APR flash for R32

[kctt]

Hi all, APR is having a sale at the moment. I am thinking of flashing my R32. Can anyone share their experiences (before and after flashing)? It's supposed to unleash an extra 14 odd kWs and around 40Nm of torque.. surely this would be very noticeable?

[Sqeaky]

Had mine done 2 weeks ago.

The biggest gain is in the way it now drives right across the rev range - maybe its the torque. The change in engine/driving characteristic is worth the tune alone, even the wife mentioned that the car felt more responsive.

[Stalker]

Is it mail order or custom....Melb is too far for me to drive. :p

[Maverick]

Is it mail order or custom....Melb is too far for me to drive. :p

Drive a short distance to your local Perth dealer instead.

[bwen]

I don't have much experience with getting a flash tune on an R32 as such but tuning NA cars are normally a bit of a waste if you're not running bolt ons. I think if you just had a short ram intake or cold air intake then grabbed an APR flash you would see far greater improvements not just your butt-dyno telling you otherwise.

[thezoneR32]

I don't have much experience with getting a flash tune on an R32 as such.................

Perhaps best not to comment then. I agree with squeaky above. Increased mid-range torque removed flat spots and greatly improved responsiveness. This is the second NA I have tuned the former being an 07 3RB Liberty with Ecutek which managed to gain an extra 22kw ATW! (this was proved with dynos). Ecutek cost $2,000 so APR is pretty good value really.

[schoona]

My only other comparison is a supercharged mk4 R32, but my NA mk4 R32 has been flashed. I have't been bothered to put it back into "stock mode" (why would I?) but it irons out a flat spot in the mid range of the R32 torque curve. Peak gains are minimal, engine response is increased.

Yes better benefits will be realised with additional boltons (Milltek full system, short runner intake etc)....

TBH i'd go with whoever is closest to you. If I flashed this myself it woulld have been with GIAC. Closer (just) and seems to have a more liekable reputation. The extra money for APR over GIAC doesn't buy you extra ponies, features you will never use.

Either way, a tune of some sort will be beneficial :0

[kctt]

Thanks all for the replies. I am only interested in ecu tuning.

sqeaky: If your missus noticed it, surely I will too

bwen: I understand where you are coming from. I am not expecting a massive increase in hp like I could in a turbo. I don't think under 1k is a waste if there are improvements.

thezone32: I agree the cost is pretty good value considering the numbers being extracted out from an NA engine.

schoona: Hmm.. good point. I don't know why I didn't think of GIAC considering I used it on my A4. And much closer to me too! I will do some research.

[Nathan_B]

Do it - you will appreciate it... if you decide to do intake/exhaust later on then the tune really shows its face

[DNA Tuning]

I guess people often say not to tune an NA, that the difference will be small, etc.

Yes that is true; but it is always good to know that your engine is working at its peak, even if that peak level of power is <10% more than stock.

Anyway, DNA have a tune available for both the MK IV and MK V R32; quoted power gain of 16kW and 35Nm of torque for the MK V, in line with APR's claims. 14 day money back satisfaction just in case you can't feel the difference. Please contact me if you are interested. Interstate services are available via our portable SRS-II flasher/switcher.

VAG's VR6's in general do benefit mostly in the mid to top end, where the stock ignition timing leaves alot to be desired!

[kctt]

Do it - you will appreciate it... if you decide to do intake/exhaust later on then the tune really shows its face

Hey Nathan, what sort of gains did you get from the GIAC tune. The GIAC website suggests a 18hp / 20Nm increase, seems little compared to the APR tune.

[kctt]

I guess people often say not to tune an NA, that the difference will be small, etc.

Yes that is true; but it is always good to know that your engine is working at its peak, even if that peak level of power is <10% more than stock.

Anyway, DNA have a tune available for the MK V R32; quoted power gain of 16kW and 35Nm of torque, in line with APR's claims. 14 day money back satisfaction just in case you can't feel the difference. Please contact me if you are interested. Interstate services are available via our portable SRS-II flasher/switcher.

VAG's VR6's in general do benefit mostly in the mid to top end, where the stock ignition timing leaves alot to be desired!

Where are you located John?

[DNA Tuning]

I am in Melbourne; my services are mobile - I must have misread just before, I thought you were in interstate for some reason - anyway, please feel free to contact me for a free appointment to discuss your tuning options.

[thezoneR32]

Yes better benefits will be realised with additional boltons (Milltek full system, short runner intake etc)....

I have some experience getting an exhaust and a tune on an n/a. One thing I have noticed is that people who get an exhaust and a tune on an n/a, boast about the gains and then a short time later sell the car. I am one example, another I can think of is Grig(fully modified his R32 with custom exhaust and now owns a MKVI Gti). I'm sure he will jump in and dismiss this but here goes. I got a fully blown custom made exhaust for my 3rb liberty and a ecu tune and got an extra 22kw atw. But this was high in the rev range. I always felt that the low end suffered. Problem with an n/a is that the low down torque is a byproduct of the back pressure and exhaust scavenging. Its very complex and I dont really understand it but freeing up an na at the early exhaust stage can be detrimental to the bottom end. These engines are designed and manufactured by engineers with millions of dollars budget, simply opening the whole thing up is not always a wise move. Having said that, a simple ecu tune to maximise the use of 98ron petrol is a great idea, but I would never touch the exhaust on an n/a again, certianly not the headers anyway.

Feel free to contradict me if this seems incorrect.

[schoona]

Nope. What you said is exactly correct as I understand it.

The exuast gas velocity increases and less turbulence with more laminar flow, helping the discharge of exhaust gases, increasign the eficiency of the engine. This is greater realised when trying to move larger volumes of air (Ie at higher RPM). Characteristically this is where peak power of an R32 engine is (standard ).

Peak torque is @2500 ish. The VGI should help to not make the deficit as much, seeing as the reduced back pressure does reduce torque at the given RPM range (low end).

The total "peak" gains won't read that high (VW's have never been numbers cars from what I can work out) but the actual driving experience would be improved with the full system.

Should have noted first, that I haven't personally undertaken any of htese mods on the R32 (save for the flpaper mod which did make a notable difference in pace and response).

Yes I am familiar with G-rig. He had Milltek cat back on his MkV R32. Harding performance headers perhaps?

I suppose for the "thrill" of driving you are in the higher RPM ranges, where the benefits of a well designed exhaust are most effective. If that's at the expense of a little bottom end torque, then so be it.

Tuning in australia is very timid. I know of 1 mk4 R32 in Sydney which has had headwork, Schrick cams, Evo MS intake, EIP/Milltek exhaust. Made 176kw atw N/A and it screams around Eastern Creek. This gentleman does know what he is doing (and I haven't heard another R32 (mk4 or mk5) that sounds as good as this one!

HTH