TDI Intercooler Upgrade

[Pittdawg]

There appear to be a couple European vendors selling these but I couldn't find any reviews or even mention of them on this forum. Can anyone chime in on this mod, i.e. direct replacement and pros and cons? Thanks!

[DanMontgomery]

Been looking at the Darkside Intercooler for my TDI.

http://www.darksidedevelopments.co.u...-platform.html

I been talking to them for a while now, just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

They do answer questions (emails) fairly quickly and seem to be very knowledgeable.

They told me the intercooler is a direct bolt on...however they have actually installed one on a 3.0TDI Q5.

They offer other TDI parts, upgraded Turbo, Tune, and DFP delete down pipe.

They will paint (spray) it all black for just a few pounds more.

Price is in British Pounds...so make sure do your conversion.



My overall assessment...going to get one. It will work into my overall plan to get the most from my TDI, just want to wait till this emission ordeal is taken care of first.

V/r
Dan

[Pittdawg]

Dan, did you remap your tune after the intercooler install or it works fine on your tune that was already on there? I ask because my Euro SQ5 intercooler finally shipped from Latvia and I will hopefully install it soon after it arrives.

[DanMontgomery]

Dan, did you remap your tune after the intercooler install or it works fine on your tune that was already on there? I ask because my Euro SQ5 intercooler finally shipped from Latvia and I will hopefully install it soon after it arrives.

Not sure what tune your running but I didn't have to redo or make any tune adjustments.

Currently running a ChipWerke Pro.

V/r
Dan

[Pittdawg]

I have the APR tune. The reason I asked is I've read conflicting accounts as to whether our ECU can compensate for a larger intercooler, i.e. if it can't it could throw out of whack the Air/Fuel ratio and possibly cause a too lean or rich condition.

[SQive]

If by "out of whack" you mean more power and better efficiency, then yes.
It lowers your intake air temperature, so the ECU can increase boost and timing. That's all.

[Pittdawg]

If by "out of whack" you mean more power and better efficiency, then yes.
It lowers your intake air temperature, so the ECU can increase boost and timing. That's all.

If that's the case I'm a very happy camper. I can understand the ECU not having to pull timing and reduce boost as often because of the cooler air but not sure how much it can decide to advance timing and increase boost to create more power above and beyond what it's currently mapped for. In any event it was literally just delivered and I'll hopefully be able to have it installed soon. It's rather large and quite heavy:

20180514_174450.jpg

[SQive]

Weight is relative, but that looks a lot smaller than the APR CPS.
Of course, every little bit helps, so slap that bitch on there.

[DanMontgomery]

If that's the case I'm a very happy camper. I can understand the ECU not having to pull timing and reduce boost as often because of the cooler air but not sure how much it can decide to advance timing and increase boost to create more power above and beyond what it's currently mapped for. In any event it was literally just delivered and I'll hopefully be able to have it installed soon. It's rather large and quite heavy:

20180514_174450.jpg

Can you get a picture of the both intercoolers together?

V/r
Dan

[Pittdawg]

Not sure but I'll try. Here is the post with pics that first got me going in this direction:

https://www.drive2.com/l/471652831116394674/

[SQive]

Weight is relative, but that looks a lot smaller than the APR CPS.
Of course, every little bit helps, so slap that bitch on there.

Never mind. . .this is a TDI thread.

[dingdong555]

Hey guys. Has anyone got an videos of a tdi exhaust with dpf delete?

[Pittdawg]

I don't have pictures of the install but it took my mechanic the entire day and much custom re-working and modifying the stock 3.0 TDI charge pipes and hoses to fit the 3.0 BITDI intercooler. Nonetheless, everything appears in order and it definitely feels stronger especially the mid and top end. If my Torque Pro app is accurate boost appears to remain essentially the same as before. Assuming the ECU can adapt somewhat to the larger/cooler volume of air I only expect even more improvement

[dingdong555]

I don't have pictures of the install but it took my mechanic the entire day and much custom re-working and modifying the stock 3.0 TDI charge pipes and hoses to fit the 3.0 BITDI intercooler. Nonetheless, everything appears in order and it definitely feels stronger especially the mid and top end. If my Torque Pro app is accurate boost appears to remain essentially the same as before. Assuming the ECU can adapt somewhat to the larger/cooler volume of air I only expect even more improvement

Nice!!! Hows the noise??

[RS6gmbh]

+1

Hey guys. Has anyone got an videos of a tdi exhaust with dpf delete?

[Pittdawg]

Nice!!! Hows the noise??

It's an intercooler, not much if any sound change.

[Pittdawg]

Can you get a picture of the both intercoolers together?

V/r
Dan

Sorry I wasn't able to but I can confirm the BITDI intercooler is wider and longer with cast aluminum end tanks and about 10 liters overall compared to the stock 8 liters or so. It physically mounts up perfectly in the OEM location but needs a fair amount of modification of the OEM hoses and charge pipes. If I had an easier way of identifying the OEM part numbers for the BITDI hoses and charge pipes I'm sure that would be better but so far so good.

[SQive]

Sorry I wasn't able to but I can confirm the BITDI intercooler is wider and longer with cast aluminum end tanks and about 10 liters overall compared to the stock 8 liters or so. It physically mounts up perfectly in the OEM location but needs a fair amount of modification of the OEM hoses and charge pipes. If I had an easier way of identifying the OEM part numbers for the BITDI hoses and charge pipes I'm sure that would be better but so far so good.

Why don't you ask some of our friends here from across the pond?

[Pittdawg]

Why don't you ask some of our friends here from across the pond?

Anyone in particular? I barely get any responses to TDI related questions I post here; apparently TDI owners are more the hypermiling type then the modding type, which I understand.

- - - Updated - - -

With that said it definitely feels peppier and freer revving.

[SQive]

I don't know if he's still on here, but check @IANSQ5.

[Kevin1]

Anyone in particular? I barely get any responses to TDI related questions I post here; apparently TDI owners are more the hypermiling type then the modding type, which I understand.

- - - Updated - - -

With that said it definitely feels peppier and freer revving.

Try the tdiclub forum

[Pittdawg]

Try the tdiclub forum

I've search all the websites; hence the reason I posted a link to an obscure European blog.

[Kevin1]

I've search all the websites; hence the reason I posted a link to an obscure European blog.

Wow. I find that forum to be extremely active with all sorts of posts regarding APR, Malone, etc.

[Pittdawg]

Wow. I find that forum to be extremely active with all sorts of posts regarding APR, Malone, etc.

Yes I have found a few helpful posts on there but absolutely nothing about upgrading to the SQ5 intercooler. I may be the first in the U.S. to do this as far as I can tell ;)

[Curt K]

Hey guys. Has anyone got an videos of a tdi exhaust with dpf delete?

I sure do, how do I down load it? Lol

[no thx]

Not sure if anyone said this already, but the APR intercooler for 2.0T (b8 q5 a4 a5) is a direct fit for our 3.0 TDIs as well. Thats what I'm personally running.

[Pittdawg]

Not sure if anyone said this already, but the APR intercooler for 2.0T (b8 q5 a4 a5) is a direct fit for our 3.0 TDIs as well. Thats what I'm personally running.

I saw that option but the square shape makes no sense to me; doesn't the crash bar behind the bumper block a substantial portion of that intercooler?

[no thx]

I saw that option but the square shape makes no sense to me; doesn't the crash bar behind the bumper block a substantial portion of that intercooler?

I am not sure that the darkside option is much different. Regardless, the stock grill itself blocks some flow in its effort to hide the crashbar.

a custom crash bar idea is a cool option too.

[no thx]

I saw that option but the square shape makes no sense to me; doesn't the crash bar behind the bumper block a substantial portion of that intercooler?

looking at the photos with the crashbar, i am pretty sure theres actually more surface area with the APR, as it pokes above the crashbar due to it being larger.

aprs is a bit larger surface area than darkside's larger one, and its quite a bit cheaper. 250gbp vs 900 usd

[no thx]

Just wanted to add.

Wagner has intercooler for our 3.0tdi platform too which is actually the same p/n as for the 2.0T cars.

If i had known this before i would have bought wagner and not APR, though its just a little bit bigger.

https://www.wagner-tuning.com/produc...0001084-1.html