The car is running on a Stage 1 tune by TuneOTronics and puts out around 185 BHP / 390 Nm.

BHPian lazer recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Today, I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone here can help me out with. Firstly, I'm trying to determine whether my VW Jetta 2015 TDI DSG Highline has an EA189 or EA288 engine. I'm interested in learning more about its capabilities on the particular engine, as it's currently running on a Stage 1 tune by TuneOTronics remap done by ICD Chennai, which roughly puts out 185 horsepower and 390 Nm of torque.

Additionally, I'm looking to upgrade my tyres and I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations. I'm currently running on Continental UC6 tires, which are phenomenally soft and provide a cushioning effect, but they don't offer much in the way of traction. So, what are some good tires I can upgrade to that will provide better traction without sacrificing ride comfort?

Moreover, as outdoor temperatures can run up to the top 40 degrees Celsius at times, I'm interested in knowing what modifications I can add to my engine to make it work more efficiently under such conditions. Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Lastly, my suspension has worn out almost completely and I'm looking to replace the whole set. Has anyone had any experience with this? If so, could you please share how much it cost and what I should keep in mind while changing it out? I'm hoping to find a good balance between stance look, comfort, and performance, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Adding some images of my car too

One of the first pictures that I took after getting the car.

Here's what BHPian vishy76 had to say on the matter:

The Jetta Mk6 uses the EA189 series TDI engine. The major changes to the 288 as compared to the 189 were the addition of VVT on the exhaust cams, the use of an electronic water pump instead of a purely mechanical one, a charge air cooler integrated into the intake manifold instead of having a separate intercooler and a few other minor changes.

The 189 in itself has a lot of potential on the stock CR140 turbo. Another advantage is that it has a separate intercooler which can be upgraded easily if need be. What you do need to be aware of is that there are a lot of tuners out there and the numbers quoted vary a lot. Just as an example, I am running a stage 1 Quantum map which is claimed to make 180hp and 400Nm. I believe Quantum has also proved that these figures are true (in fact slightly underquoted) on a dyno.

On the other hand, I know folks whose cars are making 200+hp on stock turbo and about 420Nm torque with a stage 1 map but with a different tuner. Power outputs can vary wildly depending on how aggressive the tune is. I also know Jettas which make 500Nm on stage 2. Personally, I prefer to run a milder tune for two reasons:

• Being an FWD, I find 400Nm of torque itself to be quite a bit. You do feel a fair amount of torque steer and sometimes even wheel hop under hard acceleration
• The clutch and DMF on my manual anyway shudder slightly under full load in higher gears. The only way to mitigate this issue is to throw in a $1700 Sachs performance clutch kit and DMF capable of handling 500Nm

In terms of performance under higher ambient temps:

• Better intercooler: Highly subjective but I find the stock intercooler to be below average even on my stage 1. With ambient temps beyond 35 degrees, I feel a fair amount of drop in performance. However, this is an expensive mod and the gains are not proportional to the cash you spend. A good quality intercooler is upwards of 35-40k. Not sure if it's worth it to spend so much money.

Suspension

A lot of options here. I firmly detest lowering springs like Cobra. Have had a couple of folks try it out and they ended up selling the damn things in less than 300 km. Stick to the stock suspension or go the whole hog and get coil overs. Unfortunately, coil overs are delicate darlings for the Indian subcontinent. A good compromise is Bilstein B6 dampers. Eye-watering is expensive, but you retain your stock ride height, the overall ride isn't bone-jarring and you gain a lot more in terms of handling.

You can also consider switching to a Euro-spec suspension which includes changing the springs and dampers or a GLI spec setup where you put springs from the American spec GLI variant. That will lower ride height and improve the stance but overall ride will remain acceptable

If you do want to stick to the stock suspension here's what you should replace. Do it ALL AT ONCE. DO NOT do it in bits and pieces else you will end up wasting time and money.

Dampers: Sachs is what I trust. No other damper comes close for me. However, there's an extremely important thing to keep in mind. Most FNGs will make a goof-up while sourcing the front dampers. I will elaborate below:

Sachs 315 575: 9/10 Jettas I see which have had suspension replacements at FNGs use this damper. Yes, it works, no doubt. However, this is the wrong damper for Jetta's spring. It was originally meant for the Audi A3. The ride on this one is 20-30 per cent stiffer as compared to the stock ones and you also get discomforting thuds over sharper potholes. FNGs use it because suppliers tend to push it and it's 2K cheaper per damper as compared to the correct one which is...

Sachs 315 572: This is the damper the Jetta came with when it rolled out of the factory. It mates perfectly with the stock spring and the ride and handling balance is retained. It is expensive at 14-15K a pair as compared to the 11-12K for the 575, but well worth it in my opinion

The dampers also have supporting ancillaries such as the strut bearing, strut Mount, bump stops and dust cover. Change all of this even if it's in good shape since dismantling the strut is a laborious task. The strut mount, bearing and dust covers shouldn't be more than 8-9K all in for both sides

Control arms: Every component on the control arm is replaceable. Do not throw the entire arm out under any circumstance. For each control arm you have:

1. A donut bush which is the most common failure point
2. A cylindrical bush which doesn't usually go bad
3. A ball joint which attaches it to the spindle

All three are changeable. The bush kit consisting of 2 donut bushes and 2 cylindrical ones comes for about 4-5K (Borsehung, Febi and Meyle are known brands).

The ball joint is bolted on, unlike other control arms where it's built-in. 3-4K for a pair is the right price

ARB: Tricky. Follow these instructions to the T. The Jettas ARB comes with integrated bushes. Most FNGs will cut the stock clamps and put in new clamps and bushes. This in hindsight is a foolish move because the aftermarket clamps most FNGs get hold of are very bad quality. They don't hold the bushes in place, and the bushes eventually move around, abrade the clamps and excess play in the ARB also ends up screwing your link rods.

The correct way to do this is to carefully drill out the rivets on the stock clamps and reuse them with new bushes. Of course, you can get a new Borsehung ARB for around 7000, but if you can reuse something and save money why not.

Link rods: Use any good make (Febi, Meyle, ZF Lemforder). 3-4K for a pair is the expected price.

Tie rods: The outer tie rods have a ball joint with a boot. If the boot is cracked and is leaking grease change both. The inner ones don't generally go bad very soon, but if you do want to replace they usually come for a good price together. So it's prudent to do the inner and outer together. I scored a set of tie rods for 4500 bucks. Make: Febi

This pretty much sums up your front suspension

Coming to the rear multilink suspension, it's an absolute pleasure to use, but an equal pain to work on

Bush kit: The rear suspension also uses control arms with a subframe and an ARB or anti-roll bar. There's a 16-piece bush kit which you get for all the arms and the ARB by Febi. Get it and change all bushes if you can. If your mechanic says they are fine, you can consider neglecting this and leaving it for later

Link rods: Easy to replace and fairly cheap at around 2-3K for 2. Change them

Dampers: Unfortunately, it's difficult to get the exact dampers that the Jetta came with from the factory in the aftermarket, unlike the front. If you can, put Sachs 315 950. Slightly stiffer but they are the only option apart from going to the dealership and having them replaced. These also get a bump stop which is some 2K for a pair

Some points to remember when doing up the suspension:

• Never allow your FNG to use an impact gun on any of the bolts. These are anyway one-time use. Can be used a second or third time but never blindly use an impact gun on these.
• The subframe needs to come off to replace the ARB bushes. Do due diligence and inspect the subframe mounts. They are notorious for wearing the most out of all mounts. If they are gone, replace them. 3-4K of expense. The alignment of the car is something which is changed every time you remove and reinstall the subframe so change all these parts such that you don't need to lower the subframe again for the next 85k km
• Check the engine and transmission mounts. The passenger-side GB mount is notorious for conking off very early. Around 5-6K for a ZF Lemforder mount

Other than this, there isn't much left to check. If there's anything else I can help you with feel free to DM me. If you do all of this, your suspension will again last for another 85-90K km without a hitch.

In terms of tyres, the most VFM ones are MRF Perfinzas. 205/55 R16 is the stock size and I frankly recommend sticking to it. If you want more comfort, get 205/60. Continentals come in 2nd. Michelins are not worth the 10-10.5K most dealers ask these days.

Here's what BHPian Bibendum90949 had to say on the matter:

These Euro cars were superbly built in that era and can last longer and serve you well if maintained and cared for well. Moreover, considering the prices of new cars, it makes all the more sense to retain such timeless beauties by giving them the overhaul job it deserves.

I've been owning a Laura TDI MT since 2011, which has clocked 2.05 lakhs kms to date. It's been a great sailing so far with diligent upkeep and preventive maintenance. It had undergone a total suspension overhaul two years ago when the odo read 180k kms. It lasted that far purely because the car was 90% used on highways, and largely on TN highways to be precise.

Vishy76 helped me immensely during the whole process. I followed his advice to the T and boy the car drives like new even today. I take this opportunity to thank him once again for his time and effort. The work was carried out at my trusted FNG in Bangalore. He has in detail listed the things to watch out for. Do ensure you source the parts from a trusted source.

I too had gone for the stock Sachs dampers and was extremely happy with them. The things were too complex to go for options other than stock. It was not worth the effort to play around with a 10-year-old car. And I had gone the full distance and replaced all that was listed by Vishy in his post above. The cost was 1 lakh including labour in 2021. Guess spare part costs have shot up since then.

Trust me, your car will be back to her singing best after this suspension job. And the mod potential for these cars is huge. There are many threads in the forum around that. Study them and do what works out best for your requirements. Glad to see a fellow member realise the worth of a car and go all out to bring it back to its pristine best. Good luck.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Volkswagen is all set to launch the facelifted version of their D1 segment sedan - the Jetta. The new car is set to make its debut on the 17th of February. In the run up to the launch, images from the car's brochure have been leaked.

The facelifted Jetta gets some cosmetic changes such as a new grille, bi-xenon headlights with integrated L-shaped LED daytime running lights and chrome inserts. The car also gets a redesigned front bumper with new fog lamps and a larger air dam, a new rear bumper and restyled "two-piece" tail lamps. A new set of alloy wheels round up the list of changes to the exteriors of the car.

On the inside, the car gets a multi-functional - flat-bottomed steering wheel, redesigned instrument cluster, restyled AC vents and piano black finish on the centre console and around the gear lever. The car also gets new seats with a new fabric pattern. The music system, which has a 6-CD changer and AUX port, uses a new touchscreen interface and is connected to an 8 speaker sound system.

Engine options remain the same 2.0-litre TDI diesel (138 BHP/320 Nm) and 1.4-TSI petrol (121 BHP/200 Nm), with transmission options including a 6 speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed DSG automatic. The petrol will come in the Trendline and Comfortline variants with the 1.4 TSI mated to only the 6-speed manual. The 2.0 TDI on the other hand is available in the top end Highline variant as well, with the 6-speed DSG auto-box offered on the top end diesel alone.

Safety features on offer will include 6 airbags, ABS, ESP and a fatigue detection system (Similar to attention assist). Going by the leaked brochure, the facelift sees a 15 mm increase in length and wheelbase. The brochure also reflects a possible weight reduction. The facelifted Jetta petrol is lighter by 49 kgs, while the diesel manual and automatic are lighter by 44 kgs and 21 kgs respectively.

Volkswagen dealerships have started accepting bookings for the Jetta facelift. The booking amount has been set at Rs. 1,00,000 and is fully refundable. Rivals will include the Toyota Corolla Altis, Skoda Octavia, Renault Fluence, Hyundai Elantra and Chevrolet Cruze.

Images Courtesy: IAB

Volkswagen dealerships have started accepting bookings for the Jetta facelift. The booking amount has been set at Rs. 1,00,000 and is fully refundable.

The facelifted Jetta gets some cosmetic changes such as a new grille, headlights with integrated L-shaped LED daytime running lights and chrome inserts, a redesigned front bumper with new fog lamps and a larger air dam, a new rear bumper and restyled tail lamp clusters. A new set of alloy wheels round up the list of changes to the exteriors of the car.

Coming to the interiors, the Jetta facelift gets a new flat-bottom, multifunction steering wheel, new instrument cluster, restyled air-conditioner vents, a new touchscreen infotainment system and piano black finish on the centre console and around the gear lever. The car also gets new seats with a new fabric pattern.

The Jetta is expected to continue with the same 2.0-litre TDI diesel and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines as the current model. The car will rival the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze and Skoda Octavia in the D1 segment.

Volkswagen is expected to launch the Jetta facelift on February 17.

Volkswagen India has revealed that it will launch the facelifted Jetta sedan on February 17, 2015.

The refreshed Jetta gets some cosmetic as well as mechanical changes. Revisions to the front of the car include a new grille, headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights and chrome inserts, restyled front bumper with a larger air dam and new fog lamps. At the rear there is a new bumper and restyled tail lamp clusters. The design of the car's alloy wheels has also been changed.

On the inside, the Jetta gets a new flat-bottom, multifunction steering wheel, reworked instrument cluster, redesigned air-conditioner vents, a new touchscreen infotainment system and piano black finish on the centre console and around the gear lever. Additionally, the car's seats have been reworked and sport a new fabric pattern.

Powering the Jetta will be the same 2.0-litre TDI diesel and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines as the current model. However, Volkswagen could give them a bump in power and torque.

The Jetta will compete against the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze and Skoda Octavia.

The Volkswagen Jetta facelift has been spotted testing once again. The car gets some cosmetic as well as mechanical changes.

Among the changes to the exterior are a new front grille, headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights and chrome inserts, restyled front bumper with a larger air dam, new fog lamps, a new rear bumper, restyled tail lamp clusters and redesigned alloy wheels.

Coming to the interiors, the Jetta gets a new flat-bottom, multifunction steering wheel, tweaked instrument cluster, restyled air-conditioner vents, new touchscreen infotainment system and piano black finish on the centre console and around the gear lever. The car gets reworked seats with a new fabric pattern.

The refreshed Jetta is expected to continue using the same 2.0-litre TDI diesel and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines as the current model. However, Volkswagen could give the car higher power and torque outputs in line with the updates the car has received in other markets.

Volkswagen is expected to launch the Jetta facelift in India in the first quarter of this year.

Source: Cartoq

German carmaker Volkswagen has started testing the facelifted Jetta sedan in India. The car has been spotted on the Mumbai-Pune expressway without any camouflage.

The refreshed Jetta features cosmetic changes to its exterior. These include a new front grille, bi-Xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights and chrome inserts, redesigned front bumper with larger air dam, new fog lamps, new rear bumper, bootlid and restyled tail lamp clusters with LEDs.

On the inside, the Jetta gets a new flat-bottom steering wheel, reworked instrument cluster, new touchscreen infotainment system and piano black finish.

The Jetta facelift is expected to continue with the same 2.0-litre TDI diesel and 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines as the current model. However, Volkswagen could give the car higher power and torque outputs in line with the updates the car has received in other markets.

Volkswagen is likely to launch the Jetta facelift in early 2015.

Source: Motorbeam

German auto giant, Volkswagen is rumoured to be in the process of giving the Jetta sedan a major update for the Indian market. The car is expected to go on sale in early 2015.

The updated Jetta will feature changes to the exterior, interior as well as an increase in power. Many of these changes are in line with the 2015 Jetta that has debuted at the ongoing New York Motor Show.

Changes to the front of the car include a restyled grille, headlights with chrome inserts and LED daytime-running lights, front bumper, and fog lamp housings. The rear of the car will feature a new pair of tail lamps, bumper and boot lid.

On the inside, there is a new steering wheel taken from the latest Golf hatchback, a new instrument panel with new housings for the two dials and a larger screen for the MID. Many more updates are expected to be incorporated into the car's interior.

On the mechanical front, the Jetta will feature a new 2.0-litre TDI engine with a power increase of 10 bhp.

Source: Autocar India

German auto giant, Volkswagen has previewed the 2015 Jetta saloon just days before the car's official debut at the New York International Auto Show.

With the 2015 Jetta, Volkswagen has not gone for any major changes. All the tweaks are minor.

The front of the car features a redesigned radiator grille, a new bumper with re-shaped fog lamps and larger lower air inlet. The car gets optional bi-xenon headlamps with adaptive front lighting system. Daytime running lights consisting of 15 LEDs in an L-shaped pattern are integrated in the headlight clusters.

At the rear, there is a more aerodynamic boot lid, and LED tail lights on certain variants.

The interior of the 2015 Jetta features a multifunctional colour display, piano black accents on the centre console and around the gearshift lever, new seats and seat fabric, new multifunctional steering wheel and redesigned air vent controls.

The 2015 Jetta comes with driver assistance features like blind spot detection, cross-traffic alert and frontal collision warning.

The 2015 Jetta can be had with a choice of three 4-cylinder petrol engines (2.0-litre NA, 1.8T and 2.0T TSI), one diesel (2.0-litre TDI) and one hybrid (1.4-litre turbocharged).