30K service

The car is passed the next milestone: 30,000 km.

It's a service time! So what has been done?
Engine oil (Valvoline SynPower 5W-40, VW 502 00) , oil filter, cabin filter. I use the Mann filters.

Mann oil filter package

Engine air intake filter was changed at 19K km, so it was no reason to touch it now.
The spark plugs changed to it's performance version: NGK 2667 BKR7EIX

NGK BKR7EIX  iridium spark plugs

Also the coils are changed to the R8 coils: 06E905115E.

R8 coil pack

These, in pair with the NGK iridium plugs is suitable for powerful TFSI engines and capable give very stable spark especially at high engine RPM's.

PCV valve was changed to the latest (at this moment) revision: 06F129101R.

PCV valve for 2.0 TFSI

 Odometer: 30,020 km

New tires

It wasn't in my plans to change the tires now, but due to the puncture that was very close to another one on the same tire, I decided to move to the new tires set.

The Nitto Invo tyres has been choosen. They have a reasonable price and very good road performance at the dry and wet.

Nitto Invo. The page from the catalog.

Nitto Invo. Just before the install.

Nitto Invo installed on my Cupra.

And after the ride of 2000 km I would say, that they worth the money.

Odometer: 28,600 km.

Engine Oil change

Oil and original oil filter were changed. The service was done in official SEAT garage.

Valvoline SynPower 5W-40, VW 502 00

Oil filter

I change engine oil at least each 10,000 km. At this time, the gap between the changes was 7,800 km.

Odometer: 21,500 km.

Audi TTS engine cover

After the Volkswagen Racing cold air intake has been fitted, the original engine cover became unsuitable, since it has integrated factory intake system and therefore interfere with the new air intake.

Cupra R factory engine cover

I don't like to view the exposed engine each time without a special need. Furthermore, without an engine cover it's a chance to get coils and other small electric parts wet when raining.
So I decided to fill this gap and bought engine cover from Audi TTS. This car utilize the same engine, that my Cupra R, but it has another air intake system straight from the factory, that comes separately from the engine cover.
And last but not least: it's suitable to use with the Volkswagen Racing air intake by it's dimensions.

Audi TTS under hood

And the result is:

Cupra R with Audi TTS engine cover fitted

Now, the car's under hood has a nice and clean look.

Odometer: 19,500 km.

APR Stage I+ ECU update

After all preparations, that were made before, all that's left to do - is to update the engine ECU with the new program. That's was done at the local APR dealer store: PIT STOP Israel.

ECU programming in progress

After ~15min: ECU programming is done

OK. So what we have here?
ECU was updated to the new APR v3.4 program, that was released a month before.
Now, the new ECU program "understands", that we have the upgraded fuel pump and it will adjust it's parameters in order to extract more power, especially in middle-high RPM's range. Personally, I feel that there also is growth in torque in low range RPM's.
The engine now is more flexible and produce more torque, than before - thanks to VWR cold air-intake and HPFP upgrade, the upgrades that have been made earlier.

You may see the (power/torque)/RPM graph below:

APR Stage I+FP+Intake VS Stock

The bottom line:  335 HP and 450 NM of torque at the engine crank and more important thing: very smooth power delivery through the all engine RPM's range.
It's a +70 HP and +100 NM gain from the stock Cupra R/Audi S3 engine. I think, it's a great result for relatively low amount of money: less than 2500$ is spent on the tuning parts.

Now, driving a car is become a real pleasure:
The linear throttle response in low-middle RPM's ends with the burst of the power in the high RPM's range. Now, I want to drive this car all the time. :-)

More info on APR 2.0 TFSI ECU upgrade:
APR VAG 2.0T FSI 230-272HP - APR ECU Upgrade

Odometer: 19,000 km.

HPFP upgrade

High pressure fuel pump (HPFP) is a one of a components in 2.0 TFSI engine, that strongly affects it's performance.

The 2.0 TFSI specific Hitachi fuel pump is driven by the engine camshaft, through the cam follower and produce the pressure, that enough for the stock engine power, but it not able to achieve the pressure level, that needed to bypass the 300 HP mark. Furthermore - it's max fuel pressure in the middle range RPM's is not enough to produce the amount of power and torque, that's supported by the engine in this range.

OK. That's the problem of 2.0 TFSI engine. What's is the solution?
The solution is comes in face of the Autotech HPFP upgrade kit.

Autotech High Volume Fuel Pump Upgrade Kit 2.0T FSI

The guys from Autotech say's, that: "Our HPFP Kit can achieve flow rates 50% higher than the original pump, essentially removing pump limitations from the equation, even on high-end turbo upgrades."

Also, the cam follower has been expected and found in the good condition.

2.0 TFSI cam follower

However, it has been changed to the new one. According to it's wear condition, it may reside without any problems for 30K km.
Cam follower and the camshaft in the 2.0 TFSI engines has at least two revisions. It's strongly recommended to use the latest revision of the cam follower, that made from more hardened material.
Cam follower part#:  06D 109 309 C. The previous revision was: 06D 109 309 B. Don't use it anymore. The malfunction due to wear or break of cam follower will lead to serious engine damage!
Fuel pump O-Ring also was changed to the new one. The ring part#: 06E 127 248.

Autotech provide the detailed DIY instruction about how to upgrade the fuel pump. But my suggestion is to perform installation in the authorized garage, that have the knowledge and the tools to deal with the engine components.

OK. That's it!
The HPFP fuel pressure limitation has been removed. Now, the engine ECU is ready to be upgraded with the new program, that will take this fact into account.
The result? There will be more power! Very soon.

Odometer: 18,950

Volkswagen Racing air-intake

The important thing for high-output turbo engine - is a proper cold air intake system.
I chose the Volkswagen Racing cold air intake (VWR) system, that (by the way) recommended by APR.

VWR intake

This system is selected not by accident. According to dyno tests, it's allow the engine to produce the maximum power and very good air-flow starting from low RPM's and this is especially important in high RPM range. It's delivers gains as much as 9% greater at peak power, than the stock air-intake. Also, it has an excellent build quality.

The system comes with certificate of authenticity with a hologram sign and serial number.

VWR Certificate of Authenticity

VWR system was mounted by TIG Motorsport Engineering
As your may see, this system has a very solid and professional build and looks great.

VWR air-intake installed

I like how it performs. Now, I'm started to hear the engine "breath" in the middle-high RPM's :-)

Odometer: 18,900 km.