I am planning on getting my 2012 tuned for the first time in a month or so. Before I do it I want to get as many bolt ons as I can to make it worth the cost to tune. I am doing AMS DP and UR test pipe. I already have the UR catback and the ETS intake. My question is I am thinking about getting the ETS IC kit with the piping as well. I figured 4" even though I don’t need it now maybe later I would and I would be prepared. But the shop doing the tune says he wouldn't recommend the 4" because for one it isn’t needed and two it can affect the cooling of the car because it can affect air flow to the radiator. So he recommended the 3.5". Anybody else have experience like that? Car is stock turbo.

Thanks

 

Both the 3.5 and the 4" will work perfectly fine on the stock turbo. The 4" would probably be overkill on the stock turbo though and will add a little extra weight.

 

Thanks for the response.

When I upgrade the turbo down the road would the 3.5 still be fine? My thought was it isn't that much more for the 4" and if it didnt hurt performance with the stock turbo I may as well get it so I have it when I do upgrade the Turbo. But if the 3.5 will be good even with the upgraded turbo I will go with that.

 

Good and best are two different things. If you can afford the 4" and plan to upgrade the turbo later on then go for it.

 

The 3.5" inch FMIC also fits better and requires no triming. On my 08 I went with the 4" and had to trim the two inner plastic ovals through the bumper because they were slighty touching the intercooler.

 

Agree'd the 3.5" will do the job, if you plan on upgrading down the road, I would do the 4.0" now. The 4.0" is worth about 22whp over stock w/o tuning. The 3.5" is 17whp over stock w/o tuning. This is strictly based on flow. The evo x has dual mivec and requires a ton of flow. The factory intercooler is restrictive for flow.

Thanks!

michael

 

3.5" is enough for most

http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66482

but if you can squeeze the extra for a 4" and plan to go big turbo, go for it. as long as it's an ETS core, 3.5 or 4, you're good

 

I thought I read that the 4" will fit no trimming or modifying?

The price difference is only 100 bucks I think. If it is going to help down the road with a larger turbo it seems like it would be the only choice if there is no difference other than the 100$.

Thanks again guys. Not sure why the shop said the 4" will affect the air flow to the radiator thou. It's a reputable shop. But I guess everybody has their opinions.

I guess while I have you guys, a side question is I was thinking about having the wideband and boost gauges done at the same time I have the rest of the parts installed (thinking it would be a little cheaper since they are already in there, but turns out it will be the same amount) I may be able to do everything a little sooner if I hold off on the gauges a few months because it's a few hundred for the AEM gauges and 300 to install. Would you guys be worried about driving around a few months without gauges to monitor boost and A/F? Or is it pretty safe with a good tune? I have never owned a car with a turbo or any gauges other than stock. It would seem to me that if something did go wrong you couldn’t react fast enough off the gauges anyways. Or am I missing the point? And wouldn’t the cars computer try and save the engine if it started to run to lean of over boost? Don't get me wrong, I am going to get the gauges, but planned on it a couple months later.

Thanks again

 

On the 4.0" you will need to trim those little plastic pieces and remove a little bracket on that backside of the bumper beam. It's not bad at all and for the size difference it's worth it in my opinion since the modifications do not effect the structural integrity of the bumper. No problems with air flow as well since the car has special ducting towards the radiator to begin with.

Thanks!

Michael

 

It will be fine to drive without guages. But 300 to install them? They are not hard to install. But If your planning to use the Aem to log with it needs to be spliced into system. Not sure where you are since I can't see, I use mobile app. But I'd install it for you. Just research and you'll find how to, unless you don't feel comfortable with this stuff. Just don't see how that much is a necessity to pay for install.

 

I'm in Orange County,CA. Thanks for the offer. If you are in the area let me know. I can probably do it BUT I don't trust myself. If it involves interior I know I will break something. 300$ did seem high but I didn't know what it entailed so i couldn't know for sure. Maybe I heard them wrong. I will call around when it's time. Mainly I wanted to use Road Race for the tune but figured I would have them install the parts at the same time.

Thanks for the response.