Tiguan IS38 and Big turbo upgrades

[INASNT]

Hi Wolfsburger, stage 1 was around 5.4s 0-100. I didn’t go stage 2 and went straight to is38....Inasnt has done all three stages, he might be able to shed some light on the performance figures...

Coming from from all previously modified cars, the stock Tiguan was pretty lifeless and tame, the main reason I bought it was because I knew it could be easily modified as last car was a MK6 Golf R.

Stage 1 was a massive improvement from stock from low to high rpm and really woke the car up, its how VW should have released it (as many others have also said). I did the airbox snow grate removal and installed a BMC filter at the same time as stage 1 everything else stock, was a little bit louder than stock even though I had the pops and bangs added with the tune. I also had the TCU tune which improved the overall driving experience of the DSG not racing to 7th gear.

At Stage 2 I installed CTS turbo inlet, Racingline inlet hose, GBV DV+, CTS turbo muffler delete and CTS downpipe and 034 dogbone insert. Stage 2 dyno graph only shows under 20kw overall difference from Stage 1 but the pull from above 3000rpm was significant and power came on alot harder. Stage 1 would die at he top end, improvement is mainly due to the CTS downpipe and 200 CEL CAT. Significant increase in exhaust noise and DSG farts even with the stock rear muffler.

With the IS38 I also installed RS6 plug which was a 56kw @4 wheels increase from stage 3. Its a totally different animal now, only had it done 1 week ago and only had an opportunity to give it a few squirts since the install so cant comment too much at this stage apart from 3000rpm onwards its like I am driving a different car. Traction control light is flashing in 2nd at 5000rpm under hard acceleration, 3rd, 4th and 5th is where you really feel the power difference. There is slightly more turbo lag to the IS20, but when the power comes on it comes on hard. Stage 1 and 2 could just floor the throttle without too many dramas, IS38 finding I am modulating the throttle a lot more otherwise have to hold onto steering wheel with both hands at full throttle when the power comes on. Even with H&R springs the front end goes skyward under hard acceleration..

[Wolfsburger]

Coming from from all previously modified cars, the stock Tiguan was pretty lifeless and tame, the main reason I bought it was because I knew it could be easily modified as last car was a MK6 Golf R.

Stage 1 was a massive improvement from stock from low to high rpm and really woke the car up, its how VW should have released it (as many others have also said). I did the airbox snow grate removal and installed a BMC filter at the same time as stage 1 everything else stock, was a little bit louder than stock even though I had the pops and bangs added with the tune. I also had the TCU tune which improved the overall driving experience of the DSG not racing to 7th gear.

At Stage 2 I installed CTS turbo inlet, Racingline inlet hose, GBV DV+, CTS turbo muffler delete and CTS downpipe and 034 dogbone insert. Stage 2 dyno graph only shows under 20kw overall difference from Stage 1 but the pull from above 3000rpm was significant and power came on alot harder. Stage 1 would die at he top end, improvement is mainly due to the CTS downpipe and 200 CEL CAT. Significant increase in exhaust noise and DSG farts even with the stock rear muffler.

With the IS38 I also installed RS6 plug which was a 56kw @4 wheels increase from stage 3. Its a totally different animal now, only had it done 1 week ago and only had an opportunity to give it a few squirts since the install so cant comment too much at this stage apart from 3000rpm onwards its like I am driving a different car. Traction control light is flashing in 2nd at 5000rpm under hard acceleration, 3rd, 4th and 5th is where you really feel the power difference. There is slightly more turbo lag to the IS20, but when the power comes on it comes on hard. Stage 1 and 2 could just floor the throttle without too many dramas, IS38 finding I am modulating the throttle a lot more otherwise have to hold onto steering wheel with both hands at full throttle when the power comes on. Even with H&R springs the front end goes skyward under hard acceleration..

Outstanding. Thank you for taking the time to detail that, and thank you to the other guys for adding some more info. I have a near new IS38 ready to pick up from a late model S3, 500 kilometres on it and I know the history of the car. Christmas came at a crap time, hard to hide the coin from my wife lol, so it’s on the burner until early Jan.

Your car sounds exactly how I want mine, everything is done except DP and tune + turbo. I could have got the stage 2 tune and DP done now but to save a few bucks I will get it all done at once, including dog bone.

I agree with you regarding the car being stock. Very uninspiring performance wise but loved the shape of the car, it’s style, the extensive list of inclusions (Wolfsburg) and it’s purpose fits our family perfectly. I also knew about the potential power of the EA888, it’s one hell of an engine and relatively safe to stretch to around 480 HP with stock internals. Obviously nothing is ever truly safe when your chasing HP. I’ve already blown a gearbox but if you read most of the scuttlebutt surrounding the DQ500 it’s bullet proof. Mine wasn’t abused or flogged, its possible it may have been faulty from day one but I was fortunate enough to get it replaced (whole gearbox). My tuner picked up a leak at the bevel box so we stripped the tune and because the car didn’t raise any flags(everything looks stock) it was covered under warranty, from memory it had about 8000klms on the clock. After that experience, the gearbox is probably my biggest worry even though the RS3 puts down phenomenal figures with ease, I’ve spent some time in a tuned RS3 on E85 and a few mods, ridiculous car, I just hope that the gearbox is exactly the same as the designation DQ500.

Anyways....I’ve divulged lol. Thanks again guys.

[INASNT]

Got graphs of my P version IS38 vs Snail480 IS38 Hybrid which were run on the same Etuners Dyno. IS38 P version in red, Snail in green.

As you can the My IS38 makes power and torque alot lower in the rev range, the cross over point where the snail makes more power is at 4600rpm. IS38 makes more torque, snail makes less but maintains higher torque from 4600rpm.

Our cars if they had 18's or 19's with lighter wheels would show 10-20kw@wheels more on the same dyno

[Melbourne_Tiggy]

Got graphs of my P version IS38 vs Snail480 IS38 Hybrid which were run on the same Etuners Dyno. IS38 P version in red, Snail in green.

As you can the My IS38 makes power and torque alot lower in the rev range, the cross over point where the snail makes more power is at 4600rpm. IS38 makes more torque, snail makes less but maintains higher torque from 4600rpm.

Our cars if they had 18's or 19's with lighter wheels would show 10-20kw@wheels more on the same dyno

For a daily driver the IS38 is probably a good choice for low down torque spirited driving. The graph explains why Tigger73 was roasting his tyres with LC@4k rpm, given this is where the max torque curve starts for the hybrid. I’ve done a 4.5k rpm LC and there was a lot of metallic crunching sounds and mild roasting of the front tyres, something I wouldn’t care to do to often......I suspect this would increase bevel box failure similar to what Ramee and his K04 build experienced.

In terms of power curve, I like how the hybrid keeps going from 4k to 6k rpm, that would be like VTEC YO (TSI?) for VW....can any of the hybrid guys confirm this??

[Wolfsburger]

Typed a long response and lost it. Just posting this to see if it works

[REXman]

So just picked up mine today.

Just had the IS38, CTS DP and high flow panel filter installed.

Mine baselined at 135KWs @wheels. Tuned With the above I got 185KWs. 50KWs at the wheels from a DP and small turbo upgrade I’m happy but need to drive it for a week or two to see how everything settles/feels.

Car sounds great and is smooth to drive. Snaps when I jump on it. I can only imagine what these cars with 240KWs at wheels are like.. vastly different numbers.

[tigger73]

For a daily driver the IS38 is probably a good choice for low down torque spirited driving. The graph explains why Tigger73 was roasting his tyres with LC@4k rpm, given this is where the max torque curve starts for the hybrid. I’ve done a 4.5k rpm LC and there was a lot of metallic crunching sounds and mild roasting of the front tyres, something I wouldn’t care to do to often......I suspect this would increase bevel box failure similar to what Ramee and his K04 build experienced.

In terms of power curve, I like how the hybrid keeps going from 4k to 6k rpm, that would be like VTEC YO (TSI?) for VW....can any of the hybrid guys confirm this??

I think in terms of bang for buck/tuning options/driveability the standard IS38 is the sweet spot.

I've gone TTE475 hybrid turbo and you definitely do get a big push when boost comes on and it does keep going strong to redline. Here's my dyno chart:



And definitely w=once you get past the initial "lag" you'll be in the 4,000-6,000rpm range most of the time if you're on WOT so the hybrid turbo is definitely going to pull stronger.

I guess you have to weigh up how many times you're going to be doing this compared to giving it a boot off the line or around round-abouts which is probably where the standard IS38 has a bit more of an advantage with 500rpm quicker spool.

[Beedub]

I concur with the VTEC YO statement (LOL!) and my TTE475 picks up from 4-6K rpm. Not the best graph.

[Wolfsburger]

So just picked up mine today.

Just had the IS38, CTS DP and high flow panel filter installed.

Mine baselined at 135KWs @wheels. Tuned With the above I got 185KWs. 50KWs at the wheels from a DP and small turbo upgrade I’m happy but need to drive it for a week or two to see how everything settles/feels.

Car sounds great and is smooth to drive. Snaps when I jump on it. I can only imagine what these cars with 240KWs at wheels are like.. vastly different numbers.

Always good to get in your car after performance mods are done. Good stuff.
Dyno figures, I’m sure dyno’s were invented to disappoint (mostly). Always hard to compare with so much differential between them but those numbers sound a little low for a DP and turbo upgrade I would have thought?

[Wolfsburger]

I think in terms of bang for buck/tuning options/driveability the standard IS38 is the sweet spot.

I've gone TTE475 hybrid turbo and you definitely do get a big push when boost comes on and it does keep going strong to redline. Here's my dyno chart:



And definitely w=once you get past the initial "lag" you'll be in the 4,000-6,000rpm range most of the time if you're on WOT so the hybrid turbo is definitely going to pull stronger.

I guess you have to weigh up how many times you're going to be doing this compared to giving it a boot off the line or around round-abouts which is probably where the standard IS38 has a bit more of an advantage with 500rpm quicker spool.

If I had access to more touring style type roads I’d definitely go with your Hybrid turbo, that thing would be awesome on good stretches of bitumen and flowing corners. Actually it would be awesome everywhere but I’m taking note of your advice regarding the IS38. I can almost feel that power delivery your describing with your car Tigger and I’ve owned cars like that in the past, they just don’t run out of puff, you run out of road. It’s good advice and with for my region it sounds like your right going with the IS38. Cheers.