Front Mounta Intercooler - dissappointed

[Petrina Polo]

Hey Petrina Polo. How is the FMIC going? still disapointed?
In hindsight would you do it again?

Im sure it cant be worse than the stock cooler but is it worth the money.... very iffy.

Maybe it only plays a part if your continually going at full power runs.. At moderate acceleration with the occassional full throttle run, I dont see the difference..

How does a WRX Sti with 220+kw use that little underbonnet intercooler and it all be sweet but our 150kw chipped polos need a bigger intercooler?

[Spec83]

They don't if you keep it stock - Even if you get a tune the turbo is still in a similar efficency zone on the compressor map meaning that no extra heat is produced and the factory systems can cope fine...

The advantages of a bigger FMIC on our cars (read: all turbo cars) is that it will reduce inlet tempertures which allows the ECU to advance the timing + add more fuel and hence make more power before detonation sets in (our cars have a knock sensor which will retard timing to save the engine in the case of detonation). The bigger FMIC will also delay the onset of 'heatsoak' due to the larger surface area for which the heat transfer between the charge air and the ambient air can occur...

This FMIC argument is a little like the exhaust argument in that you might pick up a handful of kW for $1,000+ but the stock system are pretty well engineered for what the stock turbo will ever be capable of

[Petrina Polo]

That sounds like a sensible answer..

I agree that the standard exhaust and standard SMIC are sufficient for our baby turbo.. The upgraded units provide a benefit but its poor relative to cost.

You can go out and spend $3k for dump pupe and FMIC for another few kw. (Like I have) and regret.

Im sure they have some benefit but "WOW" isnt a word you should expect to hear used in a sentence after either of these mods...

I reckon a chipped only car will give me a run for my money..

[Petrina Polo]

also the kicker is....

When installing the kit...

Such an easy installation UNTIL

you try and put the front bar back on... impossible..

I had to hack away at the inside of the bar, it still dont go on properly.. the crash bar and intercooler come out too far.. You gotta basically force the bar on and its not lined up 100%.. (thats after I hacked away at the inside of the bar..)

You wont notice if just walking by but if you look at the sides they are not as close as they chould be and the bonnest and the front bar arnt completely parallel. The front bar almost hits the bonnest on one side and there is some space on the other side..

Its the cooler that comes out too far.. Pushes the bar outwards.

[Sharkie]

You can go out and spend $3k for dump pupe and FMIC for another few kw. (Like I have) and regret.

Im sure they have some benefit but "WOW" isnt a word you should expect to hear used in a sentence after either of these mods...

I don't agree (and am sure a number of other people on here as well)

I spent about $1500 (including fitment) on a FMIC and 2.5" dumppipe + CAT and .... WOW was indeed something I thought afterwards .....

Not as big a WOW as an ECU upgrade but still a fairly big WOW..

For me ECU = 30kw atw and FMIC & DP+CAT = 17kw ATW ...... it most definately is worth it if done properly.

[Petrina Polo]

Fair point..

But my car has a APR dump pipe and cat so credible gear. Maybe I need to drive a chip only car against a Chip and Dump and then a chip, dump and intercooler..

I dont know about you guys but my bum dyno cannot differentiate a 3 tenths difference from 0-100km/h that the cat, dump and intercooler might make.

I dont have any other agenda other than to speak my honest thoughts.. Ive paid the money and obviously Im not over the moon about the results.

Has anyone in a chip only car done a quarter mile run?? what about a chip, dump+ intercooler person.

[seangti]

there'll be quite a number of variables in that... so it will be quite inconclusive. You're mods over a quarter mile like you said result in minimal improvement over that distance too.

What you have achieved is a car that won't suffer heat soak after a flogging, the performance will be maintained for longer, even if the power figures aren't at an expected level.

I'm sure you know it already, the FMIC is a supporting mod, so I wouldn't be too disheartened with the results. (unless your intake pipe was still stonking hot to touch, cos that ain't right)

Chin up, bigger turbo will sort it out

[Petrina Polo]

Dont get me wrong.. they are nice quick little cars but if you want something more or are used to something more (which is probably me) I wouldnt spend too much modifying these cars.. Just respect them for what they are.

Id say if you want good bang for bucks just chip them, maybe suspension and end it.

Correction: My intake pipe was boiling hot the other day but it was over 40 degrees that day and I had driven in traffic for 2 hours. Maybe its not fair to blame FMIC for that one..

But the other day I gave it another thrashing, this time in 26 degrees weather and quickly checked under the bonnet and intake hose was fairly cool and intake plenum was also pretty cool.

[Flaps]

Glide GTI did a 14.6 with just a GIAC chip and a 2.0 60 footer
Kai has done an impressive time with just a chip and a few back yard mods.

[shaneth]

also the kicker is....

When installing the kit...

Such an easy installation UNTIL

you try and put the front bar back on... impossible..

I had to hack away at the inside of the bar, it still dont go on properly.. the crash bar and intercooler come out too far.. You gotta basically force the bar on and its not lined up 100%.. (thats after I hacked away at the inside of the bar..)

You wont notice if just walking by but if you look at the sides they are not as close as they chould be and the bonnest and the front bar arnt completely parallel. The front bar almost hits the bonnest on one side and there is some space on the other side..

Its the cooler that comes out too far.. Pushes the bar outwards.

Mate I would be getting in contact with GT3 off this forum and maybe some guys on ukpolos.net or even contact forge. Cause your coments on installation don't seem right. Unless your polo is different somehow. I know the forge one from memory was designed to fit around headlight washers, but from memory I was told no cutting of the bar. Just something to check as forge makes good quality products which they spent a fair amount of time getting right.

[Petrina Polo]

Hi,

Im sure Forge do make good quality products.

The front bar has not previously been adjusted or moved. I know we have had it from new.

But when the standard crash bar is swapped for the Forge unit, everything lines up correctly, the front of the car is supported per the instructions... all the bolts go in easily, all tightened up, sweet.. It seems too good to be true how easy it is.

But the bar does not go back on.. the lower grill hits the intercooler and there is also an issue as it goes back near the passenger headlight.. You basically have to force the bar on and bolt it up on the sides (after cutting away at half the lower grill and drivers side fog plastic).

I am happy to post up photos.. the bar now appears a little lop sided as on one side it almost touches the bonnet and on the other there is a reasonable gap. maybe 5mm difference side to side but nevertheless not as it was.

The cooler is mounted as far back as possible to help the bar on but to no avail.

The bottom of the front bar does not bolt back up to the standard holes but the top and sides do.

If you were to walk by you wouldnt notice but its not 100% in its fitment.

[shaneth]

This has been taken off another forum where the guy just had it put in.

Postby whitegtipolo » Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:59 pm
Had my intercooler fit today at forge and all i can say is WOW!!! what a difference it has made to the power delivery especially on the mway !!! i got nearly 10mpg more on the way back !! it seems to pull alot harder than it used to when it hits 4000rpm!!

[GTIJNR]

Hi,

Im sure Forge do make good quality products.

The front bar has not previously been adjusted or moved. I know we have had it from new.

But when the standard crash bar is swapped for the Forge unit, everything lines up correctly, the front of the car is supported per the instructions... all the bolts go in easily, all tightened up, sweet.. It seems too good to be true how easy it is.

But the bar does not go back on.. the lower grill hits the intercooler and there is also an issue as it goes back near the passenger headlight.. You basically have to force the bar on and bolt it up on the sides (after cutting away at half the lower grill and drivers side fog plastic).

I am happy to post up photos.. the bar now appears a little lop sided as on one side it almost touches the bonnet and on the other there is a reasonable gap. maybe 5mm difference side to side but nevertheless not as it was.

The cooler is mounted as far back as possible to help the bar on but to no avail.

The bottom of the front bar does not bolt back up to the standard holes but the top and sides do.

If you were to walk by you wouldnt notice but its not 100% in its fitment.

The radiator support was not align properly when you install the FMIC & new crash bar. The whole front section of the polo (black plastic) align through the main crash bar bolts. So when you loosen these bolt & not support the radiator support panel, every thing goes out of place. Understandable when the job done at home, but i'll be upset if its was done by pro... like the dealer i took my car to for radiator replacement, they did the exact same mistake... still not fix... Just curious, you've done cooler, dump pipe but standard ECU?

[Petrina Polo]

No radiator was supported.. exactly per instructions.. all the bolts line up and tightened up.. the crash bar and intercooler simply sit too far outwards

ECU is reflashed, its an APR reflash.