996 TT Stage 1

Hi... I'm looking for some guidance about a stage 1 performance upgrade. The car already has a sports exhaust with reduced CATS so I'm thinking naturally about a stage 1. Can anyone recommend what to possibly do next and by whom ..(I'm in Staffs / Cheshire )

Stage 1 is a 4.0L conversion. Fearnsport is good.

Get it to Wayne Schofield at Chipwizards near Bolton - the man to map your turbo and get the best out of it His rep is impeccable https://chipwizards.co.uk/

I know they are far away, but it is certainly worth calling Nine Excellence to discuss your options. They are a site sponsor and have a fantastic reputation.

I've recently had my X50 done by Markski Tuning in the states, did it remotely, can't recommend them enough, great communication and support. Mines now running 473 wheel horse power, she spritely alright...

Thank you guys....some options to consider......👍🏽

Another vote for markski. He is recognised and rated by many worldwide. The good thing is you can keep using him if you decide to go further with your tunes. Currently I have a stage 1 remap and looking to add the injectors and hybrid turbos. Again markski will help you with that. He wont just provide you with a tune and walk away. He is always available for support.

Marksi and By Design (Sam), both in the US, have great reputations and are very responsive. Another option might be to get a Cobb accessport. They come with "off the shelf" tunes and you do it yourself...no knowledge required... they can give you a nice boost. They aren't tailor made to just to your own individual car (just standard for your model)...but cost a bit less and one off the advantages is that if you sell the car, you can take it back to stock and reuse the Cobb on your next car.

May I please ask you to give me a bit more info on these custom turbo's...I'm still learning the art of the possible on these 996 TT's. 🤓

Protomotive is a good tuner from the US. I believe 9E is an agent in the UK. There maybe others. MRC are also good and work on Porsche as are Litchfields

:thumb:

No matter what you do I'd start with a health check. Even if the car is running fine it will probably have developed a lot of minor boost leaks over its life. Especially the DV valves that will almost certainly need replacing. Adding a map will only exaggerate the effect of these and if you keep running with them you can cause a lot more damage. Next you will need an uprated clutch. A standard clutch in good condition will hold the torque but it will also wear out much faster! You'd be better to fit an uprated one and forget about it. Mine has run over 500hp for 50k miles so far and is still feeling as strong as new. You also want to get the turbos checked for play on the bearings. Spinning them faster will rapidly end their lives if the bearing isn't too clever now. Lastly it's worth getting a set of new coils and plugs. Better to do this now than after you get a misfire. I bet at least one of your coils will be original if you haven't done them already. After all this it might feel like a lot of expense for nothing but all you are really doing is saving yourself a much longer period of pain. Now you're ready to map, and you'll get a lot more out of it too. Assuming your car is not an X50 or a turbo S then you will have the smaller K16 turbo chargers currently fitted. I had a map on these by Fearnsport, it made a huge difference to first gear, better at staying on boost at gear changes and pull in the high gears 5th/ 6th but it wasn't as transformational as I'd hoped.. more felt like a better standard car. Plenty fast, big shove in the mid range, but much like the standard car. The X50, turbo S and GT2 all came with the larger K24 turbos. Changing to these and getting a map, especially with the freer flowing exhaust is a noticably more expensive step.. but it is transformative. It will feel and sound like a different car. I was hesitant to take this hit, I sold my 996 turbo thinking it just wasn't quite what I was looking for, but if I had my time again I should have never hesitated. The engine just feels so much more characterful and special at higher boost levels.. and my god does it have some shove! I ended up back in a 996 turbo and now I would never sell the thing.

In my experience... Stage 1- is an ecu tune only Stage 2- high flow exhaust Stage 3+ - starting to add upgraded turbos and other parts (fuel/intercoolers). You have the exhaust without the tune...adding the tune will take you to stage 2. Some of the packages here might help get you and idea on what the output is: https://www.fvd.net/de-en/shop?&ter...ode=&view=thumb&order=score&fq[]=620&fq[]=720

Hi Devine, Many thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed update and list of recommendations. I've got it booked in with my indi as mentioned for an extensive inspection. I guess this will then dictate the work package I have to initially consider prior to commencing on any upgrades. Once done with the resulting works I will start to look at the upgrade path, but your experience and recommendations are noteworthy and I again thank you for taking the time to pen then 👍🏽. Turbo replacement might be my first port of call then maybe a remap?

Thank you justk2020.....this is also my understanding of the upgrade path after reading a little more 👍🏽