I checked the archives and wasn't able to find much..<br>I just received my 99.5 about two weeks ago<br>and am nearing that 1000 mile mark. I want to get the <br>neuspeed chip at that point but I am concerned about my <br>dealer...I am going to take it so they can retreive the <br>lighter plug out of the depths of the center console(the new<br>dash design has the plug next to the pkg brake) and I don't want <br>to have any problems with them noticing the chip. <br>The neuspeed chip isn't socketed like wett's, but does it<br>look any different in the ECU...short of driving it will my <br>dealer know if it's in there?thanks...

With regard to how the Neuspeed chip looks, I can tell you the dealer would never be able to tell by looking at your ECU. They actually desolder your EEPROM from the board then write the new program to it...then resolder it to the PCB and your done.<p>As for seeing the chip with the VAG, I doubt this could happen because I've seen the VAG hooked up to my Neuspeed chipped 99 1.8T and everything looks just like it did when it was stock.<p>With regards to the dealer driving and finding out you have a chip that way...well to be honest they would probably be able to tell. But it's not exactly Kosher for them to be driving your car aggressively unless you're complaining about a condition that only manifests itself under WOT, revved beyond 3K, ect ect.<p>BTW - When you get your ECU back and put it in...don't start the car immediately. Put the key in the ignition turn it forward as far as it will go w/o starting the car...then wait about 5 mins, this is for the throttle adaptation to occur...you will regret it if you don't do it cause the car will misinterpret the throttle position which leads to some fairly strange behavior. After all is said and done start her up and have a good time...but take a moment with the windows down, stereo off and climate control off and listen for pinging. Accelerate hard through first and shift at about 5000 or so then into second and floor it...listen then...if you have pinging you'll hear it. Sounds like marbles on sheet metal. Anyhow if you do hear pinging take the ECU back and they'll work with you to get the problem ironed out...usually they back off the timing a bit.<p>Well have fun and good luck, the car will feel quite a bit better...but then you kinda get used to it. Guess I'll just have to wait to get one of those PES 1.8T SuperCharger kits when they come out.<p>BTW - Are you local? Live in the LA area...just curious.

hey, just a side comment, I *do* live in the L.A.<br>area... did you get the chip through GreedSpeed? how long does it take for them to install, i.e., while you wait? and did you ever have to bring the chip back to finetune?<br>

Yeah I had it done via GreedSpeed...actually I went to Highschool with the owner Anthony, I think I'll be buying a fair number of products from him...he's a pretty good guy.<p>It takes maybe 40 mins to have it done...he'll pop out your ECU and give it to the Tech at Neuspeed (you'll meet him over there) and in the mean time he'll install either your RamAir or K&N filter.<p>Yes I did have to take it back for fine tuning...mine caused the car to ping a little...not major, but enough to grab my attention. It's pretty much gone now...but not entirely. I think almost all the chips can and will cause some pinging...most owners just aren't listening hard enough to hear it. Anyhow you can't always expect the stock program to work perfectly in the first shot...manufacturing tolerances come into the equation...and therefore some cars will simply need to be coaxed a bit to give the better performance you'd like to have.<p>It's a very good deal as the air filter is about $50 by itself...so you're paying $150.00 for 40~45 Hp sounds like a deal to me??

can you please tell me where greedspeed in la is located? thanks. (nt)