mu71rd Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Hi, I know that remaps have been covered on this forum before, but as I'm totally new to any of it, all the different names and companies and reputations didn't really mean anything to me. I was browsing around (as one does when one waits for 'that' phone call) and saw on the awesome website about the APR engine remap... which can be found here I was wondering if anyone has any opinions on whether this is a good or bad thing (in terms of the company/method used) I really like the idea that it can be selected when required. IE - don't really want it all the time, but would be fun to have when I really wanted a blast. I think I even saw it would be selectable from an indicator stalk or something. what are people's thoughts on that, and in fact, has anyone any direct experience of doing it? How would it affect insurance (I'm reluctant to ask my insurance company as I haven't even taken out the policy ye and don't want them to run a mile). thanks in advance rich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 So, "mu" is rich and ready to spend some serious dosh on his GTI the very moment she arrives! A very familiar story and a very typical symptom of advanced GTI-tis. Tee Hee To try to offer some answers to your posted quezzies: APR work closely with Oettinger and Oettinger (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) work closely with VAG. But so do MTM/QST and it's possibly what all the gals from Deutschland tell us! I know, as do others, that APR have been working on a switchable re-map system for a while. In fact, if your car is already Cruise equipped you'll have to wait longer for the necessary kit to become available. Being selectable when required (extremely and mucho mucho desirable) involves stopping the car and switching off the ignition first but doesn't involve a trip under the bonnet! In other words, it's not like the Beemer's M-button....At least not yet anyway. It's all done by using the Cruise controls stalk but I don't know any more at this stage. The established GTI tuners with good reputations (generally) are: AmD, MTM/QST, Oettinger, APR, West Tuning, Revo, Forge(?)....NOT in order of importance and sorry if I've missed any. I believe that Revo also have a switchable re-map too. Some say Superchip are good but I don't know....Laptop rather than rolling road. Too soon for anyone to report real world experience on the switchable variety. Personally I have only driven West Tuning's 270 bhp GTI but in the wet plus winds and it was still supersmooooth and totally road driveable though also modded for the track. Our beloved GTI is a very good and stable platform with excellent headroom. Up to around 250 bhp-ish without any brake/suspension mods being advised. The APR re-map is, like some others, done through the port that results in it being generally undetectable - to VW dealers but probably detectable at VW HQ in Germany with very expensive tools. So, you could switch it off, restart the engine and your dealer would be none the wiser (I'm told). He would only be able to tell by experiencing its drive! Ooops! I don't remember the GTI being quite this powerful!! Insurance? - The same undetectability . Insurance premiums vary but most companies seem to grade according to % increases of power. I hasten to add that I'm not advocating you don't tell them. Extra power? - 245 bhp on a GTI with stock exhaust and the likes of me with my flash-kid Turbo-back Millteks would have to have a special Oettinger coded smaller re-map (available) so not to gain so much bhp that I would then be well advised to fit Porsche brakes and the full suspension kit with 19s etc etc. I'm sounding like an expert but I'm not! I simply know how to research stuff. Does this help you onto the Slippery Slope of modding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mu71rd Posted November 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 unfortunately I'm only rich by name, and not really wanting to become to slippery on the slope. The thing that would really put me off would be how much the insurance goes up, and whether or not it would invalidate things like any warranty etc. Very tempting though isn't it! 250BHP for basically not much extra money. Would definitely feel good for not having got the 18" or the xenons then! to be honest as I'm used to a 206gti I'm sure that as soon as it arrives, I'll be more than happy with the amount of horses under the bonnet, and will soon forget about it! Just wanted to know if anyone had tried it, or done it, and what their experiences were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Hi Rich, I know exactly what you mean - I have very similar views on this. I'm not trying to persuade or influence you. I very much look forward to reading what you have to say about your new standard GTI's performance....Whoaaa! Neddies!! Warranty would only be invalidated if re-mapping was found to be the direct cause of the problem. We'll all have to wait for others to try this particular APR re-map before we can learn what it's really like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_s Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 i was in awsome and they certainly had a steady flow of people in for a remap (apr) they all seemed very happy and some had had previous cars remapped and gone back there. (they were mainly audi drivers and one golf gti driver) i drove their car and it was very smooth (i liked it alot) although i have decided to go to west tuning for my remap and other mods and am booked in for 2 weeks time. (made my decision after reading robins excellent piece on them and also in speaking to ray west. he really sounds like he loves what he does and more importantly cares about what he does) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_s Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 robin. im a little confused. did you drive the track modded car with 270 bhp or was it the road modded car? spoke to a younger chap there and he said their blue car is the road modded one. he also said they do a +45 bhp road version and also a +70 bhp road version and then the race track remap. is this what you were told? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Hi Jay, Good to hear from you again. I drove the 270 bhp blue West Tuning GTI as featured on the front cover of November's 'Volkswagen Driver' mag and fully described (Porsche brakes, Bilstein suspension etc etc) in an article inside. They described it as "Road & Track GTI" and it is certainly driven on track days. They can also re-map a 245 bhp version more for standard cars without Millteks. As you say, that's what also impressed me about Ray - He genuinely loves his work and cares. I have spent time with him and know this to be no bull-poo. I'm looking forward to going there again on Wednesday to have my Turbo-back fitted. Are you back to Resonated section now? And are you happier with it quieter? I am defo going to wait some time - IF I do any re-mapping. If I was doing it now I'd be very torn between the switchable APR, MTM/QST, and West Tuning. Ray is The Man and would get personally involved so I know the result would be excellent based on driving his car and seeing his attitude, but the switchable option is very attractive from the point of view. I wouldn't want to go above 250-ish without other 'hardware' mods. Ray is defo also The Man when it comes to building brakes etc....You should see some of his custom made work. Both APR via Oettinger and MTM have strong VAG relationships in Germany but they seem to be ECU specialists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_s Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 not got the resonator fitted yet. am getting that done by ray when he fits the shocks, antiroll bars and a few more horses under the bonnet will go for the west tuning option and ill tell my insurance co. not worth the risk for another £190 per yr in my opinion. cant wait for the upgrades.... like waiting for the gti in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_s Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 im slightly torn between getting the resonator fitted or not. The sound is just awsome when general driving and more throttle driving, i really dont want to lose that, but at the same time the motorway noise on long journeys is just too unbearable, if unbearable is the right word. too much noise for too long would be more accurate. they have really matured in the last 500 miles or so. (now up to 1500 miles with them fitted) they just seem to get better with age (and a heavy left foot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_s Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 as for the switchable option. if your racing around and you have the dreaded near fatal accident, can you switch it back again from hospital. (bear in mind if its your fault and the police and insurance company are both trying to find a scape goat, investigating every angle and looking for a way out of paying) Look at the guy who fell asleep at the wheel and ended up on the train tracks, they went into all his phone records ect ect and he got 5 yrs..... im not saying its likely this will happen but you have to ask yourself is it really worth the gamble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Oh dear! I meant to stop and go to bed at midnight! Never mind....Just one more post! Fortunately I don't do too much motorway driving. Is it the 3,200-3,500 revs range which is the worst? Tis on mine but I either lift off throttle or go past it according to road conditions. The sound is awesome isn't it, even on Cat-back....hardly sounds like a 4-pot at all. Heard a diesel Jag today....truly horrible sound! And noisy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 No! You can't remotely switch it back from your hospital bed! You'd have to reach out to your Cruise stalk after your ignition was off. The point of switchability is the driving experience options rather than fooling the stealer and/or insurance company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_s Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 that was the point i was trying to make red. the increase in noise levels is mainly on slight throttle when overtaking or slight acceleration at about 3,000 revs. youll know what i mean when you get your highflow turbo back upgrade fitted....enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Cheers Jay. Approx 24hrs from now I'll be enjoying the Turbo-back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mu71rd Posted November 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 as will we! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Get your ear-plugs at the ready then!! And if those work I'll doubtless bombard you with my enthusiastic words! Seriously though, if they are too loud I can swop to a Resonated section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mu71rd Posted November 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 well, having just spoken to my insurance company, (i actually have a numberplate now - so it's all getting a bit close!) i tentatively asked them about an 11-25% engine remap, and the policy went up by £900 that's the end of that little dream then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotw Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 You get an "LF55" plate as well ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mu71rd Posted November 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 yeah all the number plates were completely boring. no VW or RD or anythign cool in my plate how did you wangle that one Red? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 [ QUOTE ] how did you wangle that one Red? [/ QUOTE ] with £700 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Rich. If you don't mind me asking. How old are you? I'm wondering if the insurance hike after the remap may have been because of your age as opposed to the extra BHP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mu71rd Posted November 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 i'm sure it was - I'm 26 and have no no claims as a result of driving for 9 years on 'any driver' policies. They probably all laughed out loud whilst she put me on hold... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB6Vantage Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 I asked my dealer about remap, and if I would do it on the car, if I would have to tell the insurance. His look said it all. It was the sort of look you get when somebody thinks: are you out of your fecking mind?!? But he simply said they don't need to know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mu71rd Posted November 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 mmmm insteresting! am I that brave?! not sure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 [ QUOTE ] But he simply said they don't need to know... [/ QUOTE ] lying by ommission isn't something insurance companies favour. You can't act dumb in these circumstances, they just won't pay out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now