DNA Tuning: VW Golf R dyno results and feedback

[Lucas_R]

Hi All - i wanted to post up this information for those looking for another option when looking to tune their car.

A few months ago i was looking to change from my existing Bluefin (Superchips) tune to something that would offer a bit more power. With the Bluefin tune, the car was running very rich, and despite trying several revised files including a Stage 2 file - the car was still running rich and i wasn't completely happy with the performance.

When looking for a new tune, i wanted a hand control option as there are no dealers / workshops within a reasonable distance from Newcastle, and i wanted the ability to return the car to the stock tune if need be (warranty etc). And i had a budget of around $1,000 for the tune.

My decision basically came down between DNA Tuning and Viezu. After doing some research and speaking to the men behind both brands, i decided that id like to try DNA Tuning.

After receiving my hand controller, i supplied a copy of my stock file to John @ DNA to be sent to the UK, where they would modify the file and provide me a Stage 1 and Stage 3 file (the stage 3 is for later down the track). I have been running the DNA Stage 1 tune since mid March, and the car immediately felt much stronger than it did with the Bluefin tune, and my fuel consumption has reduced so the DNA tune isn't running rich like the Bluefin was. You can also left foot brake with the DNA tune - something that i like to use occasionally, and not all tunes allow it. I attended the Sydney dyno day on the 29th April 2012 to see what the DNA Tune had to offer and to compare it to some of the other tuned Golf R's there on the day.

Although i am running a Stage 1 tune from DNA, my car actually now has an aftermarket dump pipe and intake, therefore, the results from the dyno should probably be more fairly compared to a "Stage 2" tuned car.

What: MY11.5 MKVI VW Golf R
Current modifications: DNA Tuning Stage 1 tune, Scorpion down pipe, VW Racing intake
Who did the mods: Me, except for the tune of course.
Dyno: Mainline Dyno @ Revesby NSW.
Planned future modifications: HPFP, RS4 fuel pressure reg and DNA Tuning stage 3 to come later in the year.
Results: 204.2kw and 354.5nm at all four wheels.

DNA Tuning Stage 1/Stage 2 results - Golf R:

UPDATE - FEB 2013
DNA Tuning Stage 3 results - Golf R:

After my previous result of 204kw/354nm (see above) last year at the dyno day in Sydney, i took my Golf back to a local Newcastle dyno today to see how it was running with the new mods and tune.

Mod list:
- DNA Tuning stage 3 tune
- VW Racing intake
- 42DD resonated down pipe (ceramic coated)
- Autotech HPFP and Audi RS4 fuel rail valve
- THS style intercooler
- Neuspeed turbo discharge pipe
- BSH charge pipe
- DIY try hard carbon clean done the week before

All mods installed by me.

Based off my previous dyno run, I was hoping for about 210kw and 400nm....i got close with the kw but im a little off with the nm.

I asked the operator to setup the readout the same as the dyno day, but the poor bugger struggled to give me what i got. Car was pretty consistent - it ran several 206kw, a 205kw and then the 208kw.




UPDATE - DEC 2013
DNA Tuning Stage 3 results - Golf R:

Just updating this thread with another dyno sheet for my car. This is the DNA Tuning stage 3 tune, and the dyno machine is a Dyno Dynamics located at Advan/BMR Autowerks at Auburn, Sydney.

I took the car down to the BMR dyno day at the end of November and it made 211.7kw on their Dyno Dynamics dyno. When i had the car dyno'd earlier this year here in Newcastle it made 208kw on a Mainline machine - so it's pretty similar on both machines. The only changes i have made since the last dyno was a different intake setup, so the difference in figures is most likely just variance from one dyno to another.

[TomC]

Freakin' awesome result and great vid!

[PGS_AUS]

Just interested as I'm starting to look at tunes for my R, but what was it that actually pushed you over the line for the DNA tune as opposed to the Viezu tune ?

I'm looking to go the intake/dump pipe tune path and the results you've achieved look brilliant on paper and you sound very happy with the physical driving results so I'm interested to hear your response.

[Lucas_R]

Freakin' awesome result and great vid!

Thanks TomC, I too was surprised as I expected more like 185-190kw based on what other cars were putting out on the day. Have you ever tested your car?

Just interested as I'm starting to look at tunes for my R, but what was it that actually pushed you over the line for the DNA tune as opposed to the Viezu tune ?

I'm looking to go the intake/dump pipe tune path and the results you've achieved look brilliant on paper and you sound very happy with the physical driving results so I'm interested to hear your response.

Hi - there were several reasons. I felt more "at ease and less pressured" by John at DNA than what I did with Viezu. I wanted to try something a little different, and although there were some Viezu customers who are happy with their tune, there were no dyno results to back up the claims. DNA were able to provide some dyno results of other customers cars that had been tuned. And also price came into play, the Viezu tune with a hand controller is $400-500 more than the DNA tune.

[PGS_AUS]

Thanks Lucas, response appreciated and has given me more food for thought on the path I'll take.

[TomC]

Have you ever tested your car?

Nah I haven't, but would be keen. It's just a matter of organising and laying down the coin for a dyno

I would be interested in seeing what my car's putting out though, given our mods seem fairly similar (albeit your k04'd R of course!).

[Lucas_R]

Nah I haven't, but would be keen. It's just a matter of organising and laying down the coin for a dyno

I would be interested in seeing what my car's putting out though, given our mods seem fairly similar (albeit your k04'd R of course!).

Should do it - its always nice to know the result of the $ you spent. Most places are only $100 or so for a dyno run, so its not a huge expense. Going off other MK5 GTI's with the same sort of mods, i would expect yours to have around 160-165kw on a Mainline dyno / 155kw on a Dyno Dynamics dyno. The Mainline's tend to read higher.

[thezoneR32]

Nah I haven't, but would be keen. It's just a matter of organising and laying down the coin for a dyno

I would be interested in seeing what my car's putting out though, given our mods seem fairly similar (albeit your k04'd R of course!).

Give Graham West on Marion Rd a go. Got my mkv gti dynoed there, very quick and professional service.

[SMOK3Y]

Should do it - its always nice to know the result of the $ you spent. Most places are only $100 or so for a dyno run, so its not a huge expense. Going off other MK5 GTI's with the same sort of mods, i would expect yours to have around 160-165kw on a Mainline dyno / 155kw on a Dyno Dynamics dyno. The Mainline's tend to read higher.

its funny ive always seen & heard the opposite to be true, DD are always been a happy readout. when i had me ute any Mainline it always read 299 to 305rwkw, DD always 310 to 330rwkw lol. in V8 comunity 99% of people trust the lower reading Mainline

[DNA Tuning]

Again, comes down to configuration set up by the dyno operator, not to mention not all machines (as in, the dynamometers) are created equal.

Lucas is right on the money though; we generally get around 150-155kW on DD on our Mk5 GTI tunes.

[TomC]

Lucas is right on the money though; we generally get around 150-155kW on DD on our Mk5 GTI tunes.

Does that take into account modifications or is that just based on a stage 1 tune alone?

[Lucas_R]

Does that take into account modifications or is that just based on a stage 1 tune alone?

You'd probably have a bit more given your exhaust and intake.

[Lucas_R]

Ok - i did some testing on my car tonight. My car is still running a stock standard stage 1 tune from DNA Tuning, and has not been tweaked in any way. This is the one and only tune file i have ever received from DNA.

0-100kph
Tested using my P3 guage. Obviously the DSG guys can do this faster than a manual car, but it's a good result none the less. I might add that 2nd gear only gets you to about 95kph in the R, so you need to hit 3rd to crack 100kph - and this last gear change hurts the 0-100kph time in the manuals. This "secret" street i used is also on a constant incline, so that no doubt add's a tenth or two to the time.

Boost levels
Although the boost appears to peak very briefly at 23psi, it's mostly around 20-21psi and then tapers off gradually to around 15-16psi higher up in the rev range.

Test was done in 3rd gear.

I also tested intake air temps under normal driving conditions and also when giving the car some stick. Ambient temp was 12 degrees and the intake temp hovered between 20-25 degrees.

[DNA Tuning]

Sounds great - nice 0-100kmh results esp with shift into 3rd! I look forward to your Stage 3 results in hopefully the not too distant future.

On our Stage 1 program, downpipe upgrades do tend to slightly increase the peak boost "spike" during low-mid range spool (ie. on a stock exhaust system you would generally see peaks of only about 21psi), but nonetheless it looks like a smooth rise and fall which is good to see.

[Lucas_R]

Sounds great - nice 0-100kmh results esp with shift into 3rd! I look forward to your Stage 3 results in hopefully the not too distant future.

On our Stage 1 program, downpipe upgrades do tend to slightly increase the peak boost "spike" during low-mid range spool (ie. on a stock exhaust system you would generally see peaks of only about 21psi), but nonetheless it looks like a smooth rise and fall which is good to see.

I might add that i was holding the camera with my right hand and using my left hand to shift gears AND hold onto the steering wheel. I might try it again soon with both hands doing the driving so i can concentrate better. With a better start (it bogged down in the video above) i think a low 5 second time is achieveable.

And now that you mention the boost levels with the dump pipe, i did notice it rise a little after fitting the down pipe.