How to get louder DSG fart for Jetta MK6

There is something addictive about the "pop" sound that the Volkswagen DSG gearbox makes every time it up-shift.

This "pop" sound is make iconic especially on the more performance oriented models of Volkswagen group, namely the Golf GTi.

This "pop" sound is also known as the DSG fart. All VW model with DSG gearbox will have this "fart". Its only a matter of loudness. It is more pronounced on the performance oriented models and very much lesser on the regular models.

How does a DSG fart sounds like? Take a look at the video below and tell me is the sound addictive?

In order to make this "fart" louder, there is a few ways to go about it.
Either you can go down the route of a full exhaust system change or you can do it the budget way.

As for me, I do not really see the need to go for a full exhaust change on the Jetta partly due to one reason, the tiny 1400cc engine. As wonderful as this piece of EA111 engine is, at the end of the day, its major drawback is its small capacity engine.

So what I did was to go the budget way to make this "fart" sound more pronounce.

I did a resonator delete.

The resonator is highlighted in the picture below.

A more close up of the resonator.

The resonator is removed and replaced with a straight thru pipe. The end result is that you get a louder more pronounce "fart" and yet there is not much drone if you are cruising at speed.

The end result is as below.

This is how it will sound like.

Total damage?

About RM 200 for this trill.

P/S - I will take a better video once I get my car as it is now literally a public property.

Car modifications and warranty related issues

"Will this modifications void my warranty?"

The gazillion million trillion dollar questions that basically get on my nerves and I believe will also get on motorhead's nerve in general.

So to new car owners, the general rule is this (which pretty much is common sense lah, but I feel its lacking alot), modifications DO NOT go hand in hand with warranty.

What does that mean?
That basically mean that the moment you modify something, you run the risk of your warranty being voided.
IF you have modified something and your warranty is voided, please do not go around bitching about it. The terms and condition of the warranty is there for you to see and read. So please read and understand it.

So please do not go around asking the question. You basically make yourself look stupid.

You itchy backside want to modify, you run the risk of your warranty being voided.

Common sense. Grow some please.

And yes, I am very sensitive to this question. Sensitive as in very sensitive and potentially I will go super saiyan ape-shit if being asked question.

Here's a customary potato after a rant post.

P/S - modifications is not the same as enabling/disabling BCM functions.

[Review] Volkswagen Jetta MK6 1.4 TSI - An onwer's review

Volkswagen Jetta MK6 1.4 TSI , launched in Malaysia back in October 2011 in a completely built-up (CBU) guise, imported wholesale from Mexico. The Jetta then retails for RM 149,888 without insurance.
The newer Jetta is now being assembled locally in Pekan via completely knocked down (CKD) packs and retails for RM 130,888 without insurance.

The difference in specifications between Jetta CBU and CKD can be found here.

A C-segment option in the already crowded C-Segment market in Malaysia where the Jetta will have to go up against the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis, Nissan Slyphy, Peugeot 408, Kia Cerato K3 to name a few.

There is already test drive reviews by the usual motoring sites and magazines. Now its about time to get an owner's review as the owner will be the one using the car day in day out as compared to those motoring sites that only has the car for a couple of days.

To be continued... brain jam... LOL

[Review] BC Racing V1 Coilover Kit for Jetta MK6

At the turn of the year, I've finally outgrown the stock suspension.

So its time to search for a performance suspension kit to fulfill my requirements.
After sometime of hunting around and exchanging knowledge with fellow petrolheads, I decided on BC V1 Series coilover kit.

For those lazy bum who is too lazy to even click or tap on the links, the specifications of the BC-V1 Series is as below.
- 30 way adjustable damping
- Adjustable spring platform
- Height adjustment via bottom mount to retain full damper travel
- Dust boot to protect damper seals

The kit I ordered come with the following spring rate installed.
- Front spring rate of 8k
- Rear spring rate of 5k

As per the norm, I have the kit ordered and installed at EA Autoworks. The kit cost me about RM 3.6k inclusive of installation.

So up on the hoist my car goes to have the stock suspension removed and replaced with the new BC Racing V1 series coilover kit.

Front suspension view.

Rear suspension view

Upon completion of the new suspension installation, the car is lowered from the hoist and lo and behold, the ride hide is really slammed low.

The original ride height of the Jetta is 60cm.

The preset ride height of the new coilover kit I believe should be in the region of 54 cm there about. My mistake as I did not take the ride height measurements. That is like 6 cm (60mm) of height reduction.

As the ride is slammed too low for my comfort (days of slamming it too low is behind me), its time to bring out the calculator (not literally lah, doh) to recalculate the optimal ride height and to get the proper preloading adjustment done.

Installing a suspension don't always meant removing the old and plunk in the new. A good tuner will always know and make an effort to get the entire kit preloaded spot on and mind you, preloading is not just as simple as twist, turn, voila kind of job. This is where I trust the folks at EA Autoworks to get it right.

For your info in a nutshell, lowering your car too much don't meant it will always handle better. At times it can and will cause the handling to be worst then stock as lowering a car too much can cause the suspension geometry to be thrown out the window. 

So be smart when lowering a car (no doubt a lowered car looks nice, but can it handle as well as it should?).

Case in point the car below. Looks nice but the handling will be crap (if it is not already crap to begin with).

Anyway back to topic, after much discussion on the ride height by taking into consideration the original suspension geometry setup, it is decided that we will test out a 2cm (20mm) height reduction.

So from a ride height of 60cm (600mm), the car is lowered to 58cm (580mm).

(No, I do not use fingers as a height measurement tool)

This is how the car looks like when the height adjustment is completed.

Closer look at the front height.

As for the damping, after some period of fine tuning which of course involve some run up and down the usual mountain route, I have come to find that by running between 16-18 "clicks" for the front and 12-14 "clicks" for rear, you can achieve a balance between handling and yet it will not be as trashy as it will be over uneven or rough surfaces while being driven around daily.

Please bear in-mind that I use the word trashy instead of comfort as there will be no way a coilover kit even at its softest settings it will never be as comfortable as a stock suspension.

If you want comfort, please stay stock.

There is less diving and squatting now under hard braking or sudden hard acceleration compared to before. This basically allows me to put more power down much earlier and also provide some improvement in braking stability.

With the damping for daily and weekend runs pretty much nailed, its time to turn the focus to the track. Of course it goes without saying that the suspension will be set to the hardest setting in track lah. Double doh.

A remarkable improvement. I am able to put my power down much earlier compared to before as the weight transfer is much more manageable now. With the new suspension kit and of course some help from the Big Brake Kit and RS3 rubbers, I managed to shave 6 seconds off my previous timing.

View it here.

#throwback picture

Mountain road test - checked.

Track test - checked.

2 test down and its time for the ultimate test of ferrying family members (my grandma and her 2 younger sister and my mom) around town visiting relatives in Jalan Ipoh, Cheras and Kemuning.

As I did not change the suspension settings from the previous track day, I take this opportunity to see if there will be complains from my family members that I am ferrying around.

Running around the said area with the hardest settings while driving at the legal speed limit, there is no complains what so ever from them. In fact they don't even realize that I am running on coilovers.

I am quite surprised at this. 

So suffice to say, at the hardest setting and driving around at the legal speed limit, the ride is not as trashy it is supposed to be (over the bad Cheras road condition and the infamous uneven Kesas Highway). There is still some degree of refinement or "comfort" to be found. 

Of course you don't charge over speed bump like you would on a stock suspension lah, the rebound will surely jolt the passengers. Just be more careful when going over speed bump and all will be fine.

With the family member test successfully aced, I don't think I will be reverting back to my original street settings anytime soon.

Apart from family members, I have given a couple of Jetta owners a ride and their collective view is that even at the hardest settings, it is still decently refined.

Even a buddy of mine who has a GTi MK7 and driven my car around town, commented that the car handles quite well.

Now come the question (as usual), will it void warranty? 

My answer will be "What do you think? This is a modification."

Ok seriously, the question will always be, why BC? Why not KW or Bilstein or some brand more "continental"?

My honest answer and opinion will be as below.

No doubt KW or Bilstein coilover kit might be better compared to BC V1 Series but how much better will it be against BC V1 to justify the price tag difference between a KW or Bilstein kit?

A KW V3 coilover kit will most likely cost you around RM 8k region. Since it is twice as costly as my BC V1 coilover kit, will the KW V3 perform twice as good? My personal opinion will be maybe just 15%-20% better at most.

At the end of the day, its your money and your choice. If you can afford it, by all means go for the branded kits. I am here just to share what is my experience with this BC V1 Series coilover kit and that I am happy with it.

Pictures with EA watermarks credit to Drex Chan of EA Autoworks.