Essential Cupra upgrades?

[Gee]

Gentlemen, (and ladies of course)

In recent weeks I upgraded my ibiza from a boy to a man...

Yes, I sold my beloved 1.4 (pre-face lift) black ibiza, and being an avid fan obviously,
I treated myself to a car made from the same stuff dreams are made of,
...Yellow peril!! *ahem* (A 1.8T 20V Cupra in the famous Omni Yellow).

To say I am happy with the car is an understatement and I finally have turbo power

I have started to change minor things as we all do to make it our own,

1. Pioneer head unit
2. Led bulbs all round
3. HiD's
4. Debadged
5. VW Polo rear wiper

However, when it comes to engine tunning and the exhaust.. I become a bit unstuck!

So I turn to my fellow seat'ers for some advice on the do'd and don't's, and perhaps a list of essential upgrades and modifications?..

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Marcus_550]

Best mod you can do power wise is a remap but depends if you just want a little extra power or go stage 2 even further, basics tends to be full turbo back (think most go milltek), turbo intake pipe (forge, sfs, creation motorsport, samco) don't have to go open cone filter but the noise is mint, g60 lightened and balanced flywheel and vr6 clutch is a worth while upgrade but not essential, list can go on really, have a look at what over people have done and see what you like and fancy doing, best mod for me was the remap, worst was the jom coilovers, hope this helps

 

[Gee]

Thanks for the reply Marcus, very informative. I have plans of getting the forge turbo recirculation and bov are these any good? Unfortunately will not be able to do any mods any time soon, car was over heating.. has resulted in new water pump, (cam belt changed as it was off) new thermostat, this did not solve the problem, after running diagnostics it reavelad the head gasket has blown...

 

[Lowe]

Don't do HIDs please, you'll piss people off no end with glare.

First things first - forget power. Sort the car out before adding more grunt.

Proper tyres
Check the cam belt. If you can't prove it's been done, get it done!
Check the rear calipers aren't seized. Check the fronts too, stick some decent pads in.
Get a suspension alignment done on a Hunter machine.

If all of the above is sorted, *then* start doing the fun stuff. Boring I know, but you need a good base on which to build.

 

[Adjay]

Before a map id recommend uprated intercooler pipe the top one that cones out of the intercooler and also the tip. And exhaust and sports cat. Reason being i have noticed even more so on the ibiza 1.8t cos the car is short there aint much of an exhaust these cars thrive on being free flowing. I got my custom map and tuner and myself where inpressed by the torque figures reason being its cos its breathing well. And i noticed the cold side dv relocation kit really helps. I think engine mounts seam to be a problem on these, they dont last.

 

[Adjay]

I woudnt go milteck, i wouldnt pay over the odds. A good recomended custom exhaust centre is perfect, the right costome exhaust centre use the same equipment as miltek anyways, or they should.

 

[Gee]

Don't do HIDs please, you'll piss people off no end with glare.

First things first - forget power. Sort the car out before adding more grunt.

Proper tyres
Check the cam belt. If you can't prove it's been done, get it done!
Check the rear callipers aren't seized. Check the fronts too, stick some decent pads in.
Get a suspension alignment done on a Hunter machine.

If all of the above is sorted, *then* start doing the fun stuff. Boring I know, but you need a good base on which to build.

Good advice, car is currently undergoing a near rebuild where cam belt has been changed, along with thermostat and water pump, head gasket and head is being checked also. The previous owner or garage had filled it up with gasket repair which has in turn cost me a lot a money to say i'm annoyed is putting it lightly..

tyres are good all round, haven't checked callipers but I will ask the garage to check! not sure about suspension allinment, is it costly? budget is rather low until new year now

 

[Gee]

I woudnt go milteck, i wouldnt pay over the odds. A good recomended custom exhaust centre is perfect, the right costome exhaust centre use the same equipment as miltek anyways, or they should.

Thanks, was thinking of de-catting soon/ish as is not expensive.. will this put the car into limp mode for definite? I like the the raspy sound of milltek and the odd pop, crackle and bang is appealing to me, will a custom exhaust be able to do the same?

 

[Adjay]

It will show up a ecu error for sure with out a map dont know if itll go into limp mode though. I have a 3inch down pipe and 2cell cat and 2.5 all the way to the back with a non res rear box. It likes to pop alot and is very sweet sounding. Funny enough after the map it went quieter but the exhaust was a bit to load before. Have a listen to my setup iv a video. One sec

 

[Adjay]

Seat Ibiza cupra: http://youtu.be/SWFVBzVeH_M

This one was before the map so its over fueling a bit which you can see in the small puff of smoke.
Custom Ibiza cupra turbo exhaust: http://youtu.be/U5n3ShBgdpM

 

[Gee]

Seat Ibiza cupra: http://youtu.be/SWFVBzVeH_M

This one was before the map so its over fueling a bit which you can see in the small puff of smoke.
Custom Ibiza cupra turbo exhaust: http://youtu.be/U5n3ShBgdpM

Man... that's one sweet sounding cupra, that's how I want mine to sound!! Do you mind if I ask how much it set you back? However, I love the look of the oval tip, will effect the sound if I kept the tip?

 

[Adjay]

Na i dont think the exhaust tip would effect the sound that much. My full system cost me €455 but i got 20% discount cos im promoting with him at car shows over here.

 

[Marcus_550]

with regards to the hids iv got h7r ones with the little reflective bit over the bulb basically doesn't blind people and haven't had one bit of trouble no blinding people passed mot so personally id go for them ones as the normal hids are ****, diverter valve people say u must change it, it breaks when you look at it, would buy into the hype i did but there was no issue at all with my standard one and lots of people run standard dv with stage 2 cars, bovs can make the car run like a pig and arnt worth it, regards to handling and what not if ur going stage 2 even coilovers and what not aint going to stop you spinning the wheels on a fwd car, iv got coil overs, 2 of the mounts made solid, decent tires and still spin in 2nd, 3rd in the wet its hopeless, just do some cheap mods and decide which way you want to go with the car

 

[Gee]

Na i dont think the exhaust tip would effect the sound that much. My full system cost me €455 but i got 20% discount cos im promoting with him at car shows over here.

Have to say I am very impressed.. There is a custom exhaust place just down the road.. will have to take it in there in the new year, as an estimate for the repairs are £1000 so that's really going to set me back!

 

[Gee]

with regards to the hids iv got h7r ones with the little reflective bit over the bulb basically doesn't blind people and haven't had one bit of trouble no blinding people passed mot so personally id go for them ones as the normal hids are ****, diverter valve people say u must change it, it breaks when you look at it, would buy into the hype i did but there was no issue at all with my standard one and lots of people run standard dv with stage 2 cars, bovs can make the car run like a pig and arnt worth it, regards to handling and what not if ur going stage 2 even coilovers and what not aint going to stop you spinning the wheels on a fwd car, iv got coil overs, 2 of the mounts made solid, decent tires and still spin in 2nd, 3rd in the wet its hopeless, just do some cheap mods and decide which way you want to go with the car

Where did you buy your HID's from? i don't want rubbish ones as they are one of my pet hates when some idiot in his corsa in 2ft behind you blinding you! but how do bovs make it run like st? i understand the recirculation bov is the way forward, will this still make it run bad?

 

[Marcus_550]

nah a blow off valve vents to atmosphere, diverter valve is a closed system, closes system is what you want, something to do with dumping the charge pressure back into the intake with a closed and when its a bov it dumps the air in the engine bay n plays havoc with the system by all accounts but I'm not a mechanic so can't say if what iv described is 100% right, eBay but think it was hids 4 you, 55 pounds a think i payed had no issue what so ever just make sure they got the r bit in the title, not 100% sure but i think there h7 fitment

 

[Gee]

i will have a look for the "R" in the title, don't want to be making everyone squint when they see my car! but i understand what your saying however i will speak to my mechanic about a recirc bov.. best of both worlds perhaps?

 

[Marcus_550]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7R-35w-U...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5635123ed5

think that might be the one i got, was that long ago

 

[Marcus_550]

yeh no worries bud, if you put a open cone on it will make the whoosh and turbo noises with out the need for a bov

 

[Adjay]

Ye dont but a bov but a closed loop Dv. For instance id always go 008p 007p forgemotorsport