•Preassemble top bar with 2 x Upper Centre Mount and 2 x Upper Mount (Lower) before offering up to vehicle.

•Tensioner has a left-hand and right-hand thread, check orientation before assembling in Upper Centre Mount.

DQ381 Gearbox Cooler

Golf 7.5 / Audi S3 8V
& all other MQB 2.0 TSI 7-speed

VWR29DQ381
FITTING INSTRUCTIONS

WHAT’S IN THE KIT? REQUIRED TOOLS AND PARTS

▷ 1 x RacingLine Thermostatic Sandwich Plate ▷ T25 & T30 Trox Bits
▷ 1 x RacingLine Heat Exchanger
▷ 4mm, 5mm & 6mm Allen Bits
▷ 4 x Silicone Hose + 5 Hose Clips
▷ 1 x RacingLine Hose Joiner
▷ 1’’ - 1/16 Spanner
▷ 1 x -10AN 10 Row Oil Cooler Radiator ▷ 1’’ Spanner
▷ 2 x 210 Series Braided Hose ▷ 10mm Spanner / Hex Socket
▷ 1 x Braided Hose Separator ▷ 13mm Spanner / Hex Socket
▷ 2 x Oil Core End Brackets
▷ 2 x Golf 7 / 7.5 / Universal Brackets ▷ Screwdriver / 7mm Hex Socket
▷ 2 x Audi S3 Brackets ▷ M10 Spline
▷ 4 x Rubber Bobbins ▷ VW DQ381 Oil (G 055 529 A2)
▷ 8 x M6 Flange Button Screw ▷ OEM Hose Clip Remover
▷ 4 x M6 Jack Nuts (S3 Kit)
▷ 16 x Nyloc Nut and Washers ▷ 2 x Coolant Hose Clamps
▷ 3 x M8 Button Head Screws ▷ 6.5mm / 11mm Drill Bit

FITTING NOTES
▷ This is a complex install, and any mistakes on
the oil system will be critical to gearbox
longevity.
▷ Therefore we recommend professional fitment
for all modification to the car’s gearbox oil
system.
▷ We also advise that you carry out an oil service
once kit is installed to ensure correct oil levels.
▷ A clean environment is vital for any oil system
modification.
▷ Ensure you understand how to refill and check
oil levels of a DQ381 gearbox, do not attempt
install if you cannot preform this task.

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FITTING INSTRUCTIONS
VWR29DQ381

Step 1:

Front grill removal – Remove the two T25 screws show in figure 1 below. Once removed pull the grille forwards in
the direction shown until all retaining clips are detached (for Golf 7.5 & other models with adaptive cruise in the
grille detach the electrical connecter from the rear of the VW emblem).

Intake Hose

FRONT GRILL REMOVAL T25 SCREWS

PULL FORWARD TO RELEASE

2a

Step 2:

Remove front bumper – Using a T25 bit remove seven T25

screws from along lower front lip and four screws from both
the nearside and offside arch shown in figure 2a. Once all
T25 screws are removed, pull bumper forward gently until
both sides are detached. At this point locate the electrical
connector on the offside of the bumper and disconnect as
1b
shown in figure 2b.

Step 3:

Air Intake Removal – Using the OEM hose clip remover and 7mm hex socket, loosen the front & rear hose clips
and remove intake hose which is highlighted in figure 1. Next remove the intake duct by removing the T25 torx
screws on the front slam panel, once removed pull the air filter box up and remove from the vehicle. Set duct, air box
and hose aside ready for refit at the end of the installation.

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 FITTING INSTRUCTIONS
VWR29DQ381

4a
Step 4:

Muffler to Intercooler Boost Pipe Removal – Remove

engine under tray using a T25 Torx bit, once removed
using a 7mm socket to loosen muffler boost hose clip,
next undo 2 x T30 boost pipe retaining screw’s, finally
loosen intercooler side hose clip to allow the boost pipe
to be removed, then manoeuvre boost pipe to remove
from engine bay. This will give more room for the DSG
cooler kit installation.

Step 5:
5a 5b
Battery and Battery Tray Removal –
Using a 10mm socket, disconnect the
positive battery terminal and move to one
side, then disconnect the negative terminal
and move to one side figure 5c. Next
using a 13mm socket remove the battery
retaining bracket bolt (figure 5b) and 5c
retaining bracket to allow the battery to
be slid forward and removed from the
engine bay.

Next remove the battery tray, this is

completed by using a 10mm socket to
remove the three retaining screws and
one nut. They can be seen in figure 5a.

6a Step 6:

Heat Exchanger Removal – Attach the coolant hose clamps to the

two coolant hoses which can be seen in figure 6a. Next remove
both hose clips and pull hose from the heat exchanger, place the
6b coolant lines away from the heat exchanger. Plug the heat
exchanger outlets to control excess coolant flow. (Do not get
coolant in gearbox oil outlets when removing heat exchanger –
6c this will be detrimental to the gearbox). Now remove OEM heat
exchanger via the 3 x M10 spline bolts, shown in figure 6b. (keep
heat exchanger in place while all screws are removed to minimise
oil spill), once detached remove and flip onto its back to reduce
oil spillage. Clean any oil and coolant left on the gearbox before
starting next step. (We advise to replace OEM O-Rings on
gearbox outlets at this point with VW part No. WHT 008 226 –
15 x 2.5mm O-Ring)

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FITTING INSTRUCTIONS
VWR29DQ381

Step 7:
7a 7b
Thermostatic Sandwich Plate and Heat Exchanger
Install – Pre assemble thermostatic sandwich plate by
screwing the forged hose ends into the 2 x -10AN
outlets shown in figure 7b, next offer sandwich plate
onto gearbox and bolt into place using the 3 OEM x
M10 spline bolts (figure 7a). Then place RacingLine
heat exchanger on top of sandwich plate. Using 3 x
M8 button head bolts, bolt into place (figure 7c).
Once in place route the braided oil lines down past 7c
the chassis leg and out of the front of the vehicle.

Step 8:

Coolant Line Install – Kit includes four silicone hoses,

to install this kit, 3 hoses must be used for either the
AWD or FWD vehicles. Use figure 8a for reference.

FWD Setup – pre-assemble hose labelled FWD with

U-Shaped hose using 16mm hose joiner, leave
clamps lose to allow orientation to determined on 8a
the vehicle – FWD section routes towards the engine
throttle body to a 20mm outlet.

AWD Setup – pre-assemble hose labelled AWD

with U-Shaped hose using 16mm hose joiner, leave FWD
clamps lose to allow orientation to determined on
the vehicle – AWD section routes away from the
engine and into a 20mm coolant outlet under the AWD
chassis leg.

The remaining coolant line routes from the front 9a

outlet on the heat exchanger to the OEM gearbox
hard line coolant pipe.

Step 9:

Battery Tray Trimming – Remove grey polystyrene

from underside of battery tray, by removing the
retaining clip. Once removed offer the tray onto the
vehicle and mark for trimming, see Figure 9a for
example of trimming requirement.

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FITTING INSTRUCTIONS
VWR29DQ381

Step 10:
10
Oil cooler bracket/mount installation – We have included two
drop bracket sets in your kit (4x pieces), plus 2x end- OPTION ONE:
brackets. Please see the uses in figure 10. Assemble the two GOLF 7 & ALL OTHER MQB
end-brackets and two drop brackets to suit your car type
using 4 of the button washer head screws with nyloc nuts.
Then, bolt the bobbins to the cooler with nyloc nuts. Finally,
bolt the bobbins into the base, to give the full assembly.
OPTION TWO:
Note that the cooler can operate with outlets facing either up AUDI S3 8V (2014+)
for Golf 7 applications or downwards for Audi S3.

Step 11:
11a
FRONT OF CAR Offer the full assembly up to the main crash bar. Audi S3 (figure 11a)
models have a closed-section crash bar which will require the 4x M6 Jack
Nuts to be inserted through the front of the bar to act as captive nuts for
the button washer head screws. Golf 7 and other MQB applications use an
open-section crash bar (figure 11b) which after drilling will use the 4x
button washer head screws with nyloc nuts & washers on the back of the
bar.

Once you are confident that you have the correct assembly for your car,
trial fit the location carefully (taking into account other components such as
the radar cruise sensor & air temperature sensor). Then mark hole locations
and carefully drill ⌀ 11mm holes through the bar on the S3 kit and ⌀ 6.5mm
on the Golf 7/MQB kit.

Now tighten all the bolts fully on the assembly and fix it into the crash bar.
11b
Next attach 90º hose ends to the oil cooler using a 1’’ spanner. Finally fit
the oil line separator as shown in figure 11 to keep hoses neatly mounted.

Step 12: 12a

DSG oil fill up and recirculation – We strongly recommend that a full gear box oil
change is carried out at the time of installation. Using VAG approved service method,
expect to add approximately 1 litre of G 052 182 A2 more than the standard system.
Using the correct OEM protocol to ensure oil levels are correct, if you are not confident
with the OEM protocol, then it should be preformed by trained technician. (Do not drive
vehicle with underfilled or overfilled fluid levels)

Step 13:

Refit front bumper then front grill (reverse of Step 5 then step 4) ensuring plug connecters are connected and
washer fluid lines are in place before bolting the front bumper up. Reinstall boost pipe and then air intake in
reverse of step 4 and then step 3.

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