Need Help with Choosing Upgrades for 2008 Jetta TSI

[Live4Art]

Two days ago I bought my first car, a Certified 2008 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition (2.0 TSI) with only 24.5k miles. It is a great car and a huge improvement from my previous 2001 Honda.



I feel the time has come to begin to research some upgrades, but I don’t know where to start. So, I NEED YOUR HELP! The upgrades need to be practical, not void my warranty, and be a source of improved car value instead of a deterrent to buyers. My goal is to start with the low hanging fruit upgrades and slowly progress upwards.


My upgrade choices are as follows:
Tier 1:
· Improved Sound System
o I was recommended to get Infiniti speakers and I found them for a steal on Amazon
o http://tinyurl.com/3nl2xdt
· K&N 33-2865 High Performance Replacement Air Filter
o Is a K&N the best brand for VW?
o I think this is the right size
o http://tinyurl.com/3hstt3e


Tier 2:
· ECU Tuning
o Is it worth doing?
o Apparently with the right ECU tuning, the 2.0 TSI engine can produce over 250 HP. That kind of HP gain would be great, but I’m worried that it will void my warranty or possibly permanently damage my engine.
o http://www.goapr.com/products/ecu_up...tsi_trans.html
· Bi-Xenon Headlights
o The brightness of the headlamps is pretty underwhelming.
o Do you know of a good conversion kit that won’t mess with my warranty?


These are the primarily upgrades I want to make, but I am open to any suggestions from others that will improve the performance and/or comfort of my new car. PLEASE HELP ME DETERMINE WHAT UPGRADES ARE BEST FOR MY CAR AND I. Thanks!!!

[kiserhd]

Several of the companies offer a "stock" function that you will be able to switch back to. Out of all the chipped 2.0T's I've seen, not a single one has had issues with warranty.

One member on here (DJ) has done just about every bolt on and tune and has had his engine pretty much rebuilt under warranty without issue.

[kiserhd]

The HID's level was actually selected because of its overall performance and lifespan. You can step up to a 6000k if you want more of a "white" light.

Everything I've heard about ZIZA bulbs have been good. If you have an issue you can just swap the factory bulbs back in for warranty work.

FYI bulbs are considered a wear/tear item and are only covered for the first 12,000 miles or 1 year whichever occurs first.

[Wabbit]

be a source of improved car value instead of a deterrent to buyers

Dont mod your car if you want the value to go up. No matter what you do a mod will never effect value, and any engine upgrades (beyond CAI or SRI and a tune) can be considered deterrents to your run-of-the-mill car shopper. It doesn't matter if you drop 10 grand in your car don't expect to see any of it back.

With that said modding is something YOU do for YOURSELF if you wanna do it go for it! Some people like to go with CAIs (cold air intakes) or SRIs (short ram intakes) to improve airflow to the motor. I personally wouldnt waste my time with K&N, nothing personal they are expensive and any old filter will do. If your worried about water getting in your engine at all and voiding your warranty; just get a SRI as it really doesn't matter where the air comes from with a turbo. Out of all the mods (performance wise) that you can do on a turbo, a tune is the best. Bumping the boost pressure even the tiniest amount gives alot in return. I've seen a mk4 1.8t go from mild to wild with tires screeching all the way through 1st with a tune (granted it was stage 2 lmao). APR or REVO is what most go with.