UniChip or APR Chip
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4
UniChip or APR Chip
I have a 2000 a4 Quattro. I want more torque and H.P. I have narrowed chipping down to two options, UniChip installed and tuned by a local tuner who has a 4wheel Mustang Dyno $800 vs. APR send out ECU they send back for $500. The local tuner says he can do much more and all cars chips are or should be a bit different and tuning will get you exactly what you want. The UniChip doesn't replace my stock chip but is a piggyback chip that goes in front of the stock chip. Then he can adjust the ignition and boost to get an optimal torque curve.... that's what he says. Everyone on this forum seems to like APR. As does my neighbor with a TT. Any input on UniChip would be appreciated.
Site Moderator
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,927
From: Indianapolis, IN
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
APR = Audi Performance Racing.
Buy the chip from a company that has done the research specific for your car. They know your car and have done lots of R&D on its limits and sweet spots. Besides the fact that I have never even heard of UniChip, just because he tells you, you will get what you want - how do you know what you want even? I would never put a "Uni" anything in my car. I put in parts that are made for my car.
Where are you located? The only advantage this guy has is being local to you. But he is overpriced and I would not trust him to know the limits of my car specifically. Tried and True: APR hasn't got a good reputation for nothing.
cheers
Buy the chip from a company that has done the research specific for your car. They know your car and have done lots of R&D on its limits and sweet spots. Besides the fact that I have never even heard of UniChip, just because he tells you, you will get what you want - how do you know what you want even? I would never put a "Uni" anything in my car. I put in parts that are made for my car.
Where are you located? The only advantage this guy has is being local to you. But he is overpriced and I would not trust him to know the limits of my car specifically. Tried and True: APR hasn't got a good reputation for nothing.
cheers
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
Brrman, I am located in Holland Michigan, closest big city Grand Rapids,,, then Chicago or Detroit.
http://www.airpowersystems.com.au/unichip/unichip.htm
There is the link to UniChip. Does APR chip change anything other than fuel (or boost) and ignition? I have a 350Z and read about a chip for that and it increased the rev limiter also. I My tuner is ayaracing.com. He puts the car on the Dyno then alters the boost and ignition to get the best output (as I understand it). Plus you can pull the unichip off, still have the stock chip if you sell the car. Just asking,,,, I really want to go with APR bcs it seems easier. Unichip $500, Install $100, one hour dyno and tune $200,, that's AYA breakdown on $800.
http://www.airpowersystems.com.au/unichip/unichip.htm
There is the link to UniChip. Does APR chip change anything other than fuel (or boost) and ignition? I have a 350Z and read about a chip for that and it increased the rev limiter also. I My tuner is ayaracing.com. He puts the car on the Dyno then alters the boost and ignition to get the best output (as I understand it). Plus you can pull the unichip off, still have the stock chip if you sell the car. Just asking,,,, I really want to go with APR bcs it seems easier. Unichip $500, Install $100, one hour dyno and tune $200,, that's AYA breakdown on $800.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
Unichip has only one distributor for the U.S. market. It originates from Australia. This is not a U.S. spec chip that has gone through testing in the U.S. - these two facts make me worried about the chip. You are flirting with tuning problems with this chip. BTW: $100 is a ludicrous price for an install and $200 is a bit high for a dyno, too. Neither should be included with the purchase of (or needed with) a proven chip.
I'd consider a chip from the two top U.S. chip makers: APR and GIAC. They make switchable chips or you can get a stock ecu for secure swapping.
Other U.S. tested chips from chip makers are: Abt, MTM, TAP, Wetterauer, and a few others.
I'd consider a chip from the two top U.S. chip makers: APR and GIAC. They make switchable chips or you can get a stock ecu for secure swapping.
Other U.S. tested chips from chip makers are: Abt, MTM, TAP, Wetterauer, and a few others.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,151
From:
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
Hi,im a new member here. I have an audi a4 turbo also, i would suggest looking at " tap" or "total Audi performance. There stage 2 upgrade put mine in the mid to high 6's for 0 to 60. All you need is any performance filter and any catback exhaust. They turn your boost up to 12.5psi and time everything to a "T"... just something to look at
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
ORIGINAL: audiboy1618
Hi,im a new member here. I have an audi a4 turbo also, i would suggest looking at " tap" or "total Audi performance. There stage 2 upgrade put mine in the mid to high 6's for 0 to 60. All you need is any performance filter and any catback exhaust. They turn your boost up to 12.5psi and time everything to a "T"... just something to look at
Hi,im a new member here. I have an audi a4 turbo also, i would suggest looking at " tap" or "total Audi performance. There stage 2 upgrade put mine in the mid to high 6's for 0 to 60. All you need is any performance filter and any catback exhaust. They turn your boost up to 12.5psi and time everything to a "T"... just something to look at
Just an FYI: APR and GIAC chips will raise the boost to 18+ psi.
Todd from AWE wrote in March of 2001:
....The GIAC software is rated a bit more accurately, we have found. It is a 1.1 bar AVERAGE chip. This rating is acheived by measured boost vs rpms.
The GIAC chip will produce ~ 1.2 bar of boost up to ~3krpms, 1.0 bar of boost from ~3k to 4.5k, and .9 bar of boost to redline. Hence, the 1.05 bar rating.
In contrast, we have seen competitor chips spike to 1.4 (!!) bar on this engine, yet are still rated publically as a 1.0 bar chip.
Also, higher boost does not necessarily result in shorter turbo life. That is a factor of what rpms this boost is being produced, and relative EGTs. For example, a chip producing 1.5 bar of boost max at 3k rpms but only .8 bar of boost at 5k rpms will most likely result in longer turbo life than a chip making .8bar @ 3k rpms and 1.5 bar @ 5k rpms.
Hope that helps explain a common misconception......
Todd Sager
The GIAC chip will produce ~ 1.2 bar of boost up to ~3krpms, 1.0 bar of boost from ~3k to 4.5k, and .9 bar of boost to redline. Hence, the 1.05 bar rating.
In contrast, we have seen competitor chips spike to 1.4 (!!) bar on this engine, yet are still rated publically as a 1.0 bar chip.
Also, higher boost does not necessarily result in shorter turbo life. That is a factor of what rpms this boost is being produced, and relative EGTs. For example, a chip producing 1.5 bar of boost max at 3k rpms but only .8 bar of boost at 5k rpms will most likely result in longer turbo life than a chip making .8bar @ 3k rpms and 1.5 bar @ 5k rpms.
Hope that helps explain a common misconception......
Todd Sager
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,151
From:
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
I forgot to add i have a 1999(sorry about that).. there stock psi is 7.8, with out updrading your turbo anything over 14 psi wont last long. Also tap has tuning stages to get up to 350hp( not sure what the boost is tho)
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
ORIGINAL: audiboy1618
I forgot to add i have a 1999(sorry about that).. there stock psi is 7.8, with out updrading your turbo anything over 14 psi wont last long. Also tap has tuning stages to get up to 350hp( not sure what the boost is tho)
I forgot to add i have a 1999(sorry about that).. there stock psi is 7.8, with out updrading your turbo anything over 14 psi wont last long. Also tap has tuning stages to get up to 350hp( not sure what the boost is tho)
See my post above re: Todds' comments.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: UniChip or APR Chip
ORIGINAL: audiboy1618
I see, i think they told me it kicks in around 2500rpm, its my first audi.. dont quite know the limitations quite yet.
I see, i think they told me it kicks in around 2500rpm, its my first audi.. dont quite know the limitations quite yet.