Hi all,

I've been thinking and thinking about remapping, read many threads about them and talked with a few companies. Well, all of them (companies) have said that for Stage 1 no other upgrades are required and the car should be fine. Now considering all the probable issues of the 1.4 TSI that we've all read about in this forum, when it has to cope with anything more than stock power (plugs, misfires, heat-soak) I am being a little skeptical about whether it is actually as safe as the tuners claim it is. And maybe it will be, but just for the peace of mind, what would people that have remapped consider a necessity for a Stage 1 mapped car? I'd rather spend some more cash for say an improved induction than having to deal with major engine failures later.

Personally I'd think the ITG kit would help, but I'm driving a left-driven car and iirc the ITG couldn't fit in these cars. Then If ITG is unfeasible what would be an equal alternative? I'm not thinking about placebo solutions such as K&N or revo filters as most people said they didn't really notice any improvement.

Other than the induction, are there other highly recommended upgrades? I repeat it's only about a Stage 1. I am not interested in going any further than that, I'd only like to be that little different from stock. Not any boy-racing in my mind...

Thanks!

The ECU has plenty of adaptation built into it to adjust its own fuiling to bring the AFR in line. An intake wont help with any reliability at any stage tbh, it'll free up the cold side of the turbo by removing a constriction thus releasing more power. No remaps, or tweaks are needed for an induction kit.

If your after reliability as a key factor with a stage 1 remap, then you need to look at an intercooler and spark plugs.

More power = more heat. More heat = less reliabilityand less power after a certain point. Plus the plugs aren't famed for lasting either, so itrs worth changing the set of plugs every 5-6k. Its only £40 so not likely to break the bank.

Thanks for that. Well plugs aren't an expensive thing to do and I'll be most certainly changing them regularly If I do go on with the remap. An intercooler though... I imagine is going to cost as much as the remap itself, am I right? And what products are currently available regarding intercoolers?

Edited 5 July, 201213 yr by newbie69

Hi Newbie69,

I have just had the stage 1 remap on my car and like you am not really interested in going any further. I did swap the filter for a K&N before the work but you don't notice any difference with that it just makes good sense to have a filter that lasts for 1000's of miles and doesn't need replacing every year.

I now have a car that is even more of a Wolf in Sheeps clothing and when I need to, it is more than ready to show most cars a clean pair of heals.

I tend to only drive normally most of the time and in so doing can still get over 40mpg. The engine is very smooth and responsive and always eager to deliver whenever you press on the loud pedal.

The company that did the work have suggested that an induction system would show even gretaer returns, but if that is done then the work is quite obvious whereas the remap is undetectable.

If you were to add other mods, then you would need to have a custom remap rather than the standard stage 1 software which is readily available and very cost effective.

I would certainly recommend having it done.

John

Hi newbie, I myself have had a stage 1 remap. You might of read my thread. When writing that I decided to write the opening post as how I saw it at that time which was smooth with great performance when needed. Now I have had the remap for 3 weeks and have been driving the car more lately as its so much more god dam fun!! :-) I wouldn't even dream of going back, but now i am hungry for more which unfortunately happens. You get hooked and intrigued of what you can actually get this car to achieve, I said all along stage 1 no further. But am already having the pricing done by the tuners for a full stage 2 upgrade where I will be looking at intercooler etc.

I'm not sure where you live but I can strongly recommend Keith Edwards motors ulverston Cumbria for revo work, they are an excellent outfit and focus very strongly on customer satisfaction.

Now back to your question, the tuner you take it to should know already that stage 1 its recommended to have an iridium spark plug upgrade. Which is all I'm running at the moment with stage 1 map with complete stock hardware. This however is set to change as in the pipeline is itg maxogen filter, then exhaust system (cat back) within the following month.

Oh and I have a Sps switch so can change to a stock "emulated" revo map so can switch it of need to go to dealers.

Maybe worth buying or at least stopping and reading in the newsagents.

'Volkswagen Driver'

issue 146 July 2012 'Special GTI issue' has a 'Revo' feature.

Quote from the article and by 'Mark'.

'All of which takes us to an unavoidable question.

Did the company set out to make its upgrades untracable from the outset?

"Well, of course, it certainly wan't our intention to upset any manufacturers,"

smiles Mark.

"We always make a very clear point of telling our customers and end users to inform

both their dealer, if the car is still under warranty, and, of course, their insurance company.

The sopfistication of the VW Group factory engineers in assessing the status of the ECU is advancing

fast alongside our ability to introduce tuned softwear, so honesty is definitely the way to go!

Besides, don't be to surprised to hear that, in many cases, those same dealers will also be runningthe same softwear on their

own cars, so it's usually very easy to find an enlightened service manager ot two!"

*Does make you you wonder what VAG or Skoda make of the nudge nudge wink wink from Mark!*

george

And I bet there's a few out there....

I gather it varies from dealer to dealer - some are more "friendly" to mods (and some even offer them via their sales desk), yet others are of the "warranty void" school it seems.

Please note though - this isn't from personal experience, just what i've read from other forums and the opinions of some posters who's words I would believe.

I have Stage I Evo-Tech for my GTI and I can definitly say "must have" for your car. Really changed my way of smile and really pawns my good friend Stage I Evo - Tech Audi A4 2.0TFSI Quattro from the beginning to 230km.

Go for it

Is evo tech a ecu software coder or did you mean revo tech? Mike

Edited 5 July, 201213 yr by Wilko251088

In regards to your thoughts on "induction", my suggestion would be a BMC CDA (carbon dynamic airbox). Fitted one to Stu_mcl's vRS and he's can confirm there is definitely an improvement in the way the car responds and drives

Absolutely go for the re-map

It's only when you drive a standard car that it becomes so obvious. It's not all about mega performance either. The Revo map on mine has transformed the entire rev range and the longer I own the Fabia, the more I am absolutely stunned by this remarkable engine / gearbox combination on a car that currently, at NO VAT, is truly an absolute bargain.

I have installed a ram air filter which is brill nice wee noise, i went with this option because i wanted a good name brand, a sponge type filter and sumthing that wasnt gonna break the bank and i got all 3 and the filter rated to 300bhp so massive room for improvements in the power department

I have installed a ram air filter which is brill nice wee noise, i went with this option because i wanted a good name brand, a sponge type filter and sumthing that wasnt gonna break the bank and i got all 3 and the filter rated to 300bhp so massive room for improvements in the power department

A picture paints a thousand words

Those comments are exactly what I didn't want to hear! Lol! Anyway, the remap won't take place before Autumn so there's still time. Regarding the tuners, there's not actually any Revo reseller here in France which is actually the one I was thinking about. And generally the tuners names here are mostly unknown to me. The guys I am leaning towards to for now are these:

http://www.br-perfor...554-1-4-tsi-rs/

It's good that they've already mapped at least one vRS cause that's quite rare here. (Only seen 1 other vRS in 1 year of ownership!!!) They also provide a power graph of the remap and they offer the Milltek products for a Stage 2 remap which at least shows they are doing an actual research on how things are evolving with the vRS's tuning generally. Most other tuners just put the name of "Skoda vRS 1.4 TSi" in their list and wait until someone calls and asks about it in order to really see how this is done. So all in all, it's a decision that needs to take a little more time. Nothing like the UK community (both the owners and the tuners) that seems to be much much more active and informed in these subjects. Most people I know with sort of "powerfull cars" just buy them and forget them.

Edited 5 July, 201213 yr by newbie69

must be nice to own such a rare car in your country bet it suprises a few things! (not that france is short on good hot hatches )

dont you have some laws against modifying? I'm sure I read (although it was many years ago) that you wern't allowed to lower cars in France... is this right?

good luck with the remap

must be nice to own such a rare car in your country bet it suprises a few things! (not that france is short on good hot hatches )

dont you have some laws against modifying? I'm sure I read (although it was many years ago) that you wern't allowed to lower cars in France... is this right?

good luck with the remap

Very true. I've surprised quite a few cars on the highway, especially Mercs and BMW's and I still can't believe how few people really know what the vRS is about... Anyway, that's good for me as you say, and I can only imagine how much more fun it will be If remapped!

Don't know about these laws as I'm not French myself and I am here temporarily. I can tell you though I've seen quite a few lowered cars...

Euro dub!

http://www.web-libre.org/dossiers/controle-technique,165.html

http://www.web-libre...hnique,165.html

That's right but that won't bother me until 2015, one never knows but I doubt I'll be still in France by that time...

A picture paints a thousand words

hows this for a thousand words:

What do your recon the Air Intake Temperature is that you are drawing at full chat, with it taking its intake in that position?

george

Well i have a unit that plugs into obd2 port and give me manifold presssure, air intake temp etc etc, with the k&n style (1st picture) it would be about 18 whilst travelling but could raise to 30 at stand still, which expected because of the location next to the turbo. This filter at the moment is about 17 whilst travelling but i expect better when the cold air pipework fitted so should be a hell of a lot better then

Cheers,

i had to look there at what i was getting at the weekend as was checkings temps.

Temperature 'In that location' Placement for the Original Airbox' driving steady at 70 mph with car not been far

@ 22.5 celcius Ambient,

with 90 celcius Coolant & oil,

it was 29.7 degrees celcius, stopped for 1 minute with engine running and bonnet closed it was up to 32.2.

The Cold air pipework surely will help loads.

george