intake $403.95 on sale (APR) or $436.99 (IE); HJS ECE downpipe that keeps the filter €3,334.98.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 2 packages compared

Parts list

• Intercooler required Wagner Competition intercoolerForge intercoolerdo88 intercoolerAPR intercoolerRacingLine intercooler

  Wagner's has a parts certificate and lists the S3's DNFB engine, €999 before VAT. RacingLine's lists the facelift too.

• Intake required APR intake and turbo inletIE intake034 Motorsport intakeEventuri

  IE claims its intake adds 35 hp with a Stage 2 file.

• Downpipe optional HJS ECE downpipe (keeps the filter)Milltek sports-cat downpipe (race)034 Motorsport downpipe (race)IE ProCore downpipe

  HJS's is the only one we found that is ECE-approved and keeps the filter, €3,334.98. Milltek's and 034's are race parts.

• Exhaust optional Akrapovič Evolution (ECE, filter cars)Remus GPF-back (EC)ScorpionAWE

  Akrapovič's is ECE-approved for filter cars and claims +4 kW; AWE claims +7 hp at the wheels.

Stage 3 swaps the stock Continental turbo for a bigger one, most often a Garrett PowerMax GT2563S. APR's kit comes with software and claims 478 hp on 95 and 482 on 98 with its intake and intercooler, keeping the stock downpipe and fuel system; APR says to halve the oil-change interval at this stage.

Typical cost: APR's GT2563S kit with software $2,248.95 on sale; 034's GT2563S $2,060 plus $1,650 software; Turbo-Total €2,856.26 or TTE575 €3,276.47 before VAT.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Turbo upgrades compared

Parts list

• Upgraded turbo required APR GT2563S kit034 Motorsport GT2563STurbo-TotalTTE575

  APR's includes the software; the others need a matching file.

• Gearbox tune and clutch required 034 Motorsport Stage 3 gearbox tuneTVS DQ381 race clutch (850 Nm)

  Unitronic's gearbox tune raises clutch pressure to "up to 600Nm"; TVS rates its clutch at 850 Nm and says to change to a DQ500 above that.

• Port injection optional APR MPI kitUnitronic MPI kit

  Only needed for ethanol blends, which Israeli pumps don't sell.

We found no built short block, forged internals or big-turbo kit sold for the EA888 Gen 4 in the S3, so we don't give a Stage 4 figure. The highest claims we found are Stage 3 turbos. If you want to go further, find a shop that has built one of these engines and can show its results.