GOLFMK8
GOLFMK7
GOLFMK6
GOLFMKV

S3 FMIC / AWE TOP - DIY tips & driving impressions

untangle

untangle

Ready to race!
A non-VW tech & I installed the S3 FMIC and AWE TOP yesterday. With a lift and full power tools, it took about 4 hours.

I bought the S3 FMIC from Genuine for $300 delivered, and the AWE TOP from AWE for $200.

Here are some tips to make the install go faster:

  • Two people!
  • The bottom of the (gloss black) grill and the 'wings' of the bumper cover just pop out. They may seem stuck, but they pop.
  • The screws to mount the A/C condenser don't work with the S3 piece. I think these are M6x16.
  • I definitely recommend the MR2toVW procedure for re-using the stock hoses. Very nice. (His data is also very nice!)
  • Use plac's DIY, also nice

Initial driving impressions:

  • Whoa! Much stronger than I expected. Although untrue, it felt like another DP.
  • Greater urge everywhere
  • Much stronger pull through the gears
  • Quicker throttle response almost everywhere
  • The one flaw: When cold, if you get the car in one of those odd regimes where you are decel'ing and the turbo completely de-spools, the mods makes the pullout from this even more laggy. I could not repeat when warm.

If you are at Stage II, this mod will definitely improve the overall performance of your GTI. On my Revo-tuned car, the magnitude of the performance improvement was closer to that of the DP than the intake. I'm sure that the stock car and Stage I cars are also improved, but I have no direct experience.

Given that fuel economy will also invariably improve, I can recommend this mod without reservation.

OK, since I'm sure that I'll be asked, here's why I went S3 vice APR, Twincooler, etc.:

  • I do not plan to go K04 and I believe that this is right-sized for K03
  • I live in a temperate climate (although our racetracks get hot in the summer)
  • All things being equal, lower volume equals less lag
  • I am not precluded from *adding* the Twincooler. I personally think that 'S3+Twincooler' is the best way to deploy Twincooler (for flow reasons).
  • I got the FMIC *and* the TOP for $500 (and I wanted the TOP).

Incidentally, I have 5000 miles on the car and found very little oil in the IC/hoses. But I mix long and short trips and 'drive it like I own it' daily.

Some pix below.

Bob












 
happydude

happydude

Passed Driver's Ed
Great review. I immediately noticed all the gains you discuss once mine was installed and only wish I had done it sooner!

Another tip I'd put out there for everyone is if you plan to use the AWE S3 hose kit, rather than the stock pipes, make sure the clamps attaching it to the intercooler are good and secure. My local shop, upon installing the S3, got a CEL and drop in power when bringing the car back to me that was found to be one of the hose kit clamps coming loose even though it was securely fastened on install. They re-secured the pipes with APR clamps they had lying around and it's worked perfectly. No idea if the clamp itself was bad or just shit luck on my part, but worth taking into consideration.
 
B

Ben1

Go Kart Champion
Excellent review - those parts are back in stock at genuinevwparts? A few of the hoses weren't last time. Thanks!
 
B

BenH

Ready to race!
Nice review and congrats - would you recommend the turbo outlet pipe with stock intercooler?
 
untangle

untangle

Ready to race!
BenH said:
Nice review and congrats - so only when the oil temp is pre 190deg does some king of turbo lag occur? Maybe that's why OEM turbo outlet pipe design uses a flatter shape?
Click to expand...

It could be, Ben.

But my impressions are based on just a little bit of driving.

I get the impression that VW carefully controls intake and exhaust flows in the stock cars, trading some volumetric flow to maintain laminar, high-velocity flow.

Among other things, this approach minimizes lag and keeps the throttle very punchy.

Bob
 
P

PandaGTI

Go Kart Champion
happydude said:
Great review. I immediately noticed all the gains you discuss once mine was installed and only wish I had done it sooner!

Another tip I'd put out there for everyone is if you plan to use the AWE S3 hose kit, rather than the stock pipes, make sure the clamps attaching it to the intercooler are good and secure. My local shop, upon installing the S3, got a CEL and drop in power when bringing the car back to me that was found to be one of the hose kit clamps coming loose even though it was securely fastened on install. They re-secured the pipes with APR clamps they had lying around and it's worked perfectly. No idea if the clamp itself was bad or just shit luck on my part, but worth taking into consideration.
Click to expand...


In addition to this tip... If using the S3 intercooler with S3 hoses... With turbo outlet pipe... Be sure that you order the specific turbo outlet pipe for the S3 hoses... I was loosing boost because the connection between the S3 pipes and turbo outlet pipe was opening up under full throttle.
untangle said:
It could be, Ben.

But my impressions are based on just a little bit of driving.

I get the impression that VW carefully controls intake and exhaust flows in the stock cars, trading some volumetric flow to maintain laminar, high-velocity flow.

Among other things, this approach minimizes lag and keeps the throttle very punchy.

Bob
Click to expand...

VW uses the pancake pipe to make it easier to install the engine as one unit during assembly.
 
Stanielz

Stanielz

Ready to race!
PandaGTI said:
In addition to this tip... If using the S3 intercooler with S3 hoses... With turbo outlet pipe... Be sure that you order the specific turbo outlet pipe for the S3 hoses... I was loosing boost because the connection between the S3 pipes and turbo outlet pipe was opening up under full throttle.


VW uses the pancake pipe to make it easier to install the engine as one unit during assembly.
Click to expand...

o_O crap. im pretty sure im using normal S3 hoses with my AWE top. but im pretty positive i don't have a boost leak.
 
R

Red2011GTI

Go Kart Champion
Bob,

Since both your IC and TOP install and mine showed little oil in the pipes our thoughts on a catch can being unnecessary are holding up.

Thomas
 
untangle

untangle

Ready to race!
Red2011GTI said:
Bob,

Since both your IC and TOP install and mine showed little oil in the pipes our thoughts on a catch can being unnecessary are holding up.

Thomas
Click to expand...

So it would seem. Won't change much. B4 March is done, there'll be yet another bottle of brownish water on display on some forum.

The beat goes on...

Bob
 
Stanielz

Stanielz

Ready to race!
PandaGTI said:
In addition to this tip... If using the S3 intercooler with S3 hoses... With turbo outlet pipe... Be sure that you order the specific turbo outlet pipe for the S3 hoses... I was loosing boost because the connection between the S3 pipes and turbo outlet pipe was opening up under full throttle.
Click to expand...

i found this on the AWE site "The S3 IC Hose specific TOP is only available in a Black powder coated finish." when you look at their TOP/s3 hose kit

http://www.awe-tuning.com/products/vw/mk6-g-j-2010/2-0t/awe-s3-fmic-hosekit.html

http://www.awe-tuning.com/products/vw/mk6-g-j-2010/2-0t/awe-tsi-top.html

the OP has the aluminum finish, as do I. does that mean we have the wrong TOP and are leaking boost? this worries me now o_O. i got mine last year around July and that note was not there concerning different tops (alluminum / black)

Maybe AWE can chime in here and clarify. or else i'm gonna run boost logs/call them.

EDIT: my mistake, OP used stock hoses, not S3, so I guess it wouldn't apply to him?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top