So I finally have around $1,000 to spend on upgrading my 03 a4 1.8... What should I do performance wise to really feel some power

 

Chip it! and upgrade the DV.

Best bang for your buck!

josh

 

About how much does that cost? I know about $500 for the chip, $40 for the DV, but how much do you think for install?

Just wondering because I also just got my 2003 1.8 and looking in to doing the same.

 

The chip shouldn't cost anything other than the chip itself depending on where you go. As for the DV, you can do it yourself. It is really easy to change out. If you look at the bottom of your car it's right underneath the passenger side headlight. Took me about 20 min to install.

Josh

 

I paid about $35 for the labor on my chip. It should be less for newer cars since the ecu doesnt have to be removed. Thats if you drive someplace to get it chipped. If you ship your ecu out to get chipped, there will be no labor because you are doing the R&R. Not much you can do with $1000 for powerother than a chip/DV. You could probably get a custom exhaust done for the remainding $400 or so that youll have left.

 

What about a CAI? How much power does it add?

 

none, by the way iff any one is wondering the stock DV can only hold 18psi

 

I was just looking around the APR website and on the order form, it asks to select your ECU. How do you know or can you tell which ECU you have? The options are:

8E0 909 518 F
8E0 909 518 AF
8E0 909 518 AK
8E0 909 518 BC

 

The stock DV will work fine for awhile, but it's rubber and will get worn out a lot faster. May as well put in a better DV that you'll never have to worry about, plus their cheap

 

Its says your ecu part # on a sticker, on the ecu. APR should also give you instructions on how to remove the ecu.