APR ECU Upgrade MK6 Golf - Customer perspective

[glennbot]

How much is the basic APR ecu upgrade? $1600? this seems alot?

[h100vw]

How much is the basic APR ecu upgrade? $1600? this seems alot?

Steady, don't get them going on the whole why so expensive deal again.

There's places that may be considered better value for money. Just got to look.

Gavin

[thamwk]

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

I'm also interested to know that if they update the official mapping for a newer mapping, would it flash out the APR settings?

[logger]

I'm also interested to know that if they update the official mapping for a newer mapping, would it flash out the APR settings?

YES. My installer told me that a future VW upgrade would overwrite the APR reMap. But he also said that if this happens, to simply call back and he would re-install it. Once you have had APR software on you car, the APU computer servers in the US will recognise your cars unique ECU serial number and know that you are entitled to the Free reload after an overwrite by VW. They actually connect your cars ECU via a laptop and the internet to APR in the states to do the install.

[GTom]

Steady, don't get them going on the whole why so expensive deal again.

There's places that may be considered better value for money. Just got to look.

Gavin

Do custom code offer a tune for the 1.4 yet? I'm interested to see what other companies out there...

I only know of Revo and APR atm who do offer a tune for 1.4.... Be good to get some more companies tuning for the 1.4 that's for sure, more variety. What's good for one person might not be good for another!

[h100vw]

Do custom code offer a tune for the 1.4 yet? I'm interested to see what other companies out there...

It's coming soon, I don't know exactly when. I am on their case weekly to get a positive answer!!

Gavin

[GTom]

It's coming soon, I don't know exactly when. I am on their case weekly to get a positive answer!!

Gavin

Do you know what kind of gains can be expected?

[h100vw]

Do you know what kind of gains can be expected?

Sorry I won't, until they say yes. My take on this, is that there's only so much power in an engine and no one tuner will be able to pull an extra 20kw from thin air.

Realistically you can expect within a couple of KWs of what the rest of the tuning world is claiming.

Cheers

Gavin

[blutopless2]

And no issues when you go in for servicing?

none so far.
although i get mine serviced by a vdub and audi specialist not a dealer i have had a few warranty claims in with a dealership and they have not mentioned anything to me about it.
the warranty work was not engine related so they probably didn't check the ecu etc...

the last time i spoke with the local apr rep he told me that a few local vw dealerships were enquiring about having it as an option for new vehicles. it would probably become part of the aftermarket window tint/paint & fabric protection section as an added product that you could get done before picking up the car...
have not heard any more on this.

[logger]

Drove the 200km from town to my test track yesterday at 100kph and averaged 5.7l/100 or 50mpg so the APR tune is not hurting fuel economy.

I finally got a chance to do some 0-100kph acceleration testing this morning. Comparing Stock to APR Stage 1. I did Ten runs on a nice flat piece of track in still conditions. 5 in each direction and 5 with each tune so as to average things out. Using the VCDS 908 Vag-Com acceleration module to log the tests.

Best time with Stock_________7.6 sec._______Speed @ 400m 118kph
Best time with APR Stage 1____6.9 sec._______Speed @ 400m 132kph

Max time gain 0.7 sec with the tune, although the average gain over all ten runs was less at 0.4 sec, probably due driver error.

Points of note.
DSG was in “S” with WOT throughout.
With the APR Stage 1 tune active, Significantly more ESP light activity in first few seconds. I actually cannot recall it coming on in Stock tune although it may have. Most of the Gear changes were smooth, although several were standout abrupt and they were with the APR Stage 1 tune active.

My 7.6 sec Stock time via Vag-Com is within 0.1 sec of what cktsi came up with (7.7 to 108kph MFD speed) although depending on running gear cktsi I reckon you can probably knock 2kph off that. Either way we are in the ball park.

The relativity of these times is the significant thing and not the absolute times due to the method I used. They are probably fairly accurate. I am very impressed with the Vag-Com capabilities. My car is in stock config (apart from the tune) and with the 16” wheels 100kph true on the vag-com happens at 106kph indicated on the MFD speedo. This 100kph via Vag-Com matched exactly with my GPS which is very neat.

After doing this testing, I felt with the tune active, you sure can tell the car is getting flogged harder than without it. It is not as smooth as the stock tune during the gear changes and the traction control has to work to deal with the extra herbs. But I make this criticism within the realm of a test which is not something most people do every day. Flat biscuit WOT from a standstill.

The extra grunt when I put my foot down in regular driving is outstanding and I love it.
I do wonder how this performance compares with a stock (non tuned) GTI.

Next challenge is to compare top speeds with and without the tune.

Here are some more detail from the logs:

APR Stage 1
Metric units
0 to 100 km/h: 6.9 +- 0.23s
400m: 15.3 +- 0.23s, @132 km/h
90-120 km/h: 3.5 +- 0.24s

Stock Tune
Metric units
0 to 100 km/h: 7.6 +- 0.23s
400m: 15.8 +- 0.22s, @118 km/h
90-120 km/h: 4.2 +- 0.22s