As engines age, they inherently become more attention-demanding as their parts wear. Some engines, though, are simply considered unreliable due to common failures even during their lower-mileage life. That doesn’t mean they are worth writing off, however. The BMW N54 and Audi 2.7T are both regularly called ‘unreliable’ but their performance potential outweighs any fears [...]
Every year, we open up the chance for our whole community to participate in a completely Virtual Car Show. Last year, amidst the pandemic, it was one of the few, if only, events many of us had a chance to enter. This year, while we’re heading back to normality, we’re still going to bring you [...]
Some years ago right before I started working here at ECS, I had always associated our products with typical performance platforms. The rest of the models offered by European automakers just didn’t have that ‘enthusiast’ owner base that others do, like the GTI, M3, or S4. However, we offer more than just support for those [...]
When someone mentions Audi in the context of modified cars, what comes to mind are generally B8 A4s, B5 S4s, the R8, anything with a 5-cylinder, and the likes. Often far down that list, if it’s even present, is the B6 A4 1.8T Quattro. Not for any intrinsic reasons, it’s a great car and has [...]
The VW MK7 R has been in our hands long enough now that some of its weak points have become clear to owners and enthusiasts. If you’re looking for a second-hand MK7 R, chances are, these issues have already been addressed, but it’s certainly something to look out for and check the service history. Whether [...]
The MK7 Golf R is VW’s best-performing out of the box hot hatchback solution. It draws enthusiasts to its 292hp turbocharged version of the MQB Gen3 engine, all-wheel-drive system, available manual transmission, and practical 5-door hatchback layout. While it is still new, the MK7 R has not posed too many reliability concerns in the first [...]
We’re cranking out the hits lately. First, the MK5/6 2.0T FSI/TSI fabricated aluminum intake manifold drew tons of attention from big turbo builds. Now, we’re helping you reach those goals to reduce weight and increase efficiency. The new in-house designed MK5, MK6, and MK7 GTI/Golf R OEM Intercooler Delete Brackets are the best way to [...]
The 2.0T FSI/TSI engine has the potential for substantial power. Despite its small displacement, the power ceiling is fairly high for even simple bolt-ons. An intake, turbo-back exhaust, coil packs, software upgrade, and a K04 turbo make the 2.0T an absolute weapon. However, in the process, weak points that would otherwise not be an issue [...]
Basic Performance Upgrades, or BPUs, are the parts we enthusiasts primarily pursue. Most folks don’t do engine building, honing, boring, fabrication, and extensive custom work themselves, and certainly not on their daily drivers. No one is going to break any records with BPUs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth it. The simple formula of [...]
With most of the preventative replacements and maintenance, there isn’t much you can do to improve performance. However, once you’ve completed that maintenance, you can begin to modify your 135i with performance parts that give you more power and, in some cases, remedy some issues you might otherwise encounter. The 135i, especially the early N54-powered [...]