spen686

I'm very tempted to upgrade my intercooler.. just need to get to a stable base first.. All hopes are pinned on getting the car back to Retro Resus for a DSG service to sort out the horrible gear changes.. last thing she needs right now is any more torque 😬 Proper horrible thing to drive at the moment.

Haven't posted for a while but thought I'd give you an update.. so the car has been down to Retro Resus near Taunton and had a PowerMax 1 fitted and an Ecotune remap and DSG map too. Target was 400 bhp but so far we've only made 380. Temperatures were running very hot, limiting power so the car is booked back in to have a new Aircon rad fitted. Plus they found a couple of other issues.. The coil packs needed replacing and the injectors need sorting. So fingers crossed, after another visit we should get there. Can't report back on how she drives as I'm having to keep a light right foot until the other bits have been fixed. Plus, I'm finding the power delivery very jerky. Like, head yanking off your shoulders jerky. I asked if there was a problem with the DSG map but the suspicion is the DSG needs a service so that will get done too. While it was in there I got them to fit the Golf R rear ARB I bought on eBay.. I can definitely recommend that as a low cost mod. The handling is much improved. They've recommended replacing the shocks.. they're pretty much shot.. not surprising after 100k miles I guess. Bilstein B6s are the recommendation. Need to save a few more pennies before I do that.

Ok, so I think I've managed to answer my own question..on the EcoTune website is a package which is pretty much bang on what I'm trying to do. A Garrett Powermax stage 1 turbo, without doing any of the extras like intercooler, downpipe, etc. Just the Turbo, an air filter and a remap. Should yield around 400 GGs which is around my target. Kind of thinking maybe I'll do the fuel pump.. maybe not, we'll see.

I'll speak to the guys I have in mind to do the work. Obviously they would love to sell me all the extra parts - and I would love to do them all at once. What I'm trying to fully understand is specifically, what is the impact of each missing upgrade part. Sacrificing BHP or reliability. As far as I can see, it's the former. So for example.. Using approximate figures, we know the IS38 running at fairly safe low boost figures on stock hardware delivers 300ish BHP. And still sometimes they blow up. Running with all the goodies, airbox, downpipe, more boost, etc. Maybe you can squeeze low 400s. Then a Garrett, we know with all the goodies including fuel upgrades, can make high 400s. Maybe a 40/50 BHP increase in potential thanks to say a 30% improvement in airflow? So without supporting mods, I'm restricting the potential of the new turbo, and the tuner will have to set the boost a bit lower until I can afford to do them all. What would be crazy would be to fit the turbo and not do a custom tune - I've added loads of air so the fuelling and timing, etc. need to be adjusted or that risks reliability. But with a custom tune, not doing all the potential upgrades should mean the Turbo not running at its full potential and therefore barely breaking a sweat. I'll just have to accept a more modest power increase. Top of my list on that basis is a High Pressure Fuel Pump (even though some of the fuel pump vendors talk of them being needed once you get to 500BHP level tunes). I've already dealt with the airbox (Pikey R600). That leaves Intercooler.. Without it, day to day, I reckon I won't need it. It's a cold country and most of the time I'm not giving it any beans. BUT, if I absolutely gun it and temperatures rise beyond the capacity of the stock intercooler, then the ECU will respond by dialling down the boost. No broken turbo, just reduced power. Gearbox is the other risk for reliability, so I'll definitely be looking at getting a TCU map with increased clutch clamping pressure to cope with the additional Torque. The only grey area remaining for me is the downpipe. And how much BHP I'm leaving on the table by not doing everything in one hit.

Well that's the turbo decision made.. I just bought a Garrett Powermax GT2260S so now the on the hunt for the best option to fit and put a suitable map on it. I've been researching the hell out of all the supporting mods, none of which I really want to do.. intercooler, fuel pump, down pipe.. each one 7 or £800 plus fitting.. it all adds up. As far as I can tell, intercooler.. yes, needed if it gets really hot.. so track days or I relocate to California. UK winters, generally gentle motorway driving and the occasional poke for a bit of fun. I'll leave that off. Downpipe.. yes it will flow better but all the risks with MOT emissions and noise, and smell.. as long it's just sacrificing ultimate GGs.. I'll leave it. High pressure fuel pump.. ok.. I can see how I might need that.. give it more air from the turbo, the map will want to give it more fuel to keep up. I've read you don't really need to do that until your pushing 500bhp or so,but for the sake of a £300 for some internals.. maybe I'll just get that done. So, installer and map to choose.. hmm 🤔

Just checked .. current versions are: Firmware v0702 Current Map 0153 ECE

Ooh, I'll follow this one too.. Up to date maps would be super handy to get more accurate speed limits. How often do they tend to update them?

On the 19s Vs 18s wheel / tyres questions.. I've got a 280 that came with 19s that I think look great and drive really nicely most of the time. Certainly A roads and motorways. I live in Devon though so really I could do with more squish for the lanes. I found this suggestion so I plan to change to 245/40/19 tyres.. slightly wider than standard means 40 ratio has a bit more squish plus a thicker sidewall. Idea for me. Also slightly higher geared so gives you a more accurate speedo too.. i.e. you don't have the 5% optimistic Speedo reading any more. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/529483-changing-the-profile-of-my-19-tyres-to-get-better-ride-on-c-roads/

I'm going to start asking around local VW Audi specialists and see where their skill level is.. they're likely to have ODIS or VCP wouldn't they?

I'm itching to just book it in and get the ECU and TCU map done together but have this niggling doubt about doing the Turbo.. my gut is telling me wait, do the Turbo and maps together.. which means do it later. I'm enjoying the car as it is so it's just an exercise in deferred gratification. How long can I hold out 😬 And use that time to find the best possible solution.. don't go nuts, but get a good one. For now, DCC slider and getting that ARB fitted should keep me busy for a bit 😁 I'm just re reading the slider post trying to spot who managed to do this themselves, and who found someone to do it for them.. The latter is what I'm hoping to find 🤞

Ah yes, good point on DSG.. the standard mapping of that box (mine's a DQ250) makes the car feel like it's being held back by a big elastic band.. you have to really push the pedal hard to get it to come alive.. after a delay. And that it's goes like a scolded cat even stock. Maybe I should simply invest in a DSG map 🤔 Anyway, when the time comes, the Garrett stage 1 is the one that's calling to me. And an ECU and DSG map.

Ah yes, I've come across some of those in my extensive Googling! The shortlist so far is: Littco L380 Littco L380x Garrett Powermax stage 1 Turbo Technics V4 (only stumbled across this recently) I'm also leaning towards EcoTune on the recommendation of Retro Resus one of my local Tuners who seem really good. They want the sell me a Garrett 🤷 Any pointers on pros and cons of these Turbos? Here's where I've got to trying to work it out online. L380 I'm guessing is basically stock but stronger so you can safely dial the boost up one more notch. L380x small upgrade.. bigger compressor so more power potential but tiny bit of extra lag.. Powermax Stage 1 I'm still trying to get my head round. Seems to be an all round much better turbo than the IS38 with even more potential power but extra lag seems to be argued about.. I'm attracted to this one on the basis I can run it with conservative boost level and still get to my target. It's just the possible lag that would put me off. I want easy grunt, not screaming revvy power. I know very little about the TTV4 other than people that have them, rate them..

I have a horrible feeling the current Turbo is on its way out.. 100k miles on the car and a noise I vaguely recognise as a worn Turbo. It might surprise me but it will be a worry.

I've got a rear ARB off a Golf R in the boot, waiting to get it fitted. I want to keep the standard ride height and want to see if the ARB plus the DCC slider mod will be enough.. if not, I'll be looking at uprated Bilsteins.

And back to the turbo.. Hybrid IS38 fits the bill as stock looking and Littco is up there as an option (but which one?). Which takes me back to the choice of map.. even an improved IS38 seems sensible to avoid anything over 1.6 bar boost which limits me to Stage 1 or 1+. 400 target should still be doable if I get the turbo right ?? Is there a sensible limit for reliable boost on the Garrett? I know they easily push out some serious GGs.. hence still being tempted.