I've heard so much on here about this Garrett Chip. Although, I don't have a clue what it does, how much it costs or if you can get it in the UK. Also, does it invalidate your warrenty...

Al

 

computer can tune an engine to produce more hp and torque. "Garrett" is one tuner of chips for the TT, and it's mentioned so much in the forum because people who have bought it have been so happy with the result. Other manufacturers are ARP (American) and MTM (German).

It is possible to buy a whole new chip, called an ECU, this runs US$400-650, so instead many people remove their ECU themselves and mail it overnight to Garrett or ARP or MTM or one of the other tuners. The tuner swaps out the old chip, installs a new one in your ECU, mails it back, and you reinstall it. (This process of removal and installation seems like something that takes 15-20 minutes, and sits like www.goarp.com show you how it is done.) The cost for this chip upgrade, without a totally new ECU, is about US$500 for the Garrett and ARP, and about US$650 for the MTM (the MTM seems to be the gold standard, and therefore is more expensive, but the other chips apparently give excellent performance, too).

I'm sure you can get the chip upgrade via the International mail, but I have no idea of the time involved. Perhaps something nearer, like the MTM chip, might be more practical.

Regarding warranty, that is an iffy area. In the US, an aftermarket change cannot void a warrantly unless it can be shown that the aftermarket item caused car failure, but Audi might insist that a failure was caused by the chip--and things get dicey.

Here's the mtm site.<ul><li><a href="http://www.mtm-online.de">http://www.mtm-online.de</a</li></ul>

 

Several people have reported that some of the dealers will install an aftermarket chip.

The cost seems to be about $100 than the "offical" chippers.

But that means there should be no warranty problem if the dealers do it.

So for $100 more, if my dealer will do it, so will I.

I have just over 2000 miles on my 180 TTQ, and when I go in for my 5000 mile service, I will ask.

I'm in the Los Angeles area so we will see if they will do it to a California car.

 

The insurance co.s here would take the opinion that the car was 'modified' from its base spec

Although, I'm sure going to look into it once the Audi Warrenty has elapsed.

Cheers All

 

Let us know what your dealer says ... I'm in Southern Cal as well.