K04 Advice!

[AudiA4Turbo22]

Hey guys i have a B6 A4 1.8TQ Tiptronic as most of u know since i'm such a pots whore haha! Now i've been contemplating for the past couple weeks on whether to go Eliminator or K04, and i think i've decided to stick to K04. Reason being is cost! I can get a used K04 on here for under $700 and i don't wanna spend a fortune on an Eliminator! i have almost everything necessary! Now so far for a list of parts this is what i've got:

1. K04-015
2. Apikol SMIC
3. APR snub(someone wanna explain what this does for a tiptronic??)
4. Eurocode TIP
5. Testpipe/downpipe
6. APR software(since i already have APR)
7. Bilstein Sports/Neuspeed race
8. RS4 Anti-sway bar
9. Stuff!

Now i wanna make this a very strong K04 setup, and i need some ideas!
I'm considering adding a high flow Manifold, is this worth it??? Please everybody chime in and help me out here cause i'm tired of this stupid Tranny programming and the fact that my boost lasts for less than 1000 RPM's! i know this isn't the most powerful upgrade, but i just want more oomph! TIA

[Killerteve]

I'm about to install a K04 with a 034 manifold with those same mods minus the smic (I will be using the stock smic until I get a few paychecks this summer). Unfortunately I have to put in the cat for a few weeks so I can pass a smog check, but then I'm gonna put the test pipe back in and probably do a before/after dyno. I've heard the manifold smooths out the torque spike and add area under the curve so I felt it was worth it.

[audikid66]

i have atp manifold and everything in my sig and i love my k04 setup

[dewey527]

i have the 300 cell hfc and love it! how bout injectors and exhaust. i dont know what ones are needed with apr though...

[audikid66]

i had a labree cat and got rid of it for test pipe.. screw cats haha...

[HeHateMe]

exhaust, injectors, maybe a new clutch .Also, maybe want to upgrade your brake pads or the brakes themselves.

[SeKKeY]

im not sure if the manifold helps much with a small turbo like the K04

[AudiA4Turbo22]

I want this kit to put out as much power as possible from a K04 hopping for over 200WHP is it possible with an Auto??????

[vdubstreets]

over 200awp is prolly not likely on 93 unless you have a strong custom tune imo.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

bump

[HeHateMe]

I want this kit to put out as much power as possible from a K04 hopping for over 200WHP is it possible with an Auto??????

I've seen a few guys with over 200whp on a k04. TGR CLW made around 220 iirc. But he has the MTM tune. I think a few others got 200 whp as well but not 100 percent sure.... no idea if they were auto or not.

[CyberPMG]

im not sure if the manifold helps much with a small turbo like the K04

The manifold will help. I've had my K04 for a year and then put on my 034 manifold (ceramic coated). There may not be much more in terms of peak horsepower, but there seems to be more power available under the curve. I know that I'm boosting a few pounds higher than before (due to the high flow mani).

[A4ringedONE8T]

Reading this thread gave me a headache ... however ... a high flow manifold does make a noticable difference with a K04 setup. I added an ATP elim mani after I had my K04 for quite some time, figured it was worth a shot. It levels out and makes the K04's torque spike much more useful (and longer lasting) and also helps keep the EGT's lower up in the rev band which gives you a few more RPM's of useful power. On the dyno it did 8whp and 12wtq higher than the same setup and settings however I was in warmer conditions for the manifold dyno. Definitely worthwhile IMO, not a huge gain, but what it does with the torque spike is completely worthwhile!

[EUROaleksey]

how much money should i have in my pocket to be safe when upgrading to KO4 from stock ecu and having CAI, full 3" exhaust, e-coilpacks, and upgraded DV..?

what am i looking for, for the whole kit... and average installation charge by a pro tuning shop..?

[lorvar]

Hey guys i have a B6 A4 1.8TQ Tiptronic as most of u know since i'm such a pots whore haha! Now i've been contemplating for the past couple weeks on whether to go Eliminator or K04, and i think i've decided to stick to K04. Reason being is cost! I can get a used K04 on here for under $700 and i don't wanna spend a fortune on an Eliminator! i have almost everything necessary! Now so far for a list of parts this is what i've got:

1. K04-015
2. Apikol SMIC
3. APR snub(someone wanna explain what this does for a tiptronic??)
4. Eurocode TIP
5. Testpipe/downpipe
6. APR software(since i already have APR)
7. Bilstein Sports/Neuspeed race
8. RS4 Anti-sway bar
9. Stuff!

Now i wanna make this a very strong K04 setup, and i need some ideas!
I'm considering adding a high flow Manifold, is this worth it??? Please everybody chime in and help me out here cause i'm tired of this stupid Tranny programming and the fact that my boost lasts for less than 1000 RPM's! i know this isn't the most powerful upgrade, but i just want more oomph! TIA

I also own a tiptronic and I've debated the turbo thing in my head over and over. Honestly, I'm afraid of the K04's low rpm torque wrecking the tranny. For a $400 difference, I'm holding off and getting the eliminator just to be safe.

[jrau13]

^^^that's what I've been thinking as well. If and when I decide to go down that road.

[CyberPMG]

how much money should i have in my pocket to be safe when upgrading to KO4 from stock ecu and having CAI, full 3" exhaust, e-coilpacks, and upgraded DV..?

what am i looking for, for the whole kit... and average installation charge by a pro tuning shop..?

Since you already have CAI, exhaust, and DV, you need:

1 - K04: $700-$900
2 - large fuel injectors (380cc or 385cc - TT225): $400-$600
3 - K04 ECU software: $700-$900 (because of stock ECU)

Total: $1800 - $2400 plus tax and labor charges

I would also recommend either a larger side mounted intercooler, a dual side mounted intercooler (can get OEM Audi parts for this), or a front mounted intercooler. This will run you another $700 - $1200 plus tax and labor charges.

[EUROaleksey]

thanks cyberPMG, exacty what i as looking for!

wow thats.. 4 grand with intercooler... roughly speaking... Now that i think about it - its not worth the money... 700-800 for stage 1+ i will do.... but to spend 4K on a slightly bigger turbo and then get smoked by 3.5L maxima or lincoln MKZ on the 1st redlight - i'd cry :(

why do our cars have to be so damn slow :'(

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^wrong if u have APR 1+ with all the supporting mods like i do u basically just need an IC, turbo, software which is $200 from APR, and maybe a TIP! not much! thanx for ur replies guys! I deffinately wanna do a Manifold for this thing! anyone have experience with the MTM tune??? and anyone wanna explain to me what the APR snub does for an Auto???

[Gallep]

anyone wanna explain to me what the APR snub does for an Auto???

Adds another item to your "Mod List"

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^haha i knew that!! but will i feel a difference like is all it's gonna do make my gearshifter stay in the Drive position without play?????

[AudiA4Turbo22]

I just read up on Audiworld.com that some guy was able to pull off 230WHP on 94 octane!!! using MTM stage 3 software i wanna be in that range! AAm i asking for too much??? seriously though i want this to be worth while!

[pondside36]

I would think the snub has the same function as in our manuals... you just don't feel the stock sponge as much since the tranny is shifting for you.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^thanx!

[dougyfresh]

I just read up on Audiworld.com that some guy was able to pull off 230WHP on 94 octane!!! using MTM stage 3 software i wanna be in that range! AAm i asking for too much??? seriously though i want this to be worth while!

Just get the GTRS with REVO software and swallow the cost you spent to go APR 1+. Its a more efficient setup (better gas mileage).

Once you get the K04 you're going to want more. You say "NO" right now but everyone gets the urge/want/desire. I went GT28RS and I want more which is why I'm building a new engine and going with a 2871R.

[EUROaleksey]

does GT28RS require same supporting mods as KO4 on0 APR software? what do u mean swallow the cost....? is it faster than KO4 for less money? lol... confuseddd

[dougyfresh]

does GT28RS require same supporting mods as KO4 on0 APR software? what do u mean swallow the cost....? is it faster than KO4 for less money? lol... confuseddd

You are kidding, right?

[grimlock]

does GT28RS require same supporting mods as KO4 on0 APR software? what do u mean swallow the cost....? is it faster than KO4 for less money? lol... confuseddd

What he means is that you basically wasted the money you spent to do APR Stage 1+, since the Eliminator kits use REVO software. From a cost perspective, it's most efficient to just go to Stage 3 from stock, as you don't waste money on intermediate upgrades. However, it all depends on what your end game is.

[dougyfresh]

What he means is that you basically wasted the money you spent to do APR Stage 1+, since the Eliminator kits use REVO software. From a cost perspective, it's most efficient to just go to Stage 3 from stock, as you don't waste money on intermediate upgrades. However, it all depends on what your end game is.

Bingo!

That is what I did. I went from bone stock to full BT. Why waste your money with the s**t in the middle?... All it does is overwork an already overworked K03.

[grimlock]

Bingo!

That is what I did. I went from bone stock to full BT. Why waste your money with the s**t in the middle?... All it does is overwork an already overworked K03.

Definitely true, unfortunately hindsight is 20/20

I'm in the same boat myself, trying to decide between a maxed out k04 setup or a detuned BT setup (as I also have a tiptronic). From a performance to price ratio, the BT setup makes sense, as the amount of labor and the parts you need will be similar to that of a k04. The other factors I'm considering are street driveability. I don't track my car, nor do I plan to. Will a BT setup still be peppy enough down low to have fun around town? Lastly, if I do invest in a BT setup, I want to stick with the car for at least another 3-4 years, and I already have close to 100k on the clock, so reliability becomes an issue for me as well.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^see reason why i don't want BT: i like down low power and since we have so little i don't want it to be worse, i already have the injectors the exhaust, and so on! i don't wanna dump down another 3k on a stupid BT! i don't want a rocket, i like how much power it has now, but the tranny's shifting sux, and it sometimes doesn't have enough power! a maxed out K04 should cost me much less than 2k! and it should have about 270HP!

[diztek]

all i have to say is i got the k04 because, at the time, i couldnt afford to upgrade the clutch at the same time. BUT, i wish i would have went with a big turbo and did a conservative tune (so my stock clutch would hold up) and then tune more aggressively when i was able to buy a better clutch.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^so u regret goin K04???

[grimlock]

^^see reason why i don't want BT: i like down low power and since we have so little i don't want it to be worse, i already have the injectors the exhaust, and so on! i don't wanna dump down another 3k on a stupid BT! i don't want a rocket, i like how much power it has now, but the tranny's shifting sux, and it sometimes doesn't have enough power! a maxed out K04 should cost me much less than 2k! and it should have about 270HP!

Do you normally drive in Tip mode or D/S? I hate the automatic shift programs. Driving in Tip works a lot better for me. I think that with the normal Stage 1/1+ chip upgrades, the stock shifting program does not work well at all. The constant gear hunting gets very annoying.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^i use D/S, because i get better fuel economy that way, and well the way i drive tip puts a lot of stress on the TC!

[dougyfresh]

I have 126K on my 1.8T. The 28RS went on back in December so I've only had it for about five months.

I rarely go over 4krpm when driving in town to and from work. (Typically shift at 3k to stay out of full boost in town.) I only wind it out when I'm on the highway. Driving around town the car does feel somewhat sluggish off the line but, honestly, it is nothing like it was bone stock.

I personally feel the car drives fine right now and drives like it should have driven from the factory. It has just the right amount of power to get out of its own way and to get around town comfortably (or scary if you're very heavy on the gas pedal). I'm on 22psi daily and my [not-100%] tune is around 275awhp and awtq.


I have also driven a bone stock TIP 1.8T AVant (two weeks ago for about 30hours round trip). It got worse gas mileage than my 28RS AVant and couldn't get out of its own way in town or on the highway. I did like the laziness of not having to push a clutch in and shift gears. I wish I have driven a 28RS TIP 1.8T as well to give you my comparison but all I have is my 5spd 28RS experience.


It is up to you what you do with your money. I am very happy with the route I have chosen and wouldn't have done it any differently.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^i totally agree!!!! see the thing is i spend over 2 hrs a day in bumper-to-bumper traffic! and to cut in and out of cars u need power down low! i would love to go BT but with deals like the one at the bottom of this post i can't pass up K04!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...QQcmdZViewItem

[grimlock]

Yea, I just wish that there was and off-the-shelf solution slotted in between a k04 and an Eliminator. I did not know that you could run the k04 w/ a custom manifold, and that seems to alleviate the torque spike somewhat. All I would need then is the turbo, mani, HFC/DP, and DSMIC and I'd be set. Btw, when do the k04s run out of breath? I think the spool around 2300 rpm right?

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^run Out At Around 5500 If I'm Not Mistaken!

[grimlock]

^^ That's not too bad I guess, since I rarely shift beyond that point in tip mode. The stock k03 feels like it's done by 4K.