Suggestions needed for first time GTi mods

[mozzzy_2000]

You are all eager aren;t ya! You all probably took a chipped car for a spin first right?
And Sharkie we're all looking at you then since yours is the oldest. Actually I find it quite relieving hearing your trouble free motoring(again touch wood lol.
Sharkie what was your next mod and what would you suggest as the next best mod since you've got some hindsight behind you?

[Chuck]

You are all eager aren;t ya! You all probably took a chipped car for a spin first right?
And Sharkie we're all looking at you then since yours is the oldest. Actually I find it quite relieving hearing your trouble free motoring(again touch wood lol.
Sharkie what was your next mod and what would you suggest as the next best mod since you've got some hindsight behind you?

Great question! After the chip is there something that really accompanies it really well? Im thinking engine mount upgrade?

[mozzzy_2000]

Bump I got the dogbone mounts done at the same time and I highly recommend it even for a stock car. You can really feel it. The whole car feels more solid and you can feel the engine more. Also gear changes feel more solid and if you really nail it off the line you really get thrown back in seat and the whole car lifts up as you launch and you really feel all that torque. Quite a thrill really.

[DaveMack]

Got mine done a month after Sharkie. Mods after chip should help the engine breath better ... otherwise it still fades at about 5,500rpm. SEAT intake, Turbo Inlet Pipe, K&N air filter (or similar), and Diverter valve as a group of smaller mods lets the engine breathe smoothly out to about 6,500 -> 6,800.

And if you haven't done something about your standard brakes by then ... you should be thinking about it. Getting mine retuned to allow for my FMIC and then a DP in January ... should be close on Sharkie's heels again by then.

Dave

[Sharkie]

Since I was the 1st Oz customer for the Polo chip (my car and APR's red test mule came from the same dealer and was their 1st Polo's to arrive) there was no car to test drive. I had driven a MK4 GTI with an APR chip so I knew more or less what I was getting. About 150kw in a car that weighed 150kg less than the Mk4.

An upgrade path I'd recommend goes as follows (powerwise only):

ECU (30kw atw)
Diverter (allows you to retain boost better - ??kw atw)
Intake + filter + Forge TIP (1-3kw atw - not a power mod but more a rounding of power curve mod)
FMIC (5-7kw atw)
Downpipe / full exhaust both with high flow cats (7-10kw atw)
KO4 (if done at this time 10+kw atw ... according to APR at this stage a K04 should be doing about 151kw atw)
Stg 3 turbo etc (40+kw atw)

Combination of FMIC and Downpipe + CAT hs been worth over 17kw atw for me. 2nd best $1500 you can spend after the ECU tune.

So far I'v spent about $3500 on engine mods for an increase of over 47kw atw so in effect my car has gone from 110kw to roughly 170kw. It spins smoothly and delivers great power.

Obviously there are a host of other mods including brakes, suspension etc that need to be done as well in between.

Most worthwhile probably the APR dogbone engine mount. Then a brake upgrade and then a suspension upgrade.

Dave ... don't worry about the AFR with just the FMIC, mine was running a bit rich as well with just the FMIC. The DP seems to have sorted that out quickly with no retune required......

[Quest]

Since I was the 1st Oz customer for the Polo chip (my car and APR's red test mule came from the same dealer and was their 1st Polo's to arrive) there was no car to test drive.

Well we are like counterparts (is that the good word ?). First tuner and first APR owner but here in NC !

So far I'v spent about $3500 on engine mods for an increase of over 47kw atw so in effect my car has gone from 110kw to roughly 170kw.

All of this, just to tell you (aussie guys) that you are VERY LUCKY coz you don't pay as much as me for the same part.
I have already spent near $3250 just for my first stage.
It is true that my gauges are not really cheap anyway but....if i lived in Australia, my Pogo would already be a BEAST ! lol !
Some say it's all about PASSION...

[mozzzy_2000]

Certianly gets my passion going Quest! lol

Hey sharkie when you say

Combination of FMIC and Downpipe + CAT hs been worth over 17kw atw for me. 2nd best $1500 you can spend after the ECU tune.

How did you squeeze all that it for $1500? Just the APR downpipe retails at $1100. Did you get a special deal?

[Kai]

I can do intercooler piping for 200 dollars in mandrel bent alluminum.

Intercooler is 300ish absolute max.

1 meter of 2.25inch silcone hose is 50 bucks.

Downpipe is about 60 bucks.

But hey. Research and Development.

Can even do split dump. For a tiny bit more.

[VW GTI]

Hey sharkie when you say
How did you squeeze all that it for $1500? Just the APR downpipe retails at $1100. Did you get a special deal?

His aren't APR. He's gone custom. $900 for FMIC and $600? for downpipe/cat (I thought a decent cat alone cost about $500)

[Kai]

His aren't APR. He's gone custom. $900 for FMIC and $600? for downpipe/cat (I thought a decent cat alone cost about $500)

In all seriousness.

If you pay 500 dollars for a cat. You're just ripping yourself off.

1. Most highflow cats arnt even compliant. SO its just as usefull as not having a cat.

2. How often do you think a vw will get checked for emissions.

3. And removing the cat gave me somthing retarded like 2hp.

[VW GTI]

If you pay 500 dollars for a cat. You're just ripping yourself off.

How much would a high-flow metal cat cost? a legal one? I was just saying that as I seem to remember seeing it somewhere?

[Kai]

How much would a high-flow metal cat cost? a legal one? I was just saying that as I seem to remember seeing it somewhere?

No idea.

I was more just saying in my post to watch out for ones that arnt "legal" cats. And yet your still paying big dollars for.

Legal ones are 400 dollars upwards from memory. But i dont order cats that often.

[mozzzy_2000]

Not dissing APR but they do charge premium prices for their gear ey.

[gtimk5]

No idea.

I was more just saying in my post to watch out for ones that arnt "legal" cats. And yet your still paying big dollars for.
In all seriousness.

If you pay 500 dollars for a cat. You're just ripping yourself off.



Legal ones are 400 dollars upwards from memory. But i dont order cats that often.

Well thats pretty contradictory isnt it Kai????
Please explain????

[Sharkie]

I run a custom FMIC and a custom DP. Same highflow cat that APR uses as part of their DP.

Inspecting the dyno graphs show I now make over 130kw atw from under 4500rmin to over 6000rmin. Max power at 5000rmin .... who needs APR V2 ?

A really fat power bulge at around 4800rmin translates into wheelspin whilst on the move already in 2nd midway through, never mind at gearchange.