I only have a TBE right and I've liked the reviews of COP's. I'm not sure it would add much, or any, power to my current setup, but I'm interested in it for the reported benefits of minor MPG improvement, fewer misfires, smoother idle, and less bucking.

So I guess the question isn't if it will add power (I don't much mind either way), but if and to what degree it will have any of the effects I want, given how few mods I have.

THEN, assuming I do go for one, I'm divided on which. SpoolinUp seems to have the best price, but the "unprofessional" (can't find the right word here) aspect somewhat concerns me. I mean that insofar as support, development, etc. Sparktech seems to be the industry standard and I like that their system fits under the stock spark plug cover and that it seems to be a more true "plug and play" install.

 

Personally, I purchased a Non CDI unit as a 'just in case' mod, as I have upgraded just about every part, short of building the engine.

Even with my setup, I probably didnt need the unit, but I got it as a security blanket to avoid misfiring running high boost on e85.

With your build, I would not recommend getting it as there will be little to no benefit IMO

 

I have a Sparktech unit sitting on my desk awaiting install.

I purchased it more for the improvements of the ignition system rather than the power gains. To me, better gas mileage and better drive-ability are the selling points. After reading the reviews of how the car behaves with a c.o.p. set up versus the stock ignition set up, I was sold. There really are no draw backs. If you can afford it, it's a worthwhile mod.

I went with Sparktech for two reasons. Reason one, was they are in stock (Matt @ Spoolinup is currently only selling used kits.) Reason two, better warranty on the coils (Two years on the Sparktech coils vs one year on new Spoolinup coils and six months on the used coils.)

The units haven't been tested back to back so no one can say one is better than the other. Craig @ Sparktech and Matt @ Spoolinup are both very friendly and knowledgeable. So it's a coin flip there. I would agree that the showroom quality is in favor of Sparktech but I would hardly call Spoolinup unprofessional. They both use high quality parts to assemble their units. They both have different mounting plate options. They both have a background in the respected field.

Reality is this. You pay less for Spoolinup's set up and the quality and warranty suffer slightly or you pay more for Sparktech and the quality and warranty increase.

Either way you get a reviewed and highly praised unit that will provide exactly what it is designed to provide.

 

Thanks for the feedback. It confirmed my position: it won't provide much power but will smooth out some other kinks which is valuable to me.

Agreed that unprofessional is not the right word but I struggle to find the right one. I guess "startup" is better? Or maybe "smaller scale?" But yeah, you hit the nail on the head as I meant the differences seem to come in quality and warranty.

Affordability isn't an issue so I'll probably be picking up a Sparktech unit very soon.

 

Yea I pretty much agree with what everyone said. Since the kit is very expensive, you'd be better off getting cams, etc than spending the $ on ignition upgrade, especially if you don't need it. Unless you getting spark blow-out, and you can confirm it on the dyno, I wouldn't waste my money on it. Doesn't mean that I don't want one though We're lucky enough to have two great kits to purchase at any point in time between Sparktech and Spoolinup.

 

stock ignition system has made some pretty big power numbers and is not as bad as some think it is.....I think your wasting money buying it at this point in your modding process, its just really not needed imo.

 

not worth it with your setup, invest your money somewhere else

 

I don't understand how better drive-ability isn't a worthwhile mod?

especially if your car is a daily driver

 

Install yours and report back. To be honest I'm not so sure if I believe all the hype, some of it might be people just convincing themselves its better since they spend hundreds of dollars. A lot of it might also be due to replacing worn parts and the same gains could potentially be seen by getting new plugs/boots/wires for the stock coil system.

 

^ i feel the same way....

There was a post not to long ago of a guy displeased with not feeling any difference going from stock to aftermarket cop......its just the fact he didn't have the supporting mods / power needed to see/feel the difference.

 

I hear you Kracka, it will get an honest review from me. My car only has 27k miles on it so all the oem parts are in good shape.

Like I said, I didn't buy it to make power I bought it for the drive-ability changes I've read about.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to install it this weekend.

 

EXACT same boat-- 27K on mine and meticulously maintained by the previous owner. A long commute and stop-and-go traffic on the way make driveability key for me. And I come from an Audi S4 (B5 biturbo) which was a bit more driveable so that's what I'm used to.

I'll be very interested in your review.

Not interested in this mod for power, as the initial post and subsequent others describe.

 

X2
I bought one as well and will be installing in the next month or so. i will definitely let everyone know if the driveability is improved. I kept having issues with spark blow out at 32psi as well, I am hoping this will help with that issue.

 

FWIW, when I was making about 330hp I popped on the Spoolinup c.o.p. and definitely felt more power up top. Throttle response felt better too, I guess call this better drivability. While I totally agree with the placebo effect coming into play with some mods, I just don't think it's the case here.

The cost/benefit is indeed the main issue.

 

I put mine on at about 10k miles, still stock turbo around 370hp/370tq and driveability is awesome. I kept getting P0300 before I put it on and my car idled pretty ****ty. I put it on and instantly noticed a smoother idle and a smoother feeling under normal and hard driving. I run a .028 plug gap and couldn't be happier. When I throw on the new turbo I won't have to worry about my ignition either which seems to be the weak point of the car. We put it on a car with a 6765 last weekend to make some dyno runs since it was blowing out the spark at low boost and the car didn't have a single problem at the 500hp 20ish PSI base run we did with it.