Ask me anything about my AMD LP/HP kit.

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

So guys it’s been a long time since I’ve posted here, last time was when I was debating which supercharger to go with.

I haven’t posted since I made that decision since I’m aware of the dislike of AMD and my kit here, I’ve been discouraged by the inevitble bashing (hope I’m wrong) I’m going to get here but feel I owe you guys a response since you’ve taken the time to steer me in the right direction in the past.

You guys have asked “why AMD? thought you were set on JHM after all you said and went through” and I’ve never answered. Now that I have some time with the supercharger and can paint a better picture instead of an instant reply high on emotions of a new powerful kit, I will answer.

  1. It was not about the deal, but it was also about the deal. In other words I didn’t get the kit solely for being cheaper, if the cheapest were the case JHM would’ve been the choice price wise. I did however get a deal on the kit which helped in moving forward (for the record the deal was a discount and free installation, same deal JHM was offereing me at the time).

  2. I like the simplicity of a top mount system. The secondary air pump was removed for placement of the water pump for the front mount heat exchanger and the passenger aux radiator is tied into the superchargers cooling system (no longer part of the car’s coolant system). A wire from the MAF harness was relocated into an IAT sensor after the charger/before intake ports for most accurate IAT reading. That’s it.

The JHM kit requires relocation and re-routing of a few components (not too crazy), elimination of passenger fog light and is more complex with the implementation of the pulley system (I’m not even considering the insignificant “notch” at the end of the frame after seeing pictures of it). Furthermore the next stage in the JHM kit requires the relocation of the ECU to fit the cooling system in it’s place (although not final, I know).

To some that is fine, to me it was a turn off. Just opinion and I don’t look down at the JHM kit because of that, it’s just not for me.

  1. I had multiple proven results that I liked (trapping in the mid 120’s), unlike my past decision based on an R8 dyno chart (PES).

I would say #2 is my main reason for the decision of AMD over JHM.

However I do like a few things better about the JHM kit such as better performance results with less boost and the level of testing that goes into the product.

=============================================

Problems/Concerns:

The car been running strong and significantly faster than before. I’ve encountered 2 problems:

  1. Solenoid detached from it’s mount, they’re developing a new mount that will secure it better.

  2. On the track I experience a “bucking” during mid rpm partial throttle acceleration. Basically after hitting the apex and gradually accelerating to exit the turn smoothly the throttle accelerates/decelerates until I go WOT to break out of that. This does worry me because it makes the car un-driveable on the track. It’s actually dangerous according to instructors that were in the car with me because of the potential to unsettle the car at the exit of a turn. AMD is aware of it and are working on fine tuning that.

That’s all I can think of now, feel free to ask me anything else that might interest you. I just ask, please, no personal attacks on me.

#2

Addition to what was modified on the car with the HP kit, 2 upgraded HPFPs.

#3

Really good to see you post here again after your purchase. It’s also great for you to give it to us honestly. I understand that people chose products because they feel certain things (your #2) are most important to them.

Since you were basically the 93octane beta tester on the East Coast, has your kit required multiple tune revisions?

Sorry to hear about your track issues, do you daily drive the car and experience the same acceleration issue on the road?

Are you running a boost gauge?

Do you plan on making some dragstrip passes? I know you provided some for the PES kit and you were open about the performance.

#4

Thanks for sharing. How many miles do to have on the kit? How has the support from AMD been in terms d addressing the problems quickly.

#5

Regarding the 93 octane, I was of interest to them. Did some log runs and they claim to have done “minimal revisions” to the tune. Only did one revision.

The acceleration issue only naturally occurs on the track, not sure what the combination of events is that make it happen, but I don’t experience it on daily driving. Although I can replicate it on the highway… if I hold around 6K rpm and apply 3/4 throttle going up a long climb it will “buck”. Seems like a load issue.

I do have a boost gauge (PS3) but I am not tapped on the manifold for a boost reading. I might have that done.

I am up for 1/4 mile passes once this kink in the tune is sorted out.

#6

I think I have about 5K now, I have to double check.

The communication and support have been good. Any time I reach out to them with any question or concern they’re quick to respond.

Addressing the problem quickly? Well it has been a few weeks since I reported the acceleration problem (took the opportunity to send out my suspension) and still have no update on a revision.

The new solenoid bracket is being machined and should see it shortly.

During the kit process I’ve only spoken to Jonathan (aviva) and Danny (kmd). Only interaction I’ve had with AMD and Jason was with the concern of the acceleration issue.

#7

Kryptonik, welcome back. First off amd gets bashed here because it’s a one man company and the owner is a shitty person. They also have a long history of delivering shitty performance. Their customers don’t get attacked their customers who troll do though. You’re not a troll.

Most people here were just really confused about the whole ‘why the fuck would ANYONE buy AMD’ considering those facts and the apparent lack of testing etc.

Anyway your reasons for buying one over the other are great. They’re also your reasons and that’s all that matters. The tune thing will be fixed. Doesn’t sound like a big deal. Sounds like something fixable in 5 minutes by UM. Surprised they haven’t already.

Please share your quarter mile times, since it sounds like you already went. Vid, slips. It would be great to have the data because all we have is the one amd test car…which is also a customer car lok…but the flow of information about that run was a bit suspect. We only found out it was missing interior seat parts after asking repeatedly based on the in chains noise levels.

#8

I’m happy to hear that Saki, thank you.

I don’t have 1/4 mile times yet. When I referred to track I meant road course. I do have some idea of performance. My friend just purchased the new M4 DCT. We did 3 rolling pulls from 2nd gear up to mid 4th gear and the result was consistently the same… I would only creep forward past his front bumper up to my rear door and then we let off. Not sure what to think of that.

I’ll def. add to the database with full disclosure.

Wasn’t aware that the results are only from one car, and it was missing interior. For some reason I understood results from 2 different cars.

#9

I get bucking like that with my single turbo car in a certain rpm on the highway. It try’s to build boost but bleed it off and I get a light bucking. Bucking would be a bit to strog of a term I think.

#10

I think the new M4 is in the 11.9-12.1 range depending on DCT/6MT but not entirely sure.

#11

What did this mean?

[quote]3) I had multiple proven results that I liked (trapping in the mid 120’s), unlike my past decision based on an R8 dyno chart (PES).
[/quote]
Did you typo that and mean to say ‘It had multiple…’? i.e. the kit when tested by AMD? Just seemed like you said you went to the strip and trapped mid 120s. Well, didn’t seem like it…that’s what you wrote. Maybe a typo.

The new M3 runs low 12s @ 116-118 according to everything I’ve seen, and makes around 400-420 whp stock. If you’re half a car quicker, it means you’re not much different. You’d probably pick up a car length or two on him in the first 330 feet , and your race was similar to running from 330 feet to 1320 feet where you picked up another half car. So about 2 tenths difference between the two cars…aka high 11s for you. If you were not pulling away in the race, it means you likely aren’t trapping much more than he was, so probably your car would run high 11s @ 116-120 in that situation. This assumes your buddy can drive reasonably well.

Did you have the LP kit or the HP kit when you did that?

The LP kit has run 11.81 @ 118 on what’s his face’s car…perfany? RS4per? He was here for a while. That’s the only car to be tested on the LP kit.

The HP kit on WoodiRS4 ran 11.36 @ 126. That’s a customer car, which was also their ‘test car’. It originally went low 12s @ 120 before they fired EPL and replaced them as tuner. That’s the only car to be tested on the HP kit.

Both cars ran in excellent conditions (I believe they were both -500 to -1500 feet of density, according to their timeslips.)

#12

To me I don’t care about you or your car. You’ve supported a shifty shady company with a pack of loosers running and supporting it. To me that makes you no better. Your car bucks because the kit obviously wasn’t tested (like you wanted or demanded ) your a beta tester that is everything you didn’t want and now you get to go though all the stuff like terrible bugs and unfinished untested tune. Your waiting on parts to be remade that should have been already figured out. Nobody else has bought the kit for the same reasons we told you to not get the kit.

The two questions I would have… why are you telling us this you should be telling whatever kid or lunatic is pushing or trying to peddle this untested product. You have had the kit for long enough this shouldn’t be an issue.

Two is your car smoking yet…if not just wait it will.

#13

Hey man,

Couple things here:

[quote]I did however get a deal on the kit which helped in moving forward (for the record the deal was a discount and free installation, same deal JHM was offereing me at the time).
[/quote]
Free installation was ONLY for local guys, and I don’t remember having plans of you shipping your car to us for install. Also, the discount is our intro pricing, which is still available to people who purchase.

[quote] Furthermore the next stage in the JHM kit requires the relocation of the ECU to fit the cooling system in it’s place (although not final, I know).
[/quote]
Where did you get this information from? We do NOT relocate the ECU.

Otherwise, I am glad you are enjoying your car!

Jake

#14

thanks for clearing that up Jake. I believe he posted this somewhere else…you may want to either ask Krypto to edit, or reply to it yourself as you did here.

Funny thing how misinformation progresses through the offline channels before making its way public where it is squashed. Unfortunately the damage gets done in the process.

IF I were a betting man on where he learned this…I’d point to AMD. They’re the ones training people to say ‘JHM hacks up your subframe’ etc.

#15

I would guarantee that’s where it came from. When you have a unfinished product that’s not fully tested like with AMD the only thing you can do to try and get guys like this is to lie. Nothing new remember when AMD lied and said they sold dozens of kits when they still haven’t even sold a quarter of that years later.

#16

Hmm maybe bucking is too harsh of a word, i just dont know how to describe it. The throttle is in a fixed possition lets say… and it deccelerates, accelerates (up to the amount of throttle i’m holding at), deccelerates, accelerates.

#17

Did you typo that and mean to say ‘It had multiple…’? i.e. the kit when tested by AMD? Just seemed like you said you went to the strip and trapped mid 120s. Well, didn’t seem like it…that’s what you wrote. Maybe a typo.

The new M3 runs low 12s @ 116-118 according to everything I’ve seen, and makes around 400-420 whp stock. If you’re half a car quicker, it means you’re not much different. You’d probably pick up a car length or two on him in the first 330 feet , and your race was similar to running from 330 feet to 1320 feet where you picked up another half car. So about 2 tenths difference between the two cars…aka high 11s for you. If you were not pulling away in the race, it means you likely aren’t trapping much more than he was, so probably your car would run high 11s @ 116-120 in that situation. This assumes your buddy can drive reasonably well.

Did you have the LP kit or the HP kit when you did that?

The LP kit has run 11.81 @ 118 on what’s his face’s car…perfany? RS4per? He was here for a while. That’s the only car to be tested on the LP kit.

The HP kit on WoodiRS4 ran 11.36 @ 126. That’s a customer car, which was also their ‘test car’. It originally went low 12s @ 120 before they fired EPL and replaced them as tuner. That’s the only car to be tested on the HP kit.

Both cars ran in excellent conditions (I believe they were both -500 to -1500 feet of density, according to their timeslips.)

[/quote]
I just read what you’re referring to and see how I worded it incomplete. I meant I had multple proven results from others, not my own.

I did the pull against the M4 with the HP kit.

#18

I’m sorry to hear you now think I’m shitty and shady, I know you’ve never like me and I respect that.

They already know about these issues, I’m sharing it here because… I think you guys would care to hear how it’s going and not just a “everything is great” review and leaving out details.

You’re right I did want a completed kit and I got that when I purchased the LP kit at first. It was flawless with no issues. This came about when I upgraded to the HP kit which I was aware was completed but might need some tune adjustments for 93 oct. I was ok with that after the good experience with LP. I’m confident things will get sorted out.

If I start getting smoke out the exhaust I’ll let everyone know.

#19

Free installation was ONLY for local guys, and I don’t remember having plans of you shipping your car to us for install. Also, the discount is our intro pricing, which is still available to people who purchase.

[quote] Furthermore the next stage in the JHM kit requires the relocation of the ECU to fit the cooling system in it’s place (although not final, I know).
[/quote]
Where did you get this information from? We do NOT relocate the ECU.

Otherwise, I am glad you are enjoying your car!

Jake
[/quote]
I don’t know how it worked on your end, but Prime Motoring here in NJ contacted me and offered me the kit with free installation. I was definitely offered a discount and free installation.

Regarding the ECU relocation for stage 2, I had seen a picture floating around the forums showing a coolant res in the place of the secondary ECU. Like I said though I know it wasn’t final, but the idea did dissuade me.

I am enjoying the car, thanks Jake!

#20

Dave, I appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences here. You’re opinions or shared experiences may not be popular here but you still came back to update us. That deserves some credit in my book so +1 for you. Add in the honest feedback and that’s what keeps this forum true, with facts…and that’s important.