APR extra features - which do you use?

[spiff]

Hey all,

The time has finally come! APR is having an EOFY sale and I'm going to get my chip.
Going through the site again, I'm trying to decide the features to get and appreciate some comments from those already using or thinking of using them.

1. What did you get for the upgrade + 2 programs? (Is chipped + return to stock + security lockout considered "upgrade + 2 programs"?)

2. Is "Fault Code Erase/Throttle Body Alignment (FCE/TBA)" only good for those planning to do their own tuning thereafter? I'm not really sure what it does. Shouldn't I not be trying to erase fault codes if something comes up, so my service (not dealer) tech or APR tech can look into it? Or, is this for occasions when I'd want to erase the fault codes before taking it into a dealership.

3. "Anti-theft": how many of you who got it use it and in what conditions? Do you use it only if going away for long periods; every night; everytime you leave the car? If you turn it on once, do you just have to follow the steps to turn it off and start the car? Or, do you have to turn it on again everytime you've turned it off.

4. Is valet considered a feature? What's the difference between valet and returning it to stock?

Seems to me like those are the only 3 features (security lockout, anti-theft, fce/tba). Are there any more? Or do they consider upgrade, 98RON, race gas, valet as individual features too?

thanks for the feedback.

[spiff]

Spiff, your car is the same spec as mine and I recently had my 118tsi / 7DSG APR'd....... my story goes....
I originally had the 98 RON and standard tune uploaded into the ECU, I found out very quickly because of the increased boost levels my supercharger clutch struggled.... nasty metallic sound (explained in other posts) anyway, while it was in for a recent service, VW uploaded a fix into my ECU to apparently 'fix' some issues due to the australian climate....... I won't go into that one.
Because I had the update from VW I had to go back to get the APR reloaded after the VW mod..... I opted to have the 95RON and standard uploaded this time..... and guess what!!!! the nasty S/C clutch scream went away!..... no doubt due to the reduced boost levels.
As for the other options, I didn't bother, I was advised against the throttle body option as that was intended for older models...... as for anti theft and valet, they are a matter of choice but I didn't bother.
I have to say the APR makes an amazing difference, I went back to standard tune recently just to compare........... boring!!! switched it straight back.
Hope this helps.

That does help. I wonder if anyone else has issues with the 98RON tune. Did you give this feedback to Guy @ APR? It's odd that a 98tune wouldn't work properly with 98RON. I read one of your posts that it's just the sound but performance remains. So, is that a known trade-off that they should have advised you? If you have the post/thread, can you link to one, so I can make sure I've read the right one.

My Jetta already came back from the VW ECU 'fix' last week.

Thanks for the info about FCE/TBA. I won't bother with that then. By the way, are stock, 95RON and 98RON considered three separate programs? Do you know how is stock different from valet?

I think I'd go with stock, 95 or 98, security lockout. Still thinking about anti-theft.

[warhead]

I believe the tunes themselves are programs, so stock + 95tune would be 2 programs.

I think the way it works is that if you don't take the 10% discount, they'll load all the programs in for free so you get all the extras ( valet, security lockout, etc ).

I had my GT 1.4 TSI at Volkspower and tried to get the APR tune but turned out that my ECU wasn't supported so they had to "download" it and send it to APR HQ for a prorgam to be created. I heard back from APR about 2 months ago, but I no longer live in Melbourne, and the Sydney APR guys are so far away
Haven't had the motivation to do the 2hr drive there to get it tuned...... until possibly now

[spiff]

@warhead - Gosh. 2 hours! Well, the drive back should be quicker and more fun then! Just curious, what's different about your ecu? I've been checkin the APR website (goapr.com.au) for the better part of six months and have seen the ecu program on offer for the 1.4GT.

I guess if the stock + tune = 2 programs, then it's just going to make sense to get their offer of all programs for the price of $1550. I'd still need to figure why one would use valet over just going back to stock (by the posts i've read, people seem to use it when letting their other half drive; or sis-in-law drive; or when sending it back to be serviced).

I asked before and Guy said that if I were running 95RON fuel, the car or software would 'detune itself' slightly for the lower octane. I assume this was on the 98RON program. Since I'm going to get all programs, I can switch between both and hope I don't get the metallic sound Creniac mentioned, but I'm going to look around and see if it's an isolated case.

[warhead]

It's not as simple as just having the same engine type as listed on the APR site. For example, in the 1.4 TSI Engine series, I've been told there are over 2 dozen ECU variations, mine being one of the first, wasn't touched by APR until now.

And if you go back for a factory recall for an ECU update, the version number would change again; while APR would reflash for free, it's a matter of do they have to send the ECU program away for tuning at HQ or if they already have a download ready for the new version.

In my case it took them so long because their main ECU programmer was away on holidays, I was told it's normally a 3-4 day turn around between them sending a copy of your ECU to HQ before they come back with a tuned program.

[spiff]

Oh right. I never knew that about the different variations. Glad APR picked that up. I assume before they plug it in, or when they do, they are told whether the upgrade can happen or not. G

It's not as simple as just having the same engine type as listed on the APR site. For example, in the 1.4 TSI Engine series, I've been told there are over 2 dozen ECU variations, mine being one of the first, wasn't touched by APR until now.

And if you go back for a factory recall for an ECU update, the version number would change again; while APR would reflash for free, it's a matter of do they have to send the ECU program away for tuning at HQ or if they already have a download ready for the new version.

In my case it took them so long because their main ECU programmer was away on holidays, I was told it's normally a 3-4 day turn around between them sending a copy of your ECU to HQ before they come back with a tuned program.

[guest12345]

i'm going down the same path... the eofys

The "programs" are a bit confusing... i know there are "fault code erase", "security lockout", "anti-theft" and "program switching"

Like the OP, i'm confused about what is considered 1 program.... is the 98 tune 1 program? and switching to stock is another program? or are they both just 1 program?

From what i'm guessing it is the 1st one... the standard price is just switching from stock to tune and thats it.

[isaw]

correct.
std price is one "program" or tune (95/98 with higher boost settings and other tweaks in the timing and ECU.. ) and the ability to switch back to stock
the additional programs are valet mode (limits max HP, also max revs are 4500rpm), security lockout (nfi) and the ability to erase fault codes from the cruise control stick.

[guest12345]

ahh cool thanks for confirming... i guess i don't need valet mode, or security lockout or erase fault codes anyway...

As for the 95, 98 and 104 octane modes... those are 3 separate programs right?

And in Australia we can only get max 98 at the moment... that is like v power etc right?

So if we only use 98 every time, there is no need for the other 2 modes, if it is separate.

[MACCAA]

I believe the tunes themselves are programs, so stock + 95tune would be 2 programs.

I think the way it works is that if you don't take the 10% discount, they'll load all the programs in for free so you get all the extras ( valet, security lockout, etc ).

I had my GT 1.4 TSI at Volkspower and tried to get the APR tune but turned out that my ECU wasn't supported so they had to "download" it and send it to APR HQ for a prorgam to be created. I heard back from APR about 2 months ago, but I no longer live in Melbourne, and the Sydney APR guys are so far away
Haven't had the motivation to do the 2hr drive there to get it tuned...... until possibly now

Muller and Muller at Lakemba are now APR Dealers.....

[warhead]

Muller and Muller at Lakemba are now APR Dealers.....

Yeh I know, but it's Lakemba....

[guest12345]

Yeh I know, but it's Lakemba....

LOL yes, i rather go to mona vale as well... plus i have heard great things about derek at european autotech.... and haven't really heard any feedback about Muller and Muller so far... plus i'm doing my service while i'm there... so a place that is highly recommended is better... plus i don't want to die yet while i spend a day locally lol