Cupra 280 turbo failure - what's the current go to turbo?

SteA

Active Member
Jan 12, 2016
226
61
Shrewsbury
Hi all,

Unfortunately the turbo on my 2014 Cupra 280 went pop earlier in the week, its been running stage 1 for probably three or four years. Any thoughts on the best replacement? I doubt I will take it beyond stage 1 although I may be tempted with a hybrid turbo... any suggestions re suppliers? I had a search through the forums, so apologies if I have missed the answer to this!

Thanks in advance,

Steve
 

Damo H

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Oct 3, 2012
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Hi all,

Unfortunately the turbo on my 2014 Cupra 280 went pop earlier in the week, its been running stage 1 for probably three or four years. Any thoughts on the best replacement? I doubt I will take it beyond stage 1 although I may be tempted with a hybrid turbo... any suggestions re suppliers? I had a search through the forums, so apologies if I have missed the answer to this!

Thanks in advance,

Steve
If you're not planning on taking it any further than Stage 1, then your best bet is to try and buy a later revision of the stock IS38 turbo. Its the early IS38 turbos, like those found on the 280 that are the ones that are more likely to go pop.
 
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SteA

Active Member
Jan 12, 2016
226
61
Shrewsbury
If you're not planning on taking it any further than Stage 1, then your best bet is to try and buy a later revision of the stock IS38 turbo. Its the early IS38 turbos, like those found on the 280 that are the ones that are more likely to go pop.

Thanks, thinking about it, it would be nice to have a little headroom, so an IS38 hybrid of some sort?
 

Zer0

Active Member
Jun 22, 2019
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I presumed that if I went a bit further in future then a downpipe and intercooler would be a minimum...

Sorry about your turbo. Take a look at Littco's turbos, they do both direct replacements that are better balanced and if you're looking for a bit more power you could go with a larger turbo, a remap required for those though.


Another option is Kolbenkraft's turbos:

 
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SteA

Active Member
Jan 12, 2016
226
61
Shrewsbury
Sorry about your turbo. Take a look at Littco's turbos, they do both direct replacements that are better balanced and if you're looking for a bit more power you could go with a larger turbo, a remap required for those though.


Another option is Kolbenkraft's turbos:


Thanks, just before I got your reply I ordered one for next day delivery from a race and rally company in Uxbridge. Hopefully should be back on the road early next week!
 
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Woody_72

Active Member
May 10, 2020
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Northwest England
Depends. If you give the car a minute or two for the oil to circulate before setting off and give it a minute or two to cool the bearings before switching off, it'll last a lot longer. My last car got punted on with 117,000 miles and the clutch and turbo were spot-on.
 
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Tonezz

Active Member
Jan 12, 2011
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Preston
its a 2014 car so with an early Turbo that where even failing at stock power. He says its been stage 1 for 3-4 years. So its not unheard of.

Not making me feel good about my 2015. :happy:

Just had the pump done which I didn't know was a potential issue.
 

SteA

Active Member
Jan 12, 2016
226
61
Shrewsbury
I am guessing the root cause is that it was one of the early turbos that had issues. It has always been warmed up and cooled down, without exception. I have done lots of trackdays so it has been used “properly” and I do drive fairly briskly on track. :) Everything else has been carefully checked and compression across the cylinders is within a few psi, so the engine is in great health too.

TBH, I’m not bitter about something like this; I was a lot more annoyed when I had to change the thermostat and water pump because of such an awful design:LOL:

Very much looking forwards to having it back on the road next week, unusually I’m doing big miles at the moment and the Cupra is so much nicer for that than our John Cooper works!
 
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