To recap from my prior thread about starting this project, I delivered my car to Martin Christensen, owner of All German Auto, Escondido, Calif., on 11/27/06. 'Posted some progress updates during the ensuing 3 weeks.
They completed the S3 pkg install on 12/17/06 and shipped my car to Dinan the next day. It was inspected ('cause this was the first S3 install ever allowed outside Dinan) and pronounced "flawless". By the end of the day on 12/22/06, Dinan had completed the engine management software programming and had thoroughly tested my car. Martin got a call that it was ready for delivery.
Because of the Christmas holiday weekend and Dinan also being closed on Tuesday, 12/26/06, Martin and I made arrangements to fly up to Morgan Hill (via San Jose airport) on 12/27/06 (exactly ONE month from when I first deliverd the car to Martin. I found that remarkable). We arrived at Dinan about 2 pm. We were there for over 4 hours and then drove my car all evening/night 450+ miles back to San Diego; arriving at my home about midnight. Needless to say, Martin and I had plenty of opportunity to wring her out (like a "shakedown cruise"). It was one hellava trip!! Martin is a pro race car builder/driver and knows how to extract 10/10th's from a high performance car. My Gawd could he make that 4k lb car "dance". I learned a lot about her capabilities and limits during that 6 hour trip; and she performed without any drama or protest at all.
Steve Dinan graciously hosted our entire visit to his Morgan Hill facility. I had never been there or met him. In fact, I'd never done business directly with Dinan, 'having always done mod's on various cars through Martin during the last 15 years. So it was a real treat getting a top to bottom, stem to stern look at all they have and do there. It was a real eye opener; but I'm not going to elaborate. Suffice to say, first and foremost, they're an R&D, engineering, and manufacturing company. The next time somebody posts on this board they're "just a marketing company" or "they just rebadge products", you'll get a corrective response from me. 'Cause unless you've been there and seen for yourself, you have no clue. Period. Anybody who has a specific question about a particular product, PM me. I'll share what I witnessed.
The dyno: Shadowman (Bill) at D/A has said it, and Steve Dinan has written (see the "white paper" about dyno's on his website) about it. Unless you spend several days with the right equipment (what race teams do), there's no way to get a reliably accurate "pull" from a dyno. Like D/A, Dinan uses their dyno only for engine tuning and have all the right equipment (including a very sophisticated, computerized "cooling tower" which, after several days worth of data logging a car in "real world" environments, can be programmed to simulate actual conditions for the dyno runs. It's an extremely time consuming process; but it's the only way accurate results can be achieved.
That said, I knew there were a bunch of "dyno junkies" on this board who consider dyno pulls the "end all, be all" and only "proof" of performance. They're dead wrong, but I asked Steve Dinan to please put my car on their dyno so I could go home with something for the "naysayers". He agreed to accommodate me and it took them 3 hours to set it up. They use a 75 mph fan in the middle front and a 35 mph fan on the lower left for the intercooler (hardly "real world" when running at WOT from 2.5k to 7k rpm, in 5th gear, out on the road or track). Note from the pic's they also remove the rear facia/bumper. This is because of inadequate airflow under the car from the fans; the exhaust pipes get too hot for the rear facia to withstand.
I sat in the car with Steve Dinan (see pic's) as he explained to me how to set-up the laptop to do a "pull". No manipulation; just input of transmissin gear, diff ratio, rpm measurement range, and a few other real time "conditons" spec's. Then the computer takes over and runs the dyno.
The raw, unadjusted results were a RW torque range from 356 ft lbs (@ 2.5k rpm) to 434 ft lbs (@ 5.3k rpm) and RWHP range from 174 to 530 ( 205 to 624 crank, using the standard 85% drive train loss factor), @ those same rpm ranges. The torque curve is relatively flat from 4.3k to 6.3k rpm; while the HP simply goes straight up. Steve Dinan told me the SAE adjusted torque and HP would be +25 to +30; based on all their prior testing. He had the graphs printed for me, but I walked off and left them sitting on his desk
. They're being mailed so I'll photo and post them when received.
'Having access to Martin's S3 on several occasions; and 'having already written on many posts about the car's performance, I'm not going into a redundant "blow by blow" here. Yes, the increased power is intoxicating and certainly "as advertised". But IMHO, the real transformation is in the handling. The Dinan JRZ's/and springs; combined with strut/shock tower braces, front and rear sways, camber plates, and lightweight forged aluminum wheels shod with "R" rated tires, produces a "dialed in" handling package that is nothing short of remarkable. It's difficult to adequately describe the feeling of being able to late brake into a slow, decreasing radius turn; take a set and throttle steer this 4k pound sedan in 1st or 2nd gear at "sweet spot" rpm's and "way fast' carrying speed; then hitting the apex and using all that power to EXPLODE down the line; producing a slight rear dip and those "R"' tires simply "chirping" rather than spinning and sending the tail sideways (like with lesser suspensions and so-called high performance street tires). 'Just damned amazing!!
On the highway (we had her at 85 to 120 mph most of the way home, with a few bursts to 175 mph) the cabin is quiet. Because of the front aerodynamics produced by the combined slanted oil cooler/modified under tray, the beast hunkers down. Even at the highest speeds, there's no front end lift at all. Again, remarkable.
To Josh, Dave, Basil; I hear what you're saying about the nice sounds the S/C makes. While you guys are running the louder VF "race" version, the Dinan VF unit (from outside the car) emits a very subtle, yet unmistakable S/C sound. Combined with the burble/rumble of the exhaust, it's sexy as hell. 'Can't tell you how many times I've already had people come up and ask "Whatcha got in that thing??!!". 'Enjoy it very much.
Well, I don't know how to caption pic's; so 'hope you can decipher what you're looking at. 'Took a couple shots of the 5.8 litre V10 "stroker" motor Dinan's getting ready to offer for the E60/63 M5/M6; the dyno set-up; the AGA S3 team (Martin and Pete); Steve Dinan, Martin and moi in front of the Dinan facility; and under the hood/completed car shots. Obviously, I'm NOT a photographer!!
Next up will be video. I'm ordering a new video cam. 'Want to get footage of all the track time I've planned for this spring (both cars). When Martin gets back from Africa later this month (he's participating in the Dakar rally), I'm going to video an S3 vs Porsche tt "choose off"; with him driving one car and me the other; then trading and going again. 'Should demonstrate driving skill is a big determinant when comparing cars. 'Suspect he'll win no matter which car he's driving!!
Well, that's it. 'Love having what is arguably one of the finest performing sedans in the world. After owning her since new, over 4 1/2 years ago, I can't fathom a more satisfying "daily driver". 'Plan to keep her for many years.
Dan
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