SMIC

[Eddy]

Just a quick question about a side mounted intercooler? My golf has a r-tech remap but I'm running a standard intercooler and I was wondering if I would notice any difference if i put a larger aftermarket side intercooler on instead? Thanks in advance for replies 

[dom]

Not really, a FMIC would be a much better upgrade.

[Eddy]

Ye I thought of a front one but I don't want to chop my bumper etc

[dom]

If you buy a decent one, you don't need to have it hanging out of the bumper. This is mine:



Can just about see it with the bumper off here:



The rear of the bumper needed to be trimmed, as did the rear of the centre and o/s vents. From the front though you wouldn't know it was there.

Can be bought from here:

http://www.onlychargeddubs.co.uk/products/1-8t-mk4-golf-platform-front-mount-intercooler-and-pipe-kit.html

[Eddy]

That's a nice setup but it's more than I wanted to pay, I'm only running at 202bhp that's why I was thinking of the side mounted cooler as they are ok up to about 230bhp

[shaft69]

Can get good smic but pay premium my last car had tyrol sport with vented arch my iat were as good as my mates fmic.

[Eddy]

Can get good smic but pay premium my last car had tyrol sport with vented arch my iat were as good as my mates fmic.

Ye i was thinking of putting a Louvre type vent in my wing

[andy68]

Can get good smic but pay premium my last car had tyrol sport with vented arch my iat were as good as my mates fmic.

Ye i was thinking of putting a Louvre type vent in my wing

Most work ok at your current level of tune, just vent the arch liner, if you go stage 2 FMIC would be needed

[Wazzzer]

even if you fit a better intercooler you won't see any real performance gains out of the box and sometimes fitting a FMIC without a tweak in the map can make it worse

[Eddy]

mmm think i might have to reconsider this idea for now then? Unless i can drop on a decent 2nd hand one