The DGIV's fully automatic re-entry auto-pilot isn't accurate enough for the kind of precision needed for a "dead-stick" landing. While you have some contrl over direction, you don't have any control over distance.This means de-orbit is the only chance to get the distance right. The de-orbit burn would need to be perfect. It would need to be the right distance from the base(and keep in mind that 1/10 of one second either way means missing by over 700km. The burn would also have to leave the ReA perfect to within 1/100 degrees. The location and duration of the burn would depend on both your altitude and your vessels mass.
It's actually much easier to use the "Manual Re-entry AP". This can be much easier than you may think. I'll outline a re-entry profile that takes most of the worries away - even an overweight DGIV will survive this - so you don't have to worry so much about heat.
1: Initial alignment. Use BaseSync (in direct mode) and see which orbit gives you the closest approach. One or two orbits before that, reduce the closest approach to 50k if it is higher.
2: De-Orbit. The burn should be opposite the target base, but doesn't need to be exact. Lower the PeA to 50k altitude. IIRC, this will be about 0.8 degrees Re-Entry Angle.
3: Final alignment. When we de-orbited, we changed our velocity, and thus our period. Our groundtrack has changed. 1/4 orbit before the target make another base alignment burn with BaseSync. This time be precise.
4:Entry. After the final alignment begin orienting for re-entry. Use Aerobrake in the mode that shows the map. At 120k altitude, engage the re-entry AP set to 35 degrees AoA (spec 35). Now, see where Aerobrake predicts you will land. It it's short of the base, lower the AoA. If it shows you will be long, increase the AoA. Usually, 35 of 40 degrees wi be close. Since the DGIV only changes AoA in 5 degree increments, chances are you will have to choose between a setting that leaves you short or a setting that leaves you long. Choose the setting that leaves you short for now. Every once in a while, during the re-entry, try the other setting to see if it's changed. Eventually, the setting that used to be too long will be perfect. Later, when you are under 35k altitude, start aiming a a tiny bit long to ensure you have speed to manuever. You should end up within a few kilometers by the time you are down to 20k altitude, around 850 m/s velocity. Disengage the AP and fly it in.
The same method works with the XR vessels. Better, actually, since the XR's have a 0.5 degree increment for AoA hold compared to the 5 degrees for the DGIV. You will "bounce" a bit, it's more of a rollercoaster than an even slope. Just maintain the AoA as per Aerobrake. Unless you are seriously overwieght, you shouldn't even come that close to overheating. That's one of the advantages to de-orbiting at 180 degrees, it allows a slower descent which means more time to loose velocity which results in lower temps.
As you gain practice, experiment with de-orbiting later, say 17.5 M from the base. Aim for a Re-Entry Angle of one degree. Start with an AoA of 40 degrees. Here's the trick. You need to get the VS above -80m/s by the time you reach 65k altitude. In fact, that's how the full auto AP works. It adjusts the AoA to maintain a VS of -80m/s. Doing this manually is a bit tricky. You need to pay attention to the VACC.
How hot your hull gets has to do with how quickly you are descending and how quickly you are slowing down. The quicker you slow down, the faster you can descend. With a DGIV anywhere near the "re-entry max" weight, 80 m/s is a safe descent rate. The trick now becomes anticipation. There is no perfect AoA that will hold a steady descent rate throughout the re-entry. Also, there is a lag between action and effect. Changing the AoA (which takes a second) changes the VACC which changes the VS (which takes time) which changes the Hull Temps. Keep the VACC as small as possible, either one click to high, or one click to low. Try to sstay close to -80m/s, never more than -90ms. If the hull starts getting really hot, slow the descent to about -50m/s for a bit to allow it to cool. As your skill increases, you'll find that you can hold a smoother descent, which means you can reduce the margin a bit and use a quicker descent rate. Don't be afraid to make some gentle S turns - the bank can help you tune the VACC.
Once you get settled in at a VS of -80m/s, take a look at Aerobrake. You should be showing up as short of target. If not, use more aggressive S turns. If you are more than 100k short, reduce your descent rate. After you've slowed some, and the hull temps start dropping, use the AoA that comes just short of target, and gradually reduce AoA a bit as you lose velocity.
It is the white Number, which should be under 1k for a spot-on-Path 
