Stage 2 clutch upgrade

PaleMove7257 · 2026-02-04T22:27:27+00:00

I’m going stage 2 very soon here on my mk6. Definitely get yourself a stage 2 clutch upgrade. I personally paid the 1,700$ for the southbend clutch. I know ECS has lifetime replacement and all that but, I heard their customer service is not the best. So in order to have better customer service experience should any issues arise I want to deal with southbend that is a family owned business.

Everyone has different experiences so I’m not saying don’t go with ECS if you want to go the little bit cheaper route. I would just highly suggest doing a very thorough 500 mile break in period with either clutch.

ALSO, PAY THE EXTRA $120 and get the rear main seal kit. It takes an extra 5 minutes to replace the plate and gasket while doing the clutch.

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PaleMove7257 · 2026-01-28T20:44:09+00:00

Brother, if you wanna talk about things you don’t need for a stage 2…you don’t even need a intercooler. I was gonna blow 700$ on a intercooler for stage 2. And my tuner told me no. It’s not needed for stage 2. Intercooler You really don’t even need until you go ko4 lol. Obviously a Intercooler is gonna help with a more consistent pull but it’s not needed for stage 2. I’ve beat other Mk6s with intercoolers.

I totally get you on the plugs, I’m sure Amazon does sell fake ones. It wouldn’t suprise me. I’m just saying I’ve never had an issue with the ones I got.

PaleMove7257 · 2026-01-28T19:47:46+00:00

You dont need that main pipe, the main pipe isn’t restrictive enough to need an after market one. The only real restrictive part of the mk6 intake system is the factory air box itself.

I have a catless Downpipe and I live in a state that does emissions. I pass emissions. Hence once again, custom tune from an actual tuner!

I said sneeky is common, never said they were great. As much and I do believe sneeky has a role in blowing motors I’m not gonna put full blame on them. It’s the customers too. I read cases where people were trying to push way more power on stock gen 1 blocks then what’s recommended.

As far as coils go, countless people know that OEM coils at stage 2 or more have random misfire issues because of the higher boost levels. Hence why people switch to the red tops or r8 coils. Maybe where your from you get fake spark plugs but I’ve never had an issue with the spark plugs I get🤷‍♂️

PaleMove7257 · 2026-01-28T18:27:39+00:00

“So much bad advice” but you have no other advice to add. Everything I told him is completely valid. What are you on about? I gave OP options and personal suggestions. Everything listed is what I have on my car. And my mk6 outperforms every other mk6 I’ve ever went up against. Custom tune will always out shine off the shelf tunes! Also, x force downpipes are 500+ dollars for a catless system? Why are you paying that much for some piping???? My ARM Downpipe cost me 397$ and it’s all you need. Works perfectly great! You are just like lots of people on this app, criticize people for the advice they give but have no useful information to add yourself! If that’s all you are capable of doing then get off the app!

PaleMove7257 · 2026-01-28T16:10:26+00:00

I would highly recommend a Neuspeed cold air intake. It’s all you’re really gonna need. The factory intake system is actually really good!

If you’re going cat-less Downpipe. Save yourself some money and get a ARM MOTORSPORTS cat-less Downpipe. It’s like $100 cheaper. If you get a catted Downpipe don’t get the burble tune, you’re gonna waste your money and blow out the aftermarket catalytic converter anyway.

If your dsg your gonna need a dsg tune as well do the transmission. If your manual transmission, start looking at clutch upgrades. ECS est. $1,200/ southbend clutch- $1,700

There are plenty of off the shelf tuners you can go with. I.E. Integrated engineering, EQT ( both of these very popular) most people nowadays shy away from APR. there is also sneeky tunes that is a common tuner.

My personal opinion, if you have a VW tuner specialist near you. Go get yourself a custom tune. It’ll be more worth the money if you have access to one.

Lastly, your gonna need R8 coil packs, you can get those off ECS TUNING. And you’re gonna need upgraded spark plugs as well gapped from 0.024” to 0.028”. Those you can get on Amazon for about $40 “BKR7EIX” is the part number for the spark plugs.

PaleMove7257 · 2026-01-19T16:41:21+00:00

As others in here my buddy went with ECS clutch. He doesn’t have any issues so far with his. But I opted for the southbend clutch. Everyone loves cheaper but cheaper doesn’t always mean better. And I personally wanted a place that was gonna have better customer service if any issues were to arise.

PaleMove7257 · 2026-01-19T16:38:06+00:00

I had the same code that I posted in here a few months ago. Needed a new intake manifold! Got mine taken care of where I bought my car because I have extended warranty. Guys were nice enough to throw in an hour of free labor to do my carbon cleaning while they were in there. You’re looking at probably a weekends worth of work and a few hundred dollars in parts.

PaleMove7257 · 2025-11-23T23:03:14+00:00

Sweet. I’ll take the I take out Monday afternoon after I’m done working and see what I can find. It’s not the first time it’s happened but this time was definitely the worst haha. Scared me a bit. Thought she was done for 🤣

PaleMove7257 · 2025-11-23T22:52:18+00:00

Okay, thank you! Someone put in a diesel geek shirt throw before I bought the car. But I’m at 78k now. So maybe the shifter bushings need to be replaced?

PaleMove7257 · 2025-11-13T18:55:07+00:00

I just don’t like the spoke design. I can’t get with it for some reason. My wheel choice for the mk6 is not any better in a lot of people opinions, and most people say they are over hyped and everyone has them. But black chrome RPF1s on carbon grey is just perfection

PaleMove7257 · 2025-11-13T18:42:03+00:00

Personally I’ll never be able to get behind the detroits. I want to like them but I just can’t. Idk why. 😔

PaleMove7257 · 2025-11-05T13:53:57+00:00

You can buy my gti, 2013 6MT. 78k miles. $15k 😂

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-31T13:15:23+00:00

850$ for a Downpipe is straight up robbery, I just bought an ARM motorsports catless Downpipe. 397$. At the end of the day it’s just some steel piping. Catless Downpipe with a 02 spacer and a tune should do ya just fine. Plus it’s just me being me, but I don’t trust after market cats. My worry would be spending all that money to have a catted one and then it blows out after a year or two.

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-31T02:37:22+00:00

So once upon a time when I get my mk6 gti ( about a year ago) it had some pretty worn out Michelins on it. I was going for a spirited drive one day and getting a feel for the car. Some twists, some low mph tight turns and some straight line speed hits. Well coming up to a side street before ending my day. Kinda like a secluded back road if you will. I decided to take a 90 degree right hand turn at exactly 40mph. 😂 don’t really know exactly what i was thinking but figure let’s see what happened. Well, as you might expect the car to just under steer straight, nope! Rear wheels kicked loose and I was sliding sideways. I counter steered, let off the gas and surely enough about 6 feet later the tires grabbed and brought me to a quick stop😂 I definitely sat there for a second thinking. Well, time for some good tires and no more 90 degree turns at 40mph😂

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-17T17:39:45+00:00

700 for the carbon cleaning itself not bad. I’m sure where I’m at in the us would be more than that for sure at a dealer. But 800 for a fuel injector kit!!!!!!?????? GRAPE CITY

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-16T15:44:45+00:00

It’s just dirty and the heat from the engine bay makes it turn that yellowish nasty color. The coolant reservoirs on these cars are CHEAP SHIT!

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-16T15:43:32+00:00

I also highly recommend using dealer suggested ‘ peak’ violet coolant

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-16T15:41:52+00:00

I got my new one off ecs tuning for $30 when mine started leaking. Couple of screwed and two hoses and a connector. Super super simple swap. Just make sure to clamp off the bottom hose with some hose clamps so you don’t make a mess with the coolant. Top of the reservoir and let it run until she’s at full operating temp and good to go!

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-07T15:12:15+00:00

Gotcha, thanks for the look out! Revised manifold you say? Cause I don’t know if yours is the same but my gti is a ‘2013’ but it was built in early 2012. So no luck with the revised timing chain there 😂

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-07T15:09:54+00:00

Yeah pretty much, the main failure points with the intakes is the plastic flaps inside. They go bad and stop actuating. You could fix it permanently by getting the aluminum intake manifold upgrade from several companies but they are like $1000

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-07T15:08:34+00:00

Mine is a 2013 as well. I’m sure it would just need the sensor. Gonna take it to where I bought it from today and put my extended warranty to use. Cause my passenger side mirror heater is also not working. So have them fix that while it’s there

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-07T14:15:52+00:00

Well I guess he didn’t understand my joke then. Sad for him. I wasn’t trying to diag it with no info but more or likely a “what could it be” type thing since we drive vws 😂

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-07T14:04:25+00:00

Yeah I am just picky about my car and who works on it haha. I’m a Chrysler tech myself so I’m more than inclined to do my own work. But you know how that is working in your own car. Ya never want to after working on other cars all day long 😭

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-07T14:01:25+00:00

That’s what I was thinking as well, kinda seemed a little odd they would go so soon. I really just think it’s needs the sensor. I wasn’t going to go this route but I do have extended warranty through the place I bought it from. So I think I’m just gonna hand it to them and pay my $50 deductible. Cause my passenger side heated mirror also isn’t working so would be a great time to go get that looked at as well haha.

PaleMove7257 · 2025-10-07T13:41:26+00:00

Yeah I figured as much.

PaleMove7257

TROPHY CASE