1.8T Coil Upgrade

[Jack4688]

What's the advantage of upgrading your coils on an ABY? Is it only worth it if you are doing many engine mods or will it improve a standard or just remapped ABY?

I'm thinking of buying a set for sale here but not sure it's worth my bother. Thanks in advance

[quattro-nick]

I think they are much more reliable than the origionele one(getting extreme hot under the coilcover) and also reduce the kost if you replace one
i use v8 redcoils,great stuff

[Jack4688]

So is it only worth it if you are having ignition related reliability problems?

[Error404]

The OEM ignition system is very high quality, but it is getting old. Sooner or later your coils and/or POS units will fail, at that point it is cheaper to swap to the 1.8/2.0T coils as the OEM S2 parts are very expensive

[Jack4688]

Ah so are people doing it mainly for that reason? I.e. not for increased performance

[Error404]

No, there is no performance benefit unless you are having issues with your OEM gear

[Jack4688]

Thanks, you've just saved me from spending money where I didn't need to!

[Error404]

No use spending money for no reason
You've probably jinxed it now though
When you need to do the swap, gimme a shout I can sort your out a harness

[Christophski]

Jack, when you do the swap, Alex makes a top quality harness that looks OEM. I should know, I have one of his fitted to my car ane even my mate who builds show cars that win things at Edition was impressed with it!

[Error404]

Cheers Chris

[UrS4boy]

What's the advantage of upgrading your coils on an ABY? Is it only worth it if you are doing many engine mods or will it improve a standard or just remapped ABY?

I developed the 1.8T coilpack alternative for the AAN (and ABY and ADU) engines back in 2005 (hard to believe it's that long ago) as an alternative in case the expensive OE POS and coil system became NLA in the future (this is now getting close to being true). In 2004, I had gone to RS2 standards (plus - actually around 380 hp at the time) and by 2005 was experiencing some missing with the OE POSs and coils. Rather than spend about $1000 to replace the entire OE system with new POSs and coils, I developed the first 1.8T coil pack conversion. I then wrote up a detailed DIY and shared it on the internet. Subsequently in April 2006 034 and Apikol came out with commercialized versions of what I had done as a DIY (I got no credit/mention from either - which still P's me off to this day).

The 1.8t coilpack conversion was never intended as an upgrade. Just a lower cost and capable alternative to the OE system. With the improvement of the VAG coil packs regarding reliability, this is a real option for those that do not intend to track their cars (there is an ECU dwell issue which if uncorrected by people like prj, will tend to kill the coil packs for those that regularly track their cars (sustained high RPMs) - for normal spirited driving they are more than fine). The recommended coilpacks are the latest 2.0T coil packs or the red V8 coil packs, the 115Es.

Here is a photo of my engine, now running an Apikol harness (my original harness was still functioning fine but it was very FUGLY compared to the professionally done harnesses). I highly recommend running no cover whatsoever and specifically not the OE "20V turbo" cover since it will cause coilpack heat death.

[quattro-nick]

this is my coil setup(red v8 coils)
i made the wireloom myself

[UrS4boy]

this is my coil setup(red v8 coils)
i made the wireloom myself

Very nice job. Far nicer than my first 2005 attempt.

[quattro-nick]

thanks

[quattro-nick]

i have adapt the coilcover and use it on the road but remove it if i go on track