Downpipe or CAI for Cupra??

[RickyD1975]

Morning all,

I will be getting the Bluefin Stage 1 Remap in December. I'm in two minds to whether I get a downpipe & sports cat to mate to my Milltek cat-back exhaust or fit a CAI.

I could go for one of the latest CAI's from ITG or Forge.

I will be keeping the car for at least the next 2 - 3 years. I'm happy with the performance and think that stage 1 will satifsy me.

I could always put the £390 for the remap and £350 in the bank towards my next car. But that probably being too sensible and life is too short to save all your cash.

One other thing there is to consider. I don't want to spoil and already reliable car by modding it. I'm sure a remap and CAI or downpipe isn't heavy modding is it?

Your comments and thoughts would be appeciate.

Cheers

RickyD

 

[2zeroalpha]

If you are thinking of making hardware changes, why wouldn't you go stage two software to get the full benefit? As to reliability , you're not talking heavy modding. Besides, once you put that stage one remap on, you are pretty much accepting the fact that you are now underwriting your own warranty (for the drivetrain anyway).
If I were you I would get the remap, enjoy it, then decide which way you want to go. You might find it is plenty

Personally I am going (APR) remap first because that takes me well past the 300 mark and then will decide whether downpipe is required.

 

[RickyD1975]

In terms of the warranty the car will be 3 years old next March. Is it worth extending it if I go Stage 1? The good thing about Bluefin is that I can take the map off if a problem occurs.

It all depends on how much the dealer looks into faults and if they refuse to replace any warranty items relating to me remapping.

 

[2zeroalpha]

It's a gamble. If you have hardware mods they will reject any warranty work to the drivetrain. I wouldn't put it past them claiming that the existing mods to your exhaust system will be causing the engine to run outside of normal parameters.
If you have bluefin and develop an issue, you remove the map and hope they don't look too deep. If they let a forensic programmer near your ecu, lord help you because they will find everything. Bluefin offer their own guarantee up to £10K I believe but that isn't as good as it sounds. It would be very easy for them to claim issues with the engine, not the map. It is a real mire, which is why I have accepted that I will be voiding my warranty the moment I remap.
As to extending your warranty, I would find out if SEAT will honour it despite having some exhaust mods already. Once you know that, you will be able to better plan for the future.

 

[cheungy]

I think the best route to go is to get the Miltek Downpipe/Cat so it becomes a turbo cat-back system well just "complete" get a pipercross panel for the filter so it breaths better I think you will benefit more with the remap having the downpipe and cat as the turbo gains more than the CAI this is what I think aleast please correct me if im thinking wrong. Im switching to a TFSI engine soon and i will be gunning for a miltek asap resonated no more custom exhausts for me.

hope this helps

 

[2zeroalpha]

Out of interest why bluefin?

 

[Carr20vt]

Out of DP or intake id go DP all day long. Both will give a performance gain but DP will offer the greatest improvent.

I wouldn't worry about warranty, its hardly heavy modifying.

 

[Carr20vt]

I think the best route to go is to get the Miltek Downpipe/Cat so it becomes a turbo cat-back system well just "complete" get a pipercross panel for the filter so it breaths better I think you will benefit more with the remap having the downpipe and cat as the turbo gains more than the CAI this is what I think aleast please correct me if im thinking wrong. Im switching to a TFSI engine soon and i will be gunning for a miltek asap resonated no more custom exhausts for me.

hope this helps

Buying a new car Dave or swapping engines?

 

[SteveTDCi]

i too would go for the DP and then miss out stage one and go for stage 2. its money well spent so companies seem to think the stage 2 would be fine without the CAI but just a panel filter but most doe reccomend the tbe.

 

[JMP]

Out of DP or intake id go DP all day long. Both will give a performance gain but DP will offer the greatest improvent.

I wouldn't worry about warranty, its hardly heavy modifying.

What are the gains with just DP? Id take the intake just because its so easy to install and you can still get atleast 15 extra horses with it. You also dont need to change the software to delete the second lambda funtion to remove possible engine fault lights.

 

[RickyD1975]

Out of interest why bluefin?

Its ease of use is the main reason and the cost. At less than £400 its a lot cheaper than the more aggressive Revo & APR style maps.

 

[Carr20vt]

What are the gains with just DP? Id take the intake just because its so easy to install and you can still get atleast 15 extra horses with it. You also dont need to change the software to delete the second lambda funtion to remove possible engine fault lights.

Quicker spool, much better reving, more torque oh and the noise. I think you would be lucky to see 15hp from intake, well i didn't after dbilas.

 

[cheungy]

well this is how it should be >>>>> downpipe >> cat >> exhaust >>>>>> more spooling from the turbo, more response basically what carr20vt said it would be more benefit to do it than the CAI, I hope im getting it right (rather tired)

 

[Knight_Rider]

get both and stage 2 software...

 

[Al]

Intake will give best bhp gain, but in conjunction with a fuel pump and map to suit. However, I would go with the downpipe as it gives faster spool and a far deeper tone.

FYI, the Milltek TBE gave my stock Cupra 10bhp gain.

Unless you plan to upgrade the fuel pump, upgrading the air intake would mean the car would run leaner. Changing downpipe would be a lot less likely to do this and you end up with something that sounds properly nice

 

[JMP]

Unless you plan to upgrade the fuel pump, upgrading the air intake would mean the car would run leaner. Changing downpipe would be a lot less likely to do this and you end up with something that sounds properly nice

Car actually wont be running any leaner if you change the intake. ECU will add fuelling to keep the targetted a/f ratio. Lambda correction can be checkked via Vag-com.

 

[Al]

Car actually wont be running any leaner if you change the intake. ECU will add fuelling to keep the targetted a/f ratio. Lambda correction can be checkked via Vag-com.

The ECU will not be able to overcome the physical limitations of the mechanical fuel pump. The ECU will request more fuel as you say, but a stock fuel pump wont be able to deliver in some instances in which case the ECU will also drop boost to compensate, but it will also run leaner up to that point.

Channel 230 in VAGCOM is the one to watch.

 

[RickyD1975]

Intake will give best bhp gain, but in conjunction with a fuel pump and map to suit. However, I would go with the downpipe as it gives faster spool and a far deeper tone.

FYI, the Milltek TBE gave my stock Cupra 10bhp gain.

Unless you plan to upgrade the fuel pump, upgrading the air intake would mean the car would run leaner. Changing downpipe would be a lot less likely to do this and you end up with something that sounds properly nice

I will be going with at least a stage 1 Bluefin remap at Christmas and see how the funds are for another £600 for a DP. An even better scenario would be if I can obtain a used DP and also buy a CAI with the savings.

Would the car run O.K. with just a CAI and no upgraded fuel pump?

Cheers

RickyD