Front mount intercooler

[Dallas Stace-smith]

What are you guys running for front mount intercoolers on your mk4 Alh jettas? If I do this does it change the amount of coolant in the system? Are the kits pretty plug and play or do you need to do fabricating? Should I do the fmic or just upgrade the SMIC?

 

[Nero Morg]

I almost did a fmic, but ultimately decided against it. You'll get noticeable boost lag due to the added volume, and it's all custom fab. Just do an upgraded smic and motor on, they're more available and are plug and play.

 

[Dallas Stace-smith]

Oh yeah, thanks

 

[Dubious]

What about two of the oem mk4's? Would that help?

 

[dhangejr]

Fmic or bust if your going for over 180hp…
The only time I think there’s more turbo lag with the front mount is when people run big pipes. But if you run a small pipe work you don’t get that problem as noted above. Look at Darkside developments. They’re running I believe 51 mm pipes.

Ironically, I ordered an upgraded side mount intercooler and put together the budget paperwork for a bew and Two days later I was at the wrecking yard and found a euro jet front mount intercooler.

There’s a huge quality difference! Euro jet is very VERY nice.

I have not got a chance to run either one, and I already sent the one back to Amazon, so you can see my bias… I only bought the upgraded side mount intercooler kit to save money knowing id be geting heat soak...there’s some logs showing this

There’s some pretty cool same side mounts that shorten the paperwork and that’s definitely the best available. you can get them from China for about US$300 but you got a wait about two months to get them. And they dont have a bracket for mounting snd I’m sure they are no where where near the quality of the dark side kit.

 

[Dallas Stace-smith]

Would the front mount kits like the one from Darkside be pretty plug and play or would there be some fabrication that needs to be done?

 

[dhangejr]

I can only speak from exp of the euro jet I found...It was plug and play, but I had to figure it out no instructions and There was a broken lower pipe on the car so that slowed me down. I did remove my forst heater, I could have done a relocatoin work around but the plug needed replacement so screw it. I also have a skid plate and at first I thought it was gonna be cock blocker but nope It just fits...

So, back to fitting, the euro jet has hump connectors. Silocone hoses.net says they give up to 20° adjustment. I can't say it is that much, but they give you what you need.

I have never used one, but Ive seen people say the dark side kit is not exactly plug and play im sure that is rubbish.
People say its not plug and play FMIC cuz it ts not as cut and dry as a turbo install.

 

[Dallas Stace-smith]

Alright yeah, well thanks

 

[dhangejr]

Just go for it ! It will be pretty easy if it was made doe the car !

 

[Dallas Stace-smith]

I think I will thanks

 

[dhangejr]

make sure to post pics! lol

 

[Dallas Stace-smith]

Will do

 

[Geobmx4life]

This is the template I used to do my FMIC, it’ll work on a Jetta as well.

My >$200 ebay FMIC kit installed

Don't know how but I managed to get it in. ebay fmic kit, stock bumper and grill fogs. Of course there is bumper trimming involved. I did go with a slightly shorter FMIC. It is ~6" vs the 7". Thanks to TDIJetta99 and Got Bearings for some key tips. Well I went for a run and it didn't come off so...

forums.tdiclub.com

 

[burpod]

I almost did a fmic, but ultimately decided against it. You'll get noticeable boost lag due to the added volume, and it's all custom fab. Just do an upgraded smic and motor on, they're more available and are plug and play.

If it's tuned right and there are no leaks, there will be no boost lag, fyi

 

[dhangejr]

ill say, the 1.8t pan cake pipe worked well with a 90 degree reducer and whatever funny bend the euro jet FMIC came with. Looking back i think the ebay kits are not as hard as it looks to fit. One might need an extra 100$ in hoses/fittings, but easily doable , BUT those inter coolers are TRASH at least the side mount one I got was. Shipped it back

 

[Geobmx4life]

I had good luck with the intercooler, the t-clamps aren’t the best and I’ve replaced most of them…my intake temps are 5c above ambient