[cuban335i]

The Helix intercooler or the Active Autowerke Intercooler? Which one is better at it's job? I know way more people have the helix but is it only because of the price difference? I'm deciding between the two right now..

[tom @ eas]

I would say the Evolution Racewerks version is the best - we're very happy with the IC on our 135 project.

[BoostedCosta]

why dont u give AMS a try?

[cuban335i]

yea AMS is my number 3.. i am not sure which one does the best job... and theres a ton of people on here that praise helix just because they have one, but is it really the superior FMIC?

[cn555ic]

I think Helix is one of the bigger FMIC out..All of the ones you named are good, its all depends on install, so I would check each one out to see which one is the least amount of problems installing it.

[detrick]

How many hours labor do these FMIC typically take to install? I know it is dependent on fit-up, so it will vary. But are we talking 3-4 hours of work removing the old and installing the new?

[BoostedCosta]

Originally Posted by detrick

How many hours labor do these FMIC typically take to install? I know it is dependent on fit-up, so it will vary. But are we talking 3-4 hours of work removing the old and installing the new?

3-4 hrs? no way lol
depending on what fmic it really shouldn't take 3-4
fmic that has no cutting involved can take up to only an hr and the others id say 2 hrs...i really dont think it should take more than 3hrs unless you dont read instructions right or run into a lot of problems

[Craig@SupremePower]

very happy with my helix..

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

I tried to find it but I got lost in all the bogus responses in the search.

Which intercooler provides an install where there is no modication required, AND can be returned back to stock if necessary.

I read that some of them require you to cut parts of the stock piping or something to work.

I'm also trying to figure out which has the best performance with price aside.

I notice a lot of people are "happy" with their intercooler but no one has provided conclusive evidence to support otherwise.... Kind of pointless to respond with you are happy? (not trying to be a dick).

Im torn between the AMS, Helix, Code 3 at this point? I know the active autowerks is a nice piece but the price of that can never be justified EVER. LOL.

[cuban335i]

Originally Posted by JPSlick

I tried to find it but I got lost in all the bogus responses in the search.

Which intercooler provides an install where there is no modication required, AND can be returned back to stock if necessary.

I read that some of them require you to cut parts of the stock piping or something to work.

I'm also trying to figure out which has the best performance with price aside.

I notice a lot of people are "happy" with their intercooler but no one has provided conclusive evidence to support otherwise.... Kind of pointless to respond with you are happy? (not trying to be a dick).

Im torn between the AMS, Helix, Code 3 at this point? I know the active autowerks is a nice piece but the price of that can never be justified EVER. LOL.

exactly i don't really care who's happy with what.. i want to know which actually performs better.. I'd drop the money for active autowerke if it was the best.. but no one has an answer to which is the best..

[Craig@SupremePower]

guys whats kind of pointless is the post, if you search around no one has done a comparison test side by side with all the available intercoolers so when you ask a question like this all people can do is share their personal experience and advise you in that regard unless of course its a vendor saying buy this or that since its all they offer!!

[BoostedCosta]

Originally Posted by Craig@SupremePower

guys whats kind of pointless is the post, if you search around no one has done a comparison test side by side with all the available intercoolers so when you ask a question like this all people can do is share their personal experience and advise you in that regard unless of course its a vendor saying buy this or that since its all they offer!!

very true
i say you just buy the one that best fits you like price, labor, cutting and all that bull b.c at the end how much better can one or the other be in performance wise.

[burberry]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327428

[Donald-335i]

bro either or... its all the same crap,

[Terrance28]

I have the Stett which is almost like the AA(tall thin core). And I can tell you it keeps me with 10-15 degrees of ambient on daily driving in 90+ degree weather and 5-8 when cold out(60 degrees and lower), and only rises a couple more degrees when going WOT. Compared to the stock it is outstanding, I can't speak on Helix as I don't know.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Terrance28

I have the Stett which is almost like the AA(tall thin core). And I can tell you it keeps me with 10-15 degrees of ambient on daily driving in 90+ degree weather and 5-8 when cold out(60 degrees and lower), and only rises a couple more degrees when going WOT. Compared to the stock it is outstanding, I can't speak on Helix as I don't know.

Thanks for a CONCLUSIVE (facts provided) post without just an opinion

I'm assuming you can revert back to stock (AKA you didnt need to cut any factor pieces) ?

[RevC]

i have to show some local support for the guys at helix!

[Kevin@AKMotorwerk]

i like the stett and the aa, but no first hand experience, i have installed plenty of helix's, nice heavy i/c so it will not heat soak very quickly. it all comes down to budget and availability. they are all pretty similar, i just like the stett for the size and they give you replacement hoses farther up the intake then the others do

[john boxter]

i believe there is cutting with the stett but that doesn't mean you cant revert back to stock should still be fine. terrance please correct me if im wrong

[Kevin@AKMotorwerk]

Originally Posted by john boxter

i believe there is cutting with the stett but that doesn't mean you cant revert back to stock should still be fine. terrance please correct me if im wrong

even with the old style helix which required alot of cutting there is still no problem going back to stock, they are only held in by 2 bolts and that section of the plastic doesnt get cut off

[Terrance28]

Originally Posted by JPSlick

Thanks for a CONCLUSIVE (facts provided) post without just an opinion

I'm assuming you can revert back to stock (AKA you didnt need to cut any factor pieces) ?

Yes you would have to cut alot of the shroud but you can still revert back to stock if you wanted too.

[Terrance28]

Originally Posted by sexye92

i like the stett and the aa, but no first hand experience, i have installed plenty of helix's, nice heavy i/c so it will not heat soak very quickly. it all comes down to budget and availability. they are all pretty similar, i just like the stett for the size and they give you replacement hoses farther up the intake then the others do

+1 the stett changes all the factory hoses and piiping all the way from the hot side to the chrgepipe on the cold side. All the weak factory hoses that flex under boost with it ripples in it that disturbs the airflow and causes turbulance is replaced with hard piping and smooth strong silicone couplers.