ECS News

Don't set yourself up for failure when you install your new cup kit. Order our complete coilover installation package, and do it right. Too many lowered cars end up being a big disappointment to their owners when worn suspension parts can't carry their own weight. Strut bearings, shock mounts and related mounting hardware can all cause annoying suspension noise and sloppy handling. Make sure the supporting cast in your suspension system will make the star of the show look as good on the road as it does in your driveway.

If you've been putting off required maintenance on your car you surely shouldn't wait much longer. There are only a few more weeks left before the weather turns for the worse, leaving the DIY'er only a short window to get your vehicle back to maintenance standards before you're left out in the cold. At ECS Tuning we've assembled multiple kits of all the major services to help you avoid troublesome hang-ups and costly repairs. Most kits include additional components that should be replaced at same time of service to avoid doing the same repair twice.

Volkswagen has distinguished itself as a company by acquiring successful brands and cultivating a design and engineering philosophy that permeates each company under the VW name. The benefit for the VW owner is that styling elements can be drawn from exotic cars and still appear factory. Alzor 050s feature are an instantly recognizable, deeply stylish five-spoke design that looks perfectly at home on the MKIV GLI. Both Hyper Silver and Gunmetal finishes suit the complex, yet tasteful wheel, conveniently available as a set of four.

Don't set yourself up for failure when you install your new coilovers or cup kit. Order our complete coilover installation package, and do it right. Too many lowered cars end up being a big disappointment to their owners when worn suspension parts can't carry their own weight. Strut bearings, shock mounts and related mounting hardware can all cause annoying suspension noise and sloppy handling. Make sure the supporting cast in your suspension system will make the star of the show look as good on the road as it does in your driveway.

The primary appeal of new wheels is in the new, shiny appearance they offer. The majority of the time, a different style, size, or color isn't really the ultimate goal. With such a deep catalog of staggeringly effective wheel cleaning and restoration products from specialists Sonax and Chemical Guys, getting what you really want from your wheel setup is fast and easy - and it's all available now from ECS. Acid-free and pH balanced rim and wheel cleaners effortlessly dissolve grease, brake dust and dirt, while safely preserving your wheel's finish.

ECS Tuning's Ignition Solution kits utilize the more durable and desirable Hitachi style bolt-down ignition coils instead of the troublesome factory push-down ignition coils. Years of real-world testing has shown the Hitachi style coils to be much more durable than the push-down coils, along with the ease of being able to be secured to the valve cover with two allen head bolts so you don’t have to worry about them popping up.

Take it to the streets with FK Street-Line coilovers. This affordable entry-level suspension package eliminates guesswork by combining full height adjustment at all four corners, with matching dampers, engineered with fixed, pre-calibrated settings to improve ride quality. The polished steel housings offset bright yellow springs for a great look. The large adjustment range improves vehicle appearance and handling while maintaining ride comfort suitable for a daily driver.

Schwaben products are characterized by simple, clever designs. Their wheel storage solutions may be the best examples of these qualities. The Schwaben Wheel Tree holds up to 275lbs and allows you to safely stack your wheels without the risk of scuffing and scratching. Convenient locking casters allow you to easily move the whole set anywhere in your garage or shop at one time. And when saving floor space is the highest priority, the Schwaben Wall-Mounted Wheel Rack allows you to securely store up to four 11½" wide wheels and tires against the wall, away from your work space.

From JOM Germany comes this 22 millimeter Front Sway Bar that was designed for one purpose -- to keep you level. If your car is rocking like an ocean going vessel each and every time you go around a corner, it might be time for a new sway bar. A sway bar is a torsion spring that resists body roll motions. Sway bars provide two main functions. The first function is the reduction of body lean. The other function of anti-roll bars is to tune the handling balance of a car. Understeer or oversteer behavior can be tuned out by changing the proportion of the total roll stiffness.

Did your 1.8T oil pan go head to head with a concrete parking lot barrier? VW cast aluminum oil pans have a glass jaw that shatters on impact. Installing another is just asking for a repeat performance. That's why ECS Tuning assembled a kit with a Hybrid oil pan that can take a punch without going weak in the knees. Made of lightweight aluminum with a steel bottom for added strength, the ECS Hybrid oil pan kit comes as a complete installation upgrade that includes a two piece hybrid steel and aluminum oil pan, sealer, gaskets, turbo oil return adapter and an oil pickup tube.

Having the right tools for the job at hand always makes your project much easier. The Schwaben VAG Connector Removal Tool is an Audi/VW/Porsche owner's best friend. The tool fits directly on the push & pull style VAG connector and gives just the perfect amount of leverage to release the connector and not break the tab. This style connector is often found on mass air flow (MAF) sensor, coil packs, headlights/fog lights, level sensors, and countless other parts. A large ergonomic ball that fits into your palm is also fitted on the end of the tool for extra grip.

This is the solution for users wanting to use lowering springs while extending shock life. These shocks from Koni offer you the ability to use lowering springs while keeping ride quality comfortable. Designed for lowered applications, these shocks and struts won't wear prematurely. Performance oriented shocks and struts from Koni carry a lifetime warranty! Drop that car with some Koni shocks today from ECS Tuning.

A truly transformative yet simple exterior upgrade, FK European Smoked Headlights offer a broader more crisp beam pattern and increased brightness without increased bulb wattage. The FK kit includes driver and passenger side headlights, with integrated angel eyes, a blacked-out housing, and the crisper European projected beam pattern. Included is a wiring harness for plug-and-play installation - choose a set of H7 halogen bulbs for the high/low beams and a set of H3 bulbs for the fog lights.

Quit fussing with wood blocks, ramps, and the like with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack. The Low Boy is low-profile, allowing you to sneak it under the ground-hugging rockers on your lowered car. Constructed of lightweight aluminum, this floor jack features a front central roller for increased ease of use and maneuverability. If you work on your car, you'll be doing some lifting. Get the right equipment with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack, a great compliment to the other Schwaben tools in your arsenal. Atta' Boy.

Whenever working on your car's interior or disassembling interior or trunk components to access exterior body parts, it's not uncommon to break or lose various fasteners and clips. Reinstallation becomes a hack job, with interior panels and linings hanging unsecured. ECS now offers a single kit including the most common clips and fasteners used on your VW, allowing you to restore unsecured parts to factory - and better prepare for your next project.

Fresh coolant is paramount to safe & reliable engine operation. Unfortunately, the process of bleeding air out of your cooling system during a coolant refresh is tedious and therefore often neglected. ECS offers a highly convenient solution to the tedium & frustration associated with a coolant servicing – the Schwaben Coolant Evacuation Kit. The unique kit resolves several common cooling system issues: - No heat, overheating, or erratic temperature gauge readings after a cooling system service - Problems with coolant uptake or circulation - Cooling system leaks

The VW 1.8T engine relies heavily on adequate boost pressure to make reliable power. Any leaking, bending, or warping of the hoses that hold this pressure will result in a considerable loss of power & driveability. ECS has developed a thicker 4-layer fiberglass-reinforced Silicone Boost Hose Kit for the MKIV GLI 1.8T, drastically improving the durability of the factory hose arrangement while eliminating air flow restrictions. Molded to exact OEM specifications, the improved design better withstands heat & pressure, resisting swelling and degradation for a longer service life.

Why a strut nut socket? To secure shocks and struts to their mounts, the retaining nut must be torqued to its proper specification with the use of a torque wrench. Strut nut sockets allow for the use of an Allen wrench to hold the damper shaft while utilizing a torque wrench on the socket to achieve proper torque. Schwaben, a company known for exceptionally crafted specialty tools, now offers 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, and 24mm Strut Nut Sockets for your own suspension project. A superb addition to any home mechanic's tool arsenal, this latest Schwaben release is built to last.

A complete kit is now available to install the trick ECS billet aluminum release rod into your MKIV GLI. The ECS hood release eliminates the dangerous prospect of a hood latch that cannot hold the weight of the hood itself while adding a subtle, clean performance look to your car. Everything is included for the conversion: genuine OEM VW/Audi release lever clamp, OEM bracket guide, OEM Torx bolt, OEM hood latch, and the in-house engineered ECS Billet Aluminum Hood Pull Release Rod.

For years, ECS Tuning has been your trusted source for original, aftermarket, and performance parts for your European car. Our team of enthusiasts have worked hard to build the best catalog in the industry, providing you with the knowledge and expertise to keep your car looking, sounding, and performing great year after year.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, ramp extensions, wheel stands, & wheel chocks - now available from ECS tuning. 30" to 67" Low Profile Car Ramps are specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance, eliminating the risk of body damage & sliding ramps. Schwaben Wheel Stands feature a cradled wheel support for superior stability compared to jack stands, supporting up to 3000 lbs. And when lifting your vehicle or placing it on an incline, Wheel Chocks are a wise investment.

Improving performance by increasing engine work is only possible when engine temperatures are kept within a reasonable range. The Mishimoto Performance Radiator is capable of a 35% increase in cooling capacity due to a fully-brazed, two-row aluminum core that's 25% thicker than stock. This radiator also uses CNC-machined quick-disconnect fittings for a perfect radiator hose attachment. Mishimoto Performance Radiator Hoses compliment the advanced radiator, resisting electro-chemical degradation and maintaining rigidity and durability when rubber hoses become soft.

KONI Shock Absorbers, the world leader in adjustable suspension technology, introduces performance kits with H&R Sport Springs. The adjustable shock damping on Sport kits and preset shock damping on STR.T kits have been perfectly matched to the H&R spring rates for a high-performing, long-lasting suspension solution. The new, more athletic lowered stance gives your MKIV GLI a perfect silhouette, putting the bumpers closer to the road and closing wheel gaps. An average lowering of 1.4" at the front and 1.4" at the rear can be expected.

Maintaining adequate tension on the timing chain is its most basic purpose, keeping the correct level of slack in the chain to best balance noise levels and friction reduction. The second function of this deceptively advanced part is controlling cam timing, maintaining power through all rpms by making rapid adjustments to the valve opening and closing event. ECS offers the Uro Cam Chain Tensioner, allowing your 1.8T the opportunity to make maximum power & maintain efficient timing chain operation.

Want to do something bold? Bodacious, even? Check out this line of 3M Scotchprint films. Add texture and style to interior and exterior surfaces by applying these durable adhesive backed films to body panels or trim. Want variety? Channel Darth Vader with gloss black or carbon fiber, or go sci-fi-starship with brushed aluminum or titanium. Buy rolls five feet wide in lengths from one to 20 feet. Hi-tech look. Low tech installation. User friendly and easy to apply using simple tools, 3M 1080 film lets anyone get professional results on the first try.

The wisest approach to addressing old or worn suspension components is to replace as many parts in the same servicing as possible. By attending to the left, right, upper and lower wearing components and hardware, there is a combined effect that is greater than sum of parts - the result is a car that rides and steers better than factory. Assembling the perfect kit for your VW GLI has been done for you by ECS - this refresh Kit contains all front-end wear components, all new replacement hardware, and with polyurethane pre-installed bushings.

The MKIV VW's came from the factory with a poor glove box design. Instead of replacing the broken unit with a used part that is bound to fail again, fix the problem permanently with the updated Glove Box Lid with redesigned hinge. The part is an exact color match for your vehicle, and because it's an OEM part, fitment and quality are guaranteed.

Rule #1: Use the right tool for the job. This Brake Caliper Piston Tool Kit from Schwaben is essential for changing your pads or servicing your rear brake calipers. If your caliper pistons need to be simply pressed back in, or if they're threaded and require screwing back in, we've got the caliper piston tool you want. Make sure you're prepared with the right tool for the job with this Brake Caliper Piston Tool Kit from Schwaben Tools.

Guesswork is expensive. It leads to costly repair errors that compromise vehicle safety. Talented pro-sumer or repair professional, you need accurate vehicle data and specifications. That's why ECS is happy to provide you with the Robert Bentley repair manuals; A reliable, respected source of repair data for many European vehicles. DVDs are carefully edited and illustrated. A worthwhile investment.

ECS Tuning lets you tweak your stance - or swagger down the road with a 20mm monster offset. Engineered and tested in-house to fit your VW perfectly. Choose from our huge inventory of hub centric spacers in thicknesses sure to match your car, your wheels, and your shopping budget. All ECS VW spacers are aluminum, and are black anodized for corrosion protection. Kits come with correct-length lug bolts to ensure proper thread engagement for safe operation.