Kerma Tune Quick Review

2012 Golf TDI , 6Speed

Ordered the Kerma after much deliberation between them and Malone. The company was lightning quick with the shipping. It took maybe 60-90 seconds to download the factory tune into the scanner provided from Kerma. The tool was simple and intuitive. I loaded it on my pc using the recommended software and emailed it late the same afternoon. I got my upgraded tune the next day. It took just a bit longer to load it into the ECU but not bad at all.
I noticed an immediate improvement in power! Not a fire breather or instant race car lol but muuuuch better. After playing around with it , I filled the tank and started recording fuel mileage.
1) 39.7 local driving ( I was expecting better . maybe I was in the pedal a bit too much )
2) 40.1 local driving
3) 42.6 Hwy driving with the car loaded 4 people and bags for vacation. Speeds about 80-85 on the interstate
4) 42.7 "same as above "
5) 41.5 local driving

Edit* I should mention these numbers are not from the MFI display but from good old fashioned , elementary level arithmetic.

before I did the tune my average Fuel mileage was 37-38 for local driving. So far very pleased with the results.

Glad to hear you are enjoying your new tune (toy), what level tune did you get?

Stage 1? When I talked to him on the phone he said it would be basically the same tune that they have in their own test mule car. Which is also a bone stock manual.

Wpilot673 said:

Stage 1? When I talked to him on the phone he said it would be basically the same tune that they have in their own test mule car. Which is also a bone stock manual.

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i think they only offer 1 tune for the post fix CR TDIs

sardo_67 said:

i think they only offer 1 tune for the post fix CR TDIs

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I got the 1.5 and the 1. Charlie was saying some guys experience acceleration shudder so the dialed back some numbers slightly

dillenger1 said:

I got the 1.5 and the 1. Charlie was saying some guys experience acceleration shudder so the dialed back some numbers slightly

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What is that exactly, it’s not a slipping clutch is it?

So long as it doesn’t risk blowing the clutch up I’d opt for the 1.5 or more.

I've had the Kerma tune for 2 fillups so far. My mileage before the tune was terrible as compared to the 2013 Jetta Premium TDI I sold back to VW for about $900 more than I paid for it. Not bad for a new car I drove for 3.5 years and 25k miles. Overall MPG over those 25k miles according to Fuelly was 40.1.

When I bought the 2013 Golf (TDI, DSG) last Dec. I figured I could get at least that for MPG, WRONG! Best tank on the 'fixed' tune was 37.2, and the worst one was 35.6, not good IMO. Over 2 fillups with the Kerma tune I've managed 43.1 and 42.3 (this was with 10% bio-diesel) better, but I'm hoping for even better numbers. Not sure how I'll go about that, maybe some eco low rolling resistant tires? Haven't given it much thought at this stage. I enjoy better throttle response and power, but I bought this tune for MPG. I don't generally drive the car hard so these numbers should improve after the weather warms. The Jetta displayed the same lower numbers during cool weather so I don't expect to see anything better than 38-39 until next spring.

As far as the Kerma tune and better power, yeah, it has that. I can light up the tires any time I want from a dead stop, and the tires will break loose in 1-2 and 2-3 shifts if I stay on the pedal. But it isn't my driving style. I don't want to break this car, it has to last me the rest of my life! I'm almost 72 and my hotrodding days ended when I sold my very fast 71 Karmann Ghia. I loved that car, but it was just too loud to really enjoy driving it for any period of time.

I don't know how long it will take to pay for the Kerma tune, but that isn't really the issue with me. I just love seeing high MPG, and having performance along for the ride makes it more enjoyable. I got on the ass of a low-rider Honda with a coffee-can exhaust earlier today. The guy made lots of noise like it was really fast, but i was right with him until he finally let off. Nothing worse than an old fart in a Golf that you can't shake, eh?

sardo_67 said:

What is that exactly, it’s not a slipping clutch is it?
So long as it doesn’t risk blowing the clutch up I’d opt for the 1.5 or more.

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it has something to do with the car trying to dial back when given the fextra uel and timing.jason explained it to me one time.. dopnt remember exactly