Is this usually a good idea? My 14b is about dead, and I'm ready to get a replacement, but I don't want to get one that's going to ---- itself on me after a few months of use. I'm considering getting this unit from DSM Trader that has 3K miles after a rebuild and has supposedly very little shaft play. What do you guys think?

 

how much do they want for it

 

get a holset

you won't be dissapointed

 

Not without receipts from the shop that rebuilt it or receipts for the machine work needed to rebuild a turbo properly and also receipts for the new internals. If some guy backyarded an Ebay rebuild kit into it with no straightening of the shaft or proper cleaning; you'll have a major failure almost instantly, especially if you're over boosting. One of the first rules of buying stuff off forums is to never take anyone's word for it. Of course if you know them or they have a seriously good reputation then maybe it's alright.

 

I'd love to, but I don't have the time or money to retro fit a completely different turbo.

 

So say I were to get a 16g to replace the 14b. I wouldn't need to do anything as far as getting new oil feed and drain fittings/lines, O2 housing/downpipe, j-pipe, etc. right? If that's the case, how much more lag would I experience with the 16g as opposed to the 14b? My shitty 14b hits full boost now at about 3.5-4K.

 

16g is a direct replacement for the 14b. Nothing has to be changed at all. Same everything. It's a better turbo that will offer better top end over the 14b. The difference between the 2 is the larger 7cm exhaust housing on the 16g and then of course the 16g has a ~46mm (standard or small) or ~48mm (big) inducer compared to the 14b at ~43mm. Still a bit small, but it'll spool good and is capable of 300whp fairly easily. The difference in spool between the 2 is barely noticeable. You could always swap the 6cm housing off your 14b onto the 16g, but that's a bad swap for only a few hundred rpm quicker spool. The 7cm housing doesn't crack all over the place like the 6cm either. Don't get a Chinese 16g.

 

---- so those bastards on ebay are probably out of the question then, huh

 

Yep. You ******* need to stop even considering Chinese parts. Buy once, buy right!

Spend a few bucks more and get something that's been designed rather than copied.