My tuning options, Mk1 Leon 1.8T Cupra

[Mo Arif]

Hello all

WARNING: Age old question(s) on any car specific forum ahead!

You'll have to excuse my stupidity, if it is that, I'm not familiar with VAG car's, this is my first, anyway i have searched before I asked this and have gathered a lot of information but obviously would like to know stuff in specific to requirements / setup. I have a Mk1 Leon Cupra 1.8T, the person I bought it off said that id had been re-mapped and should be running roughly 220Bhp (no proof of this) everything completely standard on the car, I've never driven a Cupra before so I don't know what a 180Bhp Mk1 Leon feels like, but it is nippy pulls well in every gear, even 6th, power delivery is a bit different to what I'm use to, it's a bit more sensible then jap turbo's but I'm happy with it.

So it's been 4 weeks since I've had it and since then I've added the following:

Re-circulating dump valve (007p copy, seems to do the job well)
Universal Open Cone Filter (Nice throaty roar but nothing special)
Boost Gauge (Smoked Red to match interior lights)



Not noticed much of a difference really with the above apart from noise and a bit more responsive to throttle

Anyway (here it comes!) I want a tad bit more power (nothing crazy) minimum 250-270 bhp?, I'd like to know the following:


What are the BHP limits of the K03 turbo ?

Is it worth me investing in a Hybrid K03?

Am I better off going for a K04 Turbo (maybe a Hybrid) conversion?

Has anyone used T3/T4 Turbo's? I've seen manifolds available for the 1.8T to accommodate the T3/T4 wouldn't this option be better then a K03 or a K04?

Are all Mk4 golf/Mk1 TT, Mk1 A3 1.8T engine/suspension/exhaust parts interchangeable with the Mk1 Leon or do they differ

this turbo stuff can make you go bonkers....

What would I need for my car above, to achieve the figure I want?

I'm constantly searching on the forum too so don't think I'm neglecting that valuable feature, search is god.

 

[virdi]

All these little tweaks do make a difference and help.

However - If you want to make a big difference - Just save up and go for a Big Turbo conversion.

You will never look back and have a big smile on your face for a very long time

 

[andycupra]

if you want 260 bhp get an LCR. you will spend loads on the cupra to get to 260 bhp and then will think i need better brakes, handling etc...

 

[Murdered LCR]

Hybrid ko3s make around 260-280 depending on your other mods etc

 

[Mo Arif]

I don't think I'd want to go down the big turbo route on the LC, I want to work with what I have.

I'm looking more at around 250bhp, don't have the budget for a LCR yet, and even if i did, truthfully I'd prob end up buying something else for money.

Looking to spend around £1000-2000 on the engine max, next few mods I'm looking at are:

4 Bar FPR
TIP
FMIC
Miltek turbo back or de-cat exhaust

What does the standard K03 top out at?

I was thinking a hybrid k03, there's less tinkering about to do with this route but also wanted to know the limits of the standard k03.

 

[Murdered LCR]

Around 220bhp for k03 240bhp odd for k03s stage 2

 

[Mo Arif]

Looks like the hybrid route for me then.

 

[Murdered LCR]

Ur be spending more like 4 k+ not 1/2k for hybrid

 

[Murdered LCR]

And you need to sorce a k03s to hybrid not ur k03

 

[LEE69]

And you need to sorce a k03s to hybrid not ur k03

The Cupra 180 as the K03s, mine does.
It was the real early ones x reg? that had the K03

 

[Mo Arif]

How could I check to see if I have the K03 or the K03S, you can hardly get to the turbo on these car's, i'm use to car's with the turbo at the front.

 

[Murdered LCR]

Depends how old the car is some came with k03 I was only stating he need a k03s to hybrid as he said he had a k03

 

[Murdered LCR]

2002 will have a k03s mate so 240 ish stage 2 my mate has a stage 2 one thats 242 bhp last time he went on rollers since then he has had a tig art mani fitted so will be a bit more rob don said he gained 19 bhp from it

 

[andycupra]

How could I check to see if I have the K03 or the K03S, you can hardly get to the turbo on these car's, i'm use to car's with the turbo at the front.

what year is your car?

what is the 3 character engine code:
(front offside of engine).

if its APP it will have a K03.
If its anything else it will be a K03s.


and how much do you think LCRs go for? if you have a cupra, and then plan to spend £2000 on it... (will be more like £3000) then surely an LCR can be had. even one already modded with lots of bits on it already.

 

[Mo Arif]

My car's a 2002 (very late) mk1 Leon Cupra

I think my engine code is AUQ

So if the Hybrid is going to cost in excess of 4K, is it not work getting a K04, Inlet to accommodate and uprated fuel injectors?

Confused and stuck, didn't realise there was very little tuning gains on these engines in comparison to say Jap Turbo's, a starlet can hit 200+ bhp on a TD04 bolt-on and minor tweaks, I've noticed £ per Bhp, it's expensive tuning 1.8T's, Not taking anything away from this car, it's a completely different type of car, less raw more refined, still I like the car and want to stick to it.

How much can the 1.8T AUQ lump handle on standard internals?

Has anyone used a T3/T4 turbo with their Leon Cupra's ? I've seen T3/T4 manifolds for the 1.8T engines:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEAT-LEON-99-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c0e4398dd

or a complete kit like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-9...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

What are the results like?

Well I have seen LCR's price ranges, and tbh a good one is 6K+ the rest are battered abused rides. I bought mine as a wild-card, I was looking for a well set-up Glanza V so I done limited research, i.e. common problems and faults to look for, never researched the tuning potential (not saying there ain't any)

 

[traumapat]

Internals up to around 320bhp/ lbsft... But depends on turbo and map.

K03s which you have maxes out at 240 odd.

 

[andycupra]

My car's a 2002 (very late) mk1 Leon Cupra

I think my engine code is AUQ

So if the Hybrid is going to cost in excess of 4K, is it not work getting a K04, Inlet to accommodate and uprated fuel injectors?

Confused and stuck, didn't realise there was very little tuning gains on these engines in comparison to say Jap Turbo's, a starlet can hit 200+ bhp on a TD04 bolt-on and minor tweaks, I've noticed £ per Bhp, it's expensive tuning 1.8T's, Not taking anything away from this car, it's a completely different type of car, less raw more refined, still I like the car and want to stick to it.

How much can the 1.8T AUQ lump handle on standard internals?

Has anyone used a T3/T4 turbo with their Leon Cupra's ? I've seen T3/T4 manifolds for the 1.8T engines:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEAT-LEON-99-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c0e4398dd

or a complete kit like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-9...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

What are the results like?

Well I have seen LCR's price ranges, and tbh a good one is 6K+ the rest are battered abused rides. I bought mine as a wild-card, I was looking for a well set-up Glanza V so I done limited research, i.e. common problems and faults to look for, never researched the tuning potential (not saying there ain't any)

ok your engine DOES have the k03s turbo.
internals are fine to go past 300bhp.


you could say that the cupra is already been tuned up by seat, as its pretty much the same as the 150 bhp engine.

the 180 bhp cupras i agree dont have so much left to play with tuning wise, although a remap does make a significant difference as you will get a nice increase in torque, and about 25 bhp.

But i agree with your sentiments, and i would say that the LCR really is the one to go for both in stock terms and that it seems to give a bit more back in terms of basic tuning.

 

[Mo Arif]

Let's be realistic then, what do I need to achieve 240bhp? well basically top out the K03S

 

[xr2turbo]

sorry to hijack but the above info leads me to belever my aug X plate LC has a k03s, is that right?
if so i may tinker more, i didnt bother as it seemed the 1st on teh list is turbo but i couldnt be arsed finding and fitting a k03s but if i already have 1 im set to stick more bits on

fanks

 

[LEE69]

sorry to hijack but the above info leads me to belever my aug X plate LC has a k03s, is that right?
if so i may tinker more, i didnt bother as it seemed the 1st on teh list is turbo but i couldnt be arsed finding and fitting a k03s but if i already have 1 im set to stick more bits on

fanks

Yours may have the K03 don't be put off IIRC kineticz as that turbo (or did he change it?) and got 241.5bhp/254lbft