APR Stage III

[FastAddict]

I don't know how close anyone else has been following APR's Stage III release, but I just figured I'd start a thread on it because I'm getting pretty anxious! So far, I've been hearing numbers around 360 hp @ the crank. Haven't heard of any definite torque figures. Anyways, I was informed that they're still tuning it a bit and to expect slightly better numbers than that. Kit will cost around $6k-7k and includes a bigger turbo, better FMIC, better fuel pump, bigger fuel injectors, and a whole slew of other components to make the upgrade to a BT smooth. It does seem a little expensive to me, but I'm definitely following it closely and maybe with my sign-on bonus next spring my GTI will get a treat... Anyways, post your thoughts, questions, comments, concerns!

[lumns]

do u have to have apr stage I/II inorder to get stage III?

[imported_WaZzAp1101]

Originally Posted by lumns

do u have to have apr stage I/II inorder to get stage III?

Stage I is the carbonio intake, APR program and the tbe, nd I think Stage II is an ecu flash that does something else.

[FastAddict]

Some controversy is that people who jump straight from non-staged to Stage III get a better deal than customers who already have purchased Stage 1 and or II. This is because you get an entirely new and loaded ECU regardless of a previous purchase of stage I or II. Also, there is a new Cat that comes with the stage III that replaces the one on the APR downpipe from stage II. Over on vortex, the people are feeling like they should get some sort of reimbursement for their stage I and stage II purchases, since stage III is not really an "upgrade", but a whole new bunch of components that replace existing ones that may or may not have been bought from previous stage upgrades. I'm still on-board either way, but just thought I'd point this out!

[FastAddict]

Originally Posted by WaZzAp1101

Stage I is the carbonio intake, APR program and the tbe, nd I think Stage II is an ecu flash that does something else.

Stage I is just the reflash. Stage II is the downpipe, FMIC, intake, and the stage II reflash.

[imported_WaZzAp1101]

[lumns]

hmmmmm....


sooo u dont need ne previous stages to get to Stage II/III

i know that stage I is like $600 how much is stage II?

[FastAddict]

Well I mean stage II/III are just sets of components. So, you will need the reflash for stage II. However, if you had stage I reflash, you get the upgrade for free. Stage II total (with the reflash, DP, FMIC, Intake) would run you about ~$3,000 (assuming you went with all APR stuff as priced on their site). This is ~$500 for the reflash, $1200 for the APR downpipe and catback, $1000 for the FMIC, and $250 for the Carbonio intake. This is on the high side because a.) it's off the top of my head b/c I'm too lazy to check and b.)this is APR's prices and you could go with a different brand DP/ exhaust setup.

[FastAddict]

I'd just like to add that, from what I've been reading on another forum, if you're planning on doing stage III and haven't done anything else yet, you'll save yourself money by jumping directly to stage III. Again, has to do with replacement of components from APR's previous "stages." Also, with stage III you get a fully loaded ECU w/ stage III programs. I remember reading somewhere that if you had a reflash previously you get this for free. I don't remember seeing a price for this otherwise, so I could be wrong. I'll keep you updated as I find stuff out!

[lumns]

ok...thanks. Right now all i have is a P-Flo. Im graduating this december and hopefully have an income where i can save for GTI goodies.

[FastAddict]

Ah, I know man. I'm graduating in May and cannot wait to start my job so I'll have some good cash to put into tuning. The whole not going to class thing will be great as well.

[doctorgti]

Hey guys. I am scheduled to get the Stage III installed next week or the following. I have already put a deposit down of 50%. I currently am running a stage 1 revo which I like but I figured I will jump all in with the APR. I am getting everything the Kit has ie fuel pump, DV, Full exhaust, Turbo upgrade, all the software. I am also considering H&P coil overs and upgraded brakes with Brembo. We will have to wait and see how mch funds I have left. Anyways I thought I would post some of the progress here. Let me know if this is something you guys would want to hear about.

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by doctorgti

Hey guys. I am scheduled to get the Stage III installed next week or the following. I have already put a deposit down of 50%. I currently am running a stage 1 revo which I like but I figured I will jump all in with the APR. I am getting everything the Kit has ie fuel pump, DV, Full exhaust, Turbo upgrade, all the software. I am also considering H&P coil overs and upgraded brakes with Brembo. We will have to wait and see how mch funds I have left. Anyways I thought I would post some of the progress here. Let me know if this is something you guys would want to hear about.

Nahhh- we don't want to hear about it- we just wanna see the pictures.

What DV is included with the package?

Is your MkV manual or semi-manual?

[doctorgti]

Sorry of the delay. My GTI is Manual. Today I received my R GTI badge emblem from VW in Germany. I want to basically recreate the R-GTI and since APR was the shop that did the original for VW I thought the APR stage III would be the way to go. APR told me that the Stage III kit is basically the set up they used in the R-GTI concept.

[banditscout]

I thought stage II was just TBE and Intake + reflash??

[zeonic]

Originally Posted by banditscout

I thought stage II was just TBE and Intake + reflash??

pretty much. thats what i will eventually top out at. you can always throw on a FMIC for a bit more fun. but a cai, stage 2 reflash and a tbe is all you need to go to stage 2. thats what the apr sight says anyhow.

[doctorgti]

So I dropped my GTI off yesterday at a local tuning shop here that does alot of APR work. I have the Revo Stage I which will get flashed obviously. The Stage III turbo kit requires a whole new software flash separate for I or II. I think my GTI will be done by next Saturday but I will be in there taking photos and helping out a little so I will let you guys know how it goes. My next step will be the H&R coil overs and some bigger brakes.

[BexSoCal]

Originally Posted by doctorgti

Anyways I thought I would post some of the progress here. Let me know if this is something you guys would want to hear about.

Nah, who wants to hear about it. What do you think we are? a bunch of GTI Tuner Junkies? LOL.

Hell Yeah I'd love to hear about it and pics too please!

[Sleeper]

So to sum everything up, if you plan on turboing your car be patient and wait to go big? Anyone run into any problems i.e. need a bigger badder intercooler or have to upgrade basic components? guess what i'm trying to figure out is if you should turbo then make everything able to handle it or the oposite...

[lumns]

you should turbo?
you should already be turbo'ed, im confused.



doctorgti...what the hell happened? where are the pics, the stories?

[Sleeper]

Originally Posted by lumns

you should turbo?
you should already be turbo'ed, im confused.



doctorgti...what the hell happened? where are the pics, the stories?

well yes, but we're talking turbo upgrades at this point. not the stock turbo. what I'm after is that if you drop an APR Stage III in there are you going to step on the pedal and watch the car rip itself to shreds, or can you get a stage III and then start to get things like a new intercooler?

[lumns]

hmmmm.....dragon?!?!?!?

i would say yes u should do the upgrades b4 u increase the output.

but i cant tell u technically y. other than to cover ur bases and prevent damage

[Sleeper]

It's starting to seem like an obvious thing to do. but other than an intercooler...whats really needed to prevent big damage? that should keep the catastrophic anything under control... I would love to be corrected if I'm wrong.

[doctorgti]

Ok Sorry Guys I have been absent a while. This upgrade APR Stage III has been a complete debacle so far. I dropped my car off on Jan 4th to have the upgrade completed and I have been without my car ever since! Every time I call or check in I get told that there have been problems with the APR software and that it is not ready etc. So my car is in their shop (APR authorized dealer) with all the hardware installed and no software to be loaded. I am told that all the hiccups are from APR and not the local shop, but I am not sure what to believe. It was originally going to take 3 weeks at most to complete but we are at 2 months and still not complete. At 1 point I was told that the lead programmer for APR was off because a family member had passed away and that took a week or so of down time.....? Anyways. As soon as i get word or any pictures I will be posting them. It has been frustrating to say the least as this is my daily driver.

[GTiJorgeGTi]

10,000 and its only for six speeds

[lumns]

Originally Posted by doctorgti

Ok Sorry Guys I have been absent a while. This upgrade APR Stage III has been a complete debacle so far. I dropped my car off on Jan 4th to have the upgrade completed and I have been without my car ever since! Every time I call or check in I get told that there have been problems with the APR software and that it is not ready etc. So my car is in their shop (APR authorized dealer) with all the hardware installed and no software to be loaded. I am told that all the hiccups are from APR and not the local shop, but I am not sure what to believe. It was originally going to take 3 weeks at most to complete but we are at 2 months and still not complete. At 1 point I was told that the lead programmer for APR was off because a family member had passed away and that took a week or so of down time.....? Anyways. As soon as i get word or any pictures I will be posting them. It has been frustrating to say the least as this is my daily driver.

dude that sucks, i've been wondering what the hell happened. thought that u got it done, and u were having to much fun to post.

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by doctorgti

Ok Sorry Guys I have been absent a while. This upgrade APR Stage III has been a complete debacle so far. I dropped my car off on Jan 4th to have the upgrade completed and I have been without my car ever since! Every time I call or check in I get told that there have been problems with the APR software and that it is not ready etc. So my car is in their shop (APR authorized dealer) with all the hardware installed and no software to be loaded. I am told that all the hiccups are from APR and not the local shop, but I am not sure what to believe. It was originally going to take 3 weeks at most to complete but we are at 2 months and still not complete. At 1 point I was told that the lead programmer for APR was off because a family member had passed away and that took a week or so of down time.....? Anyways. As soon as i get word or any pictures I will be posting them. It has been frustrating to say the least as this is my daily driver.

Have you tried calling APR yet? If they are an authorized shop, they are not doing a good job representing them, and they should know about it.

[vladbello]

damn, all i can think about is 360hp on that car.... crazy

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by vladbello

damn, all i can think about is 360hp on that car.... crazy

Yeah... if he ever gets it back.

[mikey3117]

Will an APR Stage III GTI pass emissions?

[El Brando]

And I thought i read something on APR's website about beefing up the bottom end with the stage III. Is that included in the price too? Or are they leaving that all stock? And how many PSI can a stock bottom end take?

[lovemaxaroni]

All the APR Stage three options are for Manual trans, any heard anything about them making an option for DSG?

[blackmagic06]

Does anyone know how much power the DSG trans can handle reliably? That me be one problem or maybe they just cant make the software adapt well enough to a dual clutch tranny yet

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by blackmagic06

Does anyone know how much power the DSG trans can handle reliably? That me be one problem or maybe they just cant make the software adapt well enough to a dual clutch tranny yet

There is another thread on that here somewhere.

Cliff notes: The DSGs computer is programmed to protect the tranny at or near 300 ft/lbs. When it maxes out it retards the motor. There is some custom software out there that can modify that (at your own risk).

[doctorgti]

Hey guys! It sucks! the shop is an authorized APR shop and I was actually sent to them by APR. The problem now is that all the hardware mods are done and they claim that the software issues are coming from APR but.....? I have a call into to APR to try to get to the bottom of it. I am hoping that it gets done this week! I am missing my GTI and I hope this is not a sign of difficulties to come with APR's software. I will keep you posted.

[Teh Chr!s]

Dood That Sucks .... As Of Right Now My Car Is Basically Set Up For APR Stage 2 As Soon As I Get The Reflash ...... EVENTIALLY I'll Prolly Get The Urge For More Power And Go Stage 3 But Hopefully By Then They Have All The Problems Like This Solved. Feel Bad For Yah Man Id Be Ready To Start Hurting People If It Was My Car. Hope To Hear Some Good News About Ur Situation Soon

[lowdown]

Originally Posted by doctorgti

Ok Sorry Guys I have been absent a while. This upgrade APR Stage III has been a complete debacle so far. I dropped my car off on Jan 4th to have the upgrade completed and I have been without my car ever since! Every time I call or check in I get told that there have been problems with the APR software and that it is not ready etc. So my car is in their shop (APR authorized dealer) with all the hardware installed and no software to be loaded. I am told that all the hiccups are from APR and not the local shop, but I am not sure what to believe. It was originally going to take 3 weeks at most to complete but we are at 2 months and still not complete. At 1 point I was told that the lead programmer for APR was off because a family member had passed away and that took a week or so of down time.....? Anyways. As soon as i get word or any pictures I will be posting them. It has been frustrating to say the least as this is my daily driver.

My guess on this is that since this is a new set up and most likely the first one they have done, the dealer who has your car doesn't know everything about it. This may be a trial & error thing for them, and they are telling you whatever to keep you @ bay. I would definitely call APR and tell them what is going on. If it is an issue with there programming than they will know and can correct it, if not than the dealer is lying to you.

[VWocd]

has anyone done the stage III yet? I can't find anyone here that has done it. I would love to know

[doctorgti]

Ok everyone here is my most recent update. I called APR see about the software issues and the issue has been the changes in the software for the 2008 models. Finally it is done. So my GTI has all the hardware installed and the software loaded. Today before the Dyno a fuel injector failed, so APR is Fedexing a new one and it will be installed and dynoed on Monday. So I should have my R-GTI either Monday or Tuesday if all goes well. Then I will report the Dyno numbers and upload pictures. The guy I spoke with at APR has the stage 3 on his A3 and loves it, his dynos have been between 348 - 380 depending on different settings, fuel etc. My next move will be suspension, wheels and then brakes. Check back for details!

[mikey3117]

Originally Posted by doctorgti

Ok everyone here is my most recent update. I called APR see about the software issues and the issue has been the changes in the software for the 2008 models. Finally it is done. So my GTI has all the hardware installed and the software loaded. Today before the Dyno a fuel injector failed, so APR is Fedexing a new one and it will be installed and dynoed on Monday. So I should have my R-GTI either Monday or Tuesday if all goes well. Then I will report the Dyno numbers and upload pictures. The guy I spoke with at APR has the stage 3 on his A3 and loves it, his dynos have been between 348 - 380 depending on different settings, fuel etc. My next move will be suspension, wheels and then brakes. Check back for details!

We want pics! We want dynos! Did I mention pics?