Modding a TSI

[Sharkie]

Have a look at APR's website APR - Enhancing the Driving Experience

And specifically APR 2.0 TSI Amarok ECU Upgrade

Although a few tuners are claiming to have tunes for the TSI Amarok, not too many appear to be worth the money.

My Amarok was used by APR as the test bed for the tune development and we discovered many many interesting things along the way.

A stock TSI Amarok actually makes more kw than the BiTDI stock (even though VW claims differently), torque is a bit less, but the way power is delivered is similar to a GTI, so the TSI revs out to 6000r/min beautifully and in stock form is quite a bit faster than any of the TDIs.

Once a tune goes on (196kw!), it becomes GTI rivalling fast. 0-100 in mid 6s if you can nail the 2nd to 3rd shift (which is a slow shift unfortunately) and overtaking in 3rd is awesome (about 4s 80-120km/h).

Given its low entry price (only 2nd hand these days) it is the performance bargain of the Amarok range. You would have to buy a current V6 (starting at $55K) and chip it to be as fast/faster.

In the end I stopped at Stg 1.5 on mine, what I used it for and its ability to wheelspin at will made it unnecessary to chase more power. An exhaust (which I may still yet do) will add a bit more power (without needing a retune) and most importantly sound. The stock exhaust has no nasty bends in it (unlike a typical FWD/AWD exhaust) just a restrictive CAT really.

My Amarok is 5 years old (only 36000km) next month and we still love it. It will be part of the family for a while yet and will move on to my son at the end of next year probably. Have a look at that thread Tigger linked as it has info on other mods as well. Latest was a set of OEM Durban 18" wheels, custome refurbed in satin black, weighs a bit less than the X5 wheels too!

Any exhaust / DP would have to be custom made as none of the tuners have had enough volume to justify developing an exhaust for the TSI Amarok.