I recently bought an intercooler to install. But, while washing the car this weekend, I noticed that the intercooler tanks on the car were aluminum. I also snapped the pic below (crappy cell pic, but the best I can do in that tight space) of the intercooler outlet.
Am I crazy, or is this an aftermarket intercooler already installed? Everything else on the car was stock when I bought it (except for a muffler delete), so it's strange that the intercooler would be upgraded. Maybe I should check to see what turbo is installed, too - I may be in for more surprises.

Eric

 

What year and model MINI do you have?

 

from what I understand, the two tier intercoolers are indeed aftermarket, whereas the stockers are small height wise and single tier

 

I have a 2011 MCS.

The one installed looks almost exactly like the one I just bought, except I can't see how high it extends up.

Eric

 

Yes, this looks like a staged aftermarket intercooler.

Stock one is much smaller, and has plastic inlet pipes:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...87&hg=17&fg=05

a

 

You may indeed already have one! Of course you can't know for sure until you remove that front bumper and check. Plus you don't know if the one installed is a low qaulity ebay FMIC that could potentially lower your efficiency, or if it is a reputable FMIC that is actually effective. Best to pull that bumper and find out. Be careful when looking at it too, there are a lot of ebay models that look like Forge products, but are nowhere near as good.

 

Well, the one I bought is an eBay model. First thing I've ever bought from eBay, but it looks to be of good quality. So, I guess whatever is in there is just as good if not better.

Anybody wanna buy a brand-new intercooler?

Eric

 

+1 Yep its aftermarket: Factory one looks like this.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/17512751277/





The Forge intercooler looks like this. FMINTR56 Forge Logo will be top.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/FMINTR56/

 

Happy Bonus for you! Check out the rest of your car to see what could be different. Aftermarket rear sway bars have 2 or 3 holes where they attach to the endlinks (you should be able to look through the wheel to see the end of the RSB).

If you are looking under the car, look at the lower engine mount. The factory one is bare aluminum with rubber at both ends. See if it looks like an extra piece is in the large end (black or yellow).

Have fun,
Mike

 

To answer your question. YES that is an aftermarket intercooler most likely a Forge intercooler. You may have other aftermarket goodies since you have that.

 

awesome find gipper....i know someone interested in taking your extra off your hands lol. Send me a message if your serious. Your definitely lucky. Where did you get that car?

 

The only thing obvious was the muffler delete when I bought the car. Car was bought in Easton, MA. There are no other mods that I've noticed. I already replaced the struts & springs, RSB, NM torque arm insert, etc.
Weird that the intercooler was changed - makes me think that the car was either in a front-end collision or maybe there's an upgraded turbo in there. I'll find out when I change out the downpipe.

I think I'll use my borescope to check out the top of the IC to see if I can tell the manufacturer.

Eric

 

Yeah, there is no writing on the top of the IC tank. Must be an eBay model. That's OK - that's what I was planning to install anyway. I'll find out about the turbo this weekend when I change out the downpipe.

Eric

 

Cool find! (no pun intended!)

 

If theres no writing and it cost about 300. Its a knock off.

 

Think gipper said it was an ebay one, they could not find any marks.

 

Yeah, it isn't brand-name one. Then again, the one I bought to install wasn't a brand-name one, either.

Eric