RE: Engine upgrade chips

[Chris Woodward <cwoodward@earthlink.net>]

Dennis--

I have had VERY good luck with my chip from Total Audi Performance.
Check them out at www.tap1.com.  They currently offer a stage 1 kit
which includes a chip as well as a re-useable air filter.  They claim
198hp (at the flywheel I'm sure) for this kit.  I have yet to receive my
filter, however, as they tell me it is backordered.  However, the chip
is very, very nice!  I love driving my car now.  However, a couple of
things to keep in mind:

1.  The turbo in the A4 was designed for a certain level of boost.
Drive for 30 minutes at normal highway speeds, stop, and open your
hood.  The turbo will be glowing.  My guess is, as I am not a technical
person, that the turbo gets quite hot.  With the chip installed,
bringing it now to 11.1 lbs of boost, I can only imagine how hot it is
getting now.

2.  The chip, theoretically, voids at least part of your warranty.  This
means that if you experience problems which the dealership can attribute
to your installation of aftermarket parts, the repairs will be made at
YOUR expense.  I'm currently keeping my fingers crossed.

There are quite a few opinions on chips out there, but TAP did quite
well in EC's test of various 1.8T chips, ranking 1st in 50-70 MPH
times.  In addition, at $475 for the entire stage one kit, it's a
steal.  Most chips are between 5-700 just for the chip.  The air filter
is about a $70 value.  Whatever you decide, I would say perhaps consider
getting a turbo timer or something in the future to protect the turbo
after shut off.

TAP offers to install their chip in your ECU if you send it to them,
taking your car out of commission for about 2-3 days.  However, if you
want, they will bill you an extra $1500 to send out one of their ECU's,
which is refunded when you mail them back your core part.  Whatever you
do, good luck!  In my opinion, all the chips out there are worth
considering, and it just depends on what kind of money you want to spend
as to which one you should get.

Chris

'97 A4ta TAP 11.1lbs
'87 325 eta engine Bavarian Imports Chip