APR ECU Upgrade MK6 Golf - Customer perspective

[logger]

Nice writeup.
Flip on your immediate fuel display when cruising up a hill in 7th.
Compare that to dropping a gear, and my finding has been the dsg changes up too early to be the most efficient in all scenarios.

It seems like dropping a gear to climb a hill at higher rpm would use more fuel, but (if you are driving normally) it doesn't.
I've experienced this in a 6 spd dsg in a gt 1.4 and now a pirelli gti.

So while the torque is there, it is probably costing you more to use it in certain sedate scenarios.
This isn't an observation on the tune, but as you said it changes down less I thought I'd pipe up so you can see if it happens on the mk6.

Yep, just checked and it is pretty much as you stated. FF is higher in the higher gear in this specific situation. Selecting "S" is always there as an option to prevent the DSG taking 7th I suppose. Like you say it is a counter intuitive DSG charactersitic, not an observation on the tune.

Did you ask APR about the supposed 250Nm limit on the DSG and what did they say? I'm very interested to know.

No I did not ask APR. I discussed it briefly with Volkspower and they certainly had no reservations in this area, mentioning various souped up machines (including one of their own) putting all sorts of Nm's through DSGs. Anecdotally, I have read that these things are over engineered and as I do not intend to abuse my DSG I am happy to take what I consider to be a small risk. As this is a concern for you, you will have to satisfy yourself in this regard. Digressing slightly - imagine if your current engine problems had occured with an ECU upgrade installed. It would be so easy conclude the remap as the cause, when in fact it had no link to the problem. Thankfully for all involved this has not been the case and I am sorry to hear it has happened to you, but food for thought.

I don't know if it's worthwhile / possible to do so, but is there some way you could time the 0-100 in standard tune and then switch over to stage 1 tune? I'd be interested in knowing the difference.

I am interested too. But am not busting my guts to do this just yet. Will get around to it when I am next out bush on open, flat, empty roads.

Also, from the APR video, it looked like you have to switch off the engine to select the other program, but in your posting you made it sound easier than that? So can you switch using the cruise without having to turn off the engine?

No, it is essential to turn the engine off to accomplich the switch. Just that with the MK6 you can restart the engine straight away. No longer any need switch IGN back off for 10 seconds post switch then wait for ENG light to stop flashing when IGN back on, as is the case with MK5's. So upshot is - Stop the car, turn ENG off, IGN back on , do switch with CRZ CNTRL, restart Eng. Takes about 10 seconds to accomplish I reckon.

[cktsi]

Correct - I have no concerns. My feeling is that you can abuse the gearbox with or without the extra KWs and NMs.

Did you ask APR about the supposed 250Nm limit on the DSG and what did they say? I'm very interested to know.

I don't know if it's worthwhile / possible to do so, but is there some way you could time the 0-100 in standard tune and then switch over to stage 1 tune? I'd be interested in knowing the difference.

Also, from the APR video, it looked like you have to switch off the engine to select the other program, but in your posting you made it sound easier than that? So can you switch using the cruise without having to turn off the engine?

My car is unmodded and I found I can beat VE commodores and keep up with the VE calais from the lights (VE calais has more power and better power to weight ratio than standard c'dore). In my unofficial times, I reckon I was able to do 0-100 in around 7.7 seconds (clocking off at 108 km/h on the speedo to take into account the Golf is really doing 93km/h when displaying 100)

[logger]

...Flip on your immediate fuel display when cruising up a hill in 7th.
Compare that to dropping a gear, and my finding has been the dsg changes up too early to be the most efficient in all scenarios...

Makes you wonder why it does it then. Will certainly check it out and report back.

[logger]

... driving 55km/h in D7 around 1200rpm, I can hear the engine clonking, not sure if that the right term. Sound like if you starting a manual in second instead of first...

I suspect that is just the supercharger you are hearing. It should be working quite hard at this point.

[tinto]

Nice writeup.
Flip on your immediate fuel display when cruising up a hill in 7th.
Compare that to dropping a gear, and my finding has been the dsg changes up too early to be the most efficient in all scenarios.

It seems like dropping a gear to climb a hill at higher rpm would use more fuel, but (if you are driving normally) it doesn't.
I've experienced this in a 6 spd dsg in a gt 1.4 and now a pirelli gti.

So while the torque is there, it is probably costing you more to use it in certain sedate scenarios.
This isn't an observation on the tune, but as you said it changes down less I thought I'd pipe up so you can see if it happens on the mk6.