Because it is rather small. Not small compared to the stock one but small compared to most FMIC that you see. Yes costing more but that's obvious. I try to stay away from no name brands, that's me. And I shouldn't judge it since I've never used it but non well known names from eBay don't usually get very good vibes. Just a simple observation/thought. It seems many have had good luck with it and that's great I'm just saying I don't think I would use it but who knows. A FMIC wouldn't provide me any benefits at the moment anyways so it's not something I really need to think about.

 

Who are you kidding? Am I the only one on this thread seeking advice? Did I start the thread? Laughable. And no, I have taken advice from PB, Metal, among many others on various topics. Maybe if you'd provide something useful, the conversation would be more adult like, but obviously you choose to ride the high horse because I called you out in the past. On that topic, wasn't I the one trying to help you out when nobody else was responding? Yea, that's right, the whole ST thread.

When have I gone on a rampage with someone disagreeing with me? Other than your inexperienced BS that is? Of course I'm going to disagree with you, anyone would, reason being you don't know what you're talking about. Do me (and everyone) else a favor, dig up some dirt on me and prove me wrong. Go ahead and copy/paste "my text" that resembles a rampage as you put it, other than my responses to posts of YOURS of course. Would you rather I (or other members) to agree with incorrect information of yours? Where's the point in that? The intention of this forum is to provide members with valuable, accurate information, thus is why I've repeatedly responded to you before with the intention of "correcting." By all means, if you disagree with it, provide an analysis that proves me (or others) wrong. I bet you can't. Why? Because there's nothing there to find. If I'm full of crap or mistake, again, prove me wrong.

Putting you in your place, yes. Take it how you want. It's obvious that you have repeatedly posted incorrect information, yet come off as arrogant in doing so. If that's not your intention, well maybe you need to work on the communication aspect of it, I don't know. Even PB called you out with that ST thread, so by all means there's other members you have felt the same way before. Tough guy? Come on, really? Why? Because you responded to THIS thread with no useful information? And to top it off, tell me to go with a REAL FMIC? So, you're saying that everyone who's running an aftermarket Godspeed or CXRacing FMIC doesn't know what they're doing? Hell, you didn't even back-up your claim with what "you think" is a real FMIC. Again, made an arrogant claim, yet failed to validate it with data, info, etc etc......

I'm the farthest thing from a "hide behind a computer playing macho man" you can take that to the bank. I played hockey and football through college, and now work in a correctional facility where I deal with **** bags on a daily basis. That's right, hand-to-hand brawls, aggressive verbal confrontations, among other things that justify who I am. With that said, you can bet that I'm the last person "who hides" anywhere. Thing is, you're deviating the point all together. Fact is, you just joined this forum, asked for help with modding your vehicle (beginner stuff), questioned those who were willing to help you out, and now of recent, come off arrogant and experienced when it's obvious by your various posts that you don't know what you're talking about. So yea, I called you out and wanted to shed some light on the fact I don't appreciate it. Big deal, it's just my opinion, but can almost guarantee there's other members here reading the same stuff while thinking the same thing, yet just don't want to get involved, period.

Even this response of yours supports my thoughts. You don't say anything? I call BS once again. You didn't have anything useful to share in this thread alone, yet you STILL felt compelled to respond to ME with an arrogant, uneducated, BS reply? Wow, if my answers frighten you Vincent, then you should cease asking scary questions. LOL. Oh yea, in regards to the hockey thing, YOU were the one who just had to throw that crap out there when I called you out in the ST/DV thread, what was the point of doing that eh? Oh that's right, because it's ok for your to **** other people off, yet cry wolf when someone legitimately questions your LACK of knowledge, yet cockiness in posting it.....

Again, prove me wrong and show me where I went on a rampage at all? People are going to disagree, but I'd like to see PROOF of what you're claiming. OR, show me information where I disagreed with you, and after the fact you actually provided useful ACCURATE information? I can't wait for this.....but do everyone a favor, and put it in a different thread where it belongs.

To this point, you STILL haven't provided any useful information to this thread. I'm ALSO done here with this crap, but you make the claims buddy, better be able to back them up.

BACK to topic please.....

 

AGAIN, you don't know what you're talking about, and man this is becoming comical. Not a normal size? Incorrect, other than the 2.25" inlet/outlet, the VAST majority of FMIC's are close to that size for what someone would need for a B5 k03/k04 setup. That's, if you want it to fit properly without hacking away everything. Ok, what's the MOST common size then? Where did you find your information that supports whatever that common size is? Heck, I even posted 5 or so links from Ebay of intercoolers "designed" to fit the B5. All of them other than the ONE 2.25 inlet/outlet were nearly identical in size (27x6x2.5). This size is the best suited for our cars, or VERY close to it. But apparently, there's something better because you "claim" it's not the most common right?

Your car WOULD benefit from a FMIC. Heatsoak is even a problem even on a stock 1.8t, but chipped even more so. My cousin has a 00 1.8 with a FMIC Stage 1 K03 and had FAR LESS heatsoak than mine when I was Stage 1 for 5 years. Wouldn't provide you with any benefits? OMG, clueless.....

 

Looks like a decent kit for the money, I don't know why but the picture makes that core look huge; The dimensions look fine though. Did you email the seller to see if they offer 2" piping? On a k04 having anything larger than 2" would just increase turbo lag with no real benefits.

 

K....

 

First off, settle down people.

Secondly, yes, Ebay brand FMIC's are shittier than good ones. They are not as dense and sometimes tube and fin versus bar and plate style. However, one of those CX Racing intercoolers will work just dandy for a k03/k04.

Heatsoak is NOT an issue with a daily driven b5. It just isn't. Now, if it is 100 degrees out and you are enjoying a spirited drive, yes, a FMIC will be a benefit. Driving down the freeway? No. Auto-xing? Yes, get a FMIC.

As for piping, keep the warm side a little bigger than the cooled side if you want since it is denser. I think ideal on a stock turbo is 2.25 hotside, 2 cold side since it is denser and it helps support velocity.

 

Really? I've always thought it would more beneficial to have a larger cold side. Yes the air is denser on the cold side but the air is less compressed as it just went through the inter cooler. Therefore making it more important to have a larger cold side rather than a larger hot side where the air is fully compressed.

 

I disagree. I had Stage 1 on my k03 for 5 years (daily driver). Even here in MN where we BOTH are located, I'd experience heatsoak consistently throughout the summer. It didn't have to be 100 degrees either. Even if it were 80 degrees and humid I'd feel it big time, all I'd have to do is romp it a couple times from a dead stop and boom there it was. Like I previously stated, my buddy's/cousin's car has the same tune & mods, only difference was he has an FMIC, his car didn't suffer from what mine did when we got on it repeatedly. Aren't most of our modded cars "daily drivers?" Mine always has been....

In theory, of course simply driving down the freeway wouldn't require an upgraded intercooler, but lets be honest, who does that all the time? We all upgrade our cars for more power to drive them fast, maybe not 100% of the time, but certainly enough to want MORE power with the intention of getting on it during acceleration or while cruising. Really, even a GT wouldn't need a FMIC if we're talking about simply cruising down the freeway, right? With that said, even a chipped K03 would benefit from an FMIC, and it doesn't have to be 100 degrees OR driven hard 100% of the time to feel the difference. Think about it, even a Stage 1 boosts over double what it does stock, so of course IAT's are going to be high enough to where a FMIC will be beneficial. I could easily tell the difference between my buddy's/cousin's car and mine, so that's what I'm going off of.

 

Absolutely, however haven't received a reply yet. I'm definitely looking for the 2" like you got vs 2.5".

 

I never have experienced heatsoak, and until I see hard evidence (i.e. logs) I won't believe it. In normal driving conditions, of course. Take some logs on a 80 degree day and show my IAT's and we will talk. As for me, I don't think heatsoak will be much of an issue. LOL