K04 Turbo from eBay or KIT from APR?

[sa3dos]

If i only get the K04 turbo (say eBay for $299 or another cheaper source that I know)

how difficult is it to upgrade the K03 turbo that I got on my '03 1.8T

The kit on APR (without injectors is $1799 and an additional $699 ECU flash is required for new customers) and it includes:

Our kit includes the K04 turbo, the compressor inlet O-ring, three turbo to downpipe studs, one manifold to turbo gasket, four Bosch fuel injectors, and one turbo to cat gasket.

Did anyone do-it without the HELP of the kit ?

[clcsocal]

Be aware that most of those cheap K04s on Ebay are chinese imitations, not a Borg Warner. I have heard many bad things about the Ebay turbos, unless you find some one selling a used, real K04, but most of those need a rebuild. There's a reason reputable dealers have them priced so much higher, they are real!

[Squarrl]

Someone on the B5 forum bought an EBAY K04... didn't fit was not a K04-015

[audi314]

I would also stay away from APR, their quality control seems to be lacking as of late.

[IceMole]

Clicky ...get that

[sa3dos]

Forget eBay then.

so purchasing them from APR with the fuel injectors is not a good idea ?

Link found here:

http://www.goapr.com/Audi/products/turbo_b6a4_k04.html

[Papachristou]

get NEITHER! ebay k04s will not fit our cars and are cheap knockoffs, APR's "kit" includes a borq warner k04-015 which kinetic motor sports will sell you for about 800-900 and PM manguyen for the injectors needed (tt225 386cc bosch) same apr will give you and then just get their flash for $699

you will also need

intercooler
exhaust/test pipe
TIP

[Mike@PureMS]

Really depends on how much local service and support you're going to need. If you're not willing to capable of putting your own kit together, then the kits we carry from APR and AWE Tuning are an easy no-brainer. They come with everything you need, software to match, and just drop right in. All the legwork has been done for you, and you get the support of your local APR or AWE dealership.

Sure you can source your parts from ebay, and various other sources and perhaps save some money. You'll spend a bit more time tracking down all the gaskets, and miscellaneous parts you need. And then if you have a problem, you won't know whom to turn to. Will your ebay seller warranty a turbo?

The kits from APR and AWE are a great option to consider, as they include everything you need, and offer you 1 stop for any tech support you might need.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

[RED1.8T]

I would also stay away from APR, their quality control seems to be lacking as of late.

x2...pass on APR

[manhertm]

I wouldn't go with either. Pass on Ebay because of the fitment/quality issues and pass on APR because $1799 for a k04 kit should come with head. LOL For 1800 you can put together a BT kit from the classifieds. A K04 kit put togther from the classifieds should be around 400-600 for the turbo and $150-300 for injectors. The rest of the money you save can be used on supporting mods like TIP, FMIC, Testpipe, etc. Of course if your not already flashed, you have to add that to the equation.

[04QuattroTurbo]

get NEITHER! ebay k04s will not fit our cars and are cheap knockoffs, APR's "kit" includes a borq warner k04-015 which kinetic motor sports will sell you for about 800-900 and PM manguyen for the injectors needed (tt225 386cc bosch) same apr will give you and then just get their flash for $699

you will also need

intercooler
exhaust/test pipe
TIP

What's a TIP?

[manhertm]

^^^Turbo Inlet Pipe, the OEM pipe leading from the airbox to the turbo, tends to collapse under increased boost. This causes your boost to surge or even a decrease.

[04QuattroTurbo]

^^^Turbo Inlet Pipe, the OEM pipe leading from the airbox to the turbo, tends to collapse under increased boost. This causes your boost to surge or even a decrease.

Is this what some people call a "down pipe"?

[manhertm]

Is this what some people call a "down pipe"?

No a down pipe is part of your exhaust. It goes like this, from the turbo you have a catalytic converter then downpipe with leads to the rest of the exhaust system. The catalytic converter is usually swapped or a (straight thru) testpipe or high-flow cat.

[04QuattroTurbo]

No a down pipe is part of your exhaust. It goes like this, from the turbo you have a catalytic converter then downpipe with leads to the rest of the exhaust system. The catalytic converter is usually swapped or a (straight thru) testpipe or high-flow cat.

I get it, so the downpipe connects the cat to the piping that leads to the muffler/resonator? So a cat-back should have a upgraded downpipe, right? Some knucklehead told me to get exhaust and a bigger downpipe...LOL Maybe he meant a testpipe, but I hate running with a test pipe, with my AW11, running a testpipe during idle, I used to get super dizzy from the exhaust...LOL Engine is right behind me...So the TIP runs to the airbox... got it.

[manhertm]

For more info start here and read up, it's a lot of good info.
Bodykits,suspension etc Here

Performance(turbo,exhaust etc) Here

A4mods.com (DIY on most mods for the B6) Here

[sa3dos]

APR's kit offer the following in their KIT:
1. K04 Turbo
2. Compressor O-ring
3. Studs
4. Manifold to Turbo Gasket
5. Turbo to Cat Gasket
5. Bosch Fuel Injectors
$2300 + ECM Flash ($700) = $3000



IceMole brought up EuroCode Tunning (Partnership with Neuspeed),

they are offering:
1. K04 Turbo
2. ECM Flash with switchability functions (SPS unit optional)
3. Bolts
4. Injectors
5. Sparkplugs
6. Gaskets needed (Except one, I forgot which one he told me it was, but said its
I dont know about the O-Ring, but in website it states "All neccessary Hardware"
Total: $1700 + One Gasket to buy from dealer

[Mike@PureMS]

If you purchase the APR kit, software is INCLUDED. It is NOT a $700 extra.

It's only $700 if you don't purchase the kit from them.

[manhertm]

Damn 700 bucks for a fucking flash? All I gotta say is, Go Revo!