Audi Tuning | VW Tuning

… From picking up a new set of Hartmann Wheels!

I called Ryan, our first VW Mk5 2.0T TSI customer as it was time to update his APR-tuned ECU with a stock file that was recently released by APR. Since the ECU upgrade and H&R suspension install that was completed this last Fall, Ryan has been itching to do something new to the GTI and he sure wasn’t going to let harsh winter conditions stop him! He had been eying the Hartmann Evolution R5 Wheels for quite some time, and after a few seconds of holding the wheels up to his car yesterday, he made an appointment for install this morning.

Brand new TPM Sensors and all-season Falken 912s in a 225/40-18 were mounted and balanced, then thrown on the car within an hour.  The transformation was more than enough to put a smile on Ryan’s face and satisfy the “mod-bug” he caught.  We both knew the bronze finish on the Evolution R5s would set the car off just right.

In the coming months, we expect Ryan back as he has expressed interest in APR’s RSC turbo-back exhaust system. We also hear a StopTech BBK might also be planned later to fill the blank space now left behind the open-face design of the Evolution R5s. We’ll of course keep you posted with the results.

Nick was itching for a new look to his Zender-equipped Mk5 GTI. At the recommendation of Ryan@FineTuning , he stopped by to take a gander at our wheel display so he could get an up-close-and-personal look at his options. He also had his heart set on some Pirelli P-Zero Nero tires to wrap around a set of 19″ wheels. Once the Hartmann HRS4-252-SS was selected, we suggested that he order in a set of 225/35-19s from Tire Rack and we’d take care of the mounting and balancing since he was buying wheels from us – all he had to do was let us know when to expect tires and we were pretty much all set.

Well, tires arrived and an appointment was set up to get wheels installed – but that wasn’t enough! Nick knew that throwing on a set of 19s would in fact change the look to his car, but he wasn’t completely convinced that wheels-only would do the trick, especially after checking out a few cars in our gallery. At the last minute, Nick pulled the trigger and asked us to throw on some STaSIS Streetsport Coilovers while we were at it. Likely a good decision in the end, as Nick’s GTI is now sittin’ proper on our 19×8.5 wheels.

Congrats, Nick! (and thanks Ryan!!) Be sure to come back when we have some daylight to snap more pictures – especially after you complete the kit.

… I felt I wanted one last run of summer styling before the incoming cold weather meant it would be best to run an all-season wheel and tire. I took the “winter set-up” BBS RCs off the Golf and mounted these Porsche design Hartmann 367 wheels.

As with most of the Porsche-specific styles offered, the Hartmann 367 is staggered, running 18×8 up front and 18×10 in the rear. Just like our Mk4 Jetta project, H&R DRA Adapters were used to mount the 5×130 Porsche bolt pattern to the 5×100 Volkswagen hub. The Jetta ran 30mm adapters both front and rear but since the front fenders on this Golf are not yet rolled to accommodate a wider stance, I felt it safer to run a set of 20mm adapters I had laying around.

Since the car is lowered with STaSIS Streetsport Coil-Overs, and a 10″ wheel isn’t the customary width to run on the back of a VW Mk4, smaller tires were mounted to ensure fender clearance resulting in a “stretched” look. Now this small of a tire is really pushing the limits and is not recommended for most, but with proper installation and tire pressure monitoring, there will not be any issues whatsoever running this set-up.

We have verified the availability of some VW Mk5 and Audi A3/A4 TSI ECU upgrades from APR… Those of you who have been waiting, wait no longer! Stop by between 10am and 5pm Monday through Friday to receive your APR ECU upgrade!

It really is unfortunate we’re not getting the Scirocco III…

That is all…

There are very few differences between the 2008 and 2009 VW Mk5 GTI but the most noticeable difference is found under the hood. VW’s TSI motor is the latest revision over the previous FSI version and differs slightly in that it is timing chain driven as opposed to having a timing belt.

This particular car is coming in tomorrow for H&R’s Street Performance Coil-Overs and 24mm Adjustable Rear Anti-sway Bar. APR is just days away from releasing TSI specific software and the car should be back for the power upgrade early next week. We’ll keep you posted!

When Jose came to us in July to pick up a set of Hartmann HR8 Wheels and Bridgestone tires, we had asked him to return once the H&R springs we sold him ended up on the car with its new stance so we could take pictures… As promised, here is how she sits now – such an improvement!

Jose was experimenting with the look of a color-matched rear valence and now that he likes the look, he has an appointment scheduled with his body shop to get the sides and front valences painted to match as well.

This Mk5 Jetta from Campbell Nelson VW was brought to us today. The new owner of the vehicle arranged to have his Hartmann Wheel purchase worked into the deal with his sales representative and the car was brought to us prior to vehicle pick-up.

The weapon of choice for this Mk5 is the Hartmann HS8-454 Wheel, a style commonly found on D3 S8s and B7 S4s. Opting for an 18″ wheel, all-season Falken 912 tires in 225/40-18 were mounted and balanced prior to installation.

The 47mm offset was selected in the 18×8 Hartmann HS8-454 Wheels which is a VW Mk5-friendly stance, allowing for plenty of brake clearance and staying well within the fender. Campbell Nelson is also sending the customer back to us later to have us install Neuspeed Sport Springs which will bring both front and rear arches about 1.5″ down from where it sits now.

Updated pictures with the new lowered stance to come soon!!

H&R spacers allow you to change the stance of your vehicle by pushing the wheel away from your hub by the thickness of the selected spacer. Longer wheel bolts are then used to accommodate for the extra “space” and bolt the wheel to the hub with the spacer in between. H&R spacers are many times installed only to make an aesthetic difference and change vehicle stance but there are some instances where H&R spacers are needed for specific wheels and their offsets to clear suspension components. Take Brandon’s black mk4 1.8T GTI for example…

In order to run these specific 18×8.5, 35mm offset wheels at the height his car sits with his FK coil-overs, 10mm hubcentric H&R spacers were required to push the inside of the wheel and tire away from the suspension components. This allowed Brandon to keep the extreme lowered stance he was after.

Consequently the outer clearance between tire and fender is minimized accordingly so care has to be used on tight cornering or hard bumps to keep the 225/40 tire from hitting the fender. Brandon has plans to roll his front fenders to give the tires additional clearance. And since the fronts were pushed out, the rear wheels naturally had to get pushed out as well to match the front stance and H&R’s 15mm spacers were selected. This aggressive stance completely transforms the look of the GTI and goes to show how much a car’s looks can change with such a small and simple modification.

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