Ok just got my 99' A4 and will probably chip it. Have read much on this forum and it has answered many questions. great site. Just a few left. Any thoughts appreciated.

CAR: 1999 A4 1.8t sports package. 111k miles. head rebuilt and (new?) turbo @ 85k miles due to damage from breaking belt. so the belt was also replaced (duh).
here are some things i have learned (i think) from reading this forum and my remaing ?s. please correct any inaccuracies:
-It is fine to chip a car with such high milege. i'm thinking especially so beacuse the turbo was replaced.
-timing belt should be relatively new--is mine (~30k miles old) ok?
-need to replace the DV valve first.
-i don't mind getting my hands dirty and understand this is very easy to replace yourself. true? Can you reach it easily? I won't be able to put my car on a lift.
-Should replace the valve beofre chipping. is it fine to drive with the new valve and stock chip?
-chipping will put more wear and tear on the turbo. what about the rest of the engine?
-what happens if you don't use 91 octane when chipped? i think i'm going to get the apr chip. i don't really want to spend the extra money for the crusie control switching thing, but was at a gas station yesterday that only had 90 octane. speaking of this, can you run 89 in the stock engine ok or is 91 really necessary?
-does anyone have the switching thing and do you find yourself using it much? is it true that you can upgrade to include the feature at a later date from installing the chip?
-APR's site lists price as $399. will this be the price at a shop, and what should i expect for labor?
-finally i think i will get it done @ Hartmann Motorsports in Irvine, CA. Anyone have experience with this place?

Thanks for the time to help a noob. i'll probably think of a few more ?s before it's all said and done.

 

No problem with the DV. Add it now and have no worries before and after the new chip. It is "relatively" easy to replace - no lift required.

Chipping will only affect the turbos - first. Everything is related really, but it's the turbos that are directly related.

You really should use premium gas. The lower octane will cause knocking. You must use premium when chipped.

Most tuners don't charge extra for adding the chip to your ecu - they are making money off the sale.

Don't know much about the upgrade option, but the switching is more of a gimmick IMHO. Unless you're gonna leave the car with valets on a regular basis, I wouldn't waste your time with it.

Hope this helped.

 

The stock ECU should compensate for lower than 91 octane gas, by retarding spark and limiting boost. Preformance will suffer. It shouldn't knock.

 

Octane boosters available just about EVERYWHERE could probably make up teh difference of a point, or two; no more than that, though. With the recent climb in gas prices I have switched to mid-grade and a can of "Outlaw" octane booster. Between teh price difference and teh size of my tank (20 gals), my savings is maybe one or two cents per gallon, but I get NO knocks or pings. Food for thought.