GTI APR chip mod, and clutch upgrade

[Manaz]

Yeah, but what would the ratio be between customer/potention and sponsor... 15 to 1, how many chip sponsors/distributors would be out there?

Not enough to seriously sway the result of a poll IMHO.

[h100vw]

I don't want to add fuel to the fire but Custom-Code wouldn't come at the top of any pole of numbers, except the dyno day in Brissy the other week.

Gavin

[McDub]

thanks for the feedback from those that gave it, as to this debate about nothing... can we stay on topic? it's like hardly anyone actually read what i asked!

few questions that were never answered:

The price of this mod from this place http://europeanautotech.com.au/produ...pr-ecu-upgrade
says $1500, is that an uninstalled price, and is it something that you can negotiate?

and

How much would the VR6 clutch and lighter fly wheel cost roughly?

and

One more thing, I've read that the turbo is only good for ~130kw, yet this mod claims 146kw. is that just a difference from the engine to the wheel that i've got these figures from??? or just marketing

Thanks.

and at the risk of asking too many questions, is the clutch upgrade all that important? i was speaking to people at work who said that a 30% power upgrade shouldn't really need any upgrades to things like clutch and drivetrain etc...

And as to other chip options, PLEASE TELL ME, even if it you are affiliated with it. I live around north sydney, chatswood area, but work out at castle hill area.
APR from Mona vale is kinda close to my house, but the lazy bums don't seem open on weekends, which leaves me with the place sort of near work
Euro Automotive at Girraween who apparantly do Unitronic?

Problem with Unitronic is that unlike APR who run the turbo at 1 bar (14.5psi), unitronic run it at 18 or 20psi according this US site http://www.unitronic.ca/performance-...=1.8T&x=19&y=8 , and that worries me a little.
they claim 215 hp = 160kw, and as already stated, people here say 130kw is the limit of the stock turbo.....?

thoughts on my options? i do like the idea that unitronic will be cheaper though (i think, anyone actually used them yet?). but i do like the fact that the APR seems to be more reputable to me. i mean even on the unitronic site, there are errors, like it says the car has 180hp stock, and it doesn't have a dyno graph or anything... i want to know what i'm getting!

[JustCruisn]

I got my tune at 35K, have 2.5inch exhaust and air filter. Dyno 120KW ATW, figure 150ish engine KW. My stock clutch wore out at 112K.
VR6 clutch and flywheel will add vibration. A dualmass flywheel, that you have, was designed to remove the vibration that the 4cyl engine produces. There is a harmonic balancer in there too, to help keep things nice and smooth.
Why not keep the stock clutch and wait for it to die after 3-4 years ? Then consider the options.
Budget for $2k installed.
Do some more searching on the forum there were 2 clutch threads in the last few months.

[McDub]

I got my tune at 35K, have 2.5inch exhaust and air filter. Dyno 120KW ATW, figure 150ish engine KW. My stock clutch wore out at 112K.
VR6 clutch and flywheel will add vibration. A dualmass flywheel, that you have, was designed to remove the vibration that the 4cyl engine produces. There is a harmonic balancer in there too, to help keep things nice and smooth.
Why not keep the stock clutch and wait for it to die after 3-4 years ? Then consider the options.
Budget for $2k installed.
Do some more searching on the forum there were 2 clutch threads in the last few months.

good point, though my stock clutch has done 100k now, but yeah if it's gonna cost around $2k to do the clutch, i think i'll give it more time. you didn't say who did the tune?

and what you say about the vibration i will get with the vr6 setup is a little worrying... how noticeble is it? when does it happen?

[Treza360]

Price quoted is normally installed price from what I have seen. In most cases when we say chipping the majority of the case it is actually reflashing/overwriting the existing software in the stock chip with a new tune.
With APR all the prices listed are an installed price as I know (I'm not a dealer or reseller or anything).
I may be wrong as I don't know the ins and outs of all the manufacturers but this is the norm.

With pricing it never hurts to ask the question, list other competitors prices and ask them to justify what advantages they're software has over others to justify prices. Also if you buy other parts/components or get your car serviced there you should be able to get yourself a discount if you play your cards right.

Cheers,
Trent

[dubbed]

The 180hp figure they are referring to is probably in relation to the GTI 25th Anniversary. It may have had a slightly different turbo.

I wouldn't worry too much about the extra pounds of boost. They test and tune these things for hundreds of hours to ensure things won't self destruct in two months. If the engine (safe AFR) and turbo can handle it then there should be no issue. I've read about the 1.8 engine copping some pretty insane amounts of boost without engine issues.

I like the idea of the Stage 2 - 175~ kilowatts. I would assume the internals are at their absolute limit...

EDIT: just checked their site. You should be looking at this page: http://www.unitronic.ca/performance-...1.8T&x=25&y=17 This is for the 150hp models i.e. the GTIs that were Aus delivered. Stage 3 is 153~ kilowatts.

[JustCruisn]

you didn't say who did the tune?

Sorry, APR
It required the ECU to be taken out and a new chip soldered into it. Newer models may only need a flash.

and what you say about the vibration i will get with the vr6 setup is a little worrying... how noticeble is it? when does it happen?

I've not done it, only read peoples reviews & my mechanic's advise - he refused to do the work.

[Jmac]

Think you will find your ecu can be bench flashed mate, only difference is you cant do it via the OBD2 port, Ecu gets removed and rewritten off the vehicle. refit and allow for the adaption process to take place. Then smile with whatever program you choose majority are all good
Jmac

[Guy_H]

thanks for the feedback from those that gave it, as to this debate about nothing... can we stay on topic? it's like hardly anyone actually read what i asked!

few questions that were never answered:

The price of this mod from this place http://europeanautotech.com.au/produ...pr-ecu-upgrade
says $1500, is that an uninstalled price, and is it something that you can negotiate?

That is an installed price - Negotiable? - thats up to the owner of the store & of course, the more you purchase off them, the better your price will be. They also carry out log book servicing etc & talk to them, they may even be able to give you a lift home!

and

How much would the VR6 clutch and lighter fly wheel cost roughly?

and

Ring European Autotech 9979 4484 & see what they come up with!

One more thing, I've read that the turbo is only good for ~130kw, yet this mod claims 146kw. is that just a difference from the engine to the wheel that i've got these figures from??? or just marketing

Thanks.!

130kw @ the wheels is about the max we see on K04's with other mods so thats maxing out at ~ 160kw flywheel

and at the risk of asking too many questions, is the clutch upgrade all that important? i was speaking to people at work who said that a 30% power upgrade shouldn't really need any upgrades to things like clutch and drivetrain etc...

Having done well over a hundred MKIV upgrades, I have not found any that the stage one software upgrade stressed the clutch at all. Normally its the driver that stresses the clutch - not the car. Generally the tyres will break traction before the clutch does. Saying that, a lot of the MKIV's have high mileage now, so obviously a worn out clutch will not handle torque like a fresh one will.

And as to other chip options, PLEASE TELL ME, even if it you are affiliated with it. I live around north sydney, chatswood area, but work out at castle hill area.
APR from Mona vale is kinda close to my house, but the lazy bums don't seem open on weekends, which leaves me with the place sort of near work
Euro Automotive at Girraween who apparantly do Unitronic?

Problem with Unitronic is that unlike APR who run the turbo at 1 bar (14.5psi), unitronic run it at 18 or 20psi according this US site http://www.unitronic.ca/performance-...=1.8T&x=19&y=8 , and that worries me a little.
they claim 215 hp = 160kw, and as already stated, people here say 130kw is the limit of the stock turbo.....?

thoughts on my options? i do like the idea that unitronic will be cheaper though (i think, anyone actually used them yet?). but i do like the fact that the APR seems to be more reputable to me. i mean even on the unitronic site, there are errors, like it says the car has 180hp stock, and it doesn't have a dyno graph or anything... i want to know what i'm getting!

1.1 bar is the nominal boost we run on the K03 in the MKIV, this has proven safe & reliable over the past 10 years we have been modifying these cars.

Hope that covers most of the stuff for you - give us a call in the office if we can help you further 1300 730 949

[McDub]

thanks for the info guys. i spoke to both derek and seb, both were very helpful.
seb says they've only got the stage 1 program atm, not the stage 1+, but that's cool because i'd be happier running 16psi rather than 18... i think


so yeah i think i'm gonna go with seb (bug racer) and get the Unitronic, for two reasons, one being that it's almost half the price of the APR, and secondly, i don't have to wait for a couple of days while the computer gets shipped off for soldering a part onto it, as is the case with APR.



anyone here got the unitronic program on their MKIV?

[McDub]

so anyone done the unitronic? i'm getting it done this fri hopefully.

[Manaz]

Unitronic is fairly new in Australia, but has a good following in the US apparently.

[anthony_VWJET]

so anyone done the unitronic? i'm getting it done this fri hopefully.

Took my car in on Monday, now just waiting for a special bit to be installed..

[McDub]

Unitronic is fairly new in Australia, but has a good following in the US apparently.

yeah i gathered as much.


regarding my clutch questions, i'm now seriously considering getting an ecs clutch:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4544708

question is, the 14lbs or the 20.5lbs???