Bora V6 4Motion - Is nice, I like.

[Dub_Star_V6]

Finally got Bora(t) back from Jimmy Mac today lads and despite a few niggles with late parts and another mystery noise we’re trying to narrow down (we will not be defeated!) I’ll repeat what Trent said: Jimmy Mac FTMFW.

Had the scheduled service with the added goodness of Martini Racing DOT5 brake fluid + Redline MT90 gearbox service. What a difference they’ve made! I now have a wonderfully positive, progressive pedal and beautiful modulation, heel & toe has become fun once again. The Redline MT90 service has also transformed the ‘box which is taut, positive and all but silent, with much of the previous notchiness I was experiencing having all but disappeared. It’ll probably take a few hundred kms to really start to work but all I can say is that these two improvements are immediate and noticeable. Believe.

Now… while I really shouldn’t have to, I’d like to place a disclaimer* on the rest of this post (dons Flame Suit) because far from wanting to enter a keyboard warrior flaming contest regarding flashes / chips / ECU tuning (or any other mod for that matter?) I could not be happier with the results of the CC reflash Jimmy did on the car.

Some may not think it’s worthwhile, and others will swear by this chip or that ECU, but as far as I’m concerned, some of the ‘my mods are bigger and better than yours’ BS I see on this site represents the automotive equivalent of stuffing a sock down your pants.

I always find it interesting that in a community like ours (which I believed was based on trust and mutual sharing of information) someone would dump on another’s choice of tuner / reflash / upgrade / installer etc based upon a simple difference of opinion, product or workshop. Each to their own I say, as some stuff works, some doesn’t. In the end, we’ll all find out what's good and hopefully, all be better off as a result. So to those who will insist on this kind of crap, try and say something intelligent or informed, or at least funny. If not, kindly cut that $hit out or keep your comments to yourself because really, nobody wants to hear it.

/ end rant.

As I was saying, the new CC map is the one the V6 should have had from the beginning. The engine’s response, smoothness and elasticity are ridiculous, most evident throughout the entire mid-range (but anything from around 2000rpm, really) where its response and willingness to rev effortlessly are just nuts. Super, super smooth and suits the whole ballistic sleeper demeanour of the car perfectly.

Gaps in traffic disappear, just flex your foot and it goes: no lumpiness, no deep breaths, no head scratching, no hesitation. Such was the improvement in mid-range torque that I even caught myself looking to drop a gear today only to find I was already in 5th. It was almost as if the gearing had become shorter.

The flash itself apparently went very well, threw no codes and was very clean during logs. Jimmy and I also discussed the next step of installing a nice uprated clutch kit with lightened flywheel for even better response to compliment the new map.

It will take a few days for the car to learn the new map but economy improved almost immediately to below 9.5l/100. In addition to the new response and smoothness, improved fuel economy will be another welcomed benefit of the new map. Very pleased with the result and especially with Jimmy's communication on how everything was progressing. JMac, you are well & truly going to wreck shop once this FT gig is up and running Boss.

Audi TT control arm bushes also went in, which have returned a connected solidity to the front end. Which wasn't terribly hard to understand once Jimmy showed me the (original) OEM bushes he pulled out. I should have taken a photo to show all the boys & girls at home what bushes shouldn’t look like, as they had well & truly served their purpose. It'll soon be going back for a HALDEX service and to see if we can't finally resolve the squeaky front end issue once and for all!

Will update you all again once the Eibach Pro-Kit / Bilstein B8s / Neuspeed RSB / custom rose-jointed drop links / front subframe brace all go in later this month (fingers crossed... )

[goodfella]

mate, with regards to the CC flash and in the famous words of [whoever it was]... I TOLD YOU SO. I made noticible gains on my Bora as well. You will be pleasantly surprised how different it will feelagain once you get the B8's in and tighten up the chassis a little more, minor improvements totally transform the car!

Enjoy.

[dubbed]

Wow mate your VW is copping the royal treatment. Very tasteful mods

I've got to get off my clacker and get some Redline for my gearbox...

[Gravey]

Nice one mate...cant wait to see some pics once you get the suspension sorted!

[Yevvy]

I moved from a succession of Subarus to a Bora V6 4Motion as well - it seems to be a common migration path (Subaru to VW).

So true, i did as well

[Dub_Star_V6]

So I finally got the suspension in lads and what a difference it has made. But first things first...

That means big ups to my main man JMac for his counsel not only on the TT bushes, but also for his recommendation on setup and spring/shock combinations, and his impetus to turf the nasty OEM RSB links for some chunky uprated numbers. These have all added small but important touches to the overall accuracy of the suspension package, so many thanks Jimmy!

Ken @ Accurate Suspension Services has done another amazing job in getting everything sorted and bolted together in no time. (I assume he was able to hook you up with the links you were trying to match, Jimmy?)

Just to paint the picture of just how good Ken is, this was what greeted me when I popped down yesterday afternoon to pick up the Bora:

- drag battle Datsun 1600 sedan with what looked like the mother of all intercoolers strapped to its grille

- street-tuned S15 running Tein adjustables, alloy top hats… the whole deal. Sik uleh.

- Series II Mazda MX-5 (that had detonated 1st and 4th so was looking rather sad with its engine missing!) and last but not least,

- $45 000 worth of gorgeous 1965 Lotus Elan Sprint, finished in British Racing Green.

People who love their cars don’t entrust them to just anyone, and this many exotic and classic toys in the same place at the same time shows you’re in good hands. I’d encourage VWWC members in Brisbane to go down and have a chat to Ken if they’re looking to get their suspension sorted by someone who really knows their stuff. Ken also does a heap of engineering and tuning work for motorsport competitions and hill climb events (and rumour has it he isn’t a bad wheelman himself!)

So, onto the new bits!

It was timely that I decided to swap the suspension within a year of buying the car, as Ken (* sighed * shook head *) told me the shocks were well and truly past their best so would have needed to be swapped soon regardless. On the other hand, the VR6 springs were still in great condition (and are boxed up and ready to go if they happen to be worth something to someone?)

The only issue we found with fitting the rear bar was having to use sleeved rose joints for the droplinks, as good quality metric ones proved difficult to come by. Also, as most aviation and motorsport applications are in imperial units, Ken had no problems sourcing and sleeving some 9/16” (14.29mm) zero tolerance rose joints down to 14mm and machining a set of 5/8” (15.875mm) out to 16mm. So no issues… except for having to drop the exhaust and heat shields just to get the bar in! Over-engineering, metric measurements, ah zose kerazy Tschermans.

You can see some (pre-dust storm) tractor-like BEFORE shots here and lets just say I am liking the new stance very, very much!

Here are the new Bilstein B8s




Apologies for including a gratuitous 'Tuned in der Nürburgring' shot



Eibach Pro-Kit. I'm not game to measure it just yet, but the Pro-Kit gives about -40mm once the springs are fully settled in



And the much vaunted rose jointed solid swaybar links. Chunky, just like the bar. And God they're gorgeous...

[Dub_Star_V6]

I honestly don't know how you guys on coilovers stand it day in, day out, as this new spring/shock combination is FIRM, jiggly firm but thankfully, not uncomfortably so. I am mightily impressed with the low speed damping characteristics of the B8s which soak up bumps with ease and am also enjoying the way they control the Eibachs.

The high speed damping isn't bad either, as I swung onto the freeway this evening and was surely well on the wrong side of 100km/h with nothing but silence and control. This combination is pretty impressive and more than firm enough for daily driving.

What has impressed me most though is the unbelievable body control the rear bar contributes to everything, and the way the new solid TT bushes add some sharpness to the front. Again, what I enjoy the most about the whole set up is how direct it's all become and how compliant, controllable, progressive and comfortable it all is.

I've deliberately left the front bar soft to improve turn-in and the mechanical grip this creates is as obvious as it is impressive. My inputs have now become much smaller and weight transfer is fantastic, it just stays so flat and the big rear bar changes the direction of such a big, heavy car with ease. I'll try and get some shots of the Neuspeed front sub-frame brace shortly too.

I finally got a chance to rinse off all that dust from last week's storms (the car was almost WHITE!) and as you can see, there's now quite a difference to the look of the car too, and it's cleaned up the wheelarch gap quite neatly

[Peter Jones]

Looking Good!

Thought I'd move this across to the MK 4 section as the thread is getting a bit long now and has become more than just a welcome.Thanks for keeping us updated!

Interesting to hear your thoughts on the CC tune, mine came with it already done

Pete

[quozl]

Looks great, and top choice with the Bilstein Eibach Combo.

I love the end links, can you PM me with cost and contact details please. Also you dont have any of these wheels you want to sell do you as i notice you have after markey wheels on and Im trying to source some 17 Bora Sports?



Cheers Al

[Dub_Star_V6]

Thanks Pete, as I probably should have asked for it to be moved beforehand? Oops...

I am well impressed with the CC tune, most notably with its response and smoothness. I'd be keen to get it on a dyno now to see the torque figure it's pumping out after the reflash?

Cheers for your comments Al! I am pleased I went for this combo too, especially deciding on the Pro-Kit , as I think I would have sacrificed far too much compliance by going with Eibach's more aggressive SportLine kit (-55mm). I am pleased with the result, not only because the Pro-Kit is a great match for the B8s but suit the sleeper look of the car pretty well, too: lower, but not too low, and fantastic control.

Ken's contact details are in my previous post Al, and the price is comparable to many aftermarket solid end links but with bespoke build tolerances, parts and quality. So give him a call to discuss your requirements, I'm sure he'll be able to sort you out.

As for the wheels, I only opted for the RS4 reps in 18" when I wasn't able to track down a set of the Bora Sports myself! The wheels I swapped were the OEM 16x6 7-spoke Bugatti wheel Al (but my Dad pinched those for his Bora! ) I was actually after a set of Santa Monicas, but they were even more dificult to come by?