APR TDI DQ250 DSG and S Tronic TCU Upgrade
APR is pleased to present the ultimate transmission control unit (TCU) upgrade for the DQ250 DSG and S Tronic transmission found on TDI engine vehicles! The APR TCU Upgrade remaps the factory DSG / S Tronic transmission, adding several features and enhancements while simultaneously providing a smoother and more enjoyable driving experience.
Feature List
- Optimized Shift Maps
Drive mode is optimized for fuel economy while Sport mode is optimized for faster acceleration with APR’s ECU Software. - Smoother Daily Driving
Optimized part throttle / daily driving shift maps provide a smoother and more enjoyable daily driving experience. - User Definable Launch Control
Launch control is enabled on all models with a traction control button, and the launch control RPM is user definable at the time of install. Launch control response is also optimized for faster engagement. - User Definable Manual Mode
The automatic manual mode upshift and kick-down switch downshift can be enabled or disabled at the time of install. - Optimized Manual Mode Response Times
Downshifts occur more quickly and the time between hitting the paddle and a shift occurring has been reduced. - Torque Limits Raised
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 Indicator Active
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.
Drive (eco) and Sport Mode:
APR’s calibration experts found the factory drive and sport modes to be less than idea, especially when raising power with APR’s ECU Upgrade. Under part throttle, the transmission aggressively seeks the tallest gear possible, and at times does so at the expense of smoothness. Furthermore, shift points are optimized for the factory power levels, which vary greatly to those produced using APR’s ECU Upgrade. 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. The part throttle driving experience is greatly improved by matching the shift strategies to the increased output from APR’s ECU Upgrade. Drive mode has been optimized with fuel economy in mind while sport mode focuses on accelerative performance. While some may simply set wide-open-throttle (WOT) shift points to the vehicle’s max RPM limit, APR’s engineers chose shift points based on actual acceleration data. The result is gear dependent shift points typically below the engine’s max speed, but in doing so, the vehicle’s acceleration improves as axel torque is optimized before and after shifts.
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 downshifts times have been optimized.
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.
| Drive | Sport | Manual Auto Upshift On |
Manual Auto Upshift Off |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First to Second Gear | 4,225 RPM | 4,140 RPM | 4,500 RPM | 4,500 RPM |
| Second to Third Gear | 4,085 RPM | 4,130 RPM | 4,500 RPM | Never |
| Third to Fourth Gear | 4,000 RPM | 4,215 RPM | 4,450 RPM | Never |
| Fourth to Fifth Gear | 3,870 RPM | 4,210 RPM | 4,400 RPM | Never |
| Fifth to Sixth Gear | 3,780 RPM | 4,030 RPM | 4,350 RPM | Never |
Launch Control
APR’s TCU upgrade enables launch control on all vehicles. At the time of installation, the user is able to select their desired launch RPM, as they see fit! Launch control activates quickly, with a wider operating window, by limiting some of the stubborn activation criteria some models face during activation. The end user will notice launches now occur more rapidly with less delay between releasing the brake and forward momentum. The clutches fully grab quickly off the line and shift times are reduced. This directly translates into faster acceleration!
Recommendation: When using launch control, excessive wheel spin will not improve acceleration and may cause undesirable behavior. APR suggests using lower launch limits under low grip situations, especially on FWD vehicles. Maximum launch RPM is only ideal with drag slicks / radials on a well-prepped drag strip.
Note: The vehicle must be equipped with a traction control button, and traction control must be turned off to use Launch Control.
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.
Unlike the factory intervention routine, which allows for nearly no torque to be transmitted through the transmission at all after limits are crossed, APR’s over temp intervention allows for a limited amount of torque, enough so the vehicle can be safely driven off the track or pulled to the side of the road during intervention. In keeping the vehicle moving, airflow continues across the radiators, which in turn keeps coolant temps low and aids in removing heat from the factory DQ250 oil coolers to restore full operation.
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.
Note: DQ250 transmission software is not required to meet APR’s advertised torque figures.
The APR Difference:
APR DirectPort Programming:
APR’s DirectPort Programming is now available for the Temic Tricore DQ250 transmissions. Any APR Dealer in the world, connected to the Internet, has direct access to APR’s latest TCU upgrades for installation directly over the vehicle's OBD-II port. This completely eliminates the need to remove and open the TCU and can be uninstalled at any time!
APR TCU Upgrade Creation:
APR’s engineers have taken a direct and custom approach to calibrating the TCU. All too often others create a generic calibration that is forced across a wide range of different vehicles and transmission versions. Unfortunately this generic method of copy and paste tuning can result in some undesirable effects, such as slow up shifts and downshifts, torque interventions, stumbling, immobility and general incompatibility. In some extreme cases, damage to the transmission can occur. With many factory TCU variations available for the transmission, APR’s engineers have painstakingly ensured every TCU upgrade is created using the transmission’s original file to ensure the ultimate experience!
APR TCU Composer:
APR’s proprietary TCU Composer is used for altering the transmission management system. With full access to every table, map and variable within every TCU, APR’s Calibration Engineers are not limited to the handful of pre-defined maps.
APR TCU Assembly:
APR’s Electrical Engineers have the ability to alter the code structure of the TCU. Through code-level changes, APR's Engineers are able to add future features to the TCU otherwise impossible through calibration changes alone.
Application Guides
For best results, APR advises against mixing non-APR ECU and TCU Upgrades. APR cannot guarantee full compatibility with non-APR ECU Upgrades as outlined above and as such offers a 30-day money back guarantee as outlined below. Please note APR’s TCU upgrade is for the Temic Tricore based Exx and Fxx transmissions.
| Transmission |
|---|
| All Exx / Fxx transverse 6 Speed DSG / S Tronic - DQ250 |
| Stage | Minimum Requirements | Price Exc. VAT | Price Inc. VAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMPORTANT PRICING AND AVAILABILITY DETAILS: | ||||
| - Availability and TCU Compatibility: Some versions and features may not be available for all TCUs. | ||||
| - TCU Revision Notice: Multiple TCU revisions exist for each platform. APR software may be temporarily unavailable when factory updates are applied. An APR dealer can check availability in person, or over the phone if the TCU boxcode/revision is known. | ||||
| APR TCU Upgrade | APR ECU Software Recommended | £499.00 | £598.80 | |
How to purchase
Please use the APR Dealer Locater Tool to locate an APR Dealer, confirm availability and schedule an appointment.
Please note vehicle manufacturers issue many TCU part numbers and revisions throughout their vehicle lineup. As such, some TCUs may be temporarily unavailable as new parts and/or revisions are released. If the vehicle’s TCU part number and revision is known, availability can be checked at any APR Dealer.
Security, Warranty and Money Back Guarantee
30 Day Money Back Guarantee:
All APR TCU Upgrades include a 30-day money back guarantee with no questions asked. If for any reason the owner is dissatisfied with the APR TCU Upgrade, they may return to the place of purchase for a full refund, provided they are within the 30 day period from the time of the initial purchase. Labor or shipping charges are not included in the guarantee and are at the discretion of the place of install.
Limited Lifetime Warranty:
All APR TCU Upgrades include a limited lifetime warranty against defects in the software, and to provide free updates and reflashes as they become available. Labor or shipping charges are not included in the warranty and are at the discretion of the place of install.
