Last time we visited our Project Golf R MKVII, we installed the COBB Accessport and flashed the car with the COBB Stage 1 map. The car picked up some decent gains with just the tune and the difference in power was certainly noticeable from the driver seat. Since we performed that flash using the V101 map, COBB has been continuing to refine their maps and are currently on revision V108. This constant revision and support are one of the most beneficial aspects of choosing the COBB Accessport for tuning your car.
Now that the car has been running on the Stage 1 tune for a few months, we were ready to move on to the next power modification. We turned again to COBB for their high flow downpipe and the stage III map. The stage III map runs some fairly high boost levels and COBB recommends installing an aftermarket higher capacity charge air cooler as a supporting mod. Just as we have in our last upgrades to the Golf R, we are taking a systematic approach to this and applying a few different upgrades at the same time that will all work well together.
In this round of modifications we will be increasing cylinder pressures to make more power, so we decided to change out the factory plugs to something that was one step colder. Our plug of choice and a very common choice for people adding more power to the EA888 motor is the factory RS7 side firing plugs from BERU. These plugs are straight from the Audi parts department and you really can’t go wrong with factory part reliability.
The plug design for the EA888 motor in the features a longer insulator than we are used to seeing in traditional spark plugs. Also, electrode end has a different interface than most traditional plugs and the factory coil plugs are designed to work with this interface. There is a lot of talk on the forums about changing out the factory ignition coil packs for the RS3 ignition coil packs, but those particular coil packs are designed to work with the older style of spark plug. Please don’t do this and stick with the factory Golf R coil packs.
On the right, you will see the new side firing BERU Ultra plugs which are standard equipment in the Audi RS7. These plugs appear to have hardened materials on the electrode and the ground strap, although we were not able to confirm in any documentation exactly what materials are used. There have been reports of insulator failures on some of the aftermarket NGK plugs that are one step colder, so we decided that going with a factory option would be best.
The plug change is a very straightforward procedure and once you pop the plastic engine cover off you will have easy access to the coil on plug style ignition coil packs. Simply unplug the packs and then unbolt them to replace the spark plugs. Torque the new RS7 plugs to 25Nm (18.4ft lbs).
8 comments
I would suggest painting your intercooler black for better effectiveness.
I did think about doing that, but the intercooler was just too pretty. Also, the emicivity gains from the black paint job sort loose effectiveness once you start to have air flowing across the heat exchanger.
how much more boost does the stage 3 tune tune? very surprised you only picked up 15 peak hp and 30lb ft with a hotter tune and big downpipe/intercooler. I suspect that if you get the TCU tuned, the numbers will jump up to where they ought to be. Also, any concern not having apples/apples because you changed the load parameters on the dyno between runs?
Can anyone explain a couple of things?
The MK7 Golf R is rated at 292hp at the crank from the factory. Generally speaking a AWD system will loose around 20% of power thru the drivetrain but….
1. This Golf doesn’t have the Haldex system hooked up on the dyno?!
2. If the 20% loss in power is a realistic number; that means that without the COBB downpipe/ APR IC and the COBB tune this Golf would only make around 210whp?
If 210whp is a realistic number, that means that this Golf R (or any stock Golf R for that matter) have a drivetrain loose of about 29%?
That is a HUGE % loss in the drivetrain considering this car is fairly new.
As Billy pointed out above, I believe we will see even more power when we update the TCU. Also, the motoiq in house dyno does read low. I’m not a dyno expert, so I’m not exactly sure what difference the change to the dyno made to the power readings.
Our dyno does read low, the power numbers don’t matter, they change from dyno to dyno, what matters is the difference in power when comparing to stock or prior mods.
Thanks Isaac. I understand that the TCU has to be updated but my concern was about the fact this bone stock MK7 Golf R has a drivetrain loss of roughly 29%…..
As Mike said, dyno numbers are not very important as each dyno read differently and temp/ humidity and other factors play an important role of how the ECU response…..but I’m still baffled a can this new can loose that much.
I wish Cobb would release an option for S3 owners. I’ve been holding out, hoping they come around, but if they don’t I’ll likely get something from 034 Motorsports.