Has anyone installed S3 Intercooler yet?

[jspirate]

It just got hot here in LA. Its been over 100 recently where i live. I am starting to feel the car lag more. I got on freeway and car had no balls this morning. I am glad I got this to install this weekend. Can't wait to see the difference.

Good luck with everything let me know how you perform out in the 110 degree heat.

Unfortunately there is a point where even the biggest IC can't help. I've had heat soak at 95°, but there are variables that can move this number around and there are other variables that confuse the issue. For example, even humidity has an affect. Maybe not so much on the IC, but on the turbo's ability to compress the air. Usually, we have higher humidity as the temps rise (depends on location of country). As for heat loading the IC... what about heat from the AC radiator? A number of small factors can add up and make the turbo/software under-perform during the hotter seasons.

Anyway, its a must to upgrade the IC even if the bigger one has limitations

Its funny how the k04 reacts in the winter. My conti DWs suck in the cold and that coupled with a really cold, low humidity high pressure system makes the turbo spool like releasing the rubber band on one of those balsa wood airplanes. Its so instantaneous that the cold pavement and the DWs just don't get along. The torq comes on more like an on/off button.

Sorry... I am digressing, but I guess I wanted to recognize my joy in this varying performance of a turbo as it relates to the seasons/weather. Its fun, and I can't imagine not have a turbo to play with!

[S WORD]

Thanks for sharing it is good info to think about. Maybe it is not full on heatsoak I am running into. Just noticed that it really feels like my car got the wind kicked out of it. Now I mainly noticed this on the low end and once at speed I don;t seem to have much issue.

I am still like this better than when i went to Wuste a few years back and leaving vegas going up hill in my fsi A3, i was getting fuel cuts like crazy. That was a kick in the balls feeling for sure. Currently LA is no where near that hot but if i can prevent running into that ever again i will do what it takes.

[snobrdrdan]

Keep this thread updated with how it goes!!

And like I said, just cut the hoses like this & you should be golden!
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...956&viewfull=1


If you're hesitant to cut them...just eyeball it at first to make sure it'll all work first. If it looks okay, THEN cut them.
But tons of guys have done it that way, with no issues

[S WORD]

So I have finished the install. Definitely would be faster with two people sadly it took me quite a few hours because although there are pictures you kinda have to figure it out as you go. Definitely could do it faster next time. I also did not take pictures. It took me long enough to install and I made a few minor mistakes. I also installed the TOP. One thing for sure the stock hoses work fine when trimmed based on the link that snobrdrdan posted above. Now for the performance it is hard to say because it is 100 degrees out. But there is a quicker spool likely due to TOP. Haven't had a chance to get and full throttle runs in but the car is pulling a little better. When I get time to do a proper test drive I will give more feedback. Sorry to those waiting on a picture DIY but I could definitely write the site's and give you things to look out for during the install. . Thanks to all that posted info here to help. I encourage others to try this if they have proper tools and potential assistant it isn't really that bad. Anyone wanting DIY let me know what questions you have.

[R0bL0gic]

Impatiently waiting to have mine installed!

[snobrdrdan]

So I have finished the install. Definitely would be faster with two people sadly it took me quite a few hours because although there are pictures you kinda have to figure it out as you go. Definitely could do it faster next time. I also did not take pictures. It took me long enough to install and I made a few minor mistakes. I also installed the TOP. One thing for sure the stock hoses work fine when trimmed based on the link that snobrdrdan posted above. Now for the performance it is hard to say because it is 100 degrees out. But there is a quicker spool likely due to TOP. Haven't had a chance to get and full throttle runs in but the car is pulling a little better. When I get time to do a proper test drive I will give more feedback. Sorry to those waiting on a picture DIY but I could definitely write the site's and give you things to look out for during the install. . Thanks to all that posted info here to help. I encourage others to try this if they have proper tools and potential assistant it isn't really that bad. Anyone wanting DIY let me know what questions you have.

Good to hear man!!

Break anything? lol

How (hard) was the bumper removal?

[S WORD]

I did not break anything that important. Ok it was a stupid clip on something that I did not need to remove. Basically my biggest mistake was undoing too many things. I removed alot of bolts and screws that were not required.

Grill was the worst part by far. I removed the screws but at the bottom of the grill there are two larger black clips. These would not come out and i nearly gave up at this stage.

The bumper is pretty easy. Make sure you undo all the screws. There are like 4-5 in the fender well alone. Also you will likely need to pull the finder liner back to find the final screw holding the bumper to the actual fender. I can see it on my car because my fender liner was trimmed do to MOAR LOW, it's about an inch in from the fender liner. The "trick" to the bumper lies under the fender liner. There are two pieces that overlap. The bumper and i think the other piece is the body. This overlap is not a clip of anything but without the overlap undone you will not be able to remove the bumper. Undo the overlap and basically pull out of the bumper. Watch for any stuck clips and undo them. I did not mess up my paint and I did this whole part alone. Watch for wire housing to unclip and then set on the side.

The metal (black) bumper was easy to undo, just remove all the screws holding it on.

The main support piece was pretty intense to remove. I couldn;t figure out how to undo the line running to the hood latch system so I just had to set this piece on its side right next to my car.

The headlights are pretty easy.

The intercooler is held to the rest of the pieces with a few screws. I got unscrew happy and unscrewed the fan housing from the rest of the stuff. Don;t do this because these screws are a PITA to access and it really is not needed. Install is pretty easy. Doing this alone was rough because you have to align a few holes which is not easy to do while lifting things and screwing things, but it is doable. Would be easy with help. Putting everything on took time. I would say putting it back on is harder than removing. Make sure you keep good track of all the bolts.

The hoses cut easy. Use a hack saw, cut through the top piece of metal (outter sleeve). Don;t cut the hose. The metal cuts easily so I could see someone hit the hose when trying to cut the metal. Remove the cut outer sleeve with pliars. Once outer sleeve removed the inner sleeve can be pulled out with your fingers or the pliars.

STOCK HOSES FIT FINE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T CUT OFF ANY OF THE HOSE. There is no issue with stock hoses when the metal is trimmed off carefully/correctly. There are myths out there saying otherwise, those are wrong.

Installing the TOP was hard. The metal clip thing used to snap together the hoses on the turbo side was very hard to put in. It is in an unreachable spot and took me forever to get in. After that the TOP with a switch of hardward from the stock TOP was easy to bolt on.

In the end I pretty much did this with no step by step other than the help and pictures from this thread. I learned afterward that APR has a pretty detailed IC install instruction set. I am not the most mechanically inclined and I did this alone, but I suggest anyone wanting to do this install to follow APR install guide and have someone to help.

The driving impression.

First thing is the near immediate power from the turbo. I believe that is due to the TOP. This makes a big when I feel the low down torque that early. It makes the car feel more like a NA car than a turbo car. Not perfect but nearer. Then for the highspeed runs the IC definately helps pull up top. There was no high RPM power decline and i felt the car easily pull up in high RPM. That was in 100 degree heat too.

Overall, install is not too bad. I can help anyone with the bumper questions. I suggest you follow APR install guide other than that. As i am sure it would have helped me. Also get a friend to help, you can do it alone but you can do it faster with two.

Thanks to all who posted to help.
Not a bad modification for the $$$. I am very impressed with the change to the car.

Next, back to detailing the car.

[snobrdrdan]

^^^
Good info there