EA888 Gen3 Intake & Turbo Inlet Guide: Golf R & S3 8V

The MK7 Golf R and the 8V Audi S3 share the same engine, the 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen3, on the same MQB platform. That means most intake and turbo inlet parts fit both cars. The factory intake works fine on a stock car, but once the car is tuned and the IS38 turbo is pulling harder, the airbox and the inlet plumbing become a restriction.

This guide covers the MK7/MK7.5 Golf R (2015–2021) and the 8V S3. The MK8 Golf R and 8Y S3 use the EA888 Gen4 with different intake parts, so they're not covered here.

How the intake side works

From the front of the car to the turbo:

1. Air intake: the airbox and filter, fed from a duct behind the grille.
2. Turbo inlet pipe: the pipe that runs from the airbox to the back of the engine.
3. Turbo inlet hose (elbow): the short, flexible section that bolts to the turbo's compressor inlet.
4. Turbo: the IS38 on these cars.
5. Diverter valve: on the turbo, it releases boost pressure when you lift off the throttle.

Air goes through every one of these in order, so the narrowest part sets the limit. That's why a big intake on a stock inlet pipe is only half the job.

Air intake: what to buy first

An intake replaces the factory airbox and filter with a bigger filter and smoother path to the turbo. You'll hear more turbo and induction noise. On a stock car it's mostly sound. On a tuned car it helps the turbo breathe.

• Open vs closed: an open intake is louder and pulls more air. A closed intake with a lid keeps engine heat out better, which matters in Texas summers. Some kits do both.
• IE cold air intake: made for the Gen3 MK7 and 8V. Add the poly lid or carbon cover to close it up.
• Eventuri black carbon: designed for the most direct airflow path to the turbo, in black carbon.
• APR open carbon fiber intake: open-top, built for performance and sound.
• AWE AirGate carbon: run it with the lid on or off, so you can switch between quiet and loud.
• Other good options: the 034Motorsport X34 carbon, 034 P34, CTS Turbo high-flow intake and Injen Evolution.

SAI note: some MQB cars have a secondary air injection (SAI) hose on the intake. CTS sells its Golf R and S3 intake as the "without SAI" version. If your car does have an SAI hose, you'll need a small breather filter such as the AWE S-FLO or the APR SAI breather. Not sure? Send us a photo of your engine bay.

Turbo inlet pipe and hose: the hidden restriction

The factory inlet is plastic with a narrow, ribbed section right before the turbo. Swapping it for a smooth pipe with a constant, larger diameter lets the turbo pull air more easily. It matters most on tuned cars and bigger turbos.

• 034Motorsport turbo inlet pipe: fits the Gen3 MQB cars, Golf R and S3 included.
• IE turbo inlet pipe: constant high-flow inner diameter and an easy install. A natural match for the IE intake.
• APR carbon fiber turbo inlet pipe: replaces the factory plastic accordion tube, and pairs with the APR intake.

The inlet hose is the flexible elbow at the turbo itself. A wire-reinforced silicone hose holds its shape under suction.

• CTS Turbo MQB inlet hose: an upgraded hose for MK7, MK7.5 and 8V cars.
• 034Motorsport inlet hose: multi-ply, wire-reinforced silicone and a drop-in replacement.

Diverter valve: cheap insurance

The diverter valve vents boost when you lift. The factory valve is plastic, and on a tuned car it can start to leak boost. An upgraded valve bolts on in place of the stock one.

• GFB DVX: a direct bolt-on for the 8V S3 and MK7 Golf R.
• CTS Turbo DV kit (EA888.3): billet, made for the Gen3.
• Turbosmart Kompact plumb back: recirculates like stock, so no extra noise.

Bigger turbos: tuned cars only

Once the IS38 is maxed out, the next step is a bigger turbo. These need a tune, and usually fuel and cooling upgrades too. Plan the whole build with us before you buy.

• CTS Turbo IS38 replacement: a direct swap for a tired or failed stock turbo.
• CTS hybrid turbos: the JB-600 and JB-640RS, built for MQB cars.
• VTT GC turbo upgrade: a bigger turbo for IS20 and IS38 MQB cars, for serious builds.

What we'd do

• Daily driver: an intake with a lid, like the IE with the poly lid or the AWE AirGate. Add a silicone inlet hose while you're in there.
• Weekend car: an open intake like the Eventuri or APR, plus a turbo inlet pipe. Most of the sound is there.
• Tuned car: intake, turbo inlet pipe, inlet hose and an upgraded diverter valve, all with the tune. Those are the parts that keep a tuned IS38 fed. A bigger turbo comes after that.

See every intake and turbo part for your car on the MK7 Golf R intake and turbo pages, and the Audi S3 intake and turbo pages.