I've recently bought a Mk2 pre FL VRS 2.0TFSI and considering getting a stage 1 tune. I've read through a few post regarding the upgrade and was needing confirmation that stage 1 is simply a ecu remap. ie, is for example the shark stage 1 £399+vat exactly that or should I expect to have money aside for 'advised extras'

Are there any other mods advised to be carried out at the same time ?

How has this mod changed your insurance quotes ? I know this varies dependant on the individual, but 40bhp extra generally would see a noticiable insurance increase

Buy how much does the MPG change ?

How different does the car drive ? as 40bhp should be a noticable increase

And finally which re-map is recommeneded ? Revo, APR, Shark etc

Any advise would be great

Edited 19 January, 201313 yr by martinr

Martin,

I can share my experience with you of my previous vRS - 2006 2.0 TFSI

Mine had a Shark remap - plenty of reviews of all of them in these forums just got to be patient and search for them. All I can say is that I was very impressed with the Shark product, and the level of service and attention etc.

I didn't need, nor did I consider making any other changes because of the remap, though a decent set of coilovers would be a huge improvement in the handling dept. for sure. At the end of the day, all the remap does from a practical point of view in the UK is provide a quicker acceleration to the speed limit. It shouldn't change how you drive otherwise frankly you're going to be a danger to yourself and others. Where it is most useful is overtaking slower traffic, suddenly slow queues are a bit more interesting and less frustrating.

Fuel economy will only change if you use that extra power, after all it has to come from somewhere. If you drive it with a reasonable amount of restraint, then your economy will be no worse, maybe even slightly better - mine was slightly improved.

As to how it drives? Well the standard car is not a hot hatch, warm maybe. This makes it a lot quicker, and you'll need to be a little more skillful with your right foot if you want to avoid understeering off the first RAB exit in a frenzy of wheelspin and traction control alarms flashing at you. Front tyres won't last as long, it's easy to get the TC flickering in 3rd gear in the dry at times, and it's clear that the handling is a bit soft. What it does do is provide a great A road car, and if you're into that kind of thing it's amusing at the traffic light grand prixs.

Insurance could be an issue of you're young, little NCD etc. I insured mine with Greenlight, it was only £30 [premium with the map over std. I enquired about my new TSI and there is no extra charge, the premium is the same in either std or mapped; of course YMMV but it pays as ever to shop around.

Hope that helps, but I never once regretted doing it. I'd like to do it to me new car, but the warranty excludes that as an option for me right now, so got to wait for a couple of years!

there is a shark sts unit on ebay at moment, they are £150 new.

Become a Briskoda Freedom Member (£12 I think) and get 10% off your Shark remap .

Dave

My bluefin stage 1 cost £400. No other costs except an additional £30 on the insurance. MPG very similar to previously. However much more fun to drive. No reason not to do it really. Main reason I went for the bluefin over any other was simply that I can take the map off if I want to in 10 minutes and put it back again, or use the bluefin to completely immobilise the vehicle. I do actually occaisionally take the map off for a day just to remind me what it is like pre-map.

Regardless of what anyone may say, a stage 1 map (ecu upgrade only) is actually more than plenty for the real world of the UK roads.

My bluefin stage 1 cost £400. No other costs except an additional £30 on the insurance. MPG very similar to previously. However much more fun to drive. No reason not to do it really. Main reason I went for the bluefin over any other was simply that I can take the map off if I want to in 10 minutes and put it back again, or use the bluefin to completely immobilise the vehicle. I do actually occaisionally take the map off for a day just to remind me what it is like pre-map.

Regardless of what anyone may say, a stage 1 map (ecu upgrade only) is actually more than plenty for the real world of the UK roads.

The Shark STS device gives you this same flexibility to change your map whenever you want.

Cheers for the replies, I still can't believe these engines gain 40bhp simply with a remap, such good value £ / bhp. My ford V6 would be £1000's for the same gain.

My V6 is currently at 250bhp and thats a engine swap 3.0l with headers, sports cat, full stainless dual system and custom chip and map. So knowing I could have the same on the daily driver for approx £400 is quite comical.

I just wanted to make sure that by adding 40bhp, none of the other engine components or drivetrain were over strained. We all know manufacturers build to a cost.

The maps all seem to do the same job, just seems like choosing one thats local and with a good reputation. Do all companies use rolling roads to prove the map ? would be nice to have that confidence before driving away.

Edited 19 January, 201313 yr by martinr

The maps all seem to do the same job, just seems like choosing one thats local and with a good reputation. Do all companies use rolling roads to prove the map ? would be nice to have that confidence before driving away.

The VAG 2.0l Turbo petrol engine is a highly tuneable lump. VAG even encourage it (sort of). Rolling roads are for pub willy waving. You will know as soon as you drive it post map the difference it has made.

The rolling road would have been used to develop the original generic map, but that's what it is, a one product fits all, and no reason why it shouldn't (it does) work. Once you start changing the gas flow into and out of the engine you'll have to have a custom map, which would require the use of a dyno to optimise it. As Pablo says the dyno plot is sort of interesting at best, it's how it drives, and how much after care / service you get are really what you need to evaluate and decide what's best for you.

The difference between standard and stage 1 generic map is pretty big, but the drivetrain is up to it: I'm not aware of anyone on these forums who has melted their clutch through normal road use after having had it done. Just do it, it's the best £400 you'll spend on a car, ever' and I'll guarantee you'll not stop grinning every time you drive it.

I've had a DNA map on my current and last car, infact I've had four stages of remaps on this car. They have dealers round the world so you should have one nearby and with over 25 years experience they know what they're doing. With a forum discount they're £195. I bought a SRS unit (same as Shark STS) which was £150 on top of the map.

Mpg wise I never saw a difference between stage 1 and stock but the bang per buck is amazing.

Whichever you choose, make sure you've researched it. These threads, the VW forums, audi etc, PM members whio have posted a lot / in their sigs on here for their opinions, not everyone wants to be public about their criticism, or otherwise. If you are fussy, then there is a big difference between the actual map, if not, then the biggest differentiator is probably customer service or sometimes lack of it.

Cheers for the replies, I still can't believe these engines gain 40bhp simply with a remap, such good value £ / bhp. My ford V6 would be £1000's for the same gain.

My V6 is currently at 250bhp and thats a engine swap 3.0l with headers, sports cat, full stainless dual system and custom chip and map. So knowing I could have the same on the daily driver for approx £400 is quite comical.

I just wanted to make sure that by adding 40bhp, none of the other engine components or drivetrain were over strained. We all know manufacturers build to a cost.

The maps all seem to do the same job, just seems like choosing one thats local and with a good reputation. Do all companies use rolling roads to prove the map ? would be nice to have that confidence before driving away.

Coincidence here....

I've used AMD Technik in Thurrock, not the cheapest for sure, but local to home, with a sucessfull business & reputation for a stage 1 remap on.

had all three of our cars. Only other change a hi-performance on filter on the VW & Skoda.

As for results, all according to their rooling road dyno, as follows:-.

1st off my '07 Octy 2, in August 'll. about a year ago, Power before remap, 206.5 bhp @ 5852 rpm. after 257.4 bhp @ 5887 rpm.

Torque before remap, 209.6 ft/lb @ 3557 rpm, after 284.3 ft/lb @ 3175 rpm .

So basically more power / torque anywhere in the rev range according the graphs, & very noticable on the road too!

Next step was to tweake my partners VW EOS, again a BWA TFSi 2.0 litre, a bit less power & torque increase this time, possibly a more restrictive

exhaust sytem on the EOS, it's certainly much quieter than my Octy.

Power before remap, 207.4 bhp @ 6174 rpm, after 248.5 bhp @ 6208 rpm.

Torque before remap, 205.5 ft/lb @ 3524 rpm, after 265.8 ft/lb @ 3116 rpm.

Pretty much as expected, given that the TFSi engine has potention for much more, but only after some serious modifications), both cars are a little more economical in normal use but capable of providing me smiles per mile than before if we feel the need...........

I also "invested" in a remap for my 3 litre Mondy V6, but as expected this didn't gain so much, bhp up from 211 to 222, & torque up to 200 ft/lb.

I don't have the test data / charts with me at this time (I'm not at home) so I can't quote exact figures, but from memory max torgue is developed about 5100 - 5220 rpm, & max power about 6200 - 6300 rpm.

So no real performance increase but a noticable improvement in throttle response & driveability.

I do realize that it would take some real expenditure to obtain any real gains, but when / if it needs a new exhause system I'll have a ST220 system fitted.

I've read some comments (& seen drawings) about the differences between the Ghia X & ST220 V6 installations & it seems that the GhiaX has a much more restricted exhaust, & doesn't breath so well above 5k rpm. I can believe that to be true, my car is possibly too quiet!

I guess all the above waffle proves that 4 cylinder turbo direct injected petrol engines are capable of providing very adequate performance with possibly greater flexibilty/ driveability than a diesel, as long as we are prepared to pay for the extra technology.

I still don't want to give up the sound & feel of my V6 though, it's always quieter & more refined than the other cars, with a total character change if I wind it up to the redline, all in a very unassuming station wagon.............

TTFN, DC.

Comparing big capacity naturally aspirated to smaller forced induction is a much bigger topic. The op is asking about the latter. The former needs a lot more engineering and parts change to yield similar gains, which usually means more £££s. You can't beat the sound of a tuned V6 though for sure, especially if it comes from Italy. Against that comparison, the vag engine is in snoozville.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Well I'm pretty confident now, so I'll look around and see if I can get the car booked in for a re-map. Really liking the idea of improved driveability as to be fair its not too bad as it is, so any improvement can only increase my smile.

As for the V6 comments, I love the Octys engine, but when the mondeo comes out for weekend drives, that V6 roar is just something else. The octavia is more of a silent assassin on the road, where as the mondeo is a bit of a brute. I have a soft spot for the V6 burble and had the car for 8 years and can't ever see myself selling it.

Steve is bang on the money.

And you can always improve (depending on your point of view) the sound of the Octy by splashing out on a decent resonated exhaust. It'll never be a V6 or V8 soundtrack but it will be more throaty.

Edited 20 January, 201313 yr by pablo68