Hi Guys,

 

For anyone interested I have just seen a post from Awesome GTI, which I double checked against the website.

 

Looks like APR have a winter sale on

 

20% off Software

 

and 10% off Hardware

 

Nice timing if someone wanted a remap for Christmas.

Which makes me wonder again, is a Stage 1 remap (an APR one in specific) upgrade-free? or will I need to take into account the cost of plugs/air induction/ IC upgrade for an error-free running afterwards? According to APR it should be, (not even plugs) but what do people who have had their experiences reckon?

 

I am not trying to cut costs, exactly the opposite. I'd like to know if this Stage 1 can work fine without upgrades and if not I would rather wait until I have the budget needed for the entire package, rather than risk any possible damage.

Hi

I have ran the APR stage 1 software on a couple of cars now without any additional hardware just stock parts.  Recommend but not needed.

You mean a couple of fabia vRSs, or 1.4 Twincharged TSIs in general?

Before getting a RE-map done, especially on a Twincharger, checking the spark plugs are OK is really to be advised.

 

If replacing the Spark Plugs, then fitting ones suited to the map would be a plan.

£40-£65 for the new plugs

& the car might be ready for a new set even if not getting a RE-map.

 

Skoda Schedule for the plugs being changed is 40,000 miles, but some Plugs are not lasing that long.

 

george

 

EDIT,  reading the post below,

i need Sparkly to get plugs for me, 'Much Cheapness'.

I pay £64.45 for 4 Denso plugs. The NGK are a bit less expensive and totally fine.

I ran mine up until the service on standard plugs, then through my own choice upgraded to NGK Iridium BKR7EIX (which to be fair wasn't expensive at £30-ish there are other more expensive options.) I even took pics of my old plugs coming out of the car and they didn't look too bad given they were 40k old.  I asked awesome what plugs they recommend and they said they see the least issues with cars running OEM spec plugs due to people causing more problems by tinkering with cooler plugs.  New plugs (whether you change or stay OEM) are a good idea as George says, it gives you chance to check the state of your old ones too.

 

I have an ITG Induction kit (entirely my choice, it helps the map, but is not a necessity)

 

I think the intercooler comes into play more at Stage 2, you could put it on a Stage 1+ setup if you intended to thrash it mercilessly, I think other than that most would say you don't need it.

 

I think if you have a car you've had long enough you know it quite well that runs well with no issues then as long as you are prepared to be pretty meticulous with it's maintenance: shortening intervals between spark plug changes, putting in the best oil you can afford, these sort of things then I think you should be fine.  A RE-map will exacerbate any underlying issues you have.

 

Obviously there are no 100% guarantees with anything in car ownership

 

Edit: oh and I nearly forgot, whatever you do don't go putting in 95RON (99RON or better if you can get it), be prepared to plan your fuelling ahead if this is a difficulty.

 

Results were very good on my car, numbers on a graph don't do justice to the on road improvement. These Dyno's and my logging were also done on spark slugs which had done 40k, car felt even peppier after the change.

 

Sparkly,

nice,  and good to see the 'running conditions' are showing an Ambient temp that many will want the engine to  be performing at.

Real world.

 

george

Sparkly,

nice,  and good to see the 'running conditions' are showing an Ambient temp that many will want the engine to  be performing at.

Real world.

 

george

I wasn't sure on that George to be honest, the more I read on Dyno's the more I'm left pickled. Is that a serious or sarcastic reaction (perils of typing, can't tell) I know the UK doesn't often hit those kind of highs.

 

I think it's a fair reflection of the temperature on the day inside Awesome's workshop, I have read all sorts about how the recorded temperature can be tinkered with to alter the results the Dyno's show. Gets pretty complex the variables that can contribute to the lottery.

 

Of course you also have a wacking great couple of fans firing air onto the front of the car which is arguably not that real world.

 

One positive for me was that the best Dyno run of four was the last run, when you might imagine heat soak having an impact.

I've just clocked 40K km (25K miles) and my service is due next week. Will be asking whether they change the plugs, and if not maybe it's a good idea to give them 4 new ones to install If I'm going towards this stage 1 I guess.

 

Car has run fine so far, no issues except from an "expected" oil usage of 200-300ml/1000 KM. I'm also always putting 98ron in so shouldn't be an issue. Now I just have to find a dealer nearby...

Edited 12 November, 201312 yr by newbie69

I noticed the sale too. I'm planning a map and was planning on getting quite a few mods before I got a stage 1, so may argue I shouldn't bother and go for a stage 2! Really just want to make sure I can make it reliable as possible along with the increased maintenance as sparkly said.

Before the map I'm hoping to at least upgrade the brake pads, Forge IC (although I've seen one from a company called Wagner?) air intake (so maybe a smaller battery) and maybe stretch to the Okoda coil packs.

But tempting to just get a map when there's 20% off! Hopefully all the above will come later on next year!

Stage I map requirements are covered above Millsy, you'll get benefit from intake and intercooler.  I'm not sure about the coil packs unless going Stage II+ I think most have added these to their car looking to cure issues rather than create gains. But they aren't "necessary"

 

One bonus of going with APR is that they give you a free upgrade to Stage 2 once you have bought there Stage 1 software, you would just need to pay labour to Awesome to take the ECU out again.  Key component of stage 2 is of course the exhaust but I think at Stage 2 the intake and intercooler become far more important.

Any word on anyone having had a APR  Map done on a CTHE ECU?

 

george