APR ECU Upgrade MK6 Golf - Customer perspective

[logger]

Nice writeup.
Flip on your immediate fuel display when cruising up a hill in 7th.
Compare that to dropping a gear, and my finding has been the dsg changes up too early to be the most efficient in all scenarios.

It seems like dropping a gear to climb a hill at higher rpm would use more fuel, but (if you are driving normally) it doesn't.
I've experienced this in a 6 spd dsg in a gt 1.4 and now a pirelli gti.

So while the torque is there, it is probably costing you more to use it in certain sedate scenarios.
This isn't an observation on the tune, but as you said it changes down less I thought I'd pipe up so you can see if it happens on the mk6.

Yep, just checked and it is pretty much as you stated. FF is higher in the higher gear in this specific situation. Selecting "S" is always there as an option to prevent the DSG taking 7th I suppose. Like you say it is a counter intuitive DSG charactersitic, not an observation on the tune.

Did you ask APR about the supposed 250Nm limit on the DSG and what did they say? I'm very interested to know.

No I did not ask APR. I discussed it briefly with Volkspower and they certainly had no reservations in this area, mentioning various souped up machines (including one of their own) putting all sorts of Nm's through DSGs. Anecdotally, I have read that these things are over engineered and as I do not intend to abuse my DSG I am happy to take what I consider to be a small risk. As this is a concern for you, you will have to satisfy yourself in this regard. Digressing slightly - imagine if your current engine problems had occured with an ECU upgrade installed. It would be so easy conclude the remap as the cause, when in fact it had no link to the problem. Thankfully for all involved this has not been the case and I am sorry to hear it has happened to you, but food for thought.

I don't know if it's worthwhile / possible to do so, but is there some way you could time the 0-100 in standard tune and then switch over to stage 1 tune? I'd be interested in knowing the difference.

I am interested too. But am not busting my guts to do this just yet. Will get around to it when I am next out bush on open, flat, empty roads.

Also, from the APR video, it looked like you have to switch off the engine to select the other program, but in your posting you made it sound easier than that? So can you switch using the cruise without having to turn off the engine?

No, it is essential to turn the engine off to accomplich the switch. Just that with the MK6 you can restart the engine straight away. No longer any need switch IGN back off for 10 seconds post switch then wait for ENG light to stop flashing when IGN back on, as is the case with MK5's. So upshot is - Stop the car, turn ENG off, IGN back on , do switch with CRZ CNTRL, restart Eng. Takes about 10 seconds to accomplish I reckon.

[logger]

Set the speed warning to 40kmh. From standstill, in "S", stomp Accelerator while starting clock. Hang on and stop watch at first chime from speed WRNG. Consistently 0.3 sec quicker with Stage 1 tune as compare to stock. ~ 2.2 vs 2.5 seconds . Noticeably more tyre squeal and my ears fold back more in Stage 1 as well. Because I am in town I cannot test through to any higher speeds yet, but will when I get the chance.

Oh and the program switch takes ~ 20 sec from turning eng off to being up and running again, if I do it promptly. The actual bit on the CRZ control can be done in about 7 to 10 sec.

It would be a nice touch if there was a way to tell what program was active on my car without having to go through the process of switching programs and waiting for the response message. It is Easy enough to tell by driving it, but it would be nice none the less.

[dopey]

"Upgear too early" like car driving 55km/h in D7 around 1200rpm, I can hear the engine clonking, not sure if that the right term. Sound like if you starting a manual in second instead of first.

That is the engine labouring, it's basically the engine crying for help because you're putting too much strain on it. It's bad for the engine in the long term.

[blutopless2]

It would be a nice touch if there was a way to tell what program was active on my car without having to go through the process of switching programs and waiting for the response message. It is Easy enough to tell by driving it, but it would be nice none the less.

That's easy done. leave it on the apr program all the time. I have never changed mine back to stock since the day i had it done.

[logger]

It would be a nice touch if there was a way to tell what program was active on my car without having to go through the process of switching programs and waiting for the response message.

That's easy done. leave it on the apr program all the time. I have never changed mine back to stock since the day i had it done.

Yep That'd Work. Good to see some more happy APR campers out there.

While I do not envisage changing mine much either, I am really just pointing out how their switching interface could be improved with minimal effort. Two obvious scenarios for switching programs are when servicing or selling the car. Whether it be to hide the ECU upgrade or to highlight it as the case may be. APR market it as a key feature, which I must admit works very well and is eloquently integrated with the OEM controls. All APR need do, is add a single EPC light numeric cycle to the beginning of the process to indicate the current program in the exact same manner as currently happens at the end. That way the user could interrogate the ECU to see what prog is loaded and then quit back out without changing anything.

[GTom]

Also another happy camper here (albeit for a GT TSI).... I've had the tune since it first came out... Very happy can def. feel the extra torque...

Have never changed the programs apart from one trip to the dealer where I did just in case....

Will hopefully have mine on a dyno in the coming months

[Golf Mark 6]

And no issues when you go in for servicing?

[GTom]

And no issues when you go in for servicing?

Haven't had mine serviced yet, the trip to the dealer didn't involve them hooking up the computer...

Had the car serviced in April, and got the tune in June

[sillygogo]

That is the engine labouring, it's basically the engine crying for help because you're putting too much strain on it. It's bad for the engine in the long term.

Thats what I think too, it reminds me of my early days of driving a manual, where putting into 5th instead of 3rd or 4th instead of 2rd.
edit: agree with the engine is working more than it should...

Not sure if other 7DSG drivers experiencing the same issue of having a higher gear than what it should be. At the moment I either drive it in S or if i see a hill coming, i would accelerate more, forcing the DSG to downgear(s)

[logger]

That is the engine labouring, it's basically the engine crying for help because you're putting too much strain on it. It's bad for the engine in the long term.

Cough Cough BullS&^%. I disagree. So as to keep this thread on topic I have started a new thread to discuss it here