Hi , Anyone have any feedback on the bar and plate intercoolers on ebay that look much like the M7 IC for a R53 . One merchant shows 5 sold. Just wondering if they are any good. The price is definately right. See link below.


DIRECT BOLT-ON ALUMINUM BAR&PLATE SUPERCHARGE INTERCOOLER COOLER MINI COOPER S (Fits: Cooper)

 

at around 200$ for an intercooler im not sure I would trust it ... most intercoolers sold are around 500$-1000$

 

I can't disagree but I am wondering if anyone has first hand feedback. It looks like copy of the M7. By the way, does anyone know why the M7 IC isn't available ? Was it faulty?

 

Ya know ALTA used to make a Direct flow intercooler before too. I just checked and see now that M7 has removed their DFIC from their page as well.

If you search the forum you will find reports of loss of performance from the DFIC from users that have it. I forget exactly if it was pressure drop or lack of cooling or what but although a neat idea I was never sold on it.


As for the pricing on intercoolers it is all about as ridiculous as the mark up on Mini exhausts. $800+ for a cat back is simply stupid when the parts can be had for ~$200. Most people complain of droning from their expensive cat backs and the dual muffler systems are unnecessary and don't reduce as much weight as a simple one ball.

As for intercoolers, the cost to manufacture one is probably in $150-200 range, so I'm baffled when I see what places charge for intercoolers. In my opinion the GP intercooler is the best option for price vs. performance compared to the rest on the market.

Without any numbers of pressure drop and temp drop, it's hard to even consider spending $200 on an intercooler though. I've read a lot of cases where welds crack on ebay intercoolers. If you find the leak you could always reweld it but then again you could be spending $200 to decrease air flow or for an intercooler that may not drop temps to even the stocker's level. So I'd probably spend the $200 on an OBX header or something else that you can find dyno's showing the gain.

 

Is there something wrong with your stock intercooler? I ask because it's a myth that many are better than the stock unit. The M7 certainly wasn't!

 

davisflyer: Noting the mods and whp/wtq numbers in your sig, are you using the stock IC? If so that's a good testament about saving the OP's money for other mod's vs. upgrading the intercooler..

 

Stock intercooler. And if I ever decide to change it would be for a GP intercooler.

 

Stay away from those crap inter-coolers on EBay. GP or GRS are the only ones that I would recommend.

 

well there you go, exactly my train of thought. I'll spend my money on other mods and should anything go wrong with my IC I'll replace it with a GP unit.

Nice numbers on your car by the way!

 

That intercooler heat soaks worse than the stock, go with the GP version.

 

What Way said. I've read so many threads and posts here on the topic. BLUF you can't beat the price/benefit combination of the GP intercooler and the DDMWorks air diverter. Get a can of Eastwood black radiator paint and you'll see even more reduced temps.