Rich's 2015 GTI SE 2dr

[RS_MacD]

A proper photoshoot! (part 1)

 

[RS_MacD]

A proper photoshoot! (part 2)

 

[RS_MacD]

A proper photoshoot! (part 3)

 

[RS_MacD]

A proper photoshoot! (part 4)

 

[RS_MacD]

On the build front, the car has been up on jack stands for four days now.

MPI/Ethanol sensor + Vortex XL + DO88 charge pipe kit have been installed - definitely a couple of tough spots there, namingly wrestling with the back coolant turbo connector (RIP one screwdriver and chisel foolishly used as leverage) and finally getting it off from the bottom, only to be too exhausted to notice that coolant was pouring all over my torso.

Somehow the PCV hose connector facing the N80 valve was also broken off, makes me think it was definitely cracked before it came off. Quick trip to the dealer netted me a new PCV valve system that I slapped on during the cleanup from the turbo install.

Waiting on the brushless LPFP and the base ECU/TCU tunes ahead of a dyno tuning session on Monday 8th November. Full corn numbers here we come - will of course print dyno numbers here and run comparisons!

 

[Mreed055]

I went with ShopDAP! Mostly because they have the video going through the install that I could follow.

Nice! I totally missed the part of the post where you said you went with them! Did you get the Magneti Marelli version or the' assembled by DAP'? Seems to be about a 200$ price difference and i read that Magneti Marelli makes the OEM's for VW anyways so was looking into that.

 

[RS_MacD]

Nice! I totally missed the part of the post where you said you went with them! Did you get the Magneti Marelli version or the' assembled by DAP'? Seems to be about a 200$ price difference and i read that Magneti Marelli makes the OEM's for VW anyways so was looking into that.

The Magneti version wasn’t available at the time I bought them. Went for the DAP version, happy with my choice. Everything was straightforward!

 

[RS_MacD]

Huge week ended yesterday in another trip up to my dynometer friends in Hoffman Estates and a remote tuning date with EQT sauce king Ed himself to get everything dialled in.

Installed:

• Vortex XL
• Do88 charge piping
• PR MPI 925cc kit
• EQT's RS3 brushless pump

The first start of the car was about as terrifying as anything I've ever done. Fireball? Setting my buddy's garage on fire? Perfectly plausible!
When the turbo started smoking I absolutely sh*t myself and turned it off, and contemplated life for a bit. Turns out the oil/other residue I put on it with my gloves had to get burnt off. Duh...

After that it was amazingly smooth sailing - very proud of myself that all of my handiwork held up.

But we all want graphs and power numbers right?

Here you go! Four graphs for you - as there's a few different dyno settings that can drastically change how things look.
The four different graphs/numbers represent:

• Stock
• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3+

Engine horsepower on DynoCom units is calculated as a percentage over the wheel figure, so probably a bit inflated as it's listed as 15% - more drivetrain loss than I think these cars actually have.

SAE Corrected Engine

SAE Corrected Wheel

Raw Output Engine

Raw Output Wheel

A huge callout here - it was 37f and literally f*cking snowing outside the unit. Amazing for putting all that juicy cold dense air into the engine. Using the SAE corrected engine figure of 605bhp, that actually translates to about 565bhp at 80f.

Happy hunting on your cars folks, this one has ALL THE POWER.

 

[Diggs24]

Great numbers. Always a good pucker moment when you start your car and it starts smoking.

 

[RS_MacD]

Been a little quiet here - but did a couple of interior mods to really finish off the car for now. Sure I'd probably look at suspension upgrades down the line but I've no need to as of yet, so here you are:

Steering wheel before:

During:

After:

DSG knob before:

And after:

And if you want the reason why I was so quiet and not doing anything to the car, here's why!
Some people are squeamish so I've left them as links and not put the preview in here.

Ankle (inside)
Ankle (outside)

 

[dtfd]

Been a little quiet here - but did a couple of interior mods to really finish off the car for now. Sure I'd probably look at suspension upgrades down the line but I've no need to as of yet, so here you are:

Steering wheel before:

View attachment 240610

During:
View attachment 240609

After:View attachment 240608

DSG knob before:
View attachment 240612
And after:
View attachment 240611

And if you want the reason why I was so quiet and not doing anything to the car, here's why!
Some people are squeamish so I've left them as links and not put the preview in here.

Ankle (inside)
Ankle (outside)

I was going to ask about the temp handicap sign, woof what happened?

 

[RS_MacD]

I was going to ask about the temp handicap sign, woof what happened?

Too much Couple of injuries that wouldn't go away! Was like ankle soup in there haha. Weight off for 4-6 weeks, then boot for another fortnight. Just back to walking around/doing PT now and still got a few weeks until I can run!

 

[RS_MacD]

2022 summer updates:
- Gold powder-coated RSe11Rs
- Eagle F1 Supercar 3Rs up front
- Aerofabb rear spoiler

Looks so much better than black on black for me! And I love the subtle change the spoiler makes to the rear end.

Cheers,
Rich

 

[RS_MacD]

Another year, another busy time adding expensive mods to the car!

Since the last update, I've added:
Exterior
- Aerofabb front splitter and side skirts
Suspension/brakes
- EQT coilovers
- SuperPro anti roll bars (front and rear)
- SuperPro control arms with poly bushings
- Aluminimum subframe
- VWR subframe complete bushes and dogbone mount
- RS3 brake ducts
- Corner balanced and aligned for street and track use (think about 1.5deg of camber up front)
- Track pads/fluid for trackdays
Engine
- BFI stage 1 engine and transmission mounts
- Blaze Atom v2 intake (replaced R600, it was rubbing on my do88 charge piping...)
- VWR catch can and PCV system
- VWR oil cooler (not quite as far offset from the intercooler as it should be but my IATs have been fine so I'm not moving it now)
- Steel oil pan

Random fixes:
- DSG breather box and seal refresh (didn't know the early models only had a black cap on top of the DSG box, it spews oil all over the driver footwell
- Misc fixes for small oil seeps like the upper timing cover
- New passenger CV axle after my first track day caused outer joint to get VERY noisy
- Wheel fixed after I managed to bend it somehow and definitely felt it on track!

From the last picture, I've started to track the car now - hence a lot of the track based modifications.
I have a set of IS3500 pads and R660 fluid for track so I know I'm going to stop. Brakes are AMAZING on this thing!

I've gone to Autobahn in Joliet (Illinois) a couple of times, will be going to Blackhawk farms end of July, Gingerman Raceway in August, and Road Atlanta in November!

As always, happy to answer any questions or comments!
Rich