I've got an '01 180 Quattro. I know the K03s begins to lose pressure efficiency at higher RPMs (if that's what you'd call it).

With the AWD five-speed, what would be the optimum shifting points: stupid simple and just keep it between 2000 RPM (at peak torque) and 5500 RPM (when it makes peak power? - or does it hold 180 horsepower past 5500 before dropping off)?

 

you basically have it. After 5500rpms the power drops off VERY fast. Taking it past there on a stock turbo is just wasting gas.

 

What about the APR K04 turbo-upgrade? (Don't want to newb-flood the forum)

At roughly $1,600, it's actually cheaper than Neuspeed's K04 turbo kit.

I came from a boosted Miata and a turbo upgrade for that suits me quite nicely (the other stuff breaks more serious bank)

I don't want to $#@! with the factory reliability too much, I'll probably auto-X and road course the car a bit.

I know a GT28 or my friend's GT30 will be more beastly, but damn if the game don't get a little more complicated by then.

 

the K04 that is a bolt-on for the 180 wont get you more than 230-240 with supporting mods. Most people think that's not enough bang for the buck..

 

its the same basic size and same crappy powerband. If you ever want an upgrade, there are better alternatives like T series turbos.

 

I've seen bigger turbo kits, but anything besides a K will necessitate a different manifold, fuel pump (or can you run something like a GT28 or a bit bigger on a 4-bar FPR), and a custom map for the ECU, right?

I've seen kits like that for $4,000< or so.

I've also heard that if you have the K03s though, that's just one or two fries short of the K04 and that upgrading to one in that case isn't really worth it when chipping the K03s and bolt-ons will net roughly the same result for less.

My 180 quattro is an '01 (that's the AWP mill, right? Is that a K03 or K03s?)

 

Stock manifolds and housings suck and are not worth keeping. The ko3s has a larger compressor than a ko4 which has a slightly larger turbine. We are talking 1-2mm so nothing to worry about since they are all rated a few hp apart.

'01 can have a ATC or AWP in it. All you need to know about either is in the FAQ

 

I read the FAQ, and it says that the K03s engine is 2001+, but I read somewhere
else that some Quattro TTs could still have the K03 engine. Maybe those were just '00 Quattros.

VIN number difference to tell?

 

like i already posted, you need to look at the engine code. its stamped on the pass. front of head on a tab

 

When I first got my 180Q, I thought the first thing I'd do is chip it. Recently, I've been thinking about the life of the turbo though. Mine's got 74K miles now, and after checking around some, apparently that's not a lot at all - stock and for up-ing the boost some.

GIAC raises it to what - 19 or 20 lbs? I think the guy that retails Unitronic by me said that can do 22 lbs.

Found this while searching for turbo life too:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...aign=postreply

It seems a good amount of Audi people purchase from ECS, and they sell K04's from both KKK and RP (budget K04 - but a legit budget from what I've read, the housing isn't straight steel like other cheap turbos, but alloy - or so I'm told).

On ECS's web page, it says that (with the mounting hardware kit), a K04 can be just bolted onto the stock manifold and ran on stock programming - it just won't get the most out of it.

Could one of these turbos be ran on my TT with just a Unitronic or GIAC reflash? Will I need a FPR too? (I'd assume that even if I bolt up a K04 to my engine, whatever reflash I get would still be "180" K03 software because that's what my ECU is)

These are for B6 A4's btw, but could these still be used?