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 [...]
With all the fun that happened this weekend at Dubs at the Lake in McHenry, Maryland, it would be a shame to condense it all into a single article. While the meat and potatoes coverage will be released this Sunday in our ongoing Tuned In Weekly series, we thought we’d spend a bit of time talking about [...]
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 [...]
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 Volkswagen MK4 GTI with the 1.8T engine is one of the most commonly modified platforms available. Thanks to its availability, affordability, and the aftermarket support offered for this engine, it’s more of a question of where to start rather than what to do. Everyone knows bolt-on upgrades paired with a software tune are the [...]
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 [...]
The B7 A4 has plenty of potential to graduate from its luxury commuter status to that of a more performance oriented daily driver. It does have a few drawbacks we have covered in a previous article about the common problems B7 A4 owners can expect, but today's DIY helps tackle some of those while also [...]
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 [...]
Upgrades that give your car both a visual improvement and a boost in performance are the best-case option when it comes to modifications. With the improvement in carbon-fiber technology and rapid development for aftermarket upgrades, the future has yielded some incredibly creative approaches to these dual-purpose parts. Namely, our newest line of carbon fiber upgrades [...]