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Author Topic: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler  (Read 13486 times)

Offline bobby_fodge

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Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« on: March 10, 2019, 05:40:26 pm »
I'm looking to upgrade my intercooler. I know the s3 one is a common upgrade for about £300. Is there any cheaper ones which will be better than the oe one I've currently got Fitted?

There are loads on eBay but I wouldn't be confident of their quality without a recommendation.

Offline colesey

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2019, 05:48:02 pm »
How about a used S3 one for @£100?

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2019, 06:25:25 pm »
How about a used S3 one for @£100?

yes please

Offline pandaman

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2019, 07:46:15 pm »
I recently fitted the genuine S3 intercooler and for price vs quality the S3 one cant be beat unless you go ebay like you said. Plenty of people have ebay ones or you could try the Darkside development one which i believe is just an ebay intercooler with a logo slapped on.

For peace of mind and reassurance the S3 is the way to go. Good for up to 300 bhp and only 100 quid more than an ebay one. And thats new, like colesey said you could go used.

Offline MIJ_JAGGER

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2019, 08:56:37 pm »
I’ve an S3 alloy intercooler I got last year, STILL awaiting fitment
Probably end up selling it because of lack of time to install knowing my luck

Offline bobby_fodge

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2019, 09:01:55 pm »
I’ve an S3 alloy intercooler I got last year, STILL awaiting fitment
Probably end up selling it because of lack of time to install knowing my luck
dibs

Offline MIJ_JAGGER

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2019, 09:06:01 pm »
What about the coilovers you messaged me about?
I did reply, twice.

Offline bobby_fodge

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2019, 09:23:47 pm »
What about the coilovers you messaged me about?
I did reply, twice.

yep, sorry about that, I should have come back to you about those.

Offline muff1991

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2019, 09:24:12 am »
How about a used S3 one for @£100?
@colesey is this the rough going rate of a used S3 intercooler?

Offline colesey

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2019, 11:16:22 am »
yeah @100 for the plastic ended one but more for the alloy one. There was a thread from The Bruce about a conversation he had with a VW engineer about the plastic one flowing better which makes sense given how easily plastic can be moulded.

Offline muff1991

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2019, 11:30:48 am »
so the plastic end tank design is the one to go for then?

Offline bobby_fodge

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2019, 12:21:51 pm »
Nissens do one for £200 which has the part #1K0.145.803 P, which is the same as the S3 part.

What are Nissens like quality wise?

Offline colesey

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2019, 12:37:18 pm »
As a warning to others, I ordered a pattern intercooler with the correct part number from Autodoc in Germany however the actual item delivered was only 32mm thick. I got an RMA to return it, however the courier companies were all quoting @£80 due to the huge size of their shipping box.  In the end, I cut the box open and wrapped the cardboard around the inner box to get the dimensions down to the £20 bracket. Finally, there was a little song and dance from Autodoc to get a refund rather than an account credit......

In the end, I picked up a used plastic S3 cooler from a guy near me who was listing on ebay. Was £80 including hoses, which was a bit cheaper than most I have seen. Is still waiting to be fitted but that's another story!

Offline Dogma

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2019, 12:56:39 pm »
You pay for what you get in life! 


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Offline pudding

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Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2019, 03:01:07 pm »
Genuine alloy - https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-volkswagen-audi-parts/european-s3-intercooler/1k0145803p/

Genuine plastic - https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-volkswagen-audi-parts/cooler/3c0145805am/

If the images are high res enough, use them as a basis for comparison to the cheaper ones.

Personally I would not use a s/hand intercooler unless it's been thoroughly cleaned out and pressure tested.  You never know if it's full of shrapnel from a blown turbo or other junk.

If there is any doubt, there is no doubt, so just buy a genuine one.  Without wanting to sound like your Dad, if you can't afford to do it properly, don't do it at all.



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