[deadlock]

Hey everyone, its been while since I posted but I've finally got the time to get back to doing some upgrades to my 2016 TDI Lux and I was lucky enough to purchase the Rawtek DPF/SCR delete kit before they stopped shipping to the US. So I got the delete kit and several tunes from Tunezilla/Malone during one of their sales and currently running the stage 1 tune with dynamic EGR along with yrktreg's TCM and feels like an improved stock prefix which Im quite happy with. Since Tunezilla only charges for the most expensive tune plus add ons, my FZ3 is loaded with these tunes:

Stage 1 w/ Dynamic EGR​

Stage 2 w/ Dynamic EGR.​

Stage 2.5 w/ Dynamic EGR​

Factory Original (Stock).​

Stage 2.5, DPF/SCR, (EGR and/or Intake swirl flap, can't remember rn)​

**Bummed I didn't realize the ordering mattered as I would've made sure it loads with my stock file in slot 1 then increasing along with more aggresive tunes​

Since I do have the delete kit, I was curious if anyone has tips on finding a shop that might be willing to do this job? It seems like the EPA as been really cracking down on the businesses re: diesel tuning this so it might be impossible to get a shop to install it in which case I'll figure out a way to do it myself. Figured I'd aske her first as I've always gotten great info in these forums.
The DIY concern is that I live in a condo complex, I have a small carport so space is a little challenging but doable and it might be against the rules but in reality thats not an issue. But I might be fighting with the cold weather as I'm in the PNW area and it's just started really cooling off at night but if I can get it done during the day, it's going to be in the upper 60s for a bit which is probably my best window.

Has anyone gone from a Stage 1 tune with stock equipment to the Stage 2.5 with the Rawtek delete kit? Any feedback on performance differences? If it's not that noticeable then I can always stick with the stage 1 and sell the Rawtek kit but the Rawtek and Tunezilla info definitely indicate a significant performance improvement with the delete kit and 2 or 2.5 tune.

When I ordered my delete kit from Rawtek, I asked this question and they gave me a list of shops which presumably would install their kits but the closest shop is about 3.5-4 hours away. I'm not necessarily opposed to making a trip out of it and riding over, having a shop do the hardware install then I'll apply the tune myself but if thee's any problems, I'd be a long way from home. This is the kit I purchased:
Touareg & Q7 (2009+) & Porsche Cayenne DPF, Adblue & SCR Delete Parts Kit - (tuning required, not included)

I'm also considering swapping my FZ3 for their FZ Pro as it is a much more convenient option with my current living situation and it's not VIN locked, I think the swap costs about 40-50 bucks and I don't know if this is only for a limited time so I have to look into that.

Anyway, long message but wanted to get any feedback I can. Thanks in advance and I hope you're all doing well. BTW if you've run into that ACC/Front assist like I did, I finally managed to fix it by reflowing(kinda) the cheap behind the camera/rear view mirror. Mine stopped working 4 years ago and it drove me nuts because I had like 45k miles on the car, it had been well maintained etc but I couldn't find any answers. I forgot to look into this for a while but recently I've read a number of posts of people with the same issue and successfully fixing theirs by heating or reflowing one of the chips in the camera module, this is the youtube link that I found most useful but there are other posts on here describing the process as well.

Anyway, thanks in advance and I hope everyone is doing well.

Zach


**Disclaimer (I am only operating this vehicle off road in legal circumstances, not on public roads just in case I wasn't clear)

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

Anyone who can wrench and has a space to do it it can do the install for you... But it will more than likely only happen as a cash deal, no paperwork or ties involved if you want someone else to do it due to all the heat that's currently surrounding this kind of stuff

 

[deadlock]

Anyone who can wrench and has a space to do it it can do the install for you... But it will more than likely only happen as a cash deal, no paperwork or ties involved if you want someone else to do it due to all the heat that's currently surrounding this kind of stuff

Makes sense. I can definitely get under there and if anyone complains about. me working on my car, I'm on the board of my HOA so theyll like give me a pass, otherwise the fines start at $25 no matter what it is so whatever, I dont mind losing 25 bucks.
Otherwise I'll put up a CL ad again and screen the interested parties more. Where I'm at, there's people that moved here with money and theres people who grew up here and are strugglnig to make money so they'll respond yeah that they can do it but dont have anywhere to work. I had only offered 275 bucks to do the job but thats cuz I know I can do it. Theres a big shopping center where I could try as well cuz nobody checks cars there and theres often cars for sale parked closest to the street.
Any thoughts on whats a fair offer if i pay a private party to do it?

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

I'm sure a hobo would do it for $100, but the quality of the job would reflect that.

 

[New2Tregs]

Theres a big shopping center where I could try as well cuz nobody checks cars there and theres often cars for sale parked closest to the street.

That could be risky too as others might think you're there stealing catalytic convertors. Might be better paying the $25.

 

[deadlock]

That could be risky too as others might think you're there stealing catalytic convertors. Might be better paying the $25.

Good point, this is a small town and the cops get bored. Haven't seen them mess with anyone randomly in a parking lot or whatever unless they just stole something from the Safeway near the homeless assistance center and thats far enough away, usually they're on my side of town eating tacos cuz there's some good mexican food trucks and restaurants.
But yeah, I'm not gonna do it in that parking lot, it was just a thought. I can get it done here in my complex, I'll take the $25 fine in the off chance that someone complains but usually any violation is a warning first. My neighbor who parks next to me spent like 1.5 days swapping out his fuel pump in his truck, nobody cared.
It's too hard to screen random mechanics too so I'll get it on there myself. When I bought my tunes, I was living somewhere else and wasn't thinking of moving but covid changed alot of stuff and there was no reason for me to stay in LA.

 

[deadlock]

I'm sure a hobo would do it for $100, but the quality of the job would reflect that.

Come on over, I got your $100 in my pocket, just reach in real deep ok?

 

[New2Tregs]

Good point, this is a small town and the cops get bored. Haven't seen them mess with anyone randomly in a parking lot or whatever unless they just stole something from the Safeway near the homeless assistance center and thats far enough away, usually they're on my side of town eating tacos cuz there's some good mexican food trucks and restaurants.
But yeah, I'm not gonna do it in that parking lot, it was just a thought. I can get it done here in my complex, I'll take the $25 fine in the off chance that someone complains but usually any violation is a warning first. My neighbor who parks next to me spent like 1.5 days swapping out his fuel pump in his truck, nobody cared.
It's too hard to screen random mechanics too so I'll get it on there myself. When I bought my tunes, I was living somewhere else and wasn't thinking of moving but covid changed alot of stuff and there was no reason for me to stay in LA.

I'm in an apartment complex as well. I've done a bunch of things repairing my Treg and most of the staff knows my profession so no one has said anything to me. Besides when I'm done there's no evidence that I've been working on my vehicle.

 

[deadlock]

Nice... Yeah I find that as long as you don't leave au big oil puddle or a huge mess, it's not an issue. All my cars when I first started driving needed work and I lived in an apartment with my pops, nobody every said **** except this one old lady who said she was on the HoA (we were renting a condo) but she wasn't actually on the board and couldn't do anything.

This was a 73 Porsche 911T with mechanical fuel injection, bought it for 2k right before I went to college, didn't have the time to finish it and drive cross country from philly to LA so i had to sell it for 2500. That car prolly goes for like 65k now, i'd kill to have it back. Even getting in it, it smelled different than any other car, those Porsches up to the 911SC's all had this unique smell, dunno if it was the leather or what but its the first thing I think of when talking about that car....

 

[deadlock]

Anyone who can wrench and has a space to do it it can do the install for you... But it will more than likely only happen as a cash deal, no paperwork or ties involved if you want someone else to do it due to all the heat that's currently surrounding this kind of stuff

And yeah, I'd only do cash for the same reason, I wouldn't want a record showing I paid someone for auto work. Where I'm at, nobody is gonna even blink if they see my car with the delete and tune but still, I don't need any problems. Like I said, the cops get bored here and pull people over the last two neighbors I've had in the apartment next door have gotten DUIs and one blew 0.06 the other blew 0.00, he was just a real anxious younger kid and he couldn't do the field sobriety tests. I've told him not to be driving around here much at night cuz he's got a beat up PT cruiser with some kinda issue with the exhaust so it's louder than the other cars, cops notice it...

 

[deadlock]

Have either of you switched from a FZ3 to the new FZ Pro? Seems like a pretty good upgrade, curious to get some feedback on the Pro

 

[New2Tregs]

Nice... Yeah I find that as long as you don't leave au big oil puddle or a huge mess, it's not an issue. All my cars when I first started driving needed work and I lived in an apartment with my pops, nobody every said **** except this one old lady who said she was on the HoA (we were renting a condo) but she wasn't actually on the board and couldn't do anything.

This was a 73 Porsche 911T with mechanical fuel injection, bought it for 2k right before I went to college, didn't have the time to finish it and drive cross country from philly to LA so i had to sell it for 2500. That car prolly goes for like 65k now, i'd kill to have it back. Even getting in it, it smelled different than any other car, those Porsches up to the 911SC's all had this unique smell, dunno if it was the leather or what but its the first thing I think of when talking about that car....

Yea, I've got a Ken and Karen couple that watch over everything/everyone. The Karen even worked in the offices after becoming unemployed. She used her time to re-write the renters handbook to include no working on vehicles. I did anyway as I knew her re-writing the handbook was a conflict of interest. I never leave any evidence, no way for them to prove I did do work.

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

Come on over, I got your $100 in my pocket, just reach in real deep ok?

I'm on my way... just wait for me!

 

[Dannyboy485]

Have either of you switched from a FZ3 to the new FZ Pro? Seems like a pretty good upgrade, curious to get some feedback on the Pro

My stepson got one and we use it on our vehicles. It's refreshing to have a tool that isn't locked to one vehicle and cheaper than FZ3.
I'm sure Alientech was giving out kickbacks to Malone for selling the FZ3 even though they won't openly admit it.

Fz3 is a small portable unit is probably the only plus side but so are laptops.

 

[redbarron55]

I wonder if I happened to get close to Canada on one of our trips if there are shops who can do the delete on a 2012 CATA?
I would not be looking for a max whatever as the vehicle has plenty of power for my application. Just looking to improve the long term reliability on off road usage only, of course.

 

[redbarron55]

I wonder if I happened to get close to Canada on one of our trips if there are shops who can do the delete on a 2012 CATA?
I would not be looking for a max whatever as the vehicle has plenty of power for my application. Just looking to improve the long term reliability on off road usage only, of course.

 

[redbarron55]

I wonder if I happened to get close to Canada on one of our trips if there are shops who can do the delete on a 2012 CATA?
I would not be looking for a max whatever as the vehicle has plenty of power for my application. Just looking to improve the long term reliability on off road usage only, of course.

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

Sheldon? Is that you?

 

[volkswagens-for-life]

Hey everyone, its been while since I posted but I've finally got the time to get back to doing some upgrades to my 2016 TDI Lux and I was lucky enough to purchase the Rawtek DPF/SCR delete kit before they stopped shipping to the US. So I got the delete kit and several tunes from Tunezilla/Malone during one of their sales and currently running the stage 1 tune with dynamic EGR along with yrktreg's TCM and feels like an improved stock prefix which Im quite happy with. Since Tunezilla only charges for the most expensive tune plus add ons, my FZ3 is loaded with these tunes:

Stage 1 w/ Dynamic EGR​

Stage 2 w/ Dynamic EGR.​

Stage 2.5 w/ Dynamic EGR​

Factory Original (Stock).​

Stage 2.5, DPF/SCR, (EGR and/or Intake swirl flap, can't remember rn)​

**Bummed I didn't realize the ordering mattered as I would've made sure it loads with my stock file in slot 1 then increasing along with more aggresive tunes​

Since I do have the delete kit, I was curious if anyone has tips on finding a shop that might be willing to do this job? It seems like the EPA as been really cracking down on the businesses re: diesel tuning this so it might be impossible to get a shop to install it in which case I'll figure out a way to do it myself. Figured I'd aske her first as I've always gotten great info in these forums.
The DIY concern is that I live in a condo complex, I have a small carport so space is a little challenging but doable and it might be against the rules but in reality thats not an issue. But I might be fighting with the cold weather as I'm in the PNW area and it's just started really cooling off at night but if I can get it done during the day, it's going to be in the upper 60s for a bit which is probably my best window.

Has anyone gone from a Stage 1 tune with stock equipment to the Stage 2.5 with the Rawtek delete kit? Any feedback on performance differences? If it's not that noticeable then I can always stick with the stage 1 and sell the Rawtek kit but the Rawtek and Tunezilla info definitely indicate a significant performance improvement with the delete kit and 2 or 2.5 tune.

When I ordered my delete kit from Rawtek, I asked this question and they gave me a list of shops which presumably would install their kits but the closest shop is about 3.5-4 hours away. I'm not necessarily opposed to making a trip out of it and riding over, having a shop do the hardware install then I'll apply the tune myself but if thee's any problems, I'd be a long way from home. This is the kit I purchased:
Touareg & Q7 (2009+) & Porsche Cayenne DPF, Adblue & SCR Delete Parts Kit - (tuning required, not included)

I'm also considering swapping my FZ3 for their FZ Pro as it is a much more convenient option with my current living situation and it's not VIN locked, I think the swap costs about 40-50 bucks and I don't know if this is only for a limited time so I have to look into that.

Anyway, long message but wanted to get any feedback I can. Thanks in advance and I hope you're all doing well. BTW if you've run into that ACC/Front assist like I did, I finally managed to fix it by reflowing(kinda) the cheap behind the camera/rear view mirror. Mine stopped working 4 years ago and it drove me nuts because I had like 45k miles on the car, it had been well maintained etc but I couldn't find any answers. I forgot to look into this for a while but recently I've read a number of posts of people with the same issue and successfully fixing theirs by heating or reflowing one of the chips in the camera module, this is the youtube link that I found most useful but there are other posts on here describing the process as well.

Anyway, thanks in advance and I hope everyone is doing well.

Zach


**Disclaimer (I am only operating this vehicle off road in legal circumstances, not on public roads just in case I wasn't clear)

No shop is going to willingly tell you they're violating federal EPA laws, so calling and asking would be fruitless and might even put you on their own ban list for asking.

Installing the delete kit isn't worth much horsepower, single digit horsepower increase and some improvement in throttle response is all you will get. You don't install a delete kit for power.

Makes sense. I can definitely get under there and if anyone complains about. me working on my car, I'm on the board of my HOA so theyll like give me a pass, otherwise the fines start at $25 no matter what it is so whatever, I dont mind losing 25 bucks.
Otherwise I'll put up a CL ad again and screen the interested parties more. Where I'm at, there's people that moved here with money and theres people who grew up here and are strugglnig to make money so they'll respond yeah that they can do it but dont have anywhere to work. I had only offered 275 bucks to do the job but thats cuz I know I can do it. Theres a big shopping center where I could try as well cuz nobody checks cars there and theres often cars for sale parked closest to the street.
Any thoughts on whats a fair offer if i pay a private party to do it?

275 for somebody to delete your car? I would be insulted with that offer personally. Have you ever deleted a modern diesel? It's a ****load of work and it's miserable and there are almost always hiccups unless your car is pristine. Hell I had a buddy help me delete several of my own trucks and I still paid him $600 for one of them and I think 800 for the other which was a real son of a bitch because the EGR studs broke off.

 

[deadlock]

No shop is going to willingly tell you they're violating federal EPA laws, so calling and asking would be fruitless and might even put you on their own ban list for asking.

Yeah, I thought about it more and didn't ask any shops, especially after the crackdown on Rawtek and similar Canadian companies,I'll do it myself once the weather warms up.

Installing the delete kit isn't worth much horsepower, single digit horsepower increase and some improvement in throttle response is all you will get. You don't install a delete kit for power.

I've only installed the stage 1 without any hardware changes and it's quite noticeable with performance and efficiency. I've heard good feedback on getting some HP and especially torque, Rawtek and Malone also post decent improvements so we'll see.



275 for somebody to delete your car? I would be insulted with that offer personally. Have you ever deleted a modern diesel? It's a ****load of work and it's miserable and there are almost always hiccups unless your car is pristine. Hell I had a buddy help me delete several of my own trucks and I still paid him $600 for one of them and I think 800 for the other which was a real son of a bitch because the EGR studs broke off.

I threw it out there cuz I was curious, I figured I'd most likely end up installing it myself but there's alot of people in area looking for work and I got quite a bit of interest but nobody with a garage, no surprise and I was open to offers but it's not worth much for me to pay someone so it's up to them if they're willing to do the job.
My car is very clean with like 66k miles, i'd expect it come off a bit easier than dirty highmileage T3s but yeah you never know, I'd rather it be me who discovers there's a problem and it takes longer to pull off. It's been a little while but I had done deletes and exhaust work in the past
600 and 800 seems high for someone assisting but if you felt that was what it was then good. I thre a number out OBO and expected estimates to come in higher but 5 people seemed very willing to do it, but thats obviously a gamble