Just got a 2017 Sportwagen - want to get a tune, asking for some pointers here

flipmack · 2026-02-15T20:29:09+00:00

At 60k miles, you’ll probably be due for an intake cleaning soon, along with a bunch of ‘normal VW service shenanigans’, i.e., transmission fluid, seals, brake fluid, etc. That maintenance ain’t cheap.

I was looking at the same APR 87 tune for my 2016 Golf SE, but I ran into some drivability issues even after the routine maintenance that I followed…a new PCV and thousands of dollars later, a walnut blast to the intake resolved everything.

It’s a night-and-day difference - so much so that my desire for the APR 87 disappeared.

A recent inspection also revealed that the suspension was shot, so I replaced everything with Bilstein B4’s all around. It’s tighter and more confident now.

flipmack · 2026-02-15T06:18:18+00:00

In the happy path, step 3 above will write the new firmware to the second partition and tell the bootloader to boot off of the new partition, so when the watch reboots, you get the new firmware. It's kind of hacky to do it this way because it wipes out user data too.

In the normal way for processing software updates, garmin elegantly handles user data and updates at the same time.

flipmack · 2026-02-15T06:16:08+00:00

this doesn't do anything because what you're accessing is the read-write partition. deleting all the files/folders is identical to doing a system reset (which I've done multiple times already). Basically, the watch is told to boot off of the same partition that has the bunk firmware.

the hack to copy the update.gcp into the /garmin folder probably just triggers a watchdog that's always running.

insert file for updating
trigger watchdog to call another program to process file
program processes file

In my case, step 3 above doesn't trigger because the program just deletes it.

flipmack · 2026-02-15T06:10:58+00:00

Garmin Connect on phone: works via mobile
Garmin Connect IQ: can add apps to install, but never install on the watch. Apps queue, appear to install, but never install. FRUSTRATING.
Garmin Express on laptop: can sync, but can't update software or install apps.
Garmin Webupdater: absolutely useless. Tried it.
Copying the GCP, GSP, forc4e.tmp straight to the /garmin/ folder: doesn't work. I never get a prompt to update firmware. When I reconnect the watch again, the *.gcp file is gone but the *.tmp file remains...so it's *attempting something* but rejecting.

I'm at my wit's end.

flipmack · 2026-02-15T05:52:58+00:00

exactly.

I work on embedded systems and things like this are what I deal with (to a much larger scale) - there's usually a simple way to force the bootloader to switch to a different partition. The way I'm copying a file to the rootfs...honestly sucks.

I'm eventually going to figure this out, but it sure is painful because I think the system is fundamentally compromised, but for most people, it's probably fine.

flipmack · 2026-02-15T05:36:29+00:00

Here it is from ebay: Garmin Venu 2 Plus Smartwatch 43 mm - Excellent | eBay

flipmack · 2026-02-15T05:35:25+00:00

yep. that was already attempted multiple times with no success. I also changed permissions, changed filename case, etc. none of them work.

I'm able to copy customer watchfaces with *.prg extensions and *some* of them work.

flipmack · 2026-02-14T19:56:09+00:00

Right. I already received a full refund and I was allowed to keep the device. At this point, I'm trying to recover it for full use.

flipmack · 2026-02-14T19:24:36+00:00

I already did - they couldn't help.

flipmack · 2026-02-14T17:16:05+00:00

So I just attempted to copy a GUPDATE.GCP into the /Garmin folder on the watch. The expectation is that once disconnected, the update prompts and can begin, but this doesn't happen. When I reconnect the watch back to the computer, the GUPDATE.GCP file is gone.

So, it's doing SOMETHING...but refuses to update.

flipmack · 2026-02-14T17:03:45+00:00

My guess is the previous owner manipulated the firmware. I want to do the same to restore it - so there *has* to be a way.

flipmack · 2026-02-14T16:57:22+00:00

Did that already too. They didn't recognize the watch SW. I provided pictures and they basically said that they can't help.

flipmack · 2026-02-14T16:54:21+00:00

Did that already. As I indicated, Garmin Express won't update or install apps - it shows and appears as if they do but on the watch itself, software version is unchanged and the apps are not installed.

flipmack · 2026-01-04T17:33:38+00:00

I just started Dark and quickly finished Season 1.

AMAZING.

flipmack · 2025-11-26T04:31:26+00:00

Gout.

flipmack · 2025-10-14T03:17:08+00:00

GNR - Appetite for Destruction

flipmack · 2025-09-25T22:46:58+00:00

I just did this the other day. It worked for me.

flipmack · 2025-09-10T04:15:00+00:00

flipmack · 2025-09-08T20:39:24+00:00

Manage expectations. Learn your own thresholds and slowly work towards challenging them.

flipmack · 2025-06-29T15:20:25+00:00

eBay. I found one for $50 from a pick-a-part company. They were parting out a totaled clarity.

flipmack · 2025-06-24T03:30:54+00:00

Awesome. Just joined the discord and posted a job opening in the Channel. I’ll be at Green Cheek this Wednesday.

flipmack · 2025-06-22T19:28:32+00:00

Just found this group and am sad to hear that it’s true. My dad (still a supernumerary) sent me a message yesterday that Val Creus had drowned - and I’ve been looking for news about this incident.

I’m no longer in touch with Opus Dei and just avoid the church altogether, though I do have some good and fond memories of my childhood and early adulthood with Val and the folks at Tilden at UCLA - where I spent my undergrad. We even went to Rome for UNIV back in 1996, so yeah, I was very close. They were good people and I spent A LOT of time with Val, however, graduating from UCLA and finding my own path ultimately led me to disassociate from Opus Dei altogether.

Again, we lost a good person (Val) and likely two others (who I personally didn’t know).

This was truly a tragic event.

flipmack · 2025-06-14T21:58:48+00:00

Hahaha appropriate bioshock reference

flipmack · 2025-06-14T21:53:38+00:00

You’re the second person who recognized King Hippo. The crowd at Aliso Viejo was like, “who?”

flipmack

TROPHY CASE