Removed my Turbo today as its been smoking at about 3000 revs.

About 1 - 2 mm of end play, stripped it down and Alloy casing has some minor scoring and the Compression wheel also has some minor scoring on the blades.

Not sure whether it will repair....

Had a quote subject to inspection of £175 - £275+VAT depending on whether the compression wheel can be salvaged.

Came across this won on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150689389684?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Has anyone come across these before or has got any experience of them?

For £269 maybe worth a punt !

What does everyone think?

cheap chinese cak springs to mind sadly, go for secondhand or rebuild if you can afford

cheap chinese cak springs to mind sadly, go for secondhand or rebuild if you can afford

Surely not all that is Chinese is Rubbish, do we know anyone who's fitted one?

Fit it and count to 10 and wait for a bang lol

Fit it and count to 10 and wait for a bang lol

So can anyone tell me whats wrong with them, surely they can't be that bad.

Constructive criticism please..... :wonder:

Edited 25 November, 201114 yr by nothills

I managed to destroy my turbo with a second rate remap. When looking for a replacement, I considered a cheap copy for about 2 seconds and then bought a genuine unit from Skoda. It might be worth a punt as you say and you could save quite a bit of money.

However, I've always believed you get what you pay for and this is a lot of money to spend if it's not up to the job. Even if the casing is okay, the internals probably aren't. I spoke to numerous companies, people on here and the general feeling was steer clear. If you get yours rebuilt by someone who is a specialist, it should last you years. A genuine part will also offer you some security. Cheap copies are more of a gamble, but it's your money.

Most people on here, especially the old timers (post wise that is) know these cars inside out. If they say steer clear, listen to them and you won't go far wrong.

I managed to destroy my turbo with a second rate remap. When looking for a replacement, I considered a cheap copy for about 2 seconds and then bought a genuine unit from Skoda. It might be worth a punt as you say and you could save quite a bit of money.

However, I've always believed you get what you pay for and this is a lot of money to spend if it's not up to the job. Even if the casing is okay, the internals probably aren't. I spoke to numerous companies, people on here and the general feeling was steer clear. If you get yours rebuilt by someone who is a specialist, it should last you years. A genuine part will also offer you some security. Cheap copies are more of a gamble, but it's your money.

Most people on here, especially the old timers (post wise that is) know these cars inside out. If they say steer clear, listen to them and you won't go far wrong.

Finally ! Thanks for the advise, I was thinking down the lines of repair anyway, but obviously seeing the ebay priced one makes you wonder, I know some of the chinese stuff is inferior quality but I have dealt with numerous chinese companies in the past and the products I dealt in were excellent on quality and price...

Just wish we new some who has first hand experience of them

I once bought a turbo off ebay for my previous volvo s40 turbo but it was a genuine mitsubishi turbo with all stampings and labels on it, it was exactly the same item i would have bought if id of gone to dealers to buy it, (i should know ive fitted enough of them)

Them turbos look like copies of the original items, there doesn't look to be any stampings on it to say what it is actually ment to be, not sure on the KKK turbos but the mitsubishi ones have numbers on what they relate to and what they will flow, ie the 12T been the smallest one fitted to a volvo upto the 19T fitted to some R models and all inbetween,

That says its a KO3/KO4 now from what i understand they are 2 differant units with a KO3s inbetween as what is fitted to the VRS AUQ engine, so reading that they don't even know what there trying to sell

I once bought a turbo off ebay for my previous volvo s40 turbo but it was a genuine mitsubishi turbo with all stampings and labels on it, it was exactly the same item i would have bought if id of gone to dealers to buy it, (i should know ive fitted enough of them)

Them turbos look like copies of the original items, there doesn't look to be any stampings on it to say what it is actually ment to be, not sure on the KKK turbos but the mitsubishi ones have numbers on what they relate to and what they will flow, ie the 12T been the smallest one fitted to a volvo upto the 19T fitted to some R models and all inbetween,

That says its a KO3/KO4 now from what i understand they are 2 differant units with a KO3s inbetween as what is fitted to the VRS AUQ engine, so reading that they don't even know what there trying to sell

They are based in Lancashire and they do state it is for the AUQ Engine which mine is...

Anyway I've emailed them to ask who its made by, is it definately for the K03s and what warranty do they give..

It will be interesteing to see what they have to say

why not get yours repaired by one of the companies doing hybrid? uprated internals etc

A mate bought a n Ebay turbo for a S2 RS turbo

Needless to say it's been dead for years

The eBay ad

Brand New,

Direct replacement,

Model number K03 / K04

1,5 Bar,

250 - 260 PS really??.....no mention of it being a hybrid/urated turbo

Adjustable actuator for adjustable boost control,

Professional installation is recommended,

3 Bolt exhaust manifold flange,

4 bolt exhaust downpipe flange

Cheap tat IMO.

The eBay ad

Brand New,

Direct replacement,

Model number K03 / K04

1,5 Bar,

250 - 260 PS really??.....no mention of it being a hybrid/updated turbo

Adjustable actuator for adjustable boost control,

Professional installation is recommended,

3 Bolt exhaust manifold flange,

4 bolt exhaust downpipe flange,

The vrs is a 3 bolt downpipe!

Cheap tat IMO.

I don't think your right?

Cos my VRS has 3 bolt - Manifold to Turbo and a 4 bolt Flange - Turbo to Exhaust

I don't think your right?

Cos my VRS has 3 bolt - Manifold to Turbo and a 4 bolt Flange - Turbo to Exhaust

I've just looked at a pic of my old downpipe and I don't think I'm right now either

Your vrs must be different to mine then!

it must be, i thought they all had a 4 bolt flange on the AUQ engine.

Mine is a 2003 1.8T 180bhp model, i'm sure the AGU 150bhp is the same as well - 4 bolt flange

It's a big chance to take on one of these eBay turbos, I've seen posts on the mk4 golf and Audi forums in the past where they've gone bang. If you really are set on getting one then make sure they do a thorough warranty

When changing the turbo make sure you check the oil feed and return pipes and make sure they are in good condition and not blocked up else it will just kill a new turbo in no time

When changing the turbo make sure you check the oil feed and return pipes and make sure they are in good condition and not blocked up else it will just kill a new turbo in no time

+1

Most turbo warranties are void if you don't replace the oil feed pipe.

Steer clear of cheap pattern turbos. I've seen a few Golfs, where the owner has taken a punt and lost. By lost, I mean wrecked engine. In both cases the turbos had broken up into small enough bits to get past the intercooler. IIRC, they lasted about 18 months before they went bang.

There may be cheap, good quality, Chinese pattern turbos out there, but I don't know anyone who has found one and could recommend it.

When changing the turbo make sure you check the oil feed and return pipes and make sure they are in good condition and not blocked up else it will just kill a new turbo in no time

Thanks for the advice,

Because the oil feed pipe is quite narrow I was going to change that pipe for a new one as a matter of cause.

The oil drain pipe is quite thick and looks fairly new and fluid flows through it nicely so I'll re-use it.

I've now posted a "Wanted" ad to see if any one has a used one they want to sell at a resonable price.

Funny though I haven't had any responses to my questions from anyone yet on ebay about their Turbo's, warranties etc !!!!

+1

Most turbo warranties are void if you don't replace the oil feed pipe.

Steer clear of cheap pattern turbos. I've seen a few Golfs, where the owner has taken a punt and lost. By lost, I mean wrecked engine. In both cases the turbos had broken up into small enough bits to get past the intercooler. IIRC, they lasted about 18 months before they went bang.

There may be cheap, good quality, Chinese pattern turbos out there, but I don't know anyone who has found one and could recommend it.

Thanks,

Thats the sort of experience I wanted to hear about, "How long they are likely to last"

2nd hand one for sale here http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=213547.0

2nd hand one for sale here http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=213547.0

Thanks for that, had a look and the output pipe to the IC is different, mine has a muffler on it don't know whether it will fit.

Thanks for that, had a look and the output pipe to the IC is different, mine has a muffler on it don't know whether it will fit.

One will be silenced and one un silenced everything else is the same fitting wise etc,

Out of interest, since we are on the subject....

what would happen if you went the other way? rather than getting a new ko3s or rebuild. What if you went for a big turbo like a garret. How much money would you be looking at to travel down that route?

£4K+ for new off-the-shelf components

new injectors + new fuel pump + maf + intake pipework + new airbox/CAI + new turbo manifold + new downpipe + intercooler + intercooler pipework + new/no cat + remap + turbo

A direct Garrett equivalent to the Borg KO3S would be something like a GT2056, but it uses a T25 flange, so would not fit the standard manifold and downpipe.