Mk4 gti apr

**bullsta** · 26-10-2010, 05:26 PM

Hi all.New to Watercooled.Own a stock mk4 gti 2002 85k and was wondering if anyone out there has put the apr chip (soldered as dbt) without any other mods.I,ve only owned car for a few weeks and love the solid feel but turbo seems fairly mild (not that i,ve ever owned a turbo before)Obviously heard great reviews re apr but was wondering if stock clutch,turbo and running gear is up to the extra power.Cost wise I really need to keep price down to keep the wife off my tail.Any advice greatly appreciated.Also I would like to look after car and hang on to for some time.Cheers

**noone** · 26-10-2010, 05:33 PM

Time to do some reading.

Many tune options, car will keep up fine.

Chipping is really just a tune, hook up a computer and off you go.

Read read read.

**bullsta** · 26-10-2010, 05:40 PM

Cheers noone.AGU are DBT so i,m pretty sure chip needs to get soldered to ecu which is a bummer as I don,t think you can turn it off.

**Tony_Mitchell_1983** · 26-10-2010, 05:51 PM

The 'chip' isn't a physical thing. It is a computer mod to the ecu. The car will handle the extra power easily. I've done a lot more to my mk v and its still completely drivable. And it can be turned off.

**h100vw** · 26-10-2010, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by bullsta

Cheers noone.AGU are DBT so i,m pretty sure chip needs to get soldered to ecu which is a bummer as I don,t think you can turn it off.

MK4 ECUs can be flashed, APR just don't do it that way.

The engine and turbo are well up to the extra power. The clutch is often the first victim after a flash. MAFs and spark plugs are critical items too in my experience.

Gavin

**McDub** · 26-10-2010, 06:08 PM

Out of the 6 or so companies i researched, only two can "chip" your car without physically installing anything on our MKIV's, and one of those two is no longer available in Australia, leaving the one in gavins sig
so with the others where you have to get something hardwired in etc, it will usually involve leaving your car at the shop as they send off your ecu in the mail to the main workshop...

**Lito** · 26-10-2010, 06:21 PM

As the others have said, do some research and you'll find a plethora of info. Speaking from experience the car will handle the extra power fine, although I am just about the upgrade my clutch... As for installing it, when I got my apr tune done at Harding performance they did have to take the ecu out but they didn't have to send anything away and the whole process only took about half an hour. Well worth it if you ask me, the only problem is that once you do it you'll be chasing more power pretty soon

**bullsta** · 27-10-2010, 07:53 AM

thanks for all the info guys.Greatly appreciated

**JustCruisn** · 27-10-2010, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Lito

Well worth it if you ask me, the only problem is that once you do it you'll be chasing more power pretty soon

Too true, it will only increase your thirst for more power.
The clutch does handle the power well, but of course you may start dropping it harder and that will destroy it.
I chipped mine at 37K and replaced the clutch at 110K. I'm much more selective in my gears now.