When to tune?

[PBO]

Is it smarter to tune my R when new (<500kms) or after a run in period? I've heard theories for both but remain unconvinced about either option

Can anyone clarify for me?

[Transporter]

It's up to you, but I'd put at least 5,000km on it first to allow for any manufacturing faults that could be there to show up. Also remember that other parts of the drivetrain have running in period, the gear box and diffs take longer to run in - 10,000km to 20,000km.

[The_Hawk]

As Transporter has said, the theory of the run in is to make sure there is nothing fundamentally wrong as well as anything minor that you could get done under warranty without the battle over tuned vs not and warranty coverage.

It's not a bad approach by any means, it errs of side of caution and is probably the safest approach...


Of course then there is screw it, tune it now brigade. More fun now offset against the odds that there is nothing wrong with your shiny new car. Theoretically the odds are in your favour since the majority of cars are just fine... but then it would be expensive to replace an engine if it went bang and the dealer didn't want to play.


Long story short, it's a risk before your warranty expires, it's a bigger risk before it's all run in... Of course there are plenty of people who have had their cars tuned before hitting 100km let alone 5 or 10,000km without issues.

Really it's a damn shame there isn't any dealers out there (or VW for that matter) willing to offer an guaranteed tune at point of sale, even if it's at additional cost... I know it would sway my purchase decision.

[Tweeked]

I tuned mine after about 1000km.... doesn't take me long to do that. Some people drive from the Dealer to the Tuner.. totally up to you.

[Ideo]

I did mine at 20,000 wish I did it at 5,000

[Club75]

I say no time like the present

[parso_rex]

I tell most people to put 5000kms on as well but some are done straight away at the customers request - I do keep it to a lower spec tune though and we might change the oil too just to play it safe. It just seems like common sense to let things bed in a bit so to speak and if something is going to break it will happen very early in the cars life. Having said that I haven't seen an R commonly break anything apart from gearbox mechatronic units and these are not km dependent.