Stage 1 recommendation for my 2019 Cupra 290

[Greycupra290]

Hello everyone, I am thinking in the next 2-3 months to get my car stage 1 for multiple different reasons, I Recently done a major service got new spark plugs, brand new Genuine brakes all around, Micheline Pilot Sport 5 all around, I had a res delete done and I am thinking next month or December to get a back box delete and attach RS3 Exhaust Tips on it, I am thinking of getting a Powerflex mount also to reduce wheel spin, I am currently looking at two different places to tune my car R tech Performance and AMC Performance, I am thinking of getting an intake system too Racing Line 600 has been the top of my list with turbo elbow etc but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these two companies and if ram air intake system is better or similar to racing line as spending £670 on an intake system seems quite a bit any other recommendations will be appreciated thank you.

 

[H Rafiq]

I’d be interested in this too. I have a res delete, Ramair turbo elbow and intake hose, Powerflex dogbone mount insert. Had a baso ‘stage 1’ map. Wouldn’t mind looking at a tailored ECU and DSG map for the Cupra specifically.

 

[Greycupra290]

Because most cars you see on Tik Tok etc they have RS3 Exhaust tips with the back box delete and they look nice and apparently give 10 bhp from power figures from the company R TECH Performance because they include DSG Remap also with the ECU, along with health check prior and rolling road on the dyno with print out, but how has the Ramair been since you have had it because it is around £200 cheaper than the Racingline kit and i know that it is still quite good from reviews

 

[H Rafiq]

I bought it used from a guy on here, with and APR intake cone too. But took the APR filter off recently, and re-installed the stock box, to keep the intake air cold. It’s good. Bigger diameter hose, increased air intake. The intake sound was good with the APR intake filter. I’ve turned the fake sound off too so I can hear the real engine sound and exhaust note. I wouldn’t mind RS3 tips, but I’m going for a sleeper look, so I’m happy with stock tips. Res delete is enough for me, exhaust-wise at the moment.

 

[Greycupra290]

I want to turn off the fake sound also in the inside because I prefer the real engine/exhaust sound but I'm not sure if to go with Ramair induction kit or Racingline because price wise there is a big difference £200 but they are also different but racingline sits at the whole front of the bonnet but ramair is more similar to the stock intake, also if anyone wants 3 tyres I have them since I just upgraded all my tyres to micheline 235/35/zr19

 

[H Rafiq]

Why not go stock intake box, and Ramair hose and elbow? What tyres, tread?

 

[Greycupra290]

Yeah I am considering that maybe would be the slightly cheaper option but similar gains, I have three tyres the Road X and Dynamo at the rear so their tread is around 6.5-6 they’re technically new from previous owner, and front right tread is like 5 because it’s still very good too. I have them up for £250 for all three because two are technically new and front right partly worn

 

[Mr290]

Hello everyone, I am thinking in the next 2-3 months to get my car stage 1 for multiple different reasons, I Recently done a major service got new spark plugs, brand new Genuine brakes all around, Micheline Pilot Sport 5 all around, I had a res delete done and I am thinking next month or December to get a back box delete and attach RS3 Exhaust Tips on it, I am thinking of getting a Powerflex mount also to reduce wheel spin, I am currently looking at two different places to tune my car R tech Performance and AMC Performance, I am thinking of getting an intake system too Racing Line 600 has been the top of my list with turbo elbow etc but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these two companies and if ram air intake system is better or similar to racing line as spending £670 on an intake system seems quite a bit any other recommendations will be appreciated thank you.

Did you end up purchasing an intake and turbo inlet? If you haven’t yet I can recommend the integrated engineering kit, sounds and looks the part. Had mine on for a few weeks now, ML performance are selling the induction on sale and you can get an extra 10% off, the inlet can be sourced elsewhere. Mine came to £430 all in.

 

[Greycupra290]

Did you end up purchasing an intake and turbo inlet? If you haven’t yet I can recommend the integrated engineering kit, sounds and looks the part. Had mine on for a few weeks now, ML performance are selling the induction on sale and you can get an extra 10% off, the inlet can be sourced elsewhere. Mine came to £430 all in.

Is it called the integrated engineering kit? I haven’t bought the air intake yet, I have done the back Box delete tho and is it £430 including the inlet

 

[The-Cupra]

Im mapped by unicorn stage 1. only got a racingline panel filter (stock box) and a MSTv2 Elbow and pipe. 77bhp gain over stock power and also got the DSG mapped. The difference is night and day. The MST v2 is the biggest turbo elbow on the market currently which is says its for a hybrid but fits stock turbo and standard box. Only other thing i have is pikey mod and blacking plate.

You can pick the elbow and pipe for around 200
and panel filter for around 45

 

[Mr290]

Is it called the integrated engineering kit? I haven’t bought the air intake yet, I have done the back Box delete tho and is it £430 including the inlet

Yes, I see integrated engineering currently don’t have stock of the inlet so could either wait or buy from elsewhere for a bit more.
However an account I follow on Instagram @vagstyling are currently selling an r600 induction for £380, might want to hit them up.

 

[CupraKay]

Hello everyone, I am thinking in the next 2-3 months to get my car stage 1 for multiple different reasons, I Recently done a major service got new spark plugs, brand new Genuine brakes all around, Micheline Pilot Sport 5 all around, I had a res delete done and I am thinking next month or December to get a back box delete and attach RS3 Exhaust Tips on it, I am thinking of getting a Powerflex mount also to reduce wheel spin, I am currently looking at two different places to tune my car R tech Performance and AMC Performance, I am thinking of getting an intake system too Racing Line 600 has been the top of my list with turbo elbow etc but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these two companies and if ram air intake system is better or similar to racing line as spending £670 on an intake system seems quite a bit any other recommendations will be appreciated thank you.

Hi,
Intake - it depends if you are fussed about intake noise or not.
R600 is the best intake for your car but is really quiet.

Racingline Performance R600 Air Intake System for MQB EVO EA888 EVO - Foam/Cotton Filter

Welcome to Ecotune, home of Scotland's leading Automotive Software Engineering Centre. We specialise in performance software and hardware upgrades for cars and commercial vehicles.

ecotune-scotland.co.uk

I would pair it with the forge intake hose.

MQB Chassis High Flow Inlet Hose | FMINLMK7 | Forge Motorsport

The Forge Motorsport high flow intake hose for the MQB platform 2.0 engines, eliminates the highly restrictive plastic inlet pipe, and...

www.forgemotorsport.co.uk

If you pm me I can help you get some discount.

If you want more intake noise, Ram air or APR open intake would do the job (paired with the above forge hose) but not as good as the R600 for performance.

Dog bone insert - Yellow powerflex insert helps with the wheel hop (not wheel spin) but slightly increases vibrations during low revs.

Tyres - since you are going stage 1, I would recommend you upgrade to Ps4s or Continental sport contact 7 in the future. You can also run 245 at the front if you want increased traction (decreased wheel spin).

Brakes - you might want to get some stage 1 brakes in the future since you will be running more power.

Tune - this Depends where you live.
Ecotune is probably the best but quite pricey (if you don't live near Scotland you can do it at one of their resellers like VRS Northampton).
MRC is also a very good place.
I would recommend a TCU tune as well as the ECU.

Fuel - make sure you run the car on Tesco momentum or Shell V power.

Additional mods that are overlooked - I would recommend a Intercooler upgrade like the Do88 as you will be getting heat soak without it. While you have the bumper off, I would advise upgrading the coolant Radiator and Auxiliary Radiator as you will save alot on labour. This will help keep the engine cooler.

Let me know if you want to improve the handling side of things. I personally think there isn't much to improve but OBD11 can help make the car more aggressive from a software side (OBD11 also allows you to change quite alot of things like turning off the fake engine noise coming from the speakers). Hardware side there are few things I would recommend depending on what you want to achieve.

All the above should be enough for fast road use. If you go to MRC or VRS they will take care of you and give you all the best advise. They might fit the intake for free if you do the tune with them.