HPA DSG Stage2 Upgrade Review WITH Video and Proven Gains

[willlangford]

I would like to start this review off and say thank you to HPA for taking time out of their day to show me around their shop and give me more incite into the DSG gearbox and what exactly the flash does.

My r32 is bone stock, no flash nothing. HPA found out on their epic national trip that the engine has a rev limiter around 6900. Therefore my rev limiter is set at 6850. I would highly recommend getting a chip tune before this upgrade to increase the engine rev limiter to allow the DSG to shift at 7150. What will it take for HPA to release a non CVP flash to compliment the DSG??

Here is some technical incite into the DSG before I continue my review.

As for a small look into the DSG, the initial DSG was called the DQ250 ( 250N of TQ) was the OEM limit. When it was coupled to the 3.2, the gear box was bumper to the DQ350 (350N of TQ) The DSG hence limits the ECM from calling out anything over 350N of TQ. This is only 268FTlbs of TQ. In addition, to achieve the shift by 6500RPM, the TQ is decreased starting at 6175 to allow a smooth and comfortable shift by 6500RPM. We elevate the limit with stage 2 to 500N and carry full power into the shifts at 7150. With any performance mod, you gain 100RPM of full power with the progressive shift response on up shift and down shift.

With that being said the car feels more alive and more responsive. I felt the upgrades were noticeable pulling out of the shop onto the road. The up shifts and downshifts are more responsive. Pulling out of a stop there is virtually zero lag. When shifting almost anywhere along the power curve you can tell it pulls right to where it shifts, shifts and keeps going, not before where the train would slow down, shift, and then keep going. I took a few friends out right after I got home and didn't tell them anything they started asking what I got done to the car the car because "it pulls light a freight train all way up the power band." I will have to agree.

With all that being said I cant wait to couple the CVP to the car to really get it opened up.

Here are the results of the flash with the g meter and that you will see on the video.

Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Msgz2aAho
Vimeo
http://www.vimeo.com/2785002

Stock DSG
0-60 5.9
1/4Mile 14.5

Stage2 DSG
0-60 5.6
1/4Mile 14.1

Note: HPA's logo was used by permission and this video was developed by an enthusiast for enthusiasts.

[Turn8]

Excellent review and thank you for posting the performance results!

Mike

[AHB900]

Very nice i wish i could get the flash... i would love to see it with the raised rev limiter..

[Ian_VR6]

Where the runs driven in S or M mode?

[PSU]

Very nice, thanks.

I am going to force myself to wait until my warranty is up before I do any serious mods, but this is something I definitely want.

[beaTTnik]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I've had my 3.2 TT since 2004.

This flash sounds great, I can't wait to do it next round in LA. When downshifting, DSG presumably still needs to mechanically re-preselect a lower gear before making the shift, how much has this delay improved?

[HPA motorsports 1]

Quote, originally posted by beaTTnik »

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I've had my 3.2 TT since 2004. This flash sounds great, I can't wait to do it next round in LA. When downshifting, DSG presumably still needs to mechanically re-preselect a lower gear before making the shift, how much has this delay improved?

e delay s 100% removed. Also, we enable the Launch control which I believe your TT did not come with, if it was OE equipped, we bump it from 3000 to 4750

[beaTTnik]

Hi Marcel,
you are right, my TT does not have LC available.

I guess my question is: with the electronic delay gone, how much is the mechanical delay to switch the pre-selected gear (from 6th to 4th for example) still noticed when downshifting?

[HPA motorsports 1]

Quote, originally posted by beaTTnik »

Hi Marcel, you are right, my TT does not have LC available. I guess my question is: with the electronic delay gone, how much is the mechanical delay to switch the pre-selected gear (from 6th to 4th for example) still noticed when downshifting?

in tip throttle you can expect 1/3 faster, under agressive driving, 2/3rds faster response, really un believeable in real time!

[r32breeze]

The performance and quicker 0-60 times look cool. I watched the video and I have question marks is my head. What is that engine sound around 1:23-1:24... Was the front wheels skiding?

+Are you HPA guys planning to visit WA area?

[HPA motorsports 1]

Quote, originally posted by r32breeze »

The performance and quicker 0-60 times look cool. I watched the video and I have question marks is my head. What is that engine sound around 1:23-1:24... Was the front wheels skiding? +Are you HPA guys planning to visit WA area?

Wheel slip is what you are hearing. The fog had left moisture by that point in our testing

We hope to get back to the east in the coming months

[r32breeze]

Quote, originally posted by HPA motorsports 1 »

Wheel slip is what you are hearing. The fog had left moisture by that point in our testing We hope to get back to the east in the coming months

Oh ok. I was expecting wheel slip because 4750 rpm seems a high power lunch even for an AWD car.

By the way I mean Seattle, Washington area. West side Sorry for the confusion.


Modified by r32breeze at 4:35 PM 2-9-2009

[willbarnes2]

Quote, originally posted by HPA motorsports 1 »

Wheel slip is what you are hearing. The fog had left moisture by that point in our testing We hope to get back to the east in the coming months

I was concerned about that as well. I thought it was the clutch slipping.
One of these days I'm getting this

[Gotsol]

Quote, originally posted by willbarnes2 »

I was concerned about that as well. I thought it was the clutch slipping. One of these days I'm getting this

same here, the sound wasn't pretty

[PyroBob]

""+Are you HPA guys planning to visit WA area? ""

They are only a couple hours north, just over the Canadian border...I reckon it's better for us to make that jaunt to them, as they are already crammed trying to get the flash spread across the US.

[Pathfinder2041]

It would be great if a "local" retailer could do this flash....

[boki-san]

Quote, originally posted by willlangford »

... the car feels more alive and more responsive. I felt the upgrades were noticeable pulling out of the shop onto the road. The up shifts and downshifts are more responsive. Pulling out of a stop there is virtually zero lag. When shifting almost anywhere along the power curve you can tell it pulls right to where it shifts, shifts and keeps going, ... they started asking what I got done to the car the car because "it pulls light a freight train all way up the power band." I will have to agree ...

[hypothetical]

Great review. I need this mod.

OP: Could you post or someone else post a vid of the motor bouncing off the rev limiter "Not shifting" on its own to the next gear. Or at least confirm it?

[abeR]

in manual it will bounce.

in S it will shift.

in D, I have no clue as I dont use it.

[hypothetical]

Excellent!

[wolfsburgpilot]

Quote, originally posted by hypothetical »

Great review. I need this mod. OP: Could you post or someone else post a vid of the motor bouncing off the rev limiter "Not shifting" on its own to the next gear. Or at least confirm it?

No vid, but I experienced it last night, Caught me off guard, lol. I had gotten so used to the car shifting, even in manual that when it hit the limiter, I was like WTF?!

[JETNBYA]

I just recently got mu GIAC update on my flash. I got the HPA DSG on Marcel's first trip. With just the DSG, I could not rev past 6750. After the GIAC update, it goes right to the 7150. It hits the limiter at that point. The cool thing is, if you hit the paddle right as you cross 7000 you just miss the limiter and get the best shift possible.

These two upgrades have really made my R come alive. I almost never use Drive any more, preferring the paddles or shifter.

Thanks to HPA, especially Marcel, and to GIAC, especially Jeff Moss. You guys, and others like you, are what makes being a VW enthusiast such a wonderful thing.

Jim