Anyone fitted a Haldex performance controller?

[3C4M Guy]

Has anyone fitted a Haldex performance controller? I'm particularly interested in the HPA Motorsports switchable controller:
Haldex Performance Controllers | HPA Motorsports, Inc.

This can be fitted either with a 3 position switch for stock, sport & race settings or alternatively a remote control. However the remote control still seems to require a wire to be fed through to a module in the boot's spare wheel well. My 3.2L requires a Gen 2 controller and I understand R36s need a Gen 4, but the driver experience should be similar.

I found a 2009 thread started by Lance B, but that described an APR Haldex product. Neuspeed also sell one.

Thanks.

[Umai Naa!!]

I think k you may find that it will require a Gen 4.

[Passat R36]

harding performance was selling two Gen4 on eBay a couple of weeks ago, one used for $400 and one new for $800, but both dont have remote controller. I think they were unsold so maybe sent an email to check.

[maximumxposure]

I've ordered one from HPA as my Haldex controller is corroded and throwing errors. Have been waiting 6 weeks for it, due for delivery this week. Apparently the Gen 2's aren't kept in stock so needed to be made by Borg Warner, then shipped to HPA and then shipped to me.
I'll let you know how it goes once I finally receive it and then install it.

[3C4M Guy]

I've ordered one from HPA as my Haldex controller is corroded and throwing errors. Have been waiting 6 weeks for it, due for delivery this week. Apparently the Gen 2's aren't kept in stock so needed to be made by Borg Warner, then shipped to HPA and then shipped to me.
I'll let you know how it goes once I finally receive it and then install it.

Thank you. That would be great to know how it goes. So is the one you've ordered Gen 2? Do you mind me asking how much you paid?

[maximumxposure]

It was the Gen 2, my R36 is a 2008 MY09, I believe they changed from the Siemens to a different supplier.

I paid $1399 USD shipped with remote direct from HPA, worked out to about $1890 AUD.

[3C4M Guy]

Thanks for that info maximumxposure. My 2007 Passat was built in Aug 2006, so I always believed it required a Gen 2. I'll need to check again.

harding performance was selling two Gen4 on eBay a couple of weeks ago, one used for $400 and one new for $800, but both dont have remote controller. I think they were unsold so maybe sent an email to check.

Passat R36, I didn't have any luck finding those two Gen 4 units but there is another one on Gumtree at the moment. It's an HPA Gen 4 competition controller to suit Mk6 Golf and to fit OBR couplings. It's not switchable and is supposed to be similar to being permanently in race mode. It has "the additional feature of increasing the clutch torque when braking" and "will support left foot braking without disengaging the 4-motion clutch".

It sounds good for an enthusiast who wants the car to be permanently in this mode.

[Passat R36]

Did you call HPA to check? They were unsold (no one bid) on eBay so they may still have them.

[3C4M Guy]

I rang Harding Performance in QLD and they have one left. It's a new Gen 4 competition controller which they're selling for $1,100.
I also emailed HPA Motorsports in Canada and they've confirmed 100% that my car requires a Gen 2 controller. A Gen 4 will not function. For those with a similar car to mine, if the number engraved in dots into the Haldex unit starts with 01Z then it's the same as 0AV requiring Gen 2. Numbers starting with 0BR, 0BS/0AY or 0BY require Gen 4 - see link:

http://www.hpamotorsports.com/images/Haldex-Identification.jpg

There is no Gen 2 competition controller available. Gen 2 choices are restricted to the cable/switch option or the wireless remote/receiver.

[Passat R36]

I rang Harding Performance in QLD and they have one left. It's a new Gen 4 competition controller which they're selling for $1,100.
I also emailed HPA Motorsports in Canada and they've confirmed 100% that my car requires a Gen 2 controller. A Gen 4 will not function. For those with a similar car to mine, if the number engraved in dots into the Haldex unit starts with 01Z then it's the same as 0AV requiring Gen 2. Numbers starting with 0BR, 0BS/0AY or 0BY require Gen 4 - see link:

http://www.hpamotorsports.com/images/Haldex-Identification.jpg

There is no Gen 2 competition controller available. Gen 2 choices are restricted to the cable/switch option or the wireless remote/receiver.

The start bidding price was $800 on that one but it does not have remote.

[Jakeys]

I have one with the wireless remote, mine is Gen4 being an MY10.5. My Haldex failed so I didn't go from stock to performance I went from FWD broken traction control nightmare to performance, therefore difficult for me to provide a good comparison. I will say the car handles fantastically and I have had no problems with it, subjectively it doesn't understeer much at all but hard to say how it compares to stock completely.

[tigger73]

Before you buy definitely check to see what coupling you have on your car and check against what HPA recommends:



I'm pretty sure the units that Harding would have are for a Mk6 Golf R - particularly if they're talking about the engine braking this was he competition controller only available for Golf R. There's a difference for R36 Passat as it's a different coupling so make sure you order the correct unit. There's at least 4 different variations of the gen4 Haldex controller so you need to make sure you buy the right one for your car.

Personally I wouldn't worry about the switchable version (if you have a choice). Just get the fixed mode Race controller as most people that install one don't use the switch apart from a couple of times at the start so that they can feel the difference but then leave it in race mode as it's better.

I had one installed on my previous Tiguan and there's definitely less tendency to understeer and is much more fun around tight corners/round-abouts. The car actually feels like a full-time AWD car as there's more power going to the rears more of the time. It'll give you a 50-50 torque split whereas the standard controller is definitely FWD biased.

Keep your eye out as these do come up for sale second-hand every now and then but 80% of them are likely for Golf R's as that's the majority of the people that bought them.

[3C4M Guy]

Thank you to both Jakeys and tigger73 for your driving impressions. Having driven rear wheel drive cars all my life, I'm not enjoying 4Motion with extreme front bias. Actually, I'd be happy if my Passat was RWD only, although the rear drive shafts may not enjoy it! So a fixed-mode competition controller would fine for me - sadly these are available only in Gen 4 and my car definitely requires Gen 2 only.

I've been trying to dial out understeer with springs, shocks and sway bars with only partial success. A Haldex performance controller sounds like a good step in the right direction.

I read about another interesting variant on the remote vs. switchable options. That is to have the switchable version, but with the switch in the boot. As you say tigger73, apart from playing with different modes after you first install it, most people will probably leave it in "race" mode anyway. This variation also saves removing centre console, carpet, rear seat etc. to install.

One question for Jakeys - does the wireless remote version stay in the last selected setting or does it revert to "stock" every time you turn the engine off?

[Jakeys]

Thank you to both Jakeys and tigger73 for your driving impressions. Having driven rear wheel drive cars all my life, I'm not enjoying 4Motion with extreme front bias. Actually, I'd be happy if my Passat was RWD only, although the rear drive shafts may not enjoy it! So a fixed-mode competition controller would fine for me - sadly these are available only in Gen 4 and my car definitely requires Gen 2 only.

I've been trying to dial out understeer with springs, shocks and sway bars with only partial success. A Haldex performance controller sounds like a good step in the right direction.

I read about another interesting variant on the remote vs. switchable options. That is to have the switchable version, but with the switch in the boot. As you say tigger73, apart from playing with different modes after you first install it, most people will probably leave it in "race" mode anyway. This variation also saves removing centre console, carpet, rear seat etc. to install.

One question for Jakeys - does the wireless remote version stay in the last selected setting or does it revert to "stock" every time you turn the engine off?

Not sure. It either stays in the last setting or it reverts to race setting, it definitely doesn't revert to stock or eco. tigger is right though, ignore the wireless controller, just get the cheapest option. There is no need to ever leave race mode, since the week I got it I've literally never switched it off.

And just so you know, these will not give you RWD capability in any way. The VW Haldex is rear connected to front via a clutch, so the rears cannot spin faster than the fronts. You sometimes see people say that the Haldex can send more traction to the rear, but that just means the fronts are free spinning at the same rate the rears are, like if the fronts were on ice. They'll still all spin at the same speed, just traction is only being generated through the rear.

[tigger73]

I think with the switchable version it's possible to switch it to race mode and then disconnect/remove the switch completely. Send an email to the guys at HPA and they'll let you know the best way to set it up.

Or as you say just stash the cable/switch in the boot out of the way. I wouldn't be running the cable to the front and drilling holes in my dash.

There's not a single driving situation where you wouldn't want to run in race mode so I'm not sure why they made these switchable anyway. It's a bit of a gimmick that just adds cost. Unfortunately in the gen2 controller you have to buy it with a switch unit.