hey everybody, first time poster here.

i have a 1997 b5 a4 that im pretty fond of, and the engine just **** out on me the other day while driving, not exactly sure what went wrong but it sounds like a school bus now and has NO power... my shop which i trust said to just swap an engine, so thats what im about to do.

now, i figured id just go ahead and get a k04 turbo for them to put on the replacement engine(since it doesnt come with a stock turbo) but i was just wondering what else i should do to compliment the k04???

im not very mechanically inclined so im not too informed but ive heard mention of ECU software, blow off values and DV's and other things i dont know about.

oh, and i was also gonna have some lowering springs put on while its in the shop

 

ko4 is useless just save the money and get a apr chip with the factory k03 when you do the swap

 

Well the question for the k04 are how much power are you looking for?

Youll be looking at a new dv, ecu tuning, free flowing exhaust and a boost gauge to start.

I also reccomend injectors, and a front mount to compliment it and get the full power. Ive converted mine to k04, and im having the learning curve of problems, but I am happy with the power. I still need a tune and fmic as well.

 

Wrong. On a 97 which has a regular k03, the k04 is a very nice power upgrade. I would source a slightly used turbo and a giac pc16 file that matches your ecu on the classifieds. I would also find out exactly what's wrong with your motor before spending all that money on a new one. Does it need head work? Is the shortblock fucked? Def ask before dropping the cash

 

no a ko4 will give you like 10 more hp theres been guys on here that said they raced a chiped ko3 and a ko4 and they were both heads up

 

ive heard i could hit 230hp with the k04 turbo and the proper ecu software(altho not sure which software that is)

i should be able to get a used motor with 90k and a k04 turbo for around 1700$ which seems like a pretty good price to me....

as far as other parts i would absolutely need in order to drive the car with the bigger turbo what would i be looking at?

 

I'm sorry but don't listen do this guy. K04s are fundamentally better than a K03 and since you're spending the money anyway you should go for it. Just because someone he knows has an incorrectly tuned K04 A4 or a worn out motor doesn't prove that a K03 is the same thing.
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng27.shtml
But it you don't want an extra 35 horsepower for at most a few hundred more dollars you should just get a K03

 

You're thinkin of the k03s which came in later a4s. I had a chipped k03 and a k04, world of difference.

 

K04- easiest and most reliable replacement turbo. It is a direct bolt on replacement. You don't need to replace anything but it is strongly recommended that you get new programming. The most popular is GIAC and with it you will also need a 5 bar FPR. GIAC also offers 3 aggressive files PC-16 for Pre '00, J31 for '00, and Hammer for '01. They are each different but all require an adjustable FPR, bigger injectors, fmic, and you will most likely need a new clutch soon after. If you have a B6 or B7 A4 the k04 is a pointless upgrade. You will only gain a 5-10 hp because of the k03s. It has a 1mm bigger wheel shaft, and more aggressively angled fins on the compressor wheel so it can hold more boost more efficiently. A big injector file for the k03 will put out almost the same numbers as a k04 setup. k04 will max out around 250hp

250hp! omg so much hp

 

No one said that was a ton of power lol. But a k04 is definitely capable of a decent increase over the regular k03. In one of your prior posts you said just get an Apr chip with a regular k03. Then you say gettin a big injector file for the k03 makes the same power as the k04. This isn't true because they don't have the same efficiency and boost capabilities as the k04. Not to mention that I'm pretty sure noone even makes an upgraded injectors file for the reg k03.