140 ps 2.0 TDi chip tune

[Brooklands]

Hi

Am new to the forums.
I have just bought a December 2005 A3 TDi. This replaces an old 4wd car that has done me well for the last 200,000 miles. I'm loving the fuel economy of the Audi, but it feels totally gutless when I want to overtake anything. I know that I'll never get anything like the performance of my old motor but really do need to do something to improve the Audi before I have an accident.
Have read one or two articles referring to badly programmed chips/ boxes etc. causing turbo failure.
So..
Can anyone make recommendations for a chip box that gives a worthwhile performance increase without overstressing the turbo.

Thanks in advance.

[Mike Foster]

There's something wrong with your car !

No way should a 140 Tdi feel gutless. Before you think about getting it chipped you need to get it fixed.

Get it scanned for faults first.

[Brooklands]

Hi Mike

Thanks for your reply. Absolutely certain there's nothing wrong with the car.
I'm just used to driving cars with a hell of a lot more poke. Great for cruising on the motorway but severely lacking overtaking grunt on the A roads.

[SC03OTT]

The TDI 140 certainly doesn't lack grunt for overtaking on any road tbh. You're sure it's running ok? I know you've said you are used to more powerful cars but I've never heard anyone call the 140 gutless.

[Brooklands]

Hi Scott?

Pretty sure that the cars running OK. Can do some runs against a stopwatch to double check. My old motor would do 30-100 through the gears in 10 secs. Don't know what the 2.0 TDi is expected to cover this range in but if anyone has the times then it will be easy enough to check. I really am not expecting miracles from the 2.0TDi, but I'm so used to being able to pull out and overtake at the slightest opportunity that I keep getting caught out.
Obviously if the car isn't running 100% then its pointless trying to tune it, however I'm pretty certain that its running OK.

Tks.

[Mike Foster]

Hi Scott?

Pretty sure that the cars running OK. Can do some runs against a stopwatch to double check. My old motor would do 30-100 through the gears in 10 secs. Don't know what the 2.0 TDi is expected to cover this range in but if anyone has the times then it will be easy enough to check. I really am not expecting miracles from the 2.0TDi, but I'm so used to being able to pull out and overtake at the slightest opportunity that I keep getting caught out.
Obviously if the car isn't running 100% then its pointless trying to tune it, however I'm pretty certain that its running OK.

Tks.

You seem to be a one-off mate !!

Please tell us all what car you were driving before.

The 140 has a 0 - 62mph time of about 8.5 to 9.0 seconds.

What do you expect and why did you buy one without checking the details first ?

Like I said - the 140 does not lack poke for normal mortals but can be improved upon.

Please explain your problem !

[Brooklands]

Hi Mike

Seems that people here are prickly if we hint that the TDi isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Am used to cars with 0-60 in the 4.5 secs region, not 9 secs.
Have explained that I would like to improve the acceleration. I am a mere mortal as well, but used to driving fast cars. I don't want an RS3 just wish to improve the overtaking capabilities of the TDi that I have before I end having a nasty.
Thought that getting advice from people who've been down the road before would be easy. Instead it seems I'm getting no advice but being castigated for hinting that the TDi perhaps isn't the fastest car out there.

:zx11:

[Guest 2]

Am used to cars with 0-60 in the 4.5 secs region, not 9 secs

That's why you think its slow! Obviously if you're coming from a 250+ BHP car into a 140bhp diesel you're gonna feel a helluva lot of difference in speed and acceleration!

[Mike Foster]

Hi Mike

Seems that people here are prickly if we hint that the TDi isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Am used to cars with 0-60 in the 4.5 secs region, not 9 secs.
Have explained that I would like to improve the acceleration. I am a mere mortal as well, but used to driving fast cars. I don't want an RS3 just wish to improve the overtaking capabilities of the TDi that I have before I end having a nasty.
Thought that getting advice from people who've been down the road before would be easy. Instead it seems I'm getting no advice but being castigated for hinting that the TDi perhaps isn't the fastest car out there.

:zx11:

Sorry mate - wrong forum and wrong car !

If you are used to something (you still haven't said what it was ) that is that quick , then clearly you have made a big mistake in buying a 140 A3.

Suggest you move to a forum that will possibly understand your problem.

Clearly you do have a problem because nobody would buy a 2005 A3 and expect it to do what you have mistakenly thought would match your 200,000 mile flying machine. (whatever it was )

Sounds like you need a dose of common sense because a 170 tdi would have better clutch, less flywheel problems, uprated turbo and better brakes and certainly more adaptability for not much more than the price you paid.

Get real mate - a 3.2 quattro would have been closer so why didn't you buy one of those ?

[Brooklands]

Hi Mike

Sorry I thought that I was posting in the Audi A3 forum.
O.K. you're desperate to know what I've wracked up the 200,000 miles in. Don't see what difference it makes to my question, but I've been using a Calibra Turbo. Chipped up to 300+ bhp, EDS phase 3+. Very reliable and still capable of returning 30 mpg. Originally bought not for performance, as pretty lethargic as standard, but for the 4WD capabilities.
Now retired and worth very little.
Just because I've been driving cars a little faster than the TDi doesn't mean that I'm not allowed to buy one. Nor does it mean that I shouldn't try to improve performance.
True, if I'd visited this and other forums beforehand, my choice of car would probably have been different. Really not too bothered about trying to replace the old Calibra with similar performance. Even a 3.2 quattro wouldn't match it. My best choice would probably have been the 170 ps CR chipped up. Haven't seen any actual performance figures for this conversion but would imagine that it would be more like what I was originally wanting.
However, I've gone and bought the 140ps version so it will have to do until I can get around to changing it. Nothing wrong with trying to improve what I've got until I can afford to change it, is there?
Would be nice to hear something positive for a change.

[Guest 2]

It sounds like there's nothing wrong with the A3 you purchased. Youre coming from a powerful petrol car going to a 2ltr diesel so obviously there isn't gonna be as much oomph from the A3 :S

[Mike Foster]

Pop across to Audi-Sport.net and post the same question.

They know all about stage1, stage 2 etc and will advise accordingly.

I think they will probably be able to put you right as to the facts regarding A3's of various guises and what you can achieve for a price.

Please bear in mind that Audis are not in the same league as Vauxhall Calibras !

[Brooklands]

Hi

O.K. will try the other site. Thought that I'd get an answer here, but as a Newbie didn't know which would be the best place to post.

Am not trying to find a replacement for the old Vauxhall, would probably need to buy an Evo or similar to do that. Just didn't realise how fast the old girl was in comparison to "normal cars".

I'm elated to see such good fuel consumption, cheap road tax etc.. Just need to lift the performance a little and I'll be quite happy.

Next problem will be coming to terms with CAN bus wiring. Would like to fit a towbar and rear parking sensors but unsure whether that will be much of a problem or not.

:(