Golf R stage 1 Ecu/Tcu

[chan61922]

Hi guys forgive me if already covered a zillion times, but only 7 weeks into ownership of my 2016 7R dsg.

Right so I was booked in for a stage 1 apr map along with res delete and window tints, was actually meant to go ahead yesterday morning but after careful consideration and asking a few other reputable tuning places it was recommended i tcu tune (dsg tune) along with a ecu tune. I’m getting mixed reviews online so just wanted to know everyone’s opinions on here. Is a dsg map really needed for a stage 1? I understand there’s a low, med and high torque variant but apparently 2015/2016 models still suffer slippage on even a low torque output? This off course has put me off, that and the fact that I don’t want to cough up another £718 for a dsg tune, and I think the wise choice would be to get both done just for piece of mine- I’m intending to do so when apr drop a sale, hopefully 20% off come Black Friday- saving me a tidy £300- yes please are apr sales regular does anybody know? Would I be better off with a unicorn, revo, mrc tune? I’m based in west London area and the closet reputable place does apr so probably best to stick locally. Any one running stage 1 with out a dsg tune? Any issues? I will eventually want to go stage 2, from my understanding it’s just £120 more? And just requires a down pipe and intake is this right? See a lot of people changing hoses and elbows on turbos etc why is this? I’m new to turbo cars always been in n/a BMW’s so it’s all abit new to me?


Any input appreciated

[Number86]

Can't really help you too much I'm afraid other than to tell you I had the dsg map as well on a tts and what it's like. "recommended" just smacks to me of trying to make more money.

What it does do is makes the shifts noticeably snappier and harder, and changes the auto shift points. The car will also run all the way up to 7k. Whether that's the dsg map or the ecu one I'm not sure.

I'd say if you can't find many reports of slip on a stage one don't worry about it, unless you specifically want the altered characteristics.

[chan61922]

Cheers for input mate! Problem is that my cars a VW approved used vehicle and mapping the car is basically me waving goodbye to the warranty on it, the car doesn’t feel very involving to me though (coming from years of various BMWs) it’s almost to perfect and predictable, guess a map would put abit of a edge to it, which I think it’s lacking. I guess it’s as you say though, its a 50/50 on cars that experience slippage and don’t. Having coughed up a lot on money on this car I dont particularly want to cough up an extra £700odd quid for a dsg map which I might not even need, but than there’s always that little voice in your head telling you it’s better to be safe than sorry...

I’d really like some feedback on people that have and haven’t had the dsg map done? Anybody?!?

Also any info on a tuner called unicorn? I hear good things about them guys and the power gains they can get from there maps on s3/golf r/cupra

Thanks

[norm4n]

Get on here for the information you have requested

https://www.vwroc.com/forums/

People speak highly of Unicorn, there are many others too depending on your location such as MRC Banbury, Regal Autosport Southampton etc

Edited by norm4n on Friday 9th August 07:39

[AJB88]

TCU tune is not needed but... depends how you find the OEM mapping of the DSG box? I found the DSG mapping on my Cupra 280 poor, I ran APR Stage2 highoutput + TCU file and it was great!

Stock mapping on my Porsche PDK is pants as well so guess what... PDK mapped.

Stage 2 is downpipe mainly, you can change airbox (I ran VWR R600) but you would be just as well keeping OEM airbox and just running the uprated turbo intake pipe.

I ran sports cat downpipe, VWR R600, VRS Performance TIP, APR turbo muffler delete and GFB DV+

Edited by AJB88 on Friday 9th August 07:48

[chan61922]

Thanks for input guys! I’ve come across vwroc site quite through google searches had a little nose about but not actually signed up as of yet. Seems to be mixed opinions some guys experienced slippage on even a low torque map where as others are running a high map without a dsg tune and problem free! But yeah definitely mixed views on there, some people swear by a dsg map and claim it changes the car quite drastically and others seem to think it makes no difference, and in some cases changes the cars shifting behaviour for the worse (driving in normal D mode) I’m based in west London so apr dealers is probably my best bet. I like the fact unicorn maps the car specific to your vehicle and not just an off the shelf map but there about an 3 or so hour drive away from me, saying that I’ve been quoted £850 for both maps from them which is very appealing. Apr was £760 (ecu) £718 (dsg) with a saving of roughly £300 quid if I waited till Black Friday. Assuming I went ahead with the dsg tune too it would be rude not to go stage 2 as I’d be half way there already. Is there a noticeable difference between a stage 2 and stage 1 car? Seems like It’s not a huge difference in power just a leap in torque. What the reasoning behind changing the hoses on the turbo, more air flow? I was also going to get a resonator delete done is this pointless if I was going to straight pipe it for stage 2? (I.e - would I achieve a deeper more vocal throaty exhaust tone from that alone) also, would you need to change the springs to something more firm and stiff to keep the car glued to the road? Sorry for the 101 questions... lol

Cheers

[AJB88]

Golf R will grip nicely, I had 420ps through just the front wheels haha!

If I was you I would get Stage 1 for now and maybe TCU if you can get a deal.

Then add, turbo intake pipe, downpipe and flash stage 2.

[Mr911lover]

Unicorn and R Tech come highly rated and have some good deals on currently if you are prepared to travel?

On the 6 speed box the TCU map is definitely worth it but it's not required on the later 7 speed boxes.

Another option to consider is the JB4, not quite as good as a custom map but certainly up there, it can be setup to suit the car and taken off and sold when you are done.

[chan61922]

Ouch I don’t know how I’d get on with 420 ponies on a FWD car lol just out of curiosity what map did you have on yours? I was very close to going ahead with just a ecu map as I was booked in with my local apr dealer, they assured me a lot of other golf r and s3 owners are problem free with just a stage 1 map and no tcu tune and only really get it done once on stage 2 but said it’s entirely up to me, which is fair enough. Reading up on a few google searches got me thinking twice though, and ringing a few other places it was mentioned it was recommend on 15/16 plate 7R, 14 plate 7R and 7 speed 7.5R are okay with out it? Haven’t heard of r tech before are they any good? Just googled them and there up in Nuneaton, is that the same one? After a quick nose on there website seems they charge £349 for a ecu map, that can’t be right surely? Unicorn have quoted me £849 for both which is very tempting, do they offer warranty? I have considered a jb4 too, I like the fact it’s plug and play and will probably still keep my dealer warranty safe! Problem is we’re do you go from a jb4, your stuck on pretty much a stage 1 right? I know they have 6 maps on there but your limited to just that.

[Mr911lover]

Yeh that's R tech in Nuneaton, I think they are around £500 for Engine and TCU.

They have a very good reputation on the forum, speak to Nik the owner he is very knowledgeable.

In terms of the JB4 they have just updated the firmware and added a map 5 which with a DP, intake and cooler would essentially get you to stage 2.

Get on the Golf R/MQB FB groups as there is loads of info