ECS News

GEOMET® is a special coating containing metal oxides, zinc, and aluminum flakes, sprayed over the entire rotor surface to ensure complete coverage, and baked on at 600 degrees to form a durable and attractive silver-gray finish that fights rust far better than paints or other conventional coatings. Slotted or drilled and slotted, you can expect your new GEOMET® rotors to outperform and outlast stock rotors, and look great behind your alloy wheels.

Massive rotors, multiple-piston brakes, and advanced pads are glamorous, eye-catching upgrades to your vehicle. But experienced enthusiasts know that all that stopping power relies on adequately bled brake lines. Your brake fluid is incompressible, like a metal; but air is compressible, so ridding your lines of this gas is imperative for fully realized braking power and response. ECS has an array of solutions to tighten up your braking system, including a Power Brake Bleeder, multiple synthetic Brake Fluid options, and a premium Schwaben Brake Bleeder Wrench.

If your steering is starting to feel a bit rough, you notice metal flakes in the power steering fluid, or you hear an annoying noise from the pump, your power steering pump may be going out. This pump keeps the power steering fluid moving throughout the system to give you the smooth steering you feel while driving. If your pump is starting to fail, or already has, replace your power steering pump to restore the smooth steering you felt when you first bought your vehicle.

When it's time to do basic maintenance on your vehicle, it's much easier if you have everything that you need before you get started. When changing your oil, it's imperative that you get quality parts and components. After all, oil is what keeps your engine lubricated and combats premature wear. ECS offers a variety of oil service kits for your 1.8T B5 Passat at a number of prices - and all featuring quality components that are what your vehicle needs.

Improve braking performance with a sale-priced ECS Tuning Big Brake Kit. Bolt on larger rotors, standard finish or GEOMET slotted or slotted-and-drilled. Then mount your original calipers away from the spindle centerline with the kit's larger caliper frames for added mechanical leverage and shorter stops. No need to cough up extra bucks for a set of larger calipers, and you can go on buying readily available standard sized brake pads.

Built strong for a tough task. The Schwaben 24-piece wheel bearing replacement kit contains a heavy duty screw jack and assorted press caps and barrels that will handle most passenger car and light truck wheel bearing sizes. All parts are made of high quality steel, coated to prevent corrosion. This versatile, time-saving kit can be used for wheel bearings and various suspension bushings, allowing you to finish the job quickly and correctly without hassle.

Volkswagen consistently produces tastefully restrained, linear designs for their sedans. A European-inspired badgeless grille simply follows through on this philosophy by eliminating excessive, tacky branding. The ultra clean look also removes the VW plate bracket for a thoroughly smooth appearance.

Store your wheels and tires without taking up floor space! Supporting up to 250 pounds, the adjustable rack allows you to store up to four 11½" wide wheels and tires. The parts are all steel and the rack folds upwards out of the way when not in use. Mounting holes spaced 48" apart to conveniently adapt to standard center studs.

As sophisticated as your Volkswagen engine is, it still needs thousands of cubic feet of air to burn a single gallon of fuel. Don't settle for stock. Pick Pipercross filters, designed with a progressive foam filter media that promotes air flows, without compromising filtration efficiency. Track tested for the last quarter century, Pipercross Performance Filters are durable, cleanable, and tough enough to protect your engine for years and thousands of miles.

Add a Euro look to your US spec MKV Golf or Jetta with European style and projector headlights. Not only are these headlights an upgrade in the looks department; they also upgrade how well you can see. The halogen projectors and Euro lenses provide brighter, clearer light in an improved pattern. It's easy. Plug in, switch on, and turn heads.

Why not replace your worn stock clutch with something special? We have three great clutch conversion kits built around our ECS-engineered lightweight RA4 flywheel. This lightweight design reduces rotational mass for faster revs off idle, while its larger clutch contact surface improves clamping for better power transfer. Improved low-end throttle response. Smooth operation. Less lost power off the line. Stronger and tougher than the original. If performance is job one on your to-do list, ECS Tuning flywheel kits deliver.

Lose weight; gain power. We put the chubby stock crank pulley on the ECS diet plan, and out came the lightweight ECS Underdrive Crank Pulley. The ECS Tuning lightweight pulley sprints out of the gate faster, and eats fewer horsepower by cutting parasitic losses. Improve 0-60 times of up to .7 or more with the lightweight underdrive pulley. Reduce crank pulley weight by up to 84%. Complete with shorter accessory drive belt, this kit is a fast and easy way to take back a few ponies so you can run with the herd.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, now available from ECS tuning. The new 30" to 67" Car Ramps are available with a regular or low-profile design. Specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance, the low-profile ramps eliminate the risk of body damage & the dangers of sliding ramps. These Schwaben Ramps are made from advanced EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam with a special anti-skid coating, preventing sliding while adding additional structural strength.

Schwaben Specialty Tools is known for releasing clever, highly useful automotive tools that make owning a European car less frustrating and more fun. Two new exciting product releases - the Mechanic's Stethoscope and the Scraper, Pick and Hook set - are superb examples of Schwaben reliability and ingenuity. Featuring an aluminum probe & rubber trumpet, the Schwaben Stethoscope makes finding vacuum leaks, pressure flow noises, and knocks infinitely more simple. The Scraper, Hook And Pick Set is an indispensable kit with endless uses, from carbon cleaning to picking out o-rings.

Occasionally, simply replacing wiper blades is not enough to keep your windshield reliably clean. If the transmission or linkage is damaged, the motor will continue to spin without moving the transmission and the wiper arms will not move. Changing the windshield wiper transmission allows for a secure connection between the motor and wipers, giving you peace of mind that your B5 Passat is safe and reliable.

If you need technical information about your Passat, for repair or simply for personal satisfaction, a Haynes Repair Manual is a must-have item. DIYers will appreciate the detailed procedures and reference data that have made Haynes a go-to trusted source of information, and the industry benchmark for aftermarket technical books on European makes. Owners hungry for a better understanding of the technology and features that make VW special will enjoy the richly illustrated, detailed explanations of vehicle components, assemblies, and operating strategies.

Treat your Volkswagen to some attention every 5000 miles in the form of an oil service with a kit from ECS Tuning. No guesswork on the quantity or quality of oil you're purchasing - our kits only include the highest quality oils in quantities that are what your vehicle needs. Pick up a Schwaben Oil Filter Drain Tool to make all your oil services that much easier.

Audi owners have always had the luxury of being able to control window up and down functions via the keyfob remote, but now Volkswagen B5 Passat owners can also enjoy the same feature! The KVW100 is a single use flash load device that will program your Passat convenience control module with the necessary coding to control your windows via key fob remote. Installation is extremely easy and can be completed in minutes. Please note, this is not a feature that can be enabled via VAG-COM; this unit flashes the convenience control module with new coding.

Give 'em what they really want the most: cold, hard cash. Buy a traditional ECS Tuning plastic gift card and include it as a sweet surprise for a special someone. Need something fast? We have an entirely new virtual gift card for last-minute shoppers (and those who don't want to wait for delivery of a plastic card). Just order an ECS virtual gift card in any denomination from 5 to 1000 dollars, and we'll fire it off to your email box in minutes. Then pass it along to friend or family member and let them activate the card and order anything they like from the ECS site.

Have the buttons on your key fob faded out, fallen off, or just don't seem to click anymore? This is your solution, that will replace the lock, unlock, and trunk release buttons on your key fob. This is just the buttons; electrical board and case are not included.

A highly effective method of unseating over-tightened or corroded screws and bolts, the impact driver accomplishes two important tasks with the blow of a hammer—positively engaging the bolt or screw head while twisting it counter-clockwise. Stripping a critical bolt or screw can stop your project in its tracks, and necessitate hours of tedious labor. Choose the tool professionals use for the job, and leave time for more enjoyable pursuits.

The experts at ECS Tuning have developed a kit for any do it yourself oil change. An all inclusive kit that includes everything you need. Using only high quality parts suited to your vehicle, everything in this kit will work harmoniously to ensure proper lubrication. With engine oil specifically designed for your Volkswagen, you won't have to worry about inferior oils failing prematurely.

Not sure where your Volkswagen is headed when you cut the wheel? Creaking bushings and loose ball joints can turn your sport sedan into a groaning wanderer in as few as 50,000 miles. If you're tired of noisy suspension bushings and vague steering, take the loud and loose out of your suspension with upgraded Euro Spec front control arm kits. Complete assemblies include ball joints and factory installed bushings, complete with installation hardware. A single source suspension solution.

Audi owners have always had the luxury of being able to control window up and down functions via the keyfob remote, but now Volkswagen MKIV owners can also enjoy the same feature! The KVW100 is a single use flash load device that will program your MKIV convenience control module with the necessary coding to control your windows via key fob remote. Installation is extremely easy and can be completed in minutes. Please note, this is not a feature that can be enabled via VAG-COM; this unit flashes the convenience control module with new coding.

The Fumoto 14mm oil drain valve replaces your Volkswagen or Audi OE drain plug for fast, easy oil changes. Its spring-loaded valve has a quick release tab that makes changing oil a snap. Just push and turn to drain. All metal construction assures years of trouble-free service. Includes a threaded brass extension for oil pans with recessed drain plugs. A good idea. Long overdue.

Squeak. Streak. Squeak. Streak. Tired of noisy, last century wiper blades that chatter and don't clean your windshield? Upgrade to sleek wiper arms with beam-style wiper blades in a minute with Valeo. Single strip beam-style blades are simpler and more durable than conventional blades. The wiper blade rubber is attached to a single beam backing strip that bends to the curve of your windshield for clean, quiet wiping. Move up to 21st century wiper technology with these Valeo wiper kits.

Most of us have to admit to sleeping through a chemistry class--or two--after a rough night. The good news is the Chemical Guys didn't. Now they've put the power of Raw Science to work in a complete professional detailing car care line that combines surface-safe cleaners with lasting protectants and sealers. Stop squirting dish detergent into a bucket. Remove the toughest dirt--even from alloy wheels--and restore your car's exterior and interior finishes to a rich, lasting luster.

The concept of "lifetime" transmission fluid is illogical. Silly even. Fluid additives dissipate over time and filters clog. Transmissison clutches slough off harmful friction material and metallic debris. Do the logical thing: set up a regular maintenance schedule that includes a periodic transmission service. That way, your transmission will go on shifting smoothly long after the warranty is gone. We've just dropped the prices on pre-packaged transmission service kits for four and five-speed automatics so you can spend a little now and head off a huge repair bill later.

Worried about that really bad storm? The mother of all blizzards where your all seasons tires don't get it done, and there are more cars in the ditch than on the road? Rest easy. We have a solution: ISSE Textile Tire Chains. So light a child can lift them. Easy to install no matter where you are. Just slip them over your tires, and get instant traction. Available in different grades depending on frequency of use, in sizes for most vehicles. Keep a set in your trunk so you can stop worrying and get a grip when winter gets ugly.

The problem is widespread and chronic: cam followers for the high pressure fuel pump in FSI engines are prone to wear. Savvy FSI owners periodically pull the pump and check the follower to avoid costly fuel pump and camshaft damage. Symptoms of advanced cam follower-itis include loss of power, rough running, and an illuminated check engine light. To help you understand and mitigate the problem, we've put together a photo tutorial that demonstrates how to inspect and replace your cam follower. Use it with our handy repair kit to keep your FSI running strong.