#1857

[diablo-r]

love all these write-ups. the most interesting part is when i read them I can hear someone saying exactly what is there. i appreciate the detail.

the brake stiffening kit is something that interests me greatly. for a small price and a few minutes you can have proper brake feel. this kit is on my short list of modifications in the next month.

i agree with your feelings on the borla. I have heard one first hand and the noise is oddly louder than I expected. stock with the flapper open is a pleasant experience... especially when cruising at 75 MPH.

i have a local shop to perform the combo tune... and I was very happy to read what you have provided about this operation. the 'confusion' of the DSG is my only complaint (outside of brake dust) so far on this car. a little extra grunt and some logical shift patterns will make me feel better.

[LoyalSage]

love all these write-ups. the most interesting part is when i read them I can hear someone saying exactly what is there. i appreciate the detail.

the brake stiffening kit is something that interests me greatly. for a small price and a few minutes you can have proper brake feel. this kit is on my short list of modifications in the next month.

i agree with your feelings on the borla. I have heard one first hand and the noise is oddly louder than I expected. stock with the flapper open is a pleasant experience... especially when cruising at 75 MPH.

i have a local shop to perform the combo tune... and I was very happy to read what you have provided about this operation. the 'confusion' of the DSG is my only complaint (outside of brake dust) so far on this car. a little extra grunt and some logical shift patterns will make me feel better.

I am glad you are finding my posts useful. Please keep in mind that the stiff kit is not the solution, it is only part of it, it has helped, but the brake setup still leaves a lot to be desired. I think that the stiff kit, some hawk pads and SS lines with a fresh bleed will put it where it should be

The Borla was certainly too loud for me, I am enjoying the open flapper on stock exhaust, to be honest I even consider asking Jeff to set the flapper back to stock, but sometimes I like it open all the time so I am going to leave it alone for now.

As for the UM combo tune, do it, if I knew how great a mod it is, it would have been the absolute first thing I did. Honestly, VW needs to hire Jeff and have him tune all their cars. Either way, it is a must do mod, you will not regret it. DO NOT expect noticeable power, but do expect a smarter car that you feel more connected to.

While I am on the subject I want to add a few more items to my review of the UM combo tune. I have found that S mode is much much more pleasant than without the tune. The downshifts are 10 fold smoother and you can even use S mode around town without looking like your driving a manual for the first time from the outside

All my initial comments have held up for the long term driving. I have done a lot of city as well as freeway long distance. On the freeway the car feels stronger, passes better, that is really when you will notice the power gains shine.

As for the R to D confusion, it is better, but still not perfect, from time to time, even with UM it gets confused, not nearly as much as before and the confusion is not as noticeable when it does happen. I really hope Jeff can 100% kill this symptom, sometimes you pull out in R and for safety reasons need to get into D and take off quickly, so the solution of shift, wait, wait, wait, then go is not acceptable to me.

One more thing that would absolutely make me thrilled is if UM could somehow find a way to switch the shifting pattern to what BMW has done, the stick feels reversed to me, I want to move the stick forward when decelerating to down shift, then move the stick backwards when accelerating to upshift. Basically the motion of the stick should be in the same direction as my body is being pushed. Just a preference, I will likely have a conversation with Jeff about this to see if he thinks it possible or not.

[mfbmike]

As for the R to D confusion, it is better, but still not perfect, from time to time, even with UM it gets confused, not nearly as much as before and the confusion is not as noticeable when it does happen. I really hope Jeff can 100% kill this symptom, sometimes you pull out in R and for safety reasons need to get into D and take off quickly, so the solution of shift, wait, wait, wait, then go is not acceptable to me.

I don't think it's necesarily a confusion, rather just the way the DSG transmission is designed. Both R and 1 are on the same gearbox (along with gears 3 and 5, with gears 2/4/6 on the other.) Because of that, when shifting from R to D (or 1st), there is a slight delay from the clutches disengaging and re-engaging as you shift gears - hence the jerkiness if you attempt to give it too much gas too soon (similar to failing to let off the clutch slowly/give enough gas on a manual transmission).

[LoyalSage]

I don't think it's necesarily a confusion, rather just the way the DSG transmission is designed. Both R and 1 are on the same gearbox (along with gears 3 and 5, with gears 2/4/6 on the other.) Because of that, when shifting from R to D (or 1st), there is a slight delay from the clutches disengaging and re-engaging as you shift gears - hence the jerkiness if you attempt to give it too much gas too soon (similar to failing to let off the clutch slowly/give enough gas on a manual transmission).

I see, that is great information to be aware of. I really wonder if there is a way to ensure that we can bail out when in R if necessary

While I am posting I thought I would share a picture of the R from the last powder day. R in the snow

[LoyalSage]

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UPDATE: 03/28/2012 @ X Miles

Time for some tires! So guys, I had started a thread which you can see here about new tires. I was originally looking at going with a little bit of a wider tire but finally settled on stock size to avoid any rubbing issues which others appear to be having with a 235 tire.

After looking around for a while and listening to peoples advice, I decided to shell out cash on this one and went for the Michelin Pilot Super Sports in a 225/40 18 (stock wheels). I just received these tires last night and I can just tell they are going to stick like freaking crazy glue.

They look amazing and I am about to go to the shop and have them installed, balanced and to have an alignment done to ensure proper wear on these bad boys.

Here are a few visuals:



I will post my impressions and possibly some more pictures once they are installed.

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[diablo-r]

good decision on the tires... having experience with f1's, I am biased towards them now. Superior treadwear and great dry adhesion.

I finally installed my tyrol brake stiffening kit today... i would say the feel is CONSISTENT... which I didn't always have with the rubber bushings. Of course, I am an idiot and forgot to grease the driver's side, so I had to pull the wheel back off and lube them up. I have some new redstuff's on the way this week, so I will be yanking them off again real soon.

Getting back to the UM combo tune... I am not looking for any serious power gains, but a more logical way of shifting. it seems that the car will sometimes find itself in 5th gear way too early under moderate to low load. Then in sport it just hangs in gears way too long for low speed jaunts. i get what it is trying to do, but it does feel like the next gear would be a better choice for torque.

Let us know how those tires feel... i'm in the market in about 6 months for some more.

[vdubnhead]

good decision on the tires... having experience with f1's, I am biased towards them now. Superior treadwear and great dry adhesion.

Let us know how those tires feel... i'm in the market in about 6 months for some more.

in the max summer performance user feedback chart on tirerack [link], the michelin pilot super sports are king. i chose to save ~$300/set this summer and went with the #2 conti DW.

BTW, i've used your thread as a light DIY on my tyrol kit, etc. thanks for adding to the community.

[Slave IV]

On the tire choice, you will love them..I still think the GY F1 A2's will emerge as the #2 Summer Performance tires once TR does a review and are an incredible buy right now but you really can't go wrong with Michelins..I love mine

[Frank The Car Guy]

Greetings,

Where did you get the Whispbars?

And what does the A3 noise pipe delete actually do?

Thx,
Frank

[LoyalSage]

good decision on the tires... having experience with f1's, I am biased towards them now. Superior treadwear and great dry adhesion.

I finally installed my tyrol brake stiffening kit today... i would say the feel is CONSISTENT... which I didn't always have with the rubber bushings. Of course, I am an idiot and forgot to grease the driver's side, so I had to pull the wheel back off and lube them up. I have some new redstuff's on the way this week, so I will be yanking them off again real soon.

Getting back to the UM combo tune... I am not looking for any serious power gains, but a more logical way of shifting. it seems that the car will sometimes find itself in 5th gear way too early under moderate to low load. Then in sport it just hangs in gears way too long for low speed jaunts. i get what it is trying to do, but it does feel like the next gear would be a better choice for torque.

Let us know how those tires feel... i'm in the market in about 6 months for some more.

I am definitely impressed by the tires so no regrets here. You will love the UM tune, it just makes you feel more connected, the car is more predictable and consistent. The DSG is smarter.

in the max summer performance user feedback chart on tirerack [link], the michelin pilot super sports are king. i chose to save ~$300/set this summer and went with the #2 conti DW.

BTW, i've used your thread as a light DIY on my tyrol kit, etc. thanks for adding to the community.

Glad you are finding some of the info I put out useful. It has been fun slowly making small changes to the R and maximizing its potential, I must say in stock form (mostly due to software) I was loosing hope.

On the tire choice, you will love them..I still think the GY F1 A2's will emerge as the #2 Summer Performance tires once TR does a review and are an incredible buy right now but you really can't go wrong with Michelins..I love mine

The PSS was not cheap but I can honesty say they are some of the best tires I have run so far, they live up to the hype. They are quiet, comfy and stick like no other. My only concern is how many miles I will get out of them but hey, you have to give somewhere.

Greetings,

Where did you get the Whispbars?

And what does the A3 noise pipe delete actually do?

Thx,
Frank

Hello,

I purchased the whisp bars online, rackattack.com The A3 noise pipe delete allows you to remove the noise pipe which steals air from a splitter between the Cold Air Intake and your Intake manifold. That air is then channeled closer to your firewall and pushed through a diffuser to create crappy low rubly noises. The delete kit helps you remove all this but retain a stock look to cap off any extra openings.

I hope this helps!

[Frank The Car Guy]

Hello,

I purchased the whisp bars online, rackattack.com The A3 noise pipe delete allows you to remove the noise pipe which steals air from a splitter between the Cold Air Intake and your Intake manifold. That air is then channeled closer to your firewall and pushed through a diffuser to create crappy low rubly noises. The delete kit helps you remove all this but retain a stock look to cap off any extra openings.

I hope this helps!

Thanks for the info!

I don't have my car yet, but 1784 is en route to me in Boulder, CO. For the Whisp bars is the R32 considered "bare roof" or "fixed points?" The Rack Attack site is asking and I won't be able to look until vehicle arrives. Actually, would you happen to have part numbers handy? If so, would you be so kind to post or PM?

Curious that VW opted to put a noise pipe on the R32. I track a gutted Lotus Elise and hate extraneous shyt like that. Looks like I need to budget another $100 towards ECS goodies.

Oh, here is another random question (that I've done some searching for but haven't hadn't any luck)... Many times US versions of many Eutopean cars come with softer suspensions with higher ride heights. Is the Euro / Rest Of World (RoW) R32 suspension lower / firmer / stiffer than the US version? If so, appreciably so? Where can one source the springs? Based on some reading here I'm liking the sound of Koni FSD shocks (if they're not appreciably more expensive than OEM R32 Euro / RoW units). I'm personally not interested in aftermarket lowering springs as I already have a track car and a race car and the R32 will serve as an engaging daily driver (that the wife will drive on occasion) and an occasional ice autocrosser / ice racer (where you want a softer suspension to allow for weight transfer).

I have a pretty hardcore track car in the Lotus (and I race on a LeMons / Chump team that campaigns two VR6 VWs: a '94 Jetta & a '95 GTI), so I don't need the R32 to be anything but an engaging daily driver (that I would occasionally let a friend track for novice / beginner use. I.E. they won't be pushing the car very hard).

Thanks again!

[LoyalSage]

Thanks for the info!

I don't have my car yet, but 1784 is en route to me in Boulder, CO. For the Whisp bars is the R32 considered "bare roof" or "fixed points?" The Rack Attack site is asking and I won't be able to look until vehicle arrives. Actually, would you happen to have part numbers handy? If so, would you be so kind to post or PM?

Curious that VW opted to put a noise pipe on the R32. I track a gutted Lotus Elise and hate extraneous shyt like that. Looks like I need to budget another $100 towards ECS goodies.

Oh, here is another random question (that I've done some searching for but haven't hadn't any luck)... Many times US versions of many Eutopean cars come with softer suspensions with higher ride heights. Is the Euro / Rest Of World (RoW) R32 suspension lower / firmer / stiffer than the US version? If so, appreciably so? Where can one source the springs? Based on some reading here I'm liking the sound of Koni FSD shocks (if they're not appreciably more expensive than OEM R32 Euro / RoW units). I'm personally not interested in aftermarket lowering springs as I already have a track car and a race car and the R32 will serve as an engaging daily driver (that the wife will drive on occasion) and an occasional ice autocrosser / ice racer (where you want a softer suspension to allow for weight transfer).

I have a pretty hardcore track car in the Lotus (and I race on a LeMons / Chump team that campaigns two VR6 VWs: a '94 Jetta & a '95 GTI), so I don't need the R32 to be anything but an engaging daily driver (that I would occasionally let a friend track for novice / beginner use. I.E. they won't be pushing the car very hard).

Thanks again!

Frank,

For the bars, pick bare roof and use 2008 3dr GTI in the configurator since they don't list R32 as an option, that would be the identical body style. You need the S6 base and the 334 fit kit. I find the setup to be much nicer looking that OEM as it sits way more flush, OEM looks like it pops out way too far. As for wind noise levels, I cannot compare since I have never been in an R with the OEM bars, but I would assume just by looking at the setup, that the whisp bars are quieter, but this has yet to be proven and tested.

Really cool that you have a track lotus, I bet that sucker is fast! I recommend that you leave the OEM shocks/springs alone if your purpose is daily and snow. The MKV R32 suspension US model is actually pretty decent. I wanted something a little cleaner, better ride but not too aggressive so I upgraded to the KW V1 coilovers and have them as high as they go which equates to about a 1 inch drop all around.

I was actually hoping they would run a little taller, but KW advertising has some funny stuff going on.

[Frank The Car Guy]

Frank,

For the bars, pick bare roof and use 2008 3dr GTI in the configurator since they don't list R32 as an option, that would be the identical body style. You need the S6 base and the 334 fit kit. I find the setup to be much nicer looking that OEM as it sits way more flush, OEM looks like it pops out way too far. As for wind noise levels, I cannot compare since I have never been in an R with the OEM bars, but I would assume just by looking at the setup, that the whisp bars are quieter, but this has yet to be proven and tested.

Really cool that you have a track lotus, I bet that sucker is fast! I recommend that you leave the OEM shocks/springs alone if your purpose is daily and snow. The MKV R32 suspension US model is actually pretty decent. I wanted something a little cleaner, better ride but not too aggressive so I upgraded to the KW V1 coilovers and have them as high as they go which equates to about a 1 inch drop all around.

I was actually hoping they would run a little taller, but KW advertising has some funny stuff going on.

Oh great Sage,

Thanks much for all your assistance and allowing me to quasi-thread jack.

The Lotus is pretty stupid fast (Viper drivers complain). 1,893 lbs / ~250 whp...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDtRA...e_gdata_player

I do plan on leaving the stock suspension on for the time being. I'm rarely one to leave well enough alone for long though. Car has 44k miles and as a Lotus driver and occasional Formula Ford racer I am pretty snobby about suspensions. I'd likely look to refresh the stock shocks at the very least. I don't want to deal with aftermarket coli-overs, etc. it's too small a market, but Neuspeed SofSports (stock rates with very moderate lowering. I've always liked that philosophy for street cars) woulda been a nice option.

For my edification though, has anyone run Euro / RoW R32 springs and / or shocks? The car I'm buying does have a Neuspeed rear bar and end links, besides that though I think the suspension is stock with 44k miles on it.

I'm an automotive journalist and I've tested and tracked both MkIV & MkV R32s. The MkIV was one of the most impressive "arrive and drive" street cars that I've ever just pulled off of a public road and thoroughly enjoyed on a racetrack. So, given that I will use my R32 for 75% street (mostly highway, shuttling to / from airport), 15% dry track and 10% ice autocross / ice track I'm thinking that I'll either end up with Euro springs & shocks or Euro springs & Koni FSD shocks. A little bit lower (vanity, I know), a little bit firmer, but still, hopefully, eminently livable on a daily basis.

Thanks again for the discourse.

[LoyalSage]

Frank,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for the intro, it's good to know peoples backgrounds and experience in general. It sounds like you have a solid head on your shoulders.

I recently sold my MKIV R32, owned both the 4 and 5 together for a 6 month period and boy do I miss it. Looks like you are doing the right thing and building a good all around vehicle. The R never stops to amaze me with its ability to do everything really well.

Before you ask, why did I choose the 5 over the 4? Well, it is my daily vehicle and is simly more live-able. The mk4 is basically a 2 seater.

Again welcome and look forward to reading your posts.

[LoyalSage]

Amazing Handing Update:

All,

I wanted to provide some more feedback on my longer term impressions on the current upgrades done to improve overall handling for my R:

- KW V1 Coilovers (3/4 inch lower than stock)
- Haldex Gen 2 Controler (Wireless Remote)
- Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires

Every upgrade was significant and noticeable on first drive in and around town. I finally got to do a spirited backroads drive and I could not imagine going back to the R in it's stock form. The car flicks from side to side effortlessly, feels planted and controlled while remaining comfortable and simply will not break loose.

The way the car feels in turns feels significantly different since the Gen 2 Haldex upgrade, it seems to have rid me of excessive understeer and almost feels like the rear end is starting to push out. The tires have added a level of traction which I have never experienced in my life. Was it worth the $1,000? Absolutely it was... I may change my mind if I end up needing a new set very soon, but we will see how long they last.

I figure this car is so expensive to get more power out of that I will stop at UM tune and EVOMs intake for a while and focus on handling, power delivery is adequate for twisties and a turbo would not be of much use there in my opinion. I may feel differently if I were to drive a turbo R on the same road, but for now I cannot imagine going any faster without it becoming dangerous which I am not interested in.

There is a Group Buy going on right now for the Unibraces and I am about to order both as another upgrade to handling in hopes that it will be improved even more. The only thing that I could possibly do after the braces is sway bars and then focus on weight reduction (wheels/brakes likely candidates).

Thanks for reading and hope you found this information useful in some way... Questions are welcome.

[Frank The Car Guy]

Amazing Handing Update:

The tires have added a level of traction which I have never experienced in my life. Was it worth the $1,000? Absolutely it was... I may change my mind if I end up needing a new set very soon, but we will see how long they last.

I figure this car is so expensive to get more power out of that I will stop at UM tune and EVOMs intake for a while and focus on handling, power delivery is adequate for twisties and a turbo would not be of much use there in my opinion. I may feel differently if I were to drive a turbo R on the same road, but for now I cannot imagine going any faster without it becoming dangerous which I am not interested in.

Good update, always nice to hear about someone being happy with their mods. On the tires though, be careful... It's a slippery slope! In the words of Captain Ramsey from Crimson Tide (in reference to cigars)... "Well, don't like them too much, they're more expensive than drugs." if you're liking the PSSs, you'd be intoxicated by R comps and... Heaven forbid... Slicks. In each case, the relative performance levels are astonishing, as are the prices. Oh well, life's too short to drive high mileage tires.

I very much applaud your philosophy regarding handling vs. power. I'd like to get back the power I've lost due to my altitude, but I'm not even going to mess with trying for more power for the same exact reasons you mention. My car has a Neuspeed P-Flo intake.

I did take delivery of 1784 this past Tuesday and I've been enjoying it (for all of 250+ miles at this point). I am dissapointed in one main thing. It did not come with stock springs / shocks as I was led to believe it would. I believe it has Neuspeed sport springs and, as of yet, unidentified shocks (possibly the stock units). Ugh. The car is too low and responds poorly to road undulations (including scraping in some instances when encountering undulations while traveling at the speed limit). I will likely search out a set of stock springs to pair with Koni FSDs and give that a try. I don't have to raise the car back up until winter and I don't dislike the ride that much, per se, but when I have passengers in the car with more adult sensibilities than mine, I kinda cringe about the ride.

My other, relatively minor complaint, is that the car is too quiet. I've got an ECS resonator delete pipe waiting to go in and I'll wire a switch for the exhaust flapper. I hope that will get me the aggressiveness I like and still be livable / "switchable" for the street / for taking calls on my cell.

From what I've read, the UM ECU / DSG tune addresses a lot of DSG issues and it was / is at the top of my list, but I don't want to jeopardize my CPO warranty coverage. That's another reason I want to raise my car back up a bit.

[LoyalSage]

Good update, always nice to hear about someone being happy with their mods. On the tires though, be careful... It's a slippery slope! In the words of Captain Ramsey from Crimson Tide (in reference to cigars)... "Well, don't like them too much, they're more expensive than drugs." if you're liking the PSSs, you'd be intoxicated by R comps and... Heaven forbid... Slicks. In each case, the relative performance levels are astonishing, as are the prices. Oh well, life's too short to drive high mileage tires.

I very much applaud your philosophy regarding handling vs. power. I'd like to get back the power I've lost due to my altitude, but I'm not even going to mess with trying for more power for the same exact reasons you mention. My car has a Neuspeed P-Flo intake.

I did take delivery of 1784 this past Tuesday and I've been enjoying it (for all of 250+ miles at this point). I am dissapointed in one main thing. It did not come with stock springs / shocks as I was led to believe it would. I believe it has Neuspeed sport springs and, as of yet, unidentified shocks (possibly the stock units). Ugh. The car is too low and responds poorly to road undulations (including scraping in some instances when encountering undulations while traveling at the speed limit). I will likely search out a set of stock springs to pair with Koni FSDs and give that a try. I don't have to raise the car back up until winter and I don't dislike the ride that much, per se, but when I have passengers in the car with more adult sensibilities than mine, I kinda cringe about the ride.

My other, relatively minor complaint, is that the car is too quiet. I've got an ECS resonator delete pipe waiting to go in and I'll wire a switch for the exhaust flapper. I hope that will get me the aggressiveness I like and still be livable / "switchable" for the street / for taking calls on my cell.

From what I've read, the UM ECU / DSG tune addresses a lot of DSG issues and it was / is at the top of my list, but I don't want to jeopardize my CPO warranty coverage. That's another reason I want to raise my car back up a bit.

Hi Frank,

I can only imagine how expensive tires can get although to be honest with you, for my DD needs I will not be spending more money than I did on the PSS's, this is really as much as I want to push for budget on tires. They are really incredible and since I do not know any better, I will just live in ignorance and believe the PSS is the best tire in the world

In regards to your suspension dilema, I would like to recommend that since you are in a position where you have to consider spending money to set them back to stock (should be relatively cheap though, specially if you buy used on the classifieds, personally I am not selling stock setup as I want to have the flexibility to return the R to stock if needed) you may as well go with an aftermarket setup. You probably already know but I went with the KW V1 coilover system and I could not be happier, the blend of performance/comfort is ideal in my honest opinion. The progressive springs really help with daily driving comfort while the factory set compression/rebound settings seem very adequate for DD as well as weekend fun.

I am currently sitting at about 3/4 lower than stock and could lift the setup to be even closer to stock if so desired but I have zero rubbing front and rear so I feel I am in a great place height wise. If you are finding slight compression rub in the front, you can do the quick/easy "fender screw mod". There is a screw that sticks out to hold the liner in place right under the front fender, you can remove the screw and its backing, plop the linder behind the metal tab and press it back to hold in place and be out of the way of the tire when suspension is compressed.

The above mod will take 5 minutes at best and opens up a bit of clearance which was perfect for my setup. As good as people say the stock suspension is, and for stock suspension I do agree they are great, the KW V1 is a serious step above in feel without noticeable loss in comfort. Just my two cents on this topic.

The delete kit is perfect, the noise that the resonator makes is fake and un-necessary, removing the noise pipe allows you to hear the true sound of your motor, some say some throttle response can be gained since your pipe from CAI to Intake Mani is no longer being split and air stolen to make extra noise. Definitely a recommended mod for everyone, the 3.2 does not need that pipe.

Stock exhaust is fantastic, with flapper open you can have some fun, it is definitely more noticeable but no cabin drone in comparrisson to the aftermarket options, and if you go the switch route, you can always open for fun, then close for peace and quiet, although to be honest, open all the time is perfectly fine. You can start by pulling the vaccume hose and putting a screw/ziptie in it to keep your flapper open all the time, this is also a 5 minute mod and can give you a taste of the sound before you go through the trouble of the switch. You may find after a week of rolling always open that you don't even ever want it closed.

The UM tune which I have keeps the flapper open all the time except for when idle, Jeff did mention he could flip a flag to give me stock flapper back and I was considering it for a while, but honestly, always open is nice and if it is anything like the MK4 R32 gains you a bit of tq/hp for being alway open.

Not sure how much longer you have on your warranty but to be honest, the MKV R32 is not complete without UM ECU/DSG combo tune, I was so close to getting rid of the car, but Jeff has managed to:

1- Put the driver back in control of the car
2- Fix several issues and annoyances with the stock software

I would recommend his combo tune to everyone without hesitation, so I understand you wanting to wait for your warranty to expire, but I cannot tell you how much better the ride feel and overall tie you will have with your car once the tune is installed.

[LoyalSage]

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UPDATE: 03/28/2012 @ 53,380 Miles

So after the winter season, many drives up to Tahoe in the snow and dirt, the R got a nice exterior detail. Wash, Claybar, Polish and Wax! She had many swirl marks which are now gone and all I can say is she looks as good as she did the very first time I met her

Visuals:









I removed the roof rack bars so they could polish without having to work around them and I noticed that some dirt had gotten in between the base of the bars and the paint causing a bit of damage to the clear coat. Thankfully they were able to buff it all out, but before I put the bars back on, I am going to lay down a layer of 3M scotchguard to keep the paint safe from any further damage.

Other than that, wash and wax every 2 weeks and she is good through summer.



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[sixteen10]

Looking good bud , so much info in here

[LoyalSage]

Looking good bud , so much info in here

Thank you sir, glad you find this thread useful

[LoyalSage]

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UPDATE: 04/28/2012

Yesterday I received both Unibrace XB and UB which I ordered from Bruce. Everything was packaged very well and Bruce has been great to deal with, very professional and extremely responsive.

I have not yet installed the braces but just wanted to post up a few snaps I took so you can feast your eyes on how amazing these braces look. They look to not only be well engineered, but also very well designed for an aesthetically pleasing addition, the quality and finish also seems top notch.

I will definitely post pictures of the install process once it is done and first impressions on the improvements as well, until then, enjoy these








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[10Ten]

just installed mine last month and i love it. it's great on about 10 levels.

[LoyalSage]

just installed mine last month and i love it. it's great on about 10 levels.

Did you do both UX and UB?

[LoyalSage]

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UPDATE: 05/06/2012 @ X miles

Last wednesday I went ahead and installed the Unibrace UB. Here is a quick and dirty DIY with a few pics and tips:

1. Get car up on lift or jack stands (do yourself a favor and lift it up as high as you can)
2. Use a 13mm socket to remove the 4 nuts that hold the single stock brace we have on our MKV R32s
3. Use a 10mm socket to loosen several plastic nuts that hold the bottom plastic pans around the area which you will be installing the brace
4. You will likely need to use a plate/hammer to flatten the additional tunnel heat shield which our R32s have (the GTI does not) If you do not flatten the surrounding metal shield you will not have enough thread to get the nuts threaded
5. Put the brace in place and tighten all 8 nuts hand tight with a short socket wrench
6. Don't forget to tighten the plastic around the brace and your good to go

Driving Impressions:

I wanted to drive the car for a few days before posting my first impressions. I really was reluctant to purchasing the Unibrace UB and was only interested in the XB, I had read in several areas of the forum that the UB is "useless". With all due respect, that statement is absolutely false. I purposely am doing a two stage install, I have been driving the R with only the UB and will install the XB later for this purpose specifically.

Once I drove off I could immediately feel a stiffer chassis, the best way I can describe is is that the chassis use to have flex as a twist, but the brace has taken this twist effect away almost entirely, this is probably due to the fact that the brace points are now connected diagonally. I can also feel a firmer chassis under acceleration and braking.

Today I decided to take her out for a proper test drive and did my normal route on skyline, plenty of twisties… All I can say is that turn in has become sharp, i can clearly feel my suspension doing more work as it should and the chassis flexing less under a variety of situations. It is very difficult to explain what this brace has done for the R in words, but the improvements are noticeable and very clear, I am not sure how others would comment that it does not help.

I found myself grinning and really being amazed at how the car is handling, granted there are some compounding effects here, I am now running KW V1 coils, Gen 2 Haldex in Race mode, Michelin Pilot Super Sports and the Unibrace UB. But between every upgrade I take the car through the same route and the difference is clear. Chassis is stiffer in a variety of situations and the V1s are now doing what they were designed to do and are no longer confused by all the chassis flex. I want to say the car is moving more towards a neutral and possibly even more towards an oversteer character with this. When turning in very aggressively I can feel the front outer wheel really digging into the ground for traction and the inner rear getting a little light which I believe is the result of reduced chassis "Twist" as I explained it earlier.

I know all this information is subjective and there are no numbers of facts to prove any of this, however if my opinion matters at all, I give this product a thumbs up. Additionally I want to personally thank Bruce from Unibrace for his outstanding customer service. He is extremely professional, very responsive and has built an amazing product.







Thats all folks!

================================================== ==========================

[GTItraveler]

Thanks LoyalSage — a very thorough write up. Looking forward to hearing your impressions after the UNIbrace XB install. I've now subscribed to this excellent thread.

[mfbmike]

You're going to love the XB. I know I love mine.

Dragon approved.

[oldracer]

LoyalSage;

I have pursued a similiar path of improvement vs fad or flashy changes as our car is a DD and long trip vehicle as well.

The OEM suspension has performed flawlessly from DD slogging in traffic to the Dragon, to a trip from Florida to Boston fully loaded down with 2 people and 2 weeks of stuff....

I have done:
UM combo tune
R36 dead pedal
VF CAI
Flapper Mod
Added a second power point by installing a GTI console base
20% tint
Nitto 555's - 18,000 miles on them now
Cargo net - AMG piece from our 2007 AMG we traded for the R32
VF Billet dogbone

I am at 34,850 miles now and after the Dragon trip I've decided to do my Hawk HPS, Goodridge SS lines, Motul 660 fluid, Tyrol stiffeners and probably OEM rotors.
This setup with Adam's rotors on our 2006 GLI was amazing.

When I do suspension I may upgrade the OEM parts, but no CO for me as the benefit doesn't justify the added expense and maint required.
If it ever becomes a primarily track car that's a different story.

Enjoyed the read and again, excellent job on clear and useful info.

[LoyalSage]

Thanks LoyalSage — a very thorough write up. Looking forward to hearing your impressions after the UNIbrace XB install. I've now subscribed to this excellent thread.

No worries, once again, thank you so much for being a true professional, your customer service has been great and so far the products stand up to their name and hype.

I also want to add that your design is really incredible, form really following function in a graceful manner.

You're going to love the XB. I know I love mine.

Dragon approved.

I cannot even imagine what the XB is going to do for me, I am still amazed at how much of a difference the UB has made, definitely looking forward to the XB

LoyalSage;

I have pursued a similiar path of improvement vs fad or flashy changes as our car is a DD and long trip vehicle as well.

The OEM suspension has performed flawlessly from DD slogging in traffic to the Dragon, to a trip from Florida to Boston fully loaded down with 2 people and 2 weeks of stuff....

I have done:
UM combo tune
R36 dead pedal
VF CAI
Flapper Mod
Added a second power point by installing a GTI console base
20% tint
Nitto 555's - 18,000 miles on them now
Cargo net - AMG piece from our 2007 AMG we traded for the R32
VF Billet dogbone

I am at 34,850 miles now and after the Dragon trip I've decided to do my Hawk HPS, Goodridge SS lines, Motul 660 fluid, Tyrol stiffeners and probably OEM rotors.
This setup with Adam's rotors on our 2006 GLI was amazing.

When I do suspension I may upgrade the OEM parts, but no CO for me as the benefit doesn't justify the added expense and maint required.
If it ever becomes a primarily track car that's a different story.

Enjoyed the read and again, excellent job on clear and useful info.

I am with you 100%, my car has to be an all around performer, it drives me to work, takes me on long road trips, has to drive through the snow every week during boarding season and last but not lease, knock my socks off in the twisties

I have to be honest and say that the stock suspension was far better than the stock setup on my MKV GTI. Believe it or not though, I feel that the ride quality has improved with the KW V1s, it has removed some of the stock harshness. I do sit a little bit lower than I would like, I will likely go through one more round of adjustments soon and lift a maybe another 1/4 inch to be at about a 1/4 inch drop total all around.

I probably could have just gone with shocks/springs but to be honest I got such a great deal on the KW V1 that I would barely have saved anything by going the other route.

I have also planned the exact same brake upgrades as you however I have been pouring money into handling these days, so I plan on making the stock pads last as long as possible for the time being until I am done with handling, braking is definitely up next on the list.

I look forward to your feedback on the brake upgrades if you do yours before I do mine as I am really hoping that I do not have to upgrade to a BBK, that would simply cost too much when all I want is linear feel for now. If I ever turbo my R, the yes, a BBK would be in order

Thanks for reading!

[oldracer]

SlaveIV has done the brake upgrade I think and seems very happy with his package, (and his brakes!!!)
I'm loopy here still taking pain meds after hernia surgery a week ago, I'll try to find his thread and bump it.

1 more surgery and I'll be on the way to semi-normal again..... I have a 4" tumor that I plan to sell when they get it out!!! J/K about selling.....

After I get out of the hospital with that, I'm doing the braies, so maybe a month or so I'll report back.

[LoyalSage]

SlaveIV has done the brake upgrade I think and seems very happy with his package, (and his brakes!!!)
I'm loopy here still taking pain meds after hernia surgery a week ago, I'll try to find his thread and bump it.

1 more surgery and I'll be on the way to semi-normal again..... I have a 4" tumor that I plan to sell when they get it out!!! J/K about selling.....

After I get out of the hospital with that, I'm doing the braies, so maybe a month or so I'll report back.

Sounds good oldracer, hope all goes well and that you recover quick!

[LoyalSage]

All,

I am returning the R32 back to stock. I have removed the KW V1 Coilover Kit and have them up for sale here:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...reat-Condition!

I will be posting more items up for sale soon, so let me know if you want dibs on anything.

[Slave IV]

Decide it's better stock or are you getting a different car?

I might be interested in the noise pipe delete kit if that is going to be on sale...

[mfbmike]

want noise pipe delete kit and dash tray