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Drivetrain ra2fanatic's Wagner Competition Intercooler Impressions

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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 11:56 AM
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ra2fanatic's Wagner Competition Intercooler Impressions

So, just got my Competition Intercooler today!

Big thank you to Wagner Tuning in getting this shipped to me so quickly and Battle Tuning for arranging this for me! Battle is working with Wagner to bring awareness to this amazing core and I think it's the best out there!

The fit and finish on this core is beautiful and attached are the pics to prove it. I honestly think this core is better looking than my old Evolve unit, and actually, the base is probably a bit thicker too! A lot of meticulous work was put into this unit and you can tell by how well designed this core is.

Well packaged; the larger Wagner box and then a smaller brown box inside that is really packed nicely so absolutely nothing moves around in it. I didn't get the 2nd box inside since I forgot to put the SD card back in and ended up snapping a bunch of photos that didn't save to the camera -_-

Testing will occur after I've got it up and running so hopefully I can arrange some testing to see how well the IAT recovery times are with this core. It comes with new replacement clamps so that was nice and bolts to mount to the front crash bar.

Overall, I really dig this intercooler. It's descrete, being that it's stealth black, and it's a solid core. What a beauty it is!

Enjoy

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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 12:18 PM
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I'm looking forward to seeing what those IAT recovery times will be

Great Photos BTW! Great macro shot and detail
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 12:51 PM
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Nice, Congrats!

What a coincidence, I received my new intercooler today also!
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 01:55 PM
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Nice looking intercooler, I like that it's black! Will you at some point be logging temperatures versus stock intercooler?
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:20 PM
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I can. If someone wants to send me their Helix, Alta, and Evolve, I can knock out all the data people can think of to lay rest to whose intercooler is better. No one hasn't really done all of them so if someone wants me to do it, I can hand this all over to Battle and we can run them all...
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:44 PM
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I take it you must not have tested the Evolve while you had it? It'd be great if we could get all these tested by a third party
 

Last edited by Grizld700; Mar 11, 2014 at 02:52 PM.
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Grizld700
I take it you must not have tested the Evolve while you had it? It'd be great if we could get all these tested by an a third party
third party? you think i'd be biased!?
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:51 PM
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third party was intended to be you Poor wording on my part
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:53 PM
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oh yeah, i knew that...
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:54 PM
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I can get my hands on a Helix, not an issue. Alta, Evolve? Oh, and Forge.

Anyone else I'd be missing?

Actually, I don't want the Alta, I don't want to do any modification to my bumper. lol
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:57 PM
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I've never really considered Alta when looking at mods...
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 02:59 PM
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then you're modding in the right direction!

only thing i have that's alta is their gauge pod for my aquamist gauge. i'll end up selling it though to place it in a vent instead when the aim dash gets here though =x
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 04:09 PM
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that looks awesome! I had never looked their intercoolers before, any clue as to the difference between their competition and non-copetition models?

(or more importantly any idea what the difference underneath the post "facelift" minis, which i THINK means LSI, that would make the competition not fit an 09 as i thought the facelift came about the time the n18 did)
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by redparchel
that looks awesome! I had never looked their intercoolers before, any clue as to the difference between their competition and non-copetition models?

(or more importantly any idea what the difference underneath the post "facelift" minis, which i THINK means LSI, that would make the competition not fit an 09 as i thought the facelift came about the time the n18 did)
Competition can fit any model even though it says '10+ It's the lightest model and has way better flow that the regular facelift model.

Also, non '10+ model yr vehicles can fit it, and all it requires is a bit of trimming of the front lower grill. I think it's a great design and I know it'll be great. I didn't think anything of Wagner initially, but having spoken to Battle and DNA respectively, they've convinced me that Wagner is the best out there.

Their cores are made in-house and not outsourced products and welded together.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 06:03 PM
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Subscribed! I like what I see...
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 08:01 PM
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That is a seriously sweet looking intercooler. Any chance you can post a pic of the inside of the intercooler. Would love to see if it includes bars to smooth the airflow into the tubes.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 08:05 PM
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It does, I did take a pic of the interior bars, but didn't want to post because I felt it best that competitors making intercoolers shouldn't know the design unless they actually went and bought a unit for themselves.

PM me and I can share the photo though

But again, it does include bars to smoothen out the air. Really well crafted core.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 08:20 PM
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That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. My Forge unit has served me well but I think its time for her retirement.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 08:30 PM
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Interested in this as I feel Helix was and is the reigning King of intercoolers, but I have to say, the Wagner is eye candy, I guess we will see if it performs as good as it looks....let the Battle begin!
 
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Old Mar 11, 2014 | 09:04 PM
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well I guess I need to subscribe to another one of these threads
 
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 08:43 AM
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looks like a nice intercooler at a good price, i would like to see how it performs for sure
 
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 09:55 AM
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Damn. I posted a thread a while back about the Wagner Intercooler. No one seemed to have it and the price was too good to be true! It was $550 brand new. Idk what it is now. But members seemed to veer me off to the Helix one having no knowledge of Wagner's. I regret listening to you guys now. Haha jk
 
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Old Mar 12, 2014 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Tigger2011
That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. My Forge unit has served me well but I think its time for her retirement.
Forge, I know of another user who tested the Forge vs Evolve and the Evolve won that battle.
Originally Posted by RJT
Interested in this as I feel Helix was and is the reigning King of intercoolers, but I have to say, the Wagner is eye candy, I guess we will see if it performs as good as it looks....let the Battle begin!
i need some popcorn too
Originally Posted by dez
well I guess I need to subscribe to another one of these threads
you know it!
Originally Posted by whrisk
looks like a nice intercooler at a good price, i would like to see how it performs for sure
 
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 10:10 AM
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Any update to this thread?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 10:22 AM
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Haven't performed any tests yet, but it's been a solid core with great recovery. Fan doesn't stay on long after shutting down the MINI compared to the Evolve fmic I had before. Very happy with this intercooler
 
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