EURO AWD /// platform file
Audi S4 / S5 3.0 TFSI (B8/B8.5) build guide
3.0 TFSI supercharged V6. What the stock hardware is estimated to support, where it breaks first, and the honest path to more.
The Audi S4 / S5 3.0 TFSI (B8/B8.5) is rated 329 hp (EU 245 kW / 333 PS; US rating 333 hp SAE · EU market) at 5,500–7,000 rpm and weighs 3,638 lb (kerb 1,650 kg, B8 saloon manual (secondary); B8.5 S tronic 1,705 kg; US curb reported 3,924 lb, not fetched), or 11.1 lb/hp. On enthusiast estimates its stock internals are taken to about ~550 hp, the fuel system to around ~460 hp, and the stock supercharger is taken to about ~440–493 hp. Below: the sourced spec sheet, the limit sheet carbuildcheck analyzes against, and the platform's community-documented weak points.
Units
01 Spec sheet sourced
Engine3.0 TFSI supercharged V6 · 2,995 cc · V6
Engine codeCAKA / CCBA (B8); CGWC / CGXC / CTUB (B8.5)
Bore × stroke84.5 × 89 mm
Compression10.3:1 (auto-data; ultimatespecs prints 10:1)
InductionRoots-type supercharger (twin four-vane rotors, up to 23,000 rpm)
Fuel systemdirect
Rated power329 hp · EU 245 kW / 333 PS; US rating 333 hp SAE · EU market @ 5,500–7,000 rpm
Torque325 lb-ft @ 2,900–5,300 rpm
Redlinenot sourced in this audit
Stock boostnot sourced in this audit
Transmission6MT · 7-speed S tronic
DrivetrainAWD
Curb weight3,638 lb · kerb 1,650 kg, B8 saloon manual (secondary); B8.5 S tronic 1,705 kg; US curb reported 3,924 lb, not fetched · 11.1 lb/hp
GenerationB8 (2009–2012) · B8.5 facelift (2012–2016); the B8 S5 Coupé used the 4.2 V8, only the S5 Cabriolet and the B8.5 S5 share this engine · 2009–2016 (sales from March 2009; the rating held through the B8.5 facelift)
Verified againstTopSpeed, 2009 Audi S4 (reproduces the 2008 Audi press release) (secondary, read 2026-09-06); auto-data.net, Audi S4 (B8) 3.0 TFSI V6 333hp quattro (secondary, read 2026-09-06); Eurosport Tuning / 034Motorsport, B8/B8.5 S4 S5 3.0 TFSI performance software (stock baseline) (secondary, read 2026-09-06) · The mass rests on one document.
02 What stock parts support enthusiast estimates
Engine internals~550 hp
rotating assembly ceiling · fails first: rods and pistons past the dual-pulley range · 93 AKI / 98 RON · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; the tuner pages stop at dual-pulley stages and print no rod ceiling
Induction ceiling~440–493 hp
stock turbo / supercharger ceiling · fails first: blower out of efficiency; dual pulley is the ceiling on stock hardware · 93 AKI / 98 RON · source: Unitronic, S5 3.0 TFSI 2012–2015 stage 3 (dual pulley) · 034 rates a stage-2 pulley car at 437–471 hp (t1) and Unitronic's dual-pulley stage 3 at 493 hp (t2); the site plans on ~440 hp, the single-pulley band
Fuel system~460 hp
stock fuel-system ceiling · fails first: HPFP flow · 93 AKI · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure ~460 hp; no named fuel-ceiling source in this audit
Clutch (manual)~400 hp
stock clutch torque capacity · fails first: stock manual clutch slip · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; no named source in this audit
Transmission (dual-clutch)~480 hp
gearbox / driveline rating · fails first: DL501 S tronic clutch packs · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; no named source in this audit
Cooling (sustained)~450 hp
thermal ceiling for sustained load · fails first: charge-air (water-to-air) heat soak with a smaller pulley · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; no named source in this audit
Tuning limitsenthusiast estimates, crank hp on the stated fuel; sources: Eurosport Tuning / 034Motorsport, B8/B8.5 S4 S5 3.0 TFSI performance software; Unitronic, S5 3.0 TFSI 2012–2015 stage 3 (dual pulley); method: the analyzer plans on the lower bound of each range
Planning figures, conservative by design, never a manufacturer claim. How these are used in the score →
03 Where it breaks first community-documented
The blower runs out of efficiency up here; dual pulley plus cooling is the honest ceiling on stock hardware (Unitronic stage 3: 493 hp).
Direct-injection carbon buildup is a when-not-if service (community consensus). Walnut blast before chasing misfires.
04 The typical path
Tune → pulley → fueling. Blower cars scale fast; heat and fuel are the guardrails.
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↗Partner linkPartner link: may earn carbuildcheck a commission at no extra cost to you. The stock limits, weak points and upgrade path on this page are documented independently and never influenced.
vw group: read and code it yourselfOBDeleven ↗Partner link
Partner link: may earn carbuildcheck a commission at no extra cost to you. Any basic OBD2 reader pulls and clears engine fault codes; OBDeleven adds manual coding and adaptations, which it offers on Volkswagen Group cars only, and its feature list varies by country because manufacturers license diagnostics differently. The limits and weak points above are documented independently.
power outgrows the stock wheel and tire package firstWheelHero ↗Partner linkUS
Partner link: may earn carbuildcheck a commission at no extra cost to you. Fitment is per-platform, so check bolt pattern, center bore, offset and tire size against your own car before ordering anything, and note this retailer ships within the US. The stock limits, weak points and upgrade path on this page are documented independently.
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