A3 1.8T re-map with or with out mods?

[ashleytinman]

Hi all im thinking of getting my A3 1.8T re-mapped by chipped uk after reading the feed back but im unsure if i should put a few mods on or not. My brothers got a bmc cda air filter that i can put on or is it best to just change the filter and keep the standered air box? Im also thinking about putting an exhaust on, some people rate the milltek exhaust or is it best to go to somewhere like custom chrome and get it made to the car? Is it worth getting it from cat back or is it worth getting sports cat or manifold as well? Any help appreciated many thanks Ash.

[TurboBeast]

Obviously every mod you can put on will make a difference, it all depends on what you wanna spend but the more mods you do the better the performance, also don't forget if you change lots of parts and get high levels of torque you need to look at sports clutches as your standard one will wear out very quickly.

[Space Cadet]

It won’t matter if you get the re-map done first or after fitting any mods, the ECU will adjust accordingly. I’ve had loads of Miltek exhausts and they’re really good quality and they seem to have spent a bit of time getting the sound right rather than just letting the car sound like a NASCAR.

As for filters, its is a controversial subject but most tuners most of the time recommend with VW/AUDI’s to leave the standard air-box in and use an uprated non-oiled panel filter in. I’ve always used Pipercross.

You’ll be really impressed with the re-map, exhaust and filter and it won’t push power up to much that you need to start worrying about upgrading the transmission, although a set of uprated pads is a low-cost worthwhile addition. As and when your discs go then upgrade these.

(My first advice before you go spending money on getting more power is to make sure the car is in tip-top condition and serviced (cam-belt if applicable).)

[ashleytinman]

Cheers for the advice i will be getting the cam belt done soon anyway not sure where to get it done yet though might try midland vw. I think i might go down the panel filter way i can always try both beens my brothers already got the bmc filter.

[Space Cadet]

Good stuff, get the cam-belt service done first that way it’ll be ok to handle the extra power from the re-map. Might be worth checking what else they do in the service, for instance don’t pay for a new VW filter or brake pads if you are going to pop a Pipercross in and uprated pads. Also see what was done on the last service and is due to be done on the next service, it might be worth having new spark-plugs put in and/or the brakes bled etc. If you haven’t had the car all its life at least you will know that everything has been done for piece of mind.

Make sure you have the water-pump replaced when you have the cam-belt service done - the pumps don’t cost the earth and as they are very prone to failure you wont in the future have to pay almost as much as the cam-belt service again for it to be replaced. (It’s virtually the same work to change the pump so you might as well get them done at the same time.)

Plenty of places do the re-maps, I’ve had a few REVO maps and haven’t had any problems. You’ll be able to buy the filter over the phone/on-line and fit it yourself. You can fit exhausts yourself but to be truthful it’ll only take a garage ½ an hour and if you get it done at the same time as the map they might fit it for free. If you’re anywhere near Lakeside try Big Boys Toys – have used them many times on various VAG cars and they took over AMD which I used loads on a previous ‘project’.

[NicksRR]

Hi,

I'm about to buy an A3 1.8T Quattro Sport the 180 one. To be honest I'm not too worried about the noise it makes, I have a bike that's loud enough! But can you get away with just a filter (pipercross or similar) and a re-map or do you have to have the exhaust too? I'm thinking of budget that's all and I'm only just getting the car...

Cheers.
Nick.

[hitenv]

I have a 1.8T to which i have added a K7N panel filter. I had thought about a BMC, but that was a lot more money and i could not see the benefit in power. I also have a Millek sport cat and exhaust, which dont sound overly loud, just adding a nice humm to the engine note.
But with an ECU upgrade, i would gladly recommend it.
Who knows, when i get some more money i may invest in a BMC. But on these models, it needs a fair bit of work to fit as i'm led to believe.

My £0.02
hitenv

[Space Cadet]

You can do as much or as little as you want. The most bhp increase per £ is obviously the re-map. The filter is a fairly inexpensive mod and will only add perhaps 2 or 3 bhp but it will greatly benefit the turbo now sucking much more air in when you have the re-map. The exhaust will add perhaps 7 or 8 bhp and perhaps 15 bhp if you use a high-flow cat, but now you’re just chasing bhp and the improvement with the re-map and filter will be so great that you’ll probably not notice the extra increase if you then have the exhaust.

As always with a freer flowing exhaust you will notice it being louder, that’s the reason why I haven’t fitted one to my 3.2 A3, I quite like the stealthy sound (have a track-day Elise for LOUDness) although have had it re-mapped with a Pipercross filter.

As for K&N filters, it’s a controversial subject but most people most of the time advise to use non-oiled filters such as Pipercross or Green etc. There is much documented evidence of the oil on the oiled-filters coming off and messing with the MAF.

FHitenv - for the sake of £30/£40 I would advise changing it for a Pipercross etc.

NicksRR – just go straight for a Pipercross. I’ve used them loads and have always been happy with them. One thing I would advise is to always use 99Ron petrol such as Shell V-Power and the when you have your car re-mapped you can have the boost and advance raised to account for this. You will be able to gain the benefits from the higher octane petrol and probably see another 10bhp more than if you had it re-mapped on 95.

[hitenv]

Just changed to a pipercross. Cant feel much difference. I'll probably wait til the new year and save up for a proper BMC.
Thanks mate!

[Space Cadet]

Just changed to a pipercross. Cant feel much difference. I'll probably wait til the new year and save up for a proper BMC.
Thanks mate!

You won’t ‘feel' any difference, never said you would - but you won’t now run the risk of buggering up your MAF. VAG's don’t like induction kits, best keep the standard air-box and use uprated panel filters, such as the Pipercross.

Seriously, unless you are after 400bhp+ you won’t get any benefit from fitting anything other than the standard airbox and an uprated filter.