Tiguan S3 Intercooler Install Guide

[brad]

Stock Tig intercooler is 32mm so S3 is 21% increase just in thickness. I'm not sure about how "dense" the S3 one is compared to stock Tig one but just with the thicker core it should be a reasonable improvement.

I figure if the S3 intercooler is good for power outputs around 200kW that should do me just fine

All mounting points are identical, so this is a bolt in bolt out job.


And carefully removing the aluminium end with a hacksaw and screwdriver making sure not to nick the hose.




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Blimey! 32mm is the same as my 1.8tsi. I would have thought the Tiguan would have at least the Mk6 GTI 38mm IC.

I have the same S3 IC sitting at home waiting for me to replace the 32mm I have.

You should have removed the green O-ring & kept it as a spare as it is used in the pipework between the turbo & the IC

[tigger73]

Blimey! 32mm is the same as my 1.8tsi. I would have thought the Tiguan would have at least the Mk6 GTI 38mm IC.

I have the same S3 IC sitting at home waiting for me to replace the 32mm I have.

You should have removed the green O-ring & kept it as a spare as it is used in the pipework between the turbo & the IC

I know the 2012 update has a slightly different intercooler to the 2008-2011 Tigs. You'd have to get Ramee to measure his up if it hasn't already gone in the dumpster.

I'll go and fish the o-ring out and add it to my collection of "bits". Anyone need an intercooler o-ring send me a prepaid envelope and it's yours!!!!


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[Ramee]

I know the 2012 update has a slightly different intercooler to the 2008-2011 Tigs. You'd have to get Ramee to measure his up if it hasn't already gone in the dumpster.

I'll go and fish the o-ring out and add it to my collection of "bits". Anyone need an intercooler o-ring send me a prepaid envelope and it's yours!!!!


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Haha funny! I still have my stock intercooler and quick check showed it has a 37mm - 38mm width core. Its part number 3AA145805C
ebay link NEW GENUINE VW PASSAT TIGUAN 2.0T FSI CCZB TURBO INTERCOOLER 3AA 145 805 A | eBay

[tigger73]

Haha funny! I still have my stock intercooler and quick check showed it has a 37mm - 38mm width core. Its part number 3AA145805C
ebay link NEW GENUINE VW PASSAT TIGUAN 2.0T FSI CCZB TURBO INTERCOOLER 3AA 145 805 A | eBay

That is interesting. I'm wondering if it's because yours is a 155TSI and mine is a 125TSI that I got the smaller intercooler. I suspect this may be the case that the 147/155TSI get the upgraded intercooler to cope with the extra power. Just means that there's more to be gained for a 125/132TSI upgrading their intercooler than someone with a 147/155TSI.

I'll be interested to see what the dyno shows when I get back on there. If the intercooler was causing a pressure drop/turbo to work harder I should (hopefully) get better flows/more boost and theoretically more powa

[Wynnston]

Haha funny! I still have my stock intercooler and quick check showed it has a 37mm - 38mm width core. Its part number 3AA145805C
ebay link NEW GENUINE VW PASSAT TIGUAN 2.0T FSI CCZB TURBO INTERCOOLER 3AA 145 805 A | eBay

I think that was the same part number on my mates Golf R intercooler as well. He's upgraded to an APR and I was wondering if it would be an upgrade to snaffle his old one.

[Ramee]

I'll be interested to see what the dyno shows when I get back on there. If the intercooler was causing a pressure drop/turbo to work harder I should (hopefully) get better flows/more boost and theoretically more powa

Still aluminium S3 intercooler has a 40.5 mm core with aluminium end tanks to store more heat to cope with temp surges and heat soaks.

By the way I see you are still lusting for power You do know what you got to do!

[Ramee]

I think that was the same part number on my mates Golf R intercooler as well. He's upgraded to an APR and I was wondering if it would be an upgrade to snaffle his old one.

Lucky you didn't buy it. otherwise could have ended up with two identical intercoolers. I think now VW discontinued the aluminium one and going for plastic end tank design for cost cutting, heard lot of people are getting new plastic ones when they order S3 intercoolers..

[tigger73]

Tiguan S3 Intercooler Install Guide

I think that was the same part number on my mates Golf R intercooler as well. He's upgraded to an APR and I was wondering if it would be an upgrade to snaffle his old one.

I'd be doing some investigation/checking the part number on your intercooler before dismantling the front of your car.

Take off the rain tray under your engine and you should be able to see the part number on the intercooler outlet (passenger side).




The Golf R/ S3 I think are the same part as both come up if you google the part # 1K0 145 803 BE

As far as the difference between the intercooler on Ramees Tig (3AA 145 805 A ), the S3 one with aluminium end tanks (1K0 145 803 P ) and the newer style S3 with plastic end tanks I'm not sure anyone has the data on it.

It certainly could be that the S3 with aluminium ends is better but the later model S3 had higher power output so you'd think the new S3 intercooler with plastic ends would have to perform at least as well as the old one.


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[brad]

Haha funny! I still have my stock intercooler and quick check showed it has a 37mm - 38mm width core. Its part number 3AA145805C
ebay link NEW GENUINE VW PASSAT TIGUAN 2.0T FSI CCZB TURBO INTERCOOLER 3AA 145 805 A | eBay

It's not just the core thickness that matters. There are some subtle diffrence between a 38mm GTI intercooler & an S3/TT-S IC. Personally, if you have the 38mm GTI IC the next step would be one of the aftermarket providors.

What I have LOL'd at are those folks that have gone from Golf R/S3 plastic tank to S3 all alloy and claim they can feel an improvement. By all accounts the plastic tank unit performs slightly better.

Mk V GTI intercooler - 1K0 145 803 S (TFSI & TSI all markets)
Mk VI GTI intercooler - 1K0 145 803 S (US) 1K0 145 803 AK (ROW - 210hp)
Mk VI R intercooler - 1K0 145 803 AK (ROW)
Audi S3 intercooler - prior to MY 2010 1K0 145 803 P, MY 2010 built before 4/19/2010 1K0 145 803 AK, after 4/19/2010 1K0 145 803 BE
Audi TT-S intercooler - prior to MY 2010 1K0 145 803 P, MY2010-11 1K0 145 803 AK, MY 2012 1K0 145 803 BE

I really don't think an IC upgrade will provide any performance gains unless other mods have caused the IC to be a choke point. What it will do is reduce heatsoak & therefore give more consistent power output - esp in hot weather or traffic.

[Ramee]

It's not just the core thickness that matters. There are some subtle diffrence between a 38mm GTI intercooler & an S3/TT-S IC. Personally, if you have the 38mm GTI IC the next step would be one of the aftermarket providors.

What I have LOL'd at are those folks that have gone from Golf R/S3 plastic tank to S3 all alloy and claim they can feel an improvement. By all accounts the plastic tank unit performs slightly better.

I am not sure about that one. If you consider 155 TSI tiguan has similar intercooler to GTI Mk6 then according to my logs there is a substantial improvement of reducing intake temps when change to all aluminum S3.

Please check my logs.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f97/ramees-tiguan-build-thread-155kw-dsg-87535-18.html

While I agree that aftermarket bar and plate type intercoolers are more efficient S3 aluminum ones are still an improvement.

I think those 125/ 135 Tigs have mk5 GTI type intercoolers which are 32mm core width.

[tigger73]

I am not sure about that one. If you consider 155 TSI tiguan has similar intercooler to GTI Mk6 then according to my logs there is a substantial improvement of reducing intake temps when change to all aluminum S3.

Please check my logs.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f97/ramees-tiguan-build-thread-155kw-dsg-87535-18.html

While I agree that aftermarket bar and plate type intercoolers are more efficient S3 aluminum ones are still an improvement.

I think those 125/ 135 Tigs have mk5 GTI type intercoolers which are 32mm core width.

Yes definitely there is a difference and your logging does prove there is a difference in intake temps so makes the $ spent and 6 hours to do the install worth it.

I think you're right that the 125/132 get the lower spec intercooler (though would like to confirm with a 132 owner). So for me it was a certainly a good thing to do. The car does feel different, but dyno will tell if this is anything significant. It doesn't feel like it's unleashed a heap more horses - just gets there easier.

I believe the various aftermarket tunes are quite effected by intake temps as far as how aggressive they run things (i.e. back off when it gets hot). So hopefully it'll keep making decent power in the warmer days. I'm not expecting a miracle when ambients are 45 deg C though.

[tigger73]

Well did some timed runs with the autopolar today and I reckon the intercooler has conservatively knocked off 0.3sec from the 0-100 time.

One of the best mods yet and highly recommend to anyone with a 32mm core/125tsi.

Will be interested to see how it goes at the dyno day in a couple of months.


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[Ramee]

Well did some timed runs with the autopolar today and I reckon the intercooler has conservatively knocked off 0.3sec from the 0-100 time.

One of the best mods yet and highly recommend to anyone with a 32mm core/125tsi.

Will be interested to see how it goes at the dyno day in a couple of months.


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To get 0.3 sec improvement I think you need to get at least ~20 extra hp. My experience is those ECU /OBD based 0 to 100 testing is bit unreliable. You may want to verify that with a GPS based unit.

[tigger73]

To get 0.3 sec improvement I think you need to get at least ~20 extra hp. My experience is those ECU /OBD based 0 to 100 testing is bit unreliable. You may want to verify that with a GPS based unit.

Yes will definitely do some GPS based times to verify but having said that I did some foot to the floor time and got 6.7sec whereas before had never been able to get under 7sec.

Plus launch was always about 6.2sec on the autopolar and got a 5.799sec today.

Agree that the absolute numbers may not be accurate but relative numbers are pointing to some significant gains (or in my case removing some significant losses).


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[Ramee]

Yes will definitely do some GPS based times to verify but having said that I did some foot to the floor time and got 6.7sec whereas before had never been able to get under 7sec.

Plus launch was always about 6.2sec on the autopolar and got a 5.799sec today.

Agree that the absolute numbers may not be accurate but relative numbers are pointing to some significant gains (or in my case removing some significant losses).


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Definitely you should be getting significant gains considering intercooler was being the bottleneck in your system. I think boost drop through your old intercooler is very high considering high flow rates involve in Stage 2 tune. So there is your missing 20 hp you were complaining right there.