Been meaning to do an update on my car for awhile now, back in school though, and well, everyone knows how that goes...anyways a call from Mr. Swanson today reminded me I should take the time to post something. Anyways, here's the way it sits now, new shoes with some 2B full coilover suspension ("track" spec), euro tail lights, HIDs, Porsche 996 calipers, EPL 400whp tune, a chefbob detail job (many many thanks Bob) etc, etc...needless to say the car has seen a lot since I bought it this past May. Unfortuneatly the Eurospec 2.6L bottom end is loosing compression and burning lots of oil, so going to need to pull it soon (laughs to self), and throw in a 2.2 bottom end for a little while until I get the Eurospec block re-worked.

Here's a pic we took in CT, car rolled 222k over the trip :)

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/55085/img_0012.jpg">

Well, there has been some concern with how well the car is going to do with the tune it currently has out here with 5300 ft of altitude...the solution? A stand alone engine management system that I think is the solution to all the UrS cars running big turbos, or just people that have been let down by software that is currently out. I was originally turned onto VEMs by Marc Swanson and after talking with him about it, I agreed to get an ECU over here in the states if he would be willing to play around with it, so...here it is. A stand alone ECU that plugs into the AAN harness, works off all the stock sensors (uses knock sensors as well), basically, you change NOTHING...plug in and tune :)

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/55085/img_0014.jpg">

For the record, before people ask why I don't use a stage IIc, I did have one on my cashmere S6 (pic below). For the little while I ran the stage IIc and the tutorial I got from Brendan at Apikol as well as Swanson, it is a very user-friendly and well-supported system, there is something about pulling the stock AAN wiring harness and having to change a few stock sensors/not having knock sensors/having a trigger wheel that looses sync with the speed sensor every so often that rubs me the wrong way...using VEMs I will have complete control over switching back to Motronic (if need be) and also using different programs depending upon which engine is in the car at the time. I look forward to working with Marc to get VEMs as well supported as 034 here in the states so that all of us that are looking for that little "extra" out of our cars can have a stand alone engine management system that will allow us the aftermarket adjustability/easy stock interchange we all look for when we upgrade our cars.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/55085/pict1538.jpg">

Car on the dyno @ EPL, never got any dyno plots from Tony, I'll have to give him a ring on that, but car was somewhere over 400whp.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/55085/2564385800061453191nldpiw_fs.jpg">

If anyone has any questions about VEMs, feel free to shoot me an e-mail, and I'll be happy to put you in contact with the very nice gentleman I have been dealing with. From here on out, you'll probably hear a lot of updates from Swanson (a4kquattro) about how the system works, etc, etc...<ul><li><a href="http://www.vems.hu/">Versatile Engine Management Systems</a></li></ul>

and that VEMS looks pretty sweet too, for sure the plug and play + no wiring is a HUGE benefit. Good luck w/everything.

....how's college going?

I am having my own problems with the S6 (might have a bad oil leak....head maybe, not 100% sure yet)....the S4 needs a half and half suspension rebuild (new springs, control arms, and tie rods.....$fun $fun $fun). I might be interested in the VEMS after you have had some positive results with it. Currently I am going to look into a H20/methanol injection for my intercooler (S6) to bring the temps down. Call me whenever...i tried, your phone is a no go.

oh geeez problem$ problem$ problem$! School is well, I want to be done with this engineering business and move on :) in the middle of mid-terms right now...give you a call in the next few days, hope school is going well for you!

check your e-mail tonight

Good thing I decided to put your wheels back on your car thursday huh?

Been getting a LOT of e-mails already asking about this system...here is what I should add to my post:

The VEMs unit uses a MAP sensor, so there is no longer the need to use a Mass Air Flow Sensor (big plus to people running big turbos). Basically this is the only stock sensor the unit does NOT use.

Also, Marcell over at VEMs and I have been back and forth trying to find out how to have the wideband O2 meter signal dump right into the ECU, which would allow you to monitor everything from your labtop. Originally they thought that the open pins on the MAF plug would work, but on further investigation it was discovered that it is easier/better to use some open pins on the AAN wiring harness in order to get this signal.

I have included the link to my members page for those people interested, more to come on what we come up with as we are still discussing how to implement this feature.

I am doing my best to figure most of this stuff out as well, and will continue to try and update and answer all questions. Thanks guys<ul><li><a href="http://www.vems.hu/wiki/index.php?page=MembersPage%2FBrianWeldon">Brian Weldon VEMs</a></li></ul>

here's the link for all the other people interested in buying one.<ul><li><a href="http://shop.vems.hu/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&amp;products_id=122&amp;osCsid=d9 56b237503aca7531e9b2ac456f3e80">VEMs Motronic55</a></li></ul>

looking forward to learning the system, I'll test it on my 93 S4 since I accidentally left the cam position sensor off my wagon when I R&amp;R'd the head a few months back (my IIC config uses wasted spark so it doesn't need it).

I have been thinking about playing with VEMS for a while, but not while I have only one drivable car...

rally car is getting an AAN swap, and I have had thoughts of using the VEMS setup at a later date... plug and play to the Motronic harness would be nice... but I am still leary of the AudiTrigger setup they have, as it seems there are still issues with it at high RPM's.

Would be nice to hear a real result from someone on this side of the pond!