how many of you guys have auto and have mods done to your car... would it be worth it ?

 

i don't have an auto, but you can do mods to one. you won't be able to do as much because the auto tranny, on any car for that matter, never is able to hold as much power as the manual. that's from my own personal experience

 

Hang on for a manual if modding is your desire.

 

You can definitely still mod an engine if you've got a tiptronic. Just can't push insane amounts of horsepower. I'm pretty sure there are guys running KO3 and K04 turbos, and if you've got a naturally-aspirated engine, a tip can handle a supercharger. That said, I'm sure that'll still shorten the overall life of the tiptronic transmission, but it won't instantly burst into flames as soon as you hit the gas either. Anything under 300HP should be safe, although someone else would know more about this than I do.

You could always upgrade your Tip valve body (from a company called Level 10 for about 4 grand) and make your transmission bullet-proof and able to handle anything. The GIAC tip-chip is universally regarded as a good upgrade for crisper shifting.

Suspension, exhaust, interior, exterior mods are obviously not affected (tip exhausts are slightly harder to come by).

In short, there are plenty of guys on this forum and others that have modded their tiptronic cars. The convention wisdom is if you're into modding and driving cars, you're definitely going to want a manual. But if for one reason or another the tip is your only option, don't dispair, you still have a bunch of choice for mods.

 

Like the others said, yea you can add performance mods to a Tip but no extreme horsepower. Personally I'd suggest holding out for a manual. This may be unfair but after driving my cousin's manual STI my Tip 2.8 felt boring, monotonous and a bit...lame. Auto is just not as fun as a manual, regardless of what you got under the hood.

 

I would also say it also depends on how you drive.. if you mod a tip car and drive very agessivly that plus the mods will definatly shorten the life of the tranny.. I had a passat with the tip, just put a apr chip on it when i got it at 60k, and at 90k I started having some minor problems, had the tranny serviced and was told there was an unusual amount of metal shaving on the magnet.. but i drve very hard so this was not really a surprise to me..

 

150K miles on my car with 80K since I got my APR chip. No problems.

 

I have a tip with ko4 and many upgrades no problems

 

thx for all ur replies well i really want a manual but i live ny i hate being stuck in traffic thats like my worst nightmare im not looking into making my car 300+ just a lil around 250 to have fun cruising. me and my buddy who drives a 325i usually just go out cruising wenever he comes down to ny..thanks for your replies i might just get an 5sp just so i can beat my friends 325i..

 

errr I have a tip ... or should I say had a tip since my car is now disabled

and i've upgraded it enough to beat up a 325i ....

chip + exhaust + injectors is enough to beat up a 325i....

330 is another story

if you want to be 100% sure about beating a 325i get a ko3 and u'll be fine

u can always get the tranny upgrade kit