apr 93 chip question

[JohnnyJet]

Im thinking of doin the apr 93 chip reprogram on my 04 turbo s. I need to know the pros and cons of this mod, my car has 10000 miles on it and 2 years of warranty left if that matters. No other mods have been done. I know Ill need a new diverter valve. Is this mod worth the $$$$? Guy wants about 800 bucks for the mod with the DV and the security switch.

[Red Rider]

I had the apr 93 oct chip installed on my 150 hp 2003 l.8t along with full turbo back exhaust and a new dv. This gave the nb 181 whp. Since then I have done other things like a j valve and cai work that has really helped.

Your turbo s has 180 hp so you wont realize a lot more hp with just a chip and dv. But you can do other things with the nb that will really complement your chipped turbo s.

I believe if you get your nb chipped and go with full turbo back exhaust ,and do other performance changes, you will noticed a pleasing increase in performance. But if you plan just to go with chip and dv-it may not be worth the 800 $. I had to spend more than what the chip cost to get nb to performe the way I wanted it to ,and still plan to do more.

Maybe some .org members with chipped turbo s can advise. But ,wow ,what a change it made performance wise to my nb.

I will tell you this if I had a turbo s I would have it chipped, but if it was still under warranty I would be careful. All that I have done to my nb I HAVE void my warranty--I was told this by my local dealer. My dealer turned up his nose because of exhaust changes. And get this-If i used a vag it would void warranty-that tells you how much he knows about warranty.

If I can help you let me know be glad to share more of my experiences with performance route.

[JohnnyJet]

I was told 214 hp with the chip, does that sound accurate?

[Red Rider]

According to what kind of hp your talking about wheel or crank. I am talking about wheel horse power. My apr dealer said you add 15% to your wheel hp -so to my first reading of 181 wheel hp I would be coming in with around 208 crank hp.

Speaking from my own experience it would be hard to come in with 214 wheel hp with just a chip. I have improved my wheel hp by doing some extra mods,beyond the chip. The nb is running much stronger now ,than when I had it chipped last summer. I am taking nb back to apr dealer for a update and another dyno. Be interesting to see the hp gain over last summer.

[JohnnyJet]

have you run into any major problems after the car was chipped? And if Im startin with 180 hp from VW (according to them not me) will the chip boost it that much? I really dont know which way to go with the high perf mods , so Im just searchin for opinions and answers. Thanks for the help.

[Red Rider]

No real major problems. I did have a fault code or two to deal with. Other problems that I had was limp mode and heat soak-then I had to work on cai and smic area. On a hot day,when nb was first chipped, my nb was good for a couple of spirited runs then limp or heat soak(grrrrrrrr)but doing some work in areas mentioned above my nb never goes into full limp. But I really need a fmic for sometimes on a very warm day, and running hard it will not run as strong. Oh how nb loves those cool days.

If you go with just a chip and dv and nothing else, I doubt it will raise the hp very much. But again you can improve it by doing other things ,sometimes some simple things.

I would go with the turbo back exhaust-that will complement the chip. Just get ready, after you have it chipped you will get for more hp.

Do it man(definitely do exhaust with chip)-it is bound to help, your throttle response will be better and then do some other things ,that I will be glad to share with you that will really help.

Two things you need that will give you needed info-boost gauge and a vag is extremely helpful. I have a 3 gauge pod giving me boost, water and oil temp. But do get the boost gauge.

I am doing this with a at tranny-and that trans is affected by changes. Sometimes i wish I had a manual. But at is nice in normal driving and in traffic. But in spirited running I like to determined the shift points.

[JohnnyJet]

Thanks for all the info, my only problem is when I have extra $$$ to go fast I dump it in my 73 duster 360 so now I gotta come up with the coin for the bug. I figured the chip would gimme enogh giddyup for the daily drive but now I see yer point and think not.

[Billsbug]

RUN, don't walk, to the chip installer.

[r0nd3L]

Chip is by far the mod that'll give you biggest power gains, especially for the money, besides going big turbo.