Mk7 Golf R Discussion Thread

[RMBB]

Any MK7 R April 2015 onwards has an issue with the APR mapping, as in it cant be done. Volksmuller advised me that VW have "encrypted" the ECU, and that the new code is not working. I will try and get it done on Tuesday, but we may have to go back to stock if it doesnt work. At least it doesnt "brick" your ECU, so thats nice. My build is 15th of April, so MAYBE (pray to Odin) it can work.

Getting the APR cold air intake, the GFB diverter upgrade for the "whoosh", and hopefully the map done on Tuesday. Milltek also on its way.

Thanks for the info! Im sure APR will get a version out in the not to distant future, its big money for them!
Best of luck! Even if the tune doesn't work out you've got a great car and that exhaust is going to be killer!

I just had my 15,000Km service done on my 2014 MY15 R. I had asked if they can tell me what version of the turbo I was running as I had heard there were issues with the early versions. When I picked up the car I found out I had the 2nd version and the guy looked me in the eye and said the only turbos that had blown all had tunes done [emoji12] and that VW can tell even if the tune has been cleared. Maybe, this has led to the encryption on post April 15 R's.

Thanks for sharing, to be fair though the APR (or any other) tune would only have accelerated the turbo failure which would have inevitably happened in the future. So lucky you've got that revised turbo!
Also, they can't see you've had a tune per se but they can see there is a chunk of log missing where the tuners deleted the logs for the time the tune was running. It's a massive bonus that the tune is all software based and not hardware. That being said, if VW hook your ECU up during a service or test and it is installed, that will go on your car's record forever. So in the end they can only speculate they had a tune, but that can't say or prove it (anyone correct me if I'm wrong). I mean if they could definitely prove the turbo issue was due to the tune they would be denying everyone warranty to turn everyone off tuning, which if I was VW I would definitely do because I'm sure it causes warranty issues since the car is working beyond its designed and factory tested limits.
Totally agree with you though, VW would have encrypted their ECU's to keep tuners out (and maybe competing manufacturers), decryption software is about and its only a matter of time!

I had a tune on my MK6 and absolutely loved it, definitely would get it again

[rscott4563]

This is wrong, if vw could see that it was tuned why would they go ahead and fix a car that has had engine / turbo failure under warranty when it will cost them a lot of $$$$

If you do your research properly, like 90% of us have, it was cars that where not tuned that blew turbos first, and this wasn't just in Aus....
I took mine to mtq which is a turbo building company and my mate said that it was a manufacturing fault with the stop start system and the choice of material of bearing and centre shaft on turbo

Goes to show the dealers are still employing scare tactics.... It's not what they know it's what they can prove

That does sound pretty valid, as Hainsey said if VW could tell a tune had been on the car even if it had been removed then they would absolutely refuse to warrant any car with engine faults if it had ever been tuned. We all know car manufacturers are the worst when it comes to honouring warranties and will use absolutely any excuse under the sun to avoid paying out of their own pocket.

[Herbie_059]

If you do your research properly, like 90% of us have, it was cars that where not tuned that blew turbos first, and this wasn't just in Aus....

Whoa Hainsey, no statement made by me on this issue, just merely relaying what the Service Manager was telling me.

Getting the APR cold air intake, the GFB diverter upgrade for the "whoosh", and hopefully the map done on Tuesday. Milltek also on its way.

If you are ever visiting Canberra and interested in hearing how different exhausts sound like, pm me. I have a friend with an Armytrix exhaust, I will have an IPE exhaust installed tomorrow and am interested to hear how the Milltek sounds like (The youtube clips don't always give an accurate representation).

I had a tune on my MK6 and absolutely loved it, definitely would get it again

I had a Stage 2+ tune on my Mk6 GTi and was looking forward to at least going to Stage 1 but the early turbo failures have put me off a bit. Still thinking though!

[sergioscirocco]

Fifth gear Episode 26 with the Golf R in it

[RMBB]

I had a Stage 2+ tune on my Mk6 GTi and was looking forward to at least going to Stage 1 but the early turbo failures have put me off a bit. Still thinking though!

That's what the revised turbos are for

I'll still let other people guinea pig it for a few months though.

It would be really interesting if anyone who has the APR tune and then blew their turbos (so to speak) and had the revised version installed to hear how they are going with it (if still APR'd).

Would I also be correct in saying the encrypted ECU's were introduced at the same time the R's were fitted with the revised turbos?

[AdamD]

I just had my 15,000Km service done on my 2014 MY15 R. I had asked if they can tell me what version of the turbo I was running as I had heard there were issues with the early versions. When I picked up the car I found out I had the 2nd version

There have been 4+ revisions to the turbo. The second version (702N) is still early and there have been failures reported here and overseas. See this post for more info.

Thanks for sharing, to be fair though the APR (or any other) tune would only have accelerated the turbo failure which would have inevitably happened in the future. So lucky you've got that revised turbo!

There's still strong speculation that the underlying cause of turbo failures is the stop/start system. Plenty of early-revision turbo cars were tuned and haven't blown - Guy Harding's APR development Golf R being a very good example. It's not right to say that a turbo failure is inevitable with an early revision turbo, tune or not.

Would I also be correct in saying the encrypted ECU's were introduced at the same time the R's were fitted with the revised turbos?

No. AFAIK the current turbo is still 722H, which is fitted to most/all cars manufactured since early-mid 2014. VW only started encrypting ECUs in this new way since around February 2015, and initially at least, not every ECU was affected and it was hit and miss as to whether a car could be tuned or not.

It'll only be a short time until the tuners find a way around this new security, and are able to continue flashing the latest ECUs. This process is nothing new - it's been going on for years.

[AlpineM3E92]

Soundaktator removal, check

[xintis]

Thanks for the info! Im sure APR will get a version out in the not to distant future, its big money for them!
Best of luck! Even if the tune doesn't work out you've got a great car and that exhaust is going to be killer!

Might be in luck. Visited the GFB guys and had a good chat. Seems that the return pipe from the Diverter is still the old version on my car, which *could* mean that the ECU might also still be the *unencrypted* one. We will see on Tuesday.

I installed the DV+ T9359 this morning. Well worth the $269, the car doesnt loose huff any more and I can be sure that the silly stock plastic bits wont deteriorate.

JW

[xintis]

If you are ever visiting Canberra and interested in hearing how different exhausts sound like, pm me. I have a friend with an Armytrix exhaust, I will have an IPE exhaust installed tomorrow and am interested to hear how the Milltek sounds like (The youtube clips don't always give an accurate representation).

Was going for the Armytrix and almost bought the second hand one that was advertised here a few weeks ago. I just love the fact that the Milltek plugs directly into the stock ECU and is controlled through the standard Mode selection screen, this feels a little more professional imho. The sounds from the Armytrix is definitely the best, but I've heard so many good things about the Milltek, that if you put everything together seems like a better choice.

Next time I'm in Canberra, I'll holler.

JW

[jonoz]

Question for those with modified R's. How much has your 1year/15k service been costing not under capped price servicing?

[hainsey]

Jonoz I supplied oil I wanted to run and filter to the Audi dealership (as the local vw service centre is crap at best)
The charged 100$ cash to do and stamp book, I now do 7500km oil and filter change myself and get them to do the 15000km ones and I still maintain warranty as I don't put the 7500 ones in the book

[hainsey]

Also as it is running more boost and I live in NQ I am also running a 5-40 oil for that bit extra with the boost that has been wound up and when I get on it, whit the 5-30 I was noticing high oil temps (115-120c)

I will run 5-30 when I move back to melbourne

[jonoz]

Jonoz I supplied oil I wanted to run and filter to the Audi dealership (as the local vw service centre is crap at best)
The charged 100$ cash to do and stamp book, I now do 7500km oil and filter change myself and get them to do the 15000km ones and I still maintain warranty as I don't put the 7500 ones in the book

Wow! thats a good deal considering its $390 under capped price. Somehow I dont think Ill be paying that little...

[jacs]

Jonoz I supplied oil I wanted to run and filter to the Audi dealership (as the local vw service centre is crap at best)
The charged 100$ cash to do and stamp book, I now do 7500km oil and filter change myself and get them to do the 15000km ones and I still maintain warranty as I don't put the 7500 ones in the book

Hainsey, I like the sound of that. Do you mind telling me which dealership please?

[jonoz]

Service was $310 for those interested, don't feel bad about that at all.