Monday im picking up my 03 Jetta with a 1.8L turbo motor only has 42000 miles on it. i was wondering what kind of motor mods i can do easliy and how much will they cost me? im open for suggestions on this. i just dont want exhaust that sounds like a "fart can ricer car"

and also can i fit 18" wheels on the car without suspension mods? if i can what size do the tires have to be?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Cody

 

P.S. what kind of boost pressure do these cars run stock? and how much can they safely handle with stock motor internals?

Thanks agian

 

Exhaust wont sound like a ricer if you dont buy a crappy kind. The turbo acts a little like a muffler in that you wont hear nearly as much from the exhaust because of it. I'm on a tight budget for my ride and do what i can for now, so i haven't changed exhaust yet, but there are a lot of good brands out there, not so cheap unfortunately. you'll spend probably between 600 and 1100 for a good quality turbo-back exhaust. APR, GHL, Neuspeed, there are a lot of good ones just look around.
Intake is a good one, some people say it does no good but i feel it does. you can buy a CAI or save some money and modify you stocker as well as use a K&N. i did the stock airbox cold air intake mod + K&N and felt a definite difference. probably a few extra horses and most definitely better throttle response. here's a link to the thread about it:

https://volkswagenforum.com/m_4179/tm.htm

Yes you can fit 18's on the car without mods, but i dont know tire size. I think majority of the guys with modded MK4s run 18s. I decided not to because i like a meatier tire and less chance of a blow out on crappy roads.

Stock the cars runs about 8 pounds of boost, i've heard you can run 15 on the stock but i dont know about how safe that is. Research a lot more before playing with boost, you dont wanna over do it.
-good luck

 

thanks joelzy i think that i may go with 17's bc the roads arent the best where i am from so it will probably help the ride out a little bit. im gonna start lookin into exhaust companys and doin some research on the car. thanks, cody

 

The stock turbo in your car is either the KO3S or the KO4 turbo, and yes it runs about 8 psi stock.
Getting an exhaust would free up some horsepower, because the car has alot of restriction due to the stock exhaust. Im sure you could find a good exhaust for alot less than what that guy said. Im sure having a blow off valve would be nice to have, but i do not suggest getting one. Some VW's it works just fine for and others it causes problems. A CAI would actually be an easy cheap upgrade, but that guy says he used his stock airbox to make a CAI, that isnot possible unless it is extremely ghetto rigged, I think what he is talking about doing was swiss cheesing his airbox. I dont think you should do that either. I had a CAI but i decided to take it off, and use a massive air filter. When you get rid of the stock airbox and all that unneeded plastic and add a CAI or just a filter, it will actually let your car blow off, and it does increase horsepower, ( said to be 8-15 hp gains).
I dont suggest just turning up the boost, although like he said the stock motor will hold up to 15 psi, and i dont know how much speed is important to you, but I suggest instead of just turning up your boost, you get a chip ( APR, GAIC). Chipping your car will actually be like getting you car tuned, it changes your ecu setting to perform alot better, it tunes the motor to uses the upgrades you have added etc. It will allow you to boost around 20-22 lbs, and your car will FLY.
Also, yes you can put 18's on the car without getting modified suspension, and you will still have plenty of clearance. The stock suspension sucks though, in my opinion along with alot of other peoples. I have 18's with 225/40/18 tire size. And i live in Murfreesboro Tn. We have good roads, and horrible roads, and my car does just fine.
I know that this isnt very detailed, but if you need any help or have anymore questions just ask. Im sure i will be able to help.
-NEED MORE BOOST-

 

NEED MORE BOOST
First of all, The stock turbo is a KO3 or KO3S, KO4 is an aftermarket turbo,
If you want a quality TURBO-BACK exhaust, you will probably pay that much, if you can find a good one cheaper, more power to you. but i wouldnt trust the cheaper stuff.
You dont want a blow off valve unless upgrading big, otherwise the car will expect the extra air from the DV and compensate with extra fuel when in reality you arent getting the extra air because its blowing off instead of diverting causing a rich fuel mixture. whether it throws a CEL or not doesnt matter, the car isnt running its full potential.
Using the stock airbox is totally possible to make a CAI, in fact, my Intake is more true to the COLD AIR INTAKE than most, being that it pulls air from the bumper(outside) and not the engine bay like just about any cold air intake you'll buy. Did you even look at the link before attempting to claim i ghetto rigged my car? i assure you i didnt, I Simply allowed my car to breath by opening the air passage TO the stock airbox, which i did NOT swiss cheese, and puting in a K&N.
I used 3 inch tubing from the bumper to the airbox, no holes, no ghetto rigging. Works just as good as your run of the mill CAI, only it pulls from the outside not the engine bay.
When i say 15PSI im talkin max that i would say is safe even with a chip or boost controller... 20-22?, i wouldnt do it on a stock KO3S, but have fun NEED MORE BOOST and let us know when youre turbo is shot.