VW Golf Mk6 Tuning

"Tuning Guide: Best Mods for a VW Golf Mk6."

As many of our site visitors have emailed us and posted questions in our forum about the Golf Mk6 and asking for some tips on how to modify one we put together this guide which covers our go-to modifications that make for power and handling improvements and tuning success for your modified Golf Mk6 project car.

This is a more detailed feature in our Golf Tuning series of articles which will focus on the Mk6 VW Golf and the mods we've found to work best on this platform. If you want tips to see also our tuning guides for Mk3 Golf Mods, Mk4 Golf Mods, Mk5 Golf Mods, and MK7 Golf mods.

These upgrades and tuning components are often utilized by our readers, so prepare ahead and begin with a clear strategy. The Golf Mk6 used the PQ35 platform which is shared with the Mk5 Golf making the Mk6 a minor update. It boasts a more luxury feel to the interior and externally had a cosmetic refresh.

You will save time and money if you get the correct components for the function of your vehicle. The Golf Mk6 is difficult to drive with racing equipment installed since the Stage 3 motorsport enhancements were not intended for road usage.

Individuals who drive their automobiles daily need more power and a broader range of RPM flexibility to suit those spirited weekend drives and the daily commute. While peak horsepower is desirable, for daily usage, you'll want additional power and RPMs at the lower end to aid with overtaking and most Golf drivers will want to retain some fuel economy.

Please watch our video introduction to VW Tuning.

The largest power improvements are achieved by larger turbocharged engines. Engine swaps provide significant value to tiny engine vehicles, since the more you start with, the more you receive back. Smaller engines without turbos may also be altered, but the payback is much lower.

Let's have a look at the probable modifications to your Golf Mk6 tuning project.

The Golf Mk6 is an excellent option for families. Additionally, it's a lot of fun to drive. The GTi and R versions demonstrate the platform's capability, and with a few little tweaks and modifications, you can get some astounding performance figures.

Best mods for your Golf Mk6

1. Flowing and porting the engine head - for larger gains, you will get better flow and make a more efficient engine if you do this to support your other mods.
2. Flywheel lightening - a lower weight flywheel will noticeably improve the engine's ability to rev freely. Not always suitable for all Golf Mk6 engines.
3. Brake Mods - Stopping your Golf Mk6 needs to be high on your agenda.
4. Intake Mods and Sports Exhausts - Note that on their own these mods won't ADD TORQUE for most setups, but they will enable you to release power after other upgrades by removing the restriction.
5. Turbo upgrades - forced induction is the most dramatic method to increase your intakes air supply, allowing you to combust more fuel and make higher power. Typically one of the most expensive upgrades it does provide the largest gains.
6. Golf Mk6 Handling modifications - Upgrading your suspension radically improves your Golf Mk6 handling so Coilovers and Bushings are the usual go-to mods
7. Engine Tunes - Golf Mk6 engine tuning/remapping offers the biggest gains for the money, aftermarket ECU upgrades, and Tuning boxes are all alternatives.
8. Fast road cams are significant power adders, but they must be set up by someone competent. You might struggle to find one but you might find a local firm to regrind a stock camshaft for you.

Golf Mk6 Tuning Stages

Typical stage 1 mods often include: Suspension upgrade (drop ), Sports exhaust, Lighter flywheel, Alloy wheels, Remap, and Panel air filter.

Typical stage 2 mods often include: Fast road cam, high flow fuel injector, Power/Sport clutch, fuel pump upgrades, Ported and polished head.

Typical stage 3 mods often include: Sports gearbox, Internal engine upgrades (pistons/head/valves), Engine balancing, Competition cam, Adding or upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger).

Golf Mk6 Engine codes and specs.

1.4	(CGGA)	79 hp; 59 kW (80 PS) @5,000	132 Nm (97 lbft) @3,800
1.6	(BSE/BSF/CCSA)	101 hp; 75 kW (102 PS) @5,600	148 Nm (109 lbft) @3,800
1.2 TSI	(CBZ/CBZB/CBZC)	84 hp; 63 kW (85 PS) @4,800	160 Nm (118 lbft) @1,500–3,500
1.2 TSI	(CBZ/CBZB/CBZC)	104 hp; 77 kW (105 PS) @5,000	175 Nm (129 lbft) @1,550–4,100
1.4 TSI	(CAXA)	120 hp; 90 kW (122 PS) @5,000	200 Nm (148 lbft) @1,500–4,000
1.4 TSI	(CAVD)	158 hp; 118 kW (160 PS) @5,800	240 Nm (177 lbft) @1,500–4,000
1.8 TSI	(CDAA)	158 hp; 118 kW (160 PS) @4,500-6,000	250 Nm (184 lbft) @1,500–4,500
GTI	(CCZB,CBFA)	207 hp; 154 kW (210 PS) @5,300-6,200	280 Nm (207 lbft) @1,700-5,200
GTI "35"	(CDLG)	232 hp; 173 kW (235 PS) @5,500-6,300	300 Nm (221 lbft) @2,200-5,500
2.5*	(BGQ/CBUA/CBTA)	170 hp; 127 kW (172 PS) @5,700	240 Nm (177 lbft) @4,250
R	(CDLF/CDLC)	266 hp; 199 kW (270 PS) @6,000	350 Nm (258 lbft) @2,500-5,000
Diesel engines
1.6 TDI	(CAYB)	89 hp; 66 kW (90 PS) @4,200	230 Nm (170 lbft) @1,500-2,500
1.6 TDI BlueMotion	(CAYC)	104 hp; 77 kW (105 PS) @4,400	250 Nm (184 lbft) @1,500-2,500
1.6 TDI	(CAY)
2.0 TDI	(CBDC)	108 hp; 81 kW (110 PS) @4,200	250 Nm (184 lbft) @1,500–2,500
2.0 TDI BlueMotion 4motion	(CBAA/CBAB/CFFB)	138 hp; 103 kW (140 PS) @4,200	320 Nm (236 lbft) @1,750–2,500
GTD	(CBBB/CFGB)	168 hp; 125 kW (170 PS) @4,200	350 Nm (258 lbft) @1,750–2,500

You can find links to our Golf engine tuning guides on the links below, which provide a wealth of information on how to improve the performance of these engines. Even though swapping engines from a different vintage is sometimes easier, many of these would be strong candidates for engine replacements.

• 1.4 1.5 TFSi tuning
• 1.4 TSi/TFSi/Twincharge tuning
• 1.8T engine Tuning
• 1.8 & 2.0 TFSi (mk1) Tuning
• 1.8 2.0 TFSi (ea888) Tuning
• 2.0 TFSi carbon issue & care guide
• 2.5tfsi tuning
• 3.0 V6 24v TFSI Tuning
• 2.8 V6 30 valve, 24 valve 3.0 V6 30v and 3.2 VR6 Tuning
• 3.6 VR6 Tuning
• 1.6 TDi tuning
• 1.9 TDi tuning
• 2.0 TDI 140-170 tuning
• 2.0 TDI tuning (EA188)
• 2.5 TDI tuning
• 2.7 & 3.0 TDI tuning

How Golf Mk6 Mods affect Quarter-mile times

We are assuming a 1400kgs Kerb weight, & Manual transmission for the performance tuning figures in the table below

Base power	Quarter Mile	Tuned to	Kerb Weight	Quarter Mile
115hp	18.27	120hp	1400kg	18.02
150hp	16.77	170hp	1400kg	16.1
185hp	15.67	225hp	1400kg	14.71
		640hp	1400kg	10.98
		550hp	1200kg	10.97

4motion or rear-wheel drive is essential at 225hp or more, otherwise, you'll have traction issues.

Suspension upgrades for the Volkswagen Golf Mk6

The handling of the Golf Mk6 is the first thing that has to be improved. Drop the Mk6 Golf around 35mm and replace the dampers; larger dips nearly invariably need further adjustments. When you purchase a vehicle equipped with the R or GTi suspension, it is already around 15-20mm lower than a vehicle equipped with the standard suspension. While it is improved, it still seems a bit harsh and bumpy and even these sporty shocks can be improved.

Race vehicles must be nimble in their cornering, and suspension plays a part. As long as the track is maintained in good condition and forgiving, you may tune the suspension more aggressively and lower the vehicle to increase aerodynamics and reduce the center of gravity.

The rubber suspension bushings on your Golf Mk6 will inevitably wear out over time. This causes the car to move more jerkily, and the suspension will fail to retain the car in the proper position.

Upgrading your Bushes

You should begin by addressing the fundamental setup. While replacing polyurethane bushings with rubber ones is a good idea, avoid going overboard. VW picked rubber for a reason: it helps to dampen road vibrations while driving on it. Enhancements to the bushings here are things you need to know.

1. It is possible to connect the Golf Mk6's suspension components to the chassis of the Golf Mk6 using poly bushes, which are replacements for the original rubber mounts. The rubber ones will lose their shape with time and need replacing anyway so why not upgrade.
2. Installing new OEM rubber bushes may dramatically improve the performance of your car.
3. Because the polyurethane bushes are firmer, the ride may be a bit firmer, but they will last longer and maintain the handling.
4. Worn bushes may also hasten the decay of other suspension components due to the increased vibration and play.
5. With a new set of poly bushes, the excessive play associated with rubber bushings may be reduced.

Mk6 Golf Suspension Tuning

In other words, what should you consider when setting up and selecting a suspension for your daily driver?

Suspension geometry maintains the tires' angle on the road for optimal contact area. To minimize body roll, the car's center of gravity should be as low as feasible. In general, the majority of Golf Mk6s should be lowered 35mm, while GTi and R models should be lowered just 20mm to avoid rubbing tires and other issues.

If the final drive is not angled correctly to the wheel hub, the driveshaft and gearbox may be damaged. Typically, when selecting a suspension modification package.

Adjusting the ride height may affect how the suspension travels under load, causing the tires to wear out prematurely.

This should not be done if you purchase lowering springs and utilize the manufacturer-recommended basic dampers. If you get new dampers and springs, you should also avoid this! The suspension system as a whole must be inspected and the shock must be replaced.

These tolerances may be far lower with regular suspension and 17-inch wheels, but lowering the vehicle may create a slew of issues.

The objective should always be to enhance the automobile's handling, which lowers the car which will be reducing airflow underneath the car.

Cutting the springs is not a smart idea because you are asking a piece of metal that was designed to function with a certain amount of tolerance to do an action it was not designed to perform and it will likely snap under stress.

If you want to make driving your Mk6 Golf more pleasant, you should have a suspension package that is easily adjustable to your preferences. If you want to tailor your Golf to drive in a specific manner, you may adjust the coilovers to make them more suitable for your driving style, even simple ones allow ride height adjustment, and more expensive ones allow some control over damping and bound/rebound rates. For the VW Golf Mk6, KW, Koni, Bilstein Eibach, and Bilstein are all excellent brands as we and our members will testify.

Upgrades to the Mk6 Golf Brakes

There are new braking systems available for the Golf Mk6.

Bear in mind the brake pads make a significant difference to your Golfs braking. Old brake pads may damage the efficiency of the braking system on your Golf Mk6, therefore it's critical to maintain them clean.

Brakes are critical since you must be able to stop swiftly while traveling at a high speed. A brake works by essentially forcing a friction pad against the disc, converting the vehicle's movement into heat where it can be dissipated.

TorqueCars recommend that you utilize a premium braking fluid and source some braided hoses to prevent your brake fluid from becoming too hot or your hoses from bulging as this can cause a spongy brake.

It is critical to change the Golfs brake fluid frequently since brake fluid is hygroscopic (attracts water particles) and may boil at elevated temperatures. Air bubbles in brake fluid may make it spongy at best and entirely halt it at worst, which is why it should be replaced.

(For more information on brake fade, see the Brake Fade page.)

Brake Disk Upgrades.

Because the pad on top of the discs heats up while braking, a more effective cooling disc is preferable and this requires a larger surface area, and some kind of venting or channels to dissipate the heat. Enter the vented disc - see above, which has two surfaces and a central air gap to aid cooling.

Drilled discs assist in keeping the pads "clean and sharp" by allowing more air to pass through, reducing the likelihood of gas accumulating between them. Additional cooling is provided by larger discs, although they may need a different alloy wheel to allow them to fit inside.

Pads are composed of several components that combine, heat resistance, high friction, and the wear qualities you need. Even though they generate a lot of noise and dust, high-friction brake pads are necessary if you are serious about braking performance but there are plenty in the mid-range that compromise to give good all-round benefits.

Racing brake pads are constructed of a high-friction composition that performs well at high temperatures. They may be loud and ineffectual at lower temperatures. So I find that race-grade brake pads are not suitable for road usage if they are used on cold brakes or typically in short bursts, since they are only effective when they are very hot.

Pagid and Black Diamond both manufacture high-performance brake pads that are suitable for highway use. I have used both and was more than satisfied with their performance at low and high temperatures, but for the track, I do recommend a race-spec pad where the operating temps are much higher.

While the way you drive affects the life of your brake pads and discs, certain high-performance brake pads produce very little brake dust and last far longer than the ordinary pads I was using.

Cheap Golf Mk6 Brake Upgrades.

You could discover low-cost parts that improve your Mk6 Golf brakes already exist in the VAG parts library. You must measure the disc and wheel size before purchasing an update for your vehicle some are bolt on swaps and others need new hubs. Both the 2.8 Golf and the R32 have 312mm and 334mm sizes, respectively, which are ideal for your Golf unless it was fitted with the much smaller hubs.

A basic-spec Golf with undersized brake discs may simply be upgraded when you get components from local salvage yards and wrecking yards from higher performance variants. Additionally, you may be able to get inexpensive components from a performance model in the same family. As a general rule, this is far less expensive than purchasing an extra-large brake converter kit.

Because the majority of the VAG Group's hubs are interchangeable, brakes from VW, Seat, Porsche, Skoda, and Seat are compatible with brakes from other group members so look out for RS, S, and R versions of the brakes as these are typically larger and better performing.

Remapping a Mk6 Golf

A note about manufacturers' OEM maps first. Typically, some tinkering and compromise is required to meet local fuel emission regulations and operating temperatures are necessary to get at a universal setup.

These OEM maps accommodate for temperature changes, minor errors in the cars running through wear and tear, and inclement weather. It is uncommon for nations to have similar targets for CO2, HC, and NOx emissions with some focussing on one and others being more strict about Co2 for example. Also, manufacturers assert that consumers should be unconcerned about mechanical issues so they build plenty of leeway into the map they set, enabling the car to perform under adverse running conditions.

This leaves us a lot of potential to improve your map - the timing and fuelling particularly if you are prepared to keep the car in "perfect running order" and use good quality fuel.

All turbocharged engines may be tuned/remapped to provide 20% to 30% additional power. TorqueCars suggests engine tuning/remapping turbocharged vehicles using a rolling road to enable to you extract the maximum performance from your Golfs mods and upgrades.

Is there anything wrong with customizing your Golf's Tune?

You should maintain your automobile more often, or maybe lessen the frequency. A map designed for maximum power and requiring a high-octane gas will need you to repair components that do not function properly as a result of the additional stresses they are under.

Increased power puts additional load on components such as turbos and even the engine oil, not to mention your crank and pistons which are all working harder.

Typically, a tune/remap will reveal turbocharger and clutch issues if these were starting to wear. A good mapper will test these before applying the map or see that this are fixed before the car is handed back to the customer.

How about engine tuning/remapping if your vehicle does not have a turbo? A tune/remap will only add a few horsepower (10 percent is typical) so there are gains, and these will be greater if you've done other mods as well.

TorqueCars encourages non-turbocharged vehicles to make these mods first (cams, pistons, increase compression, engine balance, air intake, exhaust, head work, bigger valves etc...) They may need engine tuning/remapping before you can get the most out of them.

Remaps are often used to increase boost at lower engine speeds, causing the turbo to spin quicker and hotter.

If you do not allow the turbo oil to cool down, it may get contaminated and need replacement, which may be rather costly. A turbo timer will also aid in cooling the engine, therefore you should get one.

Keep a look out for claims and headlines about peak power made by mappers. It's important to keep in mind that certain tuners have been known to create a power blip or surge in order to get the greatest attention and stand out.

Consider the graph below as an example.

Focus on the whole torque curve from mid-to-high RPM. A "spool down zone" is a region where the turbo and its components cannot handle excessive power all the time, so it's good to have a steady climb rather than a very low peak.

On the other hand, the green line indicates a constant increase in power over the RPM range, while the red line indicates a decrease.

Peak power is also shown at 4000rpm, which is rather good for a vehicle capable of 7000rpm.

It is critical to see a continuous increase in torque on a map. This is the image we want to see when we examine it.

It might be difficult to determine if a mapper understands what he's doing and how to do it correctly, but reviews can assist you in determining this.

When you visit the company's headquarters, you can see how the fuel and spark advance tables are adjusted, as well as how they set this up on a rolling road to create the greatest map possible.

Turbocharger upgrades and other modifications to your Golf Mk6

While larger turbochargers provide more power, they also wear the engine down and generate more heat. It operates at temperatures between 1100°C and 100,000-150,000rpm in a petrol engine.

These speeds might be quadrupled with certain turbo systems and newer automobiles. Lubrication, cooling, and balance are all required at high speeds. An oil seal may rupture or get jammed, and bearings may wear out. These are the three primary ways in which it may go wrong.

You Typically Have Two Options for Turbo Upgrades.

1. A Hybrid - It has a hybrid turbocharger (based on your OEM casing but with internals from another turbo. )
2. New Turbo - A different turbo implies enlarging the turbo, which requires new piping and more labor.

While hybrid turbos perform well on regular maps at low boost levels, the first alternative simply replaces the stock turbo while using engine tuning/remapping to maximize the power delivered and as they are stronger they will tolerate higher power outputs. Additionally, if it is a hybrid turbo engine, it will have improved bearings, a more robust construction, and stronger seals.

A new turbo gives much larger power gains, but will often require a lot more work to get it to fit and work properly.

Consider the design of the air intake, the compressor wheel, and the turbine profile when selecting a turbo upgrade for your Golf.

These components may allow you to accelerate better, compress more air, or boost at higher or lower RPMs depending on the application and the location of the power within your RPM range. With a smaller turbocharger, the torque curve is often smoother and lag is reduced.

If you want further information, please visit VAG's Turbochargers in the Volkswagen and Seat Group.

As a result, we'll take a look at a couple popular turbocharged engines from the VAG group.

Additionally, we consider the turbo's power restrictions, which may be exceeded at the expense of the turbo's life.

Before the turbo fails, you'll often hear a whining or siren sound, followed by smoke.

You need to find a new one immediately. If the compressor fails and is drawn into the engine, significant damage might result.

Intro to K03, K03s, and K04 Turbos.

The K03 turbo was manufactured from 1996 until 2000, at which point the K03s turbo was introduced. However, depending on the type and origin of the vehicle, it might have been fitted between these dates.

For a golf fitted with the 1.8T AGU engines the original K03 turbochargers were developed. Among other features, these engines have a mass air flow sensor, a cable-operated throttle, and smaller injectors but work really well and are solid units.

K03s were an upgrade and were included in AUM coded engines for example and these were typically equipped with MAF & MAP sensors. These engines are more efficient and felt quicker due to improved drive-by-wire throttles.

While Stigan and BorgWarner are two of the most well-known manufacturers of turbocharged K03, K03s, and K04 engines, there are several more.

They were available in two sizes: the K03 and K03s were compact, while the K04 was larger. The K04 is more powerful than the K04, however, it consumes much more space, requires slightly different mounts and pipework and has a little more low-end lag.

There are several distinctions between the KO3 and KO3s.

The primary distinction between turbos is the number of blades included inside each. While the K03 has eleven blades, the K03s have just eight.

The actuator that opens the turbine bypass valve might vary significantly between models, maps, and turbo units. It is available in a range to suit the power output with the most common 65N to 85N being used, with certain models including a two-port actuator.

Due to the increased boost pressure generated by 180-horsepower engines, they often need stronger actuators to open, and putting these stronger actuators on less powerful engines would cause problems.

The original K03 maps often display an extremely low amount of power considering what these are capable of. With the proper modifications and add-ons, it is easily capable of 190 horsepower and more if you wanted to push it further.

On the other hand, when you push the turbo faster and closer to its safe limits, its life will be shortened.

There are now more K03 on the market than there were before. 220 bhp is the safest power output for K03. Anything more puts the turbo's life in jeopardy. According to some sources we've spoken with, this turbo can produce up to 250 horsepower, indicating that there is still opportunity for pushing it further, but anticipate the turbo will degrade more quickly and eventually fail.

K03s have a minimum of 25% greater headroom than K03. You can obtain even more if you're ready to compromise turbo life or do more maintenance.

The K03(S) and the K04 are relatively interchangeable but should be mapped accordingly or you won't get the benefit from this mod.

The K04 has a significant edge over the others used by the VAG group. The K04 is much larger than the K03 or K03s. It has much greater power at the top, but a little lag at the bottom.

With the correct components, the K04 can produce around 350 horsepower.

Golf Diesel Turbo Improvements

Until 2003, the 2.0 TDi was equipped with the excellent BORGWARNER BV40 VNT. There are several hybrid vehicle possibilities. By modernizing your diesel project with a Garrett GTC14V 170 turbo, you'll literally get more breathing space.

Later 2010 2.0 TDI140 and 170hp versions included turbochargers that were different from the Borgwarner BV43.

If you want to boost the performance of your diesel Golf, you may install a Garrett GTC14V 170 turbo.

If you're interested in finding out more about turbo diesel engine improvements, visit our 2.0 TDi page.

Tips for sourcing a Golf Turbo Upgrade

It is critical to seek a turbocharger that has the following characteristics:

1. A billet aluminum compressor wheel (light and strong)
2. Vanes that flow more efficiently (Maximizes the boost available)
3. A wastegate actuator with exceptional performance (sharpens throttle response and maximizes your power gains)
4. Even the tiniest optimizations to the compressor wheel size might be the difference between an effective upgrade and a frustrating one.
5. You must tune/remap your ECU after a turbo upgrade.

In most situations, when replacing the factory turbo with a more powerful aftermarket turbo, the car's programming must be altered. If this is not done, the engine may run lean or enter "limp home mode," as shown on the dashboard.

When it's time to replace the factory turbocharger, there are a few things you can do.

Bear in mind that inline and transverse-mounted engines have distinct turbo designs; thus, they should not be mixed and can be a challenge to modify to install correctly:

Even though newer and better turbos are often fitted to automobiles, changing a turbo is not as simple as it seems. When replacing the turbocharger on a VAG group vehicle with another model, the following checklist & procedures must be followed:

1. Worn-out fuel injectors should be replaced.
2. The exhaust pipe's diameter may need to be increased.
3. It is quite probable that you will need a fuel pump replacement.
4. Removing and replacing the turbo actuators.
5. Enhancing the intake cooling system's efficiency (intercoolers)
6. The wastegate must be replaced.
7. Reduce restrictive exhaust parts like silencers and catalytic converters (sports cats for example)
8. If there is a constraint, your Golf's intake may need to be upgraded as well.

Golf Turbo Safe Power Limits

With a Stage 1 tune/remap and some additional alterations, your Golf's K03s turbo could produce up to 220 horsepower (Air filter, exhaust, bolt-on modifications) but theoretically, this can be pushed to 250 although your turbo will certainly meet a premature end!

Turbo limits - safe should retain factory reliability and longevity, the Max however is pushing to the limits and will certainly shorten the lifespan of the turbo but this might give you the excuse to go out and buy an upgraded turbo.

Turbo	Safe Max	Maximum
K03	190hp	220hp
K03s	215hp	250hp
K04	220hp	350hp

Stage 2 Remapping, which involves adjustments to the way the vehicle operates, new catalytic converters and intercooler improvements, and other changes, may provide between 230 and 250 horsepower.

Bear in mind that Stage 2 engine tuning/remapping needs an intercooler to cool the air; without one, you will be unable to produce as much power.

Altering the K04 Turbo

Following Stage 1 enhancements, the K04 turbo's maximum power output increases from around 220 to 350 horsepower - those bottlenecks in the exhaust and intake can hold it back.

However, to get this level of power, the Intercooler needs a FMIC (Front Mount Intercooler) upgrade. To generate this amount of power, you should also utilize fuel with a high octane rating, such as Vpower (your OEM clutch will also typically start to slip).

Low octane fuel will hold back the performance, and I find you get more MPG and a lot more power when you used the better fuel grades in the Mk6 Golf.

A lighter Golf MK6 Flywheel

While driving, the flywheel strengthens the vehicle's resistance to fluctuations in engine speed. This is ideal for cruising but is inconvenient when the engine has to respond quickly to rev changes such as during fast gear changes.

A lighter wheel reduces inertial engine strain and enables it to rev more easily, resulting in a feeling of increased power, although it's just more responsive rather than more powerful.

On slopes and hills, where the vehicle would slow down or bog down, the engine momentum, or "inertial spin," maybe discernible and is the price paid for better responsiveness. So a lighter flywheel allows the engine revs to move more easily, which results in a better acceleration and permits faster gear changes.

There are several flywheel weights available to achieve the optimal mix of torque and free-revving. If you're driving a street vehicle, you want to avoid going too light. This will make it more difficult for you to maintain your tick over and will annoy you on longer drives. You may discuss your application with other TorqueCars users in our automobile forums to get feedback and suggestions.

To save money and in an ideal world, you must replace both the clutch and the flywheel simultaneously as the work involved in removing the gearbox is required for both tasks.

Certain versions (V5 and Diesels for example) had a dual mass flywheel with a spring connecting two distinct flywheel components to dampen vibration. A spring is used to reduce rotational vibrations caused by acceleration and deceleration and lumps in the power delivery, which is beneficial for diesel engines or they would be quite rough in running.

Additionally, they make it less probable for four-cylinder engines to reverse. We suggest that you first read our article on how to convert DMF to SMF before undertaking this to avoid disappointment.

Intake Mods for the Golf Mk6.

We'll now take a look at your Golf engine's intake and exhaust systems to ensure the engine is producing adequate power and the key here is to remove any restrictions.

A complete induction package is the most effective approach to increase power. We believe it is preferable to install a panel air filter for lower-powered engines since they will lack low-down power with a full open induction kit unless you've done quite a bit of tuning on them.

Port work and head flowing, as well as larger valves in the Golf Mk6's engine heads, will increase the car's output. This also enables you to increase the output of other tuning mods you decide to fit.

When the air intake port is matched to the intake manifold, no difference is made on most engines as the OEM builds on these are quite well machined.

As a consequence, the exhaust ports are the optimal locations for doing port matching as we have seen modest power gains on heavily tuned engines with this carried out.

NB: There are not always compelling reasons to increase the port size, and it is only essential in really well-tuned engines when the port size has become a bottleneck.

Utilizing slightly narrower channels with fewer bends or angles may make a significant difference in flow rates.

To prevent turbulence on the downflow side, make both port apertures about the same size. This is why many modern intakes are constructed of lightweight molded plastic that can be precisely formed.

This image depicts a high-performance rally vehicle engine. The objective is to create a non-seamed join and link between the intake manifold (x) and the engine port (y).

This engine sprays gasoline into the intake manifold through the fuel injector (f) (so not direct injection as per your Golf Mk6), but improving the angle at which air enters the engine, enabling it to flow smoothly.

Golf MK6 Exhaust Upgrades

Avoid purchasing the largest exhaust possible; typically, 1.5 to 2.5 inches is the optimal size for power improvements, however, this is not always the case.

You'll be able to provide the engine with adequate gasoline with new injectors. The more power your automobile has, the more gasoline it consumes, which often requires replacing the injectors.

Install a new fuel pump to suit the higher fuel requirements of the tuned injectors in your A4 B5.

Golf Mk6 Alloy Wheel Upgrades

Alloy wheels assist in cooling the brakes and are often lighter than steel wheels, making them a better choice for your vehicle. While the large alloy wheels on the Golf Mk6 look fantastic, they have a noticeable effect on the car's performance.

Due to the difference in effective final drive ratios, the higher you go, the slower your top speed will be due to the reduced power. Maintain the wheel's overall diameter at the manufacturer's recommended value.

In any case, we believe you should not go higher than 18 inches. Some of our members have upgraded to 19- and 20-inch wheels, mostly to accommodate Porsche brakes, but they have all had tram lining and other issues as a result of the larger rims.

Alloy wheels assist in cooling the brakes and are often lighter than steel wheels, making them a better choice for your vehicle. Even while they look fantastic on the Golf Mk6, they are not for everyone. You will struggle to perform well with large alloy wheels.

Due to the difference in effective final drive ratios, the higher you go, the slower your top speed will be due to the reduced power. Maintain the wheel's overall diameter at the manufacturer's recommended value.

In any case, we believe you should not go higher than 18 inches. Some of our members have upgraded to 19- and 20-inch wheels, mostly to accommodate Porsche brakes, but they have all had tram lining and other issues as a result of the larger rims.

Golf MK6 Common Problems

There are a few problems and issues to look out for on other popular vag group engines, but I've split these off into other articles.

1. 2.0 TFSi carbon buildup issues - direct injection engines require an intake clean.
2. 2.0 TFSi problems - N75 and N249, high oil consumption,  Cam Follower wear, Water Pump failure, and Turbo issues
3. 2.0 TDi problems - Flywheel, Oil pump,  Lumpy Idling
4. 1.8T Problems - Diagnosing the common faults and issues

For more information on Tuning your car please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss Golf Mk6 options in more detail with our Golf Mk6 owners. It would also be worth reading our unbiased VW tuning articles to get a full grasp of the benefits and drawbacks of each modification.

Please help us improve these tips by sending us your feedback in the comments box below.

We love to hear what our visitors have got up to and which mods work best for them on each model of car. We use your comments and feedback to improve the accuracy of these tuning guides which get regular updates and revisions.

This article is flagged for an update, so please pass on specific tips below that I can include. All articles, and content was written by me, Waynne Smith TorqueCars founder. Some outlines are just too general so I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This entry was filed under Volkswagen. You can leave a response below or join our forum to discuss this article and car modification in detail with our members.

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