Intercooler upgrade, who's and why

[Dsobczak]

Hello,
I have been researching intercooler upgrades for my S4. There are so many to choose from now, some big, some small, some with guide fins and some without... Wanted to see what everyone is running and why you went with who you did?!?!

[East_Coast_S4]

Hello,
I have been researching intercooler upgrades for my S4. There are so many to choose from now, some big, some small, some with guide fins and some without... Wanted to see what everyone is running and why you went with who you did?!?!

Just about every choice is an upgrade over stock, Wagner is ultimately the best performing and quality.

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[oesman]

There's a million threads on these, but I'd say this should have everything you need: https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...highlight=FMIC

[A4 Centaur]

I went with APR's since I had used previously on my B8 Avant. Their kit comes with hoses and a set of very robust brackets so there is that in comparison. Not sure if the end-tanks are better or equal to the AWE or Wagner but it is bar and plate design.

[Dsobczak]

There's a million threads on these, but I'd say this should have everything you need: https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...highlight=FMIC

thank you !

[AfloS4]

I did rev9. Was 380 on Amazon in Feb. couldn’t justify the 1k + at this point on a Wagner with only stage 1 IE.

[Mops@Nemesis]

If a silver unit is acceptable, I would say the AWE is the best value at $795. I personally run Forge and Wagner on my B9s as I prefer black.

[SHCKR]

ECS...$400. 95% capacity of those $1000+ FMIC's....

[S4James]

Im grabbing a CTS one because ill save on shipping and i get a discount.

[A4 Centaur]

^ I was looking at that one weeks ago but it appeared they were out of stock: https://www.ctsturbo.com/product/cts...-fit-fmic-kit/

Friggen great price point too!

[Speedster00]

I went with ECS and their charge pipe kit. AFter looking at all the numbers, for the money and bigger, aluminum charge pipes, the price is hard to beat.

[S4James]

^ I was looking at that one weeks ago but it appeared they were out of stock: https://www.ctsturbo.com/product/cts...-fit-fmic-kit/

Friggen great price point too!

Im in no hurry, so will wait for the next batch

[flee]

REV9 stage 3 tte 810, swapped to Wagner, no difference for me. Just sayin

[Pocket Cub]

I did Rev9 and it’s been great so far.


2018 S4 - IE Stage 2, CTS High Flow Downpipe, CTS Transmission insert, AWE Airgate Intake, CTS Turbo Inlet-

[rlme36]

Wagner and the reasoning was MOPs told me to.

[Paintedblack]

REV9 stage 3 tte 810, swapped to Wagner, no difference for me. Just sayin

Id bet if you logged IATs in similar conditions with one FMIC vs the other you would se a difference

[Andy_FL]

Id bet if you logged IATs in similar conditions with one FMIC vs the other you would se a difference

LOL right? If there's a measureable difference between Rev9 and CLM (which I documented by IAT and dyno), then there's definitely an even better advantage with the Wagner. Unfortunately I didn't have access to a Wagner at the time otherwise I would've been happy to test it - but I'll just concede (assume) up front that the Wagner is a "better" cooler than the CLM.

[A4 Centaur]

For the APR FMIC the IAT's are on this graph:

https://store.ngpracing.com/apr-fron...-ic100023.html

Looks like a significant difference obviously between the stock POS unit:

"29°C, IAT slightly climbed above the starting temperature to 42°C by the end of the sprint. A difference of 39°C was exhibited between the two units after only a single top speed. This directly translates to faster acceleration, and better performance in all conditions."

The BMW forums have some interesting data for the CSF and Wagner units:

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1493305

"The test indicated average intake temps of 30-31c (87-88f) with the Wagner doing 3-4-5th gear pulls compared to the CSF pulls which by the "end of the 4th pull IAT's were touching 26.5c (80f). So around 4-5c (8-9f) cooler than the Wagner unit."

"During a low speed run up to 240 kph (150 mph) run, the Wagner intake temps start around 20c (69f) and go up to 33c (92-93f) compared to the CSF where intake temps start at 25c (77f) and peak at 30c (87f). A similar difference of 3c (5-6f) between the two in favor the CSF."

[A4 Centaur]

Oh, and APR claims their FMIC was: "Designed by engineers with lasers." So you have that! LOL

[jtdbsr]

Oh, and APR claims their FMIC was: "Designed by engineers with lasers." So you have that! LOL

No RSC technology?

[AldermanToffee]

https://www.treadstoneperformance.co...1000hp/p104562

Very similar dimensions to the larger, IE offering. Just get some charge pipes thrown together. TSR are a well known brand.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

For price point and performance we recommend one of the items linked below. The Revo items have a great fit and finish and for the price they beat most of the other intercoolers save our own ECS intercooler.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Cart/?add1...esrep=njohnson

[East_Coast_S4]

For the APR FMIC the IAT's are on this graph:

https://store.ngpracing.com/apr-fron...-ic100023.html

Looks like a significant difference obviously between the stock POS unit:

"29°C, IAT slightly climbed above the starting temperature to 42°C by the end of the sprint. A difference of 39°C was exhibited between the two units after only a single top speed. This directly translates to faster acceleration, and better performance in all conditions."

The BMW forums have some interesting data for the CSF and Wagner units:

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1493305

"The test indicated average intake temps of 30-31c (87-88f) with the Wagner doing 3-4-5th gear pulls compared to the CSF pulls which by the "end of the 4th pull IAT's were touching 26.5c (80f). So around 4-5c (8-9f) cooler than the Wagner unit."

"During a low speed run up to 240 kph (150 mph) run, the Wagner intake temps start around 20c (69f) and go up to 33c (92-93f) compared to the CSF where intake temps start at 25c (77f) and peak at 30c (87f). A similar difference of 3c (5-6f) between the two in favor the CSF."

Comparing a very different set of products from a very different car is already irrelevant, however not only is there multiple comments on the bmw thread calling the tests skewed, including from people that had one and changed happily to the wagner...

The biggest difference is bar and plate...
Sometimes a very well designed B&P intercooler will perform better especially on the street, or a single pull/quarter mile etc.

I guarantee the Wagner will outperform on the 3rd, 4th 5th etc pull, multi highway pulls, spirited driving and especially tracking.

On a hot 95° July day, I was able to drive to backroads in the middle of nowhere and do 5 back to back quarter mile launches all within 10 minutes time...all AITs around 15° over ambient, run after run, consistent times speeds and lack of corrections.

The cheaper ones won't do that.

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[A4 Centaur]

^ As the articles noted as well as anecdotal evidence shows for track use compared to drag strip perhaps a non-bar and plate FMIC is better for applications that are road racing or track focused.

As long as the OP is happy and the product holds up I frankly don't have a care in the world which FMIC is "Best" only that it lowers IAT better than the POS OEM Audi FMIC's.