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VW/Audi 1.8T Coil Pack Upgrade – R8 ‘Red Tops’ How-To Guide

VW/Audi 1.8T Coil Pack Upgrade - R8 ‘Red Tops’ How-To Guide

VW Group has had a great run with the 1.8-liter turbocharged engine. This little bundle of pure performance was found in a number of VAG vehicles, from the Beetle and Passat to A4, TT and others. Much of its popularity comes from the fact that you can squeeze considerable amounts of power from this thing on the cheap. However, any VAG fan will tell you that this engine is not without its faults. One of the issues is related to coil pack failure.

UPDATE (3/28/22) – Kits mentioned in this guide are no longer available.

The Coil Pack Issue

Despite the overall positive performance of the 1.8T engine in VW and Audi models, it became apparent that there was a severe issue with the ignition coils. Customers started reporting coil pack failure at ridiculously low mileages on nearly brand-new cars. It wasn’t a rare occurrence, either. VW had a lot of angry people asking for explanations.

During this whole commotion, Volkswagen pointed fingers at Bremi, who made the original coil pack, while they, in turn, accused VW of installing the coils the wrong way. Either way, there were a lot of drivers with unreliable cars out there, and they were needed a solution.

The fact that VW was slow to do a market-wide recall has only added to the woes of those who were dealing with this issue. As a result, there’s a solid chance you might run into an engine that’s been affected even today.
The goal of this guide is to show you how you can fix this and make your car much more reliable. Before we get to the how-to portion of the guide, let’s talk about the most common symptoms you might run into.

Faulty 1.8T Coil Pack Symptoms

The symptoms of a failing ignition coil pack are very obvious and quite sudden. You can expect a rough idle that feels like you have one or more cylinder misfires going on. The car will often feel sluggish while accelerating, sometimes losing power completely. Some drivers have also reported an increase in fuel consumption, which is quite noticeable on the otherwise fuel efficient 1.8T. All of this combined with a flashing check engine light is usually a telltale sign that your coil pack is on its way out.

At this point, you have two options. You can either get an OEM replacement and risk dealing with the issue again. Or, you can do a coil pack upgrade like the one we’ll show you today.

Why upgrade? It’s simple. Going with the R8 ‘Red Tops’ will significantly improve the reliability of your ignition system. This coil pack conversion simply works and is a popular choice for both modders and those who just want a reliable 1.8T.

Speaking of modding, the reason why these are so popular with modders is the fact that a reliable ignition system is a baseline for any further performance upgrades. 

Coil Replacement Procedure – The Shopping List

Ever since the issue first appeared, people started looking for a reliable solution since VW wasn’t of much help back then. Using the red top coils from the Audi R8 was quickly recognized as the go-to solution for this entire conundrum. However, there was a problem. R8 ‘Red Top’ coils are longer than OE ones that go in the 1.8T. Because of that, we’ve come up with a set of spacers that compensate for the longer coil body.

We offer two kits:

  • The first one is the kit number 104K00027, which we will be installing today. (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) This kit comes with the coils, BOSCH spark plugs, our spacers, and other accessories you’ll need for proper installation.
  • The second one is a similar kit designed for earlier versions of the 1.8T engine (NO LONGER AVAILABLE), such as the AGU and others.

Make sure to check which one of these fits your vehicle. The installation process is more or less the same.

In addition to these, you’ll also need some basic tools such as a screwdriver and a deep socket wrench to remove the spark plugs.

Step 1 – Unhook the Battery and Remove the Harness

Before you start messing with the coils, do yourself a favor and unhook the battery. Once you’ve done that, start unplugging the electrical connectors on each coil. This is a pretty simple and straightforward part of the job. Just make sure that you don’t damage the clips on the connectors. They can be uncooperative at times, so be careful.

Step 2 – Remove the Coils and Spark Plugs

Next up, take a flathead screwdriver or a similar tool and start removing the coils. They should come out fairly easily. Once the coils are out, get the socket wrench and start working on the spark plugs. Make sure to get a spark plug socket as the spark plugs are seated deep on these engines.

Step 3 – Install the New Spark Plugs  

With the old spark plugs out of the engine, take your brand-new BOSCH platinum spark plugs from the kit and start working on installing them. Before you do that, make sure to check the gap using feeler gauges or a spark plug gapper. You’re looking for a gap that’s anywhere from .037 to .040. Put on some dielectric grease when installing the new spark plugs as it ensures proper contact while keeping the moisture out of your electrical system.

Step 4 – Install the Spacers

Now that the new spark plugs are in start placing the eEuroparts.com spacers in their respective places. We won’t be bolting anything down just yet.

Step 5 – Install the Coils

With our spacers sitting loosely in their place, start inserting the R8 ignition coils from our kit. Make sure to press them all the way in so that they are firmly seated on the spark plugs. Also, check that each coil is all sitting comfortably in the spacer itself.

Step 6 – Bolt the Spacers Down

Using the longer bolts provided with our kit, bolt the spacers down tightly. Give every spacer a torque check just in case.

Step 7 – Secure the Vacuum Assembly Mounting Bracket

With everything bolted down securely, make sure that the vacuum assembly mounting bracket is firmly secured.

Step 8 – Reconnect the Electrical Connectors

The last thing left to do now is to reconnect all of the electrical connectors and give everything a quick inspection. This step concludes the R8 coil pack replacement mod.

The Benefits of R8 Coil Pack Upgrade

With everything installed, you should have a smoothly running 1.8T that is free of rough idle, loss of power, or any other symptoms you might have encountered. Not only will this mod make your car more reliable, but it’s cheaper as well. 

Those OEM coils can cost a pretty penny, yet they won’t necessarily solve the ignition coil issue in the long term. Going with the R8 kit most definitely will. If you’re planning on doing any performance mods to your car, having a 4 Red Tops under that valve cover is a must.

To find out which kit matches your engine, head over to our store and input your vehicle’s make, model, and year. Our system will tell you which kit to go with. Additionally, you can find the list of supported models by following the link for each kit or contact our customer support technicians.

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6 thoughts on “VW/Audi 1.8T Coil Pack Upgrade – R8 ‘Red Tops’ How-To Guide

  1. I have a 2014 Jetta and want to upgrade to Audi re tops. I have seen confusion if the r8 or rs3 packs fit. What do you suggest and do you Carry them?

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