Our Stage 1 tune for the BRM is designed to deliver a healthy increase in power and torque while maintaining the reliable, predictable characteristics that make the BRM such a popular platform. It provides stronger acceleration and improved overall performance without requiring additional hardware modifications, making it an excellent choice for a stock or otherwise lightly modified BRM.
Stage 1 is well suited to daily-driven BRMs looking for a meaningful improvement in performance without moving into a more extensive hardware build. The additional torque is particularly noticeable in everyday driving, giving the vehicle more usable power when accelerating onto the highway, climbing hills, or passing slower traffic.
If you've been thinking about adding some power to your TDI, Stage 1 is a great option, providing noticeable gains in acceleration and improved passing and overtaking power when you need it.
As with any performance tune, the vehicle should be mechanically healthy and properly maintained before tuning.
For BRM owners looking for a little more than Stage 1, our Stage 1.5 tune takes performance up another notch with a modest increase in power and torque. The result is stronger acceleration and a more noticeable push when getting up to speed, with additional power available for highway merging and passing.
Stage 1.5 is still designed with everyday use in mind and does not require any additional hardware modifications. It works well on stock or lightly modified vehicles, giving owners an easy way to get a bit more from their BRM without making major changes to the vehicle.
If Stage 1 sounds close to what you're looking for but you want that extra step in performance, Stage 1.5 is a great middle ground.
Our Stage 2 tune for the BRM pushes the stock turbo further, delivering a stronger increase in power and torque for owners looking to get more performance from their TDI. Compared with Stage 1 and Stage 1.5, Stage 2 provides a more noticeable improvement in acceleration and overall power, with additional torque that makes highway merging, passing, and overtaking considerably stronger.
This is the highest stage we offer for the BRM that's designed for the factory turbo. It does not require additional hardware modifications, making it a straightforward way to get the most from the stock-turbo setup while retaining the factory turbocharger. It's a great option for owners who want to maximize the performance of their BRM without moving away from the factory turbo setup.
The factory BRM turbo can experience boost creep at higher RPM, with the risk increasing at Stage 2 power levels. Modifying the stock intake or exhaust while retaining the factory turbo is not recommended, as increased airflow can worsen boost creep.
We strongly suggest you check for boost creep via data logging or by installing a boost gauge. Boost should not exceed 18 PSI (1.24 Bar) except briefly during initial acceleration.
Stage 4 is intended for BRM owners who are ready to move beyond the factory turbo and start making some serious power. With the additional airflow provided by the upgraded turbo, the BRM can support a substantial step up in power and torque compared to what the stock turbo can offer, while also carrying that power further through the RPM range.
A 3-bar MAP sensor and upgraded clutch are required for Stage 4, while an exhaust upgrade is recommended. The larger turbo allows for stronger acceleration, more sustained power, and a much stronger top-end than the factory turbo can provide. The Garrett PD140 turbo is an excellent foundation for this setup and offers a proven larger-turbo option for the BRM.
If you're looking to move beyond the performance available from the stock BRM turbo, Stage 4 provides a solid foundation for a larger-turbo build. As with any performance tune, the vehicle should be mechanically healthy and properly maintained before tuning.
We do not support rebuilt or used PD140 turbos, as there is a greater margin for error in a VNT's actuator and stop screw calibration. The money saved on a budget turbo is not worth the >90% chance of having to repeatedly adjust the turbo to achieve proper operation.
IDParts.com may have a Garrett PD140 turbo available in stock for the BRM. Please check whether you require a turbo installation kit, oil feed line, and EGT plug to complete the installation.
Turbo
Alternative Turbo Name
Max. Boost
Source
Note
Stock
18 PSI (1.24 Bar)
100HP 1.9L BRM TDI
Limited to Stage 2
GTB1646MV (OEM Part # 765261-5008S)
"PD140"
24 PSI (1.65 Bar)
Euro 140HP 1.9L PD TDI
Compatible with Stage 4
Upgrade
Requirement
Brand new (not rebuilt) OEM spec "PD140" turbo
Required
3 bar MAP sensor
Clutch Upgrade (if manual)
Exhaust Upgrade
Recommended for quicker boost build-up and lower exhaust gas temperature
Custom Tuning starts at $1999. To get a more accurate cost on your custom tune, please create a ticket and tell us more about your build, and your specific modifications.
If you feel that our existing tune offerings will not work for your application or your intended use, you can request Custom Tuning. Custom Tuning must be requested through our Tickets, and you must provide vehicle information as well as hardware (upgrades) information. Once submitted, our team of calibrators will evaluate your request and determine if Custom Tuning can achieve your goals and if they are able, your Tune Request will be accepted.
Custom Tuning requires heavy participation from the Customer, either through an Authorized TZ Dealer or the Customer themselves. TuneZilla Calibrators will require that the vehicle has access to dyno time when needed, and data logging is required. If you are not comfortable with data logging, and if you may not be able to access a facility with a dyno (many facilities will rent dyno time) custom tuning may not be possible for you.
Custom Tuning vs. Off The Shelf Tuning
We understand that our end users have varying driving styles and build purposes, which is why we offer revisions on all of our Off-The-Shelf tunes. By offering Custom Tuning to our customers, we can be sure you are getting the most out of your vehicle with your specific parts upgrades. Our OTS (off-the-shelf) maps are tested in house with as many variables as possible to ensure even if you don’t want to customize your tune, your vehicle’s OEM sensors and adaptations will still be able to optimize our tunes to your region’s fuel and most bolt-on upgrades. Tune Revisions are not the same as Custom Tunes. See our Terms and Conditions for our re-tune policy (section 4b)
We believe it’s important for our customers to understand what is happening inside their engine so they can make informative decisions. Our LOG VIEWER automatically generates your vehicles data log .csv files into easy to read graphs which can then be viewed by our Calibrators to find areas of optimization on your vehicle. Not only can this data be used to optimize your tunes, but a lot of troubleshooting and diagnosing can be done by comparing requested data to actual data at a glance.
In many cases, custom tuning is not required. If you are unsure if you will benefit from a Custom Tune, you can reach out to our team and upload data logs for them to examine.
Custom Tuning
Fuelling upgrades (Injectors, Rail Pressure Sensors, etc)
Supported
Turbo Upgrade - Hybrid or larger
Hardware Removal
Immobilizer Delete (Engine Swap)
This is an automatic transmission tune (DSG type) that increases the torque limiter and in some cases lowers the RPM shift points to help you stay in the best efficiency or torque range.
This is not required for all PDs tunes, even Stage 4. If you get this transmission tune, then you may experience slightly smoother shifts.
