APR TCU Upgrade - DQ250 DSG and S Tronic For MQB Mk7 GTI / R and Audi A3 / S3

NGP is pleased to present APR's ultimate transmission control unit (TCU) upgrade for the DQ250 DSG and S Tronic transmission!

APR’s TCU Upgrades are the best modifications one can make to the DSG or S Tronic transmission. The upgrade allows the transmission to hold higher torque levels with faster acceleration and quicker shifts. Each driving mode is optimized for the higher power levels provided by APR’s engine upgrades. The upgrade allowing the end user to customize launch control and manual mode to their liking, and adds various features only found on higher end vehicles!

Features

• Faster Acceleration
• Increased clamping pressure, optimized shift points, and better launch control all result in faster acceleration.
• Quicker Shifts
• Increased clamping pressure and optimized shift times results in a faster shift under various scenarios.
• Optimized Shift Points
• Drive mode is optimized for fuel economy while sport mode is optimized for faster acceleration with APR’s various hardware and software upgrades.
• Increased Clutch Clamping Pressure
• Increased clutch clamping pressure beyond factory torque levels to support higher output.
• Smoother Daily Driving
• Optimized part throttle / daily driving shift maps to provide a smoother and more enjoyable driving experience.
• User Definable 3-step Launch Control
• Launch control is enabled on all models, with ESP on or ESP off. Three user defined launch control RPMs are set at the time of install. Launch control response is also optimized for faster engagement and stronger take-off.
• User Definable Manual Mode
• The automatic manual mode upshift and kick-down switch downshift can be enabled or disabled at the time of install.
• Raised Torque Limiters
• Non-physical transmission torque limits are raised to allow for higher output while retaining critical protection limits.
• Downshift Lockout Optimized
• Manual downshifts are permissible in all gears so long as the next gear is below redline.
• Temperature Management Optimized
• Allows for limited torque during over-temp conditions vs total immovability.
• Gear Display Activated
• Shows the current gear in the factory multi functional display in both drive and sport mode.
• DirectPort Programming
• The TCU Upgrade installs in minutes without opening the TCU and can be uninstalled at any time.

APR ECU Upgrade Included Feature Details:

Increased Clutch Clamping Pressure

APR’s Calibration Experts have recalibrated the transmission to continue increasing clamping pressure when clutch slip is detected. The transmission constantly monitors for clutch slippage, and adjusts clamping pressure such that the minimum amount of pressure is applied to prevent slip. This ensures clutch engagement remains comfortable under most driving scenarios. Unfortunately, this function is limited in its abilities. As such, clutch slip can occur when increasing torque. This often leads to overheating warnings, which are further exacerbated by low transmission fluid levels. APR’s TCU Upgrade reconfigures the clamping pressure routine to continue increasing clamping pressure to match the higher output from from APR’s various performance upgrades. Pressure steadily increases, preventing slip, but remains below maximum protection levels defined by the factory TCU

On a healthy transmission, the result is easy to feel as it transforms the transmission. Expect crisper and faster shifts at wide-open-throttle, faster clutch engagement during take offs and launch control, higher max torque levels, more consistent back-to-back results, and faster acceleration!

Drive (eco) and Sport Mode

APR’s calibration experts found the factory drive and sport modes to be less than ideal when raising power above the factory limits. In drive mode, the transmission aggressively seeks sixth gear, earlier than necessary, leaving behind an anemic and lack luster experience for the driver. Likewise sport mode leaves a lot to be desired considering its seemingly exciting name. Under both modes, maximum shift points remain optimized for the factory power levels, which vary greatly to those produced using APR’s world-renowned catalog of performance hardware and software. As such, accelerative performance suffers due to non-optimized shift points.

To rectify this situation, APR’s engineers took a multi-step approach to custom tailoring the shift maps to sync harmoniously with APR’s performance upgrades and each platform’s gear-ratio configurations. While some may simply set wide-open-throttle, or WOT shift points to the vehicle’s max RPM limit, APR’s engineers chose shift points based on actual acceleration data. This result is gear dependent shift points typically below the engine’s max speed, but in doing so, the vehicle’s acceleration improves as axle torque is matched before and after shifts.

Under low-torque, low-rpm, part-throttle situations, both modes less aggressively seek the highest possible gear. Drive still has the benefit of economy, but stays within the power band more comfortably for a more enjoyable experience. Likewise sport mode has been optimized to provide a sporty feeling, worthy of its name. In both cases, the transmission seamlessly integrates with APR’s performance upgrades to provide an exciting driving experience.

Manual and Tiptronic Modes

APR’s user definable options allow the end user to configure how the transmission works while the gear selector is placed in manual mode

The kick-down switch, which is responsible for an instant downshift, is enabled by default but can be disabled at the time of install. Likewise the auto upshift that occurs at the vehicle’s maximum engine speed can also be disabled at the time of install, allowing the engine to bounce off the limiter like a manual transmission. For safety’s stake, the auto first to second gearshift is still enabled.

The transmission does not lock out any manual downshifts so long as the shifting does not result in an engine RPM above the max shift point. In all situations, paddle delay is reduced, allowing for a more responsive shift to take place and furthermore, manual shift times have been optimized.

Launch Control:

APR’s 3-Step launch control is unlike anything else in the market. At the time of flashing, the user chooses a maximum launching RPM. When activating launch control, up to three launching RPM’s are available, allowing the end user to choose the best launching RPM based on the current conditions!

At 100% throttle with the kick-down switch engaged, the vehicle will select the highest launching RPM. At 100% throttle with the kick-down switch not engaged, a lower launching RPM is activated. Finally, at roughly 50% throttle the transmission chooses the lowest launching RPM. When properly dialed in, the user is left with incrementally higher launch points ideal for the street, track and sticky tires.

Temperature Management:

Temperature management is an important part of the DQ250 transmission. While some may simply remove temperature protection routines all together, or mistakenly raise temperature protection torque limiters sky high and claim increased cooling performance due to zero transmission intervention, APR’s TCU upgrade only allows the maximum safe temperature levels before intervention.

Torque Limits:

Various factory torque intervention limiters are raised to their maximum value to eliminate unintended torque intervention, across the rev range, during normal and spirited driving. However, important and critical limiters are kept in place or only slightly modified, such as those related to temperature protection, to prevent premature damage to the transmission in dangerous scenarios.

Gear Display Indicator:

In drive (eco) and sport mode, the vehicle’s multi function display will now indicate the currently selected gear rather than a generic D or S

Max Shift Points with Stock IS20 Turbo Software GTI / A3

Drive Sport Man/Auto Upshift On Man/Auto Upshift Off

First to Second Gear 6,350 RPM 6,350 RPM 6,700 RPM 6,700 RPM
Second to Third Gear 6,200 RPM 6,200 RPM 6,700 RPM Never
Third to Fourth Gear 6,000 RPM 6,000 RPM 6,700 RPM Never
Fourth to Fifth Gear 5,750 RPM 5,750 RPM 6,700 RPM Never
Fifth to Sixth Gear 5,600 RPM 5,600 RPM 6,700 RPM Never

Max Shift Points with Stock IS38 Turbo Software Golf R / S3

Drive Sport Man/Auto Upshift On Man/Auto Upshift Off

First to Second Gear 6,700 RPM 6,700 RPM 6,700 RPM 6,700 RPM
Second to Third Gear 6,450 RPM 6,450 RPM 6,700 RPM Never
Third to Fourth Gear 6,350 RPM 6,350 RPM 6,700 RPM Never
Fourth to Fifth Gear 6,250 RPM 6,250 RPM 6,700 RPM Never
Fifth to Sixth Gear 6,000 RPM 6,000 RPM 6,700 RPM Never

Adjustable Launch RPM Profiles

Max Mid Min
6,000 RPM 5,000 RPM 4,000 RPM
5,500 RPM 4,500 RPM 3,500 RPM
5,000 RPM 4,000 RPM 3,000 RPM
4,500 RPM 3,750 RPM 3,000 RPM
4,000 RPM 3,500 RPM 3,000 RPM
3,500 RPM 3,250 RPM 3,000 RPM
3,000 RPM 3,000 RPM 3,000 RPM

Make Engine Transmission

• Audi A3 / S3 - (MKIII / Typ 8V) 2.0 TFSI 6 Speed S Tronic - DQ250
• Seat Leon / Cupra - (MKIII / Typ 5F) 2.0 TSI 6 Speed DSG - DQ250
• Volkswagen Golf / GTI / R - (MK7 / A7 / Typ 5G) 2.0 TSI 6 Speed DSG - DQ250