DSG "S" mode is a bit bonkers!

[Corey_R]

How do you do the reflash? I'm getting sick of bugger all action in 1st gear unless I floor it, then it takes off, but a bit much for city driving. S gives great gears, but doesn't get into 4th easily so I have to switch between the 2. Sometimes I wish I bought a manual!

Put your foot down more then. I'm not sure that a DSG reflash would change the car from trying to save fuel if you're driving economically
As far as I know, DSG reflashes are still pretty rare. I'm not sure if they're available at all for 7sp DSG, or just the 6sp DSG (where "some" aftermarket ECU companies claim they're required to achieve maximum power). APR do not have one commerically available (or not on their website anyway), however it has been observed that their Stage 4 GTI has had a DSG flash done on it since it doesn't shift until about 7250rpm - but then, that car has had it's engine internals upgraded (hence the Stage 4).... anyway, to summarise, I'm really not sure you're looking in the right direction

[logger]

However, on the DSG models, you'd also need a DSG reflash to adjust the shifting points of the DSG.

Actually no need for DSG reflash, the APR stage I ECU upgrade on my tsi118 seems to change the DSG shift points. Difference is quite noticeable if you go looking for it. My probably incorrect assumption, is that crosstalk goes on between the Engine and DSG controllers. If the Engine reports it is running out of steam, a shift can be implemented.

Actually now that I think about it I s'pose it depends how the shift points are defined. Because the tune has more grunt, it can hold a given rpm going up a particular hill, no down change occurs. In stock, it runs out of steam, the revs drop and a down change is triggered. So DSG change point is still at same rpm (or whatever the criteria is) but different engine performance between tunes, means shifts occur at different points on the same road, all else being equal.

[Corey_R]

I doubt that the APR ECU Flash has changed the DSG shift points directly, I think it's more that the DSG is adapting to the higher power and torque.... (I'm happy to defer to Guy H with this though, he is obviously 'The Word' when it comes to these things! )

So yeah - I think your 2nd paragraph is more on the money

[AdamD]

Actually now that I think about it I s'pose it depends how the shift points are defined. Because the tune has more grunt, it can hold a given rpm going up a particular hill, no down change occurs. In stock, it runs out of steam, the revs drop and a down change is triggered. So DSG change point is still at same rpm (or whatever the criteria is) but different engine performance between tunes, means shifts occur at different points on the same road, all else being equal.

I'm sure this is the case. I would expect the DSG takes into account (at least) engine RPM, road speed (and change therein over time - acceleration or deceleration), engine torque and throttle position when deciding on shiftpoints and gear preselection. After all, it needs to cope quite well with the standard engine tune under varying loads - extra passengers and luggage, towing a trailer, very steep inclines, etc. Nothing as simple as a basic hashmap would suffice, surely.

[G-rig]

Re: DSG "S" mode is a bit bonkers!

I never use sports mode, holds it in gear too long and not even convinces it's faster.

[cameronp]

Mine changes to 2nd at about 15kph. unless I give it a decent bit of pedal, it's really sluggish. Smooth, but sluggish.

Mine does about the same. I guess if you're coming from a torque-converter automatic with an initial surge of acceleration when you put your foot down, or drive a manual like my housemate does (flogging it in first on every take-off), the steady/constant acceleration of the DSG would seem sluggish. Whereas in normal driving I've always shifted from first to second pretty much as soon as the car was rolling, so the DSG's behaviour feels natural to me.

Actually no need for DSG reflash, the APR stage I ECU upgrade on my tsi118 seems to change the DSG shift points. Difference is quite noticeable if you go looking for it.

Ever since I saw your thread on the APR upgrade, I've been trying really hard to convince myself that I don't want one. Sooner or later I suspect I'll succumb...

[Corey_R]

On my first VW I held out for two months before getting the APR ECU... the only regret I had was waiting so long...
On my seconds VW I picked it up from the dealership at Parramatta, then drove it over to Derek at European Autotech at Mona Vale to get the APR ECU, on my way home to.... The Hills District, lol.

[prise]

Yes S mode is a bit bonkers unless you want to hold revs through corners and sprint out of them so I use D for 99% of driving. The only time I normally manually select gears is in underground carparks where 1st gives better speed control going up and down steep ramps. My 7spd DSG had noticeable hesitation off the line when I first picked it up, but with over 5000km of driving its now much better to the point that it is no longer noticeable, I thought it might have been just me getting used to it, but I've had a couple of people drive it since who normally drive autos and when asked about the delay afterwards, they both said they didn't notice (maybe they were being polite).

It probably just needed a few kays for the clutches to bed in and the transmission to adapt to the bite point on the clutches.

I do find that it responds better to smooth accelerator tip-in as it appears to have some sort of algorithm running that gives more aggressive shift points and a faster than expected takeoff if the throttle is tipped in rapidly.

[REXman]

In my experience most cars have a different redline and a fuel cut out point. The FCP is usually further back than redline. This is the case on nearly every sports car I have owned. Its completely safe and engineered that way. It good fun when you get there!

[niall]

DSG "S" mode auto change

Another thing I'm struggling with (Golf R)...
In "S" mode (auto not paddles) the car sometimes holds 1st gear well into the red-line even though I only have the throttle halfway down. Most times it changes at exactly the right time when the torque feels strongest but not always.

Is there a technique to change up a gear before it hits the red-line, maybe by manipulating the throttle?, and I don't mean by revving it into the red-line?

Thanks,
Niall

[Corey_R]

As long as you've waited until the car and the gearbox is warm (if you warm the car whilst driving instead of stationary idling, assume the gearbox is also warm when the OIL temp is at 80+ in the R), then yes as you thought, it's all controlled by your foot. S mode is a lot more aggressive than D mode (hence the title of this thread I merged your thread into) and will take more getting used to. Plus, at 60 and 80 km/h speeds, it'll never get into 6th etc. Then it's amusing to put the cruise control on cause it'll change to 6th, and the slightest touch of the accelerator will make it drop to as low as 2nd!

Anyway... you must've just got your car, so give it some time and you'll get used to it. Go on a nice long drive on some twisties and experiment with the different mods

[Firstgolfr]

Originally Posted by gerhard
For those who think the occasional foray into redline territory is going to hurt their Golf, think of this - the Sciroccos which run the Nurburgring 24 hour race run at the redline for pretty much 23.9 hours of that time.

And rebuild their engine afterwards...

[SilvrFoxX]

Originally Posted by gerhard
For those who think the occasional foray into redline territory is going to hurt their Golf, think of this - the Sciroccos which run the Nurburgring 24 hour race run at the redline for pretty much 23.9 hours of that time.

And rebuild their engine afterwards...

which is common for race engines, I think the point being made is a redline squirt every now and then is not going to do any harm

[Ideo]

which is common for race engines, I think the point being made is a redline squirt every now and then is not going to do any harm

Every car needs an italian valve clean now and again.

[SilvrFoxX]

Every car needs an italian tune now and again.

Fixed and correct