Chip Tuning For 1.8t

[kampfer]

Ok guys I know this has been done to death but I want to get a good pool of information here for the stock KO3. I want to try to get a side by side comparison for the different chips, their prices, HP and torque increase, the pros and cons, then at the end what a KO4 upgrade would give and then we can go from there. For now I was looking for REVO, APR, Giac, and Unitronic.

[Seerlah]

You should really just use the search button for this topic. I am rather baffled myself that I responded to this thread. If you want a flashed stock turbo go GIAC or Unitronic (I went CTapp bc I want a BT application later on). The k04 is a good upgrade for the whom have the non-sport turbo (I assume the 's' stands for sport). For the k03s owners, it adds at most 25 more hp but the torque is much appreciated. Hence, many k03s owners, such as myself, find it a waste of money. Might as well get a GT28r. But for the aeb owners, it is a good turbo. But so is the GT28r. That is about it. And no, I have no dyno sheets to back my statements.

[turbo kraut]

i have apr, found an ecu with programming in the classifieds for 350

new is like 500
same with giac

giac is more aggressive


my 0-60 with cone filter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WsTXRz3VEs

[kampfer]

Well I know this has been said before I just wanted to get all that info in one thread with maybe some images. I was thinking APR but some people say REVO I'm not sure thats why I wanted data logs or something.

[slopoke]

You can now get GIAC from any GIAC dealer for $300!!!!

Check it out www.GIACUSA.com

[Seerlah]

You can now get GIAC from any GIAC dealer for $300!!!!

Check it out www.GIACUSA.com

$400 for AEB and $495 for ATW and AWM. As for unplugging the MAF, that only works on engines with MAP sensors. But your A/F ratio will be off.

[kampfer]

arg so GIAC and APR are the same price?

[Seerlah]

Really, just find a used ECU in the classifeds that is already flashed/chipped and call it a day

[Spykce]

arg so GIAC and APR are the same price?

Yeah

I'm planning on GIAC either in the spring or if I feel I have some spare money this winter. My cousin has it and I LOVE it. I have driven/ridden in his car quite a bit and am very much looking forward to it. The car is completely different, it's without a doubt the best mod to do if you aren't planning on BT/BAT. I believe most companies have a K04 file, however I could be (and probably am) wrong.

[slopoke]

No GIAC is cheaper its only $300 NOW, Look at the WEBSITE !!!!

[Seerlah]

^ You are correct. It is just that AWE has it listed for $400 for the AEB and $495 for ATW and AWM. That is where I got my info from.

[djwimbo]

GIAC or Unitronic. My vote goes for Unitronic, but that's me. I worked for a GIAC dealer, I won't say that their files suck or anything negative about them. I just prefer my Unitronic file. And I've driven a lot of GIAC K03/4 cars.

Unitronic is more expensive than GIAC, but I know for a fact that Uni pro-rates their files. Going from my Stg1+ to Stg2 software would only cost me $50. IIRC you get 75-80% you original price deducted from you software upgrade cost. So if/when I get Bt/BAT file, I pay half price.

Personally I don't like APR, but it's my personal preference.

[Seerlah]

I took the same route as djwimbo, but chose CTapp. If I did not go with them, I would have gone with Unitronics. CTapp has a distributer nearby, so that made my decision rather simple. Plus CTapp has great reviews, minus crappy idle for BAT applications. But I have lemmiwinks. And when I go BAT, I pay $250 for my upgraded file.

[black99.5a4]

if you wanna drop mad coin on a ko3 tune.. tapp hands down.. 23psi of fun.

if you dont wanna drop mad coin and want a car that stands right beside a giac car with a few mods and 20psi... get speedtuning. i have it and i love it. its 200 bucks. www.speedtuningusa.com email oliver.

[UN-PIMP-Z-A4]

DORITOS

[kampfer]

This is good stuff guys, keep it coming I need more info. I have an APR dealer near me but I dont mind shipping out my ecu by myself if it means more power less $$$. Then again I also want reliability.

[UN-PIMP-Z-A4]

UTZ

[slopoke]

Also search ssp tuning, there are a few guys on here running that and i wanna say its under $250

[Popecok]

Just wondering the big difference between the giac and the apr. according to the apr website the ecu brings our cars to 200hp and 243lb-ft. the giac delivers 40-50 hp and 50-80 ft-lbs gain which would bring to around the same hp but close 20ft-lbs less. everyone seems to have giac and not apr why?


http://goapr.com/Audi/products/ecu_upgrade_a418t.html

http://www.giacusa.com/programs.php?mpid=54

[lifwanian]

I got MTM on mine and I love it! But its $700 new I think.

I do need a new splitter valve though, cuz I think my stock one just went out.

[D's Avant]

IMO I have the best of both worlds, APR combined with a N75 Race valve. Good overall torque and a little more aggressive initial boost (18 psi) with the N75 Race valve. If you plan to go K04 latter on the GIAC chip would be a better choice.

Knowing what I know today about my future plans of a BT down the road, I should have gone with another file. Heck, my car was chipped back in 2000. A lot has changed (options) in eight plus years.

[Popecok]

^ thanks i dont have any plans of a bt so it seems to me that the apr would be a better choice along with an n75. ive just herd of so many people with the giac i wanted to clarify. are there any other benefits of the giac other than when used with a bt?

[UN-PIMP-Z-A4]

FUNIONS

[2001S4NY]

always good to give someone near you a go since good customer support is needed.

[maxspeed]

[djwimbo]

Just wondering the big difference between the giac and the apr. according to the apr website the ecu brings our cars to 200hp and 243lb-ft. the giac delivers 40-50 hp and 50-80 ft-lbs gain which would bring to around the same hp but close 20ft-lbs less. everyone seems to have giac and not apr why?

Since nobody has said it yet, I'll beat the dead horse. I suggest the search button. It's your friend.

APR = relatively mild, but effective.
GIAC = one of, if not the most aggressive
Uni = same as GIAC.
CTapp = I don't know much about, but I hear good things (aggressive)
Eurodyne = Same as CTapp

Personally I don't like APR, power claims and power output vary by cars. The B5 S4's are a classic case of that. They have "freak" cars that make mad power, and are faster than cars with identical mods.

I buy stuff (performance parts, suspension, etc) based on customer service 90% of the time, the other 10% is due to shear function over form.
This is why I went with Unitronic, not APR. I thought about REVO, and APR, but I went elsewhere after doing my research.

How many 1.8T's with real turbos has APR tuned? Their Stg 3 kit comes with a GT28R, and last I checked they don't readily support bigger turbo tunes. Unitronic offers off the shelf tunes that can be tailored to your application based on your turbo and injectors. Take a look at some of the other forums, or the CAPS database.

APR software has to be removed from the ECM before it can be reflashed with another company's software. We had to do that for an S4 customer a couple months back(had to be sent to CA). The car had APR software, but felt pretty weak. We chipped it w/ GIAC, and he fell in love with his car again. We made a customer for life off that deal. I'm not sure if all the companies are like that, but I know they don't all need that.

[Jc61990]

i got SpeedTuning Chipped. i love it. its the Stage 2 software 1.3Bar. man its soo much fun. you can feel the power and it really throws you back into the seat.. i think its only 250$, if u get it call speedtuning and speak to oliver.. and request the stage 2 software

i peak 21psi in 5th on this software

[Russell2686]

Winar

and this is defiantly an aggressive chip. Id go with this one. Much cheaper then APR or GIAC also.

[Popecok]

thanks djwimbo. i am quite good friends with the search button i just wanted a direct comparison which i was unable to find. So when this thread was posted i took advantage of it. thanks again for you help

[geeky]

i got SpeedTuning Chipped. i love it. its the Stage 2 software 1.3Bar. man its soo much fun. you can feel the power and it really throws you back into the seat.. i think its only 250$, if u get it call speedtuning and speak to oliver.. and request the stage 2 software

i peak 21psi in 5th on this software

How long was the turn around time for this and do anymore people have opinions about their SpeedTuning Chipped ECU?

[Jc61990]

It's ususally same day turnaround... Once they get it they chip and send back

[geeky]

hm definietly going to have to look into that one especially for that price. Do you have any dyno numbers or est hp/tq at the wheels and the crank?

[Jc61990]

hm definietly going to have to look into that one especially for that price. Do you have any dyno numbers or est hp/tq at the wheels and the crank?

uhh.. they have a dyno graph on their site..

http://speedtuningusa.com/products/audi.htm

i still havnt gotten around to getting my car on a dyno...

[kampfer]

Hey if we could get charts like that for all the main chips that would be great, then I could come up with a spread sheet.

[geeky]

I'm looking at that graph on SpeedTuning and am wondering which A4 came stock with 190/240?

I know that the 150/210 is using the KO3 turbo and the 170/225 is from the KO3s, but what 1.8T made 190 at the crank?and JC61990 when you said "Stage 2 software" you mean you had them chip it for the 170/225 -> 209/273

[slopoke]

yes also curious in this stage2

[black99.5a4]

I'm looking at that graph on SpeedTuning and am wondering which A4 came stock with 190/240?

I know that the 150/210 is using the KO3 turbo and the 170/225 is from the KO3s, but what 1.8T made 190 at the crank?and JC61990 when you said "Stage 2 software" you mean you had them chip it for the 170/225 -> 209/273

SpeedTuning is based out of Austria, where some cars are equipted with the ko4, from the factory. hence the 190 cars.

I am not sure what files are on their site for what graphs. I myself had the stage 2 chip, which is an aggressive 1.3 bar chip. My computer adapted it out and the second time wouldnt work, but others have had no problems. I now have their decently aggressive, 18psi hold stage 1+ chip.

The stage 2 is a 20 spike, 18 hold chip. My chip now, hits 15 at first stab of throttle, then creeps to 18-20 in 3rd and 4th and holds it, 5th is usually ~21-22, but its so gradual, it feels like it came stock, which is why i love it. I like a smooth driving car.

for ~200, i cant complain at all.

[Russell2686]

Hey if we could get charts like that for all the main chips that would be great, then I could come up with a spread sheet.

jeez,come on man its a chip,for chipping a smalll ass k03 turbo. Just pick one and go for it, its not a life or death situation!

Find one for a good price with an ecu in the classifieds, buy it, pull out your stock ecu swap it and be done with it.

[slopoke]

SpeedTuning is based out of Austria, where some cars are equipted with the ko4, from the factory. hence the 190 cars.

No they didnt...

And equipted lol Is dat a New wurd fo ya

[black99.5a4]

No they didnt...

And equipted lol Is dat a New wurd fo ya

look at st's site, they arent cut up into body styles, their 1.8t's are all 1.8t's.. including the b6... in 2002, in Europe, the s-line, which had 190hp, from what i have been told and could of been misunderstood, had the ko4 on them to produce the more power.