SuperChips ECU Upgrade for R36

[WazR36]

Lucas

Thanks for the info! I'm not too keen on increasing the noise of the car without some power gains, noise is just, well, you know...

With the CAI and original exhaust the car sounds great as it is. But the forced induction idea, hmm, now that sounds interesting! There's some amazing options out there - supercharger/turbo systems and then I've been reading up on this amazing turbo system: http://ststurbo.com/ which looks and appears incredible!

I'm not 100% across the differences between the super/turbocharger theories, I mean, I understand how each system works and the basic advantages/disadvantages with each, and I'm sure there's a massive price and performance difference between the two as well. So far, I'm kind of leaning towards the supercharger option as it seems a bit cheaper and less invasive in the engine bay - but I could be wrong about that too...

I'm going to get a SprintBooster and see how that goes, the maybe, a gradual move to the forced induction options...

Money permitting of course!


AT

i got my printbooster from ebay.de was <$300, MUCH cheaper than buying locally but a few weeks delay
Sprint Booster II Selectable FOR VW Passat TSI Engines 2005 ON | eBay

[Timlin]

Waz

Are you able to PM me your phone number?

I just bought the SprintBooster via your eBay link - Thanks!!


AT

[Guy_H]

Guy/Greg

Thanks for the tips! What is, in your opinions, the existing R36 exhaust manifold to system setup like? I mean, it must be on the OK side surely, VW are a very clever bunch of engineers and to extract the 220kw from this size engine already must take some smarts. The exhaust system is on obvious place to look at, but if the OEM manifold system is pretty good anyways, then there's little to gain here...

Its probably a mixed perception, but since I installed the CAI, it "feels" quicker, but the sound of the CAI can be very misleading too, so whilst thats a n easy and cheap upgrade, a 6-2-1 header system sounds like an expensive exercise, and if theres little to be gained it sounds like a waste of money...

Maybe I should save up for the SuperCharger option!


AT

These are the old R32 headers we used to build - you can see the stock manifold on the left & you can see the complexities involved in getting an equal tuned length in place (and unfortunately expensive to manufacture). The R36 is very similar in design.



The problem with the original Milltek & Supersprint versions is they used a "rake" style, and the original Millteks lost power over stock.

But as mentioned, you will spend a lot for not a lot of comparative gains (Comparative to a turbo car) - One great option is to trade it in on a B7 RS4 - that might be best use of your funds

[Timlin]

Guy

Thanks so much for your input - very informative!

I can see why the headers shown would be expensive, thats some quite exotic pipe bending and welding going on there. What is meant by the "rake" style description? Also, you mention that one of the headers shown in the pictures actually "lost" power, wow, thats an expensive mistake, how/why would that be possible?

I've been looking at the RS4's, very nice, then of course I found an amazing RS6 Avant with only 60k's on it, but at $120k - still, given it was high $200k 4-5 years ago, it doesn't seem too bad. But wow! What a car, twin turbo V10-426Kw... it'd bring a tear to a glass eye!


Rgd's


Andrew

[Guy_H]

Andrew, It's pretty easy to lose power, it comes down to design & testing, and some companies release products before they are fully tested.

Exhausts especially, that header design wasn't our first - the first was a true 6 into 2 cross over design that made good power, but the car would go into limp after a couple of hours due to the sensors picking up incorrect pulses (firing order). Scratch 5k worth of design.

the ones below look like a rake (picture for example only)



If you look closely, you will be able to visually measure the difference from each exhaust valve to the centre of the collector (imagine the exhaust valve is equal distance from manifold port) and these are not equal - therefore no scavenging effect, and maybe no power increase & possible power loss.

As mentioned, R36 engines are pretty much maxed out from factory, so changing something may give you the opposite effect.

[Timlin]

Guy

Very interesting, thanks for the advice.

I'll proceed with the SuperChip upgrade as there's little to lose as they offer full money back if not satisfied, so its good to know that they stand behind their products.

At a later stage I may get a some sort of exhaust mod (cat back), but its hard to justify with a perfectly good system on the car as it is, plus, the idea of just making more noise for noise sake doesn't impress me at all. If I can get a small, but modest increase in power, then I would entertain the idea, but at a $3k entry point for the SuperSprint system for example, I really think I'd have to "need" to have it, rather than just "wanting" to have it...

That RS6 sure is looking nice!

Rgd's


Andrew