Front Mount Intercooler

[Dan FR]

Weight with Silicone pipes = 13.2 KG or 29lbs. Quite a lot in comparison to the S3 core but im hopeful the benefits will far outweigh the extra mass up front.

Also measured up the bolts, they are M6 (10 mm hex) x 16mm, 9 needed. £1.50 delivered on eBay although i'll be picking mine up with washers & spring washers from a local engineer supplier

 

[sambryant]

That's mine. Fitted perfectly.

 

[DGF264]

Sam is yours the china cooler? 'Roughly' how long do they take to fit? Me & a couple of mates doing mine tomorrow, big double garage, (hopefully!) all the correct tools etc..so..if everything goes well, roughly how long? Cheers!

 

[banksy21]

Sam is yours the china cooler? 'Roughly' how long do they take to fit? Me & a couple of mates doing mine tomorrow, big double garage, (hopefully!) all the correct tools etc..so..if everything goes well, roughly how long? Cheers!

It took me 3 1/2 hours taking my time in blaring sun on my own. make sure you've got a box or something to rest the radiator on and also make sure you make a note of which bolt goes where in named bags or something.

 

[DGF264]

Cheers banksy!

 

[sambryant]

Sam is yours the china cooler? 'Roughly' how long do they take to fit? Me & a couple of mates doing mine tomorrow, big double garage, (hopefully!) all the correct tools etc..so..if everything goes well, roughly how long? Cheers!

Yes it's the China cooler or as I call it the unbranded ths cooler
It was all pretty easy, around a 3 hour job on my own. Although I had a hand with lifting the bumper on and off.

I have done a fair few fmic installs now and this was the easiest one I have done due to being a direct fit.

 

[DGF264]

Cheers Sam!

 

[DGF264]

Soooooo mine didn't go very well lol
Literally 5-6 hours, wouldn't go in correctly, it's not level, the coupling wouldn't fit into the metal bottom boost pipe.. Maybe I've just been unlucky. I dunno.

Anyway
a) why can't I upload pics anymore, it's telling me to 'activate tapatalk' and press 'change email' but it won't let me set anything up after pressing it?!
And b) can I cut the metal coupling end off the metal boost pipe & just slide a silicone pipe over it & clamp it?? (Like the other side of the cooler) I'll upload a pic n show u which pipe we 'butchered' to make it fit..that is also currently gaffer taped on lol!

 

[banksy21]

email me the pics [email protected]

you fitted the rubber guides properly on the intercooler?

 

[DGF264]

Sent banksy cheers.. Just one pic. Yeah the guides seemed to be correct.. I'll be honest.. It was rushed back together cos we were all so pi***d off it'll probably all come off again soon..and tinkered with & put back together.

Main question is can I cut the metal coupling off the end of the solid metal boost pipe..and slide a silicone pipe over & clamp it at both ends?

 

[banksy21]

heres you pic mate.

 

[banksy21]

what was the problem with the coupling?

the problem you will have cutting the metal coupling off the end of the metal boost pipe is that it will just slide off when you hit boost.

 

[Dan FR]

Really not sure what we're looking at in that pic?

Don't cut it, if the Coupling won't fit, measure the metal pipe and order the correct size one. I did notice on the couplings i received that the machine work is terrible, and the OD of the bayonet fitting is tapered/stepped when it shouldn't be.

Did you try hitting it in?

 

[DGF264]

The coupling supplied would NOT fit that metal boost pipe!! I know josh said whack it..but it would not go in..even resorted to using grinder to try & file edges off etc. So as u can see, in the end, a botch job and the pipe pictured has a huge kink in it underneath so won't even be flowing correctly!

Really? It'll slip off? Even with heavy duty mikalor (or whatever they are called lol) clamps?

 

[DGF264]

Yeah Dan hit it hard lol..bloody engine was rocking! In that pic..gaffer tape end is metal boost pipe with standard coupling/orangey red boost pipe, joined to new bright ref boost pipe that is clamped onto intercooler! A botch job basically as we had to use/re install in the standard coupling into the metal boost pipe as the other one wouldn't fit!

 

[Dan FR]

Have you got any close up pics the coupling? Interested to see if the machine work is as bad and the diameter varies when it shouldn't. Did you try both supplied couplings? Definitely get the metal pipe and new coupling measured up and see where things are going wrong.

Can make sense of the pic now, i was staring at the red pipes and clips and couldn't make it out

 

[betty_swollox]

And this is why you don't buy cheap sh1t from China!


Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's always a gamble ordering from there

 

[banksy21]

And this is why you don't buy cheap sh1t from China!


Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's always a gamble ordering from there

I was wondering when you'd butt in with your pointless comments.

 

[Dan FR]

To be fair the core itself is fine, all the problems i've heard of boil down to the poorly machined coupler. At worst you just need to buy a decent fitting one. Darkside and Forge both sell a range of couplings.

 

[betty_swollox]

I was wondering when you'd butt in with your pointless comments.

wasnt pointless at all

2 people have had problems with them and only 1 has found it to be a direct fit.

FACT

No need to cry because I am right.