http://www.ebay.com/itm/21-75-x-12-x-3-BAR-PLATE-TURBO-FRONT-MOUNT-INTERCOOLER-CHROME-UNIVERSAL-/171508917941?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACooper%7CSubmodel%3AS&hash=item27eeba66b5&vxp=mtr
100 dollars off of ebay, does anyone see any reason this wouldn't work?

The biggest difference I see between this one and the intercoolers that cost 700 dollars is this one doesn't have the 90 degree bends facing rear words. No biggie, couple hose clamps and some silicon 90 bends, problem solved, right?

 

If you can get it to fit properly, connecting both sides with hoses you find that work, and most importantly being able to put the bumper back on without issues. Everything would work fine. I just don't know how good those intercoolers are with holding pressure. Some intercoolers are good at holding boost pressure (maybe 1-1.5psi drop). Cheaper intercoolers could be more. worth a shot if u have the time!

 

With all due respect, after having just done an intercooler replacement on my car, if it ain't designed for the car, I don't see how you can make it work. The piping is set in a certain way and the hose , which is why all the MINI specific intercoolers have the end tanks designed in a similar design to the factory. Plus there's the matter of space, both the space between the cooler and the bumper and the cooler and the crash bar.

 

If it were me, there's a Forge rip off on eBay for $270 that doesn't have the fitment issues and people seem to be happy with them. When you figure $100 for the intercooler, probably $50 for silicon elbows, clamps, ect. then the added time, having to potentially cut the bumper and quite possibly making it look like A$$, the extra $120 you'd spend for the rip off will save you that much in time and frustration.

 

whats the name of the forge ripoff?

 

Personally I won't cut corners on any performance mods I do. My car is my lifeline and if I have to spend a few hundred dollars more for the proper parts I will save and buy what I need rather than buy something for less and Mickey Mouse it. That's just my opinion.

 

The rip off on eBay was called something like "Front amount intercooler R56" but they recently fixed the spelling mistake. I ordered one because I want to run some tests on it. It has not come in yet due to some shipping issues. If it wasn't for the 100% seller rating, I'd think it were a little fishy, but he has communicated consistently throughout this whole process and has been decent to deal with. The seller has agreed to refund me $20 for the delay, which is fine by me because the average high temp here for the past 2 weeks has been about 10 degrees and I really don't need the FMIC until spring time and I am essentially getting the intercooler for $250.

 

Do you have the link for this one? Would like to take a look let us know how it works out

 

I'm not going to post a link because we all know how that works, a week from now it'll be dead. The seller is cooling_system and about every week they have 20 or so up for buy it now. They appear to be the same as you would find on sites like alibaba.com that are sold in bulk from China.
I will post a detailed review. I have been datalogging with my OEM intercooler in place and running 7-8 degrees above ambient. I also have leak down testing equipment that I plan to test with before install and will compare to the OEM intercooler afterwards.

 

Very eager for results can't wait

 

It came in late today and despite FedEx's best attempts, it appears to have survived except for a bent bracket. I'll be testing for leaks/pressure drop later this week and installing this weekend. The core is tube and fin, which in my experience is more efficient than bar and plate, and looks to be of good construction. Welds aren't exactly rolled coins, but it looks pretty solid.

Here's a link to to some unpacking pics: https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0B54v9WV_Ei4aM2U0NnhOdVdSY1k/edit

 

Doesn't look to bad at all can't seem to find that seller though guess you can't search a seller on eBay?

 

Google is your friend. Try googling for:

ebay "cooling_system"

Make sure to include the quotes otherwise Google will return results on all cooling systems found on ebay.com. Should be the first hit.

 

Hi I manage to find it on eBay. From the photo there is no centre bracket, will there be any issue on the installation? Thanks

 

This shouldn't cause any issue, even some of the name brand IC's don't have the center bracket.

 

Great thanks for the info.

 

I pressure tested the intercooler to roughly 40psi by capping one end and hooking my air compressor up to the other. There were no leaks. Fitment was tight, but did not require any trimming of the bumper. I haven't driven the car far enough yet for the ECU to completely adapt to the improved flow, the initial logs showed it running about 1 psi less boost than it had been. Later logs show that boost had been fully restored to previous levels and timing had the tendency to run slightly more advanced. All logs show IAT's being 6-7 degrees above ambient while cruising which is not a drastic improvement. The improvement is far more noticeable when under a heavy load. The IAT climbs, but at about 1/3 to 1/2 the rate it did with the OEM intercooler.
Install pics will be at the link I posted earlier. https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0B...hOdVdSY1k/edit

UPDATE: Today was a bit cooler outside which is more in line with the logs I was taking with the OEM intercooler. I was at roughly 4 degrees above ambient. The car seems very happy with the new intercooler.

 

I guess I'm gonna order one up

 

So, now that I clocked another 100 miles on the car, I can say definitively that a FMIC does add power even without a tune. On a brief highway stint last night, I was actually seeing 1-2 degrees above ambient. I may install an IC sprayer to further enhance it's effectiveness. If I put together a system I'll do a DIY thread.

 

Idk if it would make more power or the cooler air would help you from losing that power to heat

 

IAT when you're not in boost, i.e. cruising on the highway, should be very close to ambient even with the stock intercooler and it really is not important. What is important is what happens when you're in boost and how fast does it return to normal ambient levels. Do 3rd or 4th gear pulls from 3000 rpm to redline and see what happens to IAT. Then compare to stock and compare to the name brands. Helix has a nice comparison on their website:

http://store.helix13.com/helix-stepp...r-mini-cooper/

 

What would be considered a dangerous iat?

 

That's a good question but I don't believe that there is a definitive line. At higher temperatures the concern would be pre-detonation. I've heard that the stock ECU will retard timing as IAT crosses certain thresholds while some aftermarket tunes might not, hence they require larger intercoolers.

But on a hot summer day of 100F ambient, IAT could easily reach 140F at full boost.

This is where the wonders of methanol injection come to play. At full boost (Manic Stage2+ Map A) I'm usually 15F BELOW ambient. Down right chilly!

 

Haha that's what I am hoping for what do u see iat on map c

 

I've never run map c. Too worried that it's like crack cocaine...once you try it...you can't stop.

I've only tried map b briefly, no real data taking.