Maybe they are the best and other offerings have not survived over time, but I can't find anyone else who offers intercooler piping similar to:

http://www.nm-eng.com/nm488856-nm-en...arge-pipe.html

and

http://www.nm-eng.com/262/11/0/1457/...arge-pipe.html

Can anyone else provide alternatives? The NM stuff is quite expensive. Thx.

 

I'm not aware of anyone else making hard tubes like NM, but there are silicone tube replacments that delete the muffler and noise maker. Alta and Samco are a couple names that come to mind.

 

NM is on crack to charge $250 for piping.

 

Where are you guys buying the samco stuff from?

 

Samco is good, but we have had no problems running the stock intercooler plumbing, We have put over 100k on our last mini cooper and its been through 1000s of hours of dyno time, track time and street driving.

 

Thanks for chiming in Evolve... so Boost tubes for the intercooler net no power gains or ability to hold boost better than the stock tubes with mufflers and sound resonators?

 

not saying that upgrading the pipping won't help. You are basically removing all the restrictions from the stock pipping. We have tested several and the issue we have seen is in the long term the pipping starts to expand and no hold, which then turns into boost leaks etc. If you are running the stock turbo the stock pipping is fine.

 

No No No, you got allll wrong seeee. NM is selling the crack. And I'm buying. So, I guess that means I'm on crack for buying those pipes

 

I am in the middle of installing a JCW turbo on my MCS (turbo is out, next step, put new turbo in haha). Perhaps the hard piping of the NM Engineering is worth it over the Samco type stuff then over the long haul...

 

I decided on the NM pipes since I was running an aggressive tune here soon. I'm going to install a intercooler and run up to stage 3 tune. I figured in the long run I would see less problems if I spent a little more on hoses/pipes

 

I've tried several alternatives before finally switching to the full NM setup, both hot and cold side. While not cheap it is well made and NM stands behind their products.

One thing to remember is that the NM pieces are also slightly bigger in diameter, so if you are turning up the boost this can have a positive impact.

Also their hose connections tend to be oversized so you have room to adjust and move things around to get the best fit.

You never save money when you buy a part twice.

 

I got the Forge hot side on my N18. Had it on for about 20k miles, I'm loving it. Plus you get to choose what colors.

 

http://www.forgemotorsport.com/conte...oduct=FMR56RDH

there you go if you decide to go this route. I wouldn't recommend Alta at all. I don't have any of their parts on my MINI.

 

I have had the Alta turbo discharge pipe installed for the last 18 months or so, no problems. I know there are a lot of Alta haters but I am not one of them. Apparently they had some fit problems early on but the piece I have fits perfectly. I like the NM but just couldn't bring myself to pay 2x the price, yes that's crack pricing.

Many people just replace the turbo "muffler" with a simple piece of steel pipe, you can get a length from your local exhaust shop for just a few bucks.

 

Well I ended up purchasing a Wagner Competition Intercooler and the NM tubes. I'm at that "just get it done so you can drive it" stage in my build. :p Thanks for everyone's input.

 

I just made this upgrade. I looked at the NM stuff and it has a good reputation. That all being said i went the Samco route. I liked the idea of less connections, less places for possible leaks. I wish someone made a one piece cold side to the TB. I did ditch the noise maker junction tube and just replaced it with a straight tube.

http://www.outmotoring.com/5-piece-turbo-hose-kit.html

 

I think when all was said and done it was $30 price difference between the samco and the NM route. More connections I agree, I'd rather have less, but with running an upgraded turbo part of me wants to make sure there is no collapsing of pipes (which maybe that's just a wives tale, not sure)

 

Maybe I'm missing something but how would a hose collapse when it is positively pressurized? I get if it was on the inlet of the turbo. Again I'm not knocking the MN parts. I just want to replace all of my hoses it it was the only kit that I saw that had the exit from the intercooler. I do like NMs charge tube that's why I modified my kit to be like it. I really wanted the Dejon Power set up but they are out of bushiness.

 

You know what, I was thinking of the intake piping, but you're right, the IC stuff is positively pressurized...no idea why the NM stuff is seen as better, thought it is advertised as larger inside diameter... maybe the samco stuff does not make that claim? Maybe someone else can chime in.

 

That's why we have choices. As far as the diameter is concerned they all are bigger then stock. Any larger then the inlet or exit of the intercooler or throttlebody really doesn't do you any good. They all taper up from the exit of the turbo after that they are only as good as the smallest diameter in the proceeding lines. The plastic cold side charge tube is a possible hindrance when you start upgrading the turbo. Not a lot of room to work with in that area to get an increase.

 

The concern with the stock piping is with expansion, not collapsing. Over time, rubber gets soft, the pipes start to expand due to the incread boost pressures. How much time? Depends on a lot of factors. YMMV

 

The stock pipes don't expand. And the concern was with Alta (and maybe other soft tubes) collapsing (under vacuum) and wearing/chafing:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ge-pipe-2.html

See post #42. The stock pipes are fine for increased boost unless you want to dress up the engine (although removing the mufflers can't hurt).

 

You guys should check this out, it's a hot side resonator delete and Pre-intercooler cooling pipe.


http://www.siliconeintakes.com/produ...89b4f7a20a0257

 

Do these install in the existing factory silicone hoses replacing just the muffler?

 

When I thought about the amount of surface area it takes an intercooler to cool down intake air, I did not think this small amount of surface area (remember, the inside of this product is smooth, no fins), nor the amount of time intake are spends exposed to this product was worth the $.