After I managed to collect almost all of my parts that I want to upgrade on my Coupe, I reached the point that I have to decide what I'm about to do with the Turbo that right now is smoking.
To spare you with the boring details, I have the following options:
1.I can refurbish the unit at a place recommended by Garrett (since they cannot produce a new unit because it's obsolete)
2.I could buy a new unit from a different manufacturer and here is where I need your help to recommend something lasting and similar or better in power. I was thinking of a Mamba Turbo. Kinugawa did not answer to my query.

If I go for the second option I would prefer that I do not have to modify a lot in the engine bay.

What should I do? Go Garrett refurbished or new but a different manufacturer? And which one? Any suggestions are welcomed.

Cheers!

Mike

Hi. How much will it cost you to refurbish your current original turbo? This will determine which advice I give you!

T3 turbo cores are still available.

I tried to get an estimate of cost from the refurbisher but I think they cannot do this until they have the unit in their hands. I'm guessing it cannot be more than the cost of a new turbo.
Problem is that I have to ship the unit all the way to the other side of my country and I'm trying to figure out if I should invest money in the removal of the unit and shipment just to find out that it cannot be done correctly or after a year it will smoke again OR if I just should invest directly in a new unit, albeit a different manufacturer.

Scuderia, when you say T3 cores are still available, I am assuming you propose to dismantle my unit and replace only the core. I am not willing to do that because then I would have to recalibrate it somewhere and the only ones I could trust are the ones that say they can refurbish it. So this brings me back to just sending the unit there in the first place

I don't have any quality shops in my city that can do a good job, I did it previously and kept the Turbo alive for just a year, hence this shop cross country.

Thanks for your feedback but I'm still undecided on what to do...

I don't want to sound rude but I think that you have very little knowledge about lifespan of refurbished units. They can last as long as brand new units if refurbished with quality parts by a qualified engineer. Period!

If you'll change the core you don't have to recalibrate anything whatever you have on your mind. You take the old core out, put the new in and reuse your hot and cold side, and actuator. Simples!

Nothing needs recalibrating if you replace the core. Just unbolt the covers from the old turbo and bolt them on to the new core. If cores are available then this is the least hassle solution.

...Although if it were me I'd use this as a good excuse to upgrade:

>Mamba GT28 with T3 flange http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAMBA-Ball-Bea...g-/191737725882
>bigger fuel injectors
>large-bore downpipe
>remap chip
>font-mount intercooler
>300bhp!

or this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Red-EMUSAT3-T4-Hybrid-Turbo-Charger-50-A-R-Compressor-63-A-R-Turbine-Wheel-/231540041460?hash=item35e8dca6f4:g:pM0AAOSwPgxVN7mG

Nah, if you're sticking with stock pistons and cams (hence around 300 bhp), there are smaller and faster spooling turbos that will do the job. That one's oil cooled too - meh

deannn_20VT, I never said I knew my way around a Turbo, new, refurbished or not, that's why I'm asking here on what to do.

I based my decision to not go refurbished again on my past experience with the local shop, but if you say that if done properly with the proper tools it can last as long a new one, I will send the unit to the recommended shop. They said they'll test everything on it to see if it has any sort of problems.

Thanks for your input!