Mark 5 Polo 1.2 TSI ECU remap

[greenieb]

Hey,

First time posting here so hopefully you won't jump on me for asking stupid questions. How much does remapping cost in estimate terms? I'm currently tossing up if I want to buy a 1.2 TSI or wait for the GTI version. From everything I've read on it so far, I'm assuming the GTi will only be coming in the 3 doors and that's a deal breaker for me.

So if I was to get the 1.2 TSI, how much do you think it would be to get the remap? I've never had any experience with any of this before so I have no idea on how it works. I assume the insurance price will rise once it is done as well? Does it have any effect on the original dealer's warranty?

Is it better to wait for confirmation on an Australian site that it can be done here rather than assume the German specs as mentioned above will come out? Or do they regularly find there way here regardless?

Cheers for your time.

[Corey_R]

How much does remapping cost in estimate terms?

The 'pre-packaged' ECU reflashes which are popular around here, like APR Stage I, differs depending on the car and the engine. The Golf 1.4 TSI Twin-Charger for example costs $1550. The old Polo GTI costs $1400. The APR Stage I for the 1.2TSI is not available yet, so can't say exactly what it'll cost.

I'm assuming the GTi will only be coming in the 3 doors and that's a deal breaker for me.

The new Polo GTI is available overseas in both 3 door and 5 door models. However, given recent Australian market trends and Volkswagen Group Australia's selection of models, it is far more likely that Australia will only get the 5 door model, than both the 3 and 5 door, or 3 door only. In fact, I would rate the chances of Australia getting the 3 door only as "no chance".

I assume the insurance price will rise once it is done as well?

If it does, you need to change your insurance company
NRMA and Shannons are both fine with it and it doesn't change your premium unless you wish to cover the ECU cost but increasing the insured amount.

Does it have any effect on the original dealer's warranty?

It doesn't "void" your warranty. However, issues with the ECU or directly caused by the ECU will not be covered by Volkswagen. So in other words, if your exhaust falls off and all you've done is update the ECU, then you won't be up for the cost of fixing the exhaust.

Is it better to wait for confirmation on an Australian site that it can be done here rather than assume the German specs as mentioned above will come out? Or do they regularly find there way here regardless?

Are you talking about whether the ECU can be updated or not? As soon as you see it on one of the aftermarket tuner sites, then you can assume it can be done world wide - as long as that tuner is available in Australia.

[AMG63]

Can Dealer detect the ECU remap/flash? I will be concerned if they can.

[Corey_R]

Can Dealer detect the ECU remap/flash? I will be concerned if they can.

APR offers an option of "Security Lockout" for $170 on its ECU flashes. This allows you to 'lock' the current program and prevents anyone from changing it without first entering a 4 digit pin via the cruise control controls. As the flash does not increase any counter when it's installed, and there is no requirement for anything to be added or removed from the car, if the ECU is in 'stock mode' and the ECU is locked, there is no way to detect it is there.

If you don't have this lock, then all they need to do is turn on the car whilst holding one of the cruise control buttons and the engine light will start flashing (which is how you select which program you want).
If you had left it in Stage I mode, then they wouldn't even need to do that, because the difference between stock and Stage I is so great (at least on the Polo GTI and Golf GTI that I've owned), that you could tell the difference before you're even out of the car park!

[greenieb]

Are you talking about whether the ECU can be updated or not? As soon as you see it on one of the aftermarket tuner sites, then you can assume it can be done world wide - as long as that tuner is available in Australia.[/QUOTE]


Yeah, I meant that because the link with the specs listed above was already posted, how likely would it be to get it done here in Australia as well. I'd rather be buying a car sooner than later and if it's likely to only cost another 2 grand for the ECU, then I would be more inclined to pick up the 1.2 TSI now and save some money.

Although if the GTI does come here in the 5 door as you said, that'd be nice but will it come as a manual? Even though the test drive i had with the DSG in the Polo was great, I still prefer the manual stick.

Thanks for taking the time to answer all my questions anyway, i really appreciate the info.

[Corey_R]

Although if the GTI does come here in the 5 door as you said, that'd be nice but will it come as a manual?

No, the Polo GTI will not be available in any market with the manual, because it won't fit. Although, I don't think that's any great loss

Personally I think you need to have a long think about what you want from your car. I think that this situation makes sense with the Golf, but not with the Polo.

If you were able to get a great deal on the Golf 118TSI with sport pack and were considering that over a Golf GTI, then that makes sense. The 118TSI with ECU update gives it 151kw & 317nm, making it as quick as the GTI, and with the sport pack suspension, the handling won't be far off either. Of course you could upgrade the Golf GTI too, but if you're happy with the stock performance, then great.

But the Polo 1.2TSI vs the Polo GTI will be no competition. Even WITH the ECU update, the power and torque of the 1.2TSI is going to be nowhere near the GTI's stock levels, and whilst the there is a sport pack available for the 1.2TSI, I don't believe the 'lowered sport suspension' will compare with the Polo GTI's suspension (though tbh, I haven't seen specifics about both setups to compare).

So if you like the 1.2TSI, and you'd like a little more poke out of the engine, then by all means get the APR ECU when it's available. But don't buy the 1.2TSI and ECU thinking that it's a cost effective alternative to the GTI - because it isn't

[greenieb]

You will get no argument from me about the GTI being much better than the ECU updated version. I suppose my real issue is money, being a recent graduate and not having a lot of disposable income, I can't really see myself waiting to pay the 33 grand or whatever the base model is going to be. I know the performance is much better but if I was going to get a GTI, I'd probably just save up the extra for a Golf GTI instead.

Might have a look into prices on the Golf 118TSI sports pack as you suggested and see how that would price out against the Polo.

Cheers for clearing it all up though. I appreciate all the feedback.

[Corey_R]

well... the Golf GTI is another significant step up - about $10k more than the Polo GTI (from price guestimates).

The 118TSI will be more than the Polo 1.2TSI with ECU as well. But yeah. If you're on a budget, then stick with the Polo - it'll still be a great little car. Just don't test drive the others so you don't know what you're missing. No point punishing yourself by driving all those cars you can't afford

[astro]

How much power could this motor handle??

How hard would it be to get power about 100kw.??

Just a random thought u said the sports pack susp won match gtis and I'm sure someone will want update susp for their gti will that fit the gti?

[Corey_R]

How much power could this motor handle??

How hard would it be to get power about 100kw.??

It is hard to know how much power this motor could handle because it is brand new and hasn't been around for that long.
How hard is it to get it to 100kw? Not very, it's simply an ECU update.
The ABT Sportline Polo 1.2TSI update will give you 103kw @ 4500-5500rpm and 220NM @ 2600-3800rpm - this is up from 77kw @ 5000 and 175Nm @ 1550-4100rpm). This means the acceleration increases from 9.7sec to 8.8sec. (Don't worry about the torque having smaller range, it still has the min of 175Nm @ 1550rpm and has way more at 4100rpm).

But this is still obviously far short of the 132kw and 250NM and 6.9 seconds of the new Polo GTI...

Just a random thought u said the sports pack susp won match gtis and I'm sure someone will want update susp for their gti will that fit the gti?

I'm sure there will be new Polo GTI owners that will go out and upgrade their suspension, and it may or may not fit to the 1.2TSI. But the thing is, if you're going to take the 1.2TSI and update the ECU, update the suspension, update the wheels and brakes and roll bars and all that stuff - why not just buy the Polo GTI in the first place? The cost might end up being rather similar!