IS38 Swap 162tsi

[Timmy35851]

Yeah Golf rear muffler too.

And went stock straight to this.

[WA Tiguan]

Yeah Golf rear muffler too.

And went stock straight to this.

Do you reckon Xforce DP with stock exhaust would also be really loud

[Timmy35851]

'Really loud' is a bit subjective I guess - everyone hears things differently.

Adding any aftermarket downpipe will increase the noise due to pipe diameter and removing the large stock front resonator.

I would suggest doing the downpipe first if you are going to upgrade (new turbo) at the same time, then you can fit the Golf Muffler later if you want to change the exhaust note.

[GreyGoose_X]

Your best bet is to go a basic Stage 2. Get an IS38 fitted and a matching tune. Leave everything else as is. You'll be amazed at how snappy the car becomes.

You could go for minor intake mods but the stock air box and filter isn't too bad if you remove the snow grate.

If you want to start chasing kW numbers then set a budget.

Bear in mind, once you install a DP you will no longer have a resonator and you will get drone, even with the standard muffler.
I ended up getting a Magnaflow muffler installed around the midsection of the car to remove the noise. I also have a Golf R muffler, and the drone certainly got worse when that was added.
I don't believe there are performance gains going with the Golf R muffler. Whilst they are high flowing, they are more for looks and sound.
If you want quiet, keep the stock muffler and DP.

Being an Etuners customer in Sydney I certainly recommend them. They do more than just tunes and can help plan out all the mods your talking about. I would raise it with Perth offshoot as to what you want and your budget and see what they can offer.

I'm also looking into Etuners in Syd too. Did you go straight from stock to IS38 + flash as well? Keen to know whether they've worked on our Tiguans with this kind of upgrade (i'm sure they've done dozens of GTI upgrades). Did the Etuners file include a crackle tune? I'm assuming everyone who does an IS38 upgrade, also bundles a TCU tune too.

[Beedub]

I'm also looking into Etuners in Syd too. Did you go straight from stock to IS38 + flash as well? Keen to know whether they've worked on our Tiguans with this kind of upgrade (i'm sure they've done dozens of GTI upgrades). Did the Etuners file include a crackle tune? I'm assuming everyone who does an IS38 upgrade, also bundles a TCU tune too.

I went straight from stock to Stage 3 with a TTE475 (hybrid IS38, CTS Downpipe, Wagner Intercooler, Racingline induction kit (R600 cold air intake, cotton filter, silicon hose, high flow turbo inlet), Racingline oil cooler kit, Racingline oil catch tank & PCV replacement kit), Autotech High Volume Fuel Pump, Stage 3 ECU and TCU tune.

They've done a handful of Mk2 Tiguans ranging from IS38 + flash to what I've done.
A crackle tune is available. Message them on FB Messenger and tell them what you're after, they can source most items for you and customise your car how you want it.

I believe there are some on this forum and the fb page that haven't opted for the TCU tune. Personally I recommend a TCU tune, even a Stage 1 flash does wonders for it. Stops it racing up the gears and smooths a lot of the changes out. I also find it kicks back a gear far better than the stock file does when you put your foot down.

[WA Tiguan]

I'm also looking into Etuners in Syd too. Did you go straight from stock to IS38 + flash as well? Keen to know whether they've worked on our Tiguans with this kind of upgrade (i'm sure they've done dozens of GTI upgrades). Did the Etuners file include a crackle tune? I'm assuming everyone who does an IS38 upgrade, also bundles a TCU tune too.

Pretty sure Etuners Sydney are a different company to Etuners Motorsport whos main tuningshop are based in Victoria, both seem to be good tuners though from feedback i've been looking at i see you were responding to Beedub anyway.

i once contacted Etuners Sydney and they couldn't recommend any tuner in WA what so ever, my guess is there must be some history with Etuners Motorsport and Etuners Sydney

[GreyGoose_X]

I went straight from stock to Stage 3 with a TTE475 (hybrid IS38, CTS Downpipe, Wagner Intercooler, Racingline induction kit (R600 cold air intake, cotton filter, silicon hose, high flow turbo inlet), Racingline oil cooler kit, Racingline oil catch tank & PCV replacement kit), Autotech High Volume Fuel Pump, Stage 3 ECU and TCU tune.

They've done a handful of Mk2 Tiguans ranging from IS38 + flash to what I've done.
A crackle tune is available. Message them on FB Messenger and tell them what you're after, they can source most items for you and customise your car how you want it.

I believe there are some on this forum and the fb page that haven't opted for the TCU tune. Personally I recommend a TCU tune, even a Stage 1 flash does wonders for it. Stops it racing up the gears and smooths a lot of the changes out. I also find it kicks back a gear far better than the stock file does when you put your foot down.

Wow - that's some step up right there! I assume you did your research thoroughly on what power gains you would get from entry (aka Stage 1) right up to your current set up. I guess if you know you're going to get to Stage 3 anyway, might as well save yourself the costs (labour etc) and go straight there! Thanks, will reach out to Etuners on FB.


I'm still torn. One hand, folks say stage 1 is its the best $ to horsepower ratio but on the other hand, I'm toying with the idea of going IS38 + tune + essential only mods which will run ~$2k more than a stage 1, but with much higher gains?
Its also my wife's car, so I won't get to drive it like a daily. Which makes me lean towards just a St1...

[GreyGoose_X]

Pretty sure Etuners Sydney are a different company to Etuners Motorsport whos main tuningshop are based in Victoria, both seem to be good tuners though from feedback i've been looking at i see you were responding to Beedub anyway.

i once contacted Etuners Sydney and they couldn't recommend any tuner in WA what so ever, my guess is there must be some history with Etuners Motorsport and Etuners Sydney

Thanks for the heads up mate. I read on another forum that Etuners and Etuners Motorsport were one company back when it originated in Greece (?), but since they split up, dealers across the world split as well, choosing either said companies above.

[Timmy35851]

Wow - that's some step up right there! I assume you did your research thoroughly on what power gains you would get from entry (aka Stage 1) right up to your current set up. I guess if you know you're going to get to Stage 3 anyway, might as well save yourself the costs (labour etc) and go straight there! Thanks, will reach out to Etuners on FB.


I'm still torn. One hand, folks say stage 1 is its the best $ to horsepower ratio but on the other hand, I'm toying with the idea of going IS38 + tune + essential only mods which will run ~$2k more than a stage 1, but with much higher gains?
Its also my wife's car, so I won't get to drive it like a daily. Which makes me lean towards just a St1...

It all depends where you want to end up - I was in the same position, and have also had previous cars that I have gradually modded over time. Having just done the IS38+mods & Tune straight from stock, I'm really happy with my decision. I've been in a Stg 1 tuned tig and it just wasn't enough for me.

[Beedub]

Pretty sure Etuners Sydney are a different company to Etuners Motorsport whos main tuningshop are based in Victoria, both seem to be good tuners though from feedback i've been looking at i see you were responding to Beedub anyway.

Yeah they parted ways, the guy running Etuners Motorsport is doing so on his own, the guys in Sydney still use their ECU wiz in Greece.

[Beedub]

Wow - that's some step up right there! I assume you did your research thoroughly on what power gains you would get from entry (aka Stage 1) right up to your current set up. I guess if you know you're going to get to Stage 3 anyway, might as well save yourself the costs (labour etc) and go straight there! Thanks, will reach out to Etuners on FB.


I'm still torn. One hand, folks say stage 1 is its the best $ to horsepower ratio but on the other hand, I'm toying with the idea of going IS38 + tune + essential only mods which will run ~$2k more than a stage 1, but with much higher gains?
Its also my wife's car, so I won't get to drive it like a daily. Which makes me lean towards just a St1...

It was a lot of money spent. I went overboard but I typically keep my cars for 10+ years. Racingline is quite an expensive brand too, I just like their stuff.
I also got completely sucked in by what some others were doing with their Tigs on here too and based my mods on what people were doing with Stage 2+/3 mods.
Also, being older and therefore supposedly wiser, I figured if I went Stage 1 I would end up wanting more and go Stage 2... and you get the idea, so yes, why not do it in one hit.

I still stand by my comment previously about swapping the IS20 for an IS38 and getting a matching tune for ECU and TCU. The Tig isn't a sports car, and the OEM IS38 is a better match than a hybrid (spool time is quicker on the OEM) and for what the car will generally be used for will be more than enough.
That being said, if you've got the budget, and don't mind leaving the car to be worked on for a few days (mine was gone for 5!), then go large.

[Bryce]

I've recently done the following:


-cts intake
-cts downpipe
-cts turbo elbow inlet pipe
-turbo muffler delete
-IS38 from later model Audi (10,000ks approximately)
-mk7 golf r muffler modified to fit
-apr remote to operate factory valves
-dog bone insert
-brembo brake pads
-stage 3 dsg & ecu tune from Etuners


Made 218.8kw at the wheels.

[tigger73]

Made 218.8kw at the wheels.

Nice gains.