Stage 1 Tune for 2012 Skoda Octavia TDi (103kw/320nm)

[Lucas_R]

Thought i would share this incase anyone else with an Octavia TDi was looking to tune their ECU. My brother recently took delivery of a brand new 2012 Octavia TDi wagon with DSG.

Within about 7-10 days he was complaining to me about wanting more power/torque out of it, so i had a chat to the company who have successfully tuned my car (DNA Tuning) so see what they could offer for the TDi. Link to DNA website

DNA offer a stage 1 tune for the Octavia and said that it should boost power from 103kw > 135kw and torque from 320nm > 410nm. As the ECU was encrypted, it required physically removing the ECU from the car (a 5 minute job - easy peezy) and posting it down to DNA to be opened and have the stock file read from it. Anyway, several days later, the modified ECU was posted back to us and reinstalled in the car.

The car was driven and we allowed everything to settle for 20mins or so, but couldn't resist giving it a few accelleration tests to see the difference pre-tune vs after-tuning.

Apart from feeling much more torquier and free revving, the car is approx 2 seconds faster on the 0-100kph test (went from an average 9.6 seconds down to 7.8 )

Fuel economy is still very good, actually it seems better after being tuned - as long as your driving normally (the car does alot of steady freeway driving).

Anyway, your chosen brand of tuner aside, a stage 1 tune on the Octavia TDi motor makes for an excellent bang for your buck modification - costing just over $800 in this application.

Here is a link to the DNA Tuning sponsor section of this website: http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/f171/

[brad]

I had very similar results with the Bluefin on my 118TSI. IIRC 20% reduction in in-gear overtaking times & better economy.

Anyway, your chosen brand of tuner aside, a stage 1 tune on the Octavia motor makes for an excellent bang for your buck modification - costing just over $800 in this application.

+1. Doesn't matter what tuna - just do it

[team_v]

Sounds like a decent boost.

Are the 103's weaker than the 125's though?
I don't know how comfortable i would be putting more than 125 through the 103 engine.

[brad]

if they are both 16v then they are the same short motor. They come as 132kw in the commercials.

[Transporter]

if they are both 16v then they are the same short motor. They come as 132kw in the commercials.

However, the 125kW has different pistons and connecting rods, different cylinder head and head gasket and some more changes to support that extra power.

[Mysticality]

However, the 125kW has different pistons and connecting rods, different cylinder head and head gasket and some more changes to support that extra power.

Yay!!

I don't suppose one would be able to take the entire vehicle down to DNA Tuning and have them do it on the spot, would they?
I mean, I don't actually have another vehicle lying around here and there is basically zero public transport. :S

[brad]

However, the 125kW has different pistons and connecting rods, different cylinder head and head gasket and some more changes to support that extra power.

Well that doesn't sound the same at all!!!

[Lucas_R]

I had very similar results with the Bluefin on my 118TSI. IIRC 20% reduction in in-gear overtaking times & better economy.

+1. Doesn't matter what tune - just do it

True

Sounds like a decent boost.

Are the 103's weaker than the 125's though?
I don't know how comfortable i would be putting more than 125 through the 103 engine.

However, the 125kW has different pistons and connecting rods, different cylinder head and head gasket and some more changes to support that extra power.

As answered by Transporter - yes the 103 motor is different to the 125 motor. The 125 is a stronger motor which would be more suitable and robust for modifications - although there are plenty of 103 TDi engines on this and other forums that have been modified and done several hundred thousand km's...so the 103's are still a strong motor.

Yay!!

I don't suppose one would be able to take the entire vehicle down to DNA Tuning and have them do it on the spot, would they?
I mean, I don't actually have another vehicle lying around here and there is basically zero public transport. :S

Yes you could - but as DNA tunes are actually done in the UK (and sold here through a distributor) there would still be a downtime period involved. My brothers car was off the road for 6 business days in total (4x days were just waiting for the ECU to get to/from Melbourne, plus two days to get tuned). But he was in QLD for work so the car wasn't needed at the time.

If your vRS is a year or two old, then it might be able to be flashed via the OBD port, which would mean zero downtime - using a handheld controller. The new cars have an encrypted ECU which required physical removal of the ECU and to have it opened to be tuned.

[Mysticality]

Unfortunately, no. I bought it in December.

So, the tune... You mean, basically, the ECU software? Surely they don't send it to the UK and back in 48hrs!!

Oh, well... I suppose its an excuse to go and visit family, isn't it!!

[Lucas_R]

Unfortunately, no. I bought it in December.

So, the tune... You mean, basically, the ECU software? Surely they don't send it to the UK and back in 48hrs!!

Oh, well... I suppose its an excuse to go and visit family, isn't it!!

Yes - sorry, they download the file from the ECU and it gets sent to the UK to be altered (same with Viezu / Bluefin / CustomCode etc). So there is some waiting time while this process takes place. If you bought yours in December then its probably encrypted - so would require the ECU to be physically removed to tune it as it was with my brothers car.