Actually, why do you need to chip? If car manufacturers were to supply the properly programmed chips instead the delta in cost would be minimal, and then they could promote the additional performance. Chip proponents claim no change in reliability or longevity, so why not offer the chip as standard equipment?

I'm looking to be edjumacated on this....

 

A "chip" is OEM, the programming is the variable component

 

Mfgs. are looking to meet emissions standards, position their car with the competition, ensure 'overengineering' for longevity, durability. Look at it this way...the 1.8T engine is overengineered. Audi went from the 150hp variety to the 170-180 variety with little engineering investment. The original engine just needed the chip reprogrammed, as well as a few other enhancements (exhaust and some other components). Pretty smart if you ask me. They use the same engine footprint and tweak it over the years.

 

As well as if they sold 1.8's with GT25 turbos, which Audi uses in their R8 LeMans cars, that would cut into the S4 market. I realize the there is more to the 2.8 and S4 than just the hp, but it's still makes little sense from a marketing standpoint.

Drive a chipped car...you'll like it.

 

I believe that if you double the boost pressure, there are going to be tradeoffs in longevity and reliability. Those tradeoffs are somewhat variable, based on how the car is driven, and how it is maintained. Most chipped drivers will give their car a requisite 1-2 minute cool down. Ask the average $30K luxury car buyer if they will do the same...the answer will be no. That single factor will play an important role in the life of a turbo.

From my standpoint, I have a chipped car, and I fully expect components to have a shorter life than they would on a stock car. I expect that this will be relatively insignificant, since I don't tap into full boost constantly. Time will tell whether my expectations are correct. My feeling is that the engine was probably designed with 200K miles in mind. I'm interested in seeing 100K. If the 200K number is correct, that's a pretty wide margin for error.

From Audi's standpoint, their engineers can probably say the 99% of the A4's will go to 100K miles without any significant problems (however they define that word). Well, a chipped car will probably see a little more stress, and it may have a 95% chance of making it to 100K miles without significant problems. That 5% is probably pretty important to Audi. From a tuner's standpoint, this 4% difference is interpreted to be insignificant, hence the phrase "no change in reliability or longevity".

From time to time, you'll notice younger people (still in school, no job) asking about chipping their cars, admitting that if anything goes wrong, they'll be SOL. Many posters here will advise those people to avoid chipping. I would advise them the same. That is an admission that there is some increased chance of problems (however insignificant it may be). If you can't afford the take the risk, don't.

As the other poster mentioned, Audi sells the 2.8 engine with similar hp ratings as a chipped 1.8 for $4K more. They can't market and sell the 2.8 just by saying it's more luxurious, they need to back it up with something more substantial. If they want to claim you are getting more engine for your money, they have to have numbers on their literature to back it up.

My $0.02.

 

US 1.8T had 150hp up to MY2000---Rest of world got 180. Chips restore the balance!

 

The reason why U.S spec A4 1.8T's arent programmed with the advanced timing and higher boost levels from the start are for two main reasons.
1. When you advance the timing and boost in a car the gas has to be run leaner to prevent detonation, there fore you are required to use 91 or higher octane other wise your engine will ping and knock up the yahoo, and in just like everyone else stated before the average owner is not going to let their turbo cool down because they are not into car's, where as someone the chips the car themself is most likely going to be aware that they should give the turbo a good 1-2 minutes to let it cool down, on top of that reprograming the timing and boost levels can adversly affect your mpg.
2.If you take a look in the 2001 A4 brochure from the dealer flip to the performance specificaitons of the 2.8 and the 1.8. Notice the 1.8T hasnt been tested 0-60 times.
The reason is obvious. Why would someone want to spend 5,000 extra if the 0-60 times stock are only estimated at a .5 difference.
3.There are laws in California for emmissions and their are certain D.O.T and
C.A.R.B restrictions all over the U.S for factory specifications. Thats why you see many major performance companies such as Neuseed go through the trouble of getting an exempt license.

And thats how it is