Kaz what is it about the ST3 in specific that you think has blown your turbo?
The sheer power and amount of boost - the car was flipping quick with a remap and i mean quick.
I just dont believe that remaping to make a car that much faster can be reliable - a turbo had been designed to withstand twice the life of the engine and all these turbos blowng early, i honestly think it was down to the remap - ST3 in specific.
Now, the reason i say the ST3 as their gains on their website is the highest when compared to any other remap and i believe the map was still quite aggresive in the way the power was delievered. It did feel smooth and a gradual build up but i think it was too much for the turbo to handle.
When talking to someone from GAP Turbos, he said that remapping definitly reduces the life of a turbo as it has to work harder but if done correctly, it should still live the engine as some turbos are even designed to withstand 5 engines. My new turbo has been tested to 20,000rpm but even so, im stilll not sure about my ST3.
Also, you should have seen the state of my blown turbo, the shaft had snapped and the propellor had been eaten up. Also, there is a control thing on the turbo and when i took my blown Turbo to be exchanegd for the new one - he said "Did your car rev up when/after the turbo blew as the boost arm is on max." I was pulling out of a Tesco carpark at around 5mph and accerated to build up speed (about 1/3 throttle) when it popped. In responce to me, he said either your turbo has been blown for a while (which it hasnt) or the car has been
running a higher boost than it should. IIRC, i was doing around 2k rpm in 1st when it blew - he said
the turbo should not have been boosting that much. I obviously didnt tell him about the remap as the remanufactured turbo has a warranty and i said i must have the details regarding my speed/rpm wrong.
My car did not have any reason to blow the turbo. It has done 60k (95% motoway miles) with FSH and top quality oils etc used. i look after my car as did the prevous owner (fully warmed up before booting and cool down before switching off) i have a very "laid back approach to driving". I never boot my car in first, always let it build up momentum so the wear on the car is at its minimum and since I've had the A3, all I've done is go up and down the M62 to Uni and back at around 70-100mph. I dont drive like a gran but at the same time, i really do look after my car and
the turbo had no reason to blow. I had the A3 from June 08 to Jan 09 without a prob and it has been remapped from end of Jan to Apr 23 and the turbo blew. I have seen A3s with 140k+ on their standard turbo and i know the 2.0 TDI isnt the most relaible of engines and their has been non-remap related issues with the turbo and obviously, some of the pack will suffer defects from new. I did think the turbo was a fairly comon prob but upon further investigation, i dont think it is, i honestly believe mine blew down to the remap...
Sorry for the lengthy post but thats my reasons. I have contacted ChippedUK and heard nothing back with the reasons above. I didnt even ask for a refund, i just wanted my map checked to make sure the boost was at a safe level with regards to the tubo input as i do believe the turbo is pushed too hard.
I wouldnt recoomend the ST3 if im honest, i think the Bluefin is abit "over-agressive" so wouldnt reccomend that either but i think Revo/custom code/apr would be my choice - Revo 1st. I know a few guys running Revos on their 2.0 TDIs (Golf and A3) and i am yet to hear them complain.