Thinking of chipping

[Biggu]

Looking at getting my JSW chipped this coming weekend however the one thing im worried about is I only have 600 miles on my car.

How often does the dealer reflash the ecu for revision changes with out informing people till its done?

second revo or unitronic? both seem good and Ill have to drive at least 2 hours to get either one done.

[ArtieMacKinlay]

I'm partial to Unitronic.

Can't really answer the ECU flash. Can't imagine they would just do that randomly. It can't be part of any regularly scheduled maintenance. While a hassle, I'm almost positive Unitronic would reflash you for free if you somehow get flashed back to stock.

[VAG0]

If you have your car chipped, the tune will be wiped if you take it in to the dealer and they have to update the software.

I lost my Neuspeed tune that way.

Neuspeed was cool and said I could bring it back to get it re-done, but the hassle of driving all the way back to Camarillo was not worth the minor performance enhancement that the tune gave the car.

In retrospect I think performance upgrades such as computer re-mapping is kind of foolish in a Sportwagen.

Its a 140 HP ( TDI) front wheel drive car. It is what it is. I've learned to enjoy it that way. If you bought this car for high speed driving excitement, you bought the wrong car. Get a GTI instead.

My 1969 Plymouth Barracuda satisfies my go-fast needs ( HP 360 bored .30 over, etc etc currently making 395 HP)

Just my 2 cents y'all, don't mean to be a wet blanket. Just don't feel that the performance mods available for the JSW is worth the $$$.

Put the money into a great suspension / tire setup instead and then go attack your favorite road.

A well dialed in suspension setup can give a good driver just as much thrill.

[Biggu]

Just really looking for a bit more get up and go from it. I know it is what it is, I bought the car for my daily as my race car gives me more fun than I ever want ( sc300 with 2jz-gte, built head, medium turbo, low boost 17psi makes 550/498 before 3500 RPM high boost still to figure out numbers).

[VAG0]

Sweet! Need pictures of that sc300. I love those things. Always wanted one.

[Biggu]

Looks like im going to be getting chipped here shortly

heres picture of the SC


and heres the engine( before paint and the Vertex Ridge kit.
I also went Mid mount this year.

[Code3VW]

If I get chipped, it will probably be from Malone tuning...I've read too many horror stories about pretty much every other company.

[VAG0]

Drooling over that SC300

Sickness.

So as not to jack the thread, if you really want to chip your 'wagen I'd still say don't bother.

Put the money into your suspension set up instead.

[pknopp]

There are indications that certain "enhancements" also help stop the intercooling icing some owners experience.

I've not experienced any problems but if I did I would look to the programmers for a fix.

[Biggu]

so for those interested I should be getting flashed hopefully in the next week or 2 just waiting on the dealer to get back to me.

In the mean time, I bought Koni coilovers to hold me over. now to just find some wheels I want

[VAG0]

Koni's

Stiffer swaybars

[CRJSW]

Malone 40hp bump

[Slo.Mo.Shun]

Malone

Im running their stage 2 and love it.

[macscac]

Slo..
I actually emailed Malone last nite asking some questions about stage 2. And then found this thread today

What did this tune do to your mpg?
And did you have to go there? Or just send parts to them?

[Slo.Mo.Shun]

I mailed my ECU and flashed the DSG myself.

Last time I drove the car I saw around 42+ MPG at 70 mph AC on and 45+ with the AC off at 70 mph.

I have not driven the car much due to my health situation. But, I need to go on a road trip to get a better idea of the actual improvement (Dividing fuel used by distance traveled).

[ToeBall]

The tune doesn't do anything for your mileage by itself if you're a good driver. It makes the throttle more sensitive so you have to be smoother or your mileage goes down. Also, using the extra power makes your mileage go down. Adding other mods, such as a downpipe or full exhaust, in conjunction with your tune makes mileage go up.

[shirtsTDI]

The tune doesn't do anything for your mileage by itself if you're a good driver. It makes the throttle more sensitive so you have to be smoother or your mileage goes down. Also, using the extra power makes your mileage go down. Adding other mods, such as a downpipe or full exhaust, in conjunction with your tune makes mileage go up.

Oh great. I can see my mileage now. 20 in city and the same ~38 on the highway. Lead is entirely too light to describe my foot, so I can just imagine what it's going to be like when I get tuned.

[ToeBall]

Oh great. I can see my mileage now. 20 in city and the same ~38 on the highway. Lead is entirely too light to describe my foot, so I can just imagine what it's going to be like when I get tuned.

Gotta pay to play... at least this way, you chose when instead of all the time.

[shirtsTDI]

Gotta pay to play... at least this way, you chose when instead of all the time.

I am just worried about the medical bills. If I get the benefits that I think I will from Malone's Stage 2 and the water/meth injection, I can see my medical bills going up due to whiplash and going to the plastic surgeon to remove the perma-grin.

[ToeBall]

I am just worried about the medical bills. If I get the benefits that I think I will from Malone's Stage 2 and the water/meth injection, I can see my medical bills going up due to whiplash and going to the plastic surgeon to remove the perma-grin.

Nah, you don't really have enough traction to get whiplash, but perma-grin is an on-going problem among tuned CR TDI owners. We did an exhaust on my brother's car and his perma-grin has been there for over a month. Not bad considering his other vehicle is a 700 hp Z06.


_MG_0897 by Toe_Ball, on Flickr

I'm not sure what water/meth will get you, but it can't hurt. You're right at the limits of the turbo and fuel system with a stage 2. I guess it would knock down the smoke a bit?

[Biggu]

toe ball any more info on that downpipe setup? Looks like magnaflow or is it just using one of their mufflers

[ToeBall]

toe ball any more info on that downpipe setup? Looks like magnaflow or is it just using one of their mufflers

Malone tune, PDE downpipe, Magnaflow muffler, and a Borla cat-back. Blend to TDI perfection. Best served at wide open throttle.

[shirtsTDI]

I'm not sure what water/meth will get you, but it can't hurt. You're right at the limits of the turbo and fuel system with a stage 2. I guess it would knock down the smoke a bit?

I dont have a problem with smoke because I still have, and will keep, my DPF. One concern I had was with EGTs if I do the Stage 2, so that should be kept in check with the water/meth. As I progress through these mods, I will definitely let everybody know.

[zagato27]

Biggu, you get chipped yet? Which did you go for: Unitronic, Malone??? Thought I heard that APR was coming out with a tune for the TDi. I'm thinking Unitronic. Heard good things about them and they are fairly close...JK in Charleston, SC. Probably can't go wrong with either Malone or Unitronic. Unitronic will be at SoWo, wonder if they'll be "working" and/or giving out a discount???? Cheers

[Biggu]

Biggu, you get chipped yet? Which did you go for: Unitronic, Malone??? Thought I heard that APR was coming out with a tune for the TDi. I'm thinking Unitronic. Heard good things about them and they are fairly close...JK in Charleston, SC. Probably can't go wrong with either Malone or Unitronic. Unitronic will be at SoWo, wonder if they'll be "working" and/or giving out a discount???? Cheers

Nah I havent done it yet, I was trying to work with APR on getting a beta flash but they decided to keep to local cars for the time being.


honestly, I think ill just wait to go stage 2 before I chip the car. unless unitronic or malone do a sale. IIRC they drop the price $100 bucks every once in a while.

[CRJSW]

Biggu, you get chipped yet? Which did you go for: Unitronic, Malone??? Thought I heard that APR was coming out with a tune for the TDi. I'm thinking Unitronic. Heard good things about them and they are fairly close...JK in Charleston, SC. Probably can't go wrong with either Malone or Unitronic. Unitronic will be at SoWo, wonder if they'll be "working" and/or giving out a discount???? Cheers

If you want to try the Malone stage2 straight piped out at SoWo you can check mine out, Ive never got to ride in the passenger seat of my car yet I'm sure there will be a couple others there also. The sound is sweet!

[zagato27]

If you want to try the Malone stage2 straight piped out at SoWo you can check mine out, Ive never got to ride in the passenger seat of my car yet I'm sure there will be a couple others there also. The sound is sweet!

ARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH! SoWo, I want to go but it's a $ issue. Parts (BSH bar, chip, or put some away for coils) or go to SoWo. Wished I lived just a tad closer, if it was a day trip it'd be a no brainer. Decisions Decisions

[Aonarch]

Flash, not chip.

[Biggu]

just scheduled to drop the car off wednesday morning for an APR stage 1 flash.

[LIFE.:R]

B

[Mike McDonald]

my dad just got his JSW APR tuned two days ago, it really woke the car up and you can tell a huge difference. but his car does have 50 thousand miles, and TDIs tend to break in around 70 thousand miles. i would personally reccomend that you wait and enjoy your car with the low milege, it is not even close to broken in. have fun with it the way it is, sounds like you just got it. either way GOAPR all in all it is a great chip good luck!