125 - 150bhp engines

robby71

Full Member
Sep 3, 2005
653
91
Yorkshire, UK
Hi
I've been looking at the facelift Leon FRs and there seem to be more 125bhp models than the 150bhp models.
Are there any differences between the 2 engines or is it just the map which is different as most tuners quote similar figure fot both when remapped (around 180bhp)?
 

KXL

KXL
Dec 15, 2016
1,581
197
London, UK
Assuming you are referring to the older 1.4 125 and 1.4 150, the 1.4 150 has CoD where it shuts down middle 2? cylinders when on light engine loads, whereas the 1.4 125 runs all 4 cylinders all the time. So mechnically (CoD components) they are not just a different tune.

The newer 1.5 130/150 both have CoD. Regarding tuning, I cannot comment, but I wouldn't think besides the CoD, VAG would probably part share alot on these two engines to save costs.
 

robby71

Full Member
Sep 3, 2005
653
91
Yorkshire, UK
I was referring to the 2017 models - forgot about the COD on the 150 engines so yep they're different not just a tune

Seems interesting how both 125 and 150 models are remapped to the same figures, would expect the 150 models to be higher
 

k9aoc1

Active Member
Sep 27, 2017
21
3
Hi
I've been looking at the facelift Leon FRs and there seem to be more 125bhp models than the 150bhp models.
Are there any differences between the 2 engines or is it just the map which is different as most tuners quote similar figure fot both when remapped (around 180bhp)?

Yes! The 150hp engine had ACT. The computer switched 2 cylinders off when they weren’t needed. Engine braking was crap, but fuel economy brilliant (I averaged 57.5 mpg). But there were reliability issues. So VW dropped it in favour of the 125hp engine.

I have this in my new car. No ACT, so better engine braking but only 52.5 mpg. I have chipped mine (Racechip) to about 140bhp and also use long life oil. I don’t rag it often so long life works for me.


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Norbert

Active Member
Oct 16, 2018
395
98
Yes! The 150hp engine had ACT. The computer switched 2 cylinders off when they weren’t needed. Engine braking was crap, but fuel economy brilliant (I averaged 57.5 mpg). But there were reliability issues. So VW dropped it in favour of the 125hp engine.

I have this in my new car. No ACT, so better engine braking but only 52.5 mpg. I have chipped mine (Racechip) to about 140bhp and also use long life oil. I don’t rag it often so long life works for me.


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Could you tell what reliability issues with act?
I never heard any.we got 2 cars on drive with that engine.
 

Oddmanout

Active Member
May 19, 2019
121
48
Yes! The 150hp engine had ACT. The computer switched 2 cylinders off when they weren’t needed. Engine braking was crap, but fuel economy brilliant (I averaged 57.5 mpg). But there were reliability issues. So VW dropped it in favour of the 125hp engine.

I have this in my new car. No ACT, so better engine braking but only 52.5 mpg. I have chipped mine (Racechip) to about 140bhp and also use long life oil. I don’t rag it often so long life works for me.


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Never had either of these issues and this is my second ACT engine. Maybe you just had a bad one?

How do you find the Racechip btw?
 

KXL

KXL
Dec 15, 2016
1,581
197
London, UK
So VW dropped it in favour of the 125hp engine.
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Not sure they dropped in favour of the non-ACT, but they did lower the 'FR' line to 'only' 125hp. They now have a new 1.5 EVo engine with ACT for both the 130 and 150hp. And now these engines are so popular in cars across the VAG range, there's a massive wait / backlog.
 

Norbert

Active Member
Oct 16, 2018
395
98
Not sure they dropped in favour of the non-ACT, but they did lower the 'FR' line to 'only' 125hp. They now have a new 1.5 EVo engine with ACT for both the 130 and 150hp. And now these engines are so popular in cars across the VAG range, there's a massive wait / backlog.
Im sure insurance and tax and emission things behind the numbers.
 

Norbert

Active Member
Oct 16, 2018
395
98
Never had either of these issues and this is my second ACT engine. Maybe you just had a bad one?

How do you find the Racechip btw?
Thanks work fine but i dont use it now.i want to check the dsg ok with it.
 

robby71

Full Member
Sep 3, 2005
653
91
Yorkshire, UK
I've had a few ACT engined cars in the past
2016 Leon FR 150
2013 Audi A3 S-Line
2015 Polo GT150
2016 Polo GT150
2016 Golf GT150
Never had a problem with any of them although i only have them for <2000 miles before i get bored and trade them in :(
Fuel economy is great and performance not too bad which is why i'm thinking of another Leon FR, a remap would make it a bit more interesting.
I did read about problems with the 1.5 engines and VAG stopping them for a while while they sorted out the problems (software), not heard if they're ok now?
I did look for an Ibiza 1.5FR but they're still rare or overpriced (missed out on a nice grey 1 with the bodykit - sold before i saw it advertised) - that is another option if i can find 1
 

k9aoc1

Active Member
Sep 27, 2017
21
3
Never had either of these issues and this is my second ACT engine. Maybe you just had a bad one?

How do you find the Racechip btw?

I found the 125 engine lacked oomph when I needed it. I fitted it when the car had less than 5k on it. And gives me the power when I need it. Yes I get better mpg - about 2% - but whether this improvement is from the racechip or the engine is run in, I couldn’t say.


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Oddmanout

Active Member
May 19, 2019
121
48
I found the 125 engine lacked oomph when I needed it. I fitted it when the car had less than 5k on it. And gives me the power when I need it. Yes I get better mpg - about 2% - but whether this improvement is from the racechip or the engine is run in, I couldn’t say.


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Thanks, is it a smooth power delivery or 'patchy'? Tempted to buy one rather than a remap so interested in how it operates.
 

k9aoc1

Active Member
Sep 27, 2017
21
3
Thanks, is it a smooth power delivery or 'patchy'? Tempted to buy one rather than a remap so interested in how it operates.

Power delivery is fine. No issues there. I put the blanking plug in when I get the car serviced and the fault computer will throw up a few errors from the chip. The garage is ok with that.


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arronleeds

Active Member
Jul 27, 2017
185
5
I was referring to the 2017 models - forgot about the COD on the 150 engines so yep they're different not just a tune

Seems interesting how both 125 and 150 models are remapped to the same figures, would expect the 150 models to be higher

The 125 model doesn’t get the same figures as a remapped 150, I dno where you got that info mate but very wrong, the 125 goes to around 165bhp, the 150 goes to 180-195ish
 

Sword

Active Member
Apr 22, 2019
105
43
Winchester
Yes! The 150hp engine had ACT. The computer switched 2 cylinders off when they weren’t needed. Engine braking was crap, but fuel economy brilliant (I averaged 57.5 mpg). But there were reliability issues. So VW dropped it in favour of the 125hp engine.

I have this in my new car. No ACT, so better engine braking but only 52.5 mpg. I have chipped mine (Racechip) to about 140bhp and also use long life oil. I don’t rag it often so long life works for me.


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I can 100% guarantee this is not the case with the ACT engines, maybe you had a bad one but it's one of the most reliable ones within the VAG range. Issues with the DSG ECU are known but engine wise they are solid.

1.0 turbo engines on the other hand have more issues, same as with many other brands.
 

robby71

Full Member
Sep 3, 2005
653
91
Yorkshire, UK

robby71

Full Member
Sep 3, 2005
653
91
Yorkshire, UK
Oooft. That seems a lot. How much is that? Does include rolling road sessions before and after?

I think the maps are generic stage 1 so they just download them onto the car? They say they've been developed on a rolling road so might have 1 on site if you wanted to do a before and after run but i'm guessing they'd charge extra for that?
I don't know if the map keeps the COD feature on the 150 or deactivates it? would be good if the extra power was in sport mode only
 

robby71

Full Member
Sep 3, 2005
653
91
Yorkshire, UK
Not sure they dropped in favour of the non-ACT, but they did lower the 'FR' line to 'only' 125hp. They now have a new 1.5 EVo engine with ACT for both the 130 and 150hp. And now these engines are so popular in cars across the VAG range, there's a massive wait / backlog.

If you look on the T-Roc forum as well as some others you'll see numerous owners with the 1.5 engines are rejecting the cars and cancelling orders due to how the cars run - kangarooing, stalling, lack of power at junctions, etc - apparently VW has tried 2 software updates with no luck
 

robby71

Full Member
Sep 3, 2005
653
91
Yorkshire, UK
Oooft. That seems a lot. How much is that? Does include rolling road sessions before and after?

Got a reply from Celtic Tuning - the service is mobile so they come out to you at home/work so it's a generic map but may be tweaked on road test.
The Seat Leon (5F) 2013> ECU remap takes the power from 150bhp up to 186bhp and the torque from 184lb/ft up to 214lb/ft.
The cost of the remap is £360.00 all-inclusive for which we travel to your location whether it is home or work place.
For complete peace of mind, we provide a FREE 12 month's insurance backed supplementary warranty for vehicles still under warranty:

Not the cheapest but it does include a warranty which most others don't
 
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