Genuine IS38 turbocharger
APR Stage 3 (IS38)
APR carbon intake hose
APR coolant bypass hose
APR coils
APR spark plugs
APR enlarged turbo inlet
APR dogbone mount lower insert
034 Motorsport dogbone mount upper insert
Racingline intercooler
Racingline boost pipes
Silicate-free coolant expansion tank
G12 Evo coolant
Millers Oils 5W-40 NT+ engine oil

The APR Stage 3 (IS38) upgrade for MQB cars with the original IS20 is a very popular upgrade, and no wonder. APR offers versions that keep the original catalytic converter and so keep the car fully legal, as well as sharper versions with the downpipe removed. The gains in power and the overall improvement in how the car drives are excellent in every version.

In this particular case the GTI owner went for the more moderate version that keeps the original catalytic converter. The car already had an APR Stage 1 upgrade, an APR cat-back exhaust and a partial APR intake. We added a Racingline uprated intercooler with silicone boost pipes, an APR enlarged turbo inlet and the matching carbon piping. We bypassed the coolant line with the APR hose designed for the intake used on this GTI. The original spark plugs and coils were also replaced with APR parts. The heart of the whole upgrade, the IS38 turbo, replaced the original IS20. The lower engine mount was stiffened with inserts from 034 Motorsport and APR. With the radiators removed, we also flushed the cooling system, replaced the expansion tank with a new silicate-free one and used the improved G12 Evo coolant. Millers Oils 5W-40 NT+ takes care of perfect lubrication.

The owner can now enjoy much more power (363 hp, 510 Nm) while the car stays fully legal and refined.