Many People Running Stage 2 (or more) on a 140 TDI

[Ga1050]

Hi all,

I've never really put too much thought into tuning a diesel, until recently. Back in the day I went through the stages on an Nissan s13, but didn't even realise similar was possible with the A3!!

My trail of thought has stemed from most likely needing to replace my clutch at some point soon, up to shall I uprate it now in anticipation to hybrid the turbo etc at a later date. I don't really want to be going through more than one clutch if I can help it!!

So my question is, what's the opinions on getting the TDI's up to stage 2, or even further? Is it a dangerous thing to be undertaking with the likelyhood of issue after issue? This does need to be my economical daily after all.

I've seen a few things on the net that could all fit the bill nicely, mostly from Darkside Developments. They do a new DMF with their own clutch and then a budget turbo 'package', which comes with a remap. Any experiences of this?

I'm wondering if maybe waiting that bit longer to save the pennies and jump straight to stage 2 would be better, saves forking out for a stage 1 and then again for stage 2 map?

Next thing, should I get it all done in one hit or get the performance upgrades and wait for the clutch to actually go, or vice versa?

Any experience/opinions on the subject welcome.

 

[RedDejavu]

If you're serious about tuning get a stage 1 and save pennies for a petrol car. Tuning a diesiel is pointless and costs fortune to get anywhere. For instance 8k car will need 2-3k to get it up to 200-230bhp. For that extra 2-3k you could have bought a S3 and remap it to 300bhp. No brainer really unless milage is a problem

 

[Ga1050]

Unfortuantley my car isn't worth anywhere near as much as £8k!! Haha. So I'd need to put a lot more towards an S3 that the cost of tuning the TDI; or just not get an 8P model.

I'm not after massive performance really though, early 200bhp's would be nice, although I would be curious to hear from people who have taken it to the next level.....

My thinking is I'll probably need to replace the clutch regardless of whether I was to sell up or keep. So for the extra few hundred bucks involved in uprating it it doesn't seem AS bad. That only leaves the uprated turbo and map. If I was to go only as far as stage 1 I'd still need to fork out for the map, so should I just pay the extra £1k (or slightly over) and get the turbo as well? Maybe I've missed something that will bump the price right up though...??

Mileage also isn't a huge issue really, although I do have a fuel guzzling drive over a mountain to/from work each day with a full car.

I just kinda like the idea of keeping the diesel but just having that little bit more fun while driving it. It just seems a bit too 'normal'.

 

[RedDejavu]

its never ending problems with hybrid turbos and none of them give you claimed gains. You would need to get better injectors + some head work involved to make it all reliable. Probably better to sell on and buy 2.0TFSI?

 

[Ga1050]

Maybe so then. Realiability is one thing I didn't want to compromise!!

 

[RedDejavu]

Maybe so then. Realiability is one thing I didn't want to compromise!!

All is possible if you have deep pockets you know:] pd140 is known for its engine head problems and weak clutch, then injectors are very expensive to change/repair, turbo is poo and wont get you over 170-180 safely. I had pd 170 stage 2 and it was okish however never involving enough to give me feel that I sit in a racing tool. So I saved and saved until I've bought an S3 and now I never look back:]. Only forward on what next mod I can do to it LOL!

 

[Tomwebb]

Im booking my 140 in for a hybrid fitting + stage 2 remap next week... its completly standard at the moment and i'm aiming for 200bhp flat with no extra mods, i've done a fair bit of research and although the turbo is good for 260bhp im keeping it down so that the clutch doesn't melt. ill make a new thread once its done.

 

[TDI140]

These tfsi engine owners pshhhttt dont listen to them if you want to tune the tdi then go for it

 

[TDI140]

Turbo dynamics stage 2 wont make 260 without forge twintercooler or s3 fmic and injectors look at my sig at what ive done to mine, yesterday i re-fitted my forge boost hoses and im now holding 27psi with stock hoses i was holding maximum 25psi car feels so much more live so to notice the power increases every little mod helps you will need to do more than just map it to get full benfit of the turbo

 

[Zak0123]

Why worry about economy when you're going to be potentially spending thousands on tuning? If you can't get an S3 why not go for a 2L petrol bud? Understanding you want more power but petrol might be a better route.. it's like when some people get a £400 pound remap purely to increase economy, could take years to make the savings in mpg back!? Not saying you're the latter but just my thinking.

 

[Tomwebb]

Turbo dynamics stage 2 wont make 260 without forge twintercooler or s3 fmic and injectors look at my sig at what ive done to mine, yesterday i re-fitted my forge boost hoses and im now holding 27psi with stock hoses i was holding maximum 25psi car feels so much more live so to notice the power increases every little mod helps you will need to do more than just map it to get full benfit of the turbo

Yeh I understand that, I'm not trying to go near the full power of the turbo as I don't want to add things like fmis an injectors, 200bhp will put a smile on my face

 

[RedDejavu]

not being funny but look 6500 buys you a fairly decent platform + dsg which can handle tons of tourque. 260 easly with just a remap:

Audi A3 2.0 T FSI SPORT DSG AUTO/ HPI CLEAR 5dr 2005

PD uprated injector are having different fuel pattern causing lower power and fueling problems above 3k and a lot of hassle for tuners. Not sure if there are any cheap that actually work like OEMs throughout the rev range.

 

[Ga1050]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Economy isn't a major factor for me really, I'm more interested in the reliability. I guess I was hoping for an idea of what is 'safe' power for the TDI's; good/bad experiences with the different stages. I guess what it comes down to at the moment is changing the clutch and regretting a few months down the line I didn't uprate it, so this is more just a bit of forward thinking.

If most advice was to come back uprated turbos are fine, I'd aim for that and the uprated clutch. If the general concensus is its a no-no I'd probably just change the clutch for standard and think about a complete change. I do like the TDI though )

 

[RedDejavu]

you wouldnt be able to change the turbo without doing other bits too which is really frustrating. Stage 1 is fine and works well but anything above with pd140 forcing you to invest in better injectors and engine head as they're known from cracking ect. Petrols are more relible due to simplicity and if they even fail are easier to repair. Common probles are coilpacks/camfollower/spark plugs/clutch. All apart from clutch is an easy job to repair/maintain etc/ Have a think about it.