I have been getting a fair amount of pinging at WOT in 2nd and 3rd gears. Here is my set up: 99.5 NDBW A4 tqm, APR stage chip, APR exhaust, EVO/PES cone intake, and a Forge Diverter Valve. All these mods were done about 2 months ago. I also feel like I get a lot of variation in boost. Current ambient temps are between 65-85 thoughout the day. Do not yet have a Vag-tool to log data.

Possible things I am looking at:

Change plugs to NGK laser platinum plugs???

Clean MAF (air filter too, though only 2 months old)

Add FMIC??? Fuel injectors? Fuel pressure...delivery?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

You can try going 1-2 steps colder, but you should stick with a set of copper plugs. Going with a fmic will help alot to cut down on that pinging issue. The variation in boost is caused by the loss of power and the ecu pulling back the adv timing, this happens because your exhaust flow is changing causing the turbo wheel to stall at times.

I have the stock plugs with about 10k on them.

Your local auto store should have them for about $2 each.

range and dropping down a step is a bandaid covering another issue IMO. I'd look at dropping the gap to .030" as Stratocaster1422 suggests. I'd make sure PES intake was well shielded from the turbo's heat and I'd look into getting either a MotorVac or BG System clean run.

I got a set of NGKs from ECS they showed up yestereday. I was planning on changing the plugs anyway.

Here is something else weird: temps in San Francisco Bay area have dropped 20 degrees...pinging is gone. Drove the car pretty hard tonight with no pinging, smooth boost, full power.

Thoughts?

I also have call into New Dimensions where the chip and exhaust came from. Car may go into them for a check up.

temps were about 25 degrees cooler today here, and no pinging. Also, I have been thinking about the heat shielding on the intake as well. Will gap plugs to .030, but these plugs were recommended by ECS tuning to go with the chip...though the chip came from New Dimensions.

What is "MotorVac or BG System clean run"?

I'm thinking of taking the car back to ND to have them diagnose the problem.

MotorVac run on my car and it is effective. Both are systems that hook up to the car at various points in the intake and fuel pathways. A burnable cleaner is forced thru the system while the engine runs. This cleans injectors, intake manifold, combustion chambers, valves and exhaust path of carbon and crude build up (something the 1.8t and 2.8 are notorious for rapidly building). The result is a smoother performance and less tendency to ping from hotspots created by carbon deposits.
Depending on the 'local' service provider, it costs between 90-120$ .. but it is EFFECTIVE...