Basic performance mods for R32?

[Zed!]

I've been looking on the net and haven't really found much relating to modding R32s (0. Are they as easy as the Gti engines to mod? i.e with an upgraded/reconfigured chip? Or is there not much more kw to be pulled out of the 3.2l? I know a few guys have turboed them, but I'm just looking for a few cheeky modest gains, nothing too crazy or $. So any ideas for some cheap and simple mods would be appreciated!

[Mischa]

well yes theres chips out there but the gains are modest since you cant just turn up the boost like you can on a turbo car. after a chip then theres things like exhaut, cold air intake (the mkv intake design is rather daft), cams, porting of the head... the list goes on and so does the price tell us how much you want to spend and we'll tell you what can be done

[Zed!]

well yes theres chips out there but the gains are modest since you cant just turn up the boost like you can on a turbo car. after a chip then theres things like exhaut, cold air intake (the mkv intake design is rather daft), cams, porting of the head... the list goes on and so does the price tell us how much you want to spend and we'll tell you what can be done

Probably no more than $2/3K. But I guess if the gains are barely noticeable it will hardly be worth it. I'm also a bit wary about trying to sell a 'modded' car later on down the track. I know when I sold my 350, almost everyones first question was - "has it been modded!"

[ranton-inc]

just leave it standard man.. unless you want to spend the money on the exhaust and intake.. and even then your set to gain 10hp MAX

you can get cams etc and headers which can push it to 310hp

but thats about the sum of it!

[jb747]

Probably the best mod for the car is the updated Haldex controller. I had a chat to one of the chip companies, and from memory it was something like 10kw and 20 nm....certainly not worth the price anyway.

[gareth_oau]

one particular advantage in doing something from the exhaust is THE SOUND!!!!!

even if the performance gains are modest, the sound alone should justify the cost.

Ive also found with other cars that Ive modified, the peak numbers dont necessarily demonstrate the whole picture. See if you can compare power and torque bands before and after mods, as often you get more useable power and torque low down, and get rid of flat spots, even if peak power isnt that much more.

[Guy_H]

MK5 or MKIV?

MK5 = http://www.hp.net.au/hpgolfr32m5.html

MKIV = http://www.goapr.com.au/products/vwgolf4r32pindex.html

[Guy_H]

ooops - my bad - its in the MK5 forum!

[chaddy]

x2 on the Haldex upgrade. Plus you can easily swap it back when you sell. Also torque arm inserts a cheap, easy mod.

[Treza360]

"Reasonably" priced options:
- Chip
- CAI
- Cat back Exhaust (Can be a bit pricy if you go for the specialist tuner options but probably worth doing over your local canon rice supplier)
- Springs and Shocks (or Coilovers can also be big $)
- Swaybars (Front and Rear)
- Haldex
- Suspension Control Arms
- As always when it comes time to replace the rubber replace it with greater than or equal rubber (not necessarily more $). You wouldn't believe the loss in performance from putting inferior rubber on your car.

Getting slightly more expensive:
- Full exhaust replacement including headers
- Headers
- Cams
- Full replacement or piggyback ECU plus tuning time

Lastly the most expensive but with the biggest gains:
- Supercharger
- Single Turbo
- Twin Turbo
- Full engine work (pistons, porting, polishing to add to the cams and headers)

The forced induction options will require lots of downtime and big big dollars as well as potential engine bay modifications and development. Also take into account ECU upgrades or replacement for this system.

Finally there's all the things I didn't mention like aftermarket brake pads and rotors, braided lines, rollcage, stripping the thing out etc.

Some people might put these into different price brackets depending on experience but that pretty much covers most of the options.

[Steve]

A cheap mod to make her sound even better is to tweak the flapper... search for "r32 flapper mod" and you'll find a lot fo stuff for both mark 4 and mark 5 R32's.

Better still, visit Youtube and hear the results

[Treza360]

A cheap mod to make her sound even better is to tweak the flapper... search for "r32 flapper mod" and you'll find a lot fo stuff for both mark 4 and mark 5 R32's.
Better still, visit Youtube and hear the results

Oh yeah. How can I forget about the flapper mod.
Apparently it gives you an extra one or two horsepower as well.

[h100vw]

Not forgetting that an ECU flash on a NA engine is more about area under the curve than top end power.

The big numbers are not always the best to live with day to day.

Gavin

[bazil]

It's a bit of a shame it hasn't got more power like the 3.2L M sport engine. I've heard the ecu upgrades are $$ and don't offer much advantage, correct?

[schoona]

It's a bit of a shame it hasn't got more power like the 3.2L M sport engine. I've heard the ecu upgrades are $$ and don't offer much advantage, correct?

thats whats pretty much has been said mate.
check apr.com for more info RE the chip.

because (As much as we love it) our 60-70k VW isnt a 150k (when new) M car
it has and extra 50kw, not sure on torque numbers. you have AWD. a set of coilovers, semi slicks, sways and haldex mod and you will be faaster round a track then the M3 anyway.

and your not going to notice the straight line speed. not like night and day anyway. but if you get a bit more mid-corner punch then i suppose thats where your gains are.

want to notice the hp increase. ported/polished heads, ITB's, 276 or greater cams, upgraded injectors and fuel pump and you will be sweet. more air + more fuel = more power.
thats it in the simplest terms.
as always, speak with a professional. im only 18