MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: bobby_fodge on March 10, 2019, 05:40:26 pm

Title: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge 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.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: colesey on March 10, 2019, 05:48:02 pm
How about a used S3 one for @£100?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: Dave Y on March 10, 2019, 06:25:25 pm
How about a used S3 one for @£100?

yes please
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: pandaman 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.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: MIJ_JAGGER 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
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge 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
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: MIJ_JAGGER on March 10, 2019, 09:06:01 pm
What about the coilovers you messaged me about?
I did reply, twice.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge 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.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: muff1991 on March 11, 2019, 09:24:12 am
How about a used S3 one for @£100?
@colesey (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1819) is this the rough going rate of a used S3 intercooler?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: colesey 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.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: muff1991 on March 11, 2019, 11:30:48 am
so the plastic end tank design is the one to go for then?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge 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?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: colesey 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!
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: Dogma on March 11, 2019, 12:56:39 pm
You pay for what you get in life! 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: pudding 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.

Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: muff1991 on March 11, 2019, 04:32:11 pm
what about this...? Usually Darkside add VAT once inside the basket but it says shipping 0 and VAT 0 so I guess that's £300 all in.

https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/products/audi-s3-intercooler-with-alloy-end-tanks-for-mk5-mk6-platform.html
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: pudding on March 11, 2019, 04:47:43 pm
Yeah that will do the trick.  Follow the process through to payment and see if VAT stays at zero.  If it does, it's a good price!

Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge on March 11, 2019, 05:18:18 pm
Nope, this is what I see when I go to complete the sale.

Subtotal   £300.00
Shipping   £13.00
VAT          £62.60
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: colesey on March 11, 2019, 06:41:28 pm
Darkside appear to think B2C selling rules about showing vat inclusive prices don’t apply to them.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: Chesto18 on March 11, 2019, 07:36:10 pm
Hijacking for just one second...

So is 3C0 145 805AM the correct part no. for the plastic ended S3 IC?

If so, I’ll be keeping an eye out for one. On 118k with original IC, and getting fed up of the intercooler hoses uncoupling despite new O rings. I think getting shot of all the rubbish O ring connectors would be a great OEM+ mod.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: spesh on March 11, 2019, 09:53:30 pm
If you get a S3 type cooler then you ditch those couplers but still end up with them on the other end.. unless someone knows of a solution for that?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: MIJ_JAGGER on March 11, 2019, 09:55:54 pm
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F182556277313
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: spesh on March 11, 2019, 10:07:35 pm
Simple solution :)  Whats the difference with that pipe with k04?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: Dan_FR on March 12, 2019, 07:29:27 am
Metal pipe is the same, but the short silicone and turbo fitting are different

Nobody has yet asked what turbo and what HP target is being aimed for. If it's a K03 then the S3 is the most cost effective solution. The china coolers work ok but they are very heavy, very thick (pushes the fans back a LOT) and the bayonet couplers that come with them are the wrong size and don't fit - otherwise they cool very well.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge on March 12, 2019, 07:57:52 am
Good point Dan. The car is a gti and my intention is to fit a correctly sized intercooler to not lose any low down torque from the ko3. I currently have a k&n panel filter in the stock air box which has a carbonio like plenum thing that replaces the stock plastic tubing which connects to the grill. I do have the option of a twintake in am fit.

I'm going to remove the precat and the new cooler before getting it mapped and then leave it there. I keep looking at hpfp and sports cats but it seems like a lot of cash on hardware for not diminishing returns to go over stage 1 on the current turbo.

I wonder even if without a diff if stage 1 might still result in unwanted wheelspin in anything but dry conditions.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: spesh on March 12, 2019, 09:13:34 am
Metal pipe is the same, but the short silicone and turbo fitting are different

Nobody has yet asked what turbo and what HP target is being aimed for. If it's a K03 then the S3 is the most cost effective solution. The china coolers work ok but they are very heavy, very thick (pushes the fans back a LOT) and the bayonet couplers that come with them are the wrong size and don't fit - otherwise they cool very well.

If i was to get a welded one would it be a case of swapping the k04 silicon bit over?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: absolute on March 12, 2019, 09:39:11 am
I personally hate buying any parts from eBay, the site is full of people willing to rip you off with fake / dodgy / chinese parts.

I would love a genuine S3 intercooler. (new)
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: Dan_FR on March 12, 2019, 10:38:10 am
If you're staying Stage 1, I'd not bother with the intercooler to be perfectly honest. In terms of gains versus cost/hassle it's not worth it unless you're pushing the limits of the turbo - which you won't be with the stock cat in place.

A decent sports cat or a decat coupled with suitable mapping is the next best bang-for buck- since you have a twintake lined up already.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: absolute on March 12, 2019, 12:03:27 pm
I dunno, I think that the car would feel different to drive if not a little smoother.

There's also peace of mind that the inter cooler is doing a better job than the stock so longevity of the engine is improved?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: rich83 on March 12, 2019, 12:06:56 pm
OEM IC is "OK" up to stage 2 really....
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge on March 12, 2019, 12:20:57 pm
so £450 spent on a sports cat offers better value for money compared to £300 spent on an intercooler, if I'm staying at stage 1?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: rich83 on March 12, 2019, 12:38:59 pm
You dont need the DP either for stage 1.... If you put on a 200 cell cat and run a standard stage 1 map you car will throw a EML error
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge on March 12, 2019, 12:47:56 pm
You dont need the DP either for stage 1.... If you put on a 200 cell cat and run a standard stage 1 map you car will throw a EML error

would rtech not be able to sort that eml out come mapping time?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge on March 12, 2019, 01:29:09 pm
This one has a thicker (50mm) core.

http://creationsmotorsport.com/index.php/shop-cars/vw/vw-golf-mk5-gti-audi-a3-8p-2-0-tfsi-front-mount-intercooler-silicone-hose-kit-h0213.html

anyone running one of these?
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: rich83 on March 12, 2019, 02:34:16 pm
You dont need the DP either for stage 1.... If you put on a 200 cell cat and run a standard stage 1 map you car will throw a EML error

would rtech not be able to sort that eml out come mapping time?

Yes....
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: pudding on March 12, 2019, 02:56:14 pm
This one has a thicker (50mm) core.

http://creationsmotorsport.com/index.php/shop-cars/vw/vw-golf-mk5-gti-audi-a3-8p-2-0-tfsi-front-mount-intercooler-silicone-hose-kit-h0213.html

anyone running one of these?

Creation are well known on the facebook group to be chinese cloners.  Silver one looks like an APR rip off, and the black one looks like a Wagner rip off.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: pudding on March 12, 2019, 03:24:44 pm
I personally hate buying any parts from eBay, the site is full of people willing to rip you off with fake / dodgy / chinese parts.

I would love a genuine S3 intercooler. (new)

There's no escaping fake crap!  Even Amazon sell it :grin:  There are some good sellers on Ebay though.  Just avoid the low rating breakers yards type sellers who so obviously relieved a few Golf Rs of their brakes the night before.

S3 is the one to get.  Perfect fit and finish, really low IATs, fast recovery rate (cool off time) and minimal lag increase.  The only time it's inadequate is when tuners run KO4s at 30psi.  Too much heat.

Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: absolute on March 12, 2019, 03:43:52 pm
Yeah. It's like buying a steel beam for your new roof at your house.

It tears apart and you find it's filled with fags ends and dog food.

China D.G.A.F
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: pudding on March 12, 2019, 04:49:07 pm
China as a producer isn't the main problem, but rather skanky European/US 'drop shipping' companies asking them to clone a popular intercooler for £25 a pop, which they then sell on at £200.  China make most of the phones we use today, and the quality is top notch.  They will make a product to what ever standard you are willing to pay them to make.  Pay them dog food and fag ends, and that's what you'll get!
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: bobby_fodge on March 15, 2019, 02:10:47 pm
Just been on the phone to R-tech and I'm going to remove the pre-cat and fit VIS HPFP internals before going to them for mapping.
Title: Re: Cheapest non rubbish intercooler
Post by: colesey on March 15, 2019, 02:33:02 pm
Just been on the phone to R-tech and I'm going to remove the pre-cat and fit VIS HPFP internals before going to them for mapping.

Don't forget to post your dyno chart up afterwards!