Too practical? Modded TDI anyone?

So I made a post a couple weeks ago about the fact I am considering replacing my car and am eyeballing a 2003 BMW 530i sport manual. It gets 30 highway which is respectable, is a bit larger than my jetta and has a much nicer feeling interior etc.

The more research I do into getting anything to replace the Jetta however the more I am stuck realizing there is like NO car that is more practical. I know nothing is going to compete with it on mileage except another TDI or a Hybrid(blech) or possibly something brand new

But I am looking to only spend 10-12k on the new vehicle and the Jetta should be worth 5-6k (I bought it for 6 2 yrs ago and it has low mileage for a TDI)

Does anyone here have any experience with tuning the TDI's? Lots of guys over on TDIclub swear that chip and injectors is well worth it etc etc. The car drives pretty nice but I have never really gotten to push it on the handling.

From what I understand chips and injectors would put the cars HP close to that of the newer (2008 or so) TDIs which when I test drove one was pretty fun

I wish the Mercedes CDI cars came in manual but I don't think they did and I don't think there is any slightly larger or nicer TDI car around the same time period as the Jetta either (mine is a mk4 2000) There was the b5 Passat but it is older

I really wish I could get over my reliability fears of VWAG. I'd love a Jetta/Passat TDI for the wife, they look nice, and the mpg is great, but I'm just terrified of them.

m4ff3w wrote: I really wish I could get over my reliability fears of VWAG. I'd love a Jetta/Passat TDI for the wife, they look nice, and the mpg is great, but I'm just terrified of them.

Says the man with a BiTurbo.

But yes I am scared of VW as well even though I own a Triumph and Yugo.

Other than the Jetta wagon, nothing will be much larger (and really, the wagon only gives more stuff carrying capability. the wife's TDI is not modded, though I have driven a few that were. They are still diesels, but certainly more fun. Handling, well, it will never be a Miata, but I prefer it for road trips.

My sister has a chip/injectors I. Her 2000 tdi beetle. The engine feels wonderful. Pulls great, mileage can't be beat, what's not to love? The whole rest of the car, that's what. I know of no other car in existence that has nickel and dimed (and whole dollared too) the owner to death. She keeps praying that somehow it will light on fire. She spends about 1/4 the value of the car each year to keep it on the road. It costs her money like an exotic sports car, but it's a beetle.
Perhaps you can find a VW attached to a tdi that doesn't suck ass. If so, then yea, injectors and a chip, totally worth it.
Edit: Just re-read your post and realize that you already own the car. May god have mercy on your soul, but a chip will really wake the car up. Total transformation in my limited experience.

Mine has 163k on it bought it with 124k on it. Timing belt is 100,000 mile job and good for another 30k or so. I replaced all the suspension bushings and bearing strut/shock mounts etc because it was still original stuff. Put koni reds on it but kept stock springs.

I have not had a single issue with the car, it does need the AC fixed as the clutch was going. Its a manual and has rollup windows (blessing and curse, no recitifiers to break as electrics are the thing on these that tends to go but its annoying)

Still pulling 41mpg even with putting 17" wheels with performance all seasons on vs the stock 15"s (thats mostly highway 80mph) miles

What were your impressions of the modded TDI? I was pretty happy with the power my SVT focus had and that was instake/exhaust only

mazdeuce wrote: My sister has a chip/injectors I. Her 2000 tdi beetle. The engine feels wonderful. Pulls great, mileage can't be beat, what's not to love? The whole rest of the car, that's what. I know of no other car in existence that has nickel and dimed (and whole dollared too) the owner to death. She keeps praying that somehow it will light on fire. She spends about 1/4 the value of the car each year to keep it on the road. It costs her money like an exotic sports car, but it's a beetle. Perhaps you can find a VW attached to a tdi that doesn't suck ass. If so, then yea, injectors and a chip, totally worth it. Edit: Just re-read your post and realize that you already own the car. May god have mercy on your soul, but a chip will really wake the car up. Total transformation in my limited experience.

Your post made me laugh tho. Maybe I am lucky bought it used with tons of maintenance records. Has been problem free for 2 years

If you sort of like the car you'll like it a lot more if you chip it. Performance/dollar it's the bargain of the century. Much cheaper than a new car and it will probably keep you entertained for at least a year.

I remember reading in Hot Rod Magazine (?) about a kid who brought a TDI Beetle to the Power Tour (?). He got the car as a hand-me-down from his mom. He had some small simple mods (chip, injectors I think). That little bugger put down over 400 ft lbs of torque...

Sounds appealing to me

Yeah if anything chip and injectors will make so much torque that the stock clutch likely won't take it. Chip (300 bucks ish) and injectors (400 bucks ish) are both worth about 25hp and 40lb of tq? This is on a car that is starting out with 95hp ;p

Of course it won't make the car any bigger or nicer inside. And its possible it could create more issues due to stressing components

It's hard for me to say "I like it" I've never had an emotional attachment to it like I did my Focus or my Truck its just sort of a tool?

In reply to stanger_missle: There is a little known mag who's initials are GRM which also did a story on that car.

No link! I am disappoint

I did find this one though

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/your-mileage-may-vary/

In reply to nicksta43:

Yeah, I realized that after I posted. I have that issue next to my bed even.

I haz a dumb

I liked it because the kid took what he had and tried to make the best of it. Why else would a teenage boy drive a New Beetle?

When BMW came out with the 335d I cried it could not come with a manual trans else that would be on my someday when it depreciates list

Found it. It is the Your Mileage May article:

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS TDI

EPA figures: 42 city/49 hwy
Drivetrain: turbo diesel 4 cyl., 1.9 liters, five-speed manual
Owner: Lucas Webb, MINI technician
Basic setup: Boostvalve boost controller, precision-drilled injectors, deleted EGR valve, Koni springs and shocks, 225/45ZR17 Fuzion ZRi tires
Dyno figures: 123 horsepower, 412 lb.-ft. torque
Cruise control: yes
Distance covered: 85.7 miles
Fuel used: 2.24 gallons
Test mpg: 38.26 mpg
Best lap: 40.592 sec.
GRM Performance Index of Efficiency: 0.94

Jaynen wrote: Yeah if anything chip and injectors will make so much torque that the stock clutch likely won't take it. Chip (300 bucks ish) and injectors (400 bucks ish) are both worth about 25hp and 40lb of tq? This is on a car that is starting out with 95hp ;p

It seems so. I've read over the years the stock clutch will survive a Stage I chip and maybe a Stage II if treated with care. Stage III and above, not likely.

The internals seems to be able to handle a fair amount of boost but have been known to blow up if really pushed, as with any turbocharged engine, but seems to be ok if the stock turbo is retained.

It seems like with supporting mods the turbo can be even upgraded to what is called a VNT 17/22 allowing 170-180whp with mainly injectors/tune/downpipe/intercooler and fuel pump I think the torque at this point is over 300 that guy putting out 400 is just weird

I already feel like the car doesn't have enough brakes

In reply to Jaynen:

True... fortunately, upgrades there aren't too difficult - GTI spindles and hub assemblies, along with the various aftermarket bits for those...

I think some of those might go to the newer 5x108 bolt pattern maybe not if you stick to Mk4 stuff

400 lb-ft and not enough brakes would make a truly exciting car. Nothing boring and appliance like about that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR0Uhzrsv9w&feature=plcp This is a swapped mk2 but a tdi can be fast enough to be fun with a little work.

Jaynen wrote: I think some of those might go to the newer 5x108 bolt pattern maybe not if you stick to Mk4 stuff

No... you stay with std Mk IV stuff and 5x100. Plenty of info about this on the Vortex (a bit less so on tdiclub).

mazdeuce wrote: 400 lb-ft and not enough brakes would make a truly exciting car. Nothing boring and appliance like about that.

True enough :) Just the freshening up of the suspension and the new tires made a huge difference in the quality of the handling. I got a steel on the wheels but originally they had the wrong size tires which road like crap being 40 series

Jaynen wrote: I think some of those might go to the newer 5x108 bolt pattern maybe not if you stick to Mk4 stuff

I think you meant 5 X 112?

NGTD wrote:

Jaynen wrote: I think some of those might go to the newer 5x108 bolt pattern maybe not if you stick to Mk4 stuff

I think you meant 5 X 112?

Correct. 5x108 is mainly Volvo and a couple of other obscure brands, but no VW models I know of.