APR TCU Tune

[roydle]

I have read several threads that state APR TCU tune has lots of issues. That APR states "working on it" when customers encounter problems. Is this common or only some people that encounter issues? Is the GIAC DSG tune better and more reliable? This will probably dictate my decision on which ECU software to get. I want to hear feedback from actual users. Thanks

[pdqgp]

100% happy with mine. No "issues" here. Read some threads but nothing jumped out at me. Well worth it IMO.

[scottycs]

I've driven an apr car with no issues, but plenty are experiencing it. I would go with EPL since you can flash from home and the tune is always evolving, where I doubt apr will ever invest more time in our platform.

[s4matty]

Same here
Very happy with it.
Slight issue with the launch on a 2010 with it,but it's very minor.The AMAX shifting is awesome

[cspcrx]

There was a thread on this and it was not just APR TCU tunes that some were having issues with. Initially it was thought to be B8.5s but then others chimed in with B8s. Also seemed like it was not across the board issue some had it some did not.

[creativecody]

I have a very early (2013) b8.5 and have APR Stage 2 + TCU tune with no issues. Very happy.

[wack0]

I have an APR TCU tune, when I use launch control it shifts weird, like its bouncing off the rev limiter or something

[XLR8 Craig]

There are a few things we have to look at. APR is one of the largest, if not the largest tune file maker for this platform. So of course issues are going to be more widespread since there is more product out there. Also I suggest using the same DSG flash provider as ECU because both components reference each other and should be used together. IE APR and APR

With this being said, all cars are different and not all cars have the same issues. It's very hard to reproduce and develop and test a fix when so many users are quick to abandon a product or simply not buy it because they don't want to be used as a "test subject"... something I can entirely understand but doesn't exactly make the advancements of the platform come any quicker.

We have flashed so many of these cars with APR software and have never had an issue with the TCU flashes.

There is a lot of good information on the internet, but also a lot of bad so take it all with a grain of salt :) Let me know if I can answer any questions you may have.

[roydle]

There are a few things we have to look at. APR is one of the largest, if not the largest tune file maker for this platform. So of course issues are going to be more widespread since there is more product out there. Also I suggest using the same DSG flash provider as ECU because both components reference each other and should be used together. IE APR and APR

With this being said, all cars are different and not all cars have the same issues. It's very hard to reproduce and develop and test a fix when so many users are quick to abandon a product or simply not buy it because they don't want to be used as a "test subject"... something I can entirely understand but doesn't exactly make the advancements of the platform come any quicker.

We have flashed so many of these cars with APR software and have never had an issue with the TCU flashes.

There is a lot of good information on the internet, but also a lot of bad so take it all with a grain of salt :) Let me know if I can answer any questions you may have.

Thanks guys for the feedback.

[XLR8 Craig]

Thanks guys for the feedback.

You're welcome, hope you found it useful. If you have any questions please feel free to shoot me a PM or an e-mail.

[email protected]

[firstars]

No issues here with APR TCU tune. Actually reflashing this week to disable auto downshift for HPDE events.

[beckmaster]

I have the stage 2 with DSG tune a 2013. Been driving it for a few months now including track time. On the track I don't even use the paddles. Car seams to be doing just fine under the more aggressive load.

[S42014forme]

Have GIAC TCU tune with about 22k miles on it. Love it!

I have read several threads that state APR TCU tune has lots of issues. That APR states "working on it" when customers encounter problems. Is this common or only some people that encounter issues? Is the GIAC DSG tune better and more reliable? This will probably dictate my decision on which ECU software to get. I want to hear feedback from actual users. Thanks

[dimonblr]

Any more long term reviews on APR TCU?

I am on APR Stage 1 ECU. I must admit that I purchased the tune pretty much immediately after taking ownership of the car, and have not had enough time with the stock ECU tune to get to know it well. this is also my first DSG vehicle. I noticed that after flashing with Stage 1 ECU the car obviously got quicker in acceleration, but there appears to be a bit of a delay of that power delivery to the wheels under hard acceleration. This is most pronounced at higher speeds; let's say a 40 MPH WOT acceleration maneuver. In stock form acceleration was for lack of a better term - linear. After the tune, hard pressing the gas pedal at highway speeds drops a gear down, but the full 'kick' of acceleration is in a strange way delayed by some fraction of a second. This is something that I am struggling to describe in words, but feels like a slingshot effect. Can anybody relate to this symptom and comment on wether a TCU tune addresses this?


This attached video that I came across is a review of a different brand of TCU software available for our cars and touches on a point about TCU tunes offering a "Clutch Pressure Increase to prevent slippage while accelerating". Kind of sounds like what I am trying to describe, although I wouldn't go so far as to say I am experiencing 'slippage'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLuZbOqc48

[wangshuo1989]

Any more long term reviews on APR TCU?

I am on APR Stage 1 ECU. I must admit that I purchased the tune pretty much immediately after taking ownership of the car, and have not had enough time with the stock ECU tune to get to know it well. this is also my first DSG vehicle. I noticed that after flashing with Stage 1 ECU the car obviously got quicker in acceleration, but there appears to be a bit of a delay of that power delivery to the wheels under hard acceleration. This is most pronounced at higher speeds; let's say a 40 MPH WOT acceleration maneuver. In stock form acceleration was for lack of a better term - linear. After the tune, hard pressing the gas pedal at highway speeds drops a gear down, but the full 'kick' of acceleration is in a strange way delayed by some fraction of a second. This is something that I am struggling to describe in words, but feels like a slingshot effect. Can anybody relate to this symptom and comment on wether a TCU tune addresses this?


This attached video that I came across is a review of a different brand of TCU software available for our cars and touches on a point about TCU tunes offering a "Clutch Pressure Increase to prevent slippage while accelerating". Kind of sounds like what I am trying to describe, although I wouldn't go so far as to say I am experiencing 'slippage'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLuZbOqc48

I had the "delay" you mentioned while the car was 100% stock. After APR Stage 2 + TCU, it's gone.

[Joker S4]

APR UltraCharged w/APR TCU Tune. No issues to report for me. I've have the TCU Tune for well over 10k miles.

[englishbay]

there appears to be a bit of a delay of that power delivery to the wheels under hard acceleration. This is most pronounced at higher speeds; let's say a 40 MPH WOT acceleration maneuver. In stock form acceleration was for lack of a better term - linear. After the tune, hard pressing the gas pedal at highway speeds drops a gear down, but the full 'kick' of acceleration is in a strange way delayed by some fraction of a second

I have the same thing and like you am struggling to explain it. I do WOT at around 30km and the engine is racing but nothing is getting to the wheels for a second or two. Never experienced this with any other car, thought it might have to do with the transmission not wanting to accept the sudden increase in HP/TQ, because when it does hit the wheels it's quite disappointing. There have been a few times when it does kick in and wow it's like a rocket, but this doesn't happen all the time. What I usually have to do is be in manual mode in a gear that is around 4k to get fast acceleration.

I’m APR UC with the TCU tune since May, B8.5

[Maz_Audi]

Any more long term reviews on APR TCU?

I am on APR Stage 1 ECU. I must admit that I purchased the tune pretty much immediately after taking ownership of the car, and have not had enough time with the stock ECU tune to get to know it well. this is also my first DSG vehicle. I noticed that after flashing with Stage 1 ECU the car obviously got quicker in acceleration, but there appears to be a bit of a delay of that power delivery to the wheels under hard acceleration. This is most pronounced at higher speeds; let's say a 40 MPH WOT acceleration maneuver. In stock form acceleration was for lack of a better term - linear. After the tune, hard pressing the gas pedal at highway speeds drops a gear down, but the full 'kick' of acceleration is in a strange way delayed by some fraction of a second. This is something that I am struggling to describe in words, but feels like a slingshot effect. Can anybody relate to this symptom and comment on wether a TCU tune addresses this?


This attached video that I came across is a review of a different brand of TCU software available for our cars and touches on a point about TCU tunes offering a "Clutch Pressure Increase to prevent slippage while accelerating". Kind of sounds like what I am trying to describe, although I wouldn't go so far as to say I am experiencing 'slippage'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLuZbOqc48

Might be a little off the topic, but you could try installing a dog bone transmission mount insert. From what I’ve gathered it’s suppose to help with this issue and makes shifting smoother. Fairly inexpensive and relatively easy to install, generally concidered to be a worthwhile upgrade.

[englishbay]

but you could try installing a dog bone transmission mount insert.

I have all the inserts from Eurocode: Transmission mount, top differential, bottom differential. Also it happens when in Sport, dynamic mode, and I have the sport differential.

[Nillamb]

Any more long term reviews on APR TCU?

I am on APR Stage 1 ECU. I must admit that I purchased the tune pretty much immediately after taking ownership of the car, and have not had enough time with the stock ECU tune to get to know it well. this is also my first DSG vehicle. I noticed that after flashing with Stage 1 ECU the car obviously got quicker in acceleration, but there appears to be a bit of a delay of that power delivery to the wheels under hard acceleration. This is most pronounced at higher speeds; let's say a 40 MPH WOT acceleration maneuver. In stock form acceleration was for lack of a better term - linear. After the tune, hard pressing the gas pedal at highway speeds drops a gear down, but the full 'kick' of acceleration is in a strange way delayed by some fraction of a second. This is something that I am struggling to describe in words, but feels like a slingshot effect. Can anybody relate to this symptom and comment on wether a TCU tune addresses this?

This attached video that I came across is a review of a different brand of TCU software available for our cars and touches on a point about TCU tunes offering a "Clutch Pressure Increase to prevent slippage while accelerating". Kind of sounds like what I am trying to describe, although I wouldn't go so far as to say I am experiencing 'slippage'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLuZbOqc48

Ok, that's interesting. I have the exact same issue (I've never raised it because, in all honesty, it doesn't really bother me):

-be driving along at, say, a steady 40 - 50 mph
-push throttle far and fast enough for DSG to select 3rd (I haven't noticed if I get the same effect if I down shift to 2nd, or 4th for example)
-get about 25% of the requested acceleration immediately
-get the remaining 75% acceleration after an appreciable time gap (maybe half a second)

I am APR TCU tuned, but like you, got the tune not long after I got the car so I don't recall stock behaviour.

On a related note, when I asked if TCU tune was required for stage 2 to prevent clutch slip, I was told it wasn't required:

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post12604070

[Nughuffer]

I've noticed an occasional issue with the APR TCU tune sitting at a stop light in D. Almost like its trying to push through the brakes like a fat cammed LSx but its not actually pushing at all. A "surge" I guess? It feels like if your sitting in traffic on a bridge while traffic moves in the other direction at full speed and the bridge "flexes" as heavier vehicles drive over expansion joints. I don't know if that makes sense but if I let up on the brake enough to roll forward a foot or two or put it in neutral for a few seconds it stops. It's definitely odd but not a deal breaker I suppose. It's absolutely trans related.

[dimonblr]

I have the same thing and like you am struggling to explain it. I do WOT at around 30km and the engine is racing but nothing is getting to the wheels for a second or two. Never experienced this with any other car, thought it might have to do with the transmission not wanting to accept the sudden increase in HP/TQ, because when it does hit the wheels it's quite disappointing. There have been a few times when it does kick in and wow it's like a rocket, but this doesn't happen all the time. What I usually have to do is be in manual mode in a gear that is around 4k to get fast acceleration.

I’m APR UC with the TCU tune since May, B8.5

You're right. In some situations depending on the engine speed this does not occur.

Might be a little off the topic, but you could try installing a dog bone transmission mount insert. From what I’ve gathered it’s suppose to help with this issue and makes shifting smoother. Fairly inexpensive and relatively easy to install, generally considered to be a worthwhile upgrade.

Not off topic at all. That was a thought of mine as well before I read englishbay's response above where he determined that this didn't address the issue in his car.

Ok, that's interesting. I have the exact same issue (I've never raised it because, in all honesty, it doesn't really bother me):

-be driving along at, say, a steady 40 - 50 mph
-push throttle far and fast enough for DSG to select 3rd (I haven't noticed if I get the same effect if I down shift to 2nd, or 4th for example)
-get about 25% of the requested acceleration immediately
-get the remaining 75% acceleration after an appreciable time gap (maybe half a second)

I am APR TCU tuned, but like you, got the tune not long after I got the car so I don't recall stock behaviour.

On a related note, when I asked if TCU tune was required for stage 2 to prevent clutch slip, I was told it wasn't required:

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post12604070

Would you classify this as a 'slip', or a delay? Wondering if the scenarios where this occurs has to do with power being diverted entirely (or mostly) to the rear wheels. Perhaps the Torsen Quattro system takes that split second to think about whats happening when we punch it on the highway. That answer would sit better with me than if this was a clutch 'slip'.

[Nillamb]

Would you classify this as a 'slip', or a delay? Wondering if the scenarios where this occurs has to do with power being diverted entirely (or mostly) to the rear wheels. Perhaps the Torsen Quattro system takes that split second to think about whats happening when we punch it on the highway. That answer would sit better with me than if this was a clutch 'slip'.

A delay, not a slip. There is no feeling of disconnect between the car speed and engine revs. There's simply a lack of acceleration for half a second *after* the shift completes.

[Jk79]

I also have the delay when attempting sudden acceleration, usually around the 30-40 mph range. I do recall this happening when stock. It’s more pronounced with stage 1 ECU. I was hoping the TCU tune would resolve it but it didn’t. I have the transmission mount insert as well. I believe this is caused by being in too high of a gear. Our trans will have us in 6-7th gear cruising at 40. I have found that a quick downshift from the pedal shifter right before hitting the gas solves the issue.

Edit- I should mention I have non APR tunes. I know this is an APR thread but thought I should chime in as it doesn’t appear to be tuner specific.

[dimonblr]

I also have the delay when attempting sudden acceleration, usually around the 30-40 mph range. I do recall this happening when stock. It’s more pronounced with stage 1 ECU. I was hoping the TCU tune would resolve it but it didn’t. I have the transmission mount insert as well. I believe this is caused by being in too high of a gear. Our trans will have us in 6-7th gear cruising at 40. I have found that a quick downshift from the pedal shifter right before hitting the gas solves the issue.

Edit- I should mention I have non APR tunes. I know this is an APR thread but thought I should chime in as it doesn’t appear to be tuner specific.

Thanks for that input! I'll have to try it out.