[DaveSTi]

Few Updates since last post

- Purchased RS3 air ducts for the front brakes, need to install them - fairly straight forward as the later mk7.5 R models have a slightly modified control arm to accept this Audi part easier.
- Purchased the MK8 rear control arm air guides again - this time from Cars245 who I used for most of this OEM+ build. No ETA but saves some cash and is dependable vs. the ECS Tuning attempt.

It's been 3 years now with the CSS parts on the car. (milestone!) Still the best money I spent on the car.


Car updates

- Found error codes with OBDeleven tied to the dynamic tailights. Turns out those are normal and due to the module being a lower level than the one expected for those lights in the EU. (not worth a swap). No dash lights or DTCs or anything like that - but they're registering with the car.

- APR SCU (DSC unit - too many acronyms!) doesn't register itself on the CANBus, throwing an error in OBDeleven too. Also, not registering on the dash. This means that to view any logs or to understand what map I'm on, etc. I'll need to log with a PC and the APR/DSC software suite. Since I have a mk7.5R, I have the 5Q0 gateway module that DSC developed this controller for, so I *should* still have all 3 suspension modes selectable from the interior switch. On older 3Q0 gateway modules, it's been shown that the controller only works for 2 of 3 modes. My butt dyno says I've retained all 3, but without access to the controller with OBDeleven, I'll need a PC laptop to verify that I am getting all 3 modes like APR and DSC say these will.

- EQT Tuning/Cobb AP - After hooking up a battery tender, I flashed on EQT's stage 1 tune for 93 octane, then after driving the car and getting it hot, I flashed on their DSG tune. The ECU tune is very smooth and A LOT more powerful than stock. With the R600 and this tune, turbo flutter occurs below 2k rpms if you use stock levels of throttle. Easily avoidable with a downshift. At high RPMs, I had breakup like the car hit the rev limit. However, this has seemingly gone away with more time driving on the tune. With that said, the EQT grounding kit and one step colder spark plugs are on my list for items to get next to help with spark at higher RPMs. My current OEM plugs have 3k miles on them so they're not cooked but as a precaution this seems prudent to do next.

The DSG tune meanwhile is perfectly done. The tune without the DSG tune was off... hard to explain, but wrong RPMs at the wrong time. With the DSG tune, it feels like OEM again with how shifts are spaced apart properly for the power curve. It also has helped mitigate the flutter issue by keeping RPMs higher in each gear and downshifting sooner with throttle input.

I'm really enjoying the car - these latest changes were mental barriers more than anything for me because i was so focused on building the OEM+ build. Feels kind of dirty throwing on aftermarket parts to it, but I looked at the calendar recently and realized that I've owned this car for over 4 years now. If not now, then when? 2026 is when the factory warranty runs out. I think waiting 4 years is good enough for modifying such a tune-friendly platform. This car is legitimately quick now (high 3 seconds 0-60, low 12's 1/4th at 110+). Handling-wise, it's pretty hard to get the car to understeer now with all of it's grip. I mean you'd have to really drive like an asshole to get it to understeer. That's saying a lot for a Golf. The APR SCU has helped with turn-in, which is one of the OEM+ weaknesses (it drove like a sticky gummi bear.), but a front sway bar may come in the future to help with that even further.

Once I put on the odds and ends of the ducts and air guides, I'm going to get the front brakes addressed and then an intercooler and charge pipe kit to help with repeated pulls/braking with this power level around track.

I also see a future with grabbing a pair of Recaro wingbacks for the front seats - but that's Akra money so it'll be next year at best. Stock dampers and spring rates are still perfect for daily and fun.

Thanks for reading - for photos check out my instagram @19_lapiz_r