i have an 01 TQM and im lookin to get a chip and exhaust as my first upgrades. the question i have is that, is a chip reliable? and why are there no straight ECU upgrades? i cant seem to find any. i have a friend who was telling me not to get a chip but to replace the entire ECU because all the chip does is trick the computer into thinking it has more air/fuel and upping the boost. he was telling me that its gonna mess up my audi and that i need to look for the entire ECU upgrade if i wanna do any type of computer mod.

can i get sum advice from real Audi owners here? and why cant i find a true ECU upgrade? whenever i search all i can find is chip upgrades. thanks.

 

well, you can get an upgrade, but all they do is reflash the ecu they send you....... your buddy is a moron...... search any forum and you will find most if not all owners wanting one or already have one, as for a 01 giac or apr are the 2 i would go with

i have an 01 as well and i have apr(91 oct) tune...... i got mine(ecu) from a guy on here and he was the second owner of the ecu, it runs fine, you will need to upgrade dv's as well............ 710n for about $30 or forge/stratosphere, about $149, then get exhaust

 

^ knows what he is talking about. Just get ecu flashed and you will be fine. My 98 i had chip put in and ran fine for 5 straight years... not even a CEL! Tell the friend to go back to driving his camero!

 

there is also the option of the diode mod, and well thats up to you.

here is a link to a diy
https://www.audiforums.com/m_583205/.../tm.htm#617458

the chip is $500 and the mod is about 200 max if you do everything yourself (incl boost gauge)


and the chip remaps everything, the diode, well..read it

 

Basically, For Audi with Turbo engine, most of the "chip" program is offering "reflash" you ECU in these days. Back in 2002, most of the chips are solid chip replacement inside your ECU. However, due to the imporviing technology, most of them are doing "reflash" yourecu. It is sort of ecuupgrade your friend talk about. I have 1 01 1.8TQM and 1 03' 1.8TQM, I used GAIC, Revo and O.CT Tuning. I will go with O.CT Tuing with better torque performance. However, if you want higher output, GIAC is not bad too. ButI don't like REVO. That's the reason I switch to O.CT Tuing on my 03' 1.8TQM...

Good luck with your A4

 

Unitronic makes a really good program for VWs and Audis.

They have a Stage 1 and Stage 1+ file for the 1.8T. Stage 1+ if I remember what my buddy said, was supposed to get you around 220hp.
Their tunes are made to work with your engine while still maintaining all the safety and reliability factors.

All I know is that a chip and an exhaust are sure to put a smile on your face