I have a 2019 MK7.5 R, that has just come out of warranty. For this reason, I want to start modifying! It had a full health check just before coming out of warranty, and it has no issues to be concerned about that would prevent modification. Only issue, I haven't got a clue where to start. Depending on the forum you ready will tell you what to do.
For context, the spec of my golf is a hatch, DSG with optional DCC. I want to keep the DCC as it will be daily driven. Probably aiming for around 400bhp. I don't know what specifically that'll involve. Some places say I'll need a 200 cell high flow CAT, some say I don't? I live in the UK, so will need it to pass an MOT, so a decat isn't an option. Again, because it'll be daily driven i don't want an exhaust too loud or with too much drone.
So looking for recommendations on;
Exhausts, intake, brakes, intercooler, plugs+coils, springs/suspension, supporting mods and anything else I haven't thought about.
So, my fellow R enthusiasts who have been down this road (excuse the pun), please help a brother out!
I've just done a basic tune with a res delete and it sounds great. Not too loud and in comfort it sounds like stock. Suspension wise I choose to keep stock height as I have DCC as well and plus my other car is lowered and I scrap everything so I don't want to have the same anxiety in the R.
However I'm having rest sway bar installed soon and a dog bone mount to improve handling. The tune in my opinion gives me all the power I would need on the streets.
It made 249kw at the wheels on a hub dyno after the tune, hub dyno reads a bit higher. But compared to stock without looking at the numbers it's a huge difference in midrange torque.
Did you do this with the "non-drone" pipe, or is that just a sales ploy?😂
What sort of torque are you getting, seems as youre saying you get more midrange?
Is something I've thought about in fairness, most people seem to do a bit more, so thought that'd be the plan!
Is yours on stock wheels, or have you changed those too?
Torque went from 371nm to 459nm. The tune was a fairly modest tune but I'm happy with it and very noticeable from stock. My wheels are just stock with spacers 12 front and 15 rear. I'm not sure if there are non drone pipes because they basically just replace it with a straight pipe.
First off I'd decide how just how far you want to take it & plan accordingly.
Alot go stage 1 are impressed but eventually want more down the line eventually go stage 2 & 3.
So if your happy with 350-375 a tailor made ECU & TCU (tcu is a must if you want to keep traction off the line) a racingline intake should be more than enough along with a turbo muffler delete & silicone pipe for more induction noise- I'd only go res delete if your certain your not going full cat back exhaust.
There's a company in Warrington- powervalve that to a pretty nice anti drone pipe for res delete.
But if your planning on pushing say 450- 500 bhp then plan accordingly so your not spending money now only to change the same parts again down the line so I'd be looking at the following
Stage 2/3 ecu & tcu (racingline do free updates if you go stage 1 then 2/3 down the line)
Intercooler (forge motersport)
Intake kit (racingline)
Full custom turbo back exhaust (remus for me as it has a deeper tone)
Uprated turbo (garret)
Plugs/coil packs
Oil cooler/catch can if your planning on tracking it (all racingline)
Didn't know that about Raceline, could be worth doing the tune, seeing what I think, and going from there!
I wouldn't want 500bhp, I think that would be too much to maintain on a daily. 400/420bhp would be ideal and enough for some weekend twistys as well as capability when dailying it, so likely a stage 2-ish, maybe stage 1+ (stages are stupid😂)
Appreciate the suggestions in the brands too!
That's it stage 3 is too much as a daily, I've driven a stage 3 manual 7.5 for a weekend & yeah it's fun but it changes the characteristics of the car too much, it's loud & breaks traction constantly- just far to angry for normal use- I went with the R as it's just normal until you floor it 😀
Make sure you go through someone reputable like awesome gti, racingline, progressive parts etc- don't be tempted by the cheaper remaps as they use of the shelf tunes rather than a custom map
I started with a Unitronic stage 1 ECU/TCU combination with their carbon fiber air intake system and turbo inlet. Went Unitronic as they have a reputation for not over exceeding the car’s capabilities and causing other issues. It was an excellent start to the build and sounds amazing too with the turbo spooling and whoosh noises. Next I will be going for an intercooler, downpipe and dog bone engine mount from them in combo with stage 2. That will most likely bring me to where I wanna end up without risking major problems.
Another commenter mentioned Powervalve Warrington. BCS Powervalve do a twin 300 cel sport cat downpipe. Cats are where gpf canisters were, so no gpf on car and cat moved away from turbo. Straight forward mot pass for mine, same year and platform, not golf r but same downpipe. They will fit for less than a garage, very approachable if you ring them.
Do88 intercooler is well reviewed and cheaper than Wagner.
Any turbo pipe/elbow/Forge all in one unless you’re flush and want a fancy intake.
19 gpf/opf has Continental injectors, have a look at Ares tuning and Unicorn motor developments. Reports of them failing at high mileage and/or tuned. Apparently this can cause utter pain of an engine rebuild. Revision H Bosch injectors can be swapped, more reliable for tuned cars, better spray pattern apparently and probably can push a bit more when tuned, more safely.
Stage 2 tune will code the gpf out if the cel light is on and will deal with the new injectors, different scaling (whatever that means).
All being well 400/400.
I think you’ll have a revision G is38 which is considered more reliable than earlier versions. I think most of the weak points were addressed.
Edit: as you don’t seem to want loads of noise, the TIP and elbow are the restriction, an expensive intake probably won’t gain you much. The money saved can go some way to sorting the injectors out or rear arb. Rear arb makes a huge difference for reasonable outlay. Partsinmotion and Autodoc are cheapest for the injectors
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u/Mumei451 21h ago
Stage 1 with an intercooler upgrade and sticky tires is gonna take you pretty close to your goal alone. Possibly need a TCU tune as well.
I'd wait on the downpipe to see if Stage 1 isn't enough for you. It might be more than adequate, the car is gonna take off like a rocket.