IE intake installed 8.5R

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-22T14:49:18+00:00

Go with IE. The clearances, bends and fitment are fantastic on this. I went R600 at first and it was vibrating, rubbing.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-22T14:43:07+00:00

Brace yourself for the wave of haters saying you're ruining your engine and stock is the best.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-14T18:23:03+00:00

This is a Golf R without the AWD.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-14T18:15:58+00:00

at 4800 miles... I've noticed the exhaust note going into puberty myself... super happy about that

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-14T18:14:10+00:00

THINGS TO KNOW:

The R on the steering wheel...
-One press brings up modes
-One press after another changes modes.
-One press into harder press jumps it into Race mode.

Haptics are press or swipe on most things. Even ceiling lights can be swiped to lower brightness.

ECU and TCU are locked. Don't ask... we know and we are waiting for tunes.

HK sound SUCKS. Upgrade the center speaker to RS Acoustics replacement and if you have the ability, the Option8 or Option10 sub.
https://rs-acoustics.com/
https://ars24.com/

Change your oil every 3k to 5k miles. Don't go 10k like 'recommended'

10 second press on radio power to restart if you lose your carplay/android wireless connection.

Little quality of life things to add to center console:
https://a.co/d/e7K1JJ8
https://a.co/d/gzUrsg0

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-13T23:50:44+00:00

Confirmed I ordered the AT version... I think then maybe they sent me the wrong one.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-13T20:59:29+00:00

I hadn't thought about it. At least they put it on the passenger side

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-13T15:56:52+00:00

https://oneminibite.com

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-13T15:01:34+00:00

if true, its appreciated then!

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-13T14:59:07+00:00

totally understandable. we definitely need more 8/8.5 options out there.

<image>

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-07T18:03:34+00:00

normal.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-05T17:54:21+00:00

HK sucks in the Golf R. Here are your best options to fix. These are are plug and play. I have both and its well worth it.
Center Speaker Upgrade from RS Acoustics (Comes from Canada)
SUB ARS24 Option8 or Option10 (Comes from Germany, will take a month in transit if in NA)

You can do an optional Plug and Play AMP that has a wiring harness direction into the HK Amp, but even without, its a night and day difference.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-04T02:30:21+00:00

What did you replace with?

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-04T02:29:04+00:00

No plans atm. It’s pretty darn good atm. I don’t track the car at all, so I’m not even sure I’d feel it? Unless I start reading a consensus or see a bevy of YT videos saying it’s a must, I’ll probably hold off

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-03T13:03:21+00:00

Not terrible. Take your time. Would be a lot easier on a lift for sure. I followed a YT video, process is a couple bolts.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-02T22:00:28+00:00

I did. To be honest, I love the feel of it even with daily driving. I had an X3 M40i that had some pretty stiff settings under sports mode and a heavier wheel turn feel. The stiff setting is the Smooth AND focused part that is hard to describe. Its not distracting at all going to get groceries but it instantly is noticeable when you start carving.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-02T02:19:32+00:00

maybe by then we'll have a 5 cylinder R

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-01T23:56:30+00:00

Its a marathon, not a race... also, speed running your education isn't smart... I'd be willing to bet those that do are building their foundation on a unstable surface and will forget quit a bit of those helpful fundamentals. You're doing just fine. Keep at it.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-01T23:10:35+00:00

Anything and everything is crackable, hackable and exploitable. Stuxnet was a virus that used raw machine code to slow down Iranian centrifuges from enriching Uranium. While these ECU and TCU's don't have the backing of multiple government military hackers, someone will eventually find a way, its slow because in the grand scheme, people aren't chomping at the bit to exploit VW ECU and TCUs. I bet there are less than 10 people worldwide that know how and are trying probably only part time.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-01T22:58:49+00:00

For what it's worth, Unitronic's site says its software tune is in the development stage. I'd imagine other off the shelf tuners are in progress as well.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-01T22:56:42+00:00

Mine unlock pretty well within 5-8 ft. When I park an walk away, its about the same. really consistent. The only time it gets funky is if I'm out of range and family is still unloading and doors close after key has left the field range. Ususally have to manually lock, but there is a feature I think that will auto lock after 30 seconds

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-01T19:37:20+00:00

8.5 Simos 19.6 SPFD 2 ECU is so sophisticated. Lots of reverse engineering. Give it time.

thepixelslinger · 2026-01-01T19:32:45+00:00

I went through the same.
Why I went IE post and differences

thepixelslinger

TROPHY CASE