Tiguan Tuning Starts !

[jimbomort]

LOL ... Yes ... she suspects, but if she doesn't ask she doesn't have to know for sure, so she'd rather not ask ........ ..... I've trained her well .....

Sharkie congrats on your APR stage 1.http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf.../icon_cool.gif I must admit it sounds tempting, hard for me to justify given limited scope to use, but HELL, more go is always appealing. This is quite a long thread, so wondering if you or someone else who has adopted APR stage 1 can quickly answer these queries re APR stage 1:
- what did your insurer think - Ok with or whacked up your premium?
- any idea of impact on VW warranty - I imagine it voids?
- have you been very happy with (think I know answer to that one - perhaps my query is more where have you noticed the biggest diff or what do you like about it most?
- no other mods required?
- cost fully installed?
- any noticeable impact on fuel economy positive or negative (when not using all that extra boost!)

Of course you may see that in some ways I am looking for reasons not to get it - it doesn't really make any sense. But then when is heaps more go ever about sense? Its certainly appealing.
http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...emo_banana.gif

[Pullstarter]

Insurer was fine with it, although I reckon this would depend on the company. My premium increased by about $40 but my excess increased by $300.

As far as warranty goes it really seems to be different with each dealer, 1 dealer in Canberra will try and use any excuse possible to get out of fixing your car under warranty whilst the other is very obliging and doesn't seem to mind at all that you have the APR remap.

EXTREMELY HAPPY with the remap, the performance difference is night and day, this thing now absolutley flies!

No other mods are required as such, just depends on your budget. I think you'd be more than happy with the remap and nothing else.

Cost installed is usually $2000 but at the moment there is a 15% off sale so you can get it for $1700.

Fuel economy has dropped slightly but depends on how often you put the boot in

[clip]

- what did your insurer think - Ok with or whacked up your premium?
- any idea of impact on VW warranty - I imagine it voids?
- have you been very happy with (think I know answer to that one - perhaps my query is more where have you noticed the biggest diff or what do you like about it most?
- any noticeable impact on fuel economy positive or negative (when not using all that extra boost!)

My dealer actually talked me into it and included it with price negotiation. The software is invisible even to VW diagnostics, so it's up to you if you even want to tell anyone that you've got it. You can always switch back (takes about 5 seconds) to stock map if you don't want your dealer to know or to drive it with the performance map (or anyone else for that matter - like your heavy footed sister-in-law). It also has optional security coding, so even if someone suspected and tried to prove you had it by activating it, they wouldn't be able to.

I believe APR have their own warranty that covers engine damage resulting from their product. In reality though, if you have engine damage resulting from stgI, then I reckon you would have it anyway. The engine and drive train will take a lot more than this minor upgrade. I've now done nearly 25,000k's and had the remap since about 2000k's. Not had a single problem relating to engine.

So, I'm very happy with it. As Pullstarter said, it's night and day difference. But it took a little getting used to. Very easy to speed, very responsive acceleration with very little throttle input, and that then affects your consumption. A light foot is needed.

The single biggest difference I find is the ball tearing torque. It pulls like the proverbial right through the rev range. Hills transform into flat roads, mountain climbs become nothing more than a slight rise, and overtaking can be negotiated at vastly quicker rate drastically improving the safety of you and your loved ones.

So I'd just go and get it done, it'll be the best thing you'll ever do to it. For the increase in driving pleasure and enjoyment in comparison to any other factory option, it's also got to be the best value for money IMHO.

[jimbomort]

Guys,

thanks for the quick response and that it is all so damn good and that there is no real reason not to get it, is rather unfortunate Now - just got to find a way to fund it in some way that makes sense for the family car. Still with that current discount !!

Out of interest, on the fuel economy, is it mainly related to use of the go, or do you think greater fuel consumption is unavoidable, even with a very light foot? I thought i saw on an earlier thread, something from sharkie or perhaps one of you guys, suggesting that fuel economy might even improve a little on an engine that is well run in. Ours has done about 6000klms.

Secondly on the responsiveness - assuming it can behave itself? Ie that its not so responsive it could get scary for a missus or that the missus taking the kids to school is not going to say what have you done with our lovely mare? with the shiny coat, you've traded her in for a half crazed stallion snorting mist in the moonlight? To which I might answer - err.....yes dear...................isn't it fantastic! Lets go for a drive

[Transfer]

Not on the Tiguan I'm afraid ...... good news though ... Tiggys come with an uprated fuel pump & injectors from the factory and is good up to Stage 3 ....

Stage 3 kit substantially cheaper on the Tiguan than on the GTI because of that .... ....

Where did you find out about the uprated fuel pump on the Tig? That sure saves money.

[Sharkie]

answer these queries re APR stage 1:
- what did your insurer think - Ok with or whacked up your premium?
- any idea of impact on VW warranty - I imagine it voids?
- have you been very happy with (think I know answer to that one - perhaps my query is more where have you noticed the biggest diff or what do you like about it most?
- no other mods required?
- cost fully installed?
- any noticeable impact on fuel economy positive or negative (when not using all that extra boost!)

Jimbo ..... in answer to your question (as others have done as well)
No difference in my insurance
its undetectable to VW
you need nothing else to enjoy it
As said atm about $1700 instead of the normal $2000 (nobody else in Oz can chip a Tiguan atm)
constant speed fuel consumption is better by about 10%

Out of interest, on the fuel economy, is it mainly related to use of the go, or do you think greater fuel consumption is unavoidable, even with a very light foot? I

As above constant speed and light foot consumption is better than stock .... spirited driving will be heavier as its balances the increased boost with more fuel .... as it should ...

Secondly on the responsiveness - assuming it can behave itself?

Power delivery is perfectly smooth and linear ... no jerkiness or sudenness to it. Before when you put your foot down it was like taking a shallow breath, now its like taking a DEEP breath with power building smootly all the way through and not running out of breath at 5000rmin like before ...

Driven normally you almost would not notice it. Drive enthusiastically its like a different car....

Where did you find out about the uprated fuel pump on the Tig? That sure saves money.

Got it from APR themselves as they investigated it as part of their testing.

[Pullstarter]

Are you absolutely 100% certain that a VW dealer can not detect the APR software Johan? I was told otherwise by a pretty reputable mechanic that they can see it on the diagnostic tool.

[Sharkie]

Are you absolutely 100% certain that a VW dealer can not detect the APR software Johan? I was told otherwise by a pretty reputable mechanic that they can see it on the diagnostic tool.

Yep pretty certain .... the VAG diagniostic computers do not read the actual code so can't be seen there ....what the dealers look for normally is a different software version or the reflash counter .... other tuners don't do this properly so you can see that its been reflashed by either of these .... APR does not change either so undetecable by the normal diagnostic checks ....

Obviously if they take the ECU out, send it to Germany and then check every line of code they would be able to see that its different.

Most service depts do know how to switch the APR programs and they use that to "detect" that is there .... for this reason I have the locking feature which prevents even that .... its extra $$$ though ...

[Pullstarter]

Ah I see, I think the dealer I will be going to for warranty work would be okay with it anyway as they regularly recommend remapping through the local APR guy when selling their cars. They actually offer a drop off service at the dealers and they take it in to get done for you. I certainly wouldn't take it to the dealer I bought it from though, they have a reputation for worming their way out of warranty claims. For example, a TDI Golf with a stuffed turbo that was 3000kms out of warranty, wouldn't help in any way whatsoever and ended up costing the owner about 5k to replace

[cubes]

Sharkie stop it, after reading everything that has been said about chipping its not an option but an absolute must. After trying to convince myself wheels and springs are enough I think I will be putting a dent in my bank account sooner than I tought and the $1700 price makes it a bit more palatable than$2000 considering the $US price.