Has anyone thought of or been able to fit a universal front mount intercooler?
The forge and alta ones run well over $700 while universal ones approx the same size are around $200. This is a HUGE difference in price. Any one have any success with these? Saving money is always better.

For example: Mishimoto?

http://www.americanmuscle.com/mishim...tV1&adtype=pla

 

As you are probably aware the Alta FMIC requires some slight trimming, but Forge, Helix, and maybe a couple others are direct bolt ons with no modification required. I personally have not tried, nor will try, a universal FMIC because I don't want to mess around with fittament issues. I think the cost for R&D to make install easy is part of the reason why the cost is higher for MINI specific FMICs. You could end up spending $300+ in labor to make everything fit correctly on something like this. I just think there is too much potential for unsatisfactory or less than ideal results.

 

Anyone out there with an Alta intercooler installed under a JCW Aero front bumper? Any issues fitting the bumper over the intercooler? After dropping my Mini at the dealer, they said they couldn't fit the bumper over the Alta intercooler. Any thoughts? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

 

If you read the post directly above yours, the first sentence says:
I'm guessing the dealer didn't want to figure out where and how much to trim.

 

Hmm, reading the Alta instructions, all the trimming is on the car by the turbo pipes and not on the bumper. Weird. I have no clue.

 

Yes, more expensive but zero problems. I've installed a Helix, saved some money on the last group buy, and had zero problems installing. No trimming allowed!

 

Keep in mind that is only for the intercooler core. You're missing the couplers/tubing necessary to ensure fitment with the factory tubing. Also, just look at the Alta intercooler and the Mishimoto example you gave. The endtanks are completely different. You could fabricate new endtanks but unless you're handy with a TIG it would be pretty expensive to have a shop build one.

So basically unless you have a spare intercooler core and enough aluminum to fabricate some custom endtanks just buy the off the shelf one. It may seem cheaper to DIY but in this case for the average person it's not.

 

I'll get back into town tomm and I'll be able to to their shop and look at myself. They are talking about cutting 2 inches and exposing the intercooler wich again it makes no sense to me. As far as minor trimming, I did that to the factory Aero bumper when I first installed the intercooler and that took me less than 5 mints. I'm probably going to pay the price over and over again. I absolutely hate taking my baby to the dealer but I just dont have the time now a days to do it myself. Thanks fo the replies.

 

Sorry if this is a stupid question but did you have to take the front bumper off to install the helix FMIC and if so was it difficult to do?

 

Yes you must do that with an intercooler. It took me 3 hours only because I have the stupid brake ducts on my 2011+ but should take you on your 2007 probably 2 hours or less. Good luck! Also check youtube, Helix has a video of how to take your bumper off.

 

Definitely not hard following the videos, but some of the plastic connectors are really hard to remove with out destroying (read: the one connecting the bumper to the the fender). I strongly recommend picking a few up at the dealership (for a total of like $2) so you can just cut those to remove them.