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My VW Polo TSI AT: Why I went all out doing feature upgrades on it

20th February 2025, 10:02 by Deepankar Sadekar

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I am aware, many call this a ridiculous set of feature upgrades on the Polo, and somewhere I agree.

BHPian fluidicjoy recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Vehicle Info

Polo 1.0 TSI Highline + Automatic (09G Gearbox)
Distance driven: 14500km or so.
Standard features as applicable on the Highline + TSI variant + Retrofits

Additional features retrofitted:-

8K OPS Park Assist system with optional Auto-Detect OPS module.
OEM Flip Reverse Camera.
OEM Maxidot Cluster - displays Direct TPMS, Brake Pad Wear, Washer Fluid Sensor, Audio Info*, Navigation*, Oil Temperature
OEM BCM Max 7E0 supports Automatic Headlights, TPMS, BlindSpot Monitoring
OEM Automatic Headlight System
OEM Bi-Xenon Headlight System with DRL, OEM Dynamic Cornering Lights
OEM Interior Backlight Dimmer Switch
OEM AFS Automatic Headlight Range Control
OEM Direct TPMS System
OEM Dual Tone Horn - High Tone, Low Tone Horn
OEM MIB 2 Discover Media Radio with In-built NAV, DVD, Bluetooth etc.
OEM Sharkin Antenna for Discover Media Radio with GPS, GSM.
OEM External USB Port for App-Connect in the Glovebox
OEM A-Pillar Tweeters with Speakers.
OEM Tiguan Paddle Shifter Steering Wheel with optional Cruise Control module#

Interior Additions

OEM Frameless Auto-Dimming Rear
OEM Spring Loaded Grab Handles
OEM Passat Dome Light with Red Backlight
OEM LED Boot-Light
OEM Skoda Ticket Holder
OEM VW Hazard Triangle
OEM Polo 6C Gear-shift Knob

Engine Bay, Running Gear Upgrades

OEM 1.0 TSI Audi Airbox
OEM 288mm Big Brake Kit with ATE Ceramic Brake Pads
RacingLine Turbo Inlet Elbow
EuroSpec Cold Air Intake
OEM Underbody Stone Guard
OEM Bonnet Strut

Additional provisions/Wirings

OEM Blindspot Monitoring System
OEM Keyless Entry System
OEM Vanity Mirrors with LED Light
OEM MK8 Steering Wheel

I am aware, many call this a ridiculous set of feature upgrades on the Polo, and somewhere I agree. It is crazy, to put so much in a Polo. However, I also believe you cannot put a price on passion, and this Polo was purely a passion project of mine! When I look at some of the most advanced Polo 6Rs on the planet, I am humbled because I realize I could only do 50% of the things they've done! Feel free to comb through this thread and many other threads by a few other magicians to learn more about these upgrades.

The goal for me, was to make this as comfortable and technologically advanced as possible, and while I did succeed on some fronts, I started to see the finish line for this platform, in terms of comfort and driving dynamics. The best part of this journey, was that this was quite organic, and whenever something didn’t feel right, we didn’t push harder. Most of the upgrades on this car augment the user experience, but in a purely OEM way.

Here's me preparing to send Prerak (@ThatRed4771) a box of parts for Blindspot monitoring and Keyless Entry, as a belated Christmas gift. I hope to see his videos on these upgrades soon. It feels nice to contribute to the success of a friend's retrofit.

Map Upgrade
I also updated the Maps SD card to the 2024-25 Maps from the VW Maps website. This is an easy process, but file transfer speeds to the SD card still leave a lot to be desired. I even demoed the new map and onboard navigation to the new owner