Blown Turbo - Options?

[sirius4]

I am trying to figure out my options and the associated costs. One of my turbos is blown, leaking oil - blowing lots of smoke. The car has 101K on it and has been very good to me the last 4 years. I have not had the timing belt work done as I was planning to have that done next week, but before I had it done the turbo went. The local shop wants to charge me $1400 for each K03, plus 20 hours of labor, or $2000. Plus, another $2400 for the timing belt, water pump, thermostat, etc. work. We are talking a whopping total of $7200! Right now the car has an APR bipipe installed and an AMS chip. I also have a snub mount and an autospeed true dual exhaust both currently not installed on the car. I saw that ACH Tuning has a K04 kit with inlet piping for $2900, or $100 more than what the local guy wants for the set of K03 turbos. If I go the K04 route, do I need different down pipes and chip? I might be able to do the work myself, but I am afraid that I would quickly get in over my head. Any input appreciated.

[CONTROL ONE]

You CAN run everything you have now without 'fueling' (injectors, upgraded pump, lines, etc.) and it will run similar to your K03 setup now, maybe a tad quicker.

Then you simply add the fueling aspect when the funds allow and get a new tune for the K04s.

[highPSI-S4]

Whatever shop that is, there trying to rape you. The Labor for dropping the motor should cover more than half of the cost for the timing belt install or vice versa. That's just insane.

There are many option you can take. I'd search first, as this is a widely covered topic and there's so many options most people won't write that much to tell you. Goodluck though.

[SonicBlur]

Find another shop! You can almost buy another B5 S4 for that total cost!! If you have the time, space, and resources this might be a great time to learn how to do this yourself, it is a lot of work but it's not hard work.

-Mike

[mrpeterparker]

buy the k04's... and inlets... and have a shop do the install... labor here in Minnesota is 1500-2000

don't buy k03's at that price...

and i second this comment

"The Labor for dropping the motor should cover more than half of the cost for the timing belt install or vice versa."

[00s4slvr]

thats ridiculous you pretty much should just bend over and take it because there raping you.

[sirius4]

Good info guys. Thanks! I am looking into other shops, but I am not having much success. I called two other shops last week and have not heard back. What is usually replaced with performing the timing belt work?

[obijohn22]

^^^^^timing belt, tensioner, pulley, and water pump/t stat usually. that shop does not want the job.... or they would have quoted you a more reasonable price, you could have your car transported to Vast here in Michigan and pay them to do it for less total investment. keep shopping. the timing belt is teally pretty simple to do yourself, get a good manual. being in Wisconsin, if you have the time, another car to drive for a week or so, and a HEATED area to work in, get a cherry picker and go at it! good luck!

[haus4]

Keep looking for another shop, or see if you can find somebody near you that is willing to do the job for you. Its cheaper and you get to learn in the process.

What is usually replaced with the TB job is the following - TB belt, TB tensioner, Idler pulley, water pump, t-stat, new anti freeze, and I would also replace the dampener as well.

[mrpeterparker]

didn't notice you're in wisc... you could drive to MN as well you know....

contact A&P, further performance, SCI, or elite motorsport (is opening in about a month).. all indie shops...

[sirius4]

Assuming I go with the K04 turbos, do I need to upgrade the clutch? I was thinking that I should probably replace it anyway as everything will be apart. If so, should I put in a RS4 clutch? And what about the flywheel? Again, since it is apart, do I put in different down pipes? I am already starting to see things spinning out of control. What makes sense to replace when the motor is out, and what is too much?

[BlkdoutS4]

Assuming I go with the K04 turbos, do I need to upgrade the clutch? I was thinking that I should probably replace it anyway as everything will be apart. If so, should I put in a RS4 clutch? And what about the flywheel? Again, since it is apart, do I put in different down pipes? I am already starting to see things spinning out of control. What makes sense to replace when the motor is out, and what is too much?

dont go RS4.. when you get to stage 3 it wont hold long. check out Vast stage 3 clutch. love mine

[gointoscott]

dont go RS4.. when you get to stage 3 it wont hold long. check out Vast stage 3 clutch. love mine

I agree, go with vast. You will not be disappointed. Sorry to hear about the turbo's.

[sirius4]

Good News! I just got a call from the shop and they replaced some type of breather aperatus and no more smoking and good power! I do not know the details yet as I have not picked the car up, but things are looking up! And thanks for everyones input!

[veggiemonster]

i was quoted $2200 labor for turbo swap, clutch flywheel for free (labor), and $300 labor for timing/water pump if it was done at the same time, but $900 if done separately. www.gocpt.com. they are in melrose park. just throwing out there for anyone who is looking in the chicago area

[sirius4]

Now that I am back and running, I still need to do the Timing belt work. The shop quoted $2400 for Timing belt, water pump, thermostat, idler pulley, associated tinsioners, and serpintine belt.

[wdbdy2000s4]

do it yourself. $330 from JHM for T-belt kit with all that shit and instructional video. save the 1900 for something else. If you can't/dont want to do it then have someone from your regional forum do the work, even if you give them 500-1000 you come out way ahead.

[Dimcorner]

Timing belt isn't hard at all. I didn't even use a cam lock bar.
Hardest part was getting that damn fan thinggy off cuz it kept turning while I was trying to undo the nut.