Hey guys, I am new to this forum and a fairly new Audi owner. I love purchased my 2002 A4 3.0 used with 17000 miles and am looking to make some modifications. I heard a chip is a great place to start, but i would like to know what the best chips are and what exactly they do. I heard you lose gas mileage bun not sure if this was a rumor. I would like to add maybe 20 to 30 hp, but do not know much about cars. A new exhaust system is kind of expensive but maybe some mufflers can help performance as well. I also was hoping maybe some people had some suggestions on whether sway bars were a good purchase as well (at least worth the money). Finally if anyone knows a good place to get a chrome grill or custom painted grill that would be really helpfull. I have a dolphin grey color and thought maybe a matching grey grill would look cool. Sorry for all the questions just do not know were to start. Thanks for reading.
2002 Audi A4 3.0 Modifications
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The 3.0 is a beautiful engine, but there really arnt that many options around for tuning...not to say there arnt any, but its much easier to find..
Chip Companies
Powerchip --> +15hp
Neuspeed --> +5-6hp
H&S --> +22hp
Wetterauer --> +15hp
Most chips actually improve fuel economy, however, if you have a heavy foot, your economy will suffer.
You could sqeeze ~3hp out of a K&N intake filter for not too much $, or get an intake system for +~8hp (but like $300)
Hope that gets you started. By the way.. 6Speed or Tiptronic?
Chip Companies
Powerchip --> +15hp
Neuspeed --> +5-6hp
H&S --> +22hp
Wetterauer --> +15hp
Most chips actually improve fuel economy, however, if you have a heavy foot, your economy will suffer.
You could sqeeze ~3hp out of a K&N intake filter for not too much $, or get an intake system for +~8hp (but like $300)
Hope that gets you started. By the way.. 6Speed or Tiptronic?
it is tiptronic. I live in la so i didn't want stick. As far as the chips go is one better than the other because i am sure there are a lot more things than hp. Also I need something that is hard to detect so waranty will not void. Also what else is an intake good for. Is that better than getting a new exhaust. I know the money is more for the exhaust though. Thanks so much for your help I really appreciate it.
well, usually the better chip will give you the most hp. In a turbo car, its important to look for other things, such as PSI increase from the turbo, etc, but since youre in a V6, i'd go for the one with the most hp gain. The problem is, usually, the more hp, the higher the price of the chip.
An intake allows your engine to breath better which gives you a bit more HP. in theory, an intake will boost your economy, but not notably.
As far as the warrantee, depending on your dealer, a chip installed by them wont void your warrantee.
Which dealer did you buy at?
Where in LA do you live? i'm on the west side... wilshire @ comstock
An intake allows your engine to breath better which gives you a bit more HP. in theory, an intake will boost your economy, but not notably.
As far as the warrantee, depending on your dealer, a chip installed by them wont void your warrantee.
Which dealer did you buy at?
Where in LA do you live? i'm on the west side... wilshire @ comstock
Wow, I live by 26th and San Vicente actually but know multiple people that live on comstock actually. Maybe you could give me the names of some places i could buy the chip then. I am wondering how much this will cost me. I am looking to spend around a grand but no more since money is somewhat tight. If you could let me know total cost for the chip and intake or an estimate in your opinion that would be great. Also I really wanted to get the grill either painted dolphin grey or chrome dipped or replaced or something. I think it would look much more luxurious than the black grill. Any suggestions. Thanks again for your help what do you do by the way.
if you have a grand to work with, you're better off than most 
I've done all my chip tuning myself, but i know of a few places who have good reputations...
Wett is in West LA, (310) 268-0388,Greedspeed in Thousand Oaks and Hartmann in irvine are all good shops...
Greenspeed has the Neuspeed 3.0 Chip for ~$200
Call Hartmann Motorsport in irvine @ (949) 475-2500 and tell them you're interested in installing a chip. Usually, you can order the chip direct from the company, and have them intsall it. Insall is ~$100
Retail on the Powerchip model is $490 and the Watterauer chip is $400.
As far as an intake goes... you really dont have many options. in all honesty, invest in a K&N intake filter, and leave the stock airbox alone.
My final sugestion:
Chip: ~$400
K&N Filter: ~$50
Install: ~$150
---------------
= $600
take that $600 and get some sport springs to lower your car, then find a grill that you really like. Save up and get some rims and exhaust
I've done all my chip tuning myself, but i know of a few places who have good reputations...
Wett is in West LA, (310) 268-0388,Greedspeed in Thousand Oaks and Hartmann in irvine are all good shops...
Greenspeed has the Neuspeed 3.0 Chip for ~$200
Call Hartmann Motorsport in irvine @ (949) 475-2500 and tell them you're interested in installing a chip. Usually, you can order the chip direct from the company, and have them intsall it. Insall is ~$100
Retail on the Powerchip model is $490 and the Watterauer chip is $400.
As far as an intake goes... you really dont have many options. in all honesty, invest in a K&N intake filter, and leave the stock airbox alone.
My final sugestion:
Chip: ~$400
K&N Filter: ~$50
Install: ~$150
---------------
= $600
take that $600 and get some sport springs to lower your car, then find a grill that you really like. Save up and get some rims and exhaust
i'm a student
Hey thanks a lot. That really helps. Is the chip really hard to install or is it worth the hundred bucks for someone to do it. Also in your opinion which chip will be best for my car. I would rather spend a little more money for a better product. I am not to versed on cars, but the intake filter vs. a new intake system, how exactly will that boost performance on my audi. Is an intake worth getting before an exhaust and will that make my car sound or run differently. Plus I have the sport package on the car is it still worth it to get the sport springs or will that make the car to low to the ground. I already hit the front bumper a lot of times. I thought sway bars may help for control and turning, but that is just what I heard. Sorry for the amounts of questions just want to obtain the knowledge before I actually change the car. That grill is nice that you sent me is there stores where I can look at the grills cause i am sort of skeptical how silver or chrome will look on my grey audi. Thanks again for taking the time to help me.
yes... its worth your time (and money) to have someone do it
probably the Watterauer chip for $400+install
either option alows your car to breath better, giving better proformance and economy. Because there are not very options for intakes - and the options there are are $$$... just get an K&N filter which will give you maybe 2 less HP than an intake, but for like $200 less.
Keep your setup unless you want your car lower
Slow down over speedbumps
<!--QuoteBegin-ToddJerad@Nov 30 2004, 10:57 AM
sway bars
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they would but you're not taking your car to the track.... so its not worth the $$
okay i will go with that chip that you recommended, should i purchase that online or just call around performance shops to see if it is available. I am not sure what the situation is. Also do most places have the intake as well or is that a rare filter that will have to be ordered online or by the performance place. Plus what about the noise factor of the intake will it change and will this void my warranty at all. I still have 2 years left. I bought the car from santa monica audi and don't want them hassling me. Also does an exhaust tip do much or just looks. Thanks your the man. B)
call Hartmann and tell them you want to put in a chip. tell them the type of chip you want to get, ect. Make sure they'll install it for you (no reason why they wouldnt.. but.. ) Then order it direct from the manufacture unless Hartmann has a hookup with them.
you'd probably be able to buy the K&N filter from like PepBoys, (not sure..) but the price on the neuspeed website i posted earlier was pretty reasonable, so it might not be a bad idea to order it from them. all the filter does is replace the stock filter, it wont viod anything. No different from changing the filter when you get your oil changed - just a more high proformance filter. You probably wont notice any soud difference, you'll probably notice a bit better proformance+economy. Filter replacement is EASY... dont pay anyone to do it for you.
I've had two audi's from Santa Monica Audi (previoiusly Steve Taub) .. they're good people - they shouldnt hassle you.
<!--QuoteBegin-ToddJerad@Nov 30 2004, 12:48 PM
Also does an exhaust tip do much or just looks. Thanks your the man. B)
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Tips will give you better sound and a better look, but proformance wise... expect maybe 1-2hp
Thanks again for all your help. My boss actually knows tons about cars and installs the stuff on his truck himself. He said he would do it for me and suggested the chip and the whole air intake system and maybe doing the exhaust system either the headers or the part behind the catalic converter. I am very interested in what this may do for me and the benefits of a new intake system not just filter. I don't really want my car sounding loud and obnoxious because i still want it to be luxurious looking rather than obnoxiously loud and racy. This is why I wanted to change the grill front to silver or chrome. I am still not sure if this will look good yet maybe you could give me some feedback and around how much new grills cost (i have no idea i assume about 2 to 4 hundred). Again thanks for the quick responses and everything
don't waste your money - actually... you can't really waste it, because i haven’t heard of even one aftermarket intake for the 3.0. Reason being: the stock airbox on the 3.0 its rated up to 400hp. (basically.. its the best that it can be)
<!--QuoteBegin-ToddJerad@Nov 30 2004, 09:33 PM
I don't really want my car sounding loud and obnoxious
[/quote]
an intake wont make your car notably louder... but a cat-back exhaust system will... a full exhaust system (headers, pipes, etc) would be awesome and give you probably 10hp.. however.. full systems arn't cheep.
Check the Remus and Neuspeed systems. Look to spend ~$1000-1400 on headers+exhaust (note: on the remus system, you need a right and a left unit)
damn that is kind of expensive, do i need the whole system or can i get just a portion. That is a lot for an exhaust. Is it worth the 10 hp addition or is there some other reason it is worth it. Maybe any other suggestions since i wont be able to get the whole intake that will boost performance.
Okay I did some looking on the Wetterauer chip website and it didn't say much about ordering. I am confused if i need to buy the chip or send it in for reprogramming. Thanks also i heard it is worth it to get two k&n filters because of the cleaning and drying involved when it needs to be cleaned. Also if I want the new exhaust is there no way to get it in sections to divy up the costs or is that ridiculous sounding. Oh yeah and what one do you recommend for me to check out. There are so many people that make the exhaust systems and I am sure some are better than others.
PS saw the stuff your doing to your quatro on another forum. That looks like a pretty tough job dude, but pretty damn cool.
PS saw the stuff your doing to your quatro on another forum. That looks like a pretty tough job dude, but pretty damn cool.
Looks like Wetterauer doesnt sell direct here in the US. They list there US dealers as:
Speed-Tek @ 516.327.3188 and German Speed Merchants @ 910.791.4844
Call those guys up and see if they've got the chip, or if they need to order it for you. They should be helpful (??)
you could do that.. it takes about 1 day to dry the filter after you wash it, so if you're not down with not using your car for a day, buy two. not 100% necessary tho.
you could do that, but to aviod any complications you should do it all at once. The way to break it down it ... 1) headers 2)piping 3) tips/muflers.. the problem is, the better exhaust systems dont sell in parts (headers are usually seperate - you dont need headers rigth now, just exhaust). Save your money and do it all at once in a few months, you'll be much happier. I recomend the neuspeed or the reums systems.
<!--QuoteBegin-ToddJerad@Dec 1 2004, 10:31 PM
saw the stuff your doing to your quatro on another forum. That looks like a pretty tough job dude, but pretty damn cool.
[/quote]
Quattro? sold my 90CS quattro ~a year ago... what did you see...? Do you mean my allroad? :huh:
Yeah sorry I don't know why I said quatro. I believe it was your post that is doing the crazy computer system stuff in your all road. Okay so I guess the exhaust will wait a little bit. It seems that an exhaust is something everyone does so it must make a pretty big difference. Also I looked around and the Wet chip has the best reviews so you were right on the money with that. Now between the sound system that I want and the exhaust, intake, window tint and chip I should be set for a long time. And broke for a while too. Thanks again, but I am sure im not done asking questions
I just talked to the owner of German Speed Merchants in North Carolina and he said the chip needs to be sent to him and it takes about 3 days total for them to get the chip and return it. That is a while without being about to drive my car. He also suggested a cold air intake that is not made specifically for the 3.0 but it works very well and will really increase performance. This was only $230. Maybe that would be worth it also.
Call one of the SoCal shops and see what the have to say - maybe they can get the stuff you need in less time.
<!--QuoteBegin-ToddJerad@Dec 2 2004, 10:52 AM
He also suggested a cold air intake that is not made specifically for the 3.0 but it works very well and will really increase performance. This was only $230.
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you can fit custom piping to any engine to make a cold air intake (CAI) .. basicly a CAI just takes air from a cooler location to give you getter proformance. usually, the intake filter iteslf is located down in front of the left wheel well.
That sounds like a good idea if its only $230... did he tell you anything else about it? manufacture? etc?
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