TDI Tuning

[Ubique]

So I spoke to the guys at TDI Tuning in Chelmsford yesterday, they are working on a new box for the mk8 GTI. I had one in my 7.5gtd and it was great. They said the box would take my car to around 300bhp. I’m tempted but is that too much power for standard GTI?

[fredgroves]

I think everyone is working on tuning the Mk8 in various ways.

There are a few things locked down that are slowing them down though...

300bhp.... well a JB4 on a Mk7 GTI takes you up by 45bhp using 95 octane and with 98 its more like 70bhp.

The Mk8's injector and turbo are slightly different, so whether its exactly the same.... remember despite what VW tell you, your car is already more 260 than 245...

So 300, yeah, I'd say that would be what a stage 1 tune will give you.

Would that stress anything to breaking point? I doubt it.

Will it cause warranty refusals for powertrain, definitely.

Will your insurer have a blue fit and a baby, definitely.

Will it cause clutch slip and wheel spin, maybe. Will that mean you start looking at TVS DSG tunes to improve clamping and coilovers to prevent wheel hop.... yup that too.

[Ubique]

Fred your a bloody encyclopaedia of info. 👍
The box is really easy to fit and remove and it’s untraceable by vw once off. The one on my old gtd only took ten mins to put on/off.
I get what you mean about the insurance but mums the word and all that.
Clutch slip, can that happen on a dsg?
The box is definitely not a must have, as you know the cars quick anyway but for £300 it’s a great laugh for a middle aged gent.

[fredgroves]

Tuning boxes are not untraceable.... obviously harder to spot than a ecu flash, but they do leave traces - all sort of telemetry data is recorded on the car, things like improbable sensor levels is how they detect it - which is how it works in the first place, it spoofs sensor signals to make the engine boost more. I think it does it by faking the ambient air temperature, but I could be wrong.

Essentially, an ECU tune they will pick up with just a diagnostic scan - the type of scan done everytime you go to the dealer.

The box will only be detectable when they forensically try to understand why some massive (expensive) fail has happened and they have a big warranty bill.... cracked block, blown turbo, dsg fail... and yes when faced with a huge bill, they will investigate it absolute detail.

The JB4 is probably the best one, because its user tuneable - eg you can reduce or even eliminate it from dumping power in low gears.

Have a read of this:

https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/bms-vw-gti-jb4-info-thread.338510/

Don't think Berger have one for the Mk8 yet, probably because the US market isn't running yet.

[monkeyhanger]

I'd personally avoid TDI Tuning like the plague. I fitted one of their boxes onto my 3 month old 2013 MK7 Golf GTD as they were pretty much the first company to bring one out for the new 184ps TDI.

It was awful, crude and massive overfuelling. My mpg was 20% optimistic on the computer, the DPF was regenning every 50 miles and if you put your foot down in 3rd at 65mph, it was like a bomb going off and the car would wheelspin. I sent it back for retuning and all they did was rein in the signal adjustments to the point it was effectively doing almost nothing. I got a refund.

I almost gave up on tuning boxes there and then, but had a try before you buy session with DTUK and it was massively better.

If I was wanting a tuning box now, I'd go DTUK for diesel and probably JB1/JB4 for petrol.

These tuning companies must be on borrowed time for when  we all switch to EVs.

[Ubique]

Interesting, I need to think on this a bit more then. The guy told me that once the box is off vw couldn’t detect it. I had the one on my gtd for 2 years with no issues but I get your point about (if there’s a serious fault) they look harder. I’ve just had a look at the JB4 I will give them a ring to see what’s what.

[fredgroves]

Basically with every mod you have to think of the conequences when something goes wrong and use that as your risk calculation.... what if the component fails massively, have I got a few grand to sort my car out (when you have a car under warranty, obviously after that the risk is a risk any day even without mods).... and as for your comment about the insurance.... can you climb out of the wreckage and remove the box and sling it in the hedge before the loss adjuster comes looking at the smashed car in a repair shop lot? (and yes they do all sort of checks). (not that I'd condone such things but I know a guy who threw all sorts of pieces of his smashed motorbike into the hedge after an accident  )

It might never happen, but it could... its fine if you have considered the risk and accept it, just pointing out the risks for you to consider, what you do after that is your life choice.

[SRGTD]

Basically with every mod you have to think of the conequences when something goes wrong and use that as your risk calculation.... what if the component fails massively, have I got a few grand to sort my car out (when you have a car under warranty, obviously after that the risk is a risk any day even without mods).... and as for your comment about the insurance.... can you climb out of the wreckage and remove the box and sling it in the hedge before the loss adjuster comes looking at the smashed car in a repair shop lot? (and yes they do all sort of checks). (not that I'd condone such things but I know a guy who threw all sorts of pieces of his smashed motorbike into the hedge after an accident  )

It might never happen, but it could... its fine if you have considered the risk and accept it, just pointing out the risks for you to consider, what you do after that is your life choice.

My thoughts exactly Fred. Aside from the risk of the tuning box being discovered by the insurance company’s loss adjuster, by not declaring it to the insurance company they’re not being given the opportunity to assess any increased risk and premium requirements it represents. That would most likely be considered as insurance fraud which is a criminal offence and would need to be disclosed if shopping around for cheaper cover at renewal date.

IMHO it’s not worth taking the risk not declaring modifications to the insurance company.

[fredgroves]

I didn't go as far as to spell that out, but yes it is.... an if the accident involved others the insurance wouldn't pay out for that either in most probability.... again like the warranty you'd only run into this when things got super heavy, but that's when you'd need it the most.

I know people do these things, but "loads of other people rob banks" tends to not be an effective defence in court ;-)

[mcmaddy]

Interesting, I need to think on this a bit more then. The guy told me that once the box is off vw couldn’t detect it. I had the one on my gtd for 2 years with no issues but I get your point about (if there’s a serious fault) they look harder. I’ve just had a look at the JB4 I will give them a ring to see what’s what.

of course he will say they are untraceable he's trying to flog you his product. From that comment alone I'd avoid them. Dtuk weren't much better either, couldn't be any more helpful when you were looking to buy buy once they had your money, not interested in the slightest and trying to get a full refund even though that's what they offer on the website doesn't happen either. Avoid them too 👍